Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3304: The Mystical Shanhu Coral Clan

The leading man’s eyes flickered briefly toward the others before returning to Elyon. "Ah... yes, of course," he said quickly. "We were told to expect a group, but... I must admit, we did not expect..." His words trailed off as he glanced nervously at Cattaleya, then at Little Shrubby, who yawned lazily, lightning flickering between his fangs.

Daoist Chu chuckled quietly. "It seems our presence has made quite the impression."

One of the younger Shanhu warriors whispered, "They are too strong... can our clan even afford them?"

Another nudged him to silence, eyes wide with warning.

Lin Mu caught the murmur but said nothing. His gaze remained on the leader, studying the faint flow of Qi around him. The man’s meridians were slightly strained—perhaps from long exposure to dense Oceanic energy, or from channeling water elemental Qi for too long.

Elyon clasped his hands together politely. "We understand that your ancestral island has surfaced and that your clan needs to perform a ritual there. We’ve come to escort you safely."

The leader nodded quickly. "Yes, honored guests. Our patriarch awaits your arrival. Please, follow us to our settlement."

Lin Mu gave a small nod, his calm expression easing the tension in the air. "Lead the way."

The Shanhu warriors exchanged nervous glances but quickly mounted their seabird beasts once more. The leader gestured for the mercenary group to follow, and the flock of immense seagulls rose into the air, wings casting vast shadows over the glimmering lagoon.

As Lin Mu’s group flew inland under the sun, the air shimmered faintly around them. The illusory array began to react, ripples of light passing over their surroundings.

And then, as though a veil had been lifted, the true form of the Shanhu Coral Clan’s settlement came into view; tall coral spires, glass-like domes, and floating platforms connected by luminous bridges, all radiating a faint aquatic glow.

Meng Bai’s eyes widened in awe. "So this... this is what they were hiding?"

Lin Mu smiled faintly, the light of the hidden city reflecting in his eyes. "It seems the Shanhu Clan has preserved more secrets than anyone thought."

As the group followed the Shanhu Coral Clan’s escort deeper into the island, the veil of illusion fully unraveled before their eyes.

What they had first thought to be a simple coastal settlement hidden within mountains and forests transformed into something far beyond their expectations. The true form of the Shanhu Clan’s home emerged like a dream of glass and coral come to life.

The landscape shimmered as the air rippled, revealing layers of color and light. Towering coral spires glowed softly in hues of blue, pink, and silver, each one rising like a natural pillar sculpted by the sea itself.

Between them, vast floating platforms hovered serenely in the air, connected by arched bridges of translucent shell and flowing crystal. Streams of water cascaded down from the platforms, vanishing into glittering mists before touching the ground.

Meng Bai’s eyes widened as he craned his neck to take in the sight above. "This is... incredible," he breathed, unable to contain his awe. "How are those platforms floating like that? What kind of array could keep something that large in the air?"

Lin Mu didn’t answer immediately.

He narrowed his eyes and released a thread of his immortal sense, scanning the invisible layers of formation runes that ran through the air like veins of light. The faint hum of flowing spiritual power resonated around him, intertwining with the energy emanating from the coral towers.

A minute passed in silence before Lin Mu finally spoke. "It’s not just one array. There are both formation and material-based techniques in use," he said calmly. "The platforms themselves are made of something called Featherlight Pumice Stone.

I can sense several beams of it embedded in the foundation, acting as support columns. The array that binds them together is a Sky Suspending Formation. The pumice provides buoyancy while the array stabilizes the position and altitude."

Daoist Chu raised his brows in surprise. "A Sky Suspending Array?" He looked around, visibly impressed. "That’s something even large sects hesitate to use outside of special sites. It’s difficult to maintain and incredibly expensive. The power consumption alone is astronomical."

He crossed his arms, his tone growing thoughtful. "For a clan to not only install it but sustain it long-term... that’s no small feat."

The Shanhu clan’s escorts exchanged uneasy glances at hearing this. It was obvious these people weren’t just powerful fighters. They were experts who could analyze their secret structures at a glance.

Meng Bai, however, was still looking around in open amazement. "It’s like the whole island is alive," he said, pointing at one of the massive bridges connecting two floating platforms. "Even the light seems to move through it."

Daoist Chu nodded. "That’s not far from the truth. These bridges are channeling conduits. See how the glow pulses rhythmically? That’s the flow of immortal Qi being cycled through the array’s system."

They continued flying, and the full scale of the settlement became clearer. The Shanhu Clan’s city wasn’t built just on the surface or the platforms, it was three-dimensional.

From the air, the illusion of a simple mountainous island had fooled them all.

But now that they could see it up close, it was clear that hundreds of structures clung to the sides of the cliffs and the roots of the mountains. Elegant homes and cultivation chambers were carved directly into the mountain’s stone walls, connected by winding stairways and bridges of iridescent shell.

Overhead, the floating plazas bustled with movement. Lin Mu could make out people walking across the transparent floors, and even aquatic beasts swimming through the air in translucent channels of water that floated beside the bridges.

Below, the base of the mountains opened up into a vast network of terraces.

Fields of shimmering crops stretched outward, nourished by streams that descended from the mountains and floating pools above. The crops glowed faintly under the rich spiritual energy saturating the air, while small groves of fruit trees added color and fragrance to the landscape.