Sword Washing Lake

In order to both prevent the spiritual veins under the lake from leaking and draw the spiritual energy out to serve as the source of the Dan Peak's protective mountain grand formation, nourishing Dan Peak, the construction of the formations was very difficult. Qin Ran worked hard over a long period of time, laying restrictions and formations, and even repaving a layer at the bottom of the lake before finally getting the lake bottom done.

After Huang Feiyu finished making bricks, Qin Ran also took him and Chasing the Wind to build a cross dam across the man-made lake. And of course the firebricks were not waterproof, so he also drew water-repelling formation patterns on them.

Between the lake bottom and the dam, Qin Ran spent over a month, and the pavilion at the center of the lake has still not been formally built, only the foundation has been laid...

But the Mid-Autumn Festival was coming in a few days, the fifteenth day of the eighth month had special meaning to Qin Feng, he decided that before the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival, he would break through the barrier between the small river and the man-made lake.

The small river that flowed down from the back mountain cut straight across Dan Peak and flowed down the eastern side of Dan Peak, eventually joining the big river that passed by Daofeng Gate.

And Dan Peak just so happened to have dug a small man-made lake along this little river.

This man-made lake was basically dug by Li Shiyin. She dug for about three months, going from an ordinary mortal to now a land-based immortal who could move heaven and earth. This was her journey of lake digging, and also her journey of foundation building, and even more so, the beginning of her attaining immortality.

If the river of Dan Peak was the "1" in the number "10", then this lake was the "0". Now was precisely the time to break through the barrier between the "1" and "0", to connect the "1" and "0", to form the lake.

The people of Dan Peak along with Huang Feiyu and Tian Wenjin were standing at the corner between the small river and man-made lake, with the cat Chase Wind in front. Li Shiyin stepped forward out of the crowd and said to Qin Ran:

"Teacher, please let me!"

This was the lake she dug, so letting the water flow in should be done by her.

"Mm!" Qin Ran nodded, and also reminded: "Don't open too large of an opening, in case it impacts the life forms downstream."

"I understand..."

Li Shiyin took out her Qingxing Sword, displayed her movement technique, and floated up into the air. She danced her sword as if stars were falling down to earth, dazzling and ethereal. At a certain moment, one star shone brightly and a beam of stellar sword qi shot out, striking the joint between the small river and man-made lake. Like a sharp blade slicing tofu, it easily cut open the earth and rock.

Immediately, water began flowing into the man-made lake through the breach.

As if an illusion, the moment the water started flowing into the man-made lake, Tian Wenjin felt a sense of communication and understanding, as if silt was being cleared away, as if shackles were being broken, as if new life was being born... Dan Peak, in this moment, became more nurtured, more vibrant.

She looked at Li Shiyin midair, feeling extremely envious in her heart.

"Is it a formation?" Tu Shan asked with eyes closed as he sensed the moister air, asking Qin Ran.

"It is indeed a formation..." Qin Ran nodded, "And this is just the beginning, it will become better and better later on."

Tian Wenjin looked at the water accumulating at the bottom of the lake, thinking, just how blissful it must feel to build a land of paradise with one's own hands.

"Teacher, what should we name this lake?" Li Shiyin called out loudly sword in hand amidst the air, asking Qin Ran.

Qin Ran looked at the female sword immortal in the sky and smiled, saying: "This lake, let's call it Sword Washing Lake!"

The female sword immortal's face immediately blushed. The teacher really could hear while in a coma!

But she raised her head and said: "Sword Washing Lake? Very nice!"

She stimulated her magic power again. There was sword qi squirming around the Qingxing Sword as she said: "This sword immortal will bestow upon you a stone stele."

Splashing sounds came from the air as sword qi shot at a giant boulder by the lakeside. Soon, a smooth and rounded stone was taken out from that boulder, with the three carved words "Sword Washing Lake" upon it.

Although this Li Shiyin would fall asleep whenever she read books, in the end she came from a family with strict teachings, she did ultimately understand calligraphy. And coupled with her using sword qi to carve cat scratching posts and cat climbing frames for Chase Wind, her carving skill was also quite good.

These three words "Sword Washing Lake" actually had considerable flair, both in calligraphy and the sword.

Qin Ran used water to hold up that stone stele and erect it at the bank of the man-made lake, with the three words facing outwards. From now on, anyone who came to Dan Peak and looked over here would be able to see these words "Sword Washing Lake".

"From now on, it will be called Sword Washing Lake." He said.

The female sword immortal put away her sword and looked at the accumulating water at the bottom of the lake, feeling extremely accomplished... This was the lake she dug, and it really was the lake where she practiced her sword, her sword washing lake.

Perhaps many years later when she attained immortality and became a celestial being, if there were later generations who came to revere her former residence, they would point to this lake and say: "Look, this is the lake where the female sword immortal washed her sword."

"So this is the sword immortal's Sword Washing Lake. To be able to witness it in this lifetime, I have no regrets!" Someone might respond thusly.

Perhaps there would even be someone who gained insights into a new sword technique from gazing at the stele she had inscribed...

"Hehehe..." She stared foolishly at the lake, smiling.

Qin Ran glanced at his silly apprentice, too lazy to pay her any mind. He said to the others: "Come try the new dishes I just developed!"

This could also count as a simple lake opening ceremony. On the day water was let into the lake, invite over some good friends to observe the ceremony, then drink wine and make merry, that was also a joyous affair.

Qin Ran went to the back mountain and gathered ingredients, making a full table of dishes to showcase to these otherworldly natives what good food was.

After eating their fill and drinking plenty, Qin Ran called Tian Wenjin over to walk across the bridge over the river to the lakeside.

"The lakeside should also have retaining walls built..." Qin Ran smiled, "Unfortunately, there are no more firebricks."

"We can ask Senior Brother to help make some more." Tian Wenjin replied.

Qin Ran looked at Tian Wenjin, seeing her expression, knowing that Huang Feiyu had not told her about the Immortal Spirit Scroll.

"Do you know of the Immortal Spirit Scroll?" He asked her.

"I've heard people talk about it before." Tian Wenjin nodded and said, "I heard that if you hold the Immortal Spirit Scroll you can take part in Lingnan Immortal Sect's entrance examination. If you pass the exam, you become a disciple of Lingnan Immortal Sect."

"If I gave you an Immortal Spirit Scroll, would you go to Lingnan Immortal Sect?" Qin Ran asked.

"I wouldn't be qualified." Tian Wenjin said.

"Once you form your core, you would be qualified."

Tian Wenjin shook her head and said: "Form my core? Who knows when that will happen. And I still don't even know if I'd be able to form my core..."

She lowered her head in thought, then continued: "Since I have already apprenticed into Daofeng Gate, I no longer think about those kinds of lofty things."

"Is it really because of Daofeng Gate?" Qin Ran sighed.

He took out a scroll shining with golden light from his cosmic bag and handed it to Tian Wenjin, saying: "I'll just give this to you now then."

"This is... Immortal Spirit Scroll?" Tian Wenjin recognized what it was but did not dare accept it.

"Take it!"

Tian Wenjin shook her head again: "Shiyin is more suitable now. She will definitely become a disciple of Lingnan Immortal Sect in the future."

"Shiyin will not go to Lingnan Immortal Sect."

"I won't go either."

"But someone wants to go."

Tian Wenjin was suddenly stunned. She instantly understood why Qin Ran wanted to give the scroll to her. In that instant, she understood many things.

After hesitating for a long time, Tian Wenjin finally accepted the Immortal Spirit Scroll.