Clouds traveled three thousand miles to a lake that glead like glazed glass, bathed in sunlight and starlight. Here, thirty-six varieties of Water Clan Spirits had ford their own territory. Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, Bivalve Spirits, and rmaids all presented themselves to Heavenly Wisdom above and received the Sea Blessing below. Their splendor was integrated between the mountains and rivers—truly a Water Cave Heaven!
Glazed Lake was a vast, misty, and unfathomable expanse where Water Clan Spirits engaged in their cultivation, receiving blessings from the heavens. Now, however, they were about to host their grand ritual.
Houses bathed in watery light, mostly constructed from vibrant coral and seaweed, floated on the water’s surface. It was a bizarre and awe-inspiring sight of myriad strange forms.
If one looked down from midair, the entire architecture of Glazed Lake appeared in a spiral formation, encircling everything within.
At the center was an open-air platform carved from a unique undersea rock, adorned with clusters of flowers and steps on each side. Atop these steps stood a wooden house, seemingly for human habitation. Although temporarily built, its decorations—such as the Initial Scale of the rmaid, the Jade Pearl of the Bivalve Spirit, and the Dragon Whiskers of the Mo Jiao—displayed the heartfelt contributions of many Water Clan Spirits.
At that mont, nurous Water Clan Spirits lay prostrate on the water surface, their faces full of reverence as they looked forward.
Little Jiao Huo touched her buttocks and muttered, That really hurts.
Still, if my gift can please Immortal Bi You, then this pain is acceptable, she mused.
She looked back. The densely packed Water Clan Spirits were motionless, staring ahead, waiting.
That was the dwelling specially built for Immortal Bi You.
Following tradition, whenever Immortal Bi You arrived at a sea region, she would stay for a while, enlightening so of the local Water Clan Spirits by awakening their Spiritual Wisdom and manifesting their innate abilities.
Glazed Lake had naturally spared no effort.
Just then, as the sun shone directly overhead, a shadow descended.
But it was not Immortal Bi You; instead, it was a paper figure.
The paper figure landed on the high platform at the center, hands on hips, speaking in a human tongue:
"Why are you all kneeling again? The Great Immortal said you needn’t kneel. She’s just coming to check on things, to help so of your clans’ young ones awaken their Spiritual Wisdom and manifest their talents. It’s not a big matter, and you shouldn’t have to make such a grand gesture!"
"She’ll be here soon, so stand up quickly!"
Seeing the paper figure speak, the Water Clan Spirits naturally assud it was Immortal Bi You’s magic.
So they promptly stood up. This was not a ti for formalities; they should simply follow the Great Immortal’s instructions. If she said there was no need to kneel, then there was definitely no need to kneel.
The vast dark mass of Water Clan mbers rose to their feet, and the water SPLASHED loudly.
A mont later, with a flash of light, the many Water Monsters vanished from sight. Then, from inside the house on the high platform, ca a voice as lodious as wind chis:
"Any of you from Glazed Lake who still have unawakened young ones, co on up one by one."
"This is my fourth visit here, so let’s keep the formalities simple. Also, there’s no need to gift any treasures; your sentint is enough."
At that mont, even Sea Granny of the Jiao Huo Clan, whose cultivation in Glazed Lake was the highest, felt dazed. She hadn’t sensed how the Great Immortal had arrived. The Great Immortal truly lives up to her na, she thought.
Two paper figures then erged from the wooden house, standing like door guardians. Soon, Water Clan Spirits began to approach one after another.
It’s almost my turn, almost my turn!
Little Jiao Huo, holding a Water Box in her embrace, watched as her peers presented the treasures they had found. She chuckled inwardly. Compared to the Divine Fish in my arms, their offerings are re trifles! Not worth ntioning!
Earning Immortal Bi You’s favor was a great honor for the Water Clan of Glazed Lake. For this surprise, Little Jiao Huo had even refrained from telling her Grandma about the Divine Fish, an omission for which she knew she would likely earn a beating later.
Before long, Little Jiao Huo followed behind a slow-moving little turtle and swam forward.
"Hey, Ma You, you little turtle, hurry up!"
The little turtle moved so slowly that Little Jiao Huo couldn’t help but urge him from behind.
"So it’s Sister Little Xi! What treasure have you found?" Ma You, the little water turtle, looked back, his eyes darting around.
"Humph, I won’t tell you!" Little Jiao Huo turned her head away.
"Never mind then, but I advise you to put it away..." Ma You shrank his head and whispered while following the line, "You see those two paper figures? According to relatives of our clan at the Great Wilderness Fubo Spring, it’s said that when the Great Immortal is in a bad mood, two paper figures will appear. When she’s in a better mood, only one will stand guard."
"Last ti at the Great Wilderness Fubo Spring, there was only one paper figure, and the Great Immortal was very unhappy and left early."
"This ti she said she doesn’t want our treasures, so it’s best not to offer any. Otherwise, if she gets upset, that would be a disaster for Glazed Lake."
Little Jiao Huo thought, Are your relatives really that far-reaching? No wonder he’s the longest-lived among the Water Clan. But my gift is very special!
The line gradually shortened. The Great Immortal’s enlightennt process was very brief. In the upper part of the house, a mysterious Array Map appeared from nowhere. When the Water Column Monsters approached, the Array Map flickered, and a mysterious power made these young Water Column Monsters whirl into motion.
When it ended, Watermarks representing their talents appeared on their bodies.
As Water Clan Spirits, they inherently possessed extraordinary latent talents. After being enlightened, their abilities awakened, and their Spiritual Wisdom greatly expanded, allowing them to begin their cultivation.
So with exceptional talents could awaken on their own without enlightennt; these were typically powerful figures within their clan and truly remarkable.
In the wider sea, there were even more Hain Courts. So of the stronger Sea Clan there would help other Water Clan kin awaken their intelligence, but this assistance ca at a cost: the prerequisite was joining their Hain Court, similar to human Sects.
And free enlightennt was sothing only this Great Immortal Bi You would do, undertaking such a thankless task.
Soon, it was Little Jiao Huo’s turn. She stepped forward but didn’t enter the Array Map. Instead, she walked a few steps towards the wooden house.
"This Little Jiao Huo from Glazed Lake, you need only enter that Array Map. The Great Immortal will then use her thods to enlighten you," one paper figure said, blocking her path. "Why are you coming this way?"
"I, I want to offer a treasure to the Great Immortal!" Little Jiao Huo mustered her courage and said.
"Hmm?" the other paper figure said, displeased. "Didn’t the Great Immortal tell you? She doesn’t require your treasures. She cos to enlighten you periodically, not for the treasures of Glazed Lake."
"But my Grandma taught that actions should be reciprocal," Little Jiao Huo said. "The Great Immortal helps us with enlightennt, so I naturally want to repay her!"
The paper figure blocking her path chuckled. "That’s a sensible notion. Your Jiao Huo Clan has indeed beco more disciplined over the years. But... what could a re Little Jiao Huo like you possibly offer in return?"
Little Jiao Huo opened her mouth.
"Let her in," a gentle voice emanated from inside the house. "It’s rare for one to speak with such reason."
Upon hearing this, the Water Clan Spirits below imdiately began to chatter.
"Sea Granny, your Little Jiao Huo is certainly sensible! Just make sure she doesn’t displease Immortal Bi You."
"Exactly! There are still young ones from other clans waiting for enlightennt. If the Great Immortal leaves now, they’ll have to wait several more years."
"How could Little Xi be so clever? Sea Granny, this must be your doing, right?"
The current matriarch of the Jiao Huo Clan, Sea Granny, smiled faintly. She knew her granddaughter’s intentions, though she didn’t know what this treasure was. However, at this mont, she chose to believe in her.
"Just watch," Sea Granny said with a smile. "How broad-minded is the Great Immortal? If she were truly unhappy, it wouldn’t be because of us. It’s just our Yong Clan needlessly worrying."
The other Water Clan mbers listened and found her words quite reasonable, their worries montarily assuaged.
By then, Little Jiao Huo had already entered the wooden house. She saw a figure shrouded in mist, its face and form indiscernible—seemingly close, yet as distant as the horizon, illusory as a shadow.
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