Chapter Sixteen: Struggling to Cross, Surprised by a Flock of Gulls and Egrets, Riding a Crane Down from the Heavenly Clouds

  Hahaha~

  Shen Zhaoxuan reached out and poked Ning Feng, shaking his head with a loud laugh.

  "My younger brother's words are indeed amusing; in your future years, I won't have laughed as much as I did today."

  He walked to the lake shore, pointed into the water and said: "Junior Master has not yet cultivated our Temple's Great Method, cannot escape light and fly before, want to return to Water Cloud space, just have to rely on them."

  "Them?"

  The gentle breeze brings excitement, and by the lake's edge, I gaze out at the sparkling water.

  The lake's surface is calm, with occasional gentle breezes rustling the fine waves, densely packed like fish scales. The water is clear enough to see the bottom, with aquatic plants swaying and fish swimming playfully through them.

  "Look."

  Shen Zhaoxuan took a step out without warning and landed directly in the lake water.

  "Huh?"

  Ning Feng's eyes widened in shock, and he couldn't help but click his tongue at what was happening before his eyes.

  If Shen Zhaoxuan were to cast a spell, it would be as if he had evaporated an entire lake of blue waves, and he wouldn't think it strange.

  This guide brother did nothing, just stepped on it so simply, and the whole person suddenly suspended in the water, the next moment like a flexible arrow, shuttling across the lake surface, with white waves behind him, all the way to the center of the lake island.

  "Junior brother has yet to arrive, what more are you waiting for?"

  Shen Zhaoxuan beckoned on the lake surface, with a single sentence of skill, and slid out more than ten zhang distance, getting closer to the island in the middle of the lake.

  Fish...

  Now Ning Feng saw clearly.

  It turned out that as soon as Shen Zhaoxuan stepped onto the lake, the fish playing in the lake jumped up and down, rushing to float on his feet and head towards the center of the lake.

  "What kind of fish is this?"

  Ning Feng found it somewhat amusing, especially after Shen Zhaoxuan left, the fish in the lake that didn't make it in time all floated to the surface, their mouths agape, staring at him with eager eyes.

  Those pairs of fish eyes were incredibly lively, clearly written with the word "anticipation".

  "It's interesting."

  The gentle breeze stirred her heart, and she felt even more that the selection of this cave in the water clouds was good. She followed Shen Zhaoxuan's example and stepped into the lake one step at a time.

  Everything was a first for Ning Feng, so he was somewhat cautious and his movements were slightly hesitant, as if testing the waters, ready to retreat at any moment.

  The fish in the lake didn't give him this chance.

  As soon as his feet touched the water's surface, he felt a force from below supporting the soles of his feet, and then he was about to dash forward.

  He was startled and if he was brought by this force to the lake shore for a split leg, Lezi would be in big trouble.

  Ning Feng hastily put down his caution and stepped up with his other foot as well.

  The next moment, he arched backward with his lower body in the front and upper body in the back, like an arrow off the string, cutting through the surface of the lake.

  "Ah..."

  Hahaha...

  It started with screams and ended in laughter.

  The boat stood firm on the lake's surface under the power of the fish school, with the scenery of the lake and mountains thrown behind it. The building in front, hidden among the water clouds, gradually revealed its true appearance.

  On the shore of the island in the lake, Shen Zhaoyuan stood with his hands behind him and smiled.

  "Whoosh!"

  The school of fish set off a wave crashing against the shore of the island. Ning Feng stumbled forward several steps after landing before finally steadying himself.

  Looking back, he only saw the lake water on the island shore boiling like a pot, with countless fish rolling over the surface of the lake, playing and frolicking, as if they were celebrating some great achievement, and also like children who had been lonely for several days had found playmates.

  "This fish is called Du Yu, also known as Jing Lu, with the alias E Shen. It likes to ferry people and its nature is most averse to having objects sink in water."

  Shen Zhaoxuan turned around and pointed to the Water Cloud Pavilion, continuing: "In the past, our ancestors ordered the construction of this separate mansion. When there were good deeds done by disciples, they would come here to release a few fish fry into the lake, allowing them to multiply for a thousand years, resulting in such prosperity."

  "Let's go and take a look at our junior brother's cave."

  Shen Zhaoxuan leads the way, with Ning Feng following closely behind.

  At first, Ningfeng wasn't paying attention to the fish jumping out of the water at Hu Lake, but later his mind was captivated by the scenery in front of him and he couldn't take his eyes off it.

  The most on the island in the lake is sunflower.

  The sunflower stands tall, like the morning sun rising over the mountains and seas, outstanding and not in a crowd. On its stem, it holds large, plate-like flowers, with layer upon layer of petals, shaped like the heart of a chrysanthemum, forming a rare flower that shines all over.

  Before stepping into the flower field, Ning Feng saw a patch of sunflowers all facing in one direction.

  Direction of the sun.

  "Yes, this flower has a sun-facing and light-loving nature, always facing the sun, and at night it lowers its head as if asleep, hence its name."

  Ning Feng's mind flashed with all the information he knew about sunflowers, and just as he was thinking that nothing unusual would happen, a strange scene appeared.

  As Shen Zhaoxuan took a step forward into the sunflower field, "swish swish swish", countless sunflowers around him all turned in one direction, with an uncountable number of flowers bowing their heads and smiling at Shen Zhaoxuan.

  Even the sunflowers that were far, far away and couldn't be reached were stretching their stems with all their might, as if they wanted to lean over.

  Ning Feng gazed at Shen Zhaoxuan's back as he walked ahead, smiling and chatting, and suddenly had an epiphany: "I see, it must be that Brother Shifu has cultivated the Sun Technique to perfection, with a dense and intense sun energy stored within his body. At close range, it surpasses even the great sun in the sky, which is why the sunflowers regard him as the sun itself."

  Throughout the entire process of walking through the sunflower field, Ning Feng kept watching this scene, looking at the back shadow in front of him, not without envy.

  "When will I be able to reach this point, where a sunflower on an island bows down for me and gazes at me intently?"

  A strange flower on an island made Shen Zhaoxuan, who had always been warm and gentle, with not a hint of menace, appear completely different in Ning Feng's eyes.

  The one who can make the sunflower on the island bow its head, I'm afraid, is the one who has stepped out of the Sun God Temple's Tianyun Peak, and can also make a generation of cultivators turn their heads in admiration.

  A few feet ahead, strolling through the flower cluster, occasionally turning back to chat and laugh, this man is afraid of neglecting his junior fellow disciple, he is not that thing in the pond, nor is he a ferry fish who delights in helping people cross.

  "Junior brother, what do you think?"

  Shen Zhaoxuan smiled warmly, in front of him was a building with a foundation made of white jade.

  In front of the building, there is a courtyard with flowers, artificial hills and flowing springs. The faint mist floats among them, extending the space endlessly, making it impossible to distinguish whether it's heaven or human world.

  "What a great place."

  The breeze strolled by, and in the courtyard, I found a chaise longue made of some unknown material that looked black and glossy, like jade.

  With a wave of the hand, the recliner was dust-free. The gentle breeze intentionally blew across it, making a soft "whooshing" sound as it gently swayed between the water and clouds.

  "It's fine as long as you're happy, little brother."

  Shen Zhaoxuan sat down beside him, saying somewhat apologetically: "I've selected a few residences for my brother and fellow disciples, but only managed to get them cleaned up in time; the servants and other attendants haven't been arranged yet."

  "In three days, your junior brother will return to attend Master's Dharma Assembly. Before then, you must have these preparations ready for him, and he can move in directly."

  "Come back?"

  The swaying hammock came to a stop, and Ning Feng's ears perked up, catching the meaning behind Shen Zhaoxuan's words.

  "Didn't Master say?"

  Shen Zhaoxuan asked strangely and then explained, "These three days are for letting the junior brother settle down."

  "Now that the cave has been chosen, Brother Disciple can head back down the mountain to gather his belongings, bid farewell to relatives and friends, and then begin his cultivation. It's unlikely he'll have any leisure time after that."

  Shen Zhaoxuan said with a hint of admiration, "This is our master's benevolent intention, considering everything thoroughly for us."

  "Uh-huh."

  The heavy rain pattered against the windowpane, and I couldn't help but think of the time I climbed Mount Fu Yao. The old scholar who had been frolicking in the square like a child now had a warm smile on his face.

  Three days later, the Tianyunzi Fa Conference will be held. No matter what, you must remember to hurry back and not miss the appointment, lest you disappoint Master's expectations.

  It was forgivable once or twice, but Shen Zhaoxuan actually repeated it seven or eight times without stopping. Ning Feng listened with wide eyes and finally discovered a major flaw in his own guide brother.

  This mouth is too garrulous.

  "Well, brother, I'll take my leave for now and see you again in three days."

  After Shen Zhaoxuan had exhorted him several times, he seemed to have finally put his mind at ease, stood up straight and took his leave.

  The wind rose and accompanied him on his way, sending him off all the way out of the Water Clouds. Only then did he let out a long sigh, feeling as if reborn.

  He turned his head and went towards Shuiyunjian, but after walking for a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

  "Huh?"

  "I feel like I've forgotten something?"

  Suddenly a gust of wind blew back, and with a flash of golden light, Shen Zhaoxuan transformed into a beam of light and disappeared without a trace.

  "What is it?"

  He scratched his head and walked back, subconsciously walking back to the recliner.

  With a creak, Ning Feng lay back again, letting the recliner rock with the force.

  He really likes this chair.

  Suddenly——

  Ning Feng suddenly jumped up from the recliner and slapped his forehead: "I remembered what I forgot..."

  He was so overwhelmed with emotions that he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, gazing out across the golden scales of the lake towards the foot of the mountain.

  Even if you can't see it, Ning Feng knew that the sea of clouds was like a raging storm, boiling and churning, with the entire Tianyun Peak floating in the vast sky, surrounding the main peak of Tiandu.

  "How am I supposed to go down?!"

  Shen Zhaoxuan will go far, and Ning Feng won't be foolish enough to disturb Tianyunzi. Is he going out to catch a servant and ask how to get down the mountain?

  Ning Feng just thought about it and his face started twitching.

  He was certain that if he did so, without a day's work, the news of the newly promoted seventh direct disciple not knowing how to get down the mountain and seeking help from miscellaneous chores would spread throughout the entire Tianyun Peak.

  "I don't believe it."

  The wind blew towards the water clouds outside, and after a few breaths, the lake surface boiled again, and the fish competed to cross.

  "I will study and find a way down the mountain, there must be one."

  Ning Feng thought of those miscellaneous workers on the mountain, and felt a little more at ease.

  It can't be that some miscellaneous tasks are done on Mount Tianyun Peak, and a few flying masters should come to greet us? Then the joke will be big.

  With something on his mind, he didn't look around much as the wind blew down the mountain. He followed the mountain path downwards, occasionally encountering distant servants who were busy with various chores and bowed to him from afar. He nodded in response.

  He walked down to the foot of the mountain after a while.

  Looking at the scene in front of him, Ning Feng's originally somewhat anxious heart suddenly calmed down.

  At the foot of the mountain, there are shallow waters everywhere, with plants similar to reeds in light green color. Among them, dozens of cranes elegantly stepped on their slender feet, as if patrolling their own territory.

  These cranes are all about one person tall, with ink-black feathers and vermilion markings on their heads and legs, looking stunningly beautiful.

  Seeing Ningfeng appear, dozens of immortal cranes turned their eyes over, as if sizing something up.

  "I think I understand now."

  Ning Feng thought back to when he went up the mountain and caught a glimpse of the startled geese, the celestial crane dancing amidst the sea of clouds, as if suddenly enlightened.

  Those cranes looked at him, and one of them, with the longest figure and the most beautiful plumage, walked in front of him, raised its head high and let out a loud cry.

  Although Ning Feng may not understand the language of cranes, he can still hear the pride and subtle affection in the crane's words.

  He smiled slightly and cupped his hands: "Brother He, I have some business to attend to down the mountain, and I'll trouble you to see me off at the outer gate."

  The crane surprisingly could understand human language, nodding its head up and down, then turning around, spreading its wings, revealing its elegant and beautiful back.

  "Excuse me."

  Ning Feng let out a sigh of relief, knowing he had made the right decision, and climbed onto the crane's back.

  The next moment, a crane's cry shook the sea of clouds, and Ning Feng rode his crane down from the heavenly clouds.