Shenxiu Mountain

Overview

Shenxiu Mountain (神秀山) is the ancestral mountain (祖山) of the Dragon Springs Sword Sect (龙泉剑宗). Originally located in the sprawling western mountains of Longquan County—the former territory of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven (骊珠洞天)—the mountain was chosen by the Military School Saint Ruan Qiong as the founding site for his sect.

Renowned for its towering height, sea of clouds, and a massive ancient cliff inscription, Shenxiu Mountain served as the sect's core domain and the site of Ruan Qiong's primary sword furnace. Later in the timeline, following a decision by Ruan Qiong and the succession of Liu Xianyang as Sect Master, Shenxiu Mountain was physically uprooted and moved across the continent by powerful mountain deities to serve as the sect's new headquarters in the old Central Peak territory.

Geography and Notable Sites

Shenxiu Mountain is exceptionally tall, piercing through the frequent seas of clouds that blanket the region, causing it to look like an isolated island from afar. It originally stood in a tripartite formation with the neighboring Tiaodeng Mountain and Hengshuo Peak, further bolstered by three nearby mountains (Caiyun Peak, Xiancao Mountain, and Baolu Mountain) leased from Chen Ping'an.

• The Cliff Inscription: The defining feature of Shenxiu Mountain is a sheer, vertical cliff face bearing the four massive ancient characters "天开神秀" (Heaven Opens Divine Elegance). The inscription is so vast that Ruan Xiu, the Eldest Sister of the sect, would occasionally sit comfortably on the first horizontal stroke of the character "天" (Heaven) like a heavenly balcony, eating pastries while overlooking the mortal world below.
• The Sword Furnace: Ruan Qiong maintained his primary forging furnace on Shenxiu Mountain, utilizing the area's dense spiritual energy and materials to forge custom swords for his disciples and the Dali Empire.

History

Founding the Sword Sect

Following the dissolution of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, Ruan Qiong chose Shenxiu Mountain as the site to establish his new sect. The Dali Imperial Court heavily subsidized this endeavor, officially recognizing the mountain as the ancestral peak of the Dragon Springs Sword Sect. Because of Ruan Qiong's strict rules, the mountain remained a quiet, sparsely populated place, hosting only a handful of direct disciples like Dong Gu, Xu Xiaoqiao, and Xie Ling, rather than a bustling cultivation center. Furthermore, Ruan Qiong imposed a strict no-fly zone around the mountain; unauthorized cultivators attempting to fly near Shenxiu Mountain were severely punished.

The Great Relocation

Years later, after Liu Xianyang inherited the title of Sect Master, Ruan Qiong made the private decision to relocate the sect entirely, officially ceding the Longquan region to the rapidly expanding Luopo Mountain.

To accomplish this monumental feat, the Northern Peak Mountain God Wei Bo collaborated with a subordinate Crown Prince Mountain God. Together, they utilized their immense divine authority to physically uproot Shenxiu Mountain and the other sect-owned peaks, moving them completely out of the Longquan jurisdiction and transplanting them into the old Central Peak (Zhongyue) territory of the Dali Empire.

Formation of Huanjian Lake

The physical removal of Shenxiu Mountain and its neighboring peaks left a massive void in the earth of Longquan County. Over time, water naturally filled this colossal crater, creating a vast new lake. While the Dali Ministry of Rites debated official names such as Lizhu Pool or Fanglong Lake, the local populace and cultivation world came to colloquially know the site as Huanjian Lake (还剑湖, Returning Sword Lake) or Luojian Lake (落剑湖), adding a new scenic landmark to the region.

References

• 剑来7：迢迢渡银汉，第五章 — 天真: Details Ruan Qiong's selection of Shenxiu Mountain to found the Dragon Springs Sword Sect, describes the "Heaven Opens Divine Elegance" cliff inscription, and notes the strict no-fly rules around the mountain.
• 剑来17：一洲皆起剑，第五章 — 本命瓷: Describes Ruan Xiu sitting on the first horizontal stroke of the "Tian" (Heaven) character carved into the sheer cliff of Shenxiu Mountain while eating pastries and overlooking the world.
• 剑来32：登高拖虚舟，第二章 — 夜游京城: Details the physical relocation of Shenxiu Mountain; Northern Peak Mountain God Wei Bo and a subordinate mountain god uprooted the mountain and moved it to the old Central Peak territory.
• 剑来41：山青花欲燃，第六章 — 双喜临门: Confirms that the massive crater left behind by the removal of the Dragon Springs Sword Sect's mountains filled with water, forming a giant lake referred to as Huanjian Lake (还剑湖) or Luojian Lake.