The Grand Master issued thirteen Talisman Orders. Altogether, no fewer than twenty thousand cultivators came from every direction and poured into the Southern Wastes, restoring mountains and rivers, Transforming the Wasteland into Fertile Land, slaying demons, and sweeping away evil influences. Everywhere bustled with vigorous activity.
Six months passed in this fashion.
The Xun River's original course had begun to take shape again. Although the rubble on its bed had not been entirely cleared, the riverbed's general outline was there. They could let the water through first, reconnecting the upper and lower reaches, linking the whole West River, and restoring waterborne transport across the Southern Wastes.
As for the rocks remaining in the river, there would be time to dredge them out slowly after the water flowed. Moreover, the Xun River had long been occupied by the Demon Cult, and many filthy things lay submerged beneath its waters. This reopening of the river was also an opportunity to reinforce its bed, clear out silt and filth, gather up bones, and deliver drowned ghosts, all in one undertaking. That made haste even less possible. Along the rivers upstream of the Xun River, they had followed the natural terrain over those six months and excavated seven great lakes in total:
Stone Auspicious Lake was created on the lower Peach Blossom River, with four canals, turning barren, rocky hills and drylands into green waters and verdant mountains.
Happy Shoal Lake was created on the north bank of the lower Red Water River, with two canals, turning a hundred miles of swamps and treacherous shoals into a clear, placid lake. Great Dragon Lake was created on the south bank, with six canals. It had originally been a natural underground cavern, the sanctuary of the Southern-School Demon Sect's Corpse-Hiding Cave. Once the demons had been