[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-245":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290543,4478,"Chapter 245: Same Script, Shared Rule — One Word, True Realization","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-245",245,"\u003Cp>A pebble the size of a fingertip struck the back of his skull; Ren Wenlie, slightly off-center, fared better, but a bloodswelling rose on the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Jingzhang took several solid hits; his skull had cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both knew they’d been ambushed; Qu Jingzhang spun around immediately, while Ren Wenlie bolted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their different reactions had nothing to do with cultivation base—it was purely a matter of experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Jingzhang had encountered Traveling Cultivators before; he knew never to keep his back turned to Li Banfeng, or it would mean certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie had also seen Traveling Cultivators and knew not to turn his back on Li Banfeng, but his experience centered on Qu Jingzhang—he understood Qu’s temperament and was certain Qu would turn and fight to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ren Wenlie flee, Qu Jingzhang panicked, turned to run too, yet dared not expose his back to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Virtue Cultivator fighting a Traveling Cultivator one-on-one had almost no chance of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was too late to run—Ren Wenlie was already far away, and this bearded man would surely strike the nearest target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While hesitating, Qu Jingzhang barely parried two strikes, then made another foolish decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to reason with Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d simply relied on his martial skill, he might have held out longer; but at this point, still trying to outmaneuver with technique, Li Banfeng would never give him another chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young man, listen to me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Jingzhang’s head landed on the ground; Tang Dao sneered: “Every blade takes a head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the Tang blade flew back to Li Banfeng’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took two steps to catch up with Ren Wenlie, about to strike—when suddenly Ren Wenlie shouted: “Don’t pursue a desperate foe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you going to lecture me on morality again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you think Virtue Cultivators shouting slogans is some kind of magic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withstood all your techniques just now—so what makes you think a single desperate phrase now could stop me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng swung his blade again—but missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was stunned: was it the blade’s fault, or his own hand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung again—and realized neither blade nor hand was faulty; the problem was his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s steps had slowed; ever since hearing Ren Wenlie’s “Don’t pursue a desperate foe,” his feet had unconsciously slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t restraint from moral boundaries, nor mental manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a fact—suddenly formed. Li Banfeng’s speed had been restricted; he could no longer catch Ren Wenlie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie, carrying a relic for escape, his robe swirling into a vortex, vanished swiftly into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng returned to the cave, pondering the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could be certain these two had been sent by the Sage—but their exact identities still needed careful analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were the Sage’s disciples, that proved the Sage had real power; future confrontations would demand constant vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were hired assassins, the situation would be easier to handle—but according to Li Banfeng’s experience, Virtue Cultivators rarely became assassins, and even less so two together; this sect clearly wasn’t suited for such work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that fleeing man—what technique had he used?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One phrase: “Don’t pursue a desperate foe,” and his steps slowed automatically. This wasn’t a Virtue Cultivator’s method; Li Banfeng hadn’t felt any guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d planned to return to Suishenju and ask his wife—but Xiao Yeci had just witnessed the exchange, and recognized the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, that man just now used a Literary Cultivator technique—‘Same Script, Shared Rule.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What level is that technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third-level technique. One of the hardest for Literary Cultivators to master. The practitioner speaks a phrase; the opponent must understand it, must perceive its logic—then that phrase becomes law, becomes a binding rule both sides must obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third-level Literary Cultivator technique?” Li Banfeng was stunned. That old man had clearly been a Virtue Cultivator—yet he used a Literary Cultivator third-level technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci had indeed heard of such cultivators: “Master, it’s said Literary and Virtue are inseparable—there truly are cultivators who practice both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the strength of his ‘See Virtue and Aspire’ technique, that man’s Virtue cultivation was around fifth level, his Literary cultivation above third—such a person was truly formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Xiao Yeci again: “Besides third-level techniques, what other Literary Cultivator techniques do you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s second-level: ‘One Word, True Realization.’ It turns false things into true ones by anchoring them in truths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “I don’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci explained carefully: “It’s hard to grasp, I’ve only heard elders mention a few examples. One story: a Literary Cultivator fought a Virtue Cultivator. The Virtue Cultivator, old and frail, asked the Literary one to let him have three moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Literary Cultivator acknowledged his age and recited an ancient verse: ‘White hair stretches three thousand zhang.’ Instantly, the Virtue Cultivator grew a long head of hair—though not three thousand zhang, it reached over ten meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the fight, the Virtue Cultivator tripped on his own hair and was killed by the Literary one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three thousand zhang of hair? False. But the poem was real. Using the real to make the false real—that’s ‘One Word, True Realization.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Li Banfeng understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen this technique before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Tie Yang’s Three Heroes attacked Zhengjing Village, the sixth-level Literary Cultivator Du Shuping had used it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “No matter how hard you search, you’ll never find your shoes”—and immediately, Zuo Wugang’s shoes were torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yeci continued: “‘One Word, True Realization’ is only second-level, but as hard to master as third-level—perhaps even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both second- and third-level techniques consume cultivation base; if the gap is too wide, no matter how clever the phrase, the technique fails.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Literary Cultivator techniques are hard to learn—but once mastered, they’re terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many such experts did the Sage have under his command?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were all used for alchemy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of alchemy, Li Banfeng took out a Jin Yuandan and swallowed it with a Lanye Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Jin Yuandan equals a hundred days of cultivation; Li Banfeng calculated the pills he’d taken and the time he’d accumulated through travel—his Traveling Cultivation might now be approaching fifth level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Banfeng still didn’t know what fifth-level technique was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew what Traveling Cultivator fifth-level technique was?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that person wasn’t far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached fifth level, combined with Zhaixiu’s cultivation, that’s ten levels total—could ten levels defeat the Sage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage’s disciple was both Literary and Virtue Cultivator; the Sage himself likely was too. If he combined his levels, he’d almost certainly surpass me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he has such power, why hasn’t he struck yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t want to bully the weak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonsense. Exploiting strength to oppress the weak is the most vital survival rule for the powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound by some rule, forbidden to harm ordinary people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Chongkui—he once slaughtered tens of thousands in Haichiling, and was promptly dealt with by the Peddler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possible—but these two cases aren’t the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongkui slaughtered tens of thousands in Haichiling; the Peddler had no choice but to punish him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if this Sage only targeted Li Banfeng, the Peddler probably wouldn’t intervene—such matters are too numerous to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What other reasons could there be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng still couldn’t figure it out—he dragged Qu Jingzhang’s corpse back to the alchemy chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie returned to Shengxian Peak to report, describing the entire battle in En Gong Zhai from start to finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He told mostly the truth, but exaggerated some details—after all, Qu Jingzhang had died, and he alone escaped; if there were no extraordinary factors, it would prove they hadn’t tried hard enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage still lived in the inner chamber; his breathing, wave after wave, never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his breathing steadied slightly, the Sage asked: “You said you didn’t know he was a Traveling Cultivator, so you were caught off guard? Now you know—he’s a Traveling Cultivator—shouldn’t it be easy to deal with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are still difficulties…” Ren Wenlie sweated—he didn’t want to face the Peddler’s senior brother again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage sneered: “After all that, you’re just outmatched. I knew this man’s origins weren’t simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie wiped his sweat: “Then let the other senior brothers…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant: I’m useless—suggest another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage agreed: “Send your eldest brother. Shi Xiang is old—you must accompany him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My eldest brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah,” the Sage laughed, “Do you despise your eldest brother? He raised you all from children—have you forgotten that debt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie felt a pang of shame and said no more; he ran to the peak of Shengxian Peak to summon his eldest brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest brother lived alone, with no servants. Ren Wenlie knocked for a long time—no answer—so he pushed the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front courtyard was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main courtyard was empty. The back courtyard was empty. Finally, in the eastern annex, Ren Wenlie found his eldest brother, Cong Shixiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloated Cong Shixiang was catching insects under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held a small knife and slashed a cut across his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peeling back layers of aged skin, Cong Shixiang fished inside the fat beneath, pulled out a maggot the size of a pinky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maggot had a long, rat-like tail and was coated in dark yellow grease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong Shixiang tossed the maggot into the fire before him; it writhed, and its grease emitted puffs of white smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong Shixiang suddenly felt another itch—he reached the short knife behind his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie stepped forward: “Brother, let me catch the insects for you—give me the knife first, or you’ll cut off your own ear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm… mm…” Cong Shixiang grunted from his throat, then handed the knife to Ren Wenlie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron stench of the blade, the fatty stench of skin, and the unique stench of the maggot mixed into a singular reek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie forced himself to endure the smell, slicing open Cong Shixiang’s flesh, one cut after another, pulling out maggot after maggot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t dig too many; if Cong Shixiang has too many wounds, it will affect his combat ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the maggots in the firepit were roasted about five or six parts done, Cong Shixiang pulled out one and handed it to Ren Wenlie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie waved his hand and said, “Senior brother, you eat it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong Shixiang shoved the plump maggot into his mouth; he had no teeth, so he held it in his mouth, savored it for a long while, then tilted his head and swallowed it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath his throat was a hole, and Ren Wenlie clearly saw the maggot slide down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong Shixiang ate with great satisfaction; he loved this taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating all the maggots, Cong Shixiang stood up from beside the firepit, his dry eyes fixed tightly on Ren Wenlie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Wenlie stepped back two paces, trying to keep as much distance as possible: “Senior brother, let’s go down the mountain. Our master has an errand for us to run.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, heh…” Cong Shixiang laughed twice, then followed Ren Wenlie out of the big house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: How did this old man end up like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1850,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bcafc4ce192d5a3522fc3ae336b3cffe614ee7f76dd02e2d7965325788a72eaa","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-246","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-244",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]