[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-145":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"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},2292108,4481,"Chapter 145: A Sword","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-145",145,"\u003Cp>The ox-horned red-eyed demon trapped in the mirror array also sensed the immense pressure emanating from Lu Fang outside the array, its eyes clearly showing signs of agitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang grunted: “Keep it occupied as much as you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he swallowed the aura of scholarly energy and began gathering power for the Dragon-Slaying Slash in his transformed state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the pressure from his transformed state was too overwhelming—not something his current realm should possess—he moved slightly slower while gathering the soul-strengthening strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, based on what they’d seen so far, as long as nothing went wrong, it shouldn’t be a major issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus on gathering your attack—I’ll handle the rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu replied confidently, swiftly forming hand seals; within the array, countless mirrors suddenly appeared, intent on trapping the ox-horned red-eyed demon inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ox-horned red-eyed demon grew even more agitated, its breaths spewing like scorching flames, its brown fur standing on end, and its crimson eyes narrowing into blood-red pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, it halted in place, its chest heaving violently, and the chains around its waist seemed to vibrate as if colliding with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, black mist began to form around it, and in an instant, the black fog completely engulfed the ox-horned red-eyed demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Qingzhu was baffled; just as she was about to summon a gale to disperse the mist, a massive shadow appeared a pace before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar sound of chains, the blood-red eyes—the ox-horned red-eyed demon, which should have been trapped in the array, had appeared before her without her noticing, and so close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could this be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Zhao Qingzhu had this thought, the mirrors within the array began cracking, one by one—crack, crack, crack—the sound of shattering glass never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she didn’t know how the ox-horned red-eyed demon had done it, it was clear now: it had forcibly broken out of the array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this its true speed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s too fast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Zhao Qingzhu realize she had overestimated the demon—but still underestimated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was several tiers stronger than she had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had its power grown over these past dozen years?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the enraged ox-horned red-eyed demon before her, Zhao Qingzhu felt overwhelming sorrow—she was finished. She would never see her daughter again. She would die here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ox-horned red-eyed demon’s furious crimson eyes stared coldly at Zhao Qingzhu—but just as it was about to strike, a crushing pressure like a tidal wave surged forward, shoving it back several paces until it barely managed to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang had abandoned his power buildup and used the force of heaven and earth to save Zhao Qingzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be other chances to kill the ox-horned red-eyed demon, but if Zhao Qingzhu died, Lu Fang could never accept that outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu paused in shock, but quickly recovered; as soon as the ox-horned red-eyed demon regained its footing, she fled toward Gubao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ox-horned red-eyed demon did not pursue her, but turned without hesitation toward Lu Fang, who was once again gathering power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragon-Slaying Slash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his transformed state, Lu Fang gathered the power of two souls and slashed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the ox-horned red-eyed demon was prepared; it deliberately used the chains around its waist to deflect the blade aura, and merely retreated a few steps—unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang cursed under his breath and fled toward Gubao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reverted from his transformed state, entered Gubao, swayed unsteadily, and felt weakness—but since the pressure he’d used wasn’t as intense as last time, he didn’t faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant he could now consume the aura of scholarly energy to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang shook his head, glanced out the window at the enraged ox-horned red-eyed demon, and said gravely: “We thought this would be easier. It’s too strong—and its chains seem to be a supreme treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it can wield those chains, even if nothing had gone wrong just now, I don’t think we could have killed it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu fell silent; she had seen everything herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she were to speak plainly, this situation was already a dead end—the power the ox-horned red-eyed demon had shown was truly unsolvable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Fang said, even if nothing had gone wrong, even if they’d managed to wound it, don’t forget—it possesses immense healing ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she felt it had grown stronger after being wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t imagine what it would become if it grew stronger again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for Gubao, she and Lu Fang would already be two corpses tonight, let alone killing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You shouldn’t have come,” Zhao Qingzhu said sadly. “To save me, you’re trapped here too. If Ling’er finds out you didn’t get out, she’ll be heartbroken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang offered a few words of comfort, sat cross-legged on the ground, and began consuming the aura of scholarly energy to recover. Outside, the ox-horned red-eyed demon was present, so he didn’t worry about any spirit coming to ambush them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what troubled him was that he truly had no idea what to do now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the rule here required Zhao Qingzhu to kill the ox-horned red-eyed demon to break the seal, it was utterly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s too powerful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So powerful it felt hopeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps if Lu Fang broke through into the fourth rank, there might be a slim chance—but that would take much time, and even then, only a faint possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he thought in this chaotic way, dawn arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ox-horned red-eyed demon was dragged away again by its chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, the spirit arrived outside Gubao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, Lu Fang had already consumed the aura of scholarly energy and was no longer weak; he and Zhao Qingzhu stepped out together, frowning: “What are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit smiled bitterly: “Last night, while you fought the ox-horned red-eyed demon, I watched from nearby—it’s stronger than I imagined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu asked casually: “Have you thought of a way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit nodded and smiled: “At dawn, I followed it to a place. At the edge of the thick fog, there’s a mountain range—it was trapped there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knowing where it is won’t help,” Lu Fang stated firmly. “Its power is too great—we can’t kill it. Even with you added, I doubt it would change anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit agreed: “Wenguan Hou’s power is indeed immense. If you can’t kill it, neither can I. But I saw a sword on that mountain range.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang looked at Zhao Qingzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qingzhu shook her head: “I’ve never gone in the direction the chains dragged the ox-horned red-eyed demon—it’s too dangerous because of its presence. I don’t know anything about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit smiled: “Wenguan Hou, do you think I’d lie under these circumstances? I want to leave this hell too. After watching your battle yesterday, I found it strange—if it’s this powerful, the rule makes no sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’m not mistaken, the sword atop that peak is the key to killing it.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1161,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bb09cec7f996f76c280d3ca1e26618dcaafaae0e84588c5df0717e1610fc79cb","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-146","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-144",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]