[{"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-168":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},2292131,4481,"Chapter 168: Friendly Alliance","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>The Flower War Chariot halted at a floating outer pavilion outside the Luo Sha Palace, decorated to resemble clouds in the heavens, surrounded by colorful flowers, with a single golden palace at its center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Wenguan, you and your companions may rest here. I must return promptly to report, so I won’t overstay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shui Yao performed an unusual hand salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, Envoy Shui Yao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing off the guests, Lu Fang led Yue You and the others into the pavilion to rest; they would soon attend the banquet, which was likely to last a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About two hours later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Luo Sha came to summon Lu Fang and his party; this time, they did not ride the Flower War Chariot but boarded a massive flying bird, resembling an eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived at the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang noticed that, besides the path paved with petals, there were numerous flowerpots scattered throughout, much like the palaces of the Great Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same white stone flooring, the same hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the main hall, chairs and tables were arranged on left and right, laden with all manner of fruits, melons, and wines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the Luo Sha King and Queen seated on the main throne, all officials at the side tables stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang led his group forward, bowed to the Luo Sha King, exchanged a few formal pleasantries, then presented the gifts he had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha King laughed: “Lord Wenguan, I’ve long heard of you; today I see you are indeed a man of distinguished bearing. Your long journey must have tired you—please, be seated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Luo Sha King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed again and, guided by the attendants, took the first seat closest to the Luo Sha King; as the Great Zhou’s envoy, this placement was entirely appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha King waved his hand: “All of you, take your seats! Today is a grand day for our Luo Sha Kingdom—no need for excessive formality!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everyone was seated, Lu Fang noticed Shui Yao sitting beside him; logically, she shouldn’t have been here, but as the reception envoy and someone connected to him, she had been deliberately seated here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not many were seated here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most were the Luo Sha Kingdom’s pillars, and nearly ninety percent were Luo Sha; only a tiny fraction were ghost cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xue Luo Sha was not present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As music slowly began to play, a line of women in palace attire stepped to the front and began to dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Wenguan, if not for you in the Seventh-Class Minor Realm, Prince Xue and I would have been in grave danger—thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shui Yao raised her cup and clinked it with Lu Fang’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled and raised his cup: “You’re too kind. In the Minor Realm, if not for you and Prince Xue, I wouldn’t have gained such a rare opportunity. By the way, is this a unique Luo Sha dance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed at the dancers before him; their movements lacked soft grace, instead radiating strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dancers held skull ornaments, resembling shamanic rites of blessing, yet their motions were far more elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve never seen this before?” Shui Yao explained. “This is our Luo Sha Kingdom’s unique blessing dance. Does the Great Zhou not have something similar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded with a smile: “We have similar blessing dances, but they differ somewhat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shui Yao chuckled lightly: “If you want the best dancer, it’s undoubtedly Prince Xue—her dance is universally recognized as the finest in Luo Sha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was surprised: “Really? I never noticed. So Prince Xue is such a gifted dancer—I hope I get to see her perform someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mind, Xue Luo Sha was the type who was carefree and boisterous; imagining her dancing made him barely suppress a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blessing dance ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha King turned to Lu Fang and smiled: “Lord Wenguan, I’ve read all your elegant writings, but alas, I cannot perceive their literary aura—if I could, I would make the Great Zhou’s Literary Gazette widely circulated in Luo Sha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard that since the Literary Gazette spread through the Great Zhou, many have gained cultivation power and literary aura, greatly boosting the nation’s overall strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once worried the Demon and Barbarian tribes might unite and invade your northern and southern borders, but they suffered a crushing defeat upon meeting you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was thanks largely to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed: “It was merely fortune. Before I departed, His Majesty instructed me to convey his greetings to you and to express his hope that the Luo Sha Kingdom and the Great Zhou will forever remain friendly allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally,” the Luo Sha King boomed. “Lord Wenguan, you don’t know how ambitious these Demon and Barbarian tribes are—they’ve reached even into Luo Sha territory. Recently, I uncovered several traitors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang replied: “The Demon and Barbarian tribes have always harbored a mindset of plunder. They never hide their ambitions; every Demon and Barbarian knows they must seize the Great Zhou and become masters of this world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Majesty often says that if the Demon and Barbarian tribes would simply remain in their northern and southern borders, there would be far fewer wars and far fewer deaths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But from their recent actions, it’s clear they’ve united—determined to settle matters with the Great Zhou once and for all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the Great Zhou must match their strength. His Majesty is benevolent and wishes to avoid unnecessary war, but he will not fear such provocation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha King nodded with a smile: “Lord Wenguan, drink. Taste our Luo Sha Kingdom’s unique Hundred Flower Wine—it carries a delightful floral fragrance and enhances cultivation and helps break through realms, even surpassing the Bodhi Fruit Wine of the Buddha Kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have some sent with you when you return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Xue that girl recklessly entered the Seventh-Class Minor Realm last time, it was your aid that saved her. These Hundred Flower Wines are my thanks—please don’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed: “Then I shall not refuse your generous gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, as he drank the Hundred Flower Wine, his first instinctive thought was: if possible, he’d bring some back for Li Yu to taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed she would love its flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha King’s gift of the Hundred Flower Wine perfectly aligned with his own desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luo Sha Queen smiled at Lu Fang and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xue heard you were the Great Zhou’s envoy and was delighted for days. She kept telling me about your heroic rescue in the Seventh-Class Minor Realm—under her recommendation, I read your writings and was utterly captivated. Lord Wenguan, you truly are gifted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed: “In the Seventh-Class Minor Realm, I was greatly aided by Prince Xue—she is truly extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s too reckless,” the Luo Sha Queen laughed. “If her actions ever troubled you, please bear with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you weren’t even Seventh-Class Third Rank then—yet now you’ve reached Sixth-Class Second Rank. Isn’t your cultivation supposed to be restricted by Heaven’s Mandate?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1171,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c318c43a4e032ffc0fef7ff96baf9c8551568cb79fccb3b187687f482ec5721a","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-169","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-167",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]