[{"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-172":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},2292135,4481,"Chapter 172: Cultivation on the Snow Mountain","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-172",172,"\u003Cp>“Admiration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled faintly and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found it beneath him to care about Mo Xin—it was even worse than he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang told Yue You about his plan to enter the Snow Mountain for cultivation the next day, and asked this general, who had deep knowledge of Luo Sha, for details about the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yue You heard Lu Fang had been granted permission to cultivate in the Snow Mountain for a month, his face showed surprise; after a moment’s thought, he smiled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That makes sense. Yesterday, Lord Wenguan wrote ‘When Will the Bright Moon Appear?’—a great gift to the Luo Sha King. Reciprocity naturally allows entry to the Snow Mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the Snow Mountain, it is a famous place in Luo Sha, similar to a Small Upper Realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But unlike those places, the Snow Mountain’s space is vast, filled with extreme yin energy that enhances all cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet because its space is so immense, it is also full of uncharted regions—unknown places, full of unknown dangers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added: “Generally, entering the Snow Mountain carries no danger. The first thing the Zhou imperial family’s ghost cultivators do upon arriving in Luo Sha is enter the Snow Mountain to absorb extreme yin energy, which helps them better condense soul force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So entering the Snow Mountain is a good thing,” Lu Fang murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue You affirmed: “Indeed, it is a rare opportunity. Had you not written the Manifest-Level ‘When Will the Bright Moon Appear?’ yesterday, you likely wouldn’t have been allowed in. I’ve heard Luo Sha natives must pass trials to enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, before asking Yue You, he had already decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Places like the Snow Mountain—similar to a Small Upper Realm and ideal for cultivation—he could not afford to miss, especially with Snow Luo Sha accompanying him; he had little concern for danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to his “Internal Cultivation Method,” his strength had risen several tiers; even if danger arose, he was confident he could handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night passed without incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang arrived before the flower-adorned hall and once again saw the snow-covered mountain scene; he could not help but admire it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was truly beautiful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He personally loved snow; aside from the cold, snow made everything feel hushed and still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Wenguan, are you ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha, clad in a wide cotton robe, also gazed at the Snow Mountain, her eyes filled with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m ready to enter anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a white-robed Luo Sha hurried over; he appeared to be in his twenties, with a deep blue trident marked on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pan, why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha frowned slightly upon seeing the white-robed Luo Sha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan bowed to Snow Luo Sha with a smile: “I previously earned entry to the Snow Mountain. When I heard Your Highness was entering today, I thought it best to join—some mutual support wouldn’t hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha did not look at Pan: “Yesterday, Father said I was to accompany Lord Wenguan into the Snow Mountain for cultivation. You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s go together. Lord Wenguan, do you mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan looked at Lu Fang with hopeful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang considered it, then nodded. Though he did not know Pan’s exact background, from the conversation, he seemed to be a noble youth of Luo Sha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely traveling together into the Snow Mountain for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no reason to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan’s realm was Sixth Rank, Third Stage—no real threat to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving his answer, Pan smiled at Snow Luo Sha: “Your Highness, Lord Wenguan has agreed. There should be no issue now, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha muttered irritably, then walked to stand beside Lu Fang and whispered: “Lord Wenguan, let’s go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Lu Fang replied, walking swiftly with Snow Luo Sha toward the Snow Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait for me, Your Highness!” Pan immediately followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Snow Mountain was indeed a wondrous place; Lu Fang had seen it from afar, no more than a few hundred steps away, seemingly within easy reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even at full speed, he had not reached its base after an entire hour—and the closer he got, the more he realized just how vast it truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place was truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It bore a striking resemblance to the Jiezi Mountain in Wenyuan Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second hour, Lu Fang finally reached the mountain’s base. Snowflakes fell from the sky onto his palm, melting instantly, leaving behind cool, refreshing ice water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Snow Mountain is much larger than I imagined, but not as vast as you described—how could it remain unexplored for so long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang voiced his doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha placed a hand on her forehead, tilting her head to gaze at the mountain piercing the clouds, exhaling cold mist: “When you reach the summit, you’ll understand. Our Luo Sha clan has an innate affinity for extreme yin cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, the cold within the Snow Mountain won’t greatly affect us. If Lord Wenguan finds it too frigid, say so immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can find a suitable spot for your month of cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan, unwilling to be ignored, interjected: “If possible, Lord Wenguan should strive to reach the summit—otherwise, your cultivation results will suffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s go see the summit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang replied casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha shot Pan a glare, then turned to Lu Fang: “Lord Wenguan, you should know—it’s no easy feat to reach the summit. Do your best, but you needn’t force yourself to climb all the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan smiled silently, stretching his limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded thoughtfully, about to begin climbing, when Snow Luo Sha stepped forward, holding out a token: “Lord Wenguan has special permission to enter the Snow Mountain for cultivation. Please allow passage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she spoke—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them, where nothing had been, a ripple like water appeared, as if lifting a second layer of an ancient painting, revealing a gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the gate not revealed itself, he would have sensed nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Luo Sha bowed slightly, then pulled Lu Fang through the gate, explaining: “The Snow Mountain contains many unknown regions, filled with dangers. Thus, barriers encircle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To prevent dangers within from escaping, and to keep unqualified individuals from entering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see,” Lu Fang said, glancing around. The Snow Mountain he saw inside the gate was nearly identical to the one outside—no difference at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed no Luo Sha or ghost cultivators controlling the barriers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to one conclusion: the Luo Sha or ghost cultivators guarding these barriers must be extremely powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>",1122,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e14912917e7edbbf864cf07ede03e89a03a4977d37cd7c2fdb527486a6243aa3","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-173","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-171",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]