[{"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-173":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},2292136,4481,"Chapter 173","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-173",173,"\u003Cp>Crackling sounds erupted like popping beans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan stretched his muscular limbs vigorously; his physique clearly bore the marks of rigorous cultivation—just this simple stretch revealed terrifying explosive power hidden within his muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was as massive as a humanoid beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s body, strengthened by excessive consumption of scholarly qi, was also extraordinarily robust, yet it hadn’t altered his figure—he was the type who looked lean in clothes but revealed dense muscle when undressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan, by contrast, radiated raw wildness, like a cheetah, exuding intense pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Wenguan, if it’s about composing poetry or elegant prose, I humbly yield and admit my inferiority—but if it’s about climbing snowy mountains, I doubt you’d be my match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan stared directly at Lu Fang, his eyes brimming with provocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was taken aback—he had no prior conflict with this Pan fellow. Could it be that all the Rakshasas of Rakshasa Kingdom were this warlike? Such fierce competitiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xin: “This Rakshasa brat is truly arrogant—he’s trying to impress Xue Rakshasa. Absolutely cannot let him succeed. Teach him a harsh lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded slightly; this time, Mo Xin’s reasoning felt more reasonable. He’d already noticed the subtle dynamic between Pan and Xue Rakshasa when Pan arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan had some fondness for Xue Rakshasa, but she showed no such feelings in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa frowned and said, “Pan, how can you say that? Marquis Wenguan’s cultivation realm differs from yours, and this is his first time climbing a snowy mountain. Do you think this comparison is fair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled at Lu Fang and nodded gently. “Marquis Wenguan, ignore him. Climbing a snowy mountain is grueling—just do your best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled warmly. “Understood. No doubt Your Highness gave that warning for a reason. It’s been a long time—we’ve changed. You’re less unreasonable now, much gentler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa’s cheeks, already flushed from the cold, turned even redder. She fidgeted. “Back in the Seventh-Level Minor Realm, that was just a misunderstanding. I’ve always been approachable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approachable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan nearly choked on his own saliva. He wanted to admit she was right—but no matter how hard he searched his memories, he couldn’t reconcile her with “approachable.” She was cold, not approachable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching how Xue Rakshasa and Lu Fang interacted, he felt both envy and resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Wenguan, climbing a snowy mountain is boring. Won’t you at least race me to the summit? No stakes—just want to see if Confucians really are as physically weak as they say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan finally couldn’t hold back, his words laced with barbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa raised her eyebrows, about to rebuke Pan, when Lu Fang suddenly laughed. “A race is fine. My body is strong too—but climbing without stakes is dull. Let’s wager something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan smirked, tilting his chin upward. “Marquis Wenguan, what a noble spirit. Whatever you wish to wager, I’ll accept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mind, he was certain he wouldn’t lose this mountain-climbing contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he didn’t care what Lu Fang chose to wager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang paused, then pulled out a storage bag. Inside were nearly a thousand mid-grade Five-Element Crystals—gathered from the bubbles in the Seventh-Level Minor Realm. Common items, easy to sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he hadn’t sold them at the Shen Family Auction House last time in Wuyincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were only a fraction—he had four more bags like this in his storage. Betting one bag wouldn’t matter even if he lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many mid-grade Five-Element Crystals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan’s eyes nearly bulged out. He hesitated. “Marquis Wenguan, are you sure you’re wagering these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Lu Fang raised an eyebrow. “A gentleman’s word is binding. Once said, I won’t regret it. Dare you wager?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa, initially stunned, grew calm. In the ancient lands of the Seventh-Level Minor Realm, Lu Fang had gathered the most cosmic-kun qi, and entering the bubbles required such qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many ancient bubbles; Lu Fang had entered and exited nearly all of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many mid-grade Five-Element Crystals? She wasn’t surprised at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t intervene to stop the wager—not because she believed Lu Fang would win, but because she knew Pan couldn’t match such a sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Lu Fang was called “cunning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would avoid plenty of trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dare I wager? Marquis Wenguan, you underestimate me. Of course I’ll wager! How could I refuse such a good deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan declared solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded, tossing the bag full of mid-grade Five-Element Crystals to Xue Rakshasa. “Your Highness, you’ll be the arbiter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa smiled knowingly and turned to Pan. “Since both parties agree to wager, very well—I’ll serve as arbiter. Pan, you must provide an equivalent value as your stake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan frowned. He hadn’t considered the wager’s value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned his storage bag—everything combined couldn’t match a thousand mid-grade Five-Element Crystals. Reluctantly, he pulled out some rare materials and ores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These can’t possibly equal a thousand mid-grade Five-Element Crystals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa insisted firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan’s voice weakened. “These materials are extremely rare, and these ores—I collected them from…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled. “I think they’re equivalent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan froze. Anyone could see the items were wildly unequal—he’d planned to empty his entire storage bag for this bet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Lu Fang agreed they were equal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Rakshasa interpreted this as Lu Fang giving Pan a face-saving out. She admired his masculinity but felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She voiced her concern: “Marquis Wenguan, the stakes are clearly unequal. And you don’t know—Pan’s innate physical talent far surpasses other Rakshasas. His family is the strongest fighting force in Rakshasa Kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In physical cultivation, Pan is top-tier among his peers. And climbing this mountain relies solely on physical strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t matter—but the higher you climb, the more extreme yin energy accumulates, bringing unbearable cold. Yet Pan has an innate affinity for extreme yin energy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is clearly an unfair contest. I refuse to allow this race to proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>",971,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6ea4ce995b5bc58cd8bb9c4c3e4501b767f46bcca71fae661b84627fadaeb4ea","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-174","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-172",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]