Chapter 194: Rainbow Anomaly

Lu Fang smiled faintly and did not explain to Mo Xin; he scanned Lin Chong up and down, and information about this figure flooded his mind.

Lin Chong (Sixth Rank, Third Stage)

Possesses extraordinary ability: Thunderbolt Eighteen Spears (teachable)...

After reading the character's description, Lu Fang sighed softly; the clay figurine reward granted upon finishing Water Margin was another form of Book Spirit.

It had advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, the Book Spirit Yan Chixia was closer to Lu Fang—he could freely enter the Ink Brush Book Realm with Lu Fang's permission, and he could ascend alongside Lu Fang's cultivation realm.

In battle, Yan Chixia drew upon Lu Fang's momentum and physical strength; the two were interconnected.

But Lin Chong could not enter the Ink Brush Book Realm; he existed as a true individual, most notably because he did not consume Lu Fang's momentum or physical strength.

They were still connected, but only through mental resonance.

For example, Lin Chong would obey Lu Fang's orders—even if someone threatened him with death or bribed him, it would have no effect on this character.

Outside of obeying his commands, Lin Chong displayed strong independent thought...

Lu Fang smiled in satisfaction; beyond instantly knowing Lin Chong's data, he also learned that Lin Chong's extraordinary ability—Thunderbolt Eighteen Spears—could be taught to disciples.

No wonder he was called the Eighty-Thousand Troop Instructor.

Don't underestimate this extraordinary ability; under teachable conditions, Lin Chong could command an entire force, each soldier equipped with the extraordinary ability—Thunderbolt Eighteen Spears.

Just imagining this made Lu Fang's breath quicken.

He had originally thought building his own faction would take many years; with these one hundred and eight generals, he could accelerate that plan significantly.

Forming a faction as early as possible was best.

Lu Fang did not rush to drip blood on all the clay figurines; after all, this was the capital of Da Zhou—if so many figures suddenly appeared, someone would surely take notice.

He himself was already a focal point in the capital; he had no desire to invite trouble.

With a wave of his hand, he stored the remaining one hundred and seven clay figurines, his gaze returning to the draft of Water Margin.

Once he finished writing Water Margin, he could re-enter the Ink Brush Book Realm to obtain a new book.

Mo Xin: "Your elegant prose is complete, and you've gained an extraordinary ability. Since you have time now, why not consider going to the Scorched Lands? If you ignore the penalty's aura for another day, it could grow immensely—stop hesitating."

"I will go to the Scorched Lands, but not now," Lu Fang said, then ignored Mo Xin and closed his eyes, silently chanting "Ink Brush Book Realm" three times.

To be honest, Mo Xin's existence had little impact on him, because it could not perceive the Ink Brush Book Realm at all.

Entering the Ink Brush Book Realm, everything remained the same: ink-black sky, ink-black earth, and books shimmering with colored spiritual light.

Due to the spread of the Da Zhou Literary Gazette and the growing number of people in the Grand Void Illusion, Lu Fang now possessed one hundred and fifty strands of book fragrance; even after accounting for the one hundred and seven strands needed for the clay figurines, he still had forty-three strands left.

For the short term, he was not short on book fragrance.

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Fang tried using two strands of book fragrance as bait—he had plenty, so he didn't care if it was wasted.

If he caught a book spirit of high realm, he'd be richly rewarded.

Thinking it through, he summoned his ink-bamboo rod, strung on two strands of book fragrance as bait, and cast it above the book spirits; after several attempts, he no longer bothered searching for suitable ones—that only led to disappointment.

He'd leave it to fate.

After all, he didn't know the exact realm of any book spirit.

The moment Lu Fang cast the book fragrance bait above the book spirits, one immediately leapt into the air and seized it.

"A cloud-riding, mist-riding book spirit! Perfect!"

Lu Fang had noticed this book spirit before, but he hadn't expected to actually catch it—its realm was clearly high.

Was it because his own realm had risen to Sixth Rank, Third Stage?

After all, as his cultivation advanced, so did the maximum realm of book spirits he could catch.

After the cloud-riding book spirit swallowed the two strands of book fragrance, a flood of memories surged into Lu Fang's mind.

"It's really this book."

Lu Fang was ecstatic, his heart pounding as if it might burst—once he wrote this book, even a single extraordinary ability would let him walk the world unchallenged.

Satisfied, he exited the Ink Brush Book Realm, seized paper and brush, and wrote the title on the first page: Journey to the West.

Yes, the book he had drawn was Journey to the West—one of the Four Great Classical Novels; in his past life, it was universally known, and nearly everyone in his generation had heard of it.

Moreover, its stories belonged to the realm of myth.

The realms depicted within it were nearly the pinnacle.

Lu Fang could hardly believe he had drawn this book so quickly—barely had he written the three characters "Journey to the West" when a pillar of rainbow light shot into the heavens.

An anomaly had appeared when he wrote Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

But no anomaly occurred when he wrote Water Margin; now, as he wrote Journey to the West, the anomaly returned.

The vast rainbow light pillar pierced the clouds; everyone in Jingcheng turned to gaze at it, seeing three giant characters glow upon the aurora: "Journey to the West," radiating ten thousand rays of light that engulfed the entire capital.

This anomaly was terrifyingly large.

Not only did everyone in Jingcheng witness it—people in the surrounding regions noticed it too, all whispering in speculation about its meaning.

The Imperial Palace.

Before Taihe Hall.

Emperor Zhou, immersed in reviewing memorials, walked thoughtfully outside the palace, gazing at the rainbow pillar rising into the sky, squinting and murmuring: "Has the Marquis of Literary Crown written another elegant prose?"

"Heaven blesses Da Zhou! Marquis of Literary Crown—you have not disappointed me."

"I am truly curious—what kind of elegant prose has he written to summon such a grand anomaly?"

The Chief Eunuch beside him smiled and added: "Your Majesty, shall I send someone to inquire at the Marquis's residence?"

Emperor Zhou raised his hand to stop him: "No, we shall know soon enough."

Similar conversations echoed across Da Zhou—in every region, north and south—some rejoiced, others fretted.

This anomaly signaled that Da Zhou was about to produce an extraordinary figure; all eyes once again turned to Lu Fang.

Perhaps most had forgotten the prophecy of the Ten-Thousand Trees King.

But this anomaly brought it back to many minds.