[{"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-203":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},2292166,4481,"Chapter 203","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-203",203,"\u003Cp>Bei Tian couldn’t make sense of it and hurriedly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly is going on? I don’t understand what you’re saying. We’ve finally arrived—why leave so soon? That would be a waste. I think the toxins in the air aren’t that serious; at least, we haven’t been significantly affected yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk nodded; he thought much the same as Bei Tian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan sighed: “The last time I saw the water serpent beast in the cold pool, it was gray, without scales, and no fleshy bulge on its head. Don’t you think it’s evolving toward a jiao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded; the moment he saw the water serpent beast, he had thought of this too—though jiao-class creatures aren’t beast-class, but demon-class, and of high rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the water serpent beast is only evolving toward jiao form, not possessing the immense power of a true jiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A jiao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Tian exclaimed in disbelief: “A serpent beast trying to become a jiao? That takes thousands of years—it shouldn’t be possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk shook his head: “It’s definitely not a jiao. If it were—even a fifth-rank jiao—we four would all die in the cold pool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan nodded: “I also think it’s not a jiao, but haven’t you noticed how fast the water serpent beast is changing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s expression turned grave: “I think I understand what you mean—you’re saying this place, due to some special reason, is causing the water serpent beast to rapidly evolve toward jiao form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan sighed: “It’s the only possibility. It’s been less than two months since our last visit—how could the water serpent beast change so drastically?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not the main concern. I’m most worried that Master Fang sensed the toxins in the air have grown stronger—and they’re now interfering with the formation of righteous qi. We stayed here for days last time and never felt this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this place has changed since our last visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t be certain whether the toxins will keep intensifying—or if other variables are at play.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, leaving now is the safest choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Tian shook his head: “I don’t support this. The Scorched Lands are dangerous everywhere; to gain opportunities, you must take risks. Maybe we’re overthinking it—Master Fang’s perception might be wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t targeting Lu Fang; on the contrary, he liked Lu Fang very much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still stood by his own view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was only a sixth-rank, third-stage Confucian scholar—how could he perceive what all of them had missed? Bei Tian naturally doubted Lu Fang’s perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan said nothing, but turned her gaze to the Five Precepts Monk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk paused, then murmured a Buddhist chant: “Since we’ve come, let us stay. Leaving now does feel regretful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan sighed and looked at Lu Fang: “Master Fang, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang didn’t answer. Instead, he frowned toward the barrier’s direction. Though the mountain blocked his view, his powerful “presence” perception told him someone had entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many barbarian demons had entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was a particularly familiar aura—Song Ce, possessed by a deity! How did he end up here, allied with barbarian demons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to ponder further. Lu Fang relayed everything he sensed—except that he recognized Song Ce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Tian hesitated: “Master Fang, are you certain you sensed a large group of barbarian demons entering? How could you perceive them from this distance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain was vast, so they were far from where they’d entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang claiming to sense them from so far away made Bei Tian doubt him—and even Jiang Yuan and the Five Precepts Monk were skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go see if it’s true or not,” Lu Fang said without further explanation, leading the way toward the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan shrugged: “Going to check is fine. I don’t think Master Fang would lie—maybe he truly has unique perception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk and Bei Tian exchanged a glance, then nodded. All three followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a large boulder at the mountain’s peak, they found Lu Fang. Jiang Yuan leapt onto the rock and followed his gaze—seeing that the barrier had receded even farther, she frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The barrier didn’t move on its own. Someone must be approaching it, forcing it to retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk and Bei Tian saw the same sight. They finally began to believe Lu Fang’s claim—perhaps a group of barbarian demons had indeed entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream echoed from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan narrowed her eyes: “They must have gone into the poison mist zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bei Tian instinctively touched the lingering scars on his body, shuddering: “What do we do? While they’re distracted by the barrier, should we slip away quietly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d truly not wanted to leave before—but now it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lu Fang was right and a group of barbarian demons had arrived, they’d likely clash with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be disastrous for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving now was the best option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Precepts Monk looked at Lu Fang, who was deep in thought: “Master Fang, can you sense how many barbarian demons there are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled bitterly: “About a hundred. All elite—average realm around fifth rank, with a few at fourth rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan and the other two fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred barbarian demons, each around fifth rank—not even counting the few fourth-rank ones. Their combat power was incomparable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If conflict erupted, there’d be no doubt—they’d be captured or killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their worry, Lu Fang said: “And if we try to leave now, there are too many unknowns. If the barbarian demons spot us, the entrance is too small—any movement will be noticed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think crossing to the other side of this mountain is better. It’s a vast, endless range—hiding there seems safer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His combat power was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But facing a hundred barbarian demons, most higher-ranked than him—even Lu Fang had no confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with Song Ce among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew what special tricks he might have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan nodded: “I agree with Master Fang—this is the best option now. The area’s huge; hiding here, the barbarian demons might never find us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then added: “But it’s strange—why are these barbarian demons united in coming here? How much do they know about this unknown lesser realm behind the barrier?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1043,"2026-06-20T03:56:22.339Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cff8dc56aae19a803807f34e131077ebbb01e69ec4f7c15ddd643c1c5aec986b","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-204","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-202",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]