[{"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-227":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},2292190,4481,"Chapter 227","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-227",227,"\u003Cp>How could this happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang retreated warily, watching as the grotesque flesh flowed like water through the air toward the final palace at the back of the seal site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the flesh been drawn in by the ancient alien within the hall? Has the ancient alien here awakened?” Zheng Xu’s face showed panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder he was so alarmed—one ancient alien, Wu, had nearly wiped them all out; if more were released, what would become of them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xu’s second thought was why Pan’s power was so immense—he had driven Song Ce, who had just entered the Fourth Rank, Second Stage, into a desperate retreat, and nearly killed the ancient alien Wu in an instant. This puzzled him deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s expression was equally grim. Even though they had slain the ancient alien Wu, Song Ce—the scourge—had not been eliminated, and they still could not reach the final palace. He did not know whether Song Ce would release other ancient aliens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he thought this, a flash of light erupted from his body, and a powerful heartbeat rang out. He froze, his body involuntarily soaring into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn! I’ve lost control of my body! Is this the ancient alien’s doing? No—why is the heartbeat so loud? Is this the Demon Heart’s work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s face turned pitch black, for his body was now drifting toward the first great hall—the blinding golden seal light that had instantly obliterated any demon or barbarian who touched it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you trying to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart’s voice held a hint of delight: “This is a rare opportunity. Didn’t you want to reach the final palace of the seal site? Just now, the ancient alien there used its ability to draw the flesh over—I’ve just observed how to get there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang said grimly, “I only want to know: when did you gain the power to control my body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart sounded anxious: “Now is not the time to explain. Don’t worry—I won’t harm you. On the contrary, a great fortune awaits you. I’m about to unleash most of my power—be careful of the golden light.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, no matter how Lu Fang questioned it, the Demon Heart remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the turn of events was so sudden, and because Lu Fang had already been close to the first great hall, he had no time to use any ability to break free before entering the golden light’s range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, he dared not act rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly broke free and was obliterated by the golden light, he’d die a fool’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, as the Demon Heart had said, it used the power of his cultivation source to resist the golden light. The instant Lu Fang touched it, he felt only a warm, pleasant sensation—not the slightest discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He floated gently, like a kite, drifting past each palace until he arrived before the final palace of the seal site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Ce!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s first sight was Song Ce, hovering above the largest palace. For some reason, the golden light of the hall did not harm him. From his body extended countless thick, tentacle-like tubes, woven from divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These tubes plunged deep into the palace, greedily sucking something out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that we’ve reached the final palace, let me down immediately. This is a perfect chance—I’ll kill Song Ce, and no more surprises will arise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart did not stop Lu Fang. Instead, it carried him up above the largest hall and explained: “Under these circumstances, you cannot kill Song Ce. Do you know what he’s doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s entire body was paralyzed; he could only blink his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart went on: “This Song Ce is truly a genius—I never imagined he’d come up with this method. He’s currently draining the life force and cultivation source of every ancient alien sealed within this hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why his realm has risen so fast? I suspect he’s been stealing others’ cultivation fruits this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I never thought one could use such a special technique to drain the life force of sealed ancient aliens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s heart lurched. One palace didn’t hold just one ancient alien—and though all were in slumber, if Song Ce drained them all, his power would surge uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is he trying to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart chuckled softly: “Didn’t I tell you before? This place is a great fortune for you. If Song Ce can do it, so can I now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang caught the implication and sneered: “I understand—you plan to use my body to drain the sleeping ancient aliens in the hall? You’re ridiculous. Is this my great fortune? Or yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Heart gave a dry laugh: “When I grow stronger, you grow stronger too—it’s no difference. Your flesh is too weak, and there are other special reasons. If you were to drain those ancient aliens, it would harm you, not help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Fang could respond, thick, blood-red tentacles, like octopus limbs, erupted from his own body and plunged straight into the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful heartbeat sounded again. Lu Fang, as if hypnotized, felt his eyelids grow heavier. Unconsciously, he fell asleep, murmuring silently: “Ink Brush Realm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Fang opened his eyes again, he stood in the pitch-black Ink Brush Realm. He looked up at the colossal brush standing vertically in midair and cried urgently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Realm Spirit, the Demon Heart I told you about—it’s no longer under control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant brush swayed slightly, and a voice echoed directly into Lu Fang’s ears: “I already know everything. But it seems you don’t truly wish to destroy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang frowned. In truth, his fear of the Demon Heart outside had been an act. As soon as he sensed its danger, he had immediately contacted the Ink Brush Realm’s Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Realm Spirit could destroy the Demon Heart—but Lu Fang would have to pay fifty years of his lifespan. In this world, unless one became a Half-Sage and gained centuries of life, no one—even the most skilled in longevity arts—could live beyond one hundred and fifty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the limitation imposed by this realm upon humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing fifty years of life was therefore critical to Lu Fang. He had no desire to become a seventy-year-old man unless absolutely forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang asked: “The Demon Heart has helped me considerably. Destroying it outright feels wasteful, and I don’t want to pay such a heavy price. But now, it’s growing increasingly uncontrollable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s currently using my body to drain the sealed ancient aliens. Once it succeeds, it will grow even stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it say it can drain my cultivation source to cultivate. Realm Spirit—can you stop it from doing that?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1133,"2026-06-20T03:56:22.339Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","099d3995cdf75ff49ecd01113e22c18d60d4a164981f32839c329667404f341b","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-228","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-226",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]