[{"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-278":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},2292241,4481,"Chapter 278: I Dreamed of You","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-278",278,"\u003Cp>\"Weak little humans! How dare you defy me?\" the towering alien said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a bolt of lightning slashed across the sky, dispelling the room’s darkness, and Lu Youwei finally saw the alien’s full form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alien’s entire body resembled ice crystals, humanoid in shape but entirely composed of these crystalline structures; ice began forming on the floor around him and spread toward Lu Youwei at an astonishing speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the ice spread too quickly, Lu Youwei had no time to react—his entire body froze into a human-shaped ice statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice crystal alien sneered, extending a finger as if to crush the ice statue into shards—but just as his finger neared Lu Youwei, his body suddenly froze, his expression turning grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he didn’t want to shatter the statue; he simply couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the ice crystal alien could react, a flash of light surged over Lu Youwei, and the ice encasing him shattered into fragments—he was in danger, and the seal on his Infinite Secret automatically lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice crystal alien’s realm was merely Fourth Rank, Third Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was one minor stage higher than Lu Fang, this alien was clearly far inferior to the Fog Calamity tribe he’d previously encountered; the gap between them was vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without invoking the power of the Demon Heart or transforming via the Transcendent Art: Conceal Heaven and Deceive Earth, Lu Fang could still suppress him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is this possible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice crystal alien frowned deeply; though he had broken free from the Heavenly and Earthly Momentum technique Lu Fang had just cast, he now sensed the once-weak human had suddenly grown immensely powerful—and he grew wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first thought: this was a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he also felt a thrill of anticipation—Lu Fang’s realm was only Fourth Rank, Second Stage. To him, a human, even weaker than himself, should be easily defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, that fleeting sensation of the Heavenly and Earthly Momentum technique had left him uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang paid no attention to the ice crystal alien—he turned his back without a single guard, walking toward Li Yu, who lay unconscious on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect opportunity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice crystal alien narrowed his pale gray eyes; a white icy breath shot forth like an ice arrow, striking straight at Lu Fang’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glowing Moonblade transformed into multiple sword flashes, shattering the incoming ice arrows and then hurtling toward the ice crystal alien with unstoppable momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice crystal alien was stunned—the Moonblade was too fast. He couldn’t dodge in time; a wound appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master, let me slay this alien.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Book Spirit Yan Chixia appeared, drawing back the Moonblade with a gesture, his eyes sharply fixed on the ice crystal alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Lu Fang’s realm was Fourth Rank, Second Stage, the Book Spirit Yan Chixia’s realm was Third Rank, Second Stage—easily enough to handle the ice crystal alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He must die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stared at Li Yu, whose brows were furrowed even in unconscious pain, and spoke coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big talk!\" the ice crystal alien shouted—but his body darted toward the door, fleeing. He’d had little confidence in a one-on-one fight; now, with the Book Spirit Yan Chixia added, his confidence vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trying to run?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Book Spirit Yan Chixia transformed into a streak of swordlight and chased after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stood motionless by the bed—he trusted Yan Chixia completely, and with the realm suppression, dealing with an ice crystal alien was no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he lost, he could simply retreat back into the Ink Brush Book Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu! Are you alright? Was it a burglar?\" Qian Zheng entered the room, holding a lantern with grave caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he stepped inside, Qian Zheng shivered involuntarily, astonished: \"What happened, Brother Lu? Why is your room frozen solid? It’s freezing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine. Go back to rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang didn’t turn around; his disguise hadn’t faded, and since Qian Zheng wasn’t a cultivator, he had no idea of Lu Fang’s transformation—he still thought it was just a simple burglary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zheng hesitated, about to leave, when his peripheral vision caught Li Yu on the bed—he gasped: \"How is Master Li Yu here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he could no longer hide it, Lu Fang said: \"An alien chased her here just now—but don’t worry, my Book Spirit has already pursued him and should kill him soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he raised his hand; a flash of spiritual light appeared, and a porcelain vial materialized in his palm—the Holy Righteous Qi Elixir he’d accidentally bought earlier, perfect for healing Li Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu... you...?\" Qian Zheng stammered. How could the impoverished hunter he knew have become a cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had no worldly experience, he recognized that as a storage pouch just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was certain—he hadn’t misseen it. Even if he’d never eaten pork, he’d seen pigs run; and he’d heard Lu Fang say “Book Spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Zhou, even an eight-year-old child knew what a Book Spirit was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a long story. I’m not actually Lu Youwei. You’ve heard my name—I’m Lu Fang, the Marquis of Literary Crown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang immediately removed his disguise, turning to face Qian Zheng, who stood frozen in shock: \"I hope you’ll keep this secret. I may need to lie low here for a while longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes yes yes...\" Qian Zheng swallowed hard, forgetting even how to walk out of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Lu Fang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be true!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zheng was certain of Lu Fang’s face—he had a crude portrait of Marquis Lu Fang hanging in his own room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the Marquis of Literary Crown was in hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Lu’s elegant writings gave off a stronger aura of scholarly fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I dreaming?\" Qian Zheng pinched his cheek hard, chuckled foolishly twice—still, it felt like a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why was there so much noise just now? Was there a burglar?\" Qian Shi hurried out, and as she passed Qian Zheng, she frowned: \"Why are you grinning like an idiot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zheng smiled at her: \"Mother, it’s nothing. No burglar—I just checked on Brother Lu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? Then why was there so much commotion?\" Qian Shi shivered, rubbing her hands: \"Why is it so cold here? Let’s go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, on the other side, after Lu Fang had given Li Yu the Holy Righteous Qi Elixir, she awoke moments later. Seeing Lu Fang, she froze, thinking she’d mistaken her vision—she reached out to touch his face, murmuring: \"Why am I dreaming of you again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment her fingers brushed his face, she stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sensation wasn’t a dream—it was real. But how? Hadn’t she been fleeing from an ice crystal alien?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yu snatched her hand back, trying to sit up—but Lu Fang pressed her down gently: \"You’re still injured. Rest. I’ll stay here with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1148,"2026-06-20T03:56:22.339Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e9805b5fd8cf50f204a12317b455d6316594d0f0ac006afaccee2565fa96fa8b","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-279","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-277",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]