[{"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-285":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},2292248,4481,"Chapter 285: Cave Paradise and Blessed Land","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-285",285,"\u003Cp>“There are quite a few Semi-Saints?” Lu Fang’s eyelid twitched; since no battle had broken out, that meant the alien races also had many Semi-Saints—only under roughly equal power conditions would such peaceful coexistence occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Fang walked toward the human camp, a second-rank Confucian cultivator greeted him. Though everyone here was human, they stood in small groups, yet this fat second-rank Confucian stood alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, our realms are similar. If the cave paradise atop the mountain opens, we can watch out for each other, how about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat cultivator suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded and said, “I am Lu Weiyou. What’s the situation here? Is the anomaly atop the mountain a sign that a cave paradise is about to open?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his way here, he had removed his realm disguise, so his current realm was Second Rank, First Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his appearance, he still wore his disguise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his reputation was too great—if anyone discovered he was here, it would be a major disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat cultivator bowed and said, “I am Wu Hao. I’ve only just arrived here myself, but from overhearing the leaders, the anomaly atop the mountain truly signals a cave paradise about to open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For you and me, this is a great opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With so many people here and so many alien races, chaos may break out—perhaps we can gain immense benefits. But the two of us alone won’t suffice. I plan to find a few more to form a temporary alliance. What do you think, Brother Lu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded. “I’m fine with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hao chuckled lightly. “Good. Since our realms are what they are, we wouldn’t dare enter any dangerously deep areas anyway. If we can enter the cave paradise, we’ll just scavenge along the edges—shouldn’t be too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, he began searching nearby for other lone individuals. As more people arrived later, within an hour he had gathered five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All five of them were roughly Second Rank—nowhere near the top here, but if Wu Hao’s plan held, merely lingering on the fringes would be more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five gathered and introduced themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Lu Fang and Wu Hao, the other three were the Daoist Zi Xu Dao Ren and Ling Guang San Ren, and a second-rank martial artist named Liu Tong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The anomaly atop the mountain persisted, even intensifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the elderly leader wearing a white mask turned to face the hundred or so behind him and said, “The cave paradise is about to open. It holds immense opportunities, but also great danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether you enter or not is up to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once inside, we won’t have time to aid you. Life and death are your own. But we’ve reached a temporary agreement with the alien races: those of unequal realms will not interfere with each other—though this only applies to those above Ninth Rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this warning, the white-masked elder paid no further heed to the commotion behind him, instead lowering his head to study page after page of parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse—he froze. The parchment was unmistakable: it was the original manuscript of his “Yawan Xiyouji.” The white-masked elder wore simple cloth robes, his aura hidden yet ever-present, utterly inscrutable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xin’s hyper-sense dared not probe such a Semi-Saint-level presence, fearing detection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Lu Fang was certain: this white-masked elder’s identity was no ordinary one. The original manuscript of “Yawan Xiyouji” was not something just anyone could obtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, among the barbarian-tribe alliance, several barbarians wearing terrifying masks appeared exceptionally noble—none of the surrounding barbarians dared approach these dozen or so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their surrounding space subtly warped, forming a soundproof barrier as they conversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wasn’t it said the Marquis of the Literary Crown would come to this minor upper realm? Why hasn’t he appeared? To leave here, one must find an exit—he probably hasn’t found it yet. Seeing this anomaly, he should have come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who cares? Whether he comes or not—it doesn’t matter. I have little interest in that Great Zhou Marquis. But this cave paradise? I’m very interested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cave paradise must hold rare treasures. If I can obtain one, perhaps I can kill a few human Semi-Saints. I’m particularly interested in their destiny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have any of you noticed which old masters are in the human camp? That white-faced old man looks suspicious. When we enter, let’s all team up and kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m with you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twelve barbarians instantly agreed—they would jointly assassinate the white-masked elder the moment they entered the cave paradise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these barbarians secretly plotted, the light column atop the mountain vanished, replaced by a flood of ten thousand qi currents, which coalesced into images of rare beasts, immortal trees, and jade pools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very center of these ten thousand qi currents, a gate of light appeared—all ten thousand qi currents flowed from this gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, the top experts of both human and alien races surged forward, rushing toward the cave paradise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-masked elder leading the humans, however, appeared oblivious—he remained motionless, still studying the original manuscript of “Yawan Xiyouji,” as if troubled by its content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM! A thunderous crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As those approaching the gate neared it, a shockwave formed from the ten thousand qi currents flung the Semi-Saints backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some powerful ones barely held their ground; the weaker ones, after steadying themselves, spat blood—clearly badly injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?” Wu Hao stared in shock, uncertain. “Even Semi-Saints can’t approach the gate of the cave paradise—how can we possibly get near it, let alone enter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang remained silent. He hadn’t anticipated this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cave paradise was clearly no ordinary place—otherwise, it wouldn’t possess such lethal power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xin: “These fools. The gate of the cave paradise isn’t fully open yet, and they rush in. They’re lucky not to be dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang frowned. “The gate isn’t open yet? But the gate’s already appeared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Xin: “Didn’t you notice the white-masked elder hasn’t moved? When the gate truly opens, he’ll move. And right now, the light gate is merely a silhouette—the moment it opens, there will be clear signs.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1023,"2026-06-20T03:56:22.339Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a28ae6333ce463a236da52b84c58546a7f110a56b18c8ac88609070104843b02","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-286","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-284",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]