[{"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-37":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},2292000,4481,"Chapter 37","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>“From your tone, you’re not even sure if there’s a shortcut—yet you dare spout nonsense here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young brother, did you really gain extraordinary power from reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What shortcut?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think we should let this young brother speak—whether it’s useful or not, we can judge for ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands chimed in, each with their own ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng, who had only just thought of this possibility upon entering Tai Xu Mountain, excitedly raised his hand and pressed downward, signaling silence, then shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone has studied calligraphy or practiced martial arts, haven’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To master them, it’s nothing but repeated learning and imitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I first read the first chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I paid special attention to Guan Yun Chang, because I share his surname.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unconsciously, I imitated the way Guan Yun Chang spoke and carried himself, as if possessed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know when it started, but I had a vague premonition—I might gain some extraordinary power. And just the day before yesterday, when I faced danger, I naturally acquired the Martial Soul: Green Dragon Crescent Blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the Man Sha zone, there were fifteen seventh-rank Man soldiers—I used one Green Dragon Crescent Blade and killed fourteen of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m only an eighth-rank martial cultivator!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng’s facial muscles twitched uncontrollably with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you mean imitation alone can grant extraordinary power? I mean no offense, but so far, no one has gained such power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man with indistinct features stepped forward and continued: “I don’t believe others haven’t immersed themselves in books. The elegance of Wen Guan Hou’s writings speaks for itself—no need for me to elaborate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Heng shook his head repeatedly: “You merely immerse yourselves—I’m talking about imitation. There may also need to be elements of peril…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stared in shock, for just moments ago he had asked Jing Ling—and discovered the “Imitation Role Method” was genuinely effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing most people doubting Guan Heng, Lu Fang hesitated, then decided to lend a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it cost him some literary aura, he was willing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a reward for Guan Heng’s courage and wisdom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look over there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So much literary aura swirling around—is Tai Xu Mountain acknowledging his imitation method?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you really gain extraordinary power this way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd’s exclamations, a half-foot-long strand of literary aura appeared around Guan Heng, spun several times, then merged into his own literary aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One strand of literary aura is woven from eighteen one-foot-long strands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While others still had only finger-length strands, the sudden appearance of a half-foot-long strand naturally sparked cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd’s shouts, Lu Fang exited the Tai Xu Illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That half-foot-long strand of literary aura had been given to Guan Heng at the cost of his own—his head had simply overheated and he’d done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It pained him terribly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Year 29 of Tian Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>November 2nd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With winter solstice just days away, the air in the Imperial Capital grew colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the Wenyuan Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On an open patch of ground gathered over a hundred people—mostly those who had earned entry into the Seventh-Rank Small Upper Realm, men and women, Confucians and Daoists alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day the Small Upper Realm opened; its entrance lay beneath the cliff behind the academy, so everyone had arrived early to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yunru has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the arched gate leading into the open ground, a dozen elegant women shrieked in rhythmic unison: “First to arrive—Xiao Yunru!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunru wore a purple-gold trimmed Confucian robe, a jade crown on his head, his handsome face expressionless as he ignored the admirers on either side and strode forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, many bowed and greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, a short fat man and a tall thin man shouted loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short fat man in his Confucian robe said: “So many admirers for Young Master Xiao—truly enviable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall thin man in his blue robe grinned and added: “Young Master Xiao holds the top rank among seventh-rank third-stage cultivators—of course he has admirers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just some common beauties—not worth mentioning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunru spoke these words, yet his smile betrayed his inner delight—even if he claimed indifference, he reveled in being adored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was human nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words had barely ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A commotion erupted at the archway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Word spread: Wen Guan Hou Lu Fang had arrived!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flood of people surged toward the archway—nearly everyone present here was a fan of Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wen Guan Hou!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, they all shouted in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang and He Zixuan had just stepped through the archway and were stunned by the sight—they were surrounded three layers deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rising tide of shouts echoed to the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some screamed hoarsely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some declared their love loudly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others offered more rational greetings…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a full-blown celebrity fan scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Wenyuan Academy guards saw the danger and rushed in to disperse the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was dazed—within just a few incense sticks’ time, his robe had been torn apart; several unscrupulous women had boldly reached out and touched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The morals of this age are in decline!” He Zixuan’s robe was torn too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a line of guards protecting them, many still refused to move away, leaving Lu Fang and He Zixuan unable to take a single step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He just got lucky writing elegant prose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short fat man sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall thin man fawned on Xiao Yunru: “Lu Fang is utterly presumptuous—a mere eighth-rank first-stage cultivator daring to enter the Small Upper Realm. If I meet him there, I’ll make him suffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunru glanced at Lu Fang; a flash of killing intent flickered deep in his eyes as he spoke slowly: “A petty trickster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” Lu Fang sensed something and turned toward the crowd—just in time to lock eyes with Xiao Yunru and catch the fleeting killing intent in his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunru smirked, forming the words silently with his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled—brightly, openly. He didn’t reply with lip movements, nor did he even consider Xiao Yunru a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal in entering the Small Upper Realm was to seize as much fortune as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone foolishly provoked him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was the seventh-rank third-stage top cultivator or some other race, he had full confidence he’d send them packing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, quiet down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mao and Wang Fu, the head and deputy head of Wenyuan Academy, led a group onto the platform—among them were several Daoist priests in their robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reciting an opening speech,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the academy guards distributed positioning talismans and fortune stones to those entering the Small Upper Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Positioning talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once carried, it will guide you toward other talismans nearby, helping you find companions and form groups within the Small Upper Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance to the Small Upper Realm was forcibly opened; a teleportation array was specially arranged to ensure entrants land safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to chaotic currents, entrants are scattered across various locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To maximize survival in the perilous Small Upper Realm, using the positioning talisman to find the nearest person and form a group is the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortune stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the one Master Wang Fu gave Lu Fang, this fortune stone requires righteous qi to activate before it can absorb unclaimed fortune from the Small Upper Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s fortune stone absorbs unclaimed fortune directly and rapidly—only when drawn into the body does it require a touch of righteous qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all preparations were complete,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>several half-sages jointly opened the entrance beneath the cliff from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, dark clouds above spiraled downward like a vortex, their immense pressure pushing everyone backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, resonant bell rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swirling storm vanished; in midair above the cliff, a massive Eight Trigrams diagram appeared—the characters Qian, Kun, Zhen, Gen, Li, Kan, Dui, and Xun slowly rose a hundred zhang, then crashed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eight Trigrams diagram vanished, replaced by a black hole-like entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those selected were engraved with arrays by the Daoist priests standing guard, then leapt one by one into the dark abyss of the Small Upper Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Fang’s name was called, he leapt without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1361,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bd51ccae31cddc8d4c8dd5ea90c00ef95e2d09a3a673cb0ff7ed58f6a448d1c1","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-38","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-36",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]