[{"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-61":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},2292024,4481,"Chapter 61","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>Lu Fang swiftly flew over a mountain, then his eyes sharpened—he spotted a white bubble far below at the mountain’s base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any trace of ancient divine arts existed, it would be within such white bubbles; these bubbles were the largest, and the celestial treasures obtained from them were the most precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling it a “bubble” was inappropriate—it covered an enormous area; from afar, it resembled a pure white, massive barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such third-tier trace sites often carried grave safety risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering required extreme caution against ferocious monstrous beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who reached the Lesser Upper Realm was no ordinary cultivator of the Seventh Realm; yet even they would retreat three steps upon encountering powerful beasts within semi-transparent bubbles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think of how treacherous it was!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang had no such concerns—his perception of “Shi,” the speed of Xuanjia, and the full-power Qinglong Yanyue Zhan meant even if he met a beast, he could casually slay it with one slash—his unique advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dove straight down and plunged into the bubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Lu Fang stabilized his form inside, he locked eyes with a monstrous centipede, dozens of zhang long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its copper-and-iron-like shell curled tightly; upon sensing the intruder, it reared its head high like a serpent and emitted a low-frequency hiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede charged at Lu Fang with terrifying momentum, its claws—sharp as steel nails and densely packed—swiped wildly, determined to tear the human apart and consume him as nourishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yingyue Sword pierced the air, its luminous blade trembling slightly as it shot forward like wind and lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang! Sparks flew everywhere!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede’s shell was as rigid as steel alloy; even though the Yingyue Sword dealt extra damage to demons and monsters, it failed to pierce its carapace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was the might of monstrous beasts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If another Seventh Realm cultivator faced this centipede, they could do nothing but flee the bubble—there was no way to inflict meaningful harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang had anticipated this—the Yingyue Sword was merely to buy time; already, he had gathered the power of his Two Souls for the Qinglong Yanyue Zhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He furrowed his brow, gripping his hands tightly as he brought them down in a chopping motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The solid, lifelike blade of Guan Yun Chang slashed downward—the blade qi moved so fast it seemed to rip through space, visibly warping the air along its path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede sensed danger and tried to dodge, but its body was too long; it could only hastily curl its abdomen, using its hardened dorsal carapace as a shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The diamond-hard carapace split cleanly in two under the blade qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black blood gushed from the severed head and tail, splattering across the ground, causing grass, trees, and flowers to wither instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the centipede was not dead—its head segment shot into the dense forest at the mountain’s base with lightning speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stared in astonishment—the survival ability of monstrous beasts was too formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the bubble not formed a barrier to trap it, with the thick forest as cover, it might have escaped entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede, having taken a severe blow, had no strength left to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang rose into the air, guarding against a final desperate strike, and slowly wore down its blood with the Yingyue Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centipede spat a cloud of poison and collapsed with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a nuisance,” Lu Fang swept his sleeve—his righteous qi transformed into a gentle wind, forming a vortex over the poison cloud and sweeping it far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting a moment, he approached and collected the two segments of the centipede’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most beasts within bubble barriers were toxic; he had specifically set aside a storage pouch for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every part of a monstrous beast was valuable—most materials could be refined into various Ink Treasures, rivaling the worth of rare herbs and precious ores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the bubble here shattered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang resumed his treasure hunt, relying on his formidable strength and the replenishing qi of scholarly energy to swiftly enter and exit nearby semi-transparent and white bubble barriers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when facing extremely troublesome beasts or mining rare ores, he spent no more than fifteen minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On average, he cleared one bubble barrier every half-minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the sheer number of beasts, others typically spent an entire day—accounting for rest and recovery of strength and righteous qi—to barely manage three bubble entries and exits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang, however, could enter dozens of bubbles in a single day; fortunately, he carried enough storage pouches, or he’d have no place to store the celestial treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Fang stepped out of another bubble, he saw Tao Yidie sitting on a tree branch, idly swinging her legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Yidie grinned, revealing her sharp canine teeth, placing a hand to her mouth like a trumpet:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Wenguan—it really is you! I knew only someone with such power could clear out all the nearby bubbles—I just slew a beast inside one myself, and now all the big bubbles are gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled faintly: “The bubbles here are gone, but farther out there are still more. Why aren’t you seeking opportunities? Why wait here for me? Are you just checking if it’s really me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Yidie stood on the branch, pointing northward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over there, someone found a five-colored bubble barrier—inside is a fully matured Grade Three Snake Spirit Herb, guarded by a mottled monstrous snake. Several people nearly died inside; now everyone’s at a loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t have a voice-communication talisman, so you probably don’t know—I’m waiting here to tell you. Lord Wenguan, will you go try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A five-colored bubble barrier!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang frowned—knowing others had nearly died inside, he understood the mottled snake’s danger, yet the Grade Three Snake Spirit Herb was still highly tempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When mature, the Snake Spirit Herb sprouts branches at its tip and bears Snake Spirit Fruit; consuming it strengthens the body and neutralizes poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if immature, this herb is a primary ingredient for refining the “Yuanti Elixir”—extremely precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Yidie waved her hand, tugging a flowing ribbon, her toes lightly tapping tree crowns as she sped away, her melodious voice trailing behind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My task’s done. Whether you go or not, Lord Wenguan, it’s your call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang paused in thought, then leapt into the air, becoming a streak of light racing northward—he was heading north anyway; a quick look at the rare five-colored bubble wouldn’t hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mottled snake was certainly dangerous, but others had escaped unharmed—he had no reason to fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about fifteen minutes of travel,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang spotted the five-colored bubble from afar—his eyes brightened; among the transparent, semi-transparent, and white bubbles, it resembled a rainbow orb, its colors flowing like water with every gust of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathtakingly beautiful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Wenguan, you’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Teng stumbled out of the five-colored bubble, still shaken—he spotted Lu Fang landing and offered a bitter smile on his round face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s it like inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Teng grimaced, swallowed a detoxifying pill, and sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t even ask—I thought I’d trick the snake with a feint and steal the herb, but as soon as I entered, poison mist filled the entire space—no one could possibly survive inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1201,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","eeba43c91f9e9b43966763ac66e291a96860d7e8a3ba5d2d6a23a296b15bb243","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-62","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-60",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]