[{"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-78":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},2292041,4481,"Chapter 78: The Shen Family Heir","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-78",78,"\u003Cp>“Anger you to death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan looked at the broad-ear’s retreating back, a satisfied expression on his face—after being mocked by him earlier, he had finally avenged himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master, please wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu said this, collected the thirty-seven blood ginseng herbs and Huang Gangshi into his storage pouch, and hurried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang did not wait long in the side chamber; he hadn’t even finished one cup of tea when Manager Yu returned, smiling sweetly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master, these are all treasures usable by Confucian Realm cultivators—take a look and see which you like. As for the items you wish to auction, we are currently evaluating their value and will give you a precise price before you leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Manager Yu pulled out several storage pouches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang picked up the first storage pouch, and with a thought, nineteen yellow banners, seven inches long and inscribed with Bagua patterns, floated before him, streams of mysterious light flowing across the flags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu took out a jade pendant and explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Small Imprisonment Flag Set—a fourth-rank array treasure. One main flag, eighteen subsidiary flags, offering three hundred and sixty variations for trapping opponents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This array is simple to learn—you can set it up in moments. If your opponent doesn’t understand arrays, he cannot escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even against an enemy three ranks higher than you, it can hold them briefly, giving you enough time to flee. The only drawback: it has no offensive power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu smiled and added, “For a seventh-rank cultivator like you, I guarantee no array treasure is more suitable than this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was indeed tempted—if he’d had this in the Lesser Upper Realm, he might have defeated the demon barbarians without relying on Lingxiao Daoist’s array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did possess a Grand Confucian treasure, but the gap in cultivation was too vast—he couldn’t unleash its true power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu smiled and said, “Just sixty thousand lower-tier Dao Stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan exclaimed, “Sixty thousand Dao Stones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was also slightly surprised—it was indeed a bit expensive. Had he not acquired so many heavenly treasures in the Lesser Upper Realm, he wouldn’t have dared to even consider it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu chuckled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young master, this isn’t expensive at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can use the Small Imprisonment Flag Set all the way to the Master Realm. Unless your enemy is a Grand Confucian, no one can forcibly break it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The flags let you bypass learning array arts entirely—you just memorize over three hundred variations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who master array arts and possess the talent are exceedingly rare. To learn array arts yourself? Without decades of study, don’t even dream of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Yu hurried to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The flags are decent,” Lu Fang said, stowing the Small Imprisonment Flag Set. “I’ll look at the others first before deciding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang spent the entire afternoon examining them, ultimately deciding to purchase the Small Imprisonment Flag Set and an unranked special treasure: the Puppet Substitute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It consisted of a pair of wooden figurines—one main, one subordinate. When embedded with sufficient Five Element Stones, they activated a teleportation array, instantly transporting the user to either figurine’s location within a hundred-thousand-li range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Grand Confucian treasures, this had no restrictions—it was the ultimate escape artifact. Lu Fang fell for it at first glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its only drawback: it consumed enormous amounts of Five Element Stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Fang wasn’t worried—he had amassed plenty of Five Element Stones in the Lesser Upper Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the alchemy array…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang gave it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just these two treasures cost him two hundred sixty thousand lower-tier Dao Stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Manager Yu, once his consigned items sold, he’d receive about twenty thousand lower-tier Spirit Stones—equivalent to two hundred mid-tier Dao Stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking out of the auction hall, Shen Yuan’s head spun. She looked up at Lu Fang ahead, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly is Lu Brother’s background?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d just spent over two hundred thousand Dao Stones on heavenly treasures like it was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all her life, Shen Yuan had only heard of Dao Stones—currency more valuable than gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To think Lu Fang was an ordinary person? She’d never believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be true that Lu Brother said he’d take her to meet Shen Kangbo tomorrow? It sounded absurd, yet she genuinely felt it might be real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, Shen Yuan didn’t notice and bumped straight into Lu Fang’s back. She rubbed her head. “Lu Brother, why did you stop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shen Yuan saw why: ahead on the street stood a group of Shen family patrol soldiers, blocking the entire road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front: one tall, one small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall one was a woman in her early twenties—her features refined, yet unusually massive, standing seven feet tall. Her loose robe couldn’t hide her bulging muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small one was a seven-year-old boy, thin, making him appear even more diminutive beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy stepped forward, his unbroken child’s voice asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan froze. She’d heard of the Marquis of Literary Crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t eaten pork, but she’d seen it run—several taverns in town had storytellers recounting his legendary deeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, she glanced around—only to find the crowd had scattered, leaving only her and Lu Brother in the open space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Brother… the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you?” Lu Fang asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy sniffed, pointed to the muscular woman beside him, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my master, Shen Squad Leader. I’m Shen Dadan. I heard the Marquis of Literary Crown sold some items at the auction house—my master came specifically to challenge you to a fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you lose, you can’t agree to marry my master, as Grandmaster Shen has arranged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you brave enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Dadan spoke boldly, but his voice and demeanor were timid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd, upon hearing the figures before them were the Marquis of Literary Crown and Shen Squad Leader, erupted in murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That man is the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang? Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Years ago, rumors said Grandmaster Shen planned for Shen Squad Leader to inherit the family—she truly carries Grandmaster Shen’s spirit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmaster Shen wants to marry Shen Squad Leader to the Marquis of Literary Crown? This is a major event!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sissy!” A familiar voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan turned sharply toward the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Broad-Ear, standing among the crowd. When he saw her looking, he grinned. “Is he really the Marquis of Literary Crown, Lu Fang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan rolled her eyes. “Mind your own business.” She turned back to Lu Fang ahead, her anticipation rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuan rolled her eyes. “Who asked you to care?” Then she turned her gaze back to Lu Fang ahead, her heart brimming with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or isn’t he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang studied the tall and small figures, then shook his head. “There must be some misunderstanding. I came here solely to pay respects to Grandmaster Shen—nothing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang sized up the two, shaking his head. “There must be some misunderstanding. I came here solely to visit Elder Master Shen—and nothing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader spoke. Her voice was beautiful, like a nightingale’s song. After a pause, she turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Marquis of Literary Crown wishes to visit my grandmaster, then come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, wait for me!” Shen Dadan sniffed, hurried forward a few steps, and reached out his small hand to grasp Shen Squad Leader’s sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Shen Yuan not known they were master and disciple, she’d have sworn they were mother and son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn’t know they were master and disciple, Shen Yuan would have thought they were mother and son.\u003C\u002Fp>",1287,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4662314c22cef03e59eccb5ade43795e43db76e2425c4a0b6559285fa2d52ce5","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-79","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-77",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]