[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming":3,"chapter-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-103":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Unorthodox Sword of Ming",{"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},2337308,4570,"Chapter 103: The Deity Statue","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-103",103,"\u003Cp>The Dao De Jing, Pan Yun could recite backward flawlessly, but neither her past life nor this one had yielded anything useful, so she quickly abandoned it, ceasing to ponder it deeply, and focused entirely on arrays, talismans, and the study of the Spiritual Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, perhaps due to a shift in her mindset, and with better methods to unseal the Spiritual Realm, she began contemplating the relationship between merit, the Dao, and the world’s rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, three moments of sudden enlightenment gave her a deeper understanding of the world’s rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun had already sensed that cultivation—merely refining spiritual essence and strengthening the body—was insufficient; one must also cultivate the heart and the spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their past lives had clearly gone astray, fixating solely on cultivation base while neglecting heart and spirit cultivation, which is why, after decades, no one had surpassed the initial combat ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention drawing closer to the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ought to seriously consider how to proceed with her future cultivation path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this wasn’t something she could figure out in a single day, so her primary tasks remained learning, cultivating, and conducting experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun received a letter from her father and elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Hong received another fifty taels she had sent; though he didn’t understand why she was using money transfers to test world-rule tolerance thresholds, he still waited two days before writing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wrote that everything remained unchanged in their area, with no incidents whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving the letter, Pan Yun immediately withdrew one hundred taels from her personal savings and sent it to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If exceeding one hundred taels had no effect, then from now on, she had another way to save money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He had also experienced nothing unusual during this period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She decided to repay all borrowed money next, then earn a sum to lend to Miao Zhen and Miao He as an experiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the faithful believer “Rich Master” supporting her, her talismans still sold well; while earning vast sums was impossible, one or two hundred taels was achievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her savings limit had increased—earning only one or two hundred taels was certainly insufficient; she needed at least five hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also had to complete this experiment before her merit points accumulated too much, to keep costs low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she received exactly fifteen merit points twice daily—once in the morning, once at dusk—both during meal times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, those little beggars recited her name once every day before eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she must complete this experiment before her merit accumulated further, so she could act more freely in the future with clearer understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Backup plans must be prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little beggars were too grateful, so though she didn’t wish to accumulate more merit just yet, when she went to the county town, she still brought them a sack of grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As before, she found Xiao Qi beside the food stall near the herbal shop, and patted the grain sack on the donkey cart: “I’ve brought you a sack of grain, but you’ll have to hull it yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qi, bowl in hand, scrambled excitedly onto the cart and shouted: “Thank you, Sister Pan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trip to the county town was accompanied by Wang Cong—first to buy body-cultivation herbs, second to inspect the fired deity statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, Pan Yun, Miao Zhen, and Miao He’s cultivation speeds had accelerated, consuming herbs rapidly; the body-cultivation medicine, previously needed only once a month, now required replenishment every twenty days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong drove the donkey cart to deliver the grain to the thatched shed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared in astonishment at the children who rushed out from the shed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sack of grain had been bought in the village after they descended the mountain that morning, paid for entirely by Pan Yun herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been puzzled earlier why they needed to bring a sack of grain to the county town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong stared blankly and asked: “Little Master, is this how you accumulate merit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded. “Yes. My abilities are limited—I can only do this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun didn’t linger; she patted Xiao Qi’s head and instructed her: “If anything happens, send someone to find me on Mount Sanqing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qi nodded eagerly and saw them off all the way to the main street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Wang Cong accompany Pan Yun out of town to find the Yu brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived just in time—the kiln had been opened that morning, and the finished statues, now treated and laid out in sunlight, were being inspected by a crowd for flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pan Yun, Yu Qing was thrilled: “Little Daoist, you’ve come at the perfect moment—I was just about to send Xiao Jing to fetch you. Look, we’ve fired the statues—no flaws at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun and Wang Cong stepped forward to examine them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statues bore solemn faces, but their eyes were blank; the patterns on their robes were sharply molded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swords were forged separately and required gluing on, precisely according to Pan Yun’s specifications—and they were excellently made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glaze was smooth, gleaming with porcelain luster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun circled the statue, inspecting its base—no flaws whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun asked: “How many kilns did you open?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing stroked his beard and smiled: “This is the ninth kiln. We were lucky—we never expected it to succeed on the first try. We thought we’d need to fire several more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong stared blankly at the statue’s handsome face and asked: “Little Master, is the Mountain God really this handsome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded. “Yes. Master looks exactly like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong: “You said He was a crane…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. Every time He appears, He eventually transforms into a crane and flies away—so isn’t He a crane?” Pan Yun paused. “Do you think Master wishes us to raise a crane? Perhaps, if raised well, His divine soul might descend upon it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Pan Yun thought, the more convinced she became: “When we return, we’ll buy several cranes to raise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yushan County had no cranes for sale—not even a single household raised them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People raised chickens and ducks; cranes were rare livestock, requiring travel to distant, larger regions. Wang Cong was poor at refusing others, especially elders, so he could only nod: “I’ll ask when I return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statues were fired, but still needed coloring and eye-dotting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoist deity statues were vividly painted—bright robes, even hair strands gleaming—so coloring was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing’s team had already prepared the pigments; they were experienced in this task. After confirming the statue’s perfection, Yu Qing ordered Xiao Jing to bring out the paints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s one more request, Little Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun smiled. “Master Yu, speak plainly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see Xiao Jing is diligent and sharp-witted—I’d like to keep him as an apprentice, but I don’t know if your monastery will agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Xiao Jing had been brought by Pan Yun’s group and was specifically assigned to oversee the statue-firing process, Yu Qing naturally assumed Xiao Jing was affiliated with the monastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just not as a Daoist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun said: “Xiao Jing is a villager from the foot of Mount Sanqing. This matter depends on his own will—if he wishes it, our monastery has no objection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.Read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing beamed: “I’ve already asked—Xiao Jing is willing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Xiao Jing emerged carrying the pigments. Yu Qing immediately called him over: “Come, tell Little Daoist—do you wish to become my apprentice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do!” Xiao Jing turned to look at Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded to him. Instantly, Xiao Jing knelt before Yu Qing, banging his head hard on the ground, shouting: “Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good, good!” Yu Qing roared with laughter. “I never expected—I not only fired the deity statue, but gained a fine apprentice! Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Sheng grumbled: “Sounds like I didn’t lift a finger. This statue was fired by both our families.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, yes—I never meant to take your credit. Hurry, hurry, start coloring. Once it dries a bit, we can wrap it up for them to carry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun rolled up her sleeves. “I’ll help too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong quickly grabbed her arm. “Little Master, can you even do this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I? I’m a master of arrays and talismans—I’ve won art prizes, you know? The statue blueprints were drawn by me and your father. Please remove the ‘can you’.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun knew the blueprints by heart—she didn’t need to look at them; she knew exactly which colors went where.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took vermilion pigment, dipped the brush, smoothed it, then began painting—single, steady strokes, her hand unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yu Qing and Yu Sheng stared, eyes wide: “This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They glanced at Pan Yun, burying their regret deep inside—such skill belonged in their kiln, not elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could draw, her hands were steady—she must have been equally skilled at sculpting clay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deity statues were molded from clay, carved, then fired—so molding and carving were vital to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And both required exceptional hand steadiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned to Xiao Jing, their eyes now holding a glimmer of hope—perhaps he possessed Pan Yun’s talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, let’s hurry and color!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three worked together and finished the painting swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun left the statue to dry and had Wang Cong settle the final payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent any mishaps today, Pan Yun entrusted Wang Cong with the public funds from Xuan Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were funds originally reserved for building the Mountain God Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing: “The eyes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun said: “We’ll dot the eyes after the temple is built—we can do it ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the custom: eyes were dotted only after the deity entered the temple, usually by hiring a kiln master for an extra fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Yun had the skill—no need to trouble them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mount Sanqing was too far; Yu Qing had no desire to make the trip for a mere red envelope. He gladly agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He told Xiao Jing: “You’ve been away long enough. Go back with Little Daoist now—tell your family about becoming an apprentice. Return in three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing added: “When you return, you’ll only come home once a month. Apprenticeship is hard—you’ll do every kind of work. You and your family understand, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Jing nodded vigorously. “I understand. My family understands too. Master, just give me orders—I’m ready. They have no objections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Qing nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He told him to fetch his pack and join Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yu family waited until the paint dried, then wrapped the statue in a ragged cloth, laid thick straw on the cart, and carefully placed the statue atop it, securing it firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transaction was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun waited until Xiao Jing arrived, then they set off together in the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun sat to one side, her leg swinging gently. “Let’s go to the Qian family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cong didn’t know why, but he felt embarrassed for his junior uncle. “Junior Uncle, why don’t you give me the talismans? I’ll sell them for you—it’s not right to keep troubling Master Qian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Senior nephew, you’re a merchant, yet you don’t see it? The Qian family doesn’t lose by buying my talismans—they can resell them for profit and use them to build connections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tail number 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1868,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b96f91e94c600508bd436f50c5db2f4e45c3c6659db116c702b03ea1f9090d1b","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-104","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-102",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]