[{"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-202":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},2337407,4570,"Chapter 202: The Original Intention","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-202",202,"\u003Cp>The Elders liked that Zhang Liuzhen was generous to them and their descendants, but disliked that he was generous to outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resources are limited; if Zhang Liuzhen gives too much to outsiders, less remains for his clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet because of this, a group within the Celestial Master’s Mansion and the Academy faithfully followed Zhang Liuzhen, which is why, even after being severely wounded, he remained the Young Master of the Celestial Master’s Mansion—Zhang Wei, even if he changed his name, could only linger in a small courtyard and could never replace Zhang Liuzhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Wenying and Zhang Liuzhen descended the stairs, they felt the spiritual energy around them tremble, slowly flowing past them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying turned back in shock, staring at the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He, walking behind him, were accustomed to it but still explained, “Little Uncle has entered deep meditation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying murmured, “This is too fast—how can her entering meditation be as quick as me falling asleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He looked at him with confusion. “Brother Li, is falling asleep so difficult for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying: “...In the time it took to walk down from the second floor, less than fifty breaths, is that difficult? I sleep perfectly well, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He boasted, “I can fall asleep in one breath, but I can’t enter meditation that fast—I need at least half a quarter-hour to enter meditation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen nodded. “I can fall asleep in three breaths too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying was speechless; after a pause, he said, “You’re young, your worries are shallow, so you fall asleep quickly. When I was your age, I did too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he was their age, he certainly didn’t enter meditation this fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as Li Wenying stepped into the courtyard, he couldn’t help glancing back at the second floor—especially Pan Yun’s speed of entering meditation; in his memory, even Zhang Liuzhen in his prime hadn’t possessed such stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, she’s only nine, yet her cultivation base has already reached the Fifth Stage, no weaker than Zhang Liuzhen at the same age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen was born with a Dao Body, cultivated since birth, and fed endless resources from the Celestial Master’s Mansion—what does Pan Yun have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought stirred in Li Wenying’s heart: for the first time, he began to doubt Pan Yun’s talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she also be born with a Dao Body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you ask me about the progress of the new technique? Pan Yun and I added a new pathway for its operation—would you like to try it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts were interrupted by Zhang Liuzhen; the fleeting idea vanished, and he sighed helplessly. “You want me to try your new technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen: “Someone has to test it. You’re high in cultivation, cautious, and well-read—you’re the perfect candidate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying: ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen: “Just say whether you’ll help or not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying: “How could I refuse you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Miao Zhen and Miao He, a thought stirring. “Let them try too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen shook his head. “Pan Shimei would get angry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time he publicly taught on the square, she was furious—but back then, he had no choice. Now he has Zhou Wangdao as a test subject, Li Wenying here, and Pan Yun helping him refine it, so he doesn’t need others to test this technique yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until it’s more mature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying sneered. “Isn’t this technique supposed to gather more data the more people practice it? Why did you never listen when I urged you to stop testing before, but now you listen just because she’s angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen smiled faintly, offering no explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique isn’t meant for geniuses like Miao Zhen and Miao He—it targets those with low cultivation and low talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sought out Pan Yun and Li Wenying only to use their knowledge and experience to identify flaws; later, cultivation would still rely on Zhou Wangdao and other ordinary disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He created this technique to narrow the gap between ordinary people and geniuses, allowing determined ordinary people to catch up and stand a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying didn’t understand, but Pan Yun realized it after practicing on the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a genius, she didn’t mock him like her father did; instead, she helped him perfect this technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They went to the Library to test the new technique; Miao Zhen and Miao He, with nothing to do, followed along to browse books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered, they couldn’t help whispering, “Wow!”—there were so many books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the door stood row upon row of bookshelves, towering nearly to the ceiling, all crammed with books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He had never seen so many books in their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Mount Sanqing, their library had only two bookshelves and two boxes of books—and even those, they hadn’t finished reading in all their years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Celestial Master’s Mansion truly lives up to its name—how many techniques must be here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying laughed. “Kids, you don’t think all the books in this library are cultivation techniques, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He looked bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying casually pulled a book from the shelf and tossed it to them. “Take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen glanced down. “‘Records of a Hundred Ghosts at Night’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He leaned in. “Is this about ghost-catching?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen chuckled. “It’s a folk tale, about the underworld’s karmic retribution. You might as well read it—though the stories are imagined, they’re based on folk legends, and some insights are still worth absorbing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying pulled another book from the shelf and tossed it over, grinning. “Try this one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He caught it, glanced down, and read: “‘Spring Waters Ripple’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen’s expression changed; before she could open it, he snatched it away, glaring at Li Wenying. “You’re still young. If you want to read, go to the last two rows of shelves—don’t touch any other books for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He said, “Big Brother, our Grandmaster said we have great insight. At Mount Sanqing, our teachers never stopped us from reading any book.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen nodded. “Even though our cultivation is shallow, when we read techniques or spells above First Rank, our Grandmasters and Masters never blocked us—they encouraged us to flip through them freely, in case we gained insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen rubbed his temples. “Then you may read any book except those on the outer two rows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added, “The outer two rows contain no cultivation techniques or spells—only miscellaneous texts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He exchanged glances, then obediently replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Zhang Liuzhen’s watchful gaze, they walked to the innermost two rows to find books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after they were far away did Zhang Liuzhen turn and glare again at Li Wenying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying smiled faintly and turned. “Come on, let’s try your new technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen idly pulled a book from the shelf, frowning. “‘Mencius’? Why are all these books Confucian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He, opposite her, pulled another book, flipped through it, and said, “This one, ‘The Tai Bai Yin Jing,’ seems to be a military text.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they examined each shelf, they realized this section contained every kind of book—all schools of thought, without exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only at the very end did they find a whole shelf of almanacs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now this was Daoist material. Miao Zhen immediately took one down and sat by a sunlit window to read—it was a Tang Dynasty almanac; the entire shelf held almanacs from every dynasty and every emperor’s reign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, they could even find ancient Zhou calendars, the Yellow Emperor’s calendar, and the Xia calendar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen took one down and sat by the window, reading intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He wandered between the shelves, scanning row by row; after a long search, she found a shelf filled with herbals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He looked up and saw the entire shelf, stretching to the rafters, packed with medical and alchemical texts—she gasped in awe. “These books are so much more than at Mount Sanqing~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many. She didn’t know where to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she finally picked one, Li Wenying outside had already completed two full cycles of the new technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel it accelerated his cultivation—but the longer he practiced, the harder it became to control his spiritual energy and primal force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he remained alert; as soon as he sensed irregularity, he immediately broke meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen sat across from him, guarding him; as soon as Li Wenying opened his eyes, he asked, “How was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying said, “Better than last time, but prolonged use still risks qi deviation and demonic deviation. Liuzhen, your technique is flawed from the start—haste makes waste. I advise you to destroy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This book was recently updated in ##!!Update!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen lowered his gaze. “Could it be because your cultivation is too high and your talent too strong? If someone with lower talent practiced, perhaps the risk wouldn’t exist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Wangdao has average talent—he still suffered qi deviation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His talent is inferior to ours, but still above average. Perhaps I should find someone with even lower talent and cultivation to test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying frowned. “But once this technique spreads, who can resist the temptation of rapid cultivation? This technique will surely ignite bloody chaos in the cultivation world. Liuzhen, doesn’t this contradict your original intention?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen lowered his gaze. “There must be a way. I’ll think again, revise it again—I refuse to believe it can’t be perfected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his obsession, Li Wenying’s expression darkened; he held back, then couldn’t help speaking: “Liuzhen, the cultivation world is the cultivation world, the Dao is the Dao, the mundane is the mundane—each follows its own path. There are countless better techniques, safer ones. Why must you insist on this one? Just to make cultivation faster?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Just to make cultivation faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But cultivation depends on insight. Didn’t you yourself always say we cultivate the Dao through the heart, not just pursuit of cultivation base?” Li Wenying whispered. “Ever since you were injured, you’ve obsessed over this new technique, ignoring your own wounds—I simply can’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen fell silent. After a long while, he said, “Entering the Dao through insight exists only in legends—not even the ancient sages achieved it easily. In this age, who doesn’t cultivate both heart and base together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet how many, despite possessing the Dao heart, are forced to abandon cultivation simply because their base is too low—even if their virtue and character suit the Dao perfectly?” Zhang Liuzhen said. “I want every person with a Dao heart to have equal choice—not forced to abandon it merely because their cultivation is low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To abandon what you have, and to be forced to abandon what you never had—these are two different things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying narrowed his eyes. “The people you speak of are disciples with low talent and low cultivation—this technique was made specifically for them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying laughed bitterly, then sighed in resignation. “Don’t let the Elders below the mountain find out—if they do, you won’t live to see five more years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen lifted his gaze, serious. “Will you help me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying met his gaze. After a long pause, he asked, “Who else knows about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before you, only Aunt Li and Pan Yun knew.” He didn’t mention his father—he feared if he did, Li Wenying would immediately withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying frowned. “Pan Yun knows too...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She figured it out herself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying swallowed the rest of his words, then asked, “Do Zhang Ziwang and Lin Jingle know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They only know I’m researching a new technique. They think it helps my recovery, or that when perfected, it can win people’s loyalty. They know nothing else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying: “You’re good at hiding things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen pressed: “Will you help me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying sighed. “Six years ago, I chose to stand by you. Now that we’re here, how could I walk away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen’s lips curled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying said: “This technique still needs refinement—I can’t practice it. Since it targets low-talent students, why not find a few with low talent and low cultivation to test?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen had the same thought; otherwise, he wouldn’t have publicly transmitted the technique during his square lectures—but… “Zhou Wang Dao…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He might suffer qi deviation, but others might not. I wasn’t there on the day of the square lecture, but I heard that very few who entered meditation actually applied this method—those two were among the few. Doesn’t that suggest your technique, though simple, still requires a certain talent to comprehend and cultivate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you specifically test it on students with low talent and low cultivation base? How can you know whether they can comprehend this technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying said: “If you’re afraid Zhang Li and Pan Yun won’t agree, keep this secret from them. I’ll find the students, I’ll transmit the technique, and I’ll guard them, monitoring their cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen’s status was unusual, and he carried wounds—he couldn’t easily carry out such tasks, but Li Wenying faced no such constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially given his age and cultivation level, he could openly announce he was accepting disciples…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen’s heart stirred, about to agree, when a strong wind swept in, making the books beside them rustle violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, both felt spiritual energy rapidly departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged a glance, then flashed outside the courtyard, where they saw vast amounts of spiritual energy converging toward the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He ran out behind them; upon seeing it, they exclaimed excitedly: “Is our junior master about to break through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen remembered something and turned to Li Wenying: “Activate the array at Fanxi Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Wenying asked no questions; with a flash, he was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen: “I underestimated the effect of Guyuan Pills on her. She isn’t ready to break through yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen: “She cannot break through to First Marquis within the Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen: “Then where should she break through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return to Mount Sanqing,” Zhang Liuzhen said. “The Academy will be on break soon—don’t go on your study tours. Go straight back to Mount Sanqing to break through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao He asked instinctively, “What about the study tours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have Tao Ji and Li Gu niang forge a fake record. It’s a minor matter for them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen and Miao He widened their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liuzhen frowned in thought. “We must find a way to wake her without harming her spirit. Now is the time to consolidate her cultivation—she must not break through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Zhen snapped back to awareness, lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, then said: “I have a way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked toward the second-floor window and called out loudly: “Blackie, come down quickly—we have something to tell you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2450,"2026-06-20T22:03:59.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","541108454d51b6e8ea2ef619e5a5960ac6e4a08138d141cd7e584df4c4c8db38","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-203","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-201",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]