[{"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-44":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},2337249,4570,"Chapter 44: Gongde Stone","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>The stone house resembled a folk Tudimiao, only half a person’s height, with red cloth strips tied to its stones and surrounding branches; before it, a stone altar had been built, filled with soil, containing many incense sticks burned down to their bases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the remaining incense, the small shrine still had decent offerings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stared blankly, uncertainly asking: “Is this… our Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct,” Wang Feiyin said. “Master Pan is the mountain spirit of Mount Sanqing; this entire region falls under His dominion and protection. Within fifty li of Mount Sanqing, there are three such mountain spirit shrines—this one is the oldest and largest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one’s big?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Didn’t your brother ever think of building a bigger temple for Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We intended to, but every time I prayed to Master, He refused.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun frowned: “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Probably because the one praying wasn’t right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Pan Yun’s heart stirred; she pointed at herself. “Does it mean… me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin handed her the incense and candles he’d brought. “First, offer incense to Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun set the cat aside, crouched down, and lit the incense and candles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Incense and candles must be rubbed before lighting, but they were hard to ignite—Pan Yun had always struggled for a long time to light them before, yet this time, the moment she struck the fire starter, the incense caught instantly, so fast she blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun paused, twisted the fire starter shut, stuck the incense in, and began lighting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the incense burned quickly and smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun split the incense in half, gave one portion to Wang Feiyin, held the other in her hand, and stood before the shrine, gazing ahead; after a moment, she lowered her eyelids and silently whispered sincerely in her heart: [Master, the incense and candles burned so smoothly today—does this mean you truly cherish your humble disciple?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rest assured, I will come often to offer incense, and spread the glory of the Mountain Spirit of Mount Sanqing far and wide.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun bowed, then stuck the incense into the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the incense smoke curl upward, Pan Yun smiled, relieved; she turned to Wang Feiyin with hopeful eyes—her left eye written with “gift,” her right eye with “welcome gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin picked her up and leapt into the air, stepping on five or six trees as he flew toward the massive rock behind the mountain spirit shrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain slope rose gently; trees gradually vanished, leaving only a colossal rock barrier before them, like a celestial screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin floated upward like mist and cloud, carried by the breeze, still holding Pan Yun, who screamed, “Cat cat cat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped onto the rock and ascended, landing between two rock ledges; he set Pan Yun aside, slapped the rock with one hand, and the stone cracked apart—chunks shattered and tumbled over the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun turned to look: in the cracked rock lay a golden-white stone, fist-sized, faintly twitching; she blinked. “Is it alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she focused, it stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was embedded entirely within the rock, as if one with it—yet not quite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it really be jade? Isn’t this granite?” Pan Yun glanced at her senior brother’s hands, impressed—he’d shattered granite barehanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin tucked his hand behind his back and explained to Pan Yun: “This is incense stone—also called gongde stone. Over a hundred years ago, those wishing to pray to the mountain spirit had to climb here to offer incense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun glanced down, felt dizzy, immediately looked away, and fixed her gaze on the stone—neither gold nor jade—and pressed herself against the innermost rock. “So high? How could ordinary people climb up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Those with sincere desires will find a way. For centuries, local villagers have climbed here to pray; Daoists and believers from afar have come too—until our Great Ming was founded, and shrines were built at the mountain’s base, so people began offering incense below.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter where they prayed, the incense smoke always drifted toward this incense stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin grasped the stone, channeled his cultivation into his palm, and with a firm twist, pulled it free intact; he handed it to Pan Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun reached out and took it—the stone was icy cold, yet warmed within moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt deeply drawn to it, holding it in her palms with affection; she made no effort to hide her fondness, her eyes sparkling as she told Wang Feiyin: “Senior brother, I feel like I’ve known this gongde stone before—it feels so familiar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “This is gongde stone—a gift and recognition from Heaven’s Dao. Don’t say you—even an animal, pig, cow, dog, or sheep, upon seeing it, would feel drawn to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “I thought it was the people’s devotion—so it’s Heaven’s gift and recognition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it includes the people’s devotion, but the matter is complex—I can’t explain it fully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun stroked the stone, murmuring: “How can you not explain it?” Wang Feiyin: “If I could explain it, it would mean I understood how this gongde stone was created, how Heaven’s Dao thinks—if I could think as Heaven’s Dao does, I wouldn’t be human now—I’d be Heaven’s Dao itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who cultivate the Dao spend their lives pondering: What is the Dao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun fell into thought; she’d never truly considered this question—she’d only shallowly sought cultivation, to grow stronger, then stronger still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither in her past life nor this one had she ever deeply questioned: What is the Dao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun looked down at the gongde stone in her hands and asked: “Is Master giving me this gongde stone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “He’ll tell you tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, He would visit her in her dreams tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun clenched the gongde stone tightly, a little nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin patted her head gently: “Little sister, remember—even divine gifts carry a price. You must ask whether you can afford the cost. If you refuse, even a god cannot force you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.read\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added meaningfully: “Whether gods, ghosts, or demons—they may seem stronger than humans—but all things under Heaven lie beneath the Dao. Heaven’s Dao grants humans the right to refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she could refuse the mountain spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun hugged the gongde stone tightly and nodded to Wang Feiyin: “I understand, senior brother. Do you know what this gongde stone does?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin: “Many benefits—it calms the spirit, nurtures the soul, and makes people and objects grow fond of you—just like you can’t let go of it now; others will find you endearing too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it made her a magnet for everyone's affection?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “That’s all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else? Does it measure the bearer’s merit? The more Heaven’s Dao approves, the deeper the gold?” Wang Feiyin: “In the end, it still just makes you more likable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun’s eyes widened; she clutched the gongde stone tightly—she knew exactly what this thing was for!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stiffened, looking down at the stone in her arms—so the Mountain Spirit knew everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—he lived on Mount Sanqing, right above them; they dwelled inside Master Pan’s body—her and Pan Xiao’s every move was no secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just didn’t know how much He knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like being stripped naked and watched—Pan Yun hated this feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could think further, Wang Feiyin snatched her up and flew again—this time straight down toward the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they plummeted, Pan Yun’s legs went weak; she trembled uncontrollably, screaming, “Aaah—!”—wind poured into her mouth, and she couldn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin descended swiftly, landed on the ground, and set her on the grass; her legs gave out, and she plopped down with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin confirmed: “You’re afraid of heights?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind filled her belly; she hiccuped, eyes red, denying fiercely: “No! I’m not afraid of heights! You just startled me—why didn’t you warn me before you jumped?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin stared at her a moment, then nodded: “I’ll warn you next time. Come, let’s climb the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun hugged the gongde stone with one arm, pushed herself up with the other, and stumbled after Wang Feiyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiao, seeing her abandon him, could only meow loudly and follow, making a racket the whole way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun: “Keep meowing, and I won’t let you into the room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Xiao fell silent at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin smiled warmly: “Little sister, your cat is remarkably intelligent—have you raised it since it was young?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Yun nodded: “Yes. I’ve raised it since birth—it’s been with me since the day I was born.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Feiyin looked closely at the black cat, frowned: “This cat is eight years old?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a spirit cat—it grows slowly and lives very long.” Pan Yun changed the subject: “Senior brother, can this gongde stone be used as a formation stone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lucky number for this chapter is still any number ending in 3—screenshot as proof\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1482,"2026-06-20T22:03:57.478Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ce32bd8c166db4bf19f648d975537bdfbc7617b868035a2f27cda03cbe623296","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-45","the-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-chapter-43",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-unorthodox-sword-of-ming-cover.jpg"]