[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-the-jade-palace":3,"chapter-ascending-to-the-jade-palace-ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Ascending to the Jade Palace",{"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},2320483,4538,"Chapter 21: I Really Am a Fool!","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>Among many auxiliary arts, formation techniques are one of the best choices; your Rongyuan uncle excels in formations and is considered the next-generation formation master of our Wang clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The formation for transmitting spiritual energy is simple—any Qi Refining cultivator can lay it out, though it’s a bit tedious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the two boys with him, Wang Xianmao arrived at the site of the spiritual well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed his hand on the well’s mouth and activated the last remaining Changpan spirit seed, transforming it into a special white elm wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far superior to mundane white elm wood, it carried a faint trace of spiritual energy, yet still fell far short of a ninth-rank spiritual item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under precise spiritual power control, the white elm wood disintegrated into slender, tubular wooden rods, ideal for transmitting spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This exquisite wood technique left Yulou and the other boy spellbound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Neither of you has a wood spiritual root—no need to stare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, let’s begin laying the spiritual energy transmission formation. I’ve already marked the placement spots in every room—start with the first floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou picked up the wooden rods and followed silently behind Wang Xianmao; Yuan, however, looked curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t there no necessary link between cultivation techniques and spiritual roots? I saw Red Eyebrows Master use water techniques just two days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even without the corresponding spiritual root, one can still practice different techniques—but this involves a cost-to-effect trade-off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cultivator with a water spiritual root can achieve seven or eight tenths of the effect with the Surge Technique; one without it can manage at most four or five tenths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every cultivator requires a fixed amount of time to reach independent proficiency; learning techniques aligned with one’s spiritual root yields better results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, place it right there. My spirit seed originates from my own cultivation; once inserted, it will harmonize with the wooden tower and serve as a formation node.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s efficiency pleased Wang Xianmao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This child was perfect in every way—except he was too intelligent; precocity wasn’t always a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan excels in wood techniques, and so do you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among our Wang clan’s several spiritual items, only the Foolish Donkey Origin is an eighth-rank wood spiritual item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But neither you nor Yulou has a wood spiritual root—does that mean we can’t learn many of the clan’s secret techniques?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the chance to speak with the clan chief, Yuan—no fool—naturally didn’t let it slip. He pressed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he didn’t know this was Yulou deliberately giving him an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou understood that even among blood brothers, one couldn’t hog all the spotlight—relationships required cultivation and maintenance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As legitimate sons of the Wang clan, giving Yuan more opportunities would cost Yulou nothing—the competition for Foundation Establishment resources was at least decades away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In dark-stream xianxia novels, protagonists are always tormented, their orphaned status making them targets even for clan servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after over thirteen years in this world, Yulou had never been jilted, never faced a villain’s humiliation, never even experienced an adventure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never fished in rivers, hunted in mountains, mined in caves, or struggled to shuttle between realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had this affected his gains?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he took his master, the master gifted him a very suitable mid-grade magic treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His uncle said nothing, merely arranged for him half a catty of spirit rice daily—without even mentioning the alternative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d met the clan chief twice recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time, he received a bottle of eighth-rank spiritual wine and a low-grade magic treasure golden cup (Wang Rongwen had borrowed the old ghost’s flower offering to the clan chief, who then bestowed it upon Yulou).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second time, merely by answering questions well, he received a Hundred Li Free-and-Easy Escape Talisman—a treasure even Qi Refining cultivators found nearly impossible to obtain, one the clan chief used to trade for merit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brotherly affection, clan protection, a master soon to reach Foundation Establishment—for Yulou, the most important thing now was to cultivate diligently and maintain his bonds with the clan and his master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he held tight to these powerful thighs, the shelter of the Wang clan and Red Eyebrows would last until he reached Qi Refining’s peak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether you learn or not, there’s nothing to regret—you’re still young, you don’t understand how hard wood techniques are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can’t fight well, and can’t master auxiliary arts either, you’ll seem capable of everything but excel at nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you two? Both are dual-spirit-root cultivators. When Yulou reaches Qi Refining’s peak, he can join the Red Lantern Society and enter the inner sect directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yuan... Fulong Temple is too far; go to Miaofeng Mountain instead. I have a close friend there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao had calculated meticulously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was extraordinarily intelligent—he could join the Red Lantern Society to secure Foundation Establishment resources, then later seek admission to the Purple Mansion, becoming a true heir of the Red Lantern Society and a pillar of the Wang clan within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan, lacking Yulou’s overall talent, could try his luck at Miaofeng Mountain—such major sects’ subordinate branches had shallower waters and fewer restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yuan could use Miaofeng Mountain’s resources to reach Foundation Establishment, he could return to the clan; if not, the Wang clan would still help him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next clan chief will likely be chosen between Wang Rongwen and Wang Rongyuan; the generation after that will be Wang Ming and Wang Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou is a qilin child—qilin children must not waste their lives idling in Wang Family Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To love a child is to plan for his distant future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao’s hopes were much like those of an ordinary mother for her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to join Fulong Temple...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan was dissatisfied with the clan chief’s arrangement—or rather, young Yuan resented the clan chief’s underestimation of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou can join the Ten Sects—why can’t I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clan Chief, the clan raised me. Yulou prefers to stay home and contribute to the clan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s answer made Yuan slap his thigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way, big brother, my beloved big brother!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the legendary one-line-that-beats-ten-lines?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, I still have so much to learn from you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Yulou, Wang Xianmao’s eyes were filled with tenderness—what a fine child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! All that’s far off—first focus on Qi Refining!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come, let’s go upstairs—we’ll lay the formation on the second floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yulou’s surprise, the clan chief never taught them anything directly—he merely guided them to complete the formation, then dismissed them to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he didn’t understand Wang Xianmao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan chief simply liked the younger generation and wanted to spend more time with the two brothers—that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, do you think the clan chief likes you more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lying in bed, Yuan couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re both Wang clan members—the clan chief clearly favors you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why can’t I join the Ten Sects?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou sat cross-legged on his bed, reading the clan chief’s cultivation travelogue by the light of the Eternal Bright Lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yuan’s question, he set the travelogue down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really want to know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan pouted and turned his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—who am I to be as smart as you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I grew up without parents. Though I never faced outright coldness in the clan, I was raised alone—so I seem more mature than you and the others our age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan chief isn’t favoring me—he’s just worried I might be affected by my parents’ death, so he shows me more care. That’s all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan stopped twisting. He said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m such a fool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m such a fool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m such a fool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the effect was clear, Yulou raised an eyebrow in satisfaction and continued guiding Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His younger brother was truly good—just thirteen, so sometimes impulsive. That was normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you truly want to join Fulong Temple, it’s not hard. Just perform better—show deep cultivation and solid combat skill, and the clan chief will give you the chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need, big brother. I’ll stick with you. If you stay in the Wang clan, I’ll stay too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We brothers don’t need the great sects—we can become immortals on our own!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yuan’s plaintive tone, Yulou was momentarily speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-bonded brotherly affection is often more moving than so-called romantic love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sleep. We’ll deal with the future later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan fell silent for a long while, then murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother... I’m hungry...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou nearly broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go get something to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Check the kitchen in the front building—there should be something. Fuyuan Restaurant never locks its stove at night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You never asked...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, I was hungry the first night I arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, go ahead. I’m going to sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m scared to go alone—let’s go together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go!\u003C\u002Fp>",1454,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cbd60e424cd2419b40b22394ea17a96abf1b09cda7324ad598f311f95172b22c","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-22","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-20",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]