[{"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-27":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},2320489,4538,"Chapter 27: Patriarch, You Must Be Cautious!","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>“Elder, my magic treasure...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogant female cultivator was no longer arrogant; she asked nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she had discernment and experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao’s entire aura was inhuman—he was clearly a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator with divine abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her clan’s patriarch and elders were roughly on the same level as Wang Xianmao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wang Xianmao, she had no right to be arrogant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao smiled, summoning green silk veils to slowly guide the talisman toward the female cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, this talisman is excellent—a fine piece.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a pity this piece of Earth-Yellow Spirit Jade—it could’ve held two more sealing layers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou realized the patriarch truly had skill: he first granted Gao Jian a favor, then offered the Immortal Alliance cultivator a bit of guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He offended no one—this was handled perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as he looked at the bloodstains on the ground, his heart stirred with mixed emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single person cared about the lone cultivator Gao Jian had just killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he a bandit cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he deserve death for violating the marketplace rules?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, this Earth-Yellow Talisman already has twelve sealing layers—can two more be added?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Alliance female cultivator held the talisman and asked in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. It was forged with fire methods—if you find a metallurgist with sufficient Earth-Encompassing Art expertise, adding two more layers is certainly possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was stunned—he had learned something new!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patriarch was building a client list!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, you understand Earth-Encompassing Art?” the Immortal Alliance cultivator picked up on the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A little, a little. To add two layers, I’d charge four hundred spirit stones—what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That price was steep—four hundred spirit stones could buy a comparable mid-grade magic treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female cultivator glanced at the talisman in her hand, hesitated, then gritted her teeth with visible pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. When will you be available?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paying four hundred spirit stones for two sealing layers sounded ridiculous, but a well-suited magic treasure always earned its owner’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Immortal Alliance cultivator, a Foundation Establishment elder would never lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Earth-Yellow Talisman could gain two more sealing layers, it would become even more convenient to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, a Foundation Establishment cultivator refining a mid-grade magic treasure had negligible risk of mishap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So yes, four hundred spirit stones seemed expensive—but there was reason for the price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to Fuyuan Residence in ten days—I’ll arrange the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I merely made a small move: first, I granted Gao Jian a favor; second, I displayed the Wang clan’s Foundation Establishment ancestor’s stature; third, I secured a client.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One arrow, three targets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang clan shall flourish under my hand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anger? Confusion? Sympathy? Or do you wish to act?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Fuyuan Residence, Wang Xianmao sat on his chair and began instructing the two youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the brothers were about to defer to each other again, he smiled and called out by name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, you go first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan thought for a moment—he did not answer with his own emotional judgment of the event, but analyzed the patriarch’s response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, I understand why you helped Gao Jian—but why act for a mere favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Jiang Bao would never owe a favor over a registered disciple’s matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Gao Jian is an outer disciple of the Red Lantern Sect; the Immortal Alliance cultivator wouldn’t kill him just because her robe got stained with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To risk your status as Wang clan patriarch over petty gains—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believe your actions are unwise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou smiled faintly—Yuan, Yuan, you’ve improved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t just one favor—I collected four hundred spirit stones,” Wang Xianmao replied, smiling at Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, those spirit stones were an unintended consequence of your impulsive action—they shouldn’t count in evaluating this incident!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young clan member Yuan clung strictly to clan rules, analyzing the patriarch’s impromptu decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! Hahaha, excellent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan, you recognized that I acted impulsively today—that’s impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, this matter is simpler than you think—you Qi Refining cultivators bear different responsibilities than I, as patriarch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Refining cultivators should focus on cultivation, refine your Qi quickly, and worry about other matters later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As patriarch, my responsibilities are heavier—I must actively seize opportunities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’ve advanced in Qi Refining and experienced enough of the world, you’ll be able to choose your own moments to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the patriarch praise him, Yuan’s grin stretched ear to ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to hug Rongyuan’s leg and cry right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle, those big nasal cavities of yours aren’t just slaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re awakenings, opportunities, the lifelong gratitude of Wang Yu’an—I owe you my enlightenment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I now know every clan rule by heart!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I return to Wang Family Mountain, I must take over from Yuming and teach the other clan youths the rules!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you’ve been caught in the rain, you must take others’ umbrellas too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan rules are truly useful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memorize them all! Learn them well!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yulou, what’s your view?” the patriarch turned to Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan also turned to Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother, I don’t believe you can pretend to be better behaved than I just now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Yulou ignored the brat entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Yuan, he initially avoided discussing his own emotions, instead focusing on the broader context.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Red Lantern Sect exploits us; Gao Jian exploits lone cultivators—it’s all part of the same pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultivation landscape of Wunan, under Immortal Alliance control, is too rigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-level cultivators and True Persons crush those below them, forcing obedience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our Wang clan has no luxury to be virtuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This unique order forces most within it to sweep only their own doorstep clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou is angry but not confused; Yulou sympathizes with the lone cultivators, but no one sympathizes with our Wang clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Yulou wants is to cultivate well, master Hongmei’s Fire Method and Jin Shi Alchemy, and return home!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first half was incisive, revealing extraordinary insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second half was self-aware, with unwavering resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao fell silent for a long while, his gaze at Yulou deeply complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, Yulou—you shouldn’t be a Wang Shizi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does the Red Lantern Sect oppress our Wang clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patriarch knew Yuan didn’t fully understand, and wasn’t certain how much Yulou grasped, so he asked Yulou directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For mid- and small-sized Foundation Establishment clans like ours, cultivation resources are earned through spirit material production or auxiliary arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit material production is the baseline; auxiliary arts are the main source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Lantern Sect’s decision to place merit halls directly in Qi Refining marketplaces has stolen part of our market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ve also exchanged vast quantities of auxiliary arts and secret techniques with lone cultivators, who then compete for our market share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could choose to exchange nothing—but if we do nothing, we’ll be slowly boiled alive, losing our edge in competition between mid-sized clans and small sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it seems we have a choice—but in truth, we have none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Lantern Sect intends to force clans like ours or Dropwater Cave to willingly offer our necks by releasing secret techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make the slaughter cleaner, they’ve even introduced a ‘use first, pay later’ model, mortgaging future clan or sect earnings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And regarding Jingyi Ancestor’s becoming a disciple of Xuanduan True Person—was this deliberately arranged by them, or merely a coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, you must be cautious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yulou finished, Wang Xianmao knew—the boy truly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan: I’m useless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patriarch pondered long, then waved his hand and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s too late—today’s lesson ends here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, give me your ink-jade oil bead, and your turtle shell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Golden-Horn Mud Turtle Shell!” Yuan insisted reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking both magic treasures, Wang Xianmao glanced at them and immediately knew how to further refine them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's too late tonight; go rest. Tomorrow morning, I will take Hongmei to pay respects to True Person Danri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, I'll take you to Baibao Fang to borrow the Huang family's forging chamber and refine both magic treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>",1315,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","207a0caf14c4ae5030dbbaf190ed071226f0a3a332654ff842920010950cef56","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-28","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-26",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]