[{"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-29":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},2320491,4538,"Chapter 29: Riding a Shared Bike to a Bar—Save Where You Can, Spend Where You Must","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>Bailingxuan was never meant to be connected with the current Xiang Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether the two will ever intersect in the future, Yulou was highly skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid Xiang Yuan has a bit of hyper-masculinity in him—perhaps tied to his Gold-Earth spiritual root?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking into the Baibao Fang’s forging chamber, Yulou was stunned by its interior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A counter made of ninth-rank spiritual wood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huang family is ruthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forging chamber’s attendant noticed Wang Xianmao, this extraordinary Foundation Establishment elder, and hurried forward to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, are you here to commission a magic artifact for your family’s young prodigy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Qingxi Fair, our Baibao Fang forging chamber is offering a thirty-percent discount on crafting fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We have four master artisans, each skilled in Fire Refining, Earth Infusion, and Metal Melting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We can craft artifacts from Gold Stone, Wood Vines, Silk Fabric, Spiritual Bone, and other types of spiritual materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you commission two artifacts of the same type, both design fees get a forty-percent discount!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the power of the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just this one forging chamber within Baibao Fang hosts multiple master artisans, capable of crafting all types of artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the techniques mastered by these artisans, Hong Mei’s Fire Method Gold Stone Refining lineage seemed like child’s play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keep in mind, the Huang family has several more such Baibao Fangs, constantly moving across other regions of the Wunan Basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t just Baibao Fang—it’s practically a nuclear-powered money printer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. I’m here to rent your spiritual fire chamber.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao waved his hand and replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself was proficient in Wood Generation and Metal Melting, and highly skilled in crafting artifacts from Wood Vines and Spiritual Bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant, startled by Wang Xianmao’s request, quickly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please wait a moment—I’ll notify the shopkeeper. He has authority over spiritual fire rentals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Yulou noticed the artifact display wall inside the forging chamber, densely packed with dozens of artifacts made from different materials, ranks, and designs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, every single one was at least mid-grade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was a beautiful flying sword, forged from ninth-rank Cold Black Iron, with a spiritual bone hilt, its entire body shimmering with flowing light—certainly at least high-grade quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like flying swords?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao smiled and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yulou has never seen a high-grade flying sword before. My master said he hasn’t forged one in half a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, flying swords are very useful, but even slightly better ones are extremely expensive—most cultivators can’t afford them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one you’re looking at uses seventh-rank spiritual bone, paired with ninth-rank Cold Black Iron—it was actually over-engineered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao commented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the shopkeeper stepped out and overheard his remark, asking with considerable surprise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Friend, can you forge flying swords?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan chief paused, then replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A little. Just a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper thought for a moment, noting Wang Xianmao’s pale complexion and assumed he was formidable, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you be interested in forging us a spiritual jade sword with a Water Jade base? We’ll repay you handsomely, and renting the spiritual fire won’t be a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao waved his hand, politely declining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’m in a hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity, pity. Then we’ll rent you the spiritual fire chamber at eighty percent of market price—sixteen spirit stones per day. How does that sound?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kinds of spiritual fire do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao naturally wouldn’t refuse a discount, but price wasn’t the main point—the key was whether the spiritual fire’s type and nature suited his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no Fire spiritual root; though he’d refined artifacts for his young kin and female Immortal Alliance cultivators, they were all mid-grade, not difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But finding a suitable spiritual fire would make his refining much easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two special beast spiritual fires: Jin She Sect’s Golden Snake Spiritual Fire—best suited for Metal, easiest to control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight Sect’s Cold Toad Yin Fire—poor for Fire-type materials, but works for all others; slightly harder to control, not recommended without experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three regular spiritual fires: Huang Clan’s Salt Altar Fire—ignited by burning salt, balanced and easiest to control, though the salt’s cost is extra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Lamp Illuminating Red Candle Fire—ignited by red candles... Ha, of course, I needn’t elaborate on this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daitiantai Mountain’s Ling Shan Fire—ignited by burning spiritual cedar...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao listened patiently until the shopkeeper finished listing them, then made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. I’ll take the Red Lamp Illuminating Red Candle Fire—for half a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half a day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was stunned—how could a Foundation Establishment cultivator be this frugal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, don’t you rent for half days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao didn’t think he was being stingy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like riding a shared bike to a bar—save where you can, spend where you must.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper looked troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daily rent is twenty spirit stones—I gave you twenty percent off, and now you’re cutting it to half a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means you’re using our spiritual fire for just eight spirit stones!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the difference between that and free-riding?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rent! Elder, this way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running a business meant never turning away customers—the shopkeeper gritted his teeth and led Wang Xianmao and the others into the spiritual fire chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, how many red candles do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Lamp Illuminating Red Candle Fire requires red candles as a catalyst; consumption rate varies with intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are all added-value services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper had agreed to eight spirit stones for half a day precisely because he expected a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Wang Xianmao to burn through spiritual fire rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lower rent, higher consumable fees—he’d make a small profit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same applied to the other four spiritual fires—even the two beast fires required “feeding”—and those beast rations weren’t cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad the shopkeeper was only late Qi Refining—how many years had he even lived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. I brought my own!” Wang Xianmao said, pulling a large bundle of Red Lamp’s special red candles from his storage pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t forget—the clan chief had once served as an outer gate administrator within Red Lamp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper stared in shock, muttering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, if you need anything, just call me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left with a bitter expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you bring everything yourself, why not just bring your own spiritual fire chamber and forging furnace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange—I didn’t even earn a single spirit stone in commission!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper left. The clan chief sat before the forging furnace and pulled out the black jade oil bead Hong Mei had given Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clan Chief, Rong Yuan said he could refine this bead for me using Earth Infusion later—no need for you to do it yourself, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou wasn’t worried the clan chief would blow it up—he just figured he didn’t need the artifact yet, so why burden the clan chief?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True, the black jade oil bead is best refined by Rong Yuan—but when he returns is uncertain, and you won’t wait ten years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was about to say he could wait, when the clan chief spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll use Wood Generation to wrap this bead in a spiritual wood shell and add six more sealing layers—bring it straight to seventeen layers, the pinnacle of mid-grade artifacts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wonderful, wonderful—the clan chief is great, no need to say more!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about me, Clan Chief? Can my Golden Horn Mud Turtle Shell be wrapped and refined into a high-grade artifact?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xiang Yuan’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan chief excelled at crafting Spiritual Bone artifacts—his Golden Horn Mud Turtle Shell had both Gold and Bone properties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s black jade oil bead gained a spiritual wood shell and jumped from eleven to seventeen sealing layers—an increase of six layers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could his Golden Horn Mud Turtle Shell now leap straight to high-grade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unnecessary. The shell’s base is too poor—I can only push it to seventeen layers; higher would be a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, layer count isn’t everything—if it works well, that’s enough, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao wasn’t a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You, Xiang Yulan, are only at Qi Refining level two—why do you need a high-grade artifact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And you’re impulsive—if you get a high-grade artifact, what if someone targets you later?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Yuan muttered in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, don’t be upset. When you’ve mastered Qi Refining, you can forge your own high-grade artifacts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianmao skillfully ignited the red candle; the red candle’s spiritual fire rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed the black jade oil bead into the forging furnace, his eyes locked tight, using his Foundation Establishment spiritual sense to control the flame and begin refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watch closely: the Wood Generation Art is the most complete and profound of the cultivation methods mastered by the Wang clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, none of you possess a Wood Spirit Root; otherwise, you could learn the Wood Generation Art in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although in my view, the Wood Generation Art has no merits whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its one and only advantage is that it easily achieves maximum refinement efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>",1477,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3bb6b78d3ec7bc9c0dab702cee437021100bf93e95c1ce193f3b12a2ebd33df2","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-30","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-28",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]