[{"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-3":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},2320465,4538,"Chapter 3: Red Lanterns Illuminate Qing Creek, the Moon Is the Homeland","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-3",3,"\u003Cp>She was a woman dressed in fine silk, her expression bitter and sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She repeated it hoarsely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My daughter sells for ten taels of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her young daughter stood beside her mother, no more than two or three years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the woman’s neck hung a placard displaying her daughter for sale—and the mother’s love being sold along with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother and daughter stood at the edge of the marketplace; the child looked bewildered, mechanically repeating her mother’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father is a cultivator; I will have a spiritual root.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father is a cultivator...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Qingxi Fang, dominated by cultivators, spending ten taels of silver on a girl who might possess a spiritual root was still a reasonable price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such cases of selling children usually occurred because the girl’s father—a nameless cultivator—had been absent for a long time, likely dead out there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But generally, cultivators would not buy such young girls, since spiritual roots could only be detected at age thirteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising them for ten years was too troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t stare—keep close to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan tugged the reins of his green-maned horse and whispered to the two youths behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a reincarnator with past-life memories, Wang Yulou was far sharper than his cousin Wang Yuan; he immediately looked away and turned his gaze to other things inside Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, we can buy a child who might have a spiritual root for just ten taels! Our Wang clan isn’t short of ordinary silver—why not buy her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A big burden dragging along a little one—who knows what kind of man the girl’s father was?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you forget what our family teachings told you brats?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan glared sternly at Wang Yuan. “Recite the family rules for young Qi-refining cultivators traveling outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the clan, Wang Rongyuan was famed for his martial courage and unyielding will, his cultivation base deep enough to hold the position of Family Law Elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of his formidable strength, he had been entrusted with escorting the two Wang “Yu” youths to Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with a single command, his aura made even Wang Yulou feel a chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan, his cousin, turned pale with fear and stammered in grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Travel only on main roads; associate only with longstanding allies; haggle down prices by ninety percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When trouble arises, retreat behind the crowd; yield advantages to fellow cultivators first; believe only half of what you hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Always carry a thousand-li talisman on your legs; guard your body... guard your body...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his uncle’s pressure, Wang Yuan—far from home for the first time—was mentally scrambled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a moment of panic, he forgot half the family’s sacred training for Qi-refining cultivators on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap! Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi-refining cultivators are called so because they cultivate a single breath of spiritual energy stored in their dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this brat forget the family rules, Wang Rongyuan immediately summoned spiritual energy, shaping it into a pale green palm, and delivered two resounding slaps to Wang Yuan’s cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high-level Qi-refining cultivator’s control over spiritual energy far exceeded Wang Yulou’s imagination; these two slaps were both punishing and perfectly safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was crisp and loud—delightfully so—making Wang Yulou’s scalp tingle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Wang Rongyuan had precisely controlled the force, leaving not a single bruise on Wang Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wahhh, Uncle, I’m sorry, don’t hit me again... wahhh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After parting from his parents and leaving the clan’s homeland, Wang Yuan—naturally impulsive—had been bouncing higher than the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his uncle’s two slaps had shattered his daydreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wen and your mother spoiled you too much! You even forgot the rule: ‘Guard your body, preserve your immortal path!’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan pointed at Wang Yuan in frustration, then turned to Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yulou, you must remind him often—this boy, sigh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou, having come from the 21st-century China, understood his uncle’s hopes for both him and Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This elder of the clan had no peculiar fondness for slapping cheeks—he was simply furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Uncle. ‘Guard your body, preserve your immortal path’—Yulou will never forget!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Wang Yulou kicked Wang Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prompted by his cousin, Wang Yuan snapped back to himself and hurriedly swore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me too! I won’t forget! I won’t forget!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan’s imitation of Yulou’s tone eased Wang Rongyuan’s concerns slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Yuan was a reckless brat, Yulou was cautious; together, these two boys would support each other in Qingxi Fang and likely face no major trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Wang clan still had elders in Qingxi Fang—they weren’t alone with just these two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, you two wait here—I’ll go park the green-maned horse and cart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan led the green-maned horse into the stable yard at the outer edge of Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, still sore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou asked, concerned, looking at his brother’s swollen cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it hurts! Try getting slapped yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan clutched his face, eyes welling with tears, utterly wronged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had grown up together, close as brothers; he didn’t mind Yulou’s concern—he just felt it was unjust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forgot half a family rule—why did I deserve two slaps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father, Mother, I miss you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Er, Uncle’s just worried about you. Every time Yu Ming talks about his younger brother, his eyes fill with tears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We, the young Qi-refining disciples, must be cautious once we leave the clan’s protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou said, half-laughing, half-sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His younger brother was truly overindulged by his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yu Ming he mentioned was the second son of the “Yu” generation, a beginner Qi-refining cultivator who trained at the clan’s homeland and occasionally taught the spiritual-rooted youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His younger brother, Yu Liu, had been assassinated in a mortal town’s residence during his studies—lured by worldly pleasures and killed by bandit cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Foundation Establishment clan, compared to Purple Mansion lineages and major sects, the Wang clan was insignificant in the Wunan Basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... to desperate wandering cultivators, the valuables carried by Wang clan youths were enough to make them risk everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, look—there’s a female cultivator with no clothes on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Yulou’s concern was wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Wang Yuan spotted a beautiful female cultivator, his pain vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Physician!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou feigned disdain, but inwardly felt a flicker of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brat still had some decency—he hadn’t forgotten Yulou when he saw something good—his upbringing hadn’t been in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Yuan’s gaze, Yulou noticed the female cultivator standing beside a street stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was the third month of spring, she seemed unbearably hot—wearing only a pale yellow silk bustier on top and a short silk skirt that barely covered her hips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stall sold stones and metals—all materials for forging artifacts—no one knew where the wandering cultivator had acquired them; the woman was haggling with the vendor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t stare—she might be practicing seduction arts. If you fall under her spell, when I become a Qi-refining cultivator, I’ll be crying for you in the clan school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou yanked Yuan’s head away from the woman’s rear, forcing his pig-faced gaze to turn elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should be careful—I’m a dual-spirit-root too, even if it’s Metal and Earth, weaker than your Water and Fire in cultivation potential, but stronger in combat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pig-faced brat stubbornly retorted, then involuntarily twisted his head back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passionate female cultivator overwhelms innocent Xiao Chunan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A naked female immortal—something you never see inside the clan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At thirteen, boys already had thoughts about men and women—that’s precisely why the clan sent them to different places to train as soon as their spiritual roots were detected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train in arts the clan doesn’t possess, and ideally find a peer with supreme talent as a Dao partner—to strengthen the Wang clan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his brother so infatuated, Wang Yulou increased his grip, using his Qi-refining second-layer power to pin the aroused Xiao Chunan firmly in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, you’re bullying me with your higher cultivation...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou shook his head. “We both tested our roots together, both began Qi-refining together—how can you blame me if you’re only at level one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really need to be careful, Yuan. The temptations out here aren’t just this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazzling world blinds the eyes; without discipline, you’ll fall sooner or later. Yuan, Yuan—what will become of you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, she must be practicing seduction arts—yes, that’s definitely it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man’s stubbornness has no limits; Yulou didn’t even want to respond to this fool of a brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he felt no disgust—Yuan’s nature was perfectly normal. After all, not everyone was like him, reincarnated with past-life memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wunan Basin, stretching over twenty thousand li, was roughly the size of Eurasia in Yulou’s past life world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the basin lay three upper sects and seven left-path schools, collectively known as the Ten Sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them were thousands of small and large cultivator clans and mid-sized sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingxi Fang lay in the northwest of the Wunan Basin, under the jurisdiction of the left-path sect Red Lantern Illumination, a marketplace catering to Qi-refining cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there for centuries, its reputation remained strong and its business thrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the stable yard along Qingxi Fang’s edge, today was bustling with traffic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi-refining cultivators could fly using magic artifacts, but activating them constantly drained spiritual power—and flying in the sky was far too conspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, even Qi Refining cultivators traveling usually move quickly on the ground rather than foolishly flying through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Wang family already owned shops, inns, and courtyards within Qingxi Fang; stopping one Qingcong horse there was no issue, let alone ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan came specifically to Qingxi Fang’s horse-stabling yard not merely to park his horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing the Qingcong horse and carriage, he slipped quietly into the stable’s animal-supply shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was also a Qi Refining cultivator, with a grotesque, uncanny appearance—essentially devoid of any human likeness—and was currently lying on a chair enjoying a massage from a female cultivator who guided qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Wang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Rongyuan enter, he waved away the female cultivator, pushed himself up from his reclining chair, and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew something was wrong today—the crows kept cawing. You showing up here never means good news. Speak up~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan sat down boldly opposite the shopkeeper and, as if he owned the place, poured himself some tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got a dog’s mouth but can’t spit out ivory, Old Ghost. Any news on what I asked you to find?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sipping a sip of Grade 8 Gu Shiling tea, Wang Rongyuan looked at the informant known as Old Ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Three Friends of Wumeng said they don’t know. The bandit chief at Xiangshui Tan said he has information—but he wants fifty spirit stones first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Dian doesn’t charge, but he also cultivates the Art of Forging—he found it, and now he wants it for himself...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan nodded silently, poured himself another cup, and kept drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After counting off every well-known bandit cultivator in the area, Old Ghost, the Qi Refining shopkeeper, spread his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Wang, that’s the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rumor about the remains of that Foundation Establishment cultivator from Fulong Temple appeared only once, but the small clans, lone cultivators, and bandits near Qingxi Fang have searched for five years now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No other clues at all. Maybe the person never existed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan poured himself another cup of spirit tea and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep looking. If you find it, I only want his forging manual—just a copy. I don’t want anything else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Ghost shook his head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even Fulong Temple’s own people couldn’t find it. What chance do we lone cultivators have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, those bandits are all bred and backed by great clans. If the clans get the remains, they’ll never let the forging manual slip out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the teapot was empty, Wang Rongyuan stood up, preparing to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just keep looking. Bandits are bandits, great clans are great clans. When the remains are found, they’ll inevitably pass through the bandits’ hands—there’ll be an opening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Wang Rongyuan’s retreating back, Old Ghost blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that the Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Wang family in Hongdengzhao knew something special?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, he picked up the teapot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be damned!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Ghost’s shout was so loud that Wang Rongyuan, already outside the door, heard it—and smiled faintly, quickening his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grade 8 Gu Shiling tea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drank it all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t finished it, wouldn’t my five spirit stones for the info have been wasted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got nothing but empty air—just drinking your tea was already generous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, let’s get something to eat first. We have property here in Qingxi Fang—you’ve never been here before. I’ll show you around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan patted Yulou on the shoulder, then kicked Yuan’s butt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up—we’ve got to take you to meet your master later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re clearly playing favorites, aren’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan felt wronged inside, but he dared not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, why are there so many cultivators in Qingxi Fang? I thought Brother Yuming said there were only a few thousand here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking beside his clan uncle, Yulou asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. You noticed the numbers don’t add up. Yuan, learn from Yulou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too many people usually means something’s changed—something unusual is happening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When traveling, your eyes must watch all six directions, your ears must hear all eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan first nodded at Yuan, then explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hongdengzhao changed Sect Masters two years ago. The new Sect Master comes from a wealthy merchant family in Wunan and is quite skilled in business—he’s implemented a new management plan for all Hongdengzhao’s market towns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One rule: the Merit Hall will station a branch office in each market town, rotating periodically, to facilitate trade for lone cultivators and small clans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why Qingxi Fang’s cultivator population has recently increased—the Merit Hall branch will arrive in half a month, and many shops normally found only in major markets will pay spirit stones to follow the branch here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealthy merchant family. New management plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As someone who once worked nine-to-nine-six every day, Yulou sensed something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Hongdengzhao...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could think further, Wang Rongyuan led them into a restaurant named “Zhiwei Fang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Old Master Rongyuan! Old Master Rongyuan’s here!” The head waiter spotted Wang Rongyuan and rushed over, beaming, shouting loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop shouting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan disliked such empty formalities. He scolded the waiter, then led Yulou and Yuan into the back hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man in purple brocade robes, plump and prosperous-looking, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Wang Rongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Master Rongyuan, you came without warning—I had no time to prepare any fine dishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This smiling, rotund man was Tang Nianqiu, the Wang family’s manager of Zhiwei Fang—a non-clan Qi Refining cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cultivation was only low Qi Refining, achieved through a breakthrough pill—he had no chance of advancing further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, as a Qi Refining cultivator, he should be on equal footing with Wang Rongyuan, not so deferential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Rongyuan was only seventy, already at high Qi Refining, one of the Wang family’s few viable Foundation Establishment seeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference was immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. These are Yulou and Yuan. They’ll be studying the Art of Supporting Dao here in Qingxi Fang. They’ll inevitably run into trouble—when that happens...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wang Rongyuan finished, Tang Nianqiu burst into excitement, gazing admiringly at Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? This must be Yuan! No wonder—you’re the Wang family’s prodigy! Brother Rongwen raised an excellent son!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m Yuan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh no—I’ve become a substitute!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan’s swollen cheeks flushed crimson, glowing like a lantern. Yulou could only awkwardly grin helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, you’re mistaken! This is Yulou—that one’s Yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, Yulou—come, meet your cousin Tang Nianqiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan couldn’t hold back his laughter as he introduced them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing his urge to glance again at Yuan’s pig-like face, Tang Nianqiu smoothly covered his blunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, both are prodigies of the Wang family of Anbei. My eyes are poor, my eyes are poor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best disciples stay home. The decent ones go to the sect. The worst are sent out to guard property and expand the clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Yuan and Yulou were dual-spirit-root cultivators—in the Wunan cultivation world, they had excellent chances of reaching Foundation Establishment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the Wang family possibly send them to a sect to serve as servants to the sect’s own scions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s eat. Bring half a pot of Gu Shiling tea, two jin of spirit rice. Oh, what spirit dishes do you have today?” Wang Rongyuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fewer meat dishes. We have three Grade 9 Water-Yuan cold ducks, one pair of Grade 8 Steelback Spirit Boar hind legs. The rest... we still have the Grade 9 Wood-Spirit donkey slaughtered a few days ago—only three pieces of tail missing. Everything else remains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spirit vegetables are plentiful—everything you’d expect. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhiwei Fang’s head shopkeeper, Tang Nianqiu knew every spirit ingredient in stock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan paused, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duck’s too dry. These two kids can’t chew the Grade 8 pork hocks. So—braised donkey intestines, clear-braised donkey meat, and a small stir-fry of the best spirit vegetables. How much in spirit stones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~ Old Master Rongyuan, you’re treating me like an outsider! How could I possibly charge...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The family rules forbid clan elders from eating for free. If I eat free today, and Rongwen eats free tomorrow, how much profit will Zhiwei Fang make in a year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Just tell me the price. No discounts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan: Uncle, if you’ve got a grudge against me, just say it outright!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Four and a half spirit stones...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu’s eyes darted around, calculating whether he could round down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Five spirit stones. Bring the food fast—these two brats have been traveling with me for over a day to reach Qingxi Fang. They’re starving!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan pulled five Anchundan -sized low-grade spirit stones from his sleeve and gestured for Tang Nianqiu to stop dawdling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the stones, Tang Nianqiu feigned embarrassment, snatched them into his sleeve in a flash, then smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Master Rongyuan, please take the upstairs table. Both young prodigies—upstairs, upstairs, hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan climbed the stairs without looking back. Yuan, still dazed, trudged up with his piggy face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou bowed once more to Tang Nianqiu, then followed upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the three left, Tang Nianqiu stood where they’d been, his smile gone. He flicked his sleeve and headed to the kitchen to hurry the dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tang Nianqiu is overall reliable. He’s Disciple of Xianhe Uncle, and has served the Wang family for nearly a hundred years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, you should call him Xianhe Uncle Grandfather. Too bad—you’re too young to have seen Xianhe Uncle’s glory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan’s gaze grew wistful, as if seeing his clan uncle’s once-mighty presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xianhe—one of the three Foundation Establishment elders of the Wang family’s Xian generation—had passed away over twenty years ago. Yuan and Yulou had never met him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In cultivation clans, generational order isn’t based on biological parentage—it’s determined by century-long cycles, with a new generation name activated every hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that Yulou and Yuan were only a month apart in age, but Yulou was actually Yuan’s ancestral grandfather by bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The clan school taught us that Ancestor Xianhe devoted his entire life to animal husbandry, transforming our Wang family’s ninth-rank wood-element spiritual creature, the Wild Donkey Plain, into an eighth-rank Foolish Donkey Plain, and placing his disciples as shopkeepers at Zhiwei Fang—it was only fitting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou deeply admired Ancestor Xianhe, who spent his whole life elevating the family’s foundation by an entire tier—no exaggeration to say he blessed countless generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wunan’s cultivation world, the greatest difference among clans, immortal sects, and cultivators without affiliation lies in whether they control spiritual creatures, and how many they control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each spiritual creature can continuously produce corresponding spiritual plants, spiritual minerals, and so on—the cultivator world’s version of means of production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely by holding a Foolish Donkey Plain that could sustainably produce donkeys that the Wang family maintained a steady baseline income, allowing them to endure multiple rises and falls and pass down their lineage for over a dozen generations in Wunan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, learn more from Yulou. What the clan school taught you all carries profound truths—observe the subtle to understand the profound. Yulou learned it; you, well...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan glanced at Yuan, sighing in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, Yulou’s just smarter, but I’m not stupid either—I’ve got dual elemental roots!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yulou couldn’t help but turn his head away, pained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two grew up together, attended the clan school together, and came to Qingxi Fang together to study auxiliary arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood is thicker than water—deep, sincere friendship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou couldn’t bear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother, aren’t you asking for a beating?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan said nothing, summoning again his pale green, massive palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beat him first, then talk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pale green palm swung left and right, demonstrating a Qi Refining cultivator’s exquisite control over spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just enough force—stunning, but not brain-damaging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, stop! I know I’m wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wahhh... I want to go home...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That year, Yuan had just turned thirteen, leaving the Wang family mountain where he’d grown up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he stepped out, his clan uncle delivered a ten-hit love slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could hold up under that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? You want to go home, do you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you petitioning me, the Third Elder of the Clan’s Transmission Hall, to change the path assigned to you by the clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yuan weep uncontrollably, Wang Rongyuan asked coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, Yuan didn’t mean it—he doesn’t understand anything, he’s still a child!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, startled, quickly defended Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still a child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of those words—anyone who understands knows. Sounds like nonsense, but it actually works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because he doesn’t understand, we can’t let him ruin himself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two are among the rare few in the Yu generation with dual elemental roots—more talented than triple or quadruple roots, more composed than single roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan spent a fortune to find you a master capable of teaching auxiliary arts, hoping you’d become accomplished and bring new auxiliary arts to our lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you, because you ‘don’t understand,’ end up dying outside the clan, you’d be better off returning home to raise donkeys and live as a quiet, ordinary clansman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he might be sent to raise donkeys, Yuan stopped crying outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best stay home to inherit the family’s legacy; the next tier go to sects to seize opportunity; the worst are assigned to external holdings or roam as lone cultivators—with a faint hope of changing fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The absolute worst? Staying home to raise donkeys—likely never breaking through to Qi Refining. That’s the fate reserved for ordinary quadruple roots, or even decent quintuple roots!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, I know I’m wrong! I don’t want to go back! I know I’m wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With swollen cheeks and a runny nose, Yuan meekly admitted his fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly did you do wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Yulou’s anxious gaze, Rongyuan finally gave Yuan a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou knew well—Rongyuan had been serious just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang family’s ancestral precepts were clear: those lacking intelligence or too reckless had no value for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Immortal Dao is vast and hard to find; talent and aptitude are like floating duckweed. But if your will to pursue the Dao is as firm as stone, even muddled five-element roots can achieve immortality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan recited the clan’s precept in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Wang lineage has endured over twelve hundred years, encountering countless geniuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the greatest among them was the True Person Shen Guang, born in the same era as our progenitor Xuan Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When our progenitor Xuan Ying first achieved Qi Refining and entered the Western Seas to hunt beasts, he met True Person Shen Guang, who was also at the Qi Refining stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Shen Guang had been stuck in early Qi Refining for years due to his five-element roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thousand two hundred years later, nearly all the so-called single-root geniuses the Wang family knew of died at the Purple Mansion threshold—not one achieved a Golden Core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless dual-root cultivators have abandoned their paths and vanished into obscurity—I myself am dual-root!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You fool, how dare you be proud because you have dual roots?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is your will to pursue the Dao merely complacency born of your dual roots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story of True Person Shen Guang was the Wang clan’s favorite tale to tell their young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Wang Xuan Ying, the progenitor, had personally witnessed Shen Guang, who struggled even to break into Qi Refining due to his muddled five-element roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you have five-element roots, don’t despair—True Person Shen Guang achieved a Golden Core!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you have dual roots, don’t be proud—how many dual-root cultivators couldn’t even break through to Foundation Establishment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ancestral precept says: the Immortal Dao is vast and elusive; spiritual affinity is chance, not guarantee; talent and aptitude are like floating duckweed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world of mingled sects and clans, where cultivators outnumber cattle and sheep,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only unwavering Dao will can carry you farther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even muddled five-element roots may yet achieve a Golden Core!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not be proud! I dare not slack off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the pressure of being sent home to raise donkeys, Yuan’s mind spun wildly—suddenly as sharp as Yulou, with a third of his wit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph! You...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu’s arrival interrupted Wang Rongyuan’s tirade. The head shopkeeper of Zhiwei Fang had personally brought a teapot upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Brother Rongyuan, your Gu Shiling tea—just one pot, fresh and top-grade. Please, enjoy slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tang Nianqiu’s earnestness, Wang Rongyuan rose, grasped his arm, and invited him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nianqiu, you’re too courteous, too courteous! Sit down and eat with us—these two boys will surely need your help often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As head of Zhiwei Fang, Tang Nianqiu naturally didn’t dine with guests; he politely declined:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Rongyuan, I’m also a Wang. Today, seeing you all has delighted me beyond words. Please, enjoy your meal. If Yulou or Yuan ever need anything, I’ll do everything I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the clever shopkeeper depart, Wang Rongyuan glared at Yuan, still wiping his nose, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drink your tea!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, quick-witted, lifted the teapot and poured first for his clan uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, Uncle Rongyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he poured for Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, Uncle Rongyuan only wants you to be alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re in Qingxi Fang now—there are far more talented clan youths here, and the garrison cultivators are all Foundation Establishment elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan spent a fortune to hire us a master—we must study the auxiliary arts quietly, master them quickly, and return home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Yulou gave Yuan a meaningful glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stupid brother, don’t you get the hint?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Yuan wasn’t truly foolish—he understood Yulou’s meaning, rose with his teacup, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, I was wrong—I’ve caused you worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll be more careful, work harder, and never be complacent again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I toast you with tea—please forgive me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan looked at the two fools, torn between laughter and exasperation, and scolded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two brats, where did you learn such nonsense flattery? We’re family—I’m just furious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m earth-wood root—I studied formation arts when young. That formation master had only a mediocre relationship with our Wang clan—he fooled me for a full decade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth-wood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou instantly sensed the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—earth-wood cultivation is a dead end, even in another world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auxiliary arts are cultivators’ core productivity in the cultivation world; without clan support, lone cultivators guard their auxiliary arts as fiercely as their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan had suffered enough—he didn’t want these two boys to repeat his mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this time, your father and I have arranged for you to study under a Master of the Fire Dao who rents our Wang family’s Qingxi Workshop—his mastery of fire-based alchemy has reached perfection even among Qi Refining cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, his specialty is crafting metal and stone artifacts, which aligns perfectly with your Gold-Earth spiritual roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems we paid for one fee and secured learning opportunities for both of you—but this one fee… never mind, let’s eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a reason why Wang family youths, once they pass thirteen and their spiritual roots are detected, must undergo “streaming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Qi Refining cultivator can only absorb a limited total amount of spiritual energy per day, tied to their aptitude; for Yulou, that’s three hours max—any more, and he hits the upper limit of his dual-spirit-root capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan’s aptitude is slightly better than Yulou’s—he can cultivate three hours and a quarter more each day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By sending promising young cultivators out early, they can spend their remaining time learning auxiliary arts beyond their three-hour cultivation window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they’ve learned enough of these auxiliary arts and are nearing or have entered Qi Refining, they return to the clan to study the true core secret techniques and inherited auxiliary arts reserved for Qi Refining members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, cultivators like Yulou, who haven’t learned the clan’s inherited auxiliary arts or secret techniques, won’t risk leaking the family’s transmissions when they go out to study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, sending clan cultivators out to learn everything they can is truly a two-fold advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this cultivation path is reserved only for the most promising spiritual seeds of the Wang Immortal Clan—perhaps only five or six in a generation get this chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, just the tuition for Yulou and Yuan alone is so exorbitant that even Wang Rong feels his heart ache at the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We can’t afford it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never eaten our family’s spirit donkey meat before—truly exquisite!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou took a bite of the clear-simmered donkey meat, and instantly his lips and teeth were filled with fragrance; as the meat entered his stomach, spiritual energy scattered throughout his body, and he instinctively tried to guide and refine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, he realized—he didn’t need to control it; the donkey meat naturally transformed into his own spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one bite equaled half a watch of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou instinctively glanced at Yuan and saw that the pig-headed brat had stopped crying—he, too, was lost in the aftertaste of the spirit food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delicious. And delicious. Simply delicious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, it’s not that the clan doesn’t want you to eat them—spirit food generates spiritual energy equal to your spiritual root’s upper limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dual-spirit-root cultivator who can only cultivate three hours per day gains exactly three hours’ worth of cultivation from eating spirit ingredients worth four or five spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you enter Qi Refining, every clan member receives a monthly quota of spirit ingredients—then you can eat as much as you want!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two boys enjoying their meal, Wang Rongyuan smiled and explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are all the Wang clan’s prodigies; over the decades, it’s been generation after generation of young people growing up, shouldering the clan’s burdens, and lifting the family to where it stands today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou is inwardly wise and outwardly cautious, his mind deep as a still pool, yet deeply devoted to family—he’s a fine boy who can bear the clan’s weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan… well, he’s adequate. At least he knows his faults, understands, and is willing to improve—hmm, acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Yulou was already swiftly calculating in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dual-spirit-root Qi Refining cultivator, with no bottlenecks, needs eighteen years to reach Qi Refining—roughly early thirties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on historical data from the clan’s twenty-plus Foundation Establishment elders, the average time from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment was seventy-seven years, with an average Foundation Establishment age of one hundred twelve—still just under the golden age of one hundred twenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From these figures, the Wang clan’s resource allocation model is remarkably reasonable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang clan still can’t afford to let Qi Refining disciples eat spirit food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, counting back from the ancestral founder Xuan Ying, every three Foundation Establishment ancestors form a group, and the average Foundation Establishment age of each group continues to decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From an initial average of one hundred twenty-three, down to the latest group’s one hundred eight—the center of the numbers keeps shifting lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shows that over the past twelve hundred years, the Wang Immortal Clan’s resource allocation model has continuously improved, and total resources have steadily increased!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder this is a clan that has endured for a millennium—even if it’s merely a low-tier immortal clan, it still has substance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, please have some tea. We two can’t drink much—I’ve already nearly reached today’s spiritual absorption limit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan, watching the clever Yulou, ground his molars so hard he thought they’d shatter—he now wished for some artifact that could send him back to just now, to snatch Yulou’s groveling line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re all Uncle Rongyuan’s juniors—why are you so competitive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, hahaha, drink up, finish all the meat and dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t need this much spiritual energy—Gu family’s spirit tea may mix in mundane tea for sale, but this pot is brewed with pure ninth-grade spirit tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A certain clan uncle who had already secretly drunk his fill of eighth-grade spirit tea replied thus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Yuan instantly felt ashamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a wonderful Uncle Rongyuan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, I’ve been too childish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After tea and meal were finished, Wang Rongyuan strode off in his eight-directional step, leading the two so-called Wang clan prodigies toward their true destination—Hua Feng Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Feng Residence, owned by the Qi Refining Fire Dao alchemy master, the Red-Browed Recluse Zhong Tianshuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Red-Browed Recluse possesses Qi Refining tenth-layer cultivation, and wields a fire-based alchemy technique of unknown origin, specializing in crafting metal and stone artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the art of crafting metal and stone artifacts, Zhong Tianshuo is renowned across nearby market districts—a top-tier alchemy master among Qi Refining cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bro, look at how Uncle walks—isn’t that violating our clan’s code? He’s too arrogant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pig-headed brat whispered, huddled beside Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou frowned—he saw Yuan’s condition was serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kid, some things you just don’t say. Understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough! Cough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan coughed twice, changed his arrogant eight-directional stride to normal walking, and adjusted his expression, naturally adopting the look of a frugal wandering cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t it just that I’m so delighted by the clan’s promising heirs that I got a little carried away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, you dog, you remember the clan code perfectly when scolding me—good, very good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hope you’ll follow the code yourself from now on. Yulou, watch him—record any violations you see, and report them to me alone next time I see you—I’ll deal with him myself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou replied respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I humbly obey your uncle’s decree!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking behind them, Yuan’s face turned instantly green—he wanted to slap himself…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked pitifully at Yulou and made a crying face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou gently patted his shoulder and spread his hands—crying? Crying won’t help!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother, there’s nothing I can do—you’re too reckless. Being stupid won’t make you immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here we are—what do you think? The master your uncle and the clan head picked for you—his shop is impressive, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Feng Residence sits on the edge of Qingxi Workshop, yet it’s the best location—because it’s right next to the seventh-grade Qin Yun Qingxi—a seventh-grade spiritual object!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put it this way: this shop, adjacent to Qin Yun Qingxi, brings the Wang clan two hundred and forty lower-grade spirit stones in annual rent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan’s own annual clan stipend is only one hundred spirit stones!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And these two hundred and forty spirit stones? Just the basic fee for regulated use of ninth-grade Qingxi water and borrowing its scattered spiritual energy for cultivation—like a basic package.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If tenants want more Qingxi spiritual objects or spiritual resonance, they must pay extra—lots more—premium services, paid to Hong Deng Zhao, one of the Wunan Ten Sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also why Qingxi Workshop has long housed Foundation Establishment cultivators!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou stood before Hua Feng Residence, unable to see the seventh-grade Qin Yun Qingxi behind the shop, but he noticed a red lantern hanging on its door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This red lantern… could it be?” He looked at his uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes—it’s Hong Deng Zhao’s token, signifying their subordinate protection. It’s both a shield and a deterrent, and a symbol of trust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, if you want to be a dog of the Ten Sects, you’d better have some talent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the lowliest dog of the Ten Sects, if let loose, is formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me—we’re going in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling a flower-patterned silver alloy artifact token from his sleeve, Wang Rongyuan led the two boys straight through the shop’s prohibition barrier and into Hua Feng Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Zhong, I’ve brought you two new students!” he called out loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Yulou’s gaze was already drawn to the dazzling array of metals, agates, jade stones, and artifact blanks inside Hua Feng Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as mortal men in his past life loved guns and cannons, in this immortal world, Yulou’s favorite things included magic treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic treasures—tools to protect one’s Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could say no cultivator dislikes fine, high-quality magic treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang, when are you going to pay me the eighth-grade water-jade shards you promised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, slightly accented male voice rang out, sounding around thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the back chamber of Hua Feng Residence emerged a fat man in embroidered red robes, with red eyebrows—the Red-Browed Recluse Zhong Tianshuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red embroidery on his robes shimmered with spiritual light; Yulou gazed and saw swirling flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames danced, as if enchanted, mesmerizing both Yulou and Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames danced, as if possessed of magic, leaving both Yulou and Yuan brothers spellbound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a word, the flames vanished from the robe. Zhong Tianshuo waved his hand irritably and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No chairs. Stand if you have something to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Tianshuo, about that horse-racing bet last time—I never expected the beast-medicine shop’s old ghost to be so despicable, pushing his ridiculous family-secret beast elixir on every horse owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s… uh, right?” Wang Rongyuan chuckled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang clan now has two Foundation Establishment elders—one a true disciple of Hong Deng Zhao, the other an outside-ward official after achieving Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, either of these two elders could crush Zhong Tianshuo with a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan needn’t be so courteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… the Wang clan desperately needs Zhong Tianshuo’s Fire Dao metal-and-stone alchemy transmissions—desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan’s own secret techniques are incomplete; Zhong’s lineage fills a critical gap in the Wang clan’s alchemical transmissions, and it’s easily obtainable—indispensable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others have similar transmissions, but they won’t sell or teach outsiders—the Wang clan can’t buy them even if they want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many others possess similar lineages, but they do not sell them, nor do they teach them to outsiders; the Wang clan cannot buy them even if they want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeking a favor, and since Wang Rong had indeed caused Zhong Tianshuo to suffer heavy losses in their last horse-racing bet, he could only suppress his frustration and try to smooth things over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this, what isn’t this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang, you promised to compensate me with the eighth-rank Water Jade Shattered Pearl!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give it to me, and I’ll take these two brats and train them for ten or even twenty years—no problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t, then take them and go find someone else!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhong Tianshuo say this, Yulou instinctively felt his heart sink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This red-browed man isn’t an ordinary fellow—he’s merely Qi Refining, yet he dares to stand firm before Foundation Establishment cultivators of an immortal clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Zhong Tianshuo’s words, Wang Rong’s smile froze slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have resolved this matter through many means, but his family craved Zhong Tianshuo’s Fire Method Jin Shi Cultivation Transmission, so many options were off-limits—even threats were hard to voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extremely troublesome!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I assure you, I won’t renege on the eighth-rank Water Jade Shattered Pearl. The Wang family of Anbei still carries weight—you may rest assured, Red Brow Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither soft nor hard, perfectly balanced—but Zhong Tianshuo wasn’t buying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, where is the eighth-rank Water Jade Shattered Pearl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong had no choice but to say:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We haven’t yet found a suitable alchemist to refine our piece of Water Jade. Wait until they finish refining it, and I’ll give you the Shattered Pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t worry, Zhong Daoist—I, Wang Rong, would never deceive you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, having lost the bet, Zhong Tianshuo merely wanted to test the waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was an eighth-rank Water Jade Shattered Pearl!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Rong’s firm assurance, he believed him—but still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Wang family actually possessed an eighth-rank Water Jade, he grew even more eager!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have me refine it! Tell me what you want it turned into, Brother Wang—we’ve been old friends. I’ll refine it for you free of charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Face”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago he was “Wang,” now he’s “Brother Wang”—Red Brow Recluse understands how to switch faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This... I’ll speak with our clan chief and strongly recommend you. After all, you’re the master of Yulou and Yuan—an insider, one of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Rong wouldn’t yield, Red Brow Recluse stopped pressing. He turned to Yulou and Yuan and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Have them draw a talisman. If their talent is too poor, don’t waste my time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To refine artifacts, first master talismans. If your talisman art is weak, you can’t inscribe restrictions onto the artifact’s core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here—draw on these two sheets of hemp cloth. Let’s see your talisman aptitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang family had paid to buy a transmission and delivered two apprentices—Red Brow Recluse was deeply dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You think you can get me for free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, I must drive one away—only then can I negotiate terms and secure the Water Jade Shattered Pearl for sure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Channeling his spiritual energy, several red threads spread from Red Brow Recluse, pulling chairs, tables, hemp cloth, and white-hair brushes from different corners of the hall and placing them before the two brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Wang Rong sucked in a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s control over spiritual energy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both of you—draw the Spirit-Guiding Talisman. You should know how, right? I’m pressed for time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Brow Recluse said this, then resumed chatting with Wang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You shouldn’t have been cozying up to that old ghost—he’s rotten. Last time he sold me a purple marten for my daughter, and it grew into a purple-furred rat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong naturally had confidence in the two boys’ talisman skills—they’d been practicing since half a year ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit-Guiding Talisman? Child’s play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, Brother Zhong—I just gave him a good beating today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His screams—oh, they were deafening. Shame you didn’t hear them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong crossed his arms over his chest, speaking with quiet pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Screams? You really laid into him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Wang Rong had avenged him, Zhong Tianshuo instantly felt deep respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the Wang family produced such a prodigy—he’s truly formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Qingxi Market, only the vassal families of Red Lantern Society dared be this bold—Zhong Tianshuo himself wouldn’t dare such arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, too bad you weren’t there—he screamed so loud, people dozens of zhang away heard him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong held back his laughter, feigning pride as he bragged to Zhong Tianshuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old ghost: I’ll f*** your grandma—you drank half a liang of eighth-rank Gu Shiling tea! Half a liang! All eighth-rank!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh... your boy here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan, what’s wrong? Isn’t your drawing good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there some illness on his head?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I gave him a couple of whacks on the road—nothing serious. If he misbehaves here, beat him as you see fit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan’s face twitched, nearly ruining his talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he’d been relentlessly practicing Spirit-Guiding Talismans lately—even neglecting his cultivation, which was why he was one level below Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So despite the hellish distractions outside, they didn’t affect him at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was different—he’d been utterly focused on drawing the Spirit-Guiding Talisman from start to finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the talisman was about to be completed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yulou’s mind appeared a phantom white Ruyi scepter, one end brimming with golden light, like a progress bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He subtly shifted his spirit, and the accumulated gold dissolved into scattered specks, drifting away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His drawing motion instantly became far more exquisite—seemingly ordinary, yet naturally fluid, as if ordained by heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third-to-last stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second-to-last stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit-Guiding Talisman—complete!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which transmigrator doesn’t have a cheat system?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ruyi scepter in his mind appeared only after Yulou’s spiritual root was detected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its function was simple: it accumulated experience while drawing talismans. After roughly fifty drawings, it filled a small vial of golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These golden lights could be seen as a kind of guaranteed minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consuming them could turn a major failure into a minor one, a minor failure into a success, and a success into perfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t yet tested what would happen if he triggered the ultimate guarantee on a talisman that was already perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In half a year of practice, the first two months were all failures—he couldn’t accumulate golden light effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, with cultivation and his cheat system to rely on, Yulou grew a little lax, shifting focus to Qi absorption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was a world where one could cultivate immortality—wasn’t cultivation all about seizing the moment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He longed to know if this guarantee system could work for artifact refinement—but dared not hope, fearing disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Artifact refinement was costly, complex, and the final product’s quality determined its value by a vast margin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only this guarantee system could be applied to artifact refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his future—and the future of the Wang Shixian Clan—might undergo a complete transformation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, Master Red Brow, I’ve finished my Spirit-Guiding Talisman!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the final stroke, Yuan raised his hemp cloth proudly toward Wang Rong and Red Brow Recluse—but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Qi Refining elders had abandoned interest in him—they were now staring at Yulou’s hemp cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who understood didn’t need to gasp. Wang Rong smiled, waiting for Red Brow Recluse to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Brow Recluse rubbed his belly and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m old. A child has outdone me—I couldn’t even draw a Spirit-Guiding Talisman this good. You’re Yulou, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou looked at his talisman, stunned, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m Wang Yulou, Master Red Brow. This is the best talisman I’ve ever drawn—I often fail when practicing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou smiled earnestly, explaining his perfect mundane-grade Spirit-Guiding Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan’s isn’t bad either—he practiced hard. Brother Zhong, take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan looked at Uncle Rongyuan in confusion, nearly moved to tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle, you still love me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong: The Wang family spent so many spirit stones—you must succeed in becoming a disciple!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up Wang Yu’an’s talisman—above average, below excellent, clearly drawn with effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Brow Recluse studied it again and again, then sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wang, I’ll take both of them. But please, do your best regarding the Water Jade Shattered Pearl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two such fine talents before him, Red Brow Recluse wouldn’t lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rong smiled broadly, his face flushed with joy—he never expected Xiang Yuan to be so accomplished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He may seem careless, but he takes his work seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today I’ll take them back to bathe and burn incense; tomorrow morning, I’ll invite a few fellow cultivators, and we’ll hold a grand master-apprentice ceremony!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Hongmei glanced at Yulou, then at the swollen-faced Xiang Yuan, thinking to skip the ceremony, yet feeling it should still be held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two are the only disciples I’ve taken since I began my quest for the Dao—they deserve a ritual to bear witness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t know how to arrange a master-apprentice ceremony; I’ll leave it to Brother Wang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad you’ve entered Zhong Tianshuo’s lineage; I’m sure the clan head will be pleased too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the inn with the boys, Wang Rongyu smiled warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, is Master Hongmei really that powerful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was puzzled; Xiang Yuan looked equally curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you know? He may have inherited the transmission of the Foundation Establishment Fire Method and the Golden Stone Dao path. Do you remember his control over spiritual energy today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cultivation base is roughly equal to mine, but his control over spiritual energy surpasses mine. Come to think of it, we’re probably about the same age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the moonlight, Uncle Rongyuan sighed with melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation, cultivation—every cultivator yearns endlessly to advance further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a peer, Wang Rongyu had fallen behind Hongmei; how could he not feel melancholy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if my fortunes had been better?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if I hadn’t been fooled by that cheap master back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if my comprehension had been sharper?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His eyebrows may be a manifestation of spiritual energy. Uncle Rongyuan, from this alone, your potential exceeds his.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou comforted his cousin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you little brat, now you’re giving me advice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ruffled Yulou’s hair; the major task was done, his heart lightened, and Wang Rongyu chuckled teasingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder which of you will reach Foundation Establishment first. You’re the same age, born in the same month, raised together since childhood, and now you’re both entering the same master’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You two—you must work hard~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Yuan wanted to say it would be him, but his face was already swollen enough, so he held his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, just wait—I’ll make you call me Senior!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivators have sharp eyesight; as they reached the inn owned by the Wang clan in Qingxi Fang, across the street, both Wang Rongyu and Yulou noticed the mother and daughter they’d seen at noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother still stood there, the sign still hanging around her neck; she leaned helplessly against the railing of Qingxi Fang, her daughter asleep at her feet, utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten taels of silver meant nothing to a cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most people choose not to part with even a single copper coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wunan’s cultivation world, few have the luxury of retaining compassion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as one hasn’t become an immortal, one remains human—a human who may not even be able to protect themselves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou glanced at his cousin; Wang Rongyu fell silent for a moment, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go. I’ll watch here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the silver his cousin handed him, Yulou walked toward the mother and daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the evening, Qingxi Fang was still crowded, but far less so than when they’d arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn’t save them, in this cultivator marketplace, the mother and daughter wouldn’t survive long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here. Ten taels of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou slipped a small gold bean into the woman’s hand; the exhausted woman opened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not an Immortal Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou shook his head, melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A family that accumulates virtue will surely reap blessings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was merely a cultivator struggling on the path—how could he be called an Immortal Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment—I have something to give her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Yulou’s puzzled gaze, the woman pulled out a pouch of silver from her bosom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She placed the gold bean Yulou gave her inside, then tied the entire pouch around the wrist of her still-sleeping daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forgive me, forgive me—this young Immortal Master is a good person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother wept, embracing her daughter one last time before letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bowing her head, she lifted the girl and held her out before Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t bear to send her daughter away—but she couldn’t bear to let her suffer alongside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My clan needs many people. I’m from the Gu clan, the Tea King’s lineage—you can come too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, without me as her mother, she’ll be better off. She’ll have a spiritual root. Her father was a cultivator—she must have one, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou replied gently, unable to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, she will have a spiritual root.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t bear to shatter a mother’s greatest blessing for her child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Child, Mother has no spiritual root—but you will. You absolutely will!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make her cultivate well, Immortal Master. You’re a good person—you’ll become an immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mortal, tainted mother cast one final glance at her departing daughter, wiping away tears that would not cease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned sharply, stumbled away, and vanished like a fugitive into the night of Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clutching the silk pouch, stuffed with silver, Yulou stood frozen, holding the child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no lanterns along the road of Qingxi Fang, but tonight the sky held a bright, white moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou looked up, his eyes already filled with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moon is brightest over one’s homeland. The moon is brightest over one’s homeland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He missed his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>",8669,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","73ddb5e29ab0e0f68643b9dc6ba18c53c353381e0ab59094561c9ebcfaae8088","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-4","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-2",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]