[{"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-53":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},2320515,4538,"Chapter 53: Fuck Your Eighteen Generations of Ancestors! Blackout! There","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>The horse racing track in Qingxi Fang was right next to the stable yard, and technically, it was one of the few gambling activities in Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, cultivators could manipulate gambling tools with spiritual power; human gambling was a joke to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But horse racing was different—it had high randomness, making it hard for cultivators to manipulate, which was why horse racing had taken root in Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the ethereal, immortal-themed venues in the xianxia novels Wang Yulou had read, Qingxi Fang’s racing track had a raw, wild beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, it was trashy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was trashy both aesthetically and practically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain from a few days ago had turned the ground into a patchy mudflat; along its edges stood thick stone railings marking the access paths, and inside those railings lay the racing track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This state was intentional—the races only occurred three times a month, and the Qingcong horses were still Qi Refining-level minor demons, whose running caused massive destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how well you maintained the ground, it was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding a decently positioned mud platform, Wang Yuan watched the Qingcong horses gathered within the stone railings, poised and ready, then gritted his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bet three days—today’s winner is Hulugang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulugang was Wang Yuan’s favorite horse, around the peak of Qi Refining, and though slightly older, its strength spoke for itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past two years, it had won one-third of all first-place finishes at the track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hulugang’s old, and you’ve been burning charcoal for two months already, Wang Yuan—you can’t hang all your hopes on one horse,” Wang Yulou warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three never bet silver or spirit stones; they bet on the task of helping Red Eyebrow tend the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Yuan said “three days,” he meant that if he won, his fire-tending shift would be reduced by three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he lost, he’d burn charcoal for three more days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t listen to your brother, Wang Yuan—believe in yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which kid cries every day? Which gambler loses every day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And three days is too little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aren’t you a man? Come on—bet ten days. I know you can win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ningyao, enjoying the spectacle, egged Wang Yuan on to raise the stakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan wasn’t truly foolish—he adored his senior sister, but he was sick of burning charcoal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just three days. Give Hulugang one last chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother, which horse do you think will win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou, absorbed in studying the track, was distracted and answered instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, this place is really empty… wait, you asked which horse will win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m betting on Hulugang again. What’s your pick?” Wang Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou glanced at the horses, then spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m betting on Hulugang too. Yeah—it’s definitely him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan was surprised; Zhong Ningyao was puzzled—Wang Yulou seemed unusually certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Wang Yulou’s usual maturity and composure, she suddenly became curious about his reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think the oldest horse can win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t because of some old steed dreaming of a thousand li—the track didn’t care about sentiment. If you couldn’t run faster, you lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou smiled and explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, Hulugang isn’t the oldest—it’s the second oldest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, it just won last time. Many will assume it had its burst and won’t win again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yuan, I’m not laughing at you, but I understand how painful it was for you not to pick Hulugang last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Wang Yuan’s face twisted in agony, Wang Yulou quickly added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kid was unlucky—he’d bet on Hulugang for so long that after losing repeatedly, he switched to another horse once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that one time? Hulugang pulled off a shocking win. Wang Yuan’s psyche nearly shattered—gamblers are tormented by reality’s cruel cycles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third… the two new horses are favorites, so they’re unlikely to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That leaves Hulugang and the other top contenders—I want Wang Yuan to win, so I picked Hulugang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group chatted, a familiar voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that Wang Yulou? Your analysis’s got some merit—clear and logical. Want to buy some tickets from me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was Old Ghost, selling race tickets to nearby cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingxi Fang had several betting stalls; Old Ghost was one of them—and the most shameless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His odds were higher, otherwise no one would place bets with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Ghost, the purple weasel you sold me last time turned into a giant purple-furred rat—it keeps growing, growing, growing. What breed is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ningyao glared at Old Ghost, her tone sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exposed like this, Old Ghost chuckled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to leave, but since the crowd hadn’t placed bets yet, he wasn’t ready to walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What giant purple-furred rat? It’s a purple weasel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It grew so big because giant purple weasels are naturally large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You think it’s a rat because giant purple weasels are incredibly rare!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of being despicable, Old Ghost was a match for Gao Jie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Zhong Ningyao knew he was no ordinary man—he was Qingxi Fang’s biggest underground information broker—so she still gave him some face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compensate me with three bottles of Beast Blood-Energizing Pills, and we’re even. What do you say, Old Ghost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, call it a purple-furred rat—it had grown on her after all this time. Zhong Ningyao just wanted to recoup a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purple weasels had a chance to enter Minor Demon realm; purple-furred rats? Their potential was shallow—they’d never rise above minor demon status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the difference, Zhong Ningyao didn’t think asking for three bottles of Beast Blood-Energizing Pills was excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At most three pills!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou instantly felt deep respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three bottles cut down to three pills—could it be… was this old man a secret agent of the Wang Clan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bottle held ten pills; Zhong Ningyao wanted thirty. Old Ghost offered three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slashed the price to one-tenth—he understood Wang Clan rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible! At least one bottle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ningyao, certain she was right, refused to back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Ghost’s twisted face curled into a sly grin. “Deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a bottle of Beast Blood-Energizing Pills from his storage pouch and tossed it to Ningyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn—he’d just handed her a bottle with only three pills inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Zhong Ningyao’s breasts ache with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was barely twenty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could only say: Old Ghost, a creature who glided effortlessly through the gray zones, was a pure, unadulterated beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two quarters later, as the cultivators watching the race grew impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event organizer—a Qi Refining high-level elder from the Yang Clan of Foundation Establishment lineage—stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated his spiritual power and shouted loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have all you cultivators placed your bets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horse racing existed to serve gambling—it wouldn’t start until all bets were placed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up! I’ve got things to do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Yang, you’re really dragging this out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Start! Start!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the crowd’s impatience, the Yang Clan cultivator didn’t hesitate—he leapt onto a shield and soared into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand; the handlers holding the horses instantly held their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, all the horses—including Hulugang—exploded forward, accelerating wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten horses racing couldn’t match the grandeur of ten thousand, but these Qingcong horses were all at least high-level minor demons—vastly superior to mortal horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their massive bodies seemed to contain boundless power; as they ran, the ground trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soil from both sides of the stone-ringed track was flung high into the air—another reason the track remained a mud pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground was muddy, but it didn’t slow the horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere breaths, they reached supercar speeds, making Wang Yulou’s blood stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first lap, Hulugang ran in the middle—unremarkable, showing no sign of a champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the third lap, the two leading horses collided while turning, crashing in a gruesome heap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the second-oldest racer, Hulugang had vast racing experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the obstacle, it leapt nimbly—clearing nearly ten meters—and soared cleanly over the fallen horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s over! All lost! My spirit stones!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wò rù nǐ shíbā bèi zǔzōng! Blackout! There’s definitely a blackout!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more joyfully Wang Yuan laughed, the more agonized the losing gamblers became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After breaking free, Hulugang quickly pulled dozens of meters ahead of the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It maintained its lead and easily claimed first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it’s very old, no longer young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it’s not the fastest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so what? An old general has plenty of experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Lu Gang’s victory once again proved those five words: __ is a fool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need for speed, no need for strength—just steady performance, and the opponents will inevitably give you an opening; victory is this simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, Hu Lu Gang won again! Hu Lu Gang won again, hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Yuan pulled Yulou, thrilled like a sixteen-year-old boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you two go back first. I’ll go meet this elder of the Yang family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou remained calm, though Hu Lu Gang’s victory had surprised him—he’d actually guessed right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s horse racing; wins and losses come and go—any outcome is normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you looking for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ningyao and Xiang Yuan were both puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yang family, a Foundation Establishment immortal clan, is renowned for taming spiritual beasts and mounts—could Yulou be planning to buy a spiritual beast or mount?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, the horse racing is held every ten days, and each time at least a few hundred cultivators come to watch; sometimes over a thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These cultivators are potential customers of the Baibao Pavilion. I want to partner with the Yang family to have them promote the Baibao Pavilion during the races.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching today’s race, Yulou thought of many ways the event could be further developed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, he only plans to run an advertisement; the rest can wait until future opportunities arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on the fundamental rule that power resides in the individual, the cultivation world has many traits utterly unlike the mortal world he once lived in—he must first test the waters and not rush recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to Xiang Yuan and Ningyao, Yulou found the Yang family cultivator tending to an injured racehorse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, I am Yulou of the Wang clan from Anbei Kingdom. I’d like to discuss business with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou spoke with proper courtesy; the Yang family’s Qi Refining cultivator paused his healing and looked up in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Wang clan of Anbei Kingdom? You want to do business with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally knew the reputation of the Wang clan of Anbei Kingdom—there had been considerable business between the Yang and Wang families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing how young Yulou was, he was still surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the elder was interested, Yulou was delighted and quickly explained his plan to use the horse races to promote the Baibao Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This... it’s possible, but we’ve never done anything like this before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yang family’s Qi Refining cultivator hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re all new at this—we can figure it out slowly. I’ll pay spirit stones; you just help with the promotion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I don’t yet know your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Qi. Young cultivator, call me Yang Qi. Let me finish healing this horse first, then we can discuss how to cooperate.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1840,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5765b4267baa7bd5d5d81c31c44d441b8c98aa1908013f2259e72162560d958a","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-54","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-52",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]