[{"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-54":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},2320516,4538,"Chapter 54","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-54",54,"\u003Cp>As Yulou finalized the horse racing collaboration between Baibao Pavilion and Qingxi Market, Baibao Pavilion’s competitors were also nervously pondering how to counter it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re pushing us too far—copying our name is bad enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now they’re selling talismans too? This is outright bullying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the back courtyard of Baifutang, a Qi Refining cultivator dressed as a shopkeeper was complaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Baifutang’s shopkeeper, Che Zengye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Refining talisman market in Qingxi Market was limited; the Che family, through generations of operation, had built Baifutang’s reputation and secured one-third of the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One-third may sound small, but in a fiercely competitive commercial district, such dominance was already substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Wang family suddenly rose up with Baibao Pavilion—its name nearly identical to Baifutang’s, and its operations heavily overlapping. How could Che Zengye not panic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re outright bullying you—what can you do about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zengye, let’s talk about how you plan to respond. I didn’t come all the way to Qingxi Market just to hear your complaints.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Che Zengshu, the Che family patriarch, said to his brother with a hint of resignation, finding his brother’s words unimpressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang family of Anbei State was large and powerful; they weren’t likely to deliberately copy the Che family’s shop name, but how to respond to Baibao Pavilion’s aggressive challenge was indeed a tough problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingxi Market was only so big; Baibao Pavilion carried the Wang family’s prestige and introduced many innovations, so it naturally had no shortage of customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But every extra bite they took meant two fewer bites for the Che family—this problem was enormous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Che Zengshu not worry? That’s why he rushed here in such a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, we could launch a three-person 10% discount bundle to compete for customers with Baibao Pavilion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Che Zengye had no qualms about copying Baibao Pavilion’s tactics—it was Baibao Pavilion that copied Baifutang’s name first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re oversimplifying it. Our model is low-buy, high-sell. We buy talismans in bulk at low prices from itinerant cultivators and small clans, then sell them slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baibao Pavilion’s model is for the Wang family to draw the talismans themselves, then sell them through their own shop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t compete with them on price! If we do, we’ll lose for sure—we need other strategies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A speck of dust from an era, when it lands on an individual’s shoulder, becomes a mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patriarch Mangxiang, in his quest to attain Golden Core, exerted immense downward pressure within the Hongdengzhao system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang family, as a vassal of Hongdengzhao and a minor faction of the Mangxiang lineage, was directly cut at the heels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid these changes, to maintain family financial balance, Wang Xianmao established Baibao Pavilion in Qingxi Market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Che family’s Baifutang was left stranded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost of Patriarch Mangxiang’s actions was naturally borne by Hongdengzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hongdengzhao faced pressure, it could directly offload it onto its many vassals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure faced by the Wang family could be distributed through multiple channels onto itinerant cultivators and small clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could a tiny Qi Refining family like the Ches do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide of the era spread layer by layer, and when it reached the Che family, their decades-built Baifutang proved as fragile as paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between the Che and Wang families was immense; many methods that once worked were now useless against Baibao Pavilion, backed by the Foundation Establishment clan Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After long thought, Che Zengye whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, you know several cultivation sects, right? Their public identities are completely unrelated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can use them to spread rumors that Baibao Pavilion’s talismans are unreliable—to damage their reputation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Che Zengshu was startled. He glanced around, quickly realized only the two of them were present, and relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning toward Che Zengye, he hissed in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say such things. We supply them because it’s normal business. If we ask them to do this, aren’t we mixing ourselves with cultivation sects?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens—Baifutang’s unique position in Qingxi Market had its reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to normal retail, the Che family operated a secret underground network that supplied talismans exclusively to cultivation sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patriarch, Baibao Pavilion is closing in, backed by the Wang family, and their product quality is high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, they supply multiple spirit pills—this imbalance will doom Baifutang. We must act decisively!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Che Zengye’s eyes were resignation, struggle, madness—but no hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baifutang’s survival meant the Che family’s survival—he had to protect it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his brother’s gaze, the Che patriarch fell silent for a long while, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll arrange it. Don’t involve yourself in this. Oh—and tell the shop staff I’m only staying one night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Immortal Alliance—Ten Sects” system had barely mobilized, yet it forced ordinary cultivators to collaborate with cultivation sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few years, many things had changed from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Jiang Bao, who still cared about appearances, the new garrison cultivator Mu Chunze was so corrupt he’d dilute water with water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diluting water with water—ordinary people couldn’t even conceive of such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he managed to become a disciple of the Purple Mansion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had planned to wait until Hongmei sorted out his thoughts before returning to Huafeng Residence to continue his Dao cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Hongmei was under immense psychological pressure; Yulou feared this kind-hearted but heartless master might explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But yesterday, Senior Sister Ningyao visited them, suggesting Hongmei might have regained his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Yulou and Yuan arrived early at Huafeng Residence today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is my master here?” Yulou asked the front hall attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He left early this morning. Ningyao Immortal is here, but she’s currently in the side hall negotiating a custom magic treasure with a female client.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Yuan looked at his elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, now’s the perfect chance to refine the Purple Copper Breaking Staff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two brothers still owed Wu Jinyan a debt and needed to repay it quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yulou was now shopkeeper of Baibao Pavilion, he couldn’t freely use the spirit stones on its accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without disturbing Ningyao, the two went to the alchemy furnace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan lit the fire, Yulou fetched water, and soon everything was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is our first time refining a magic treasure ourselves, Yuan—why don’t you go first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s request seemed odd; Yuan hesitated briefly but didn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Yulou considered that his own Dao cultivation was higher than Yuan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he refined first and failed multiple times, it would affect his own state—and worse, Yuan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting Yuan go first, with his competitive youthful nature, would make him focus harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, with Yulou—whose cultivation was slightly higher—ready to back him up, Yuan’s psychological pressure would be greatly reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined, the decision to let Yuan go first carried clear value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou calculated this precisely—that’s why he suggested Yuan go first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation was like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two pieces of purple copper alone cost nearly three hundred spirit stones; with all other auxiliary materials, refining would consume at least three hundred ten spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three hundred ten spirit stones for six Purple Copper Breaking Staffs—each cost fifty-two spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One failure meant losing fifty-two spirit stones. How could Yulou not be careful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he was merely agonizing over a small detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Yulou sold two hundred Purple Copper Breaking Staffs, the spirit stones earned still couldn’t buy the mid-grade magic treasure belt around his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a towering tree grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story terrace rises from accumulated earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must be resolute, for the burden is heavy and the path long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Yulou nor Yuan lacked grand ambitions, but the young man Yuan clearly didn’t grasp Yulou’s deeply hidden determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stood before the furnace, without even glancing, and tossed the purple copper straight into the fire, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel I can inscribe five layers of seals. Brother, can I try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, his competitiveness had been correctly predicted by Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course you can—but if you blow it, you lose fifty-two spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try it. Fifty-two isn’t much—it’s just two and a half years’ worth of clan stipend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yulou saying that, Yuan dared not be reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yulou tended the fire, while Yuan handled the refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under their careful coordination, the first Purple Copper Breaking Staff was soon completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the staff Yuan produced had only three seal layers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The design called for four: three base seals plus one Breaking Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, when reaching the fourth layer, Yuan had grown exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too small—the volume of one-third of a purple copper piece was simply too small for him to manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who said earlier they could inscribe five layers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou dipped the Purple Copper Breaking Staff into Shanxiao blood, smiling as he asked and answered himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, can’t remember—definitely not me. Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shanxiao blood enhanced the Breaking effect; Yuan’s staff was mediocre, but purple copper’s inherent nature granted it some Breaking capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too small; the volume of one-third a block of purple copper is simply too small for him to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who just said five layers could be forged into it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou immersed the purple copper Breaking-Dharma Mallet in mountain imp blood, then smiled as he asked and answered himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, can’t remember—definitely not me, hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mountain imp blood enhances the Breaking-Dharma power; Yuan’s purple copper Breaking-Dharma Mallet was mediocrely forged, but the nature of purple copper ensures it inherently possesses some Breaking-Dharma capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same logic applies: a spell powered by ten units of magic power can be shattered outright by the Purple Copper Magic Mallet, reinforced with five layers of anti-magic seals, using only three units of magic power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When breaking various protective spells, it holds an overwhelming advantage, like slicing through melons and vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This inferior version of the Purple Copper Magic Mallet can shatter a ten-unit spell with just eight units of magic power; from this perspective, it still holds value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being humiliated by Yulou, Yuan said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calculated the magic power within his body, then dropped another small piece of purple copper into the alchemical furnace, his eyes filled with solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I will forge a Purple Copper Magic Mallet with four layers of seals!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan can refine ink jade into a mid-grade magic artifact blank—he does possess some talent in the Art of Forging, though this may also be due to Yulou’s urging and guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yuan was channeling his magic power to wrestle with the purple copper inside the furnace, Senior Sister Ningyao entered the back chamber with a female cultivator veiled in a silk mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend Yingxi, our Huafeng Chamber does not accept orders for wooden magic artifacts—my father specializes in metal and stone, and fire-based forging arts are unsuitable for wooden items.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, I can recommend a suitable place for you. Look, these are the Wang Shizi of Anbei State—the Wang clan is renowned within the Red Lantern Society for their wood-based magic arts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Senior Sister Ningyao introducing this female customer to the Wang clan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had no time to attend to the two women—he turned his gaze to Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good, good, good—this boy Yuan truly has some insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two female cultivators beside him, he didn’t even glance at them; his forging technique remained as steady as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan, you boy will amount to something great!\u003C\u002Fp>",1862,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8884489a2a83707b61e13c7b050eefd43a15f4bd7ee24806bea59fec9989c07e","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-55","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-53",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]