[{"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-55":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},2320517,4538,"Chapter 55: My Dear Brother, What Are You Pretending For?!","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>“The Wang family of Anbei...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veiled female cultivator standing behind Yuan stood quietly repeating it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was unusual; if Sister Ningyao’s voice was typical of a female cultivator’s,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then this veiled woman’s voice belonged to that category—thin yet alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing it, Yuan shuddered, and the alchemy furnace emitted a loud “bang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yuan’s embarrassed face, Yulou took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Idiot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou rose to greet the Qi Refining female cultivator named Yingxi, who had come with his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he stood, he realized that, having just been tending charcoal, his appearance was far from presentable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peachwood spirit charcoal had blackened his face entirely; sweat from the high-temperature spirit fire had carved deep, winding rivers through the soot on his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the unfamiliar female cultivator, whose silver-threaded embroidery adorned a plain blue silk robe brimming with spiritual energy, Yulou looked more like a coal-digging black bear that had attained enlightenment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyao was introducing business to the Wang family; Yulou didn’t have time to care about appearances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hastily wiped his face, forced a nervous laugh, and turned to Sister Ningyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, who is this elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultivator named Yingxi also looked curiously at Ningyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You said these two are from the Wang family of Anbei—then why does one look stupid and the other look black, neither seeming quite right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yingxi seeks a custom musical instrument, requiring a spirit wood base, so I thought of your Wang family—hence, I brought her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyao shot a look of exasperation at Yuan, who had only just risen after his brother, then turned to the female cultivator Yingxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Yulou. You may discuss your instrument customization with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan: What about me? I’m standing right here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At sixteen, Yuan stood beside Zhong Ningyao and the veiled cultivator Yingxi, yet no one paid him any attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently vowed to conquer his inner demon—never again would he be affected by female cultivators; he would become a free-spirited, unbound wanderer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Yingxi, what kind of musical instrument do you wish to commission? A horizontal qin, a vertical harp, a zheng, a pipa—we Wangs can make them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s reply was carefully crafted, based on his observations of this woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a white gauze mask, obscuring her face, but dressed in a plain lake-blue silk robe with silver-threaded embroidery, radiating spiritual energy yet subtly refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was also... well, uniquely memorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after careful assessment, Yulou judged this elder would not favor the suona, erhu... large drums, small drums, waist drums... cymbals, nao, bo...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These did not suit her demeanor, so he deliberately avoided those lower-tier musical instruments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also skillfully omitted the dongxiao, xun, and bells—all of which shared one trait: they could be forged by Hongmei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t call me elder; I’m about your age. Just address me as Daofriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wish to commission a seven-string qin—preferably made of spirit wood. Can your Wang family make one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou knew of the seven-string qin—it was the origin of all qins, its seven strings corresponding to the seven fundamental tones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Our Wang family possesses the relevant lineage and experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, you may need to wait a while—I must first send word to our clan’s alchemists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we’ll discuss customization details, and finally set a delivery date.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seven-string qins are inherently difficult to forge, and customizing one adds further complexity...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daofriend Yingxi, the final cost and delivery date may not be ideal. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t know where Ningyao had pulled this fool from, Yulou naturally intended to fully exploit her potential commercial value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short: squeeze out as many spirit stones as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Custom musical instruments were rare demands; the Wang family’s secret Wood-Generation Art couldn’t be used for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps their Fire-Method Jinshi Alchemy wasn’t perfected, but that didn’t mean their other alchemical lineages were flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit wood seven-string qin Yingxi desired was precisely the Wang family’s strongest specialty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did “strongest specialty” mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant the highest price they could charge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cost... I only need a mid-grade magic treasure—eight hundred spirit stones. Is that acceptable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clearly didn’t care about time, but she did care about price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou quickly grasped the key point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman wasn’t in a hurry to use it, and her demand for the instrument was precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only a mid-grade magic treasure”—this phrase, upon closer thought, carried a quiet, subtle, unspoken confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confidence—why was she so confident?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief consideration, Yulou spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight hundred spirit stones? You want the Wang family to customize a seven-string qin for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daofriend, let’s part ways amicably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, thank you for this visit, but there’s really nothing more to discuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Yulou turned and washed his face with water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smooth, composed, natural, grand, dignified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet beside him, Yuan strained desperately, clinging to his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to rush over, grab his brother’s hand, and beg him to stop pretending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight hundred spirit stones! That’s eight hundred spirit stones!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My dear brother, what are you pretending for?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s eight hundred spirit stones!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the veiled cultivator Yingxi was completely captivated by Yulou’s act and didn’t notice Yuan’s bizarre expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... what price, Daofriend Yulou, would be appropriate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veiled cultivator Yingxi’s tone carried a hint of solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Success!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daofriend Yingxi, it’s too early to discuss price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, pay three hundred spirit stones as a deposit—we’ll begin by discussing the sealing requirements and selecting the spirit wood type.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know the nature of musical instruments—different seals and base materials drastically affect their power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only after confirming your exact requirements can we give you a reasonable quote.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The price will certainly exceed eight hundred spirit stones. You must understand—the Wang family’s expertise in Wood-Generation Art and wooden magic treasures is worth a little more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reasonable, logical, no actual price given—only the clear implication that it would be far more than eight hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after Yulou spoke, the veiled cultivator Yingxi felt a flicker of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She believed this expenditure of spirit stones would be worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, this is the three-hundred-spirit-stone deposit. I want...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after the mysterious veiled cultivator Yingxi departed, Yuan remained dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three hundred spirit stones as a deposit—just like that? Who exactly was this woman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyao saw the woman off, then returned to the alchemy furnace. She slapped Yulou’s shoulder hard, excitedly saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you—you’re a genius at business!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyao’s cultivation base was two levels higher than his; the slap sent him stumbling, but he quickly steadied himself and asked his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ningyao raised a finger, pointing toward the Garrison Commander’s residence, and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That woman’s daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was startled, then burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! I didn’t even overcharge her—I could’ve asked for a thousand and still not lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Yulou’s remark was good or bad was hard to say, but Ningyao laughed heartily upon hearing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That dog Mu Chunze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Master hadn’t returned by noon; Ningyao was watching the front shop, while Yulou and Yuan continued forging in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their cultivation levels were low, their spiritual power severely limited—each managed only two items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan blew up one, but Yulou succeeded with both, embedding four layers of seals into each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just these two magic treasures boosted his Golden Light by one segment, filling roughly one-twentieth of the Ruyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou estimated that if he forged forty such low-grade items with four-layer seals, his Ruyi would fully charge with Golden Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never tested what happened after consuming all the Golden Light—what advancement would follow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he planned in his mind: forge more magic treasures and craft more talismans, to fill the Golden Light as quickly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, you got both done! Three out of four—our own shop could be viable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the three-finger-thick low-grade magic treasure, the Purple Copper Breaking-Seal Mace, Yuan couldn’t hide his excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seventy-five percent success rate—if they opened their own shop, they could sustain it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Careful—it’s two and a half completed,” Yulou chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan’s smile vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His temperament truly needed more tempering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, stay here and keep Ningyao company. I’m going to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to report the Yingxi customization to Rongsheng Uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Don’t ask if this is a harem, single heroine, or no heroine—I’ll write as needed. This novel will feature many female characters, but no designated heroine.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a male-oriented cultivation novel; the protagonist is male, seeking great freedom and eternal fruition—once he achieves fame and success, what could he possibly lack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan could not refuse the chance to spend more time with Zhong Ningyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he stared at the purple copper breaking-artifact mallet in his hand, reluctant to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, how do we sell these breaking-artifact mallets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Yulou had already discussed this with Hongmei; Yuan’s asking was simply an attempt to avoid Hongmei—or rather, he wasn’t ready to face him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise, Hongmei vanished this morning without explanation, avoiding both of them entirely, showing he too had not yet adjusted his mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the three master and disciples who knew what had happened, only Yulou understood what he wanted and could face these storms or setbacks with calmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s just keep them for now—we still need two more. We’ll decide after we finish refining them tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Yulou planned to sell these imitation breaking-artifact mallets at Huafeng Residence, but now he had new ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baibao Pavilion, Baibao Pavilion—it’s called “Ten Thousand Treasures,” so selling magic artifacts isn’t surprising, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the quality of this batch of purple copper breaking-artifact mallets is truly worrying... that’s a major problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean Mu Chunze’s daughter wants to commission our Wang clan to craft a seven-stringed instrument artifact?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the news from Yulou, Wang Rongsheng was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t this an opportunity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this matter... it resembles the respected Garrison Cultivator once again discovering a new innovation in the field of extorting wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I recall two Ancestors who were renowned for their mastery of sound Dao, and our Clan Chief’s Wood Generation technique is also highly refined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yingxi’s seven-stringed instrument must be made from spiritual wood—we have no shortage of spiritual wood, and our Wood Dao is deeply advanced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering these factors, we cannot let this deal slip away, so I agreed to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s response greatly pleased Wang Rongsheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognize the opportunity, seize it, and demand three hundred spirit stones upfront as deposit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In business strategy, Yulou didn’t merely have talent—he was a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongsheng summoned a message pigeon and manipulated his spiritual brush to write a letter on the floating sheet of paper, while instructing Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll contact the Clan Chief immediately, but you must understand: if the price is too high, you turn friends into enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet what you told her makes sense—I think I’ll handle it myself and bring the price back down to eight hundred spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, we make a modest profit and maintain a little goodwill with the Garrison Cultivator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t the Garrison Cultivator’s daughter represent the Garrison Cultivator himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1825,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","56afb833602e68e5d480a87fc4196e20526358824c63913f7bd31552c7c70382","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-56","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-54",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]