[{"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-6":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},2320468,4538,"Chapter 6","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>This arrogant, triangular-eyed man was Gao Jian, head of the Qingxi Fangzhianweichidui , an outer-disciple of the Red Lantern Sect, and also a nominal disciple of the Garrison Cultivator Jiang Bao—merely fawning for favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Named Gao Jian, yet short and stunted in stature, his appearance was mean and petty, but his baseness was genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who ever opens a door with their foot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dares act so arrogantly only because his master is the Garrison Cultivator of Qingxi Fang .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yulou looked over in surprise, the Red Eyebrow Recluse seated before him spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Gao, what brings you here so suddenly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Eyebrow Recluse was the owner of Huafeng House and a honored guest of the Qingxi Fang  Garrison Foundation Establishment cultivator; when he spoke, Gao Jian naturally dared not be too bold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Jian stepped forward, first bowed to Wang Rongyuan and Zhong Tianshuo, then smiled and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Red Eyebrow, you may not know—the Red Lantern Sect’s Merit Hall is soon relocating to Qingxi Fang .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My master intends to use this grand event to liven things up, drawing scattered cultivators from hundreds of li around to come to Qingxi Fang  and make purchases.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This way, we can increase Qingxi Fang ’s annual surplus and boost everyone’s business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it’s great news for your Huafeng House and for Brother Rongyuan’s Zhiwei House, hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Gao Jian’s face was full of smiles, Yulou felt every one of them was sinister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, this plan of Senior Jiang’s is quite good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan stroked his beard and nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Gao Jian narrowed his eyes and added in his grating voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master also said that with the grand event approaching, Qingxi Fang ’s security must be strengthened, the market must flourish, and gathering scattered cultivators will cost manpower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expenses, naturally, are substantial, so we must raise a ‘Unity Fund.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone must unite—each shop in Qingxi Fang  contributes some spirit stones to see this matter properly through!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unity Fund?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does that sound so much like voluntary donation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is renaming extortion and bribery really so brazen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was stunned beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who knew understood this was the cultivation world; those who didn’t might have thought he hadn’t even been reincarnated yet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Lantern Sect has truly mastered the art of administration!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unity Fund? Fine, how much do I owe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Eyebrow Recluse glared at Gao Jian, raised a hand to silence his daughter, and asked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Garrison Cultivator had always been like this—outwardly courteous and friendly, even willing to shamelessly call Qi Refining cultivators brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it—he’s from a major clan within the Red Lantern Sect. Just endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huafeng House can open its shop beside Qin Yun Qingxi; Brother Red Eyebrow even counts my master as a friend—surely you’re not short on spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Jian brought up his master again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou was curious—what kind of person was this Red Lantern Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew how to make money and had lackeys to do his dirty work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have a disciple like Gao Jian, his master must be no ordinary cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You think Gao Jian is an idiot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrong—he needs Gao Jian to be an idiot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Short? Very short. That’s why I just took on two disciples from the Wang family—to earn a few spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Tianshuo dared not bear the label of ‘not short on spirit stones’ and quickly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the Red Eyebrow Recluse gestured toward Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You ask about Yuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorry—he’s just a bonus!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Jian turned to Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of Gao Jian’s venomous triangular eyes, Yulou instinctively tensed his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Gao, Brother Tianshuo cultivates well—we sent over two collateral family youths. Before you entered, we just held the Baishi  ceremony.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan, seated at the head, spoke indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou, don’t be afraid—Uncle’s here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, running errands for your master isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Jiang wants to liven up Qingxi Fang —we support that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the Wang family’s Zhiwei House will contribute twenty spirit stones!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Wang Yulou instantly respected Uncle Rongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is skill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is skill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Gao, watch your tone—Zhong Tianshuo now has the Wang Clan of Anbei behind him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your master is Foundation Establishment—the Wang Clan has Foundation Establishment too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your master comes from a major clan within the Red Lantern Sect—the Wang Clan has a True Person who took the Purple Mansion as his Master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just twenty stones—take it or leave it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Wang Rongyuan setting the price himself was also rescuing Zhong Tianshuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhiwei House pays twenty, even if you’re as vile as you are, you can’t demand more from Huafeng House, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Eyebrow Recluse sighed faintly with a touch of melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What good is individual strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how accomplished your cultivation, no matter how full your Qi Refining realm, to a major sect disciple, you’re still just a scattered cultivator begging on your knees in Qingxi Fang !\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan may be slightly behind in cultivation, but he first crushed the old ghost of the Beast Medicine Shop, then suppressed Gao Jian, the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s disciple—showing the true bearing of an immortal clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty spirit stones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gao Jian ignored the Wang Clan’s name—he sneered, repeating Wang Rongyuan’s words in a shrill voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he raised his hand and bowed toward the Garrison Cultivator’s residence, parroting his master’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master is about to be reassigned to the Red Lantern Sect’s Spirit Talisman Hall as an official. After so many years in Qingxi Fang , he has feelings for this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wishes to accomplish something real during his final year as Garrison Cultivator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To serve as an official is to benefit the people—my master’s good intentions should be understood, don’t you agree, Brother Rongyuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou lowered his brows, inwardly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation, cultivation—everyone is a cultivator; unless you become an immortal, there is no true freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang Clan isn’t free, the Red Eyebrow Recluse isn’t either, and even Jiang Bao reveals his greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Foundation Establishment Garrison Cultivator clearly wants one last big haul before his promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re extorting you right to your face—what can you do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Rongyuan, don’t act foolishly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how much should Zhiwei House pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After long silence, Wang Rongyuan finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He conceded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one year left—just get rid of Jiang and be done with it. No need to quarrel over a few dozen spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his excuses were too perfectly crafted, his manners too refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Jian’s face lit up with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not much—not much at all—fifty spirit stones will do, fifty is fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Lantern Sect outer-disciple turned to the Red Eyebrow Recluse and added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huafeng House does far better business than Zhiwei House, but you needn’t pay more—Brother Red Eyebrow, just contribute one hundred and twenty spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The business at Hua Feng Ju is much better than that of Zhi Wei Fang, but you don't need to pay more—Brother Hongmei, one hundred and twenty spirit stones should be about right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Jian was truly his master’s disciple—vile teacher, vile student—he had just redefined what ‘more’ meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One hundred and twenty spirit stones, you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao Jian’s heartlessness, Wu Jinyan, clan head of the Qi Refining Wu Clan and friend of the Red Eyebrow Recluse, couldn’t hold back and spoke up in righteous indignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, someone foolish enough to give him an opening—Gao Jian would not let it pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left hand flicked, and the Spirit-Sealing Rope at his waist appeared in his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked his left hand, and the Spirit-Binding Rope at his waist came into his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","509de85881586515655ad1563e8d42d40c22f220783732e238062e6372de969f","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-7","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-5",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]