[{"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-65":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},2320527,4538,"Chapter 65: War Supplies Contract Trade, Qingxi Fang Horse Racing Festival","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-65",65,"\u003Cp>Seven years is a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to cultivators, it’s merely the climb of a minor realm, the forging of a magic treasure, the beginning of a war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, merely the beginning—over seven years, Miaofeng Mountain and Gushen Sect battered each other into pulp, with no intention of stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they couldn’t stop even if they wanted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides kept escalating, intensifying; Gushen Sect even once pushed all the way to Miaofeng Mountain’s mountain gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miaofeng Mountain once issued heroic summonses far and wide, rallying thousands of Qi Refining cultivators from the Red Lantern Sect to push the front back across Wolong River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the greatest winner of this war was Wang Xianzhou of the Wang Clan of Anbei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cut down over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators and casually killed an unwise Foundation Establishment cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the rules of the Immortal Alliance, Grand Ancestor Xianzhou, with his peak Qi Refining strength, taught both Gushen Sect and Miaofeng Mountain a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with Wang Xianzhou’s achievements, even Miaofeng Mountain, though unwilling, had no choice but to pay up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of this mattered much to Yulou—he had firmly settled in Qingxi Fang for seven years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, he merely managed his own shop, trained in the Dao under Red Eyebrow, and exchanged cultivation insights with fellow cultivators—that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main hall of Huafeng Residence, a female cultivator in lotus-pink robes entered through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today it was Yuan’s turn to handle the front; he saw her, didn’t move, and kept reading his book while reclining in his lounger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having long associated with Yulou, Yuan’s temperament slowly shifted from impulsive to composed—even his current laziness while reading was copied from Xiang Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was only in front of outsiders; with his elder brother, Yuan could always remain a carefree boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Yu’an ignore her, Cui Guo took three steps at once and knocked the book from his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s your brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Guo asked, her face tinged with irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu’an wasn’t annoyed; he shook his head and offered his commentary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow cultivator, you’ve already courted death—watch your words, do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Guo was no longer a clumsy little girl; backed by Zhou Yingxi, she pointed imperiously at Yu’an, hands on hips, and fired back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t change the subject, Wang Yu’an—did your brother and the Yang Clan manipulate the Miaofeng-Gushen War Supplies Contract Trade behind the scenes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My lady followed your brother’s advice and bet two thousand eight hundred spirit stones, wagering that over the coming months, both sides would stalemate and all contracts would depreciate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Miaofeng Mountain has pushed the front back; Gushen Sect nearly launched a second defense of Wolong Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t what was agreed upon—your brother must explain himself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past years, though Yulou refused the offer of becoming a son-in-law, perhaps due to their similar age, he actually became friends with Zhou Yingxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Miaofeng-Gushen War Supplies Contract Trade was a special futures market, trading primarily in items commonly needed by Qi Refining cultivators in battle: such as Flying Fire Talismans, Major Blood-Elixir, Spirit-Opening Elixir, and various spirit materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Yulou merely used it to lock in future prices for the Wang Clan, profiting from the spread by leveraging Wang Xianzhou—the human bulldozer who could shift the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, on the first day of the fifth month, the Wang Clan placed an order with Wu Jinyan’s family for ten ninth-grade purple copper ingots, signing a contract at 180 spirit stones per ingot, with delivery due on the first day of the seventh month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, Wang Xianzhou led the Wang Clan’s forces back from the front to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Miaofeng Mountain’s front began to destabilize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By mid-May, Miaofeng Mountain could no longer hold; they were forced to escalate, flooding the region with heroic summonses for Qi Refining cultivators, and the price of purple copper jumped by ten percent—or more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang Clan’s purple copper contracts rose ten percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Yulou realized this was essentially a futures market; if properly leveraged, it held enormous potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming that Miaofeng Mountain’s unlucky Li Haiping would open his Purple Mansion no matter what, he pushed the Wang Clan to join forces with the Yang Clan for a major move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Foundation Establishment immortal clans publicly sent personnel to stabilize Miaofeng Mountain’s front, while secretly launching this special war supplies contract trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They set up a commodity exchange beside Baibao Pavilion, ostensibly selling war materials in bulk at wholesale prices, but in truth, they primarily profited from commission fees on contract trades—both sides grew fat on handling fees alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Miaofeng Mountain’s front under pressure and Qingxi Fang’s back end thriving, all were colleagues under the Red Lantern Sect’s eaves—no need for formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean ‘not as agreed’? Don’t speak nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, I’ve lost a lot myself lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cui Guo, I didn’t go crying to my brother about it, did I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this unreasonable woman, Yu’an could only bluff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lost too?” Cui Guo scrutinized Yu’an suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an frowned, tilted his head slightly, leaned back, and spoke with sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright—I get it now. No wonder you’re acting like a bomb today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—someone like Yingxi wouldn’t get upset over less than three thousand spirit stones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s only because you, Cui Guo, secretly bought in yourself that you’re so worked up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yu’an had seen through her secret, Cui Guo’s face flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t slander me—just tell me where your brother is! My lady is looking for him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an leapt from his chair, gave a few instructions to the attendant, then turned to Cui Guo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The racetrack. Come on—I’ll go with you. Today’s the Qingxi Fang Horse Racing Festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he walked ahead and stepped straight out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhou Yingxi at the entrance, Yu’an felt slightly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Yingxi, long time no see...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi was also awkward; her veil-tucked face tightened slightly as she replied in a cool voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve said it several times—call me ‘fellow cultivator.’ And you, Wang Yu’an, shouldn’t address me as ‘senior.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an had passed the age of sexual repression; faced with Zhou Yingxi—whose face he couldn’t see but knew was beautiful, whose voice carried a succubus-like enchantment—he responded with effortless ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Qingxi Horse Racing Festival has two horses from Tian She Sect’s vassal forces—my brother and Yang Qi take this very seriously; he’s been at the racetrack all day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of unusual interest passed through Zhou Yingxi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou really was a mastermind—Baibao Pavilion thrived, daily profits pouring in, and the war supplies contract trade had drawn the attention of everyone under the Red Lantern Sect, even stirring the attention of the Zhou Clan’s ancestral elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually partnered with the Yang Clan to launch the Qingxi Horse Racing Festival, which had seemed ordinary enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this bastard had somehow acquired two racehorses bred by Tian She Sect’s vassals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, the scattered cultivators and minor clan cultivators near Qingxi Fang had answered countless Miaofeng Mountain heroic summonses, rushing to the frontlines as cannon fodder for the two sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They held immense interest in Tian She Sect—though not of a positive kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou bringing in two Tian She Sect racehorses was like presenting a seventy-year-old virgin with a pure maiden—directly igniting the volcanic passions of the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was merely the least successful of Yulou’s business ventures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven years had passed; the once dilapidated and crude racetrack had transformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive wooden-and-stone structure formed a huge enclosure, resembling a grand stadium, its towering walls blocking the view of free riders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Qingxi Fang banned flight, preventing cultivators from cheating by viewing from above, those with spiritual sense could still stand outside and watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one did so—most still cared about their dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an kindly bought tickets for Senior Yingxi and the impolite Cui Guo; the three entered the Qingxi Fang racetrack together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the racetrack, the racing course had been completely upgraded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou led Baibao Pavilion’s cooperation with the Yang Clan, investing a full eight thousand spirit stones into the Qingxi Fang horse racing venture, securing fifty percent equity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These spirit stones were almost entirely spent on upgrading the track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barrier arrays, trap arrays, ravenous spirit beasts, and alternative paths shorter but far more difficult—all these new elements pushed the spectacle of Qingxi Fang horse racing to new heights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many people today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the stands nearly half full, Cui Guo exclaimed in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had redefined horse racing, but even now, the eight thousand spirit stones invested had yet to break even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stands had never been full; this half-full turnout was already a new high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had overestimated the cultivators’ wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, two years ago, he launched the upgraded Qingxi Horse Racing Festival, solely to make spectators willingly pay for tickets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone’s here for those two Tian She Sect horses. Normally, only two or three hundred people would pay to enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an explained with a smile, though business wasn’t that bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who bought tickets usually placed bets; the horse racing betting distribution rights helped Yulou recoup losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the old ghost who ran the spirit medicine shop used to pay Yang Clan only two hundred spirit stones a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the distribution rights’ price had doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps in another two years, his eight-thousand-spirit-stone investment would finally break even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, this remained Yulou’s most failed investment in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He innovated a business model—and nearly got himself trapped in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Yulou realize that many of his past-life experiences couldn’t be blindly copied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Receiving Yu’an’s message talisman, Yulou arrived quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Yingxi, why did you suddenly come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve told you several times—call me ‘fellow cultivator.’ Why can’t you remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today’s the Horse Racing Festival, after all—Qingxi Fang only has horse racing worth seeing. I came to take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did our sudden arrival disturb you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Chunze came to Qingxi Fang as garrison cultivator primarily to facilitate Zhou Yingxi’s cultivation using the spiritual resonance of Qin Yun Qingxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But spiritual resonance accumulated slowly and was consumed quickly; Zhou Yingxi often grew bored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not—Sister, oh, I mean, Ningyao Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was ready; the horse race was about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou sat beside Yuan and explained to the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Senior Sister Ningyao appeared on the second-floor platform of the race preparation area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow cultivators, the Qingxi Market horse racing festival, held every three months, now begins—with the horse exhibition segment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First up, Qing Qilin, High Grade Hybrid Demon Realm, with two previous first-place finishes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Wang family took shares in the racetrack, the host position shifted from the old man Yang Qi to the youthful and radiant Zhong Ningyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou could not accept the idea of an old man as host—it was simply absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhong Ningyao finished speaking, the eager Qing Qilin burst out of the race preparation area and began showcasing itself on the track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It held its head high, effortlessly overcoming every obstacle on the course, even moving with calm ease under the pursuit of the Ironbone Wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As hybrid demons, these Qingcong horses all possessed intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing Qilin, giving its full performance, knew this was no longer the Yang family’s era of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it won, Wang Yulou, as a shareholder, would truly reward it handsomely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, after each horse had finished its exhibition, the two racehorses of the Tian She Sect were about to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>",1917,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1c02916d841647c3efc5bddf98c14163ecaa8c8c5c1796950f27abb461d2b1f7","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-66","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-64",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]