[{"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-66":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},2320528,4538,"Chapter 66: The Clan Annihilation War Is About to Begin (Daily 7,500 Words—Seek Monthly Tickets~)","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>“Dear fellow cultivators, the last two horses are racing steeds bred by the vassals of the Heavenly Snake Sect, but there is a slight difference between them and the Green Onion Horses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Black Zunzhe, a Peak Hybrid Demon Realm Spirit-Armored Horse... secure it, secure it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhong Linyao was introducing them, an unexpected incident erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit-Armored Horse Black Zunzhe in the preparation zone suddenly went berserk, biting into a nearby Green Onion Horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wore snake scales and bore fangs, making the poor Green Onion Horse scream in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So shameless! It’s a Spirit-Armored Horse? It’s a Snake-Scale Horse!” Cui Guo spat angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl, who accompanied Zhou Yingxi since childhood, had been raised in luxury and protected well, harboring a simple animosity toward the Heavenly Snake Sect, Red Lantern’s rival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Snake Sect worships the Heavenly Snake; outsiders call it the Heavenly Snake, but its own members refer to it as the Celestial Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Celestial Immortal’s magic power and bloodline have influenced many creatures within the Heavenly Snake Sect’s territory—this Spirit-Armored Horse, for instance, was born with snake scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Heavenly Snake Sect’s domain, to show respect for this so-called Celestial Immortal, they call such snake-scaled horses Spirit-Armored Horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the frenzied Heavenly Snake Sect Spirit-Armored Horse was tearing at the Red Lantern’s Green Onion Horse, and the spectators on the stands erupted in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were, as Red Lantern’s own cattle and horses, mere fodder for the Grand Cultivators, they nonetheless felt the same anger as Cui Guo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the shouts from the stands, Yulou feared Zhong Linyao might lose control, so he transmitted a mental message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Introduce the second horse directly. Don’t let them take the track. Just introduce it and start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, since Black Zunzhe did this, remember to penalize it with a three-breath delay at the start.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou now had Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, possessed spiritual sense, and could transmit thoughts effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yulou’s mental guidance, Zhong Linyao steadied herself, channeled magic power, and raised her voice to silence the crowd’s curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear fellow cultivators, a minor incident has occurred. Very well, this one will not be displayed on the track—we proceed directly to the second horse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ba Dao Wang, Peak Hybrid Demon Realm Spirit-Armored Horse, from the Heavenly Snake Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The race is about to begin! Secure Black Zunzhe! Penalize it with a three-breath delay!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spectators, receiving feedback, felt deeply involved and immediately cheered loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zhong Linyao’s command, the racing horses launched from the preparation zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Zunzhe, who had been so arrogant moments ago, watched the others race off while it remained still—its fury made smoke rise from its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the racing horses chased one another, Yulou quietly communicated with Zhou Yingxi via spiritual sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear Yingxi, tonight I’d like to invite you to Zhiwei Fang to taste freshly slaughtered Spirit Donkey meat—do you have time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou initiated the private conversation first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you agreeing to become a son-in-law?” Zhou Yingxi didn’t move, but her heart jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Your Zhou family has bought many contracts at Dahuofang—isn’t that evidence you believe the war between Miaofeng Mountain and Gushen Sect will escalate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahuofang was the name of the contract exchange; the shop nominally dealt in bulk wholesale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its wholesale price was only slightly lower than market rate—a price at which anyone buying wholesale would easily lose money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop’s actual business was facilitating contract trades for related goods, and through this, the Wang family had earned heavily these past few years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet beyond earning spirit stones, Dahuofang had another special function—it was the first to sense the water’s warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahuofang wasn’t a duck; it dealt in contract negotiations for war-related goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By observing the trading parties, capital inflows, and historical profit-loss data, Yulou had gathered much hidden information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, which sects and clans secretly supported Gushen Sect, which hindered Miaofeng Mountain, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou family had never participated in such contract trading on a large scale; Yulou knew Zhou Yingxi occasionally dabbled, but only as a pastime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, a Zhou family manager came to Qingxi Fang, scoured the market all day, and purchased contracts totaling over forty thousand spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he returned and scoured the market again for half the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou family was a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan—and one within Red Lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did such behavior signify?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Yulou not worry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How should I know… Wang Yulou, don’t tell me you don’t know how much I’ve lost at your place!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi was irritated; Yulou made it sound as if her family was secretly sabotaging him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Profit and loss are your own responsibility. You didn’t buy contracts from me, and you’ve made plenty yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear cultivator, don’t be unreasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say I’m being unreasonable?” Zhou Yingxi turned her head, applying pressure directly to Yulou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh dear, my spiritual sense is exhausted. Let’s watch the race.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou rubbed his temple and looked toward the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Iron-Boned Wolves had caught a slow horse and were already gutting it, thrilling the cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou’s preparations had not failed; this special event succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, many new spectators would become loyal fans after today and return regularly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only unhappy one was the owner of the gutted racing horse—his horse was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was only fair; he sought the appearance fee, so he must bear the corresponding risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Yulou, that dog, fully absorbed in the race, Zhou Yingxi hesitated, then gritted her teeth and transmitted a mental message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yulou, I received word: Gushen Sect has applied to the Immortal Alliance to launch a Sect-Annihilation War against Miaofeng Mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Xianzhou was once among Red Lantern’s brightest geniuses. Your Wang family should withdraw from this mess as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clapping stopped. Wang Yulou turned his head and met Zhou Yingxi’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi had beautiful peach-blossom eyes, her pupils chestnut-brown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shocked, Yulou forgot to transmit mentally—he involuntarily opened his mouth, silently asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi glared at him and returned to watching the race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the arena, the late-starting Black Zunzhe finally overtook the leading Green Qilin—its cultivation and realm were simply higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After overtaking the Green Qilin, Black Zunzhe kicked out, sending the Qilin tumbling toward the Iron-Boned Wolves feasting on horse meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves froze for a moment, then, before the Green Qilin could struggle, lunged as one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Green Qilin’s cries stirred sorrow in all, yet Yulou’s expression remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, finding two Peak Hybrid Demon Realm Spirit-Armored Horses—call them Snake-Scale Horses if you prefer—was precisely to ensure they won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Black Zunzhe or Ba Dao Wang didn’t win, how could Qingxi Fang’s racing fever be stirred?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After immediately sending Zhou Yingxi’s news to his clan, Yulou shut down Baibao Pavilion and Dahuofang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war might escalate—temporarily close the shops to prevent being cornered. Wait for the clan’s response!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he return to Zhiwei Fang, where Zhou Yingxi had already been waiting a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never knew a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator could be so arrogant—making a Qi Refining elder wait like this? Is that appropriate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhiwei Fang’s Spirit Tea was top-grade Nine-Pin; Zhou Yingxi took one sip, then sat waiting. She considered herself quite refined for merely scolding Yulou once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My apologies, dear Yingxi. Today I’ve been negligent, but you know—I’m buried in mundane affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yulou smiled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi didn’t press him; though they had no romantic destiny, as friends their relationship remained amicable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Wang family’s cultivation of you two brothers is quite peculiar. Sending you to Qingxi Fang to learn Dao from Hongmei is one thing, but making you manage two shops simultaneously—don’t you find that strange?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can only cultivate a few hours daily. The rest of the time must be put to use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou saw nothing strange in his clan’s arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Tie Qinhe successfully establishing a Foundation and Wang Rong failing, it was good that he could contribute to the family through business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Red Lantern’s harvest, Miaofeng Mountain distributed blessings—now, at least eighty thousand spirit stones were needed to buy a single Foundation Establishment resource.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In these seven years, Yulou had painstakingly accumulated half a Foundation Establishment resource.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these earned spirit stones couldn’t all be used to help Wang clan cultivators break through to Foundation Establishment—but for the Wang family, whose heels had been cut to the bone, Yulou had helped them regain a great deal of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yulou’s words, Zhou Yingxi felt awkward; she had cultivated in a Purple Mansion Celestial Realm since childhood, completing Qi Refining in only two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what do you really want? I told you the news is true—Gushen Sect’s Ning family has truly lost its temper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their Huishan Prefecture was shattered by Miaofeng Mountain; now they seek to avenge their sect’s annihilation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Within the Immortal Alliance, many Grand Cultivators and True Persons don’t want your family’s Mangxiang Ancestor to attain Golden Core. Attacking Miaofeng Mountain puts pressure on Red Lantern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Gushen Sect’s Sect-Annihilation War application will almost certainly pass. Once it does, Foundation Establishment cultivators may act within limited scope—Senior Wang Xianzhou will surely be targeted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family is family, individual is individual. Zhou Yingxi truly regarded Yulou as a friend, which was why she revealed such critical information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Yulou and the clan chief and other members had already suspected this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mangxiang Ancestor attaining Golden Core. Li Haiping opening a Purple Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Red Lantern expanding so aggressively, the Heavenly Snake Sect, lying at their very doorstep, wouldn’t remain idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected this interference to begin with Gushen Sect seeking to erase Miaofeng Mountain’s Dao lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Sect-Annihilation War begins, perhaps Purple Mansion Grand Cultivators can preserve their lives, but when all disciples are gone, the sect’s Dao lineage vanishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Red Lantern intervenes to support Miaofeng Mountain, the situation will escalate further, and Mangxiang Ancestor’s breakthrough may be delayed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the tide of fate. Yulou pondered, choosing to do what he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What do you mean ‘our’ Mangxiang Ancestor? Our family has no such fortune. Don’t speak nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In seven years, he had done much, accomplished much, and could accomplish far more in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear Yingxi, I plan to host a special competition under the name of Baibao Pavilion—the Qingxi Fang Talisman Master Contest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll invite all Qi Refining Talisman Masters within a thousand li to Qingxi Fang to compete for the highest skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prizes will be awarded based on ranking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this competition, we can further enhance Qingxi Fang’s reputation and help Baibao Pavilion reach new heights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi stared at Yulou in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Buddy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The danger of war is expanding, and even if you’re not worried, that’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you’re telling me your response is to hold some talisman master competition?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t that seem inappropriate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, it really is inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yulou, a fight is coming, why don’t you seem alarmed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou shook his head and spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m only at Qi Refining seventh layer. Friend Yingxi, when titans clash, what can I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All I can do is cultivate diligently and help my family move forward more steadily. Beyond that, I have no right to think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, she was born into a great clan, but even the Zhou clan could do little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she could do was equally unremarkable—she was even forced by her family to accept a designated Dao partner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to refuse, but when the storm surged, without her family’s protection, she had no power to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, in truth, she couldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou didn’t care what the woman across from him was thinking; he continued speaking about the talisman master competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the competition, I plan to invite three judges: my master, Hongmei Recluse; my clan uncle Wang Rong; and you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The judges’ duty is mainly to prevent cheating. Given how limited the opportunities for cheating are, this task isn’t difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for payment, three hundred spirit stones—what do you think, Friend Yingxi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi had wanted to say three hundred spirit stones were too little, but remembering the Wang clan’s pitiful state, she changed her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, this talisman master...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master competition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master competition. Yes, master competition. When do you plan to hold it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi’s cultivation retreats lasted half a month; she needed to schedule ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My idea is to spread the news first, ensuring all cultivators within a thousand li know about it before holding it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I’ll set the date one month from now. One month should be enough for the news to spread.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had long planned this—his earlier lesson from being trapped by cash flow at the horse racing track had taught him well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father is the garrison cultivator, but since I’ve known you, I’ve gradually felt something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yulou, you’re actually the one suited to be the garrison cultivator. Aside from your cultivation level, you’re excellent in every other way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peach-eyed girl sighed. Her father only knew how to extract wealth—he had no vision for developing Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yulou, though not in that position, consistently did things beneficial to Qingxi Fang’s growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Goods War Materials Futures Exchange had already made Qingxi Fang known within Hongdengzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qingxi Fang Horse Racing Festival had grown better each year; Zhou Yingxi had watched Yulou build the racetrack from the ground up—how could she not admire him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All these things you’ve done may seem aimed only at earning spirit stones, but objectively they’ve promoted Qingxi Fang’s development.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can even feel that this year, the number of cultivators in Qingxi Fang has visibly increased compared to previous years. You deserve thanks for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhou Yingxi praise him, Yulou modestly waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t flatter me—it’s not as impressive as you think. I just rode the wave after Wolong Fang disappeared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because of the war, Wolong Fang vanished temporarily, so naturally, Qingxi Fang’s customer base increased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This falls under the general principle of interconnectedness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Yulou couldn’t charge into battle for the Wang clan like Wang Xianzhou, nor could he serve as the clan’s anchor like Wang Xianmao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still wanted to contribute to the Wang clan, so he seized every opportunity to do what he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yulou, who carried an air of commanding authority, Zhou Yingxi felt the gap between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was like a flower nurtured in safety—high cultivation, strong power, a bright future—but lacking hardship, even fearful and lost over distant, irrelevant matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yulou wasn’t any less capable—he grew in the thin cracks of barren soil, like a vigorous weed, never letting a single drop of rain go unused, striving to seize every opportunity he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yulou...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou quickly swallowed the donkey meat in his mouth and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yingxi’s gaze flickered toward the dish on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Your family’s donkey meat really is delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2488,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b6720d3fdd4b7ae6e9e96acbc25c4346290ca5f69f22b1230301a38c6c2d4d3a","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-67","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-65",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]