[{"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-8":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},2320470,4538,"Chapter 8: Uncle and Nephews","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>At dusk, Zhiwei Fang, Wang Rongyuan led Yulou and Yuan from Huafengju straight up to the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring me that ink-jade oil bead of yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had they sat down than Wang Rongyuan asked Yulou for the mid-grade magic treasure, the Ink-Jade Oil Bead, given to him by Hongmei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he wasn’t trying to seize the treasure—Uncle Rongyuan simply wasn’t sure of the artifact’s true quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou naturally didn’t refuse, quickly pulling out the Ink-Jade Oil Bead and handing it to his clan uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After carefully observing it with his spiritual sense for a long while, Wang Rongyuan nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The four seals are common ones we have in our clan; the remaining five seals include two that seem unique to stone-based magic treasures, and the other three likely enhance power and add functions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhong Tianshuo really has genuine skill—our clan chief was right; your master fees weren’t wasted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single spirit stone wasted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this confirmed, the greatest pressure in Wang Rongyuan’s heart vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang clan wasn’t afraid of spending spirit stones—they feared Hongmei the Recluse had no real ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Study under Hongmei for ten years; when you return to the clan, we’ll refine this Ink-Jade Oil Bead for you—we should be able to reach fourteen seals without trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding his first magic treasure, Yulou was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fourteen? Didn’t Master say it could only be refined up to thirteen seals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaozhidao ， Shisicengjinzhidezhongpinfaqi ， Zhibizhongpinfaqideshangxianshiqicengdisanceng ， Keweishizhongpinfaqizhongdejipinle ！\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan stroked his beard proudly and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does he know? Our Wang clan has many secret techniques—fourteen seals are no problem; if things go well, fifteen might even be possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s your turtle shell? Come, let me see it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a Golden-Horn Mud Turtle shell, not just any turtle shell...” Yuan mumbled, then handed his own shell to Uncle Rongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou smiled and poured his clan uncle a cup of wine, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roughly the same—Yuan, your protective treasure is truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he held Yuan’s shell, Wang Rongyuan sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Golden-Horn Mud Turtles vary in strength from Qi Refining to Qi Refining peak; by Foundation Establishment, they transform into Golden-Horn Jade Turtles, whose horns and shells are materials for crafting spiritual artifacts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity, yours seems to be only from a high-grade Qi Refining Mud Turtle—but if our clan chief handles it, he should be able to refine it to seventeen seals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, this turtle was only Qi Refining—if it had been even Qi Refining early stage, it would’ve made an excellent base for a high-grade magic treasure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou grew restless and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is our Wang clan’s art of forging really that advanced?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongmei was already the pinnacle of Qi Refining-level artificers; Huafengju’s reputation was renowned across several nearby markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said the Ink-Jade Oil Bead could only reach thirteen seals; Wang Rongyuan claimed it could reach fourteen or even fifteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said Yuan’s shell could only reach fifteen seals; Wang Rongyuan said it could go straight to seventeen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle, if our clan’s forging heritage is this extraordinary, why are we even paying Hongmei?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not so. Hongmei claims mastery of metal and stone, but he doesn’t understand Earth-Infusion Method. The Ink-Jade Oil Bead is built on earth-elemental material—ink jade—and Hongmei believes thirteen seals is the limit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if I were to refine it myself, using our clan’s inherited Earth-Infusion Method, fifteen seals should be achievable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou nodded thoughtfully. Just then, the chief server of Zhiwei Fang brought up their evening meal, and he rose to pour another cup for Uncle Rongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Wang clan isn’t a famed lineage, its long heritage still holds deep reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Rongyuan, with his earth elemental affinity and Earth-Infusion Method, could easily surpass Hongmei and push Yulou’s Ink-Jade Oil Bead to fifteen seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must be cultivated! Must be cultivated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handing the shell back to Yuan, Wang Rongyuan added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This shell’s material possesses both metal and earth natures. Hongmei gave it to you because he knows our clan chief can refine it—he’s giving us a favor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou and Yuan exchanged glances—was there really so much hidden maneuvering behind simply becoming a disciple?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, how many spirit stones did our Wang clan pay for our apprenticeship to Hongmei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou finally couldn’t hold back and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two boys’ curious eyes, Wang Rongyuan paused, then picked up the wine flask and cups, pouring each of them a drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?” Yulou asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, Wang clan disciples aren’t allowed to drink spirit wine before reaching Qi Refining—it’s against clan rules, drinking causes trouble!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, perhaps spurred by Uncle Rongyuan’s relentless affection, Yuan now remembered clan rules with surprising precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m watching you—just one cup each, it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, this time Wang Rongyuan didn’t scold Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his cup and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For your apprenticeship to Hongmei, our Wang clan spent not a single spirit stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two boys’ astonishment, Wang Rongyuan smiled bitterly and added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We waived Zhong’s rent for twenty years!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple multiplication problem—Yulou calculated it in about a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four thousand eight hundred spirit stones!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four thousand eight...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could buy countless lives of Qi Refining cultivators!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a staggering sum, Yuan was dazed—he only vaguely felt it was too expensive, but Yulou already felt the mountainous weight on his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must squeeze every last drop from Hongmei!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learn all his forging arts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, let’s not talk about that—let’s drink together, the three of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next few years, you’ll be staying in Qingxi Fang. I’m tied up with clan duties and won’t be able to visit often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Rongyuan looked at the two Wang boys with pity and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In life, there are many turning points—leaving home to study is one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being sent hundreds of miles away at thirteen to study—no matter how you looked at it, it seemed heartless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou had no parents; he’d grown up alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan had left his parents behind and was still immature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Wang Rongyuan didn’t know if they’d succeed and return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongmei’s Dao was profound; Qingxi Fang had a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there—it should be safe, and he’d been reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yulou and Yuan were children he’d watched grow up—how could Wang Rongyuan not feel tenderness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan, are you leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan asked blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, now that I’ve delivered you, of course I have to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the Immortal Alliance has issued decrees to every Foundation Establishment clan—we must send one Qi Refining cultivator each year to the Western Seas to hunt demons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the next ten years, I’ll be in the Western Seas—thousands of miles from here. You won’t have to worry about me slapping you anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, though avoiding his uncle’s slaps should’ve been good news, Yuan couldn’t feel happy—his nose tingled, and he nearly cried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunting demons in the Western Seas sounded like a chance to earn merit, but many of the Wang clan’s ancestors never returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Red Lantern Merit Hall is coming to Qingxi Fang soon, Uncle Rongyuan—can’t you wait a little longer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou didn’t know what to say—Wang Rongyuan seemed to be leaving too hastily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a few days, our clan chief will arrive with Rongwen. With them here, it’s nearly the same as if I were.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, let’s drink. Yuan, don’t look so gloomy—you’re acting like you’re sending me off to my funeral. Bad omen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan glared at Yuan, who quickly raised his cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three cups clinked together, each emptied in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, Yulou was thirteen, becoming a disciple of Hongmei the Recluse of Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan was also thirteen, still just a naive little fool obsessed with clan rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Rongyuan was seventy, his Dao accomplished, having taken on the Immortal Alliance’s decree to journey thousands of miles to the Western Seas to hunt demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely a small gathering between uncle and nephews—but from now on, they were separated by a thousand miles of sky and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, this too is part of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1337,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","88f916a49e5b7e1615b02a5b0b38bb71342643cd5e35699499e7e073bf2b4ba6","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-9","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-7",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]