[{"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-9":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},2320471,4538,"Chapter 9: The Youth","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Wang Rong pulled Tang Nianqiu’s hand, as if whispering something secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Yulou was chatting with the chief clerk, inquiring about the business at Zhiwei Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an sat idly to one side, feeling a strange sense of melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, Uncle Rongyuan’s slaps may be harsh, but he’s paid for our meals twice—still a good uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he survives returning from the Western Sea, when I become an immortal, I’ll help him become one too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he meets his end in the Western Sea, when I become an immortal, I’ll bring him back to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen-year-old Yu’an didn’t understand how hard becoming an immortal was, nor what it meant that the Wang clan produced only one Purple Mansion in twelve hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had boundless ambition—to become an immortal before Yulou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph, Yulou, I can cultivate three and a half hours daily, but you can only manage three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a month, I’ll have trained five extra days over you; in a year, sixty extra days—not fifty, sixty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixty days equals two months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stupid Yulou, do you know what this means?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It means you’re finished!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let you boast for now—once I become Foundation Establishment first...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hehe, I’ll walk past you every day while you call me “Senior!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you grinning at? Come here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan’s sharp command made Yu’an shudder, snapping him out of his daydream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Yulou and Uncle Rongyuan standing beside Tang Nianqiu, all three watching him—he hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From next month, Old Tang will give you your spirit stones—each month one. Don’t waste them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elixirs will be distributed according to your cultivation level; you won’t get any until mid-Qi Refining. But whether or not you get elixirs, never slack off your daily cultivation—understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan had reservations about Yu’an’s impulsiveness, but he wouldn’t lecture him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Yu’an’s own father would soon arrive with the clan chief at Qingxi Fang—he’d already left a letter for Rongwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he comes, Yu’an will have his own father to deal with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nianqiu, thank you. I’m leaving tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving instructions to the two, Wang Rongyuan bid farewell to Tang Nianqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rongyuan, traveling at night isn’t safe...” Tang Nianqiu sounded worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem. Night travel is exactly what I want—you wouldn’t understand, hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Rongyuan chuckled twice, shot Yu’an another glare, then stepped out of Zhiwei Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t look back, only raised a hand to signal them not to see him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t a funeral procession—I’m confident I’ll return alive from the Western Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I still have to refine Yulou’s black jade oil bead to the fifteenth layer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You ask why not refine it now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongmei isn’t an ordinary person—if I used the Wang clan’s secret Earth-Containment Method to refine the black jade oil bead to the fifteenth layer, would Hongmei still teach Yulou the Fire Method and Jinshi Sealing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the gate of Qingxi Fang, the Wang clan’s Concealment Technique activated smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, in the eyes of other Qi Refining cultivators, Wang Rongyuan’s aura dropped from late-stage Qi Refining to mid-stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a nineteen-layer-sealed gray leaf-shaped magic treasure from his storage pouch, activated only three layers with spiritual power, then leapt onto it as if hurrying on a journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to fish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pitch-black night, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator rode a low-grade magic treasure—a broken leaf—flying through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If bandits dare to bother him, they’ll have earned their fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teenagers eat their fathers alive—Wang Rongyuan planned to fish a little on his way to the Western Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Rongyuan is courageous and resolute, with cultivation already at Qi Refining Level Ten. You needn’t worry about him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, let me show you to your quarters. For many years ahead, unless something goes wrong, you’ll be training here in Qingxi Fang—never go out alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu watched Wang Rongyuan vanish around the corner, then turned to the two youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the chief clerk, they passed through the back door of Zhiwei Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the shops on both streets ran a narrow path wide enough for a cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite Zhiwei Fang’s back door stood the back entrance of Fuyuan Ju, another Wang clan shop in Qingxi Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like an ordinary inn, but Fuyuan Ju tapped into a well connected to Qin Yun Qingxi, offering a premium service: infused spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many free cultivators stayed here for days when breaking through bottlenecks, buying a few sips of seventh-grade spiritual energy from Qin Yun Qingxi to boost their chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I oversee Fuyuan Ju too, but the main rooms host guests—you’ll stay in the side chambers. Come, take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu led Yulou into the left side chamber behind Fuyuan Ju. The furnishings were plain, but the ambient spiritual energy was noticeably higher than outside, matching the Wang clan’s ancestral grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual energy levels couldn’t directly raise a cultivator’s ceiling, but high-purity spiritual energy helped them absorb and refine qi more efficiently, reducing mental strain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a difference between straining to draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth, and drawing it effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This spiritual energy... thank you, Uncle Nianqiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly good living conditions moved Yulou deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, it’s only right. You don’t pay rent. The advantage of these side rooms is their small size.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I secretly reduce spiritual energy to the main building, redirecting it here—so the energy here matches the main building. Stay comfortably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they chatted at the door, a girl in apprentice attire stepped out of the main building and noticed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tang Nianqiu, she hurried over, timidly glancing at the three, then bowed her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Tang, I haven’t changed the bedding yet—I’ll do it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu folded his hands behind his back and frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up. Yu’an, go inside with her and see what’s missing—have her arrange it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu’an followed the girl into the room; outside, Tang Nianqiu pulled Yulou aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yulou, what’s your relationship with Brother Rongyuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question puzzled Yulou—he didn’t understand its intent, but didn’t dare slack off, choosing his words carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan is one of the clan uncles I admire most. Though strict, he’s been kind to me and Yu’an.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu studied Yulou for a moment, couldn’t fathom it, and gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the side chamber—Yu’an had indeed obeyed—and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Rongyuan left you a stash of spirit stones. I’m to give you half a catty of spirit rice daily. Should I tell Yu’an?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Rongyuan left me a stash of spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a catty of spirit rice daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two catties of spirit rice per spirit stone—equivalent to two hours of cultivation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou wasn’t foolish—he was sharp. He understood exactly what this meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, goosebumps rose involuntarily on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen years in this xianxia world, Yulou felt for the first time that he had always been a Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Past lives were gone. In this life, I am Wang Yulou—Wang Shiyu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Nianqiu, I’ll tell Yu’an. No need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulou replied respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu knew how to handle things well—he’d thought deeply—but he didn’t understand the bond between Yulou and Yu’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the courteous, deep-as-a-well Yulou, Tang Nianqiu opened his mouth, then only patted Yulou’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go inside. Cultivate well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dark room, Yulou and Yu’an lay on their respective beds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Nianqiu was right—the room was small, but fully equipped, with two beds prepared for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu’an, I have something to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? You’re not already keeping a list, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A list of what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of which clan rules I broke—waiting for Uncle Rongyuan to come back so you can snitch... Brother, he’s only been gone two hours—aren’t you rushing things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Idiot, that’s not it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You like Sister Ningyao too? No! I mean—I mean, do you like Sister Ningyao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, say something—I’m getting scared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Rongyuan knows I can fill my dual-element Qi Refining limit in three hours daily—he’s arranged half a catty of spirit rice for me every day, to help me finish early and start learning alchemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what? Your talent’s worse than mine. Qi Refining’s upper limit can’t be raised by spirit rice—you’ll still become an immortal later than me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he didn’t leave you anything, wouldn’t you be upset?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, when I reach Foundation Establishment and need you to forge me a suitable spirit weapon, will you refuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s fine. Even if you master alchemy better, you’ll still become an immortal later than me—hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The youth’s heart holds lofty ambitions, once vowing to be the finest under heaven—but still, walk the ground. Today, your fire control technique was poor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it, you’re a Water-Fire spiritual root; even someone with a pure Fire spiritual root wouldn’t cultivate as fast as you at generating fire in water!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’ve got guts, compete with me in transforming metal and dissolving stone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.......Go to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, do you like Sister Ningyao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you asleep?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t sleep, I’ll record it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mmm......\u003C\u002Fp>",1491,"2026-06-20T15:48:26.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e33a7c9b42bb2384c73403393a00b0da8deb1cb6ca2a4627c6c6c9cfbc1c7c1e","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-10","ascending-to-the-jade-palace-chapter-8",243,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-the-jade-palace-cover.jpg"]