Eat and Drink to Your Heart's Content, Simulation Begins

The Xie Clan and the Wang Clan had long been at odds in Great Zhou's imperial court. In recent years, the Xie Clan's reputation had soared, and they were now like fire and water with the old-established Wang Clan.

The display put on by Junior Sister Yunxi today was something Xie Xuan of the Xie Clan had done last year as well.

After all, Xie Xuan himself was absent, so it had failed to stir up any waves.

The second matter was even more eye-catching.

Wang Yunxi had actually hired a Foundation Establishment brewing master to offer every guest present a cup of Spirit Spring Wine.

As the spirit wine went down his throat, Yu Ke felt a warm current surge through his body, fine as silken threads yet raging like the tide. It possessed the miraculous effect of repairing meridians.

A glimmer flashed through his eyes, only to fade at once.

For someone like him, whose meridians had been utterly crippled, however fine this spirit wine was, it was merely a cup of water against a cartload of firewood.

Yet the value of this spirit wine was enough to leave everyone present dumbstruck.

Wang Yunxi's generosity and grandeur undoubtedly left a deep impression on everyone.

When Xie Xuan had entered the inner sect back then, he had also hosted a banquet, but there had been no such rare spirit wine to add to the festivities.

The evening banquet drew to a close.

The bright moon hung high overhead.

Everyone rose one after another, preparing to return to their respective lodgings.

Yu Ke had also eaten and drunk his fill and was slightly tipsy. Just as he was about to leave, a figure suddenly blocked his path.

"Junior Brother Yu, don't leave yet."

Yu Ke looked at Zhou Liang, who had appeared like a ghost and wore a furtive expression.

He was deeply puzzled.

As the crowd gradually thinned out,

Zhou Liang saw that scarcely anyone remained in the hall. Seeing that the time was ripe, he lowered his voice and said,

"Junior Brother Yu, come with me."

Curious, Yu Ke followed him without thinking.

Along the way, Zhou Liang stopped a maidservant and asked gently,

"Fairy, so fresh and unworldly, I recall that Immortal Ascension Tower has a rule: if one spends enough, one may stay overnight. Is that so?"

Zhou Liang's address of "fairy" brought a blush to the maidservant's face.

"You flatter me, young master. Immortal Ascension Tower does indeed have such an elegant rule."

The maidservants of Immortal Ascension Tower were all Servant Disciples carefully selected from within the Divine Firmament Sect, each with a fine face and figure.

Zhou Liang said with a beaming smile,

"Then I'll have to trouble you, miss, to reserve two superior rooms for us."

Before long, the maidservant led Zhou Liang and Yu Ke through a dimly lit corridor to two exceedingly elegant superior rooms, then took her leave.

Zhou Liang draped an arm over Yu Ke's shoulder and laughed.

"Junior Brother Yu, I didn't forget you when there was something good, did I?"

"We might as well take the bargain the Wang Clan looks down on. We'd be fools not to. A superior room like this normally costs seventy-six Spirit Stones."

Yu Ke could not help recalling how, in his previous life, one could stay overnight after getting a foot massage.

Looking at how spotless the room was, it really was far better than his own courtyard.

Just as Yu Ke was about to speak, Zhou Liang suddenly patted him on the shoulder, excitement gleaming in his eyes, and hurried away.

"Brother, this evening your elder brother has important business to attend to. We'll catch up another day."

Yu Ke glanced over curiously and saw that the maidservant from earlier was now following Zhou Liang around the corner into a room beside them, her face flushed bright red.

Damn it!

You deadbeat scumbag.

Yu Ke shut the door and lay down on the soft, spacious bed.

He sprawled out like the character for "big."

As Yu Ke gazed at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting far away as he immersed himself in everything that had happened since his transmigration, the [Kun Void Cauldron] in his mind trembled slightly, and words appeared upon it.

[Cooldown complete. Begin simulation?]

Yu Ke looked toward the window lattice and saw moonlight pouring down like water.

It seemed the deep night had passed, and a new day had quietly arrived.

He took a deep breath, savoring the stillness of the night.

Since he had come to this world, he certainly would not be some beast of burden.

Besides, he had a cheat!

[Ten-year save file. Continue?]

Yu Ke shifted slightly on the bed, making himself more comfortable. He closed his eyes.

He silently recited in his heart, "Start simulation."

At his command, lines of text began rapidly flashing through his mind.

Like a vivid scroll of history slowly unfurling.

[Lu Chen was eleven this year. He had grown a little taller, his features becoming ever more proper. In every gesture, he already carried himself like a little adult.]

[Your younger brother Lu Yu was lively and restless, climbing onto roofs and tearing off tiles every day, constantly causing trouble. Several tutors hired for him had been driven away in anger.]

[The situation across the realm grew increasingly tense. Before long, news arrived that the North Wind Profound Kingdom's blades were pointed at Hexi Two Provinces, which stood on the brink of collapse. Your mother grew ever more worried for your father's safety.]

[This year, you turned twelve. Nothing happened to your family, and your mother began arranging a marriage for you, hoping you would marry and establish yourself early. You refused.]

[At thirteen, the head of the household guards sparred with your younger brother Lu Yu. Lu Yu won with ease, and you could not help sighing inwardly. Your younger brother was most likely a martial arts prodigy.]

[Over three years, your martial arts progressed slowly. Your Founder's Long Fist was performed so lifelessly that Lu Yu mocked it as "reeking of death." Yet you were not discouraged. You continued cultivating day and night without slacking for a single day, tempering your sinews and bones beneath the blazing sun.]

[At fourteen, you came of age and stood at a new starting point in life.]

[You officially received your courtesy name: Shenzhou.]

[This year, your maternal uncle came to the Lu Clan, intending to take you and Lu Yu into the Three Truths Sect. It was a branch of northern Daoism and enjoyed an extremely high reputation, but after the north fell, it had come south to establish its teachings.]

[Accompanying your uncle was a Daoist. Your uncle treated him with exceptional respect. The Daoist called himself Liu, and his frank, open appearance made him seem approachable. Yet even stranger was the golden toad perched upon his shoulder.]

[Your mother knew that Lu Yu was still young and had not yet come of age, so she begged your uncle to let her second son remain at home for another year.]

[She feared Lu Yu was too young to adapt to life in the mountains.]

[Your uncle looked toward the Daoist, seemingly seeking his opinion.]

[The Daoist's gaze, however, fell strangely upon Lu Yu.]

[Lu Yu, meanwhile, looked at you. Having been suppressed by you both times he had previously tried to leave home, he had been left with lingering fear.]

[The Daoist smiled and said to your mother, "Madam, you are thoughtful. Then let the two young masters remain at home for another year."]

[That year, your mother treated you two brothers exceptionally well, even reducing the number of times she scolded Lu Yu.]

[Your uncle personally guided the two of you in cultivation. His martial skills were extraordinary, far beyond those of the household guards. By himself, he could rival six or seven burly men.]

[Your uncle taught you and Lu Yu the Three Truths Sect's cultivation methods. Among them, the Innate Skill cultivated innate qi and was the superior art, but it placed considerable demands on talent. The Great Yellow Court, meanwhile, emphasized building up strength through long accumulation before releasing it in a burst. Its cultivation path was gentle, like water grinding through stone, but progress came somewhat slowly.]

[Faced with a choice between the two cultivation methods, how would you choose?]

1. Innate Skill

2. Great Yellow Court

3. Intervene personally (0/3)

Yu Ke pondered briefly. Recalling the simulation's words, he knew that Lu Chen's talent in this life was not particularly outstanding.

To play it safe, you chose Great Yellow Court.

[You chose Great Yellow Court as your path of cultivation. The Daoist surnamed Liu gave you an extra look, praising you for being mature beyond your years.]

[Lu Yu, meanwhile, chose the Innate Skill. In only one year, he had already found his way into it. With one hand, he could lift a seventy-jin weight, no weaker than an ordinary guard.]

[The Daoist surnamed Liu was greatly astonished.]

[Your practice of the Great Yellow Court continued to progress slowly, but you remained unhurried and untroubled, practicing until late every day.]