The Xie Clan and the Wang Clan had long been at odds in Great Zhou's court. The Xie Clan had risen to fame in recent years, and they and the old-established Wang Clan were like fire and water.
This Junior Sister Yunxi had put on quite a display today; Xie Xuan of the Xie Clan had done the same last year.
After all, Xie Xuan himself had not been present, so it had not caused much of a stir.
The second matter was even more eye-catching.
Wang Yunxi had actually hired a Master Realm brewer at the Foundation Establishment stage 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 stirring within him, fine as silken threads yet surging like the tide. It even possessed the miraculous effect of repairing one's meridians.
A glimmer flashed through his eyes, only to dim at once.
For someone like him, whose tendons and meridians had been completely ruined, this spirit wine was excellent, but it was merely a cup of water against a cartload of firewood.
Even so, the value of this spirit wine was enough to leave everyone present dumbstruck.
Wang Yunxi's generosity and grandeur undoubtedly left a deep impression in everyone's hearts.
When Xie Xuan had entered the Inner Sect back then, he had also held a banquet, but there had been no such rare spirit wine to liven things up.
The night banquet drew to a close.
A bright moon hung high overhead.
Everyone rose one after another, preparing to return to their quarters.
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."
Seeing Zhou Liang appear and disappear like a ghost, with a furtive look on his face, Yu Ke was deeply puzzled.
As more and more people departed,
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 despite himself.
Along the way, Zhou Liang stopped a maidservant and asked gently,
"This fresh and refined fairy, if I remember correctly, Immortal Ascension Tower has a rule that guests who spend enough may stay the night. Is that true?"
Zhou Liang's address of "fairy" made a blush rise to the maidservant's cheeks.
"You flatter me, Young Master. Immortal Ascension Tower does indeed have such an elegant rule."
The maidservants at Immortal Ascension Tower were all Servant Disciples carefully selected from the Divine Firmament Sect, with looks and figures that were quite decent.
Zhou Liang beamed and said,
"Then I'll trouble you, miss, to reserve two superior rooms for us."
Before long, the maidservant led Zhou Liang and Yu Ke through dimly lit corridors to two exquisitely decorated superior rooms, then departed.
Zhou Liang slung an arm around Yu Ke's shoulders and laughed.
"Junior Brother Yu, I didn't forget you when something good came along, did I?"
"Let's not waste the discount the Wang Clan looked down on. A superior room like this normally costs seventy-six Spirit Stones."
Yu Ke could not help thinking of how, in his previous life, one could stay overnight after getting a foot massage.
Looking at how spotless the room was, it truly was much 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, I have important business tonight. We'll catch up another day."
Yu Ke curiously glanced over and saw the maidservant from before, her face now flushed red, following Zhou Liang as he turned into a room at the side of the corridor.
Damn!
You dead scumbag.
Yu Ke closed the door and lay down on the soft bed.
He spread himself out in a starfish shape.
Just as Yu Ke gazed at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting far away as he immersed himself in everything that had happened since crossing into this world, the [Kun Void Cauldron] in his mind trembled slightly, and words appeared upon it.
[Cooldown ended. Begin simulation?]
Yu Ke looked toward the window lattice and saw moonlight spilling down like water.
It seemed the depths of night had passed, and a new day had quietly arrived.
He took a deep breath, feeling the tranquility of the night.
Since he had come to this world, he certainly would not live like an ox or a horse.
Besides, he had a cheat!
[Ten-year save file. Continue?]
Yu Ke gently adjusted his position on the bed, making himself more comfortable. He closed his eyes.
He silently recited in his heart, Simulation activated.
At his command, lines of text began rapidly flickering through his mind.
Like a vivid scroll of history slowly unfolding.
[Lu Chen was eleven this year. He had grown a little taller, his features becoming ever more proper. Every gesture of his already carried the air of a little adult.] [Your younger brother, Lu Yu, was lively and restless. Every day, he climbed onto roofs and tore off tiles, causing endless mischief. Several tutors hired for him had been angered into leaving.] [The situation beneath heaven grew increasingly tense. Before long, news arrived that North Wind Profound Kingdom had pointed its military edge toward Hexi Two Provinces, which stood on the brink of danger. Your mother grew ever more worried for your father's safety.] [You turned twelve this year. Nothing happened at home, and your mother began arranging a marriage for you, hoping you would soon establish a family and career. 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 that your younger brother was most likely a martial arts prodigy.] [Over three years, your martial arts progress was slow. Your **Founder's Long Fist** was performed so lifelessly that Lu Yu mocked it as "reeking of death," but you did not lose heart. You still persisted in training day and night, never slacking off for a single day, tempering your muscles 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 uncle came to the Lu Clan, intending to bring you and Lu Yu into the Three Truths Sect. It was a branch of northern Daoism with an extremely high reputation, but after the north fell, it came south to establish its sect.] [Accompanying your uncle was a Daoist. Your uncle treated him with exceptional respect. The Daoist introduced himself as surnamed Liu. He had a cheerful appearance that made others feel close to him. Yet what was even stranger was the golden toad lying atop 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 younger son remain at home for another year.] [She worried that Lu Yu was too young to adapt to life in the mountains.] [Your uncle looked toward the Daoist, seemingly seeking his opinion.] [But the Daoist looked at Lu Yu with a peculiar gaze.] [Lu Yu, meanwhile, looked at you. He had been left with lingering fear after being suppressed by you the previous two times he had left home.] [The Daoist smiled and said to your mother, "Madam, you are thoughtful. Then let the two young masters remain at home for another year."] [Throughout this year, your mother treated you brothers extremely well and even scolded Lu Yu much less often.] [Your uncle personally guided the two of you in cultivation. His martial arts were extraordinary, far beyond those of the household guards. By himself, he could match six or seven burly men.] [Your uncle taught you and Lu Yu the Three Truths Sect's cultivation methods. Of them, the *Innate Skill* cultivated Innate Qi and was the most superior, but it placed high demands on talent. The *Great Yellow Court*, meanwhile, emphasized building up steadily for an eventual breakthrough. Its cultivation path was mild, requiring the grinding work of water wearing through stone, though progress was somewhat slower.] [Faced with the choice between these two cultivation methods, what would you choose?] 1. Innate Skill 2. Great Yellow Court 3. Intervene personally (0/3)
Yu Ke pondered briefly. Recalling the words of the simulation, he knew that Lu Chen's talent in this life was not particularly outstanding.
For the sake of stability, 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 chose the Innate Skill. In merely one year, he had already found the way in. With one hand, he could lift a seventy-pound weight, no weaker than an ordinary guard.] [The Daoist surnamed Liu was greatly astonished.] [Your practice of the Great Yellow Court progressed slowly, yet you remained neither impatient nor rash, training until late every day.]
Before you continue