[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-160":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"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},2347175,4587,"Chapter 160","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-160",160,"\u003Cp>Xie Linghao looked at the name of this young Assistant Director of the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a crimson official robe, holding the rank of fifth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth-rank position in the Dalisi  carried weight far beyond that of any sixth-rank official in the Six Ministries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally recognized this man—Wang Shian, scion of a distinguished family, grandson of Wang Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though young, he had already risen to prominence within the Dalisi , earning the favor of both the Director and Deputy Director, often accompanying them closely. Such honor underscored his pivotal status within the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the streets of Jingcheng, he was widely praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said he inherited the legacy of General Wang Yang—loyal to the throne, devoted to the nation, impartial in enforcing the law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, he had suddenly spoken out, and his words toward Lu Shaobao were plainly disrespectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Linghao frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lin was also displeased, especially by the boy’s tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu’s eyes grew cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shian, do not be impolite. The title of Shaobao is not for a mere fifth-rank Assistant Director to speak lightly of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder on the left spoke softly in warning, his tone indulgent, showing no hint of blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished, he slowly turned his gaze toward you, his smile fading, his eyes turning icy as he said: “Since the Shaobao entered the capital, he has stirred up such turmoil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Drum was erected by the founding Emperor, a sacred object for the people to voice grievances. If damaged, the responsibility is grave enough to warrant death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you understand this, Shaobao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You said nothing in reply, but turned your gaze to the middle-aged man at the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shijie, upon hearing this, bowed respectfully to the elder, his posture humble yet dignified:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Director, since childhood I have studied the Daqing legal code, and I know that no one, regardless of status, may stand above the law. Though I am dull, I understand this principle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s name was Yu Chen. For twenty years, he had held the post of Deputy Director of the Dalisi , weathering the storms of officialdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shijie revered him as a teacher, keeping him close at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shijie was upright and unbending—a pillar of the Dalisi , nurtured by its ranks, born into nobility, raised with bold integrity, unafraid of power. This moral fortitude deeply won Yu Chen’s admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officialdom was a battlefield, shifting and treacherous, with hidden currents. Yu Chen knew that those too rigid often became targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He often warned Wang Shijie with solemn advice: the way of governance required a balance of firmness and flexibility, to navigate this complex world with ease and remain unshaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the screen, three young women stood silently, facing the sudden arrival of the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Lingxuan, her beauty ethereal and serene, wore an expression of calm detachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Shuning, however, was filled with confusion—she could not fathom why the Dalisi  had appeared so coincidentally, as if they had long planned this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they came with ill intent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Jiamin, however, was curious—what would the Dalisi  do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrest this Lu Shaobao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dalisi ’s prison still held Wei Gao—if you are arrested by the Dalisi ,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then what becomes of your talk of rescue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All waited now for the Director of the Dalisi  to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned unconsciously to Dai Zhong, the Director of the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true master of the Dalisi !\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The post of Director of the Dalisi  required not only the Emperor’s approval but also the joint recommendation of the court—high in rank, immense in power, overseeing all officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It demanded virtue, integrity, and ability of the highest order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your gaze swept over the three men present, finally settling on Dai Zhong—the middle-aged man with a cold expression and sharp, swordlike brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shian also stood quietly, awaiting his superior. Even he, who had been arrogant since childhood, felt nothing but admiration for this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name Dai Zhong had become legend within the Dalisi  and throughout the entire court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting as a lowly stationmaster in Jingcheng, he solved seven or eight wrongful cases, then several sensational, bizarre national scandals—his fame soared, his career advanced without obstruction, and he was promoted beyond all norms until he ascended to the position of Director of the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Jingcheng called him “Dai the Cat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat, skilled in catching rats, rid the people of harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Chen held great respect for this superior—his ability and methods were peerless; even as the Dalisi  stood at the storm’s eye of court politics, it remained unshaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he still felt fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Chen had served alongside this Director for four years, yet had never seen him smile once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Zhong always wore that icy expression, never revealing his thoughts, his heart impossible to fathom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This near-cold steadiness inspired an inexplicable awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether facing powerful ministers or the supreme Son of Heaven, Dai Zhong wore the same face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In daily governance, he was ruthlessly precise, decisive and swift, allowing no slack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Dalisi , Dai Zhong’s authority was profound—monthly official evaluations, strict reviews of the Daqing legal code, and fair performance ratings all left officials trembling with dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lin, standing nearby, was also slightly intimidated by Dai Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Director of the Dalisi  was a ruthless man—even imperial relatives and high-ranking nobles received no favor; he recognized only law, never personal ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Linghao dared not speak further—he knew Dai Zhong acted solely on justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Emperor’s faults, he spoke of without hesitation, fearless and unyielding. Emperor Zhou Zhen often said: “A mirror of bronze reveals one’s attire; a mirror of history reveals rise and fall; a mirror of Dai Zhong reveals virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Dai Zhong first arrived in the capital, his circumstances were dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He served as a stationmaster in the government office, while also caring for his paralyzed mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His household was impoverished; he spent every spare coin on medicine, unable to afford servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He often carried his mother on his back while performing his duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after his mother’s death, he remained a lowly, unranked official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her funeral, only he, the filial son, stood alone—no relatives, no kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man of pure filial piety!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as Director of the Dalisi , he remained destitute, childless and alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always kept a coffin in his home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “To serve as an official is to never intend to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For thirty years, the Jingcheng bureaucracy had festered with deep corruption and decay. Yet Dai Zhong, in just four years, swept away this filth with iron will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All waited for Dai Zhong to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Zhong smiled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man who had never smiled before now wore an expression never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Chen, witnessing this, was stunned beyond words—he could hardly believe his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember: the current Emperor had once offered priceless gifts—beautiful women, fine horses, luxurious carriages—all to elicit a single smile from Dai Zhong, yet failed utterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Zhong had never smiled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shian was equally astonished—he had served under Dai Zhong for years and had never seen his superior so openly joyful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lin’s expression turned strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women behind the screen also looked bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dai Zhong never smiles”—this had once been the most talked-about topic within the Dalisi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Lingxuan’s beautiful eyes gleamed with unusual light; she gazed at you, as if sensing some connection, her lips curving in a captivating smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Shuning, however, wore a look of utter confusion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, within the Imperial Surveillance Office’s grand hall, the atmosphere was heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Zhong slowly walked to the center of the hall, bowed deeply, then raised his voice in laughter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dai Zhong, pays homage to the Shaobao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall trembled with resonance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1310,"2026-06-21T01:32:57.622Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3f5b0cebd53ed3b4be531facf213634bc53a432cdfbb2dafc3ac97330763ff3a","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-161","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-159",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]