Chapter 2: Gamblers Don

Tianxuan Continent.

Shenxiao Sect.

At this moment, dawn.

Four great suns rose slowly in the sky; the day’s plan begins at dawn—cultivating now yields twice the results.

Within a courtyard.

Yu Ke also slowly rose, yawning.

Then he sat cross-legged on the bed, gently placing his hands on his knees, assuming a cultivation posture.

Not long after.

He collapsed onto the bed like an ancient tree with gnarled roots.

Only when the sun had climbed high.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto Yu Ke’s face.

Warm and strangely comfortable.

“...Fuck... overslept, late for work!”

Yu Ke suddenly jolted awake.

He leapt up from the bed in one motion, slid forward, then froze.

Oh... I’ve been reincarnated, so it’s fine.

Fourth day of reincarnation—still got some trauma responses.

Recalling his past life, Yu Ke had been a good young man with ideals, ambition, and his first time.

But as he grew older,

At eighteen, he firmly believed his fate was his own to shape.

At twenty-four, he accepted whatever price they named—three thousand, fine.

Reincarnated now, since I’m here, I might as well make peace with it.

This is a fantasy world where cultivators fly through the skies, drain seas and move mountains, capable of anything.

The original body, as an outer sect disciple of Shenxiao Sect, had already reached the peak of the Second Rung—his strength was decent among outer sect disciples.

After reaching peak, one could forge the Dao Foundation.

Yet the original body was too eager to “progress.”

Having cultivated only four years in the outer sect, he sought to forge a top-grade Dao Foundation to prepare for joining the inner sect!

I know you’re in a hurry, but calm down first.

So... he was gone.

Without solid foundations, forcing Foundation Establishment led to his soul scattering—then Yu Ke arrived.

Yu Ke sat back on the bed, sighed deeply, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Worse still!

“The original body’s Dao Foundation is destroyed, severely injured—top-grade Foundation Establishment is now a fantasy; even ordinary Foundation Establishment will be extraordinarily difficult, nearly impossible to achieve again.”

“Three months from now is the four-year outer sect assessment; those who excel will receive sect rewards, while those who lag will be demoted to laborer disciples.”

This outer sect cultivation progress is under intense sect scrutiny, with rewards unprecedentedly generous.

This was also one reason the original body rushed to forge his Foundation.

Now that he failed Foundation Establishment and his cultivation base plummeted, he likely cannot escape being demoted to a laborer disciple.

Laborer disciples mean spending every day buried in trivial chores with no time to cultivate.

Summoned and dismissed at will by outer and inner sect disciples, living a meaningless, aimless life.

A flicker of resentment passed through Yu Ke’s eyes—who wants to spend his life as a beast of burden.

Young master, I’m going to cultivate the Dao!

Fortunately, there’s still over three months left—perhaps a glimmer of hope remains.

What Yu Ke is most desperate for now is!

The original body, to succeed in Foundation Establishment, spent all his savings accumulated over five years, sold every treasure he owned, to buy what was needed for the attempt.

Put all his eggs in one basket!

And finally!

Even squeezed everyone around him, accumulating massive debts.

In his past life, fresh out of university, he carried a sword dreaming of roaming the world; after being beaten down by society, he found out—

The sword was gone, but the repayment bills remained.

He thought reincarnation would free him from mortgage and car loan chains, granting him a fresh start.

Once again, my fate is mine to shape!

Yet here he was, walking the same path again.

Was he born with a karmic debt body?

“Sure enough, gamblers don’t die well—going all-in hurts both self and others.”

“Failed Foundation Establishment, all treasures destroyed.”

“Besides the two spirit stones left in his pocket, he had nothing at all.”

“A catastrophic start!”

Recalling the original body’s series of actions, Yu Ke couldn’t help but curse loudly!

Shenxiao Mountain isn’t a charity hall!

In this immortal mountain, even as an outer sect disciple, to seek cultivation—food, lodging, martial study, even seeking guidance and answers—

All require exchange, and this currency is not worldly gold or silver, but the cultivator’s “wealth”—spirit stones.

In short: you need to spend money.

Without money, you can’t take a single step!

The original body thought that if he succeeded in top-grade Foundation Establishment, he’d receive generous rewards from the sect.

Thought it was great... don’t think like that again.

At this moment,

His mind erupted like a volcano, radiating ten thousand rays of aurora.

Fuck, fuck, fuck—what’s going on!

Yu Ke was at a loss.

A small tripod, wreathed in chaotic qi, appeared in his mind.

“This... isn’t this the 9.9 yuan free-shipping ancient artifact I bought on a secondhand platform in my past life? Good reviews even gave me 3 yuan back.”

He only unpacked it, and the tripod vanished—he’d mourned it for a long time.

When he tried to buy it again, it cost 99,999.

This... wasn’t a discount—it was reduced to ashes!

He gave up on it.

Could this be his golden finger?

Look!

The small tripod was engraved with countless patterns—mountains, rivers, rivers, and streams looked real; flying birds and beasts leapt upon its surface; trees and flowers were lifelike, masterfully crafted, breathtaking.

His heart naturally knew its name.

Its name—【Kunxu Ding】.

A relic from the Kunxu World, one ding, one world.

Countless obscure runes appeared in his mind, shimmering golden light, as if urging him to look.

This... I don’t understand.

The golden light shifted, becoming characters like the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

Fuck! Still couldn’t understand.

The divine artifact, possessing spirit, suddenly changed again.

Boom!

【Master: Yu Ke】

【Can reincarnate as a Celestial Being into the Kunxu World.】

【After each reincarnation ends, the Master gains Heavenly Mandate bonuses and all memories and insights.】

【Acquiring reincarnation... acquisition successful.】

【Reading “identity,” “destiny,” “talent”!】

Yu Ke finally understood, his heart stirred with unexpected excitement.

This so-called Celestial Reincarnation was a miraculous method to simulate reincarnation.

Through it, he could send a virtual character into the Kunxu Ding—the so-called Kunxu World.

In this world, if he achieved something, he’d gain rich rewards.

Wasn’t this just like grinding through levels in his past life?

Kunxu World—game dungeon.

Celestial Reincarnation—game character.

Identity, destiny, fortune!

What are these three things?

The screen continued to shift.

【Please select your identity?】

1.【Orthodox Sect】

2.【Imperial Clan】

3.【Demon Sect】

Start selecting your role!

Yu Ke rubbed his hands together; the familiar feeling returned.

After a brief hesitation, he selected 1: Orthodox Sect.

In this life’s memories, Shenxiao Sect was one of the Orthodox Sects; now the Orthodox and Demon paths were irreconcilable, and if he wanted rewards, it was best to align with the Orthodox Sect.

If he later received rewards from the Demon Sect, his own sect would immediately send enforcers to arrest him on the spot.

No way!

After eliminating the Demon Sect, the Imperial Clan was clearly not a good choice—it all came down to rebirth luck!

After selection, the screen changed again.

【Destiny and fortune are ordained by heaven, unchangeable and unselectable; acquiring now】

【Acquisition complete…】

Destiny: 【Late Bloomer】

Talent: 【Discerning Eyes】

Yu Ke stared at these two terms, lost in thought.

They offered no benefit to martial cultivation, but were still decent—barely passing.

【Character generated. Proceed with Celestial Reincarnation?】

Yu Ke did not hesitate; success or failure hinges on this one move!

“Yuan… Shi ”

A low voice surfaced involuntarily in his mind.

Wrong channel.

【Celestial Reincarnation initiated!】

【Kunxu Cauldron】 shuddered violently; a crimson dot slid silently from its surface, like a meteor plunging swiftly into the cauldron, stirring ripples.

【Celestial Reincarnation has begun. Every choice you make represents a fork in your life’s path—choose wisely.】

【One day in the mortal world equals ten years within the cauldron】

【Location refreshed…】

【Kunxu Realm, Central Lands, Qing State.】

【Emperor Zhou Jie of Qing ascended the throne; during his reign, corrupt ministers and eunuchs controlled the court, plundering the people’s wealth; the government was utterly corrupt, and the populace suffered in dire misery.】

【Emperor Hui became obsessed with Daoism and established twenty-six ranks of Daoist officials, granting them generous stipends.】

【The people were destitute; officials drove the people to rebellion; uprisings erupted everywhere, and warfires blazed across the land.】

【The nomadic northern tribes of Beifeng Xuan State seized this opportunity, launching two massive armies—eastern and western—southward, aiming to annex Qing State.】

Emperor Hui placed his hopes on the Daoist Guo Jin, attempting to use the “Six Jia Method” to defeat the enemy—but his divine troops were utterly defeated, and the Beifeng army captured the capital.

【On the day the city fell, Emperor Hui, along with his empresses, imperial clan, thousands of officials, court musicians, artisans, imperial carriages, ceremonial regalia, antiques, and maps of all provinces, were dragged northward; all public and private wealth in the capital was looted clean; Qing State collapsed.】

【With the north lost, righteous men and scholars across the land dispersed their fortunes, forming righteous armies to resist Beifeng.】

【News reached the south; Emperor Hui’s younger brother hastily declared himself emperor, adopting the era name Yongxiang, heralding a new era.】

【In the first year of Yongxiang, during late spring, you were born.】

(End of Chapter)