[{"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-23":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},2347038,4587,"Chapter 23: First Secure the Interior, Then the Empty Bright Fist","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>You learned from Wang Yang the court’s intentions, and upon reexamining him, you saw clearly that he too had made up his mind to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had placed life and death beyond concern; his heart held but one thought: if the city stands, so do its people; if the city falls, they perish with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In your father’s eyes, those weathered eyes, you saw the same gleam—the love for home and country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You made your decision: for your father, you would hold Hulao Pass at all costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you merely held firm without imperial reinforcements, the outcome was obvious—no force of defenders alone could withstand the assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by striking first could there be a glimmer of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In open battle, you must face the Iron Cavalry head-on; without a sound strategy to break them, defeat was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, under the strategy you had previously written, the Lu Family Army cut the horses’ legs, broke formation, selected elite soldiers… and began targeted training to counter the Iron Cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lu Family Army’s four thousand troops were still insufficient, so you decided to recruit civilian militia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your father transferred over two thousand men from Wang Yang’s garrison and borrowed several hundred more from familiar rebel bands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Lu Family Army’s strength finally expanded to six thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaders of various rebel bands came to the banquet; you surveyed them all and, through your innate gift for discerning character, sensed that each harbored hidden motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the rebel forces were not united.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Zhao Pu, leader of the southern Zhao clan, stood out—his behavior struck you as strangely odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You reviewed his life history and realized Zhao Pu’s intentions were unpredictable; he might defect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a month later, the siege was imminent—a sword hanging over their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you allowed Zhao Pu, a man with treacherous intent, to remain unchecked, the city would surely fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So you summoned your father and Lu Yu to discuss a strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this dire situation, you chose…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Let Zhao Pu go free and let him develop unchecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Act decisively—kill Zhao Pu and eliminate the threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. Participate personally. (1\u002F3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke chose option 2 without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With battle imminent, this time bomb could not be left alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First secure the interior, then repel the exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing your decision, your father hesitated, urging you to reconsider, fearing Zhao Pu’s death might spark unrest within the rebel ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Zhao Pu commanded five thousand troops—mostly scattered, undisciplined fighters, a rare force among the rebels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu fully trusted your judgment: Zhao Pu had long oppressed the people, his name infamous; this act was justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So you decided…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Persuade your father to reach consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Pretend to agree, secretly plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. Participate personally. (1\u002F3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke was no fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In times of chaos and crisis, decisive action admitted no softness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Lu Jiaxuan was a scholar-general, steeped in clan dignity and righteous principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would never kill a rebel leader over mere suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could one suspicion justify the murder of a future pillar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if hearts were treacherous and betrayal came later, it would be annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then so be it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke chose option 2: Pretend to agree, secretly plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan was the face of the Lu Family Army; he would be its shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The face of the Lu Family Army must not be stained with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You acceded to your father’s wishes; he was pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, you found Lu Yu to plan Zhao Pu’s assassination together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Pu was a formidable martial artist, his hardened body exceptional, protected by many guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing him would not be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu smiled faintly, a confident glint in his eyes: “I can handle this alone tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did you realize Lu Yu’s Primordial Qi Art had reached the seventh level—and he had broken through again on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You knew your own martial skill was ordinary, so you did not boast—only warned Lu Yu to be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You also wanted to see what the seventh level of Primordial Qi Art truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You watched from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu leapt lightly, soaring over a zhang, then descended like a feather, silent as shadow, landing at the Southern Gate camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding Zhao Pu’s quarters, he kicked open the door and stormed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stepping in a few paces, a black-faced giant on the bed awoke like thunder—his massive frame like a mountain of flesh, his pea-sized eyes blazing with malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bed, the red-clad woman, startled by the sudden intruder, scrambled behind Zhao Pu in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Pu growled, summoning his guards, his gaze fixed on Lu Yu like a burning torch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu let out a low laugh, thick with arrogance: “A dead man has no need to know my name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards surged forward, dozens wielding blades, surrounding Lu Yu completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You wondered inwardly—is this assassination?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu had prepared: his face covered in black cloth, his posture subtly altered—anyone unfamiliar could not recognize him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Lu Yu closed the distance to Zhao Pu, assuming a simple fist stance—you recognized it at once: the Empty Bright Fist of the Three Truth Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You knew this fist art too, but Lu Yu’s execution was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empty Bright Fist emphasizes intent, not form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Yu assumed the stance, an invisible fist intent enveloped the entire tent, pressing upon all with an indescribable weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t help but feel exasperated—this Three Truth Sect fist art was far too recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhao Pu muttered, “Three Truth Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In your view, little brother was a bit reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the outcome was inevitable—the guards were no match for Lu Yu even one-on-one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A minor complication arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Pu had perfected the Golden Buddha Immortal Body, rising to the rank of top-tier martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique, akin to Golden Bell Cover and Iron Shirt, rendered him impervious to blades and arrows, his strength like an ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Pu laughed triumphantly: “I’ve long been invulnerable to blades and spears—do you think you can kill me? Boy, your punches are weak, like a woman’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome, of course, was no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a dozen exchanges, Lu Yu struck Zhao Pu into the wall with one punch, then drove another straight through his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Pu’s final gaze held disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy before him was a Grandmaster of the martial world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You saw the truth: Lu Yu had unleashed the Primordial Qi of the Primordial Qi Art—unmatched in power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu glanced at the red-clad woman on the bed; as he hesitated, she wept, kneeling: “Thank you, savior, for avenging me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu did not kill her—only cast her a cool glance, then vanished into the night with a few leaps over the eaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the courtyard, over a hundred guards rushed in, surrounding the compound—only to see the bloody corpse on the wall and the red-clad woman, weeping or laughing, no one could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Assassin! Zhao the Heavenly King is dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao the Heavenly King is dead!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Zhao’s Southern Gate camp plunged into chaos—flames roared, men shouted, horses neighed, all in uproar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You met up with Lu Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You asked about his current martial realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu stood with hands behind his back, a master’s bearing, dismissive: “Just ordinary—Grandmaster level in the martial world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You were astonished: in the Great Qing martial world, only eight Grandmasters existed—all venerable elders, forty or fifty years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu was only twenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1253,"2026-06-21T01:32:57.622Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fd904ebd94896d81c45222f2355c4349225a1a7c92e770162297642fc144b064","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-24","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-22",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]