Chapter 435: Simulation Ended, Accumulation of a Lifetime!

Yu Ke stared at the characters on the great cauldron, slowly coming to a halt.

For some reason, he felt a pang of regret—Lu Chen's life had ended.

He had, at least, won fame in life and after death.

His life rose and fell, yet in the end he brought peace to the world.

Yu Ke sighed; after three times of personally participating, he could no longer see Lu Chen as a simulated character, but as a living person.

In these three simulations, he had met Lu Yu, Lu Chen's father, and the generals who revered and loved him.

This ending came too suddenly!

Logically, Lu Chen had already broken through to the Grand Master realm—he shouldn't have died within this simulation's ten years.

Outside of Lu Chen, there was no higher expert in the world capable of threatening him.

Or perhaps, after spiritual energy vanished, such a being was no longer permitted to exist.

Or there was another reason!

Before Yu Ke could ponder further, new characters forming on the cauldron interrupted his thoughts.

【Simulation ended. All rewards have been acquired. Please check your inventory!】

A look of delight appeared on Yu Ke's face.

This "Heavenly Reincarnation" simulation had fully concluded, and all accumulated rewards could now be claimed at once.

He was eagerly anticipating it.

【Warm Reminder: This simulation altered the fate of the world, shifting the historical trajectory of the Kunxu Realm, bringing eight centuries of enduring peace.】

【Your achievements and ideas, like a gentle stream, seeped into the future, leaving an indelible and profound impact on the river of history.】

【Eight hundred years later, the people still remember your virtue, revering you as the "Holy Monarch." When war reignites and chaos returns, they still raise the banner of reviving the Great Yan.】

【A thousand years later, your temple still thrives with incense.】

【For eras of prosperity, "prosperity" is repeated; for imperial governance, "governance" is repeated—but in your era, later historians bestowed upon it the singular word "glorious."】

【It is historically known as the "Jianwu Glory."】

【Altering the fate of the world—reward being drawn…】

The ancient, weathered great cauldron shuddered violently, its roar echoing like thunder.

The greatest sound is silent!

On the brilliant light-screen, tadpole-like characters drifted and wove slowly together.

They formed intricate diagrams of stars and constellations—mysterious, unfathomable, yet dazzlingly radiant.

In an instant!

The diagrams gradually solidified!

Yu Ke could not read the characters, or rather—he did not recognize them.

He was not in a hurry; he had encountered this before.

Soon after, the characters on the cauldron abruptly changed, becoming familiar script once more.

【Drawing complete. Within this simulation, choose one: either a Talent or a Destiny, to solidify within yourself.】

A faint, ethereal shadow of the cauldron wrapped around Yu Ke like a gauzy veil.

In the blink of an eye!

The scenery before him shifted again; Yu Ke felt as if he had been thrust into another world.

Above Yu Ke's head floated the great cauldron, as he stood upon a vast, boundless ocean.

Beneath the waves lay a profound, inky blackness.

Fortunately, he had no fear of the deep—otherwise, this bottomless sea would have sent shivers down his spine.

Yu Ke jumped lightly, as if stepping on empty air, his mind filled with confusion.

"Cauldron, where did you bring me?"

"I was supposed to choose a Talent or a Destiny."

At that moment!

His pupils dilated sharply—he saw.

A corpse as massive as a mountain crashed down from the heavens, splashing up colossal waves, accompanied by a deafening, soul-shattering cry.

This scene unfolded right before his eyes.

Yet strangely!

Yu Ke felt like a mere "observer"—he could not touch anything around him, nor could anything around him touch him.

It felt as if he were watching a breathtaking film.

He looked up again at the sky, now transformed into a sea of fire, countless meteorites as large as mountains plunging into the ocean.

Among them were dragon heads, divine treasures, shattered great swords, severed heads of gods and demons—as if a cataclysm of annihilation had descended.

Beneath the ocean!

The waters had turned a horrifying crimson, boiling as if scalded, radiating a terrifying, soul-chilling aura.

The sea itself had been boiled!

As Yu Ke's viewpoint slowly rose, soaring above the blazing sky,

reaching the clouds, the horizon opened wide—a scene of staggering awe.

"This is…"

He saw a cultivator wearing a wide-brimmed hat, standing atop a cloud.

Step by step, ascending higher!

Around him circled countless celestial soldiers clad in armor glowing with divine radiance, riding celestial dragons whose roars echoed through the nine heavens.

The celestial dragons writhed, stirring storms and winds.

Ahead, four colossal "Divine Generals," their bodies as vast as stars, blocked the path, eyes blazing with malice.

Thunder roared, lightning flashed.

Countless spells and divine arts surged like tidal waves, making the man with the hat seem a solitary boat adrift in a storm.

Blades and swords clashed, dimming heaven and earth; in ten-thousand-zhang brilliance, his figure grew indistinct, then vanished beyond recognition.

"KILL!!!"

Amidst the deafening battle cries, all was swallowed.

When Yu Ke came to his senses again, all around was silent emptiness—only rain poured from heaven, or rather, blood rain!

This blood rain was burned into mist by raging flames, drifting through the air, forming an eerily grotesque scene.

Above him, the sky was piled high with colossal corpses, limbs twisted and entangled in agonizing, contorted poses, like a vast "nest of serpents."

Yu Ke involuntarily swallowed hard, his heart trembling with horror.

Only one person remained in heaven and earth.

Crimson aura streamed from his hands, like celestial flames, staining the entire sky a dark red.

He wore the wide-brimmed hat, spotless, untouched by dust.

Slowly, he ascended higher.

His feet trod upon mountains of corpses, yet not a single drop of blood stained them.

He seemed to sense something—he turned his gaze toward Yu Ke's direction.

Yu Ke felt his face burn, heat rushing at him as if he stood inside a furnace.

At that moment, the cauldron shuddered again, emitting a deafening, earth-shaking roar that echoed through heaven and earth.

Its runes swirled and shifted, tightly enveloping Yu Ke.

In an instant, Yu Ke's vision blurred—when he saw clearly again, he was back in his familiar sect's dwelling.

He looked around—everything remained unchanged, yet his heart still pounded violently, unable to calm.

Who was that man with the wide-brimmed hat?

Even the "great transcendent" cultivators recorded in this world, those of the True Person realm, lacked such terrifying presence.

He was like a celestial deity.

Any single spell from that battlefield, Yu Ke knew he could not resist—he would be reduced to ash instantly.

"Cauldron, why did you show me this?"

Chaotic energy flowed across the cauldron, as if sensing Yu Ke's emotions, slowly calming his spirit.

But it gave no answer.

Characters slowly appeared once more.

【This simulation contains one unique Destiny and one unique Talent for you to choose and solidify… Drawing complete. Make your choice.】

【Warm Reminder: The Destiny or Talent you choose may, in your next "Heavenly Reincarnation," be permanently granted to the reincarnated soul.】

1. Great Talent Late Bloomer (Tip: Viewable.)

2. Inner Calm (Tip: Viewable.)

3. Abandon both above.

Yu Ke stared at the characters floating in the hall, silently pondering.

Both these Talents seemed to align with Lu Chen's nature, yet neither offered the one he most desired: "The Ability to Recognize Talent."

"Is this Talent too overpowered in the cultivation world? Or is there some kind of bug?"

He murmured to himself, puzzled.

Then he opened the tip for "Great Talent Late Bloomer."

"The greatest square has no corners; the greatest vessel takes longest to complete; the greatest form has no shape; the Dao is hidden and nameless. Though a man may harbor ambitions to reach the heavens, without the right timing, he cannot achieve them himself. He must conceal his light and nurture his vigor; when the time is ripe, he shall become a dragon or phoenix."

Yu Ke recalled Lu Chen; when the simulation ended, he had not yet reached sixty. This destiny of "great vessel, late completion"—how much aid could it truly bring him? It was hard to say.

So he opened the prompt: "Calmness in the Heart."

"When facing great matters, one must possess calmness. A calm heart brings peace; peace brings clarity; clarity brings attainment."

Faced with two choices, Yu Ke was indeed torn.

The destiny of "Great Vessel, Late Completion" seemed a stable guarantee, yet it had clear drawbacks. It required time to reveal its value, and without the right timing, it could not manifest on its own. In this simulation, its usefulness seemed negligible.

With the aid of the Kunxu Cauldron, Yu Ke had simulated countless identities, and only six days had passed—he was not worried his future achievements would be low.

Two words: he was "a wall-hanger."

Then there was only one choice left: 2. "Calmness in the Heart." This prompt revealed nothing obvious.

It seemed to be a trait!

The third option: abandon both and exclude them.

This was the reward Lu Chen earned after fifty years of reshaping the world's balance and influencing the Kunxu Realm.

How could he possibly abandon it?

No longer hesitating, Yu Ke directly chose 2. "Calmness in the Heart."

With his choice—

【This simulation grants you forty-three years of martial insights and life experiences from a Celestial Reincarnation. Collect them now.】

【Prompt: Congratulations! You have received twenty-nine strands of Woxuanmuqi. Collected.】

【Prompt: Congratulations! You have acquired the Dao Art "Prohibition Character Decree." Collected.】

【Prompt: Congratulations! You have received one drop of Woxuanganlu. Collected.】

Yu Ke stared at the prompts before him, unable to suppress the smile on his lips, his heart brimming with the joy of harvest.

Most precious of all, without doubt, were Lu Chen's martial insights and life experiences.

After the first simulation, he had already collected one such insight; now only forty-three years remained.

For Yu Ke, they were especially significant—they were the foundation of his Foundation Establishment.

To create a martial art or cultivation method from nothing in this world, and gain the Dao's recognition to complete Foundation Establishment—

This insight was undoubtedly the most crucial!

Next came the Woxuanganlu —a celestial treasure capable of enhancing one's innate potential. For cultivators, it was a long-sought-after relic.

Furthermore, the "Prohibition Character Decree" Dao Art: mastering a powerful Dao Art before Foundation Establishment was undoubtedly of immense benefit to his strength.

As for the Woxuanmuqi, though slightly inferior to the first three, twenty-nine strands were still a welcome surprise.

Previously, Yu Ke had considered selling the Woxuanmuqi to his sect. But now he realized such a precious spiritual treasure would likely invite disaster.

So he abandoned the idea—for now.

【Collect now?】

Yu Ke glanced at the sky; the night remained deep. Without hesitation, he chose to collect immediately.

【Collect!】

With his choice, the great cauldron slowly enveloped him entirely. A warm power surged into his body, filling him with profound comfort.

Yu Ke fully sank into his spirit, as if immersed in a hazy dream.

In his mind, a youthful figure gradually emerged: Lu Chen.

He held his fist at his waist; though his punches appeared immature, each movement was exquisitely precise.

Liu Jinchan shook his head at you, yet his gaze burned fixedly on "Lu Yu."

Time flowed on; the scene shifted. Lu Chen had grown into adulthood and arrived at Mount Zhongnan.

Seasons changed, winter came and summer went; he trained relentlessly in the mountains.

The "Primordial Qi Technique" and the "Void-Mind Fist"—one cultivated profound internal energy, the other perfected exquisite fist techniques.

Yu Ke seemed to see the young man in Daoist robes rising before dawn, braving the bleak cold wind as he climbed the mountain path.

In the empty mountains, he trained daily, year after year, without pause.

Yu Ke watched his younger brother "Lu Yu" progress like a galloping steed, while he himself seemed to stand still, even slowly overtaken by new Daoists arriving at Mount Zhongnan.

Cold whispers stung his ears like icy winds, gradually filling his heart with restlessness and despair.

He looked up at the stars in the night sky and sighed, feeling unprecedented confusion and bewilderment.

He felt like a useless man—his path ahead was vast and dark, hope faint.

In this vast heaven and earth, he seemed the most obscure being, with no friend to confide in, his heart hollow and unanchored.

Yet at that moment, a clear qi quietly surged within Yu Ke's chest, like a pure spring, gradually calming him.

So many things come and go.

The harder the trial, the more essential it is to cultivate the heart.

Continue with what you are doing. Progress may be slow, like a small stream flowing through mountains—it will still reach the sea.

You trained harder. Though the path of cultivation remained long, your heart grew ever calmer.

Years passed; you grew older and set out for the northern Hulao Pass.

At twenty-four, you rose to fame, shaking the world.

Your troops were strong, your horses mighty; the people rallied to you.

Faced with waves of beautiful wives and concubines, chests of jewels and jade—

As Yu Ke felt the same triumph and satisfaction, a clear qi rose again in his chest.

You refused them all and returned to Mount Zhongnan.

One day, your cultivation broke through the bottleneck; the "Primordial Qi Technique" and the "Void-Mind Fist" reached new heights, and you entered the Master rank.

In the following decade, your cultivation accelerated rapidly.

You broke through to the Grand Master realm; at the peak of your success, the qi in your chest appeared once more.

In the capital of Daqing, you were enfeoffed as Prince of Yan.

Your cultivation advanced further—you entered the Primordial Realm.

Yu Ke felt he had mastered the "Void-Mind Fist" completely, as if he had trained for twenty years.

Later, you studied the "Heaven-Refining Hand" and the "Primordial Qi Technique."

Lu Chen entered the Celestial Realm and fused the two martial arts.

Thus, the "Heaven-Refining Catastrophe Hand" was born!

The scene shifted again: Yu Ke seemed to be battling the Demon Master Huang Dao; the two clashed.

Back and forth!

In the blink of an eye, forty-three years had passed; the world was pacified.

A figure grew faint in the morning mist of autumn, stepping through dew as he entered the Tomb of the Living Dead.

He had never met a true rival in his life—if one existed, it was himself.

I have wrestled with myself for long—better to be myself!

The great cauldron rang; the dream shattered!

Yu Ke slowly opened his eyes; his gaze had grown steady and resolute.

In his hands, crimson aura began to spread; all his acupoints opened wide.

(End of Chapter)