[{"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-651":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},2347666,4587,"Chapter 651","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-651",651,"\u003Cp>“Do you think tonight’s flower queen will be who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I know? But I heard she’s even more beautiful than Zhang Yunzhi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think Li Shuwan is even better—her bearing, her figure—hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my opinion, it’s still Madam Zhao who’s the most beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man lying on the boat suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t seen Madam Zhao’s back when she walks—it’s like a gourd, swaying back and forth, especially the front… you’d probably need to bow your head just to see your own toes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled at this, “Too bad the Second Master never comes home. Even when he does, he never steps into Madam Zhao’s room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re mad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other man’s face turned pale; he frantically reached to cover his mouth. “If this gets back to the Second Courtyard, we’re all dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to fear?” The man shoved his companion’s hand away, shrugging dismissively. “You’re afraid of everything—frightened of wolves ahead, tigers behind. What kind of man are you? Are you really going to serve the Xie family your whole life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly,” the third man chimed in. “Who’s going to hear us out here on the lake? We’re always so cautious. Today, all the young masters, young ladies, and stewards are at the Qunfang Banquet—can’t we just let loose for once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the lake behind the Xie residence, a small boat drifted gently with the current; three servants in green robes leaned on the prow, whispering among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were servants from the old matriarch’s household, tasked with clearing fallen leaves from the lake—she adored the Hongjing Courtyard’s “Mother Lake” and demanded daily upkeep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were born for this duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because they served the old matriarch’s household, they were less cautious than servants in other courtyards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake mirrored the fading moon in the sky; a light breeze stirred the surface into shimmering ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boat rocked gently on the water; the three men continued their low laughter and chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard from a maid in the Second Courtyard that Madam Zhao still binds her chest…” One lowered his voice, his tone tinged with strange suggestiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Is that true? Then how enormous must it be!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other man stared, dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, imagine how delighted Elder Hong must be at night—probably needs both hands to enjoy himself fully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three exchanged glances and laughed, their mirth rippling across the lake, startling several night-roosting waterfowl into flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got the master’s cock but none of his authority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One teased; the other two burst into laughter, doubling over with mirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boat glided slowly through the lake’s center; the lanterns of Hongjing Courtyard shimmered in the water like a brilliant river of stars, breathtakingly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man rested his hands behind his head, gazing at the stars, then frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look—just now, Bianjing lit up as bright as day. What was that? Fireworks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other followed his gaze and saw a faint, glassy dome hovering over the entire city, mysterious and inscrutable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that? How can there be a dome in the sky? Has the heavens changed? The people of Bianjing often say the Ziwei Star stirs, and Mars moves toward the Northern Dipper—could it be…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget such idle nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boatman interrupted. “We’re servants—why should we care? If the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—isn’t that where the academy is? Could it be on fire?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could it be fire? Fire doesn’t reach the heavens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words were fully spoken, the lake’s surface erupted in violent waves—as if some colossal creature churned beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happening!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boatman cried out, staring down into the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a jet-black dragon glided through the depths, its body immense, scales gleaming with cold, eerie light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single flick of its tail, it sent towering waves crashing— the boat rocked violently, nearly capsizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three men turned pale, collapsing into the hull, clutching the gunwales in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D…demon!” One stammered, eyes wide with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it… a snake? Or a dragon?” Another stammered, eyes locked on the dark shadow beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they could make out more, the dragon dissolved into a swirl of black mist, coalescing into a massive character: “ Xie .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The character’s strokes were bold and powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the black mist reformed into the dragon once more, shooting straight into the sky and vanishing into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three men were utterly terrified, faces ashen, frantically rowing toward shore with trembling hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mount Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep autumn had come!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Persimmons on the mountain had ripened, hanging sparse and bright from the branches like tiny red lanterns, delightfully vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slopes were carpeted with fallen golden leaves, while the air carried the sweet scent of fruit trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sanzhen Sect warmly welcomed pilgrims, allowing anyone to pick the mountain’s fruits; children often played here, laughing and returning home laden with harvests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, pilgrims came in endless streams; the mountain paths teemed with travelers, bustling and lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secluded hermitage on Mount Zhongnan stood far away, yet even its base was noisy with carriages and horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the main road, people pressed shoulder to shoulder, barely able to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Mount Zhongnan, however, lay a winding, hidden path up the mountain—nearly impossible for ordinary people to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only elite disciples of the Sanzhen Sect and local mountain folk knew of its existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On either side of the trail, ancient trees towered, their dense canopies filtering sunlight into dappled patches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The occasional roar of wild beasts echoed through the woods, chilling the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grass grew thick, reaching up to the knees; moss-covered stone steps were slippery, with cliffs yawning below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path was steep—no one without real skill dared walk it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it felt profoundly quiet, free from the noise and crowding of the front mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Travelers passed only rarely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, two unusual figures moved slowly along the quiet trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the green skirt was petite, her steps light; a string of silver bells hung at her waist, chiming softly with each step like a mountain stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was lovely, her eyes curved like blooming peach blossoms in June, radiating a clever, mischievous charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grinned and asked: “Mu-ge, do you think Mount Zhongnan is always this crowded?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you opened a stall selling candied haws and baked bread at the foot of the mountain, wouldn’t you make a fortune?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man she addressed was a tall middle-aged man, handsome and radiating masculine vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a black headband, his gaze steady as a mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Xie Mu, the third son of the Xie family, who had once traveled the world with Huang Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Huang Dao ascended, he left behind two peerless secret texts: The Heavenly Demon Scripture and The Dao Heart Seed Demon. Both were now in Xie Mu’s keeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu decided to return these texts to the Demon Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Demon Sect, seeing him alone and not one of their own, grew hostile and joined forces to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having trained under Huang Dao for years, Xie Mu’s cultivation had already reached the pinnacle of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, having witnessed Huang Dao’s ascension, his heart had soared into the Master Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That chase and battle did not kill him—it strengthened him, truly elevating him among the world’s greatest cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-skirted woman had been a captured “Flower Sect” demon sect holy maiden, snatched by him during his escape, originally meant as a hostage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu was never a killer, and under Huang Dao’s influence, he simply kept her by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman lifted her head slightly, revealing a pale neck, her eyes filled with unmistakable admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xie Mu remain silent, she dragged out her voice: “Mu-ge—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you even listening to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu finally spoke, his voice calm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over these years, Daoism has flourished immensely. In the past decade, both the Demon Sect and the Buddhist Sect have declined. After the Demon Master’s death, the nine branches of the Demon Sect have been locked in endless infighting—now it’s kill or be killed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, gazing toward the distant mountain peak, then continued: “As for Buddhism, the dominant sects—Mahayana, Theravada, Lotus, Three Treatises, Pure Land, Satyasiddhi—all have been forced into seclusion by the Sanzhen Daoists, no longer meddling in worldly affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-skirted woman blinked, nodding slowly as if half-understanding, then smiled: “No wonder everyone says, ‘Why travel a thousand miles to worship the Sacred Mountain? Zhongnan has a Buddha walking the earth.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That so-called ‘walking Buddha’ refers to Prince Yan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Huang Dao, the Empress, and Lu Yu having ascended, Prince Yan Lu Chen now stood unchallenged at the pinnacle of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He alone held the entire world in check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the iron cavalry of Great Yan—how could any heavenly being ignore their cold might?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu smiled faintly at this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mountain need not be tall to be sacred—only if it holds a transcendent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as Lu Shaobao lives, the incense offerings to Mount Zhongnan will burn as brightly as the sun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world called Lu Chen Prince Yan, but Xie Mu, originally from Daqing, was accustomed to calling him Shaobao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up toward the peak of Mount Zhongnan, where mist curled around the ancient, simple Daoist temple, barely visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-skirted woman asked softly: “Mu-ge, do you regret it? You risked your life just to return the texts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Huang Dao saved me. If I didn’t return them, I’d carry guilt forever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was low and resolute, like a boulder in the mountains, unmoved by wind and rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the green skirt asked again, “Brother Mu, what is your relationship with Elder Huang Dao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu did not answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman pressed her lips together, a complex expression flickering in her eyes, then returned to her playful demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She skipped over to Xie Mu’s side, bells ringing through the mountains: “So where are we going next? We can’t just keep wandering around Mount Zhongnan forever, can we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light breeze brushed by, carrying the fresh scent of fruit trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu said gravely, “Up the mountain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s eyes widened—Mount Zhongnan now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Yan was still in his prime, dominating the world, and the Seven Sons of Zhongnan were the greatest masters of this age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could we, as members of the Demon Cult, dare to step lightly into this sacred ground of orthodox sects?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman looked up at Xie Mu’s broad back, a firm resolve flashing in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bit her lip and whispered, “Alright, Brother Mu, I’ll go with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xie Mu smiled faintly: “Then let’s stop dawdling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stamped her foot and hurried after him, bells ringing through the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t help asking, “Brother Mu, how do you know this path on Mount Zhongnan so well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu didn’t turn around, answering coolly, “I’ve been here before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Been here? Was it a woman? There’s no honor in trampling through little groves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu’s lips curved in a smile, a ripple forming in his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast, thunderous sound erupted, shaking heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was neither bell nor drum, as if coming from the horizon, yet neither fully one nor the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Mount Zhongnan, all beasts bowed low and growled, and even the birds in the mountains took flight in panic, scattering in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu frowned, his gaze sharp as lightning, fixed on a point atop the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, rays of radiant light blazed like the rising sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tomb of the Living Dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shao Bao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured softly, then his eyes hardened. He scooped up the woman in the green skirt and shot forward like an arrow, darting through the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was lifted around the waist, her cheeks flushed, yet she did not struggle—only gripped his robe tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stood before the entrance of the Tomb of the Living Dead on Mount Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the cave mouth, many people had already gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven figures in Daoist robes stood at the front, their qi profound, some bearing swords, others holding rulers, their expressions solemn, eyes locked on the tomb’s depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the green skirt recognized them at once: these seven were the famed Seven Sons of Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart tightened; she instinctively lowered her head, avoiding their gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foremost orthodox sect of the world—demon cultivators feared them as if they were venomous snakes and scorpions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Yang Su, the fifth of the Seven Sons of Zhongnan, looked at Xie Mu and gave a slight nod: “Young Master Mu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu bowed in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the green skirt’s eyes widened in surprise—Brother Mu seemed quite familiar with the Seven Sons of Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked again at the Tomb of the Living Dead, and a thought stirred in her mind—the person inside must be the Seven Sons’ senior uncle, the legendary recluse who cultivated in seclusion: Prince Yan, Lu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu’s gaze was calm, fixed deep within the tomb, as if waiting for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stood beside him, both tense and expectant, as if a world-shaking event were about to unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another thunderous sound rang out, shaking heaven and earth, trembling mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was indescribable, as if it carried all the weight, antiquity, and profundity of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All looked up to see a phantom cauldron slowly materializing above Mount Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cauldron was so vast it choked the breath—its size dwarfed the entire Mount Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its shape featured tall ears and sturdy legs; its surface bore intricate totems: mountains and rivers twisted and wound, flowers, birds, fish, and insects rendered lifelike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the green skirt’s eyes filled with awe and reverence; she felt as if she had witnessed a divine revelation, whispering to herself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All present felt an overwhelming pressure crashing upon them, as if plunged into an endless abyss—every ounce of their cultivation seemed insignificant, utterly powerless before this force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman’s mind went blank; she could not think, only one thought echoed in her mind: Could this… be the Heavenly Calamity? The end of heaven and earth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to Xie Mu, tears welling in her eyes, her voice trembling: “Brother Mu… I want to tell you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu’s gaze remained locked on the cave entrance; the Seven Sons of Zhongnan, too, stood rigid, eyes fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within the tomb, a figure slowly emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man, his temples slightly streaked with white, bearing the marks of time, yet his eyes shone bright, his steps calm and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shao Bao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Uncle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet with the man’s appearance, the pressure of heaven and earth intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Mu felt his bones and sinews tremble; he could no longer stand, sinking to one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Sons of Zhongnan could barely hold their ground, their faces pale, sweat beading on their brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The might of heaven and earth—terrible as a divine prison!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the middle-aged man seemed oblivious to the celestial pressure, lifting his gaze to the phantom cauldron above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky above Mount Zhongnan shifted, revealing a vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four figures lay grievously wounded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man spoke slowly: “I have long been invincible in this realm. What of you now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you still have more tricks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chen stood with his hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2592,"2026-06-21T01:33:03.787Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5a044d884428989e9c2a76164be3c9270c9efe839522abc386a9b85cd37b12b5","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-652","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-650",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]