[{"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-676":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},2347691,4587,"Chapter 676: Two Birds Land on Shoulders, Then Scatter; Guest Dances Sword with Hidden Intent","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-676",676,"\u003Cp>Xie Yuan was stunned!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him—all those present wore expressions of utter disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan’s pupils shrank sharply, his eyes filled with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Qinlan gazed at the “Zhao Ming Luan,” which circled a few times before lightly landing on Xie Guan’s shoulder, her red lips parting slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine bird, brimming with spirit, gently tugged at Xie Guan’s hair with its claws, affectionately pecking his collar with its crimson beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun rose abruptly, his eyes trembling, “White crest for male, red crest for female. This is the male Zhao Ming Luan—only one of utmost sincerity, goodness, and boundless virtue may earn its perch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Great Qi’s legends, only the Master himself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you reached out and lightly touched it, the luan nuzzled your fingers affectionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Huang’s cup lid clattered to the ground, tea stains spreading on the blue bricks. The woman famed for raising birds stared wide-eyed—she had nurtured this luan for three years, yet never once dared touch it; even approaching within a foot drew a piercing screech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell utterly silent, save the faint whisper of wind stirred by the Zhao Ming Luan’s wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan, equally astonished, extended his hand gently—and the luan on your shoulder turned and flew to the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its eyes, pure disdain for Xie Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu’s face turned ashen. He, the crown prince of the grasslands, had been mocked by two feathered beasts before all eyes! His dignity was shattered—outdone by this lowly Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi, seeing this, thought to herself: if the luan truly possessed spirit, and the legends held true, then this young man in blue robes might truly be an upright gentleman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xuan’s expression darkened, his fist clenched within his sleeve. If word of today’s event spread, many in Bianjing believed in the harmony between Heaven and Man—and Xie Guan was already in the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Song Tingting, playing the qin, her eyes gleamed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Cai Huang was about to speak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another change erupted in the courtyard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female luan with the red crest, circling outside the pavilion, also landed lightly on Xie Guan’s other shoulder, seemingly delighted, releasing a series of clear calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Huang, seeing this, covered her mouth with her slender hand, swallowing the words she had nearly spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, but his grip tightened on the rosewood armrest of his wheelchair, the wood creaking faintly under pressure—betraying his inner turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Zhao Ming Luans seemed delighted, one on each shoulder, nuzzling Xie Guan’s neck, inhaling his scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun’s gaze was complex: the arrival of both male and female luan—a sign of sacred virtue—marked a person of ultimate sincerity, goodness, and sanctity: a born sage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the young man before him, his eyes filled with complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard fell utterly silent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the joyful, clear calls of the two divine birds echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan exclaimed, “My brother Guan possesses the stature of a sage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your expression remained calm, but a flicker of surprise passed through your eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You found it strange—why would the divine birds behave this way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you now possessed such a reputation, it would not benefit you at this stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reputation—this word is the deadliest sword!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine birds accompany sages. The term “sage,” in Confucian texts, refers to one whose moral excellence surpasses all ages, whose wisdom penetrates Heaven and Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentleman walks the world by establishing virtue, setting aspiration, cultivating himself, harmonizing his family, governing the state, and pacifying the world. He treasures loyalty and trust, never sacrifices righteousness for profit, acts swiftly but speaks sparingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is the doctrine of three imperishables: establishing words, virtue, and merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the bright annals of history, those who have established imperishable words, erected virtue for ten thousand generations, or built unparalleled merit—since ancient times, they are few and far between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You judge your own virtue and merit pale beside Prince Yan’s; your words fall short of the Master’s—you are far, far from deserving the title “sage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You do not believe these birds truly comprehend the subtle meanings of the Four Books or the great principles of the Five Classics, or discern human ethics and social order—they must mean something else—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You recalled the Daoist Nan Hua Zhen Jing: “Not departing from the root is called the Heavenly Person.” It means the True Person never strays from the source of creation; it also says: “Taking Heaven as the root, virtue as the foundation, Dao as the gate, manifesting in transformation, one is called a sage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heaven and Man united, transcending to immortality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You suddenly realized—the Nine Swords’ qi left by the Second Master still lingered in your dantian. When the Master once cleaved open the Heavenly Gate, that sword intent, piercing the nine heavens, had long transcended this world—it was precisely the Daoist state of “riding Heaven’s rectitude, mastering the six qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that these two “divine birds” merely sensed the lingering aura of the Second Master upon you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, the two divine birds seemed to greedily peck at your body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In your mind’s sea, the Nine Swords stood still, rotating—especially the Eighth and Ninth Swords, glowing with radiance like sun and moon suspended in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, you enveloped them with the Primordial Spirit power of the Yang Fu Jing, gradually dimming their brilliance, returning them to obscurity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Zhao Ming Luans on your shoulders flickered with a hint of human-like confusion, their beaks gently pecking your robe, as if searching for the sudden disappearance of that mysterious Daoic resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, they spread their wings and rose, circling several times amid the crowd’s stunned gazes, their feathers brushing the lake’s surface, stirring faint ripples, before flying far away, vanishing into the distant mountains’ misty woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the pavilion, silence lingered. All exchanged glances, still dazed from the sudden turn of events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your suspicions were confirmed: these divine birds had sensed not Confucian sage qi at all, but the lingering thread of… Heavenly-Person sword intent left by the Second Master when he cleaved open the Heavenly Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world loves to fabricate and twist meanings; whenever faced with the mysterious and inexplicable, they attribute it to fate and oracles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Master may have won the male luan’s favor not because his virtue was perfect, but because his cultivation had reached the state of returning to simplicity—his aura naturally pure and harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet without both birds choosing him, he still fell short of the “Heavenly-Person realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere inside the pavilion grew delicate, each person’s expression varied. Cai Huang’s eyes held uncertainty—she had never seen such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu suddenly sneered, “It seems the divine birds still have discerning eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Kong, rare for him, clasped his hands together, his expression serene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan’s hand slowly released its grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi’s face wore thoughtful contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, who could easily accept a sudden sage, certified by divine birds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun scanned the crowd’s expressions, realizing the divine bird tale could never be settled, and laughed aloud, “Gentlemen, having witnessed the divine birds is already a refined pleasure. Why not continue the elegance? Let us play the ‘Flying Petals’ game—compose poetry to bond as friends. Would that not be delightful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi agreed, “A fine idea. The Rabbit Courtyard is serene—perfect for recitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Rabbit Courtyard lay above the pavilion, accessible by a winding corridor ascending steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled and pointed toward the pavilion’s corridor, where a serving girl passed by, carrying newly plucked cassia blossoms, their faint fragrance drifting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Flying Petals” game was a literary drinking pastime originating from a line of Yan Dynasty poetry: “Spring city, everywhere petals fly.” It evolved into a drinking game centered on the character “flower,” later expanding into richer wordplay—not limited to “flower,” but any theme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It most rigorously tests true talent; if someone had a poem ghostwritten, the deception would be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan brushed dust from his robe, seemingly unconcerned—yet he sighed inwardly for his brother. If only the two birds had not flown away, it would have been another delightful moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan nodded, “Today we’ve glimpsed Young Master  Guan’s talent—tomorrow, fine verses will surely spread.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Huang remained lost in thought over the divine birds, her gaze toward Xie Guan now tinged with curiosity and solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, one who could silence the entire banquet with a single poem was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd prepared to move, He Lan Zhen Shu’s cold laugh rang out: “What pleasure is there in reciting wind and moon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Children of Eternal Life revere heroes of iron steeds and icy rivers. What good is this scribbling and singing, day after day, night after night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan frowned—this elegant gathering’s agenda had been settled long ago. Why had He Lan Zhen Shu suddenly objected?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun countered sharply, “Prince He Lan, this is Great Qi’s land. Literary elegance is our dynasty’s tradition—not like your grasslands, where people wander homeless, eating raw meat and drinking blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Buddha Boy Du Kong smiled, “If it’s the Flying Petals game, we’ve played it several times already. Today we’ve merely added this Xie Guan. Is Master Su afraid he’s a fraud?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun fell silent, then straightened his robes, “I certainly do not mean that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu proposed, “Let my household guests perform swordplay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To entertain everyone, how about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Qinlan readily agreed—she had never cared for the Flying Petals game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuan scanned the crowd, saying nothing, his knuckles lightly tapping the table, a shadow flickering in his eyes—the moment the divine birds perched on Xie Guan’s shoulder had planted a thorn in the heart of this Great Sui crown prince, shattering his original mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi and Su Yun exchanged glances, turning to you: “ Young Master  Guan is our guest—what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You nodded slightly, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu strode out of the pavilion; the crowd followed him to a stone-paved open space by the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed prepared—he curled his thumb and forefinger into a ring and let out a piercing whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged swordsman walked slowly from deep within the bamboo grove beyond the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eight-foot frame, clad in plain white training attire, resembled a drawn sword against snow. His black hair was crudely tied with hemp rope; his features were ordinary, his arms cradling a long sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His most striking feature: the jagged scar where his left ear had been torn away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes, like still wells, concealed lethal intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Prince He Lan, esteemed lords,” the swordsman bowed, sword in hand, his voice cold as metal striking metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu clapped and laughed loudly, “Pei Feng, today let our noble guests witness your sword. Perform well, and you’ll be richly rewarded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pei Feng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan stared at the swordsman’s missing ear, then heard his name—he suddenly realized, voice tinged with surprise, “Pei Feng of the Sword Rain Pavilion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan Zhen Shu patted Pei Feng’s shoulder, the bulging muscles beneath his brocade robe rippling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pei Feng, it seems you’re quite famous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pei Jiaotou is now a law-abiding citizen, holding a special pardon from the Ministry of Justice. He is also one of my household guards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Feng’s expression remained blank; only his sheathed sword emitted a faint hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan whispered beside you, “This man is Pei Feng—a notorious figure in Bianjing’s underworld, famed for twenty-nine undefeated bouts, master of swift swordplay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was originally a street thug, but by chance caught the eye of a master from the Sword Rain Pavilion and was taken as a disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet to learn deeper sword arts, he murdered his own master and stole the sword scripture—the scar on his ear was left by his master’s final bite before death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afterward, he was expelled from his sect and hunted down by the entire Sword Rain Pavilion. But astonishingly, he ultimately annihilated the entire pavilion, bearing dozens of lives on his name. Thus, the Mirror Bureau pursued him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The case stirred uproar—even the Academy’s masters personally intervened to capture him. Yet Pei Feng was cunning, escaping time and again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fellow hides in Bianjing’s black market, making a living by participating in martial duels—he’s living quite comfortably.” Xie Yuan sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black market, a lawless place teeming with human trafficking, hired assassinations, and all manner of darkness, was also a nexus of rumors and information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never expected he’d now become a dog in service to Crown Prince He Lan Zhenshu of Changsheng Tian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You turned to Pei Feng and noticed his right hand, the one that wielded the sword, bore no calluses; yet the blade moved through his grip like a fish in water, smooth and unimpeded—you knew this man was a true master of the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You carefully sensed his cultivation—he was at the sixth realm of martial arts, just one step away from breaking through to the Ruzhi Rou realm and entering the upper three realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his primordial spirit had not achieved true internal concealment; his cultivation base had not yet reached the middle three realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in Bianjing’s black market, such strength was more than enough to dominate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not been pursued by the authorities, he could have easily joined the martial registry and become a respected martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Feng’s sword flashed out of its scabbard—before the three-foot blue blade could be clearly seen, its cold light had already transformed into a white ribbon slicing through the air. His toes lightly tapped the blue stone, his robes fluttering like crane wings, his body darting swiftly, sword blossoms piercing like waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tip of his sword suddenly bloomed with seven silver sparks, the sound of their passage like tearing ice silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where his form passed, leaves ten paces away, still drifting downward, were already shredded into fragments by sword qi and scattered across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast! His sword technique was so swift it was impossible to discern the patterns—only a white rainbow piercing the sun, cleaving the blue stone slabs beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent fast sword!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jia’s seventh daughter, Li Qinlan, couldn’t help but praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was devoted to martial arts, trained under a master of Qingliang Temple, and had already reached the fifth martial realm, “Spring Thunder.” Seeing Pei Feng’s swordlight like lightning, impenetrable and dense, she knew even his mere techniques carried such power—if combined with sword intent, they would be ruthless, lethal methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She silently thought: she likely couldn’t withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several courtesans showed little interest; compared to Gong Sun Niang’s sword dance, as graceful as a startled swan, Pei Feng’s fast sword, though fierce, lacked that aesthetic beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun frowned slightly—he felt something odd about this scene. This was supposed to be a refined poetry gathering with flowing wine cups—how had it turned into this spectacle of flashing blades?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword qi in the arena turned abruptly cold; Pei Feng’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. He flipped his wrist—his long sword retracted like a venomous snake retreating into its den, then surged forward as a white rainbow piercing the sun, striking directly at one man in the center—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan turned pale with shock. “Guan, watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2548,"2026-06-21T01:33:03.787Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","18b518eeca141446f31c852dcfb5efbae3618f7f919799b96f9bf3f0f54f5a24","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-677","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-675",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]