Chapter 82: Phoenix Roams the Courtyard, Simulation Begins [Request Follows]

The banquet had entered its final stretch, yet the revelry showed no sign of abating.

Songs and dances filled the air; goblets clinked in constant exchange.

Servant girls moved silently through the crowd, adding wine and drink with featherlight steps.

In the lively, noisy corners, beautiful female cultivators drew repeated advances from outer-disciple students.

As for those disciples from prominent families, they were always surrounded by friends, laughter and flattery never ceasing.

Zhou Liang, however, was unlike his usual self—he made no effort to flirt with pretty female cultivators, instead appearing unusually serious.

He rose and waved his hand.

“Yu Ke, Zhang Ziling, let’s go, let’s go.”

“I need to return and prepare. This journey to the Hidden Immortal Land is perilous—I don’t intend to lose my life there.”

Zhang Ziling promptly stood up.

“Goodbye, Senior Brother Zhou.”

Just as Zhou Liang was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back.

He spoke earnestly to Yu Ke.

“Yu Ke, you’ve taken possession of Qing Shui’s token—if you join the trial, you must proceed with caution.”

“I know your heart is set on cultivation—I couldn’t persuade you last time when you reached Foundation Establishment. You’ve always been single-minded. But this time is different—you must be careful.”

Zhou Liang’s words were filled with genuine concern.

“Enough, let’s go!”

Yu Ke nodded.

He watched Zhou Liang’s retreating figure grow distant under the glow of the formation’s lanterns.

Yu Ke’s eyes held worry.

He wondered whether Zhou Liang’s choice this time would bring fortune or misfortune.

He hoped he would be safe.

Yu Ke had no interest in the banquet tonight—he still had the Heavenly Reincarnation Simulation to complete.

He carefully selected several spirit fruits from the table.

Breakfast for tomorrow is secured!

Time to leave.

Yu Ke’s gaze caught an inner-disciple senior already on stage delivering a speech, drawing cheers and praise from the crowd.

But he no longer cared.

“Goodbye, Zhang Ziling.”

Zhang Ziling twisted her sleeve, as if wanting to call out to Yu Ke, yet lacked the courage.

Yu Ke’s figure had already vanished into the distance.

Zhang Ziling’s face flushed with anxiety and inner turmoil.

Yu Ke stepped out of the tavern.

The night street felt slightly chilly.

But the full moon hung high, white clouds drifted transparently across the sky, and stars sparkled everywhere.

Yu Ke rubbed his stomach—the drowsiness from overeating had largely dissipated under the night breeze.

It was almost midnight—the daily refresh of the Kunxu Cauldron.

Yu Ke was about to stroll home leisurely.

Just then!

“Senior Brother Yu, wait.”

Yu Ke turned around to see a woman in green robes rushing up, stopping abruptly before him.

Zhang Ziling looked nervous.

“Senior Brother Yu, please wait.”

Yu Ke regarded her with confusion.

Zhang Ziling quickly adjusted the hair beside her cheeks, tightly covering the dark spots on both sides.

She seemed uneasy—perhaps because she had come too close.

“Senior Brother Yu, thank you.”

Zhang Ziling’s voice trembled slightly.

“No need for formalities, Junior Sister Zhang.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Yu Ke smiled, as if recalling his own past.

Some are born radiant, destined as protagonists; others endure twisted lives; still others never even begin before ending.

Some live their entire lives in stifled bitterness, never achieving a single worthy thing.

Too concerned with others’ gazes!

Life—live it for yourself.

Yu Ke turned and walked away, waving his hand in farewell.

At that moment, the full moon reached its zenith.

Moonlight spilled like water—it had passed midnight.

Yu Ke tucked his hands into his sleeves.

A gentle breeze stirred, making both sleeves flutter.

“In this life, Yu Ke will live for himself.”

Inside Yu Ke’s mind, the Kunxu Cauldron trembled faintly, emitting a low, mysterious hum.

Midnight had arrived!

Immediately, a faint glow appeared on the cauldron’s surface, revealing clear text:

【Cooldown complete. Begin Heavenly Simulation?】

【Save point: forty years.】

Zhang Ziling seemed to have heard Yu Ke’s words—her gaze grew distant.

She looked up at the sky.

Tonight, the stars blazed brilliantly; voices rose in clamor.

…

…

…

Mount Zhongnan, moonlight like a silken ribbon, spilled across the tranquil forest.

On the cliff behind the mountain.

A middle-aged Daoist in a robe stood motionless, as if having just finished his daily cultivation.

He gazed upward at the bright, full moon on the horizon.

In the forest, mosquitoes and flies fluttered, emitting faint buzzing sounds and tiny glimmers of light.

A gentle mountain breeze blew in, cool and refreshing.

“Brother, why are you here?”

At that moment, a figure suddenly leapt from the cliff, moving with the agility of a monkey, climbing upward in a posture incomprehensible to ordinary men, finally landing steadily beside the middle-aged Daoist.

Lu Yu landed with ease.

He asked curiously, “Brother, why are you here?”

“Strange—tonight, you didn’t cultivate at all.”

Lu Yu’s gaze was suspicious.

For over thirty years, your brother never once neglected cultivation.

Not a single day of slackness!

Even in the military camp, you insisted on practicing stances every night.

Today is unusual!

You didn’t cultivate—you came to admire the moon.

The middle-aged Daoist seemed lost in thought and did not answer immediately.

Lu Yu followed his gaze and saw only the full moon, high and serene in the sky.

Nothing extraordinary about it.

He couldn’t understand why his brother was so entranced.

After a while,

the middle-aged Daoist withdrew his gaze.

In the moonlight, he slowly turned to face Lu Yu.

He gently brushed off the fallen twigs and leaves clinging to Lu Yu’s shoulders.

Lu Yu asked:

“Brother, what are you thinking about?”

The Daoist finally spoke slowly:

I was thinking.

Whether there’s another person out there, looking at the moon just like me.

Lu Yu didn’t quite understand.

The middle-aged Daoist merely smiled; the mountain breeze brought coolness, rustling through the woods.

Mount Zhongnan was peaceful indeed.

The middle-aged Daoist spoke softly again:

“The world is about to fall into chaos!”

…

…

Yu Ke did not immediately begin the simulation; he did not [Agree].

He walked back to his small courtyard, planning to start only after returning to his room.

Yu Ke pushed open the courtyard gate, and unexpectedly—

He was stunned by what he saw.

There!

Perched atop the pear tree was a divine bird over one zhang tall, adorned with brilliantly patterned plumage, majestic and noble.

Its form was slender, trailing long tail feathers and ornamental plumes, its entire body wreathed in shimmering crimson.

Upon closer inspection, golden patterns intertwined within the crimson.

The divine bird elegantly preened its feathers, the crimson flame atop its head swaying gently.

It let out a soft cry, clear and resonant like jade striking jade.

A line suddenly surfaced in Yu Ke’s mind:

“In this world exists a divine bird, named Fenghuang. Its plumage glows in five hues, its steps radiate light.”

As if sensing Yu Ke, the divine bird turned its phoenix eyes toward him.

They blazed with fierce menace.

Yu Ke immediately felt a wave of dizziness.

Inside his mind, the great cauldron rang out, emitting a gentle radiance—the discomfort vanished.

Standing beneath the pear tree was a white-robed boy, whose gaze shifted abruptly.

He whistled softly, and the divine bird flapped its wings lightly, shrinking into a colorful little sparrow.

It landed on the boy’s shoulder.

Yu Ke looked again—the white-robed boy had already returned to the western chamber with the bird.

He closed the door.

PS: I’m late! It seems I’m always rushing!

The simulation plot is about to begin—gentlemen, get some rest.

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(End of Chapter)