Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[Thirty-first year, forty-seven years old.]

With the massive resources poured into you by the Demonic Sect, your intelligence work in Wuzhou is progressing smoothly.

Meanwhile, you explore advanced uses of the "Succubus Body".

[According to the talent description, only by upholding a firm ideal and uttering that phrase can a forbidden-level effect be produced.]

You try to establish a grand belief, but find it impossible to ignite, because the loftier the ideal, the more genuine and persistent you must be, even at the cost of life and death; only by having millions of people go forth can you achieve it.

[To change destiny and transform the world.]

[Your current thoughts are solely focused on living longer and improving your martial arts level. What does the world's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing overall situation, overall situation, and overall dynamics) have to do with you?]

If you don't believe you can do it, or even lack the motivation to do it, then it naturally won't be triggered.

Therefore, you adopted a more realistic and feasible belief.

To command an intelligence agency, one must have eyes and ears covering both Yang and Wu provinces, possessing complete insight.

[The "Succubus Body" talent effect has finally been initially triggered, granting you the allegiance of intelligence agency personnel.]

[Completely seize control of the Demonic Sect's intelligence network, ensuring its absolute obedience.]

Another cold winter day, with snow falling heavily at dusk.

You and Shang Qingdai are watching the snow from a pavilion by the lake.

"Have you ever thought about having a child, my husband?"

Seeing her expectant gaze, you smiled and said, "Forty years old, in the prime of my life. Come on, let's go back inside."

"Be serious~."

Shang Qingdai playfully patted you, then sighed softly and nestled into your arms, gazing at the snow scene, her eyes filled with undisguised sadness.

[Tick-tock~]

A warm drop landed on the back of your hand. You looked down in confusion, and the scarlet color was so striking.

You quickly helped Shang Qingdai up, only to find her body as fragile and delicate as a floating duckweed.

His face was deathly pale, and a shocking trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"I need a doctor!"

You hurriedly stood up, but she gripped your hem tightly, shaking her head with a wry smile.

"No... listen to me..."

[You've already sensed something, and your heart feels as heavy as a mountain.]

[Shang Qingdai nestled in your arms, leaning on your shoulder, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I lied to you three years ago..."]

You tightened your grip on her hand, shook your head, and remained silent.

"I said I could conceal my injuries for two or three years, but in reality, I only have two or three days left."

Your expression faltered slightly, your chin resting on the tip of her hair.

"I coaxed you into marriage because I thought the war could drag on for a few years. I wanted you to cover for us so that we could end the war with dignity, rather than die like stray dogs in the struggle for power."

Shang Qingdai looked up, gazing at your face with a look of longing.

"But I truly hope you will marry me..."

"The moment we first met, when you perfectly replicated my rambling divination and calmly arrived at the answer, is etched in my memory."

You gently brush her hair, and it seems you see again her confused yet feigned composure from that time.

"How I long to grow old with you and spend the rest of my life together. Since childhood, I have struggled to survive in the Demonic Sect. To survive, I have climbed higher and higher, my heart filled with only cold cruelty."

"These past three years have been the most stable, happiest, and most longed-for period of my life, but alas..."

【"Cough cough..."】

Your expression was indifferent, your heart filled with a complex mix of emotions, difficult to describe. You gently raised your hand to wipe away the blood that had seeped from the corner of her mouth.

Shang Qingdai held your hand; its soft texture was icy cold.

"I observe that you regard even the power of intelligence agencies as insignificant, aside from martial arts and bedroom matters. I wonder why you are so obsessed with martial arts..."

"You've just entered the ninth stage of Body Tempering; you still need to accumulate experience for several more years before attempting to break through to the Grand Qi stage."

"I left you the 'Overwhelming Power Technique,' including fist, palm, finger, and sword techniques, in your dressing box."

"But given your age, the chances of breaking through are slim. If you fail, your meridians and internal organs will be damaged, potentially costing you your life. You will then need to recuperate for several years before you can try again."

Shang Qingdai looked up at your elegant and refined face, and gently stroked your cheek with her hand: "I know you won't listen to reason, so I won't waste my breath."

"I'll listen to whatever you say."

Upon hearing this, Shang Qingdai rolled her eyes at you, a fleeting yet captivating allure, a broken beauty that pierced the heart.

"Really, if you were in charge of me..."

As you looked down, Shang Qingdai had already closed her eyes, nestled peacefully in your arms, fast asleep, serene and gentle.

Shang Qingdai has passed away. The sense of belonging she had regained over the past few years has vanished once again in the snow.

After the funeral, you devoted yourself entirely to spiritual practice and your duties at the intelligence agency.

Even in my spare time at night, I read various books.

Before I knew it, my temples were streaked with white.

[The thirty-second year, age forty-eight.]

After Shang Qingdai passed away, the matchmaker came to your door again, wanting you to remarry, but you casually shook your head and refused.

The matchmaker, with her keen observation skills, knew that this time your rejections were different from before; they weren't due to dissatisfaction or high standards, but genuine resolve. Therefore, she wouldn't visit again.

You don't consider yourself a devoted person, but in this life, you hope to be devoted to her.

[The thirty-fifth year, age fifty-one.]

[Over the years, with the "Succubus Body," even in its initial activation, the forbidden authority of the Black Taboo still grants you complete control over the intelligence agency.]

After Shang Qingdai's death, the Demonic Sect attempted to infiltrate your intelligence agency and undermine your power.

After realizing it was futile, they had no choice but to give up.

We still need to win you over and curry favor with you, lest you side with Chen Chao.

[You carefully tempered your brain, finally achieving the ninth level of body tempering perfection, allowing you to attempt to connect your spiritual senses and break through the peak of power.]

You retrieve Shang Qingdai's dressing box; the items inside remain exactly as they were originally.

She left you with one high-level martial art each for fist, palm, finger, and sword techniques, as well as the Qi Cultivation Method.

[After you memorize these three martial arts techniques, use them to fill your spare time to practice until you reach a basic level of proficiency.]

[The method of cultivating with superior energy has long been memorized and studied over many years, so that I can immediately apply it when I break through.]

The name of the Shengqi cultivation method is "Pure Primordial True Scripture".

[This is an authentic high-level Taoist text, balanced and unadorned, clearly prepared especially for you by Shang Qingdai.]

[Strive to minimize the damage to your body and lifespan if you fail.]

In the same year, something happened that shook the world, causing the Great Cang Dynasty to falter and nearly collapse.

Chen Chao and Wang Mang established the Kingdom of Wu by occupying Yangzhou and Wuzhou; Pang Hai occupied Jingzhou and Yuzhou by occupying them ...

[In the thirty-sixth year, at the age of fifty-two.]

People say that at fifty one should know one's destiny, but you disagree and are determined to defy it.

[You handle your intelligence duties as usual, return to your room, take out the "Pure Primordial True Scripture" and peruse it, calming your mind and spirit.]

Set aside the scriptures in your hand, focus solely on awakening your spiritual awareness, strive to enter a state of great vitality, and live up to the destiny of this life.

[You are circulating the "Pure Primordial True Scripture," attempting to break through illusions, connect your mind's spiritual senses, and perceive the energy of heaven and earth.]

Unfortunately, at fifty, one's vital energy and blood begin to decline, and various bodily functions weaken. Just as Shang Qingdai said, the probability of a breakthrough is not high.

You have failed. Your meridians are damaged, your internal organs are injured, and white frost has settled on your hair.