Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[Xu Kun listened to your voice swaying in the wind, his eyes glowing with a deep, eerie green.]

"Meow~ Big brother, I don't remember when you became an apprentice of the Celestial Master's Mansion at Zhenwu Mountain?"

After you brought your backer out, you felt much more at ease.

[The tone was light and cheerful.]

"The old Taoist priest agreed last time."

"Meow~ Have you become an apprentice yet?"

You touched the magic sword at your waist, gently rubbing it, which caught Xu Kun's eye.

[He said leisurely, "Just think about it, after I become an apprentice, won't I become a successor of the Celestial Master's Mansion?"]

"Meow~ Logically speaking, yes."

"That settles it then. The result is the same anyway. As for the worldly ceremony of whether or not the master has taken on a disciple, I suppose the old Taoist priest... Master wouldn't mind."

Xu Kun blinked his emerald-green cat eyes.

"Meow, bro, your logic is definitely sound."

[A thick black mist stretched across the sky, severing your aura and other phenomena, making you undetectable.]

They arrived at Golden Scale City shortly afterward.

[During the process, Xu Kun jumps from your left shoulder to your right shoulder, then slowly moves down, step by step approaching the magic sword.]

[It slowly extends its claws.]

[Smack!]

But you slapped him away, grabbed him by the back of the neck, and threw him onto the eaves of the courtyard.

Xu Kun steadied himself in mid-air and landed lightly. Gazing at the magic sword so close at hand, he felt as if this was the greatest distance in the world.

"Meow~ Big brother, when are you going to give me back my greatsword?"

"It's heavily sealed and imprisoned. I'll dismantle it and give it to you after I've thoroughly studied it."

You gaze at him calmly.

"Do you really think I'm the kind of person who would covet my brother's treasures?"

"Meow! Of course not, Big Brother is a man of his word."

[Xu Kun's unconscionable praise, coupled with a fawning gesture of raising a cat's paw.]

"Yes, you look very auspicious."

You landed gracefully, your gaze falling on the three people in the courtyard.

Even though there were only three people, you sensed an unusually chaotic and complex aura.

[There were not only spoken words, but also secret communication through divine thoughts.]

[Pang Hai argues with his younger self in his consciousness, and then uses his divine sense to reminisce with Zuo Shi and Xu Hui.]

[Xu Hui, in his consciousness, imparted his martial arts insights to his younger self, while simultaneously dealing with Pang Hai's incessant chatter in his divine sense, and at the same time explaining his own state to Zuo Shi.]

[In her consciousness, Zuo Shi shares her past memories with her younger self, introducing her to Pang Hai and Xu Hui, and becoming acquainted with the two younger versions of herself.]

You stood quietly beneath the persimmon tree, the fine snowflakes falling around you, making you seem so out of place among them.

In this kind of situation, you find it difficult to even get a chance to interject.

[He closed his eyes in despair, preparing to go next door to check on Wei Qi's situation and to probe whether Wei Zhi in the capital had noticed anything amiss.]

"Hahahaha!!! I've got it! This is the way of the military genius! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

A fierce and menacing aggression swept in from the neighboring yard.

Wei Qi's usually reserved tone was now extremely arrogant, his murderous aura overwhelming.

[Your fingertips emerged from your wide sleeves, severing the spread of killing intent and military might, sealing off the surrounding commotion.]

[Oh no, Brother Wei is acting strange too.]

[Clang!]

The resounding clang of steel, brimming with killing intent, echoed as Wei Qi, like an unstoppable force, pierced through all obstacles.

Standing tall and imposing, his sharp aura soared to the heavens, like endless, cold light slicing through the surrounding space.

[It poses a deadly threat of death.]

"Brother Wen! I've got it! I've got it! Hahahaha..."

Your gaze was lowered, your face expressionless.

"Ah, I understand now, good, good..."

The three people discussing Wei Qi's "illness" in the courtyard were disturbed. Pang Hai and Xu Hui were seeing Wei Qi in such an arrogant state for the first time.

Having fought side-by-side for several years, Wei Qi was always spirited, valiant, and sharp, yet subtly possessed the refined elegance of a nobleman.

The two communicated secretly through telepathy, while crickets chirped behind them.

[Young Pang Hai and Young Xu Hui possess memories of their future selves and have a very positive impression of Wei Qi.]

[They also entered the Tomb of the God of War together and were destined for war.]

[When they looked at Wei Qi, it was as if they were looking at one of their own.]

[He ran up to them happily and started talking.]

The reliefs depicting Wei Qi's insights overlap to some extent, allowing for a good exchange of understanding.

[In addition, young Pang Hai and young Xu Hui possess memories of the future.]

Even his brief expressions of insight astonished Wei Qi, who considered them geniuses.

[Suddenly bursting into laughter, I understood again.]

Your gaze sweeps across the crowd, passing over familiar faces, and you suddenly miss your old, red-haired, monster-like self.

[Back then, I must have felt much more at ease with the atmosphere and environment I have now.]

[His black robe fluttered as he approached Chen Zhe, who was leaning against the wall, sword in hand, in a state of readiness.]

[After activating him with a swordsman's cry.]

"Has your general ever looked like this before?"

"No, I intend to summon the Empress and have her send a palace secret physician to diagnose the condition."

"No need for that. He seems quite happy, so let him be."

You swayed gently as you sat down on the eaves.

She scooped the black cat up and ruffled its hair.

"Are you sure you didn't leave any backup plan after devouring Wei Qi's inner demon?"

Xu Kun squinted slightly and glanced at you sideways.

"Meow~ Big brother, this kind of backup plan is your forte, meow~"

"Why is Wei Qi looking like this?"

"Meow~ Although I didn't control the plundering of him, the status and methods of the extraterrestrial demon are too terrifying. It's normal for him to be slightly affected."

You ignored Xu Kun's self-praise.

[Immediately follow up with: "What impact?"]

"Amplify your true self, and let your desires, which are often constrained by worldly shackles, take flight completely."

You remain silent for a moment.

Therefore, Wei Qi's current state can be accurately described in four words...

[Let yourself be.]

[Unbound by family constraints, rebelling against her sister's control, overturning the aristocratic education system, acting entirely according to her heart and sincere ideals.]

Thank goodness you had a backup plan.

Despite having known each other for decades, are you sure about Wei Qi's true nature?

But you believe in Wei Qi, yet you don't believe in this world.

[If some filthy thing were to emerge again, given Wei Qi's bloodthirstiness, he might truly slaughter countless lives, leaving corpses strewn across the land.]

[Now, with a transformed version of the inner demon, coupled with the increasing influence of your "succubus body," you've been drawn into a camp of like-minded individuals.]

With these two layers of defense, we should be able to handle it.

"No, we need to play it safe again."

You landed gracefully, intruding into a circle you couldn't belong to, forcefully interrupting their conversation.

She gently stroked her long skirt and sat down gracefully.

"Brother Wei, stand still and let me have a good look at you."

I'm going to give you a buff.