Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[“Surviving a Great Calamity” (Gold): Surviving a calamity and turning a potentially fatal attack into an advantage.]

[Talent effect: Prevents one death and imprints the enemy's fatal attack as an ability. Real-world cooldown is one year, and this effect can only be used once per Sim.]

[You were fortunate in this simulation; despite the hardships and constant travel, you did not encounter any fatal danger.]

The "Never Die" talent modifier, which only has one chance in the simulation, has not yet been used.

Now that my lifespan is nearing its end, like a lamp running out of oil, I naturally cannot waste the other ability of "surviving a great calamity" besides saving my life.

[Engrave the fatal attack for your own use.]

[You decide to seek out a top martial arts expert at the final moment of this simulation, endure a fatal attack, and memorize their techniques.]

Just like "Sword Charm - Celestial Immortal"

[Having access to the Demonic Sect's intelligence network, and given your current position, you know that the person with the highest martial arts level among the rebel forces in Yangzhou is...]

[This is neither the reckless Chen Chao, nor the Confucian scholar Cao Jin.]

[It was not him, but the current leader of the Demonic Sect, hailed as the most exceptionally talented successor in the sect's three thousand years of history.]

【Gong Si.】

[Through processing and integrating the subtle clues, you have identified the woman who single-handedly overwhelmed Pang Hai and Xu Hui, who were pursuing you, in Jinlin City years ago.]

[This is the current face of the Demonic Sect.]

[Back then, he was already peerless in his talent and brilliance, traversing the void and altering the course of the heavens. Now, so many years have passed, who knows what terrifying realm he has reached.]

[But it's alright, you're not afraid of the opponent being strong.]

The higher the realm, the more profound the methods, and the greater the gains from the inscription.

The only thing to consider is how to meet this mysterious figure.

Also, you must die at the hands of the enemy; if you are captured alive, you will not be able to trigger the "Never Die" effect.

You sit cross-legged in meditation, consolidating your state of spiritual energy.

The longsword rested horizontally before his knees, undrawn for half a day, its edge concealed, its power stored, ready to unleash its most devastating strike.

[There was a knock on the door, and his loyal intelligence agent entered.]

"Master Wen, everything has been arranged as you requested. I believe all parties are paying attention. As for whether we can lure out that person..."

You open your eyes; your cloudy pupils are tinged with the weariness of time, your face is aged and elegant, and your hair is streaked with white.

【"I see."】

You rise, sword in hand, clad in a dark blue robe. The slight stoop of age straightens your back, revealing a resolute and imposing figure, as if you were in your prime.

Dark clouds obscured the sky, dim light flickered, and a light drizzle fell.

[You carried a long sword at your waist, held an oil-paper umbrella, and placed a broken white pear blossom before Shang Qingdai's grave.]

Without much reminiscing or farewell, I turned and left.

[Rainy night, long street, sword hanging overhead, umbrella in hand.]

The sound of pattering rain lingered, falling gently and creating ripples.

You stroll along the deserted street, your long skirt damp with water, the chill seeping into your bones.

Suddenly, you stop, feeling as if the surrounding space has frozen, incredibly heavy and oppressive, making it difficult to even breathe.

The rain curtain grew increasingly blurry, creating a surreal, almost psychedelic feeling.

Suddenly, a bizarre scene appeared: the rain seemed to freeze in mid-air, as if time had been stood still, and then, as if space itself had been distorted and torn apart, it swirled and edged.

[From the center of the distortion, a magnificent, ethereal figure appeared out of nowhere.]

[The long, ink-black skirt swayed in the breeze, outlining a breathtaking figure and a face so alluring it could topple kingdoms, a look that was both smiling and reproachful.]

Barefoot as jade, standing suspended in mid-air.

"Wen Yu, Senior Sister Shang's husband, the head of the intelligence agency, what is your purpose in deliberately luring me out?"

[A clear, gentle, and alluring voice lingers in your mind.]

You toss aside your oil-paper umbrella, letting the rain soak you, stand with your hand on your sword, and look up at the phantom hovering high in the sky.

"I've heard that you are one of the world's top martial arts masters. I am nearing the end of my life and wish to witness the sublime beauty of martial arts in my final moments."

【"oh?"】

Gong Si looked at you with surprise, her eyes wide with astonishment and a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

Those who didn't know better would think that the person standing before them was a celestial being, not just a mere second-realm cultivator.

【"interesting……"】

Gong Si's striking features, seemingly painted in an oil painting style, were softened by a gentle smile.

You don't care about the other person's opinion; you only want to maximize the effectiveness of the "Near Death" talent.

"I am of mediocre talent. At the age of sixteen, my entire family was wiped out. I took up martial arts again and draw my sword every day..."

Your hand rested on the sword hilt, your gaze slightly lowered.

"For over forty years now, I have risked my life to enter a period of great prosperity..."

You look up at the sky, your gaze fixed on that floating figure.

"This sword is called 'Draw Sword Thrust,' and it is also known as..."

"Reckless!"

【Clang!!!】

The voice, lingering and melodious, echoed like the fierce roar of a sword, possessing an unstoppable, unstoppable momentum, seeking only a reckless, decisive strike.

[Straight Thrust!]

In an instant, the rain curtain tore apart and shattered, a cold light burst forth, piercing through the darkness.

This is the most reckless and desperate strike you've unleashed in your forty years of swordsmanship.

[Gong Si witnessed your sword strike, a testament to forty years of skill. She raised her delicate eyebrows slightly, offering a hint of approval, but that's all there is to it.]

From her perspective, the principles behind this sword are ruthless enough, but you lack the cultivation to support them.

But your sword.

[Not only that...]

【"A Miraculous Survival": "Sword Charm - Celestial Immortal"】

[You activated "Sword Charm - Celestial Ascension," which originally required three hundred years of accumulated energy to perform once. Now, at the peak of the second realm, it still requires eighty years of accumulated energy for this attack.]

Suddenly, the unstoppable, cold-light blade was enveloped in an incomparably sublime and unfathomable sword aura, magnificent, glorious, and ethereal beyond comprehension.

【"Um?"】

Gong Si, looking down from her vantage point, showed surprise and murmured, "How could you possess the sword aura of the Yongzhou Sword Palace...?"

Her tone betrayed a hint of disbelief.

How could an ordinary person who has just entered the second realm of the Pride Realm possibly possess the sublime swordsmanship of the Yongzhou Sword Palace?

At this moment, your sword, imbued with all your might, has been thrust forth.

Although Gong Si was puzzled and surprised, she still casually extended her jade-like hand from her wide sleeve and slightly pressed down on the air.

Instantly, distortion, confusion, tearing, crushing...

The intricate, intertwined forces shattered your sword strike.

[Then, the deliberately controlled aftershocks swept by, making you feel as if you were being swallowed by spatial turbulence, spraying blood and flying backward.]

Gong Si arrived gracefully, controlling your body with a strange force field. Upon sensing this with your divine sense, your brow furrowed.

"My lifespan has come to an end..."

You forced your gaze open and laughed freely, "This sword... what do you think?"

"It's acceptable."

"Hahaha...haha...ha..."

Your laughter gradually faded into the patter of the rain.

[“A miraculous survival” has been triggered.]

You awaken in the darkness, sensing your weak, decaying body. You reach out and grope around; the familiar sensations remind you that you are once again inside a coffin.

[It seems that even after you died absorbing that strange force field, you were still able to be buried.]

【“A Narrow Escape”: Requires one lethal attack to be inscribed. Inscribe it?】

[You saw a system notification that you did not select engraving.]

A sense of drowsiness washes over you. Although you have narrowly escaped death, your lifespan has come to an end.

[You are dead. Simulation over.]