Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

After the old Taoist priest gave you a courtesy name, he casually sat down on the threshold of the ancestral hall.

"Now that you've joined my sect, I will now teach you the cultivation methods of the Celestial Master's Mansion."

【Master, there's no rush.】

You waved your hand, seemingly showing no greed whatsoever for the Celestial Master's Mansion's unparalleled inheritance.

In reality, there's no point in rushing it.

You are self-aware, and your extraordinary talent makes you the type to achieve great things later in life.

[Your talent hasn't yet been revealed. Even if I teach you lightning techniques, I'll force you to rely on "persistence" to get started.]

[Reaching the level of practical application.]

[When facing the enemy, all I can do is release a few streaks of free-flowing electricity, like a leaky current.]

You'd be embarrassed to even say you're a descendant of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

[Your master can lose face, but you can't afford to.]

The old Taoist priest's suspicious gaze swept over you; something felt off.

[You abruptly change the subject: "Master, as the heir to the Celestial Master's Mansion, should I also change my surname to Zhang?"]

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest's expression froze for a moment, then he sighed helplessly, gathering his scattered emotions.

"Whether you change it or not depends on fate. You are now named Wen Yu. Are you sure you have severed all worldly ties with this name?"

【"care?"】

You tilted your head slightly: "My entire family is dead. I have no more attachments, but I have plenty of grudges."

This involves the truth behind the massacre of your entire family, and it's all closely related to the Western Regions.

Aunt Wen Fei is like a riddle; you can't say this, you can't think about that.

So far, you only have a rough guess, and you still need to verify it.

The old Taoist priest gave a slight smirk.

[He sighed again.]

"Change it when you feel it's suitable. Names and titles are just fleeting things; calling someone a cat or a dog makes no difference."

"Hmm... what if I called you Master, you're just a cat or a dog?"

[Sizzle...]

You see electric arcs flickering in the old Taoist's eyes.

He shrugged and said, "Look at you, Master, you're not being sincere. You're too attached to appearances."

【well. 】

The old Taoist priest sighed again.

"Do whatever you want. Today I will teach you the Celestial Master's Mansion's Thunder Magic, Golden Light, and the Tranquilizing Mantra."

[After saying that, I didn't give you a chance to speak.]

[Divine thoughts, like a magnificent thunderclap, shake your mind and consciousness.]

[Endless mysteries and insights, deeply etched in my memory.]

[This will instantly give you mastery of the three standard skills required to be a successor to a Celestial Master.]

[Thunder magic, golden light, calming mantra.]

[Thunderous magic annihilates and kills, golden light cultivates life, tranquility nourishes the mind and spirit.]

[Cultivating both body and spirit, wielding the power of divine retribution.]

[Only with perfect stats and mechanics can the old Taoist attain such a lofty position and terrifying strength.]

[The old Taoist priest meticulously processed all his insights and imprinted them into his mind.]

Even without attaining extraordinary wisdom, you can still grasp the basics.

At least discharging electricity shouldn't be a problem.

[From the change in your aura, the old Taoist sensed that you were comprehending thunder magic. Your voice, filled with thunderous sounds, was majestic and awe-inspiring, making you feel as if you were witnessing the authority of heavenly retribution.]

[Progress increased instantly.]

【"Um?"】

The old Taoist frowned, staring intently at your progress in comprehension, his eyes flashing with lightning.

[After a moment, his face was filled with worry.]

"You said that in the future I would regret that you achieved success too late, so I imagined starting over and taking you into my family?"

【"yes."】

You open your eyes, and your pupils faintly reveal thunderclouds brewing within them; your voice is deep and resonant.

[“I, the old Daoist, activated my authority of Heavenly Punishment and Lightning to pull you into a state of enlightenment, and you have barely even begun to grasp the essence of Heavenly Punishment…”]

"This...is something I should regret!?"

[Even the old Taoist priest couldn't maintain his composure until the very end, his voice booming like thunder.]

"I'm a late bloomer; my talent hasn't even begun to show yet."

You quickly tried to argue and explain.

"How late..."

"Hmm... The closer one gets to death, the higher one's comprehension becomes..."

[Sizzle... Boom...]

[You saw the old Taoist's eyes were a deep blue, brimming with lightning; his black robes fluttered, and electric light flowed around him like water.]

"Master...Master, what are you doing? Calm down."

You silently moved away, afraid of getting an electric shock.

"Didn't you say that the closer one is to death, the higher one's understanding becomes? Well, I'll send you on your way now!"

"There's absolutely no need for that!"

You rose gracefully, leaping past behind you, leaving behind billowing black mist.

[The solemn and majestic hall was tinged with an eerie hue.]

"I think my current level of understanding is sufficient for now. Look, haven't I already grasped the basics of thunder magic?"

You extend your fingertip and activate your lightning magic.

[Sizzle...]

A buzzing sound vibrates at your fingertips, arcs of electricity flash, lingering with twisting, tearing marks.

【but……】

Compared to the old, azure, and awe-inspiring thunder, [it was a far cry from the majestic, solemn thunder.]

Your electric arc... is dark and deep, bizarre and unpredictable, treacherous and elusive.

Your eyes slightly opened.

He glanced at the old Taoist priest with a sneer.

"Master... the Celestial Master's Mansion's thunder magic... should include Yin thunder, right?"

[Boom!]

The old Taoist priest was imposing, surrounded by lightning, like a thunder lord looking down upon all living beings.

"I, the old Taoist, wield the power of thunder. I will pass on to you the thunder magic, the most righteous and ruthless method in the world, used to exterminate evil and destroy spirits. How could there be any Yin thunder?!"

"Perhaps...perhaps it's because I lost my virginity?"

You continue to make excuses.

"Does my status, as a seasoned cultivator, mean that I can't even overcome the mere flaw of being defiled?!"

Look at the black arc of electricity in your hand.

[His face was full of helplessness.]

[How come my lightning magic is tainted even though I haven't unlocked my boundless enlightenment yet?]

[Have I already become too flavorful?]

【wrong!】

You suddenly realize that this black arc of electricity, though filled with the smell of something dirty, is different from the ominous feeling of old age.

[The black lightning exudes a sense of chaos, topsy-turvy, and unrestrained tyranny and rebellion.]

This is the effect of defying fate and having a rebellious nature!

[Look inwards, and sure enough, the rebellious bone growing from your spine resonates with the thunder magic, releasing black lightning like a power plant.]

Is this the characteristic of a rebellious nature?

You paused for a moment, then reviewed your understanding of the Golden Light Mantra.

The Golden Light Mantra is ancient, peaceful, profound, and extensive.

Easy to learn, but time-consuming to master.

[It's a training method that makes you stronger the more you practice, with virtually no upper limit.]

[You possess a wealth of insightful understanding, further enhanced by your current level of awareness and perspective.]

【Get started easily. 】

[Holding the majestic and righteous seal, golden light gathers within.]

[Buzz...]

[Thick black smoke billowed from your hand seal, the smoke column swirling and churning like a black, monstrous dragon dancing wildly.]

The golden light immediately dissipated as if burned.

Looking up, he met the old Taoist's eyes, which were filled with azure lightning.

【well. 】

You saw the old Taoist priest sigh deeply, his thunderous aura and imposing presence vanish, and he sat down on the threshold.

[It conveys the loneliness of old age.]

You strolled over and sat down beside him.

"Yu Jing, do you know you have three senior brothers?"

"I've heard of it."

["Your eldest senior brother, Yu Shou, entered the sect ninety years ago; your second senior brother, Yu Xu, entered the sect sixty years ago; your third senior brother, Yu Yang, entered the sect thirty years ago..."]

You listened and nodded, then suddenly felt a sense of doubt.

The old Taoist priest has only taken on one disciple every thirty years, following this pattern.