Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

You place the answer into the bronze tablet, give it a light shake, and a strange falcon cries out, flaps its wings, and takes flight, disappearing into the drizzling rain.

The campfire crackled and popped.

The old Taoist priest sat cross-legged to the side, gnawing on a roast chicken.

Looking up at you, my eyes reflected the firelight: "Are you going to start a war in the Western Regions?"

You sit upright, gently smoothing the hem of your robe.

[Without denying it, he nodded and said, "That late emperor's son has been lying low in the Western Regions for many years, accumulating power and waiting for the opportune moment to seize power."]

"Killing the master, the tomb of the God of War, a fate of war and calamity..."

"These are all part of their schemes and calculations."

[The seasoned expert's position and vision are so profound that their underlying principles can be readily understood without needing detailed explanation.]

[Looking out from the mountain temple, all that remained were the ruins and broken walls after the devastating flash flood.]

"So this natural disaster... is actually a man-made catastrophe?"

You looked at the old Taoist priest with slight surprise and doubt: "Could someone really manipulate celestial phenomena on such a grand scale?"

[The concept of celestial beings and phenomena signifies that celestial beings have touched upon the rules of heaven and earth, enabling them to distort celestial phenomena and wield supreme power.]

But that requires going all out and generating massive output.

Moreover, distances of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of kilometers are still far too small for natural disasters affecting vast areas of land.

It's impossible for large numbers of celestial beings to be scattered across various regions, all simultaneously unleashing their power to distort celestial phenomena.

[Is this how we came to this current dire situation?]

The old Taoist priest tossed aside the chicken bone he had just finished gnawing on.

A tiny electric arc lingers on the fingertips, washing away the grease.

"Human beings cannot do this by nature, but they can leverage external forces and use them as a fulcrum to influence the entire world and its phenomena."

"It should be understood that the vastness of heaven and earth means that even the slightest, barely perceptible fluctuation can determine the life and death of countless people."

You lower your eyes in thought, casually poking at the campfire with a piece of firewood.

A flurry of speculations and ideas swirled in my mind.

Ultimately, you focus your attention on two words.

【"Luck..."】

The old Taoist priest nodded in agreement: "That's possible."

[You continue your analysis: "That surviving son, Yin Qian, although the imperial power has fallen into the wrong hands, still possesses the great destiny of the Azure Heaven and a noble fate."]

"If one relies on one's own fortune and destiny to stir up the great celestial energy, influencing celestial phenomena with one's fortune, and unleashing calamities that ravage the earth."

"It is theoretically possible to do it."

The old Taoist priest then took a roasted chicken from the campfire.

[While chewing, he said, "Natural disasters lead to man-made calamities, causing widespread panic and unease. Adding war and those destined for disaster to further destabilize the Great Cang region perfectly aligns with the scenario desired by the late emperor's son."]

"Everything was planned in preparation for moving into the central courtyard."

You also think the experienced person's analysis is correct.

Suddenly, he looked up at him, his gaze intense, sending a chill down the old Taoist's spine.

"Master..."

"I'm sleepy, I want to go to sleep."

The old Taoist priest didn't even find his beloved roast chicken appetizing anymore; he tossed it aside, lay down, and fell asleep.

You still haven't let him go.

She picked up the roast chicken, a black flash of lightning cleaning the charcoal ash from its skin, and moved to sit next to him in a conciliatory manner.

[Hand over the roast chicken.]

[Smiling, her eyes slightly narrowed, curving into an arc.]

"Master, you said that the responsibility of the successors of the Celestial Master's Mansion is for the sake of all living beings."

"Nowadays, some people, driven by their own selfish desires and vying for power, disregard the safety of the people, causing celestial phenomena to flare up, creating disasters, and leaving the land devastated."

"As the current Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion, he wields the power of thunder and is supreme among mortals."

"How can you just sit idly by and do nothing?"

[The old Taoist priest, seeing himself snoring loudly, continued his endless chatter.]

He stopped pretending to be asleep, got up, took the roast chicken, and began to devour it.

I glared at you, clearly annoyed.

"Tell me, what must I do to show that I haven't stood idly by?"

"Invade the Western Regions, expose the despicable conspirators, and swiftly eliminate them!"

You gaze expectantly at the old Taoist priest.

If he were willing to intervene, many problems in the world at this moment could indeed be resolved by force.

Why engage in intrigue and scheming?

But you also know that despite the old Taoist's lofty status and power, wielding the authority to inflict divine punishment, he still remains in the mortal realm.

[He would even curse at the sky for no reason.]

This demonstrates his exceptional strength and methods, but there must have been a price to pay.

[The last simulation lasted until entering the imperial city and breaking through the gates of the Taiyuan Palace.]

The chaos in Dacang is truly shocking; decades of war have shattered humanity.

[Yet, the old man's presence was unusually low.]

[Given the old Taoist's character, if there were no constraints or restrictions, he would probably have already entered the capital, replaced the emperor, and restored peace and prosperity to the people.]

Therefore, even knowing he is very strong, ridiculously strong.

You didn't rely on him too much, nor did you try to include him in your plans.

They simply regarded the old Taoist priest as a powerful and secure backer.

If there's anything you can't handle, just hide in the Celestial Master's Mansion, sit in the ancestral hall, and burn some incense.

[What being, in heaven or on earth, could possibly kill me under these circumstances?]

You just accept it.

[Isn't it just the passive effect of "surviving a near-death experience"? Take it, take it.]

[You know in your heart that the old Taoist priest is unlikely to comply with your wishes, so his words tonight are more of a test.]

[I wish to learn more about the rules of heaven and earth and profound secrets from this old Taoist priest.]

The old Taoist priest gnawed on a piece of scrambled chicken, sucking every bone clean.

"Yu Jing, do you know about the seven realms of martial arts?"

"I know, Celestial Being."

[You not only looked up to them, but also fought and battled with them many times, even turning two Void Breakers into red-haired monsters. Wei Zhi followed in their footsteps.]

[There wasn't enough time then, so I didn't have a chance to appreciate it properly.]

The old Taoist nodded: "Celestial beings naturally reside high in the heavens; they cannot remain on earth."

His eyes were clear and bright; even with his aura restrained, they still gave off a penetrating, thunderous quality.

"Then do you know how your master will remain in this world?"

"Luck, destiny, fate?"

[The old Taoist priest chuckled.]

"When you entered the sect, you were already on the path of martial arts, but the Daoist system is ancient and all-encompassing. You should devote more time to studying and comprehending it."

Your eye twitched slightly.

[I heard the two words I least wanted to hear when I was younger.]

The old Taoist priest ignored your strange behavior and continued his instruction.

"The Daoist system, encompassing Confucian, Buddhist, and Immortal cultivation systems, consists of three stages: Body Tempering, Qi Flourishing, and Spirit Observation."

"Mainly cultivates the essence, qi, and spirit of the human body."

"At the beginning of the four realms, they began to diverge."

The old Taoist priest sucked on a chicken head, making a smacking sound.

[Seeing you listening attentively, maintaining a composed demeanor, and speaking slowly and deliberately.]

"The Daoist system has four realms: Foundation Establishment, five realms: Golden Core, six realms: Divine Travel, seven realms..."

His ancient and handsome face was solemn.

"To attain the Dao."