Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

The old Taoist priest sees that you have a profound understanding of how complex and unpredictable the human world can be.

A hand, deep enough to have been there for millennia, is still pulling those trying to cross the river from the bottom.

I breathed a slight sigh of relief.

[His performance, filled with bitterness, hatred, sorrow, and helplessness, was not in vain.]

What he said earlier was not false; if it were fabricated, it would easily make you suspicious.

[There's only one point.]

That is, he never gave up on completely breaking free from the shackles of the rules.

The conversation at the mountain temple that night has now come to an end.

The old Taoist priest, munching on roast chicken, felt gratified to see you lost in thought.

[Hopefully, this little apprentice will behave himself in the future. I don't expect him to be obedient and law-abiding, but I just hope he won't make our ancestors dance all the time.]

[Eighth year, twenty-four years old.]

[You and the old Taoist priest have traversed almost the entire Southern Cang land; you can truly bear the weight of the words "saving the world and rescuing the people."]

[By unleashing black lightning and raining down black rain, the negative state of the people was reversed.]

Your rebellious nature has been tempered and solidified, becoming ever more profound and entrenched.

[In terms of its current strength, the Rebellious Bone is already comparable to the Immortal Divine Metal Bone, which possesses the "Overlord Body" attribute.]

The combination of the two gives rise to something even more terrifying and profound, a sublimation of creation.

You are confident that even if you are completely annihilated by the attack of someone of high status, you will still have a spine remaining.

Another black rain falls, and you disappear into the misty rain, your dark robe fluttering and blending into the downpour.

Only her face, sculpted like warm jade, shone with a dazzling light.

【"Huh?"】

Suddenly, you notice something unusual.

The murky, black rain that fell to the ground and gathered into streams unexpectedly triggered a cataclysmic change in the earth.

[One by one, black shoots emerged from the ground, growing vigorously.]

Nourished by the black rain, it ripens in an instant.

The rice ears were heavy and drooping, each grain plump and glossy black.

【this……】

You looked blankly at the old Taoist priest, who returned the same bewildered gaze.

【"Meow~"

Xu Kun wagged his tail. Since their conversation at the mountain temple that night, he had become much quieter, spending his days lost in his own thoughts.

[He seems to be recalling something.]

[Your mental abilities reveal black plants growing around you.]

[It is a seed buried deep underground, whose negative state was reversed by the black rain, and then it sprouted and grew.]

It seems that the amount of aid you've given to the people has reached a critical point.

[It's now effective on plants too.]

You take a handful of newly formed rice seeds and scatter them.

[The rice seeds, once planted, sprouted and matured in an instant under the nourishment of the black rain.]

A vast, dark rice paddy, laden with ripe rice, appeared out of nowhere on the earth, as if by magic.

"Master... I think I've found a way to save the world."

You spoke excitedly, but heard no reply from the experienced man.

[Looking sideways.]

The old Taoist's eyes gleamed with golden light, and the oppressive aura of the essence of thunder's power permeated the air.

It seems to be resisting something.

[After a moment, he used divine retribution to purify the surroundings, thus calming the unforeseen event.]

"Master, what happened?"

The old Taoist priest didn't answer, staring blankly at you, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly.

Laughter roared like thunder, overturning dark clouds like raging waves, and azure lightning tore through the sky like an angry dragon.

[The black robes fluttered wildly.]

The old Taoist priest laughed heartily and unrestrainedly, bending forward and backward.

Finally, the authoritative golden eyes, filled with thunderous power, stared at you, and slammed both hands onto your shoulders.

"Very good, then do it your way!"

You don't understand why the old Taoist priest is laughing so wildly, like a madman.

She reached out her hand with concern, placing the back of her hand against his forehead: "Master, are you alright?"

The old Taoist priest looked bewildered, then angrily slapped your hand away.

[Staring with golden eyes.]

Seeing the smile on your face, I sighed in exasperation.

"Your reversal was truly mysterious... unbelievable. It actually attracted the attention of heaven and earth, which I managed to deflect."

You slightly raised an eyebrow: "Can I still use it in the future? I'm always getting attention; I can't have Master by my side all the time, can I?"

[I can't understand the meaning in your tone.]

[He lightly flicked his black robe: "I'm going back to the Celestial Master's Mansion."]

【"ah?"】

The old Taoist's gaze softened, and he smiled kindly: "Yu Jing, just sitting in the Celestial Master's Mansion is enough to attract attention for you."

"Go ahead and do what you want to do."

"Whatever calamity may befall us... your master can withstand it!"

You slightly raised your chin, a smile curving your lips, but when you met the old man's gaze...

The affected air crumbled.

They bowed respectfully and bid farewell.

[Sizzle...]

Azure lightning crackled as the old Taoist priest vanished.

You watch as the lingering arc of electricity pierces the air, spreading scorching heat and an oppressive, chilling force.

Looking back over these three years.

【You two, master and disciple, traveled the world, thwarting disasters for the people; every little detail of those times comes to mind.】

【"Meow~"

Xu Kun looked around in confusion: "Big brother, where's the old man?"

"He went back."

【"Meow!"】

Upon hearing this, Xu Kun immediately snapped out of his daze and became highly alert.

You couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This is the sense of security that the old Taoist priest brings you.

With him around, even Xu Kun's inner demons gradually subsided, and he often drifted off into lost memories.

You are the same.

With the experienced strategist around, your greatest confidence no longer comes from having numerous backup plans.

Now that we're parting ways, it's truly bittersweet.

However, your rebellious nature and treacherous inner demons, along with Xu Kun's, caused a brief moment of regret, which quickly dissipated.

"Meow! Big brother, where do we go next?"

Xu Kun has transformed from his previous endearing and naive appearance back to his elegant, cat-like gait.

You stand silently in the black rain, lost in thought.

Currently, you and Xu Kun are located in Wuzhou.

Wuzhou is bordered by Yangzhou to the north, Jingzhou to the west, and the sea to the southeast.

The disaster situation in the southern prefectures has now been dealt with; the only way forward is northward.

This has exceeded the scope of what the old Taoist priest instructed you to do.

【so.】

"Next, we need to start doing something. We can't keep letting Haizi and the others be the ones charging ahead all the time."

Hearing you say that, Xu Kun knows you're up to no good again.

Since Wei Qi raised an army in Yongzhou, a great uproar has been stirred up in the Great Cang court.

The Wei family, as the leading force, is resisting various factions.

Amidst this tense situation, both Wei Zhi and Emperor Xuanwu remained behind the scenes, offering no comment.

Seeing this, the courtiers also abandoned their previous indifferent attitude towards life and death.

[They shook hands and made peace.]

This allowed Wei Qi to raise an army in Yongzhou without incurring the wrath of the Da Cang army.

After completing his preparations, Wei Qi led his army westward.

[A hundred kingdoms of the Western Regions united to resist.]