Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[Lu Zhen was puzzled by your gaze.]

Something feels off.

It felt like being looked after by an elderly father.

[It even exudes compassion?]

He initially thought he was imagining things, but upon closer inspection, he saw the loving kindness in your eyes.

[Growing increasingly profound.]

Lu Zhen, looking slightly awkward, bowed and asked, "Senior?"

【"Um?"】

You composed yourself.

Noticing Lü Zhen's unusual behavior, she couldn't understand why he was shy.

Perhaps they are still young and a bit shy.

[You scared me off with your overly familiar manner, didn't you?]

[Your analysis.]

[He raised his hand to suppress the strange behavior around him.]

[The one-sided reminiscing is over; it's time to get down to business.]

"Long time no see, Brother Lü."

Your very first words deepened Lü Zhen's confusion.

He frowned slightly, his mind filled with doubt: "Senior, we should have never met before."

You nodded and smiled slightly.

"You've never met me, but we were once close friends."

Lü Zhen's brows furrowed even deeper.

Unable to make sense of it all, he bowed and said, "I hope you can enlighten me, senior."

Your empty right sleeve swayed casually, drawn by the black smoke.

"No need for such formalities; we can simply treat each other as equals."

Then, you looked up at the crescent moon outside the window.

[A leisurely sigh.]

"We met here, and I named this place where you secluded yourself."

"You and I once plotted in the Central Court, surveyed the world, and settled scores with the powerful clans and aristocratic families of the Central Court."

"You and I once forged the Mandate of Heaven, attempting to undermine imperial power."

"We fought side by side, stormed into the capital, trampled the imperial city, and slashed with our swords..."

【"etc!"】

[You were lost in thought, reminiscing about grand themes, when Lü Zhen raised his hand to interrupt you.]

His eyes were filled with absurdity and disbelief, his expression one of utter astonishment.

He pressed further, asking, "Did I have a close relationship with you? Did I plot against you in the central court? Did I purge the powerful families? Did I even forge the Mandate of Heaven? Did I undermine imperial authority?"

As Lü Zhenyue spoke, his pupils contracted.

"You and I will storm the capital... and trample the imperial city..."

His eyes gradually became unfocused and vacant.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he shook his head and waved his hands violently.

[A loud denial.]

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

["How to purge deeply entrenched aristocratic families! How to forge the Mandate of Heaven when imperial power is unshakeable! And more..."]

His eyes were filled with disapproval, yet they concealed an unspeakable excitement and anticipation.

"Taking in to the capital... is too difficult..."

You can sense it from his words, his tone, and his emotions.

[I could clearly sense his thoughts.]

The denial stemmed from the fact that the matter was too absurd and sounded unbelievable.

[And it's too difficult to achieve.]

But that doesn't mean... he doesn't want to do it.

Reason tells Lü Zhen that what you say is impossible.

[My heart is filled with anticipation, hoping that the magnificent scene you described can truly come to life.]

"Whether it's true or not, Brother Lü will soon find out."

[Your simple opening remarks, and your initial acquaintance with Lü Zhen.]

[It's decided that the first generation, Brother Lu, will make his appearance.]

Her left hand rose from her wide sleeve, her fair, jade-like fingertips touching her brow.

A dark golden sword mark appeared.

Your gaze hesitated.

I wonder what choice Brother Lü will make.

Actually, there's no need to overthink it; Brother Lü wouldn't engage in acts of possession or corruption.

[Moreover, their situations differ from those of Pang Hai and Xu Hui.]

[The second-generation Pang Hai and the second-generation Xu Hui, while inheriting their previous simulated selves.]

[Cultivation level is too weak.]

Even if the first generation Pang Hai and the first generation Xu Hui completely surrendered themselves to fusion.

Neither of them could bear it.

A situation of coexistence has been achieved.

[But the Lü Zhen before me has already comprehended the essence of swordsmanship and is on the verge of reaching the level of a celestial being.]

[Sufficiently enough to barely bear the legacy of the first Lü Zhen.]

[If Brother Lü chooses the same path as the first generation, Pang Hai and Xu Hui.]

Then he will disappear...

In the end, your fingertips still landed on your brow.

The decision is left to Lü Zhen.

[Buzz...]

【Sword Charm - Celestial Immortal Descending from Beyond the Heavens!】

[Golden entry: "Sending off on a final journey"]

[You will "send off" the distorted time, cause and effect, and the mysteries of fate, etching them into the celestial sword's essence.]

[Simultaneously entered into the mental database.]

I believe I have enough data to help me understand this in my later years.

[His own sword style—Celestial Immortal—can replicate the mystical abilities of several people.]

Even if it can't be 100% perfect.

Achieving 60-70% of that will greatly enrich your skills and elevate your swordsmanship level.

As time and cause and effect become disordered, a vast and immense power pervades.

A slender figure emerges from the chaos of time.

[Clad in tattered clothes, covered in gruesome bloodstains, skin torn and flesh ripped open.]

[Their eyes have an invisible hollowness.]

[The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, raised his blurry eyes and looked at you.]

[It felt like being plunged into profound darkness, as if I had gone completely blind.]

[Only after sensing it did I realize that you had not only changed into a black coat.]

[A black mist still lingered around him.]

[That was a different aura from the red-haired old monster, but equally filthy.]

The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, twitched the corner of his mouth.

The mangled flesh and exposed teeth were a gruesome sight.

"Brother Wen, not only have you changed your clothes since we last met, but your aura has also become more distinctive."

[You are very satisfied with the wording of the first leader, Lü Zhen.]

Look, this is what a true scholar looks like.

[What kind of dirty, gloomy, and ghostly description is that? It's so uncultured.]

The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, wouldn't have described you that way; he would have said you were unique.

You chuckled lightly and teased, "Brother Lü, you'd better not laugh at your current appearance, lest you scare yourself."

[The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, was about to respond with a smile.]

Then, through blurred vision, I saw my younger self, stunned and speechless.

Their empty gazes suddenly narrowed.

【this……】

[You really scared yourself.]

In an instant, the first generation leader, Lü Zhen, understood many things, and a shocking conjecture arose in his mind.

[A questioning gaze falls upon you.]

"Brother Wen..."

You nodded in affirmation.

"This is you in your younger days."

"That's right..."

"We're back!"

The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, his dim eyes flickered, and he murmured softly, "He's back..."

[Buzz...]

The next moment, the lights of countless homes shone, revealing the sword's intent.

[Sparks of fire appeared, scattered yet coalesced into a blazing light, enveloping his entire body.]

Then, under the baptism of sword intent amidst the myriad lights of homes.

The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, was completely transformed; his previous pitiful appearance had vanished entirely.

[A generation of lonely ministers. 】

[Returning to the world.]

[The second-generation Lü Zhen has been in a state of dazed inertia ever since you summoned the first-generation Lü Zhen.]

[Eyes wide open, mouth agape, lips moving.]

[What I wanted to say, but all I could do was 'ah-ba-ah-ba'...]

[The first generation leader, Lü Zhen, sees his younger self in this distraught state.]

I felt incredibly embarrassed.

You watch and chuckle.

Indeed, people are incapable of empathizing with their past selves.

[Pang Hai was like this, Xu Hui was like this, Lü Zhen...]

The same applies.