Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[You remain noncommittal regarding Emperor Xuanwu's seemingly broken-down outburst of anger.]

[His smile even widened.]

[Very good, we've finally uncovered some valuable intelligence.]

A terrifying threat of death erodes your soul, forcing you to witness the abyss of depravity.

That flawless hand, infinitely magnificent.

It's as if one hand controls the world.

I will crush you like an ant.

"Are you going to die? This is different from what you planned..."

[Golden keyword: "Survived a near-death experience"]

[Besides averting certain death, it can also imprint fatal attacks for one's own use.]

[You originally intended to use this passive ability.]

[It is used to commemorate the calamity that drives the grand scheme of heaven and earth.]

That which involves cause and effect and the authority over destiny is fate.

Now, the Xuanwu Emperor has transformed himself into a calamity, intercepting the Heavenly Will of Slaughter and using the immense power of the ruler of the mortal realm to annihilate it.

The outcome differed somewhat from the plan.

However, if it's an inscription of the Lord of the Mortal Realm's attack, it's not too bad.

After all, this move is only effective in the human realm.

[There is almost nothing that can surpass its status.]

The analysis process is now complete under the black "已" (already) marker.

[Death is imminent.]

On the contrary, it makes you even calmer and more at ease.

[“I hereby decree: Death!”]

[A white jade fingertip touches the sword scar between your brows.]

[The imperial decree has been issued, sentencing you to death.]

The overwhelming pressure of impending doom swept over everything.

[Gong Si, who was prepared to "seek her own death" in the distance, shattered the void with her bare feet, causing the force field around her to become chaotic and disordered.]

[Preparing to head towards a dead end.]

[Boom!]

A thunderous roar echoed across the heavens.

The overwhelming power of divine retribution and wrath extends to the mortal realm.

The entire courtyard froze under this overwhelming aura of annihilation.

Especially the area in front of Taiyuan Hall.

Space freezes, time stands still, and the clash between imperial power and the power of thunder brings the horror of annihilation to all things.

You slightly raised your eyes.

[He noticed the unusually familiar Weihe.]

[The power of divine retribution and lightning punishment?]

[Your master is already dead, and you didn't use any methods to send him off on his final journey, to summon him out of the cycle of cause and effect.]

Who exactly wields the power of divine retribution and lightning punishment?

In fact, the moment this doubt arose, you already had a guess.

"Lei Quan? Wasn't Zhang Bingcheng dead?"

[The solemn voice of Emperor Xuanwu was filled with astonishment.]

The white jade hand lingered between your brows, signifying the inevitable end of imperial power, destroyed by the power of thunder.

【boom!】

Endless darkness surged within the Taiyuan Palace.

The supreme power and majesty of the emperor pervaded the heavens.

[Emperor Xuanwu is truly using the power of his imperial authority to kill you.]

[Boom!]

[The earth-shattering thunderous sound erupts once more.]

A magnificent, dazzling golden bolt of lightning pierced the heavens and earth, tearing and twisting its way through the sky.

[It landed in front of the Taiyuan Palace.]

[Smack!]

[The Xuanwu Emperor's white jade finger, pointing at your brow, wielding imperial power to annihilate you.]

[He was grasped by a golden figure.]

"How dare you kill my junior brother!"

[The domineering and forceful words questioned the ruler of the mortal realm who held imperial power.]

【that is……】

The voice was too childish, too babyish, which ruined his aura.

You gaze at the golden figure that floats silently before you.

[His body was forged from brilliant and intense golden lightning.]

[Approximately one meter tall, with delicate and lovely features, bright eyes, and white teeth.]

[You had already guessed that the person wielding the power of thunder might be none other than your third senior brother, Yu Zhi, whom you've never met before.]

But the old Taoist priest never said that...

[Is the third senior brother a cute little boy?]

The young Taoist was enveloped in golden light, his robes swaying like shimmering glass.

[With one hand behind her back, she held the Xuanwu Emperor's fingers with the other.]

[His posture, words, and tone were all extremely domineering.]

His youthful appearance made the scene feel strangely incongruous.

"Third Senior Brother."

You turn your head 180 degrees and greet me with a smile.

Third Senior Brother Yu Zhi raised his head and turned back, frowning slightly.

[A small hand extends from behind the back.]

[A bolt of golden lightning will strike, sending your severed head, which was severed by the imperial decree, flying back.]

[Click!]

[The crisp sound of bones rejoining.]

You twisted your neck, turned around, and shielded the floating golden-light Daoist boy in front of you.

[After someone took shelter.]

[I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.]

It seems my backup plan is still working.

Third Senior Brother Yu Zhi didn't lie to you; when you need him, just call out, and he will come.

[You transmit your thoughts through divine consciousness.]

"Third Brother, didn't Master say you were dead?"

[Yu Zhi's tone was mature and authoritative: "I have merged with the Dao of Thunder Power with my body; it is not wrong for me to die."]

As he spoke, he sensed something was amiss.

[Your conversation was abruptly ended by a mysterious mechanism encompassing time and space, bringing it to a complete halt.]

[While he's surprised, it also makes him feel comfortable talking to you.]

"Throughout my life, I have cultivated thunder magic, pursuing the ultimate thunder power. In the end, I merged with the power of thunder, which can be considered as attaining the Dao."

[Yu Xu reminisces and remembers.]

"Having merged with the Dao and wielding the power of thunder, I no longer belong to the mortal realm; I have returned to the rules of heaven and earth."

"Therefore, even though I heard your call earlier, I was unable to descend to earth to help."

"Until you merge with the heavens..."

[You suddenly recall the physical location of "Heaven" and witness that golden figure.]

[The connection between that figure and the third senior brother was immediately denied.]

Third Senior Brother Yu Zhi continued to explain, "Although you only grasped a tiny fraction of the Heavenly Will and entered the Eighth Realm, you still provided me with a pathway to connect with you."

"My time is limited. I can only help you hinder the imperial power. As for the calamity..."

[Your third senior brother didn't say it explicitly, but you already understand.]

[Since it is predestined, even the Thunder Power of the Dao Integration Realm cannot completely eradicate it.]

The conversation continued without interruption, all within the scope of the word "already".

Emperor Xuanwu felt the glorious lightning power etching itself onto his fingertips.

[The voice deepened slightly.]

"Celestial Master's Mansion, Jade Master, I never imagined you would attain the Dao and the Power of Thunder..."

Holding imperial power, he understood the mysteries of authority more deeply than anyone else.

[Like the eight celestial beings from an ancient family.]

Each can only draw upon the meaning of the Eight Trigrams individually, joining forces to grasp a trace of the divine essence of the innate Eight Trigrams' authority.

[Like the old Taoist priest, wield the power of divine retribution and lightning.]

This is already an unprecedented event throughout history.

Not to mention the authority to attain the Dao.

Authority is the unification of the rules, imagery, spirit, and origins of the universe.

The emperor wields imperial power and rules over the human world.

The old Taoist priest wields the power of thunder, a peerless master among men.

However, no matter how deeply one grasps power, it cannot compare to the power of understanding.

Because this is true unity of human rights, without distinction between individuals.

[It has surpassed the level of control.]

Emperor Xuanwu had not anticipated such a twist of fate that would thwart his plans.

Imperial power is supreme among men.

Even if the old Taoist priest were to wield the power of thunder, he would be suppressed.

This was the rule of an era where emperors and human emperors coexisted.

However, the third senior brother transcended eras, merging with the authority that has existed since ancient times.

[And because you are in harmony with the heavens, you were able to descend.]

The swirling black mist within the Taiyuan Palace gradually subsided.

Emperor Xuanwu calmed the turmoil in his heart.

"Wen Yu...you are indeed unpredictable..."

You chuckled softly upon hearing this.

【variable?】

【Do not! 】

This is a backup plan!