Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

【"Oh."】

Pang Hai scoffed dismissively, tossing the intelligence report onto the table: "This Great Cang is utterly hopeless."

You sip your tea in silence.

[I'm pondering a question.]

Ten years ago, when Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Wuzhou were captured, and the six southern provinces of Cang fell.

[Lü Zhen ascended to the stage of the Great Cang Dynasty, entered the cabinet, and ruled the world.]

Based on your understanding of his character, he shouldn't agree to such a foolish and absurd decision made by the court.

There is only one reason: the supreme imperial power issues decrees that cannot be disobeyed.

[From raising troops in the Western Regions, then moving on to Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and Bingzhou.]

[Only in the case of Xiang Che in Bingzhou did the Great Cang Central Court react strongly, directly dispatching troops from the southern border to quell the rebellion.]

Prior to this, Jingzhou and Yangzhou had been completely ignored.

[You speculated at the time that it was because of the legendary sword of authority, which was said to possess a divine mandate.]

For decades, amidst the chaos of war, the Great Cang Central Court instilled in you an eerie sense of certainty.

Previously, I thought the bureaucratic system might be redundant and corrupt, hindering efficiency and affecting decision-making.

[Now it seems it wasn't an illusion; the Great Azure Court truly wasn't panicked at all.]

[If you can negotiate peace, then negotiate peace; if you want to establish a nation, then establish a nation; you can freely seize half of the Jiangnan region.]

Why?

[Think back to what Lü Zhen said back then: the Great Cang Dynasty is unshakeable, and its long-standing legacy spanning ten thousand years.]

Perhaps it possesses some unimaginable depth or significance.

The autumn maples are turning red on the mountains, and a light rain occasionally falls.

You sit upright in the lakeside pavilion, your spiritual energy forging your spine like a furnace, your sword strength, sword aura, and sword intent honed within you.

[Control the intensity carefully to avoid injury.]

[“The ten-year period has ended. Shall we settle our lives and draw our talent attributes?”]

Upon hearing the system notification, you opened your eyes, filled with joy and emotion.

[You've diligently cultivated yourself these past few years without slacking off, yet you also understand that nine-tenths of your efforts have been in vain.]

The long-awaited talent has finally yielded results.

"Settle."

It's time to show your true talent!

[Ten years of stubbornness, knowingly doing the impossible, wasting time and effort, all to no avail...]

"Alright, alright, hurry up and smoke, stop cursing."

You rolled your eyes, speechless.

[Talent attribute extraction in progress...]

["Sword Bone" (Blue): You were born with a sword bone.]

[A natural phenomenon, possessing special abilities, forms the foundation of creation, allowing the innate body to evolve subtle and profound mysteries.]

[After reading the talent description, you'll see that although it's only a rare, cyan-level talent, it perfectly solves your current predicament.]

But why can't I feel happy? Something feels off, and I'm a little depressed.

[System, Sword Bone is fine, but Sword Bone sounds awful. Can't you at least say something like Louis XVI?]

【…】

After waiting a while, there was no reply.

"A sword bone is fine, as long as it's useful, who cares what it's called?"

[You've been subjected to passive-aggressive behavior. You've equipped the "Sword Bone" (Blue) talent modifier.]

[Suddenly, I felt a sharp, piercing energy surge up my spine, as if a sword tip were carving and engraving on my bones, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.]

[Your spiritual powers are now focused inward.]

The spine is like white jade, translucent and warm, its segments connected seamlessly, resembling a sturdy sword.

[Eagerly activating the "Innate Sword Bone Cultivation Method"]

[Spiritual energy forged it, sword force, sword energy, and sword momentum hammered it in; what was once treated with utmost care for fear of damage now yields no response, as if it were merely scratching an itch through a boot. It's already inside?]

[You increase your output, spiritual energy surges, sword force bursts forth, sword energy is fierce and sharp, and sword momentum is overwhelming.]

【clang!】

The resounding clang of metal echoed in my mind.

You suddenly feel a concussion in your spine, which spreads throughout your body, causing a shivering, tingling sensation, and your expression becomes slightly subtle.

【"marvelous……"】

This exhilarating and unrestrained feeling of spiritual practice is simply wonderful!

You are so engrossed in developing the beauty of your sword bones that you cannot tear yourself away.

[Especially under the tempering of ultimate sword force, sword energy, and sword momentum, the sharpness of the sword bone becomes even more blazing.]

Each forging session, like sparks flying, brings about changes to the rest of the body.

One day of spiritual practice is more effective than ten years of arduous cultivation.

Of course, your efforts over the past ten years haven't been entirely wasted.

[Because you were afraid of accidentally injuring your spine, you practiced your control over spiritual energy, sword qi, and sword techniques, as well as your perception of spiritual forces, to a very meticulous degree.]

[Year 41, age 57.]

You have smelted, forged, and refined the sword's bones, allowing them to evolve and sublimate, thus establishing the foundation of creation.

[Entering the Fourth Realm of Innate Beings.]

A vibrant, healthy spine makes you feel reborn, sweeping away the signs of aging and filling you with energy and vitality.

[Year 42, age 58.]

[After your spine transformed into sword bones, forging the foundation of your power, and you stepped into the Innate Realm, your progress began to slow down again.]

The rest of the body has not undergone any mutations and therefore cannot be subjected to excessive training without restraint.

Therefore, you channel all your pent-up energy into your sword bones, forging them constantly, so that your spine clangs and jingles with every step.

[Year 44, age 60.]

[At sixty, this is the longest you've ever lived. Congratulations!]

The dimly lit room was filled with dappled shadows that intertwined to form intricate patterns.

You sit upright at your desk, holding a piece of intelligence in your hand.

[It has been a long time since I last visited the Censorate. Today I come with a piece of information that is difficult to decide.]

[You see the clearly listed details and numbers above, and sigh with admiration.]

[They've only been a nation for a few years, and they're already getting restless.]

He rose, sword in hand, his dark blue robe billowing in the wind.

"Seal off the Qian residence."

As soon as the words were spoken, the hidden spies from the Censorate sprang into action.

You strolled to the front of the mansion.

Upon recognizing him, the guards at the gate were greatly alarmed and quickly bowed, saying, "Lord Wen."

You ignored them and walked towards the gate.

The guards not only dared not stop you, but also rushed forward to open the door for you and go inside to announce your arrival.

"Lord Wen, why didn't you give me advance notice? I could have personally greeted you."

Qian Guan came running up quickly; he was round and plump, with a kind, honest face and a cheerful smile.

You walk ahead, sword in hand, while Qian Guan lowers his head and follows half a step behind.

[My heart was pounding, my eyes darted around nervously.]

You enter the house, where a few simple dishes are laid out on the table; even the humblest of middle-class families wouldn't have such a modest spread.

It's hard to imagine this being the dinner of the Minister of Revenue in the State of Chu.

You sit down: "Are you eating such bland food to lose weight?"

[Money awaits you beside you.]

[He chuckled sheepishly, bowed, and said, "Being thinner is good, being thinner is good."]

"Sit down, don't stand."

You looked up to signal him, and Qian Guan hurriedly sat down.

"Old Qian, how long have we known each other?"

Qian Guan thought for a moment, then chuckled and said, "More than twenty years."

[Seemingly recalling something, he sighed, "The image of Lord Wen, so heroic and valiant, establishing an intelligence agency with such boldness and decisiveness, remains vivid in my memory to this day, and I admire him immensely."]

You took a sip of tea, your gaze slightly lowered.

"Now that you know how capable I am with intelligence, how dare you still harbor any illusions?"

Qian Guan's pupils constricted sharply, and his face turned deathly pale.