Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[Tsk, this thing is really troublesome.]

[Your inner monologue.]

[Hmph! This filthy thing has ill intentions.]

[Xu Hui cursed inwardly.]

[You two are lost in thought, yet your expressions reveal deep affection, a bond of brotherly love and respect.]

"Let's not rush to conclusions. This is my analysis and plan, but its implementation requires careful consideration. Let's wait for the right opportunity."

"My elder brother is meticulous; I will obey."

[You didn't rush into action, after all, you've only just arrived in Shu Province and haven't yet gathered detailed intelligence.]

The plan needs to be gradually improved.

[However, there's a very high probability that you and 'Xu Hui' both agree with the facts of the previous analysis.]

[You recount your journey from entering the Tomb of the God of War, to meeting your aunt in the Western Regions and being ambushed, to the subsequent changing landscape of the world.]

Based on previous speculation, this almost certainly holds true.

Yin Qian used the tomb of the God of War to bestow destiny upon his subjects, using Hai, Zi, and Huizi as pawns to incite war and disrupt the balance of power in the world.

At that time, the Demonic Sect had hidden forces in Yongzhou, including the Yan Family Chamber of Commerce.

[You previously guessed that Yin Qian was also one of the candidates supported by the Demonic Sect, but later abandoned that idea and chose Chen Chaomang instead.]

Now it seems, perhaps the opposite is true.

[It was Yin Qian who conspired with the Demonic Sect to support Chen Chaomang's rebellion, thus completely severing ties between the Great Cangjiang region and the south.]

Yin Qian desires to contend for destiny, while the Demonic Sect uses this to seek its own fortune and destiny.

[The same applies to the Tranquil Sword Sect; they are Yin Qian's allies.]

As for the conditions?

[Isn't it the legendary sword that carries the mandate of heaven?]

The Sword of Authority was forged using a fragment of the Emperor's Jade Seal, missing a corner, inlaid with its hilt.

At the time, I wondered where the Jingxin Sword Sect had found the fragments of the Emperor's Jade Seal.

But what if it was given by Yin Qian?

Is this a contingency plan left by the late emperor?

With its millennia-old foundation and possession of fragments of the Emperor's Jade Seal, the Great Cang Dynasty makes perfect sense and follows logically.

As you gaze upon the perilous peaks of the Wu Gorge, a sense of awe at the machinations of all sides stirs within you, and anger inevitably rises within you.

Hai Zi and Hui Zi were born into poverty, yet they remained steadfast in their ideals of serving the common people.

In the end, one person faced death, carrying on the indomitable spirit; a solitary grave lies at the foot of Zhenwu Mountain.

[A person was possessed by an inner demon, transforming into the grotesque creature before us.]

"Is my older brother scolding me?"

"Huh? I haven't said anything, so why does Brother Two-Fifth speak like this?"

"My brother didn't say a word, but your eyes were full of filth."

"Brother 2.5, you're framing me."

[Fifty-first year, age sixty-seven.]

[You have been traveling with Xu Hui in Shu Prefecture for almost a year now, searching for the legendary sword of the God of War.]

[Xu Hui possesses sensory abilities, yet cannot pinpoint his location.]

After much wandering, the two of you arrived at Yincheng, the capital of the Zhou Kingdom.

[Magnificent city walls separate the city from the countryside; the fertile land of Sichuan was blessed with abundance, and decades of chaos were contained by this natural barrier.]

Yin Qian did not launch a military campaign after entering Shu.

Therefore, it achieved extreme prosperity.

【You two.】

One is a half-step Celestial Being, controlled by inner demons and having broken free from eight shackles.

[A character with talent attributes such as "Master of Intelligence" and "Concealment".]

Concealing one's tracks and identity is effortless.

Upon entering the city, Xu Hui found himself standing on a bustling street, his eyes slightly narrowed, a contented expression on his face.

You discover that your inner demons seem to feed on emotions, thoughts, and ideas.

[After checking into the inn, we ordered a table full of dishes and wine.]

While clinking glasses, you habitually gather information.

"The states of Qi and Wu have divided Chu, and now the two poles of Southern Cang are in opposition. I think it won't be long before they start fighting again."

"Alas, war brings suffering to the people, but thankfully Shu Prefecture has natural defenses, sparing it from the ravages of war."

"After the battle between Qi and Wu is decided, they will completely unify Nancang, and at that time they will inevitably launch a northern expedition against Zhongting."

You learn about the recent situation from your conversations with those around you.

After a year of consolidating their newly expanded territories, the states of Qi and Wu seem poised to wage war again.

[We want to seize the opportunity and unify Nancang in one fell swoop.]

[The Zhou state occupies a strategically important location, Han Jing is imprisoned, and Yue Mu and Wei Qi guard the state's borders, one in the south and one in the north.]

[It's quite comfortable for the Zhou Kingdom to be free from threats from all sides.]

Xu Hui took a sip of wine and sneered, "If the states of Qi and Wu had any brains, they wouldn't be in such a hurry to go to war. Otherwise, it would be like the snipe and the clam fighting each other..."

The fisherman profits.

[You also saw through Zhou's plans, from initially establishing a presence in the Western Regions, and later entering Shu.]

[Besides confronting the central army of the Great Cang Dynasty and completely extricating oneself from the quagmire of Southern Cang.]

[Watch as the three kingdoms of Nancang battle for supremacy, awaiting the final victor.]

At that time, the Zhou state had recuperated and strengthened its military, preparing for a powerful southward advance.

Regardless of whether Qi or Wu emerges victorious, both have only recently ended their national war and will find it difficult to resist.

Anyone with eyes can see through it, let alone the scheming old men like Fan Li and Cao Jin in the states of Qi and Wu.

[That's right, ever since the division of Qi and Wu into Chu, Cao Jin has also been categorized as a scheming old man by you.]

What was once a good relationship has fallen apart; there will come a time for him to repay it.

[Though they saw through it all, the tide of events was unstoppable, and neither Xiang Che nor Chen Chao could halt their advance.]

[Whether it's their own ambition, or the influence of the Tranquil Sword Sect and the Demonic Sect behind them.]

They were not allowed to stop.

"My brother, 2.5, truly has a discerning eye and sees through everything."

Xu Hui didn't seem to mind your slightly sarcastic tone.

He drank his wine, eyes closed, remaining silent.

You know he's sensing the location of the killer.

[After searching for almost a year, you didn't hold out much hope of pinpointing the killer's exact location using your inner demons' intuition.]

We'll have to rely on your brilliant idea again.

[Recently, Xu Hui has become somewhat hesitant. Coming to Yincheng is his last chance, if he still can't find anyone.]

We'll need your idea then.

【"well."】

[Xu Hui sighed and opened his eyes, his gaze somber and chilling.]

"Brother Er Dianwu, do not worry, I will surely help you find the mastermind who killed you."

Your words were full of deep emotion, but your tone was extremely perfunctory.

Seeing Xu Hui's eyes twitch, indicating he was about to get angry, I quickly interrupted him.

"By the way, Brother Two-Five, I've been thinking lately that since I consider you one of my two and a half brothers, I will definitely treat you with sincerity."

However, I still don't know the name of my second-and-fifth brother.

Xu Hui paused, a rare look of astonishment and sadness in his eyes.

"I...I have no name. You all regard me as a demon, a monster, and call me an extraterrestrial demon."

Your gaze narrowed slightly.

[An extraterrestrial demon.]

[Looks like this little guy really is an outsider; no wonder he's so dirty.]

"Alright, they say the eldest brother is like a father, so it's only right for a father to name his son."

[Xu Hui's face was expressionless, his eyes dangerous.]

You remained unmoved.

"Inner demons are dark and hidden, formless and traceless, arising from the soil of the mind."

"Earth (申) is associated with Earth (坤)."

"You have also become dependent on your second brother, taking his surname, Xu."

[Therefore, it is named...]

"Xu Kun."