Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

Xu Kun is still eagerly awaiting your answer.

[If you're not trying to play games, just tell me directly.]

"The Zhou Kingdom should have courted the barbarian and demon races decades ago, allowing them to coerce the Great Cang Dynasty into withdrawing its troops, thus preventing their plans from failing."

If the families of Xiang Che, Chen Chao, and Pang Hai and Xu Hui had been quelled back then...

[Then Yin Qian, left alone, will be unable to hold out; defeat is inevitable.]

Therefore, Yin Qian needed to divide up Nan Cang, then let the three families fight each other, and finally reap the rewards while waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out.

This aligns with the strategies of both Yin Qian and the Zhou state.

If successful.

The Zhou Kingdom will possess the alliance of a hundred kingdoms in the Western Regions, occupy Yongzhou and Shuzhou, and completely control Nancang.

That will be the true moment for the Northern Expedition.

The Great Cang Dynasty's millennia-old foundation may ensure its stability.

However, the Xuanwu Emperor, who sits high on the throne, cannot necessarily guarantee that he will continue to hold onto it.

Upon hearing this, Xu Kun immediately lost interest.

"What utter nonsense! Did you think there was some earth-shattering secret? Let's get back to how to find our mastermind."

[You don't seem to care much either; the current focus is on probing the secrets of the immortal sects.]

"I've come to the conclusion that the master-killer is within the Immortal Sect."

"Oh? So you figured it out."

[You briefly recounted your conversation with Aunt Wen Fei. Xu Kun listened, pondered for a moment, and agreed with your assessment.]

Then the most crucial question arises.

How do I find a sect?

The ghostly creature and the red-haired old monster stared at each other in bewilderment.

You believe that the other person, being a demon within themselves, has existed for a long time and must know many secrets, which could allow them to find the immortal sect.

Xu Kun believes you already have some ideas and is waiting for your plan.

The night wind blew by, ruffling a few strands of your red hair, which Xu Kun found unusually dazzling.

[Actively break the silence.]

"I have some understanding of the Immortal Sects, even the heavens above, but I've been imprisoned for too long, and the world's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing both political and spiritual aspects) has changed. Now, even if I wanted to find the Immortal Sects, I wouldn't know where to begin. Otherwise..."

Why do you think I should seek cooperation with you?

Sure enough, this bastard came knocking on our door with the intention of cooperating.

But what value do I possess that would make them want to cooperate with me? Would they even think I could use this to find their master?

You have a vague suspicion.

Instead of immediately revealing your plans, you tentatively ask, "Tell me your intelligence and ideas so I can better plan."

Xu Kun looks up at the sky.

"I've told you before, the Immortal Sect is merely a gateway between the heavens and the mortal realm. Even celestial beings can only remain in the mortal world through fortune and destiny, let alone beings of even higher status."

You have heard many times that celestial beings cannot remain in the human world.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "Why can't celestial beings remain in the mortal realm? Is it due to the restrictions of the rules of heaven and earth?"

Xu Kun shook his head.

"I'm not entirely sure either. I vaguely remember that this restriction wasn't a natural law, but rather something that was created by someone."

【"people?"】

You slightly opened your eyes: "Who can set the rules of heaven and earth?"

The seventh realm is the Celestial Realm, which transcends the realm of "human" and requires ascension; it would be more appropriate to call them "immortals."

[But now Xu Kun says that the barrier between the human world and the heavens is established to prevent celestial beings from retaining their own rules.]

[It's actually a 'person'?]

Xu Kun shrugged, looking rather helpless: "I can't remember either."

You glanced at him upon hearing this.

[Can't remember? Or is it not that you don't know?]

[Without rushing to investigate Xu Kun's origins, you have a general idea of ​​this 'person'.]

That is...

The Human Emperor!

[By establishing the foundation of the Great Cang Dynasty for ten thousand years, the concept of "unshakeable" has been acknowledged even by a natural-born swordsman like Lü Zhen.]

You may even gradually realize that these four words are indeed true.

[If the Human Emperor could establish this concept for the Great Cang Dynasty, then it's also reasonable for him to establish a rule separating the human world from the heavens, requiring celestial beings to ascend and not remain.]

"You've gone off on a tangent. Tell me your plans. What methods and leverage do you have to find your mastermind in this collaboration?"

Xu Kun, seeing that you already knew, no longer hid it from you.

[He chuckled and said, "《The Enemy》"]

[As expected, this answer matches your previous guess.]

[Those within myself who are worthy of Xu Kun's cooperation and who are connected to the assassination of their master.]

[The only way to understand is by studying the tomb of the military genius... um... the relief sculpture "Predicting the Enemy" that I remember.]

"If 'The Enemy' can find the mastermind, why didn't you say so earlier? All that time wasted going around in circles, testing each other, and brainstorming."

You stood with your hands behind your back, your dark blue robe billowing in the wind, your eyes gleaming with a cold, piercing light.

Seeing your posture, Xu Kun raised his hand and opened his mouth as if to speak.

"Speak, let me use the 'Premonition of the Enemy' prophet to foresee the future and find the master of slaying."

【"that……"】

Seeing Xu Kun hesitate, you frowned in displeasure: "Don't waste your time."

"Actually... Big brother..."

"Why are you hesitating? Just say what you want to say."

Xu Kun smirked, spread his hands, and shrugged.

[His face was full of helplessness.]

"I don't want to waste time, but to find the killer using 'Premonition of the Enemy,' I need to comprehend it..."

Now you understand why Xu Kun has never mentioned this matter.

[It seems that after he took control of Xu Hui, his first instinct was to use his senses to find his master.]

Unable to pinpoint the exact location, he then went to Xiangyang to find the person who had obtained the "Premonition of the Enemy" relief.

[If you can decipher the meaning of the "Premonition of the Enemy" relief, you may face the invasion and control of Xu Kun's inner demons.]

The result is that your work on the "Premonition of the Enemy" relief over the years has only reached a barely usable stage.

[You subtly concealed the profound glint in your eyes.]

[Silently walking deeper into the woods.]

Xu Kun quickly followed, glancing at you furtively: "Big brother, don't be disappointed. You still have about ten years of lifespan left. Study hard, and perhaps you'll have a chance."

Stop and turn around.

"I never want to hear the word 'enlightenment' again, brother."

【"yes."】

[It turns out that the key to finding the mastermind was actually understanding the principles of "Foreseeing the Enemy."]

[As the first of nine reliefs in the tomb of the God of War, it is both the starting point and the foundation.]

This is something you realized a long time ago.

[I never imagined it would be related to killing the master.]

By understanding "Preparing for the Enemy," you are not without hope.

The forbidden talent attribute "Ominous Later Years" becomes more pronounced with age, enhancing one's understanding of it.

You now feel a surge of wisdom emanating from your mind.

[The speed at which one comprehends martial arts is dramatically increased.]

[It will probably be a few more years before we reach the level of Pang Hai and Xu Hui, at which point we will be able to comprehend "Predicting the Enemy".]

These past few years shouldn't be wasted.

[Judging from my aunt's situation in Zhou Kingdom, even if she knew the secrets of the immortal sect, she couldn't reveal them, nor could she even imagine them.]

But there is one more place that surely knows the secrets of the Immortal Sect.

[Furthermore, given their status, they can not only speak and think, but also restrain the immortal sects.]

"Brother Two-Five, I've had another flash of inspiration! I have an idea!"