Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

[After spending this time together, Xu Kun has become increasingly impressed with your methods, you red-haired old monster.]

"Please speak, brother."

[Looking towards the northeast under the cover of night, after traversing countless mountains and treacherous paths, and passing through the Shu Pass, you will enter the true heart of the Great Cang Dynasty: the Central Court.]

"If Yin Qian knows the secrets of the Immortal Sect, then the Great Cang Dynasty's central court also holds that secret."

"We leave Shu Pass and enter Zhongting."

After hearing your words, Xu Kun fell silent, looking at you quietly for a moment before speaking.

"Big brother, do you really think your little brother 2.5 is invincible?"

You returned his gaze with deep approval.

Xu Kun twitched the corner of his mouth, his face full of helplessness: "That's the Great Cang Central Court, the place where the Human Emperor established his foundation. According to your analysis just now..."

That being is capable of establishing the rules of heaven and earth and restraining immortals; it's hard to imagine what kind of trump cards it might have left behind.

On my own, I can only hide my inner demons invisibly and without a trace; it's basically impossible to do anything more.

"Don't worry, Brother Two-Five, you still have your big brother here to help you."

Xu Kun didn't respond, his gaze scrutinizing you, the meaning self-evident.

[It's as if to say: You, a red-haired old monster who can't even comprehend "The Enemy's Foreknowledge," have the nerve to talk so arrogantly?]

【"snort."】

You turned and walked forward, saying, "Brother, I still have some connections in the central court of the Great Cang Dynasty."

"Oh? You still know the Great Cang Emperor?"

"He didn't recognize the emperor, but he did recognize the prime minister, the head of all officials, second only to the emperor."

Your tone was filled with reminiscence: "Back then, this prime minister was a natural swordsman of the Canglan Sword Sect. I took an instant liking to him and even named the place where he secluded himself."

After he left the pass, he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, became a member of the Hanlin Academy, entered the Grand Secretariat, and became the prime minister of the country.

"As the elder brother, I also have some credit to share."

[Xu Kun, I never imagined you had this connection with the current prime minister.]

Nine out of ten officials in the Great Cang Dynasty come from the Confucian academy system. Don't mistake them for mere scholars who only know how to govern and govern; in reality, each and every one of them possesses extraordinary talent.

There's even a saying that the nine ranks of officialdom correspond to different realms of cultivation.

[The officials who could enter the power center of the Great Cang Dynasty and meet the emperor were all powerful Confucian scholars.]

Even the most formidable military generals often find themselves wary of civilian officials.

【"Huh?"】

Xu Kun suddenly thought of something: "Brother, you said this prime minister was a natural sword talent of the Canglan Sword Sect, why didn't he cultivate swordsmanship and instead switched to Confucianism?"

He said that repairing the sword wouldn't save Da Cang.

"Haha, that's funny. Your friend is just as funny as you."

Looking back on your brief time with Lü Zhen, you initially thought he was going to abandon swordsmanship for Confucianism.

Lü Zhen, however, claimed that he was gathering the wisdom of various schools of thought to find a way to save the world and its people.

What did Longchang realize after his enlightenment and subsequent emergence from seclusion?

[Without following the Confucian system, and without the background and connections of various Confucian academies, let alone ascending to the position of prime minister, simply avoiding isolation would be considered a good situation.]

[Fifty-second year, age sixty-eight.]

After you and Xu Kun decide to enter the Great Cang Central Court, you travel along the towering mountains and treacherous Shu Road, leaving Shu Prefecture.

[The Great Cang Dynasty, Central Courtyard.]

[As you and Xu Kun journeyed together, you experienced the profound heritage of the Wanzai Dynasty.]

The culture, economy, and landscape will broaden your horizons.

This is your first time entering the courtyard.

Unexpectedly, Nancang was divided, the west was in turmoil, Shuzhou was lost, and there were even hidden threats from barbarian and demon races.

The central courtyard, however, remained completely unaffected, bustling with activity and revelry, enjoying unparalleled prosperity.

[The capital city.]

You gaze up at the magnificent city walls with a sense of awe; the passage of time has etched its marks, telling tales of millennia of history.

[The endless, intricate array patterns are engraved, exuding an unshakeable aura of grandeur.]

The defensive artifacts on display, their sharp metallic sheen conveying a sense of impending death.

"Tsk tsk tsk... As expected of the capital of a ten-thousand-year dynasty, the city's protective formations and defensive artifacts are truly luxurious and exquisite."

"Does Brother Two-Five also know formations and weapon crafting?"

"Hmph! When it comes to military formations and weaponry, there is no one in the world who can rival me."

[Such arrogance! I don't mean to brag, but what exactly is this thing? And it claims to be able to exorcise inner demons?]

[You quietly gather these fragmented pieces of information; perhaps one day, you'll be able to piece together a complete portrait of Xu Kun.]

Upon arriving in the capital of the Great Cang Empire, Xu Kun restrained his unbridled nature.

[Instead of relying on inner demons to infiltrate, they retrieved their travel permit and entered the city after being examined.]

You possess the "Intelligence Master" talent, making methods like identity forgery effortless.

[Even if the travel permit is genuine, as long as you don't expose the cunning of your inner demons and the ominous presence of the red-haired old monster, thus attracting the attention of various institutions in the capital.]

[It was just a superficial investigation; his identity was flawless.]

Walking along the more than 100-meter-long passageway along the city wall, a wide avenue suddenly opens up before your eyes.

The main roads in Yangzhou and Xiangyang, wide enough to accommodate sixteen carriages side by side, were already quite spacious.

The main road of the capital city was divided into sections for pedestrians, horsemen, charioteers, soldiers, and the emperor himself.

Crowds thronged, traffic flowed, and heavily armed city guards patrolled.

"This is a really nice place."

Xu Kun closed his eyes and sensed the intense emotions and feelings surging within him, almost irresistibly tempting him to devour them.

[Being wary of the Emperor's hidden power in the capital, they dared not act recklessly.]

"Brother, shall we go directly to the Prime Minister's residence to pay our respects?"

"As usual, gather intelligence first."

[Perhaps due to your "Intelligence Master" talent, you're in the habit of gathering intelligence information whenever you arrive in an unfamiliar place.]

You should have a general understanding before taking action.

Even if there are old friends here, it's still the same.

Xu Kun had no objections; having been confined for many years, he was still quite willing to listen to you on these matters.

You've chosen a magnificent, extravagant restaurant, frequented by the wealthy and powerful.

[If you hadn't used the identity of a collateral branch of a powerful family, even with money, you wouldn't have been able to cross that threshold.]

[And the intelligence gathered in high-barrier-to-entry locations is of even greater value.]

[A cheap place that doesn't attract martial arts masters is just a bunch of braggarts.]

You and Xu Kun plan to use fine food and wine to listen to the conversations around you and sift through the information to find what's useful.

[A moment later, Xu Kun, who was using his inner demons to gather intelligence, was captured.]

[Looking at you with a strange expression.]

"Brother, it seems your connections in the capital aren't in a good position."

[It's more than just not good; it's downright dire.]

[You sighed inwardly.]

Unexpectedly, Lü Zhen was truly willing to sacrifice himself for his long-cherished vow to save the world and its people.