Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

You and Lü Zhen watched their departing figures, some with white hair, others hunched over and staggering.

"The most fleeting things in life, like sincere paintings, fade with age."

You sighed softly.

[Lü Zhenqing's face was calm, even conveying the chilling cold of winter rain.]

A mocking smile appeared on his lips: "This world is the most unbearable place to stay."

You remain silent, gazing towards the imperial palace, its golden tiles and red walls concealing the one who, possessing the Mandate of Heaven, suppresses the mortal realm year after year.

[Unshakeable...]

[Hmph, you'll see whether it's the solid foundation built over millennia, or the rampant greed of the human heart that truly matters.]

[Fifty-eighth year, seventy-four years old.]

You sit upright in the quiet room, your gaze still cold and piercing, your hair falling loose, a mixture of red and black.

[Possesses the talent attribute "Ominous in old age".]

His physical strength remains at its peak, and his combat power is stronger than ever before.

[The decaying twilight, however, cannot conceal the vitality within.]

A faint light floated above the table, constructed from intricate and mysterious runes, forming content directly imprinted on consciousness.

This is the Immortal Sect's reply, indicating their location coordinates to you.

Xu Kun appeared silently, like a ghost.

[I keep a distance from you, and from afar I ask, "Have you finally answered?"]

【"Um."】

[Your fingertip touched the mysterious array, and it instantly crumbled into phosphorescent fragments that vanished.]

"Shu Prefecture, reaching Tianfeng."

"Reaching for the Heavens?"

Xu Kun murmured in confusion. He had explored all the famous mountains and rivers, and the legendary secret realms of Shu Prefecture, but he had never heard of Ditian Peak.

[You wave your sleeve, scattering phosphorescence.]

[A soft laugh: "If we could find out so easily by asking around, why would we bother searching so far?"]

Xu Kun silently took half a step back.

"When are we leaving?"

He promised you he'd give you more time to complete your plan with Lü Zhen.

Now that the immortal sect's reply has arrived, no matter what pitfalls lie ahead, he will inevitably go.

"I'll leave after I've finished explaining things to Lü Zhen."

The final chapter of the deadly scheme is ready; we can begin.

[The Prime Minister's Residence.]

Standing in the most luxurious area of ​​the capital, the surroundings are now desolate and cold.

Some moved away to avoid the area, while others had their property confiscated by the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, leaving the area deserted.

You walk along the long street where fallen leaves flutter, and enter the mansion.

[I saw two people at the lakeside pavilion.]

[Lü Zhen and Han Jing.]

[Han Jing has been hailed as the number one soldier in the army for decades, possessing overwhelming ferocity, unparalleled strategic acumen, and peak martial prowess.]

Compared to his illustrious reputation, his appearance was surprisingly serene and refined, exuding an elegant air.

"Mr. Wen."

Upon your arrival, I greeted you with a smile and a nod, feeling as if bathed in a spring breeze, without any sense of oppression.

[Lü Zhen looked up and raised his hand in greeting.]

You sit down at the desk.

"I'm leaving."

Lu Zhen paused slightly as he poured tea, and Han Jing's smile froze for a moment.

"You should go too."

[Lü Zhen smiled, his wrinkles deepening as he squeezed them together.]

Han Jing fell into deep thought, knowing that something earth-shattering was about to happen.

You, holding a porcelain cup, say, "Everything is prepared; we're ready to act at any time."

[Lü Zhen hesitated for a moment.]

"Let's begin once you leave the courtyard."

You nod.

Her gaze reflected in the porcelain cup of tea, the rippling waves blurring her vision.

Han Jing sensed that you had some astonishing plan, and even had a vague suspicion of it, but still thought you were being delusional.

"Over the years, I was responsible for wielding the knife and getting blood on my hands, while Wei Qi reaped the benefits from behind. Most of the gains were tacitly sent to the Wei family by the two of them."

Han Jing's expression was composed, his gaze calm; in truth, he shared some similarities in temperament with Xu Hui.

[Most of the time, he was excessively rational.]

"I can roughly guess what you're planning to do, but..."

Han Jing looked up at the two of them, his brows slightly furrowed: "The Wei family won't be blinded by greed, especially with Wei Qi and Wei Zhi keeping them in check."

Now that things have come to this, you'll no longer hide everything.

"The Wei family, including Wei Zhi and Wei Qi, wielded immense power, even rivaling the imperial authority."

"The fact that Emperor Xuanwu can tolerate this must mean that Wei Zhi has something to rely on; similarly... Emperor Xuanwu also has means to retaliate."

"That's why this strange yet balanced situation has arisen."

"So what we need to do is break this balance."

Han Jing grew increasingly puzzled; he had already roughly guessed what these analyses were all about.

Therefore, what he finds most puzzling is what methods you have to break the balance.

It seems that simply adding some chips to one side could disrupt the game.

The enormous profits siphoned off from powerful families and clans over the years are truly astonishing.

These interests, while not insignificant in the balance between Wei Zhi and Emperor Xuanwu, were nonetheless crucial.

However, it still lacks a certain something.

Perhaps Emperor Xuanwu will still be tolerant, or perhaps the Wei family will make concessions.

All of this will render your plans futile.

Of course you could see the meaning behind Han Jing's expression.

Before you came to the capital, Lü Zhen had already laid out the basic framework of this plan.

The ending was that, at the cost of their lives, they shed the blood and flesh of powerful clans to forge a path for the common people to continue their lineage.

Both Wei Zhi and Emperor Xuanwu could gain enormous benefits from this, in exchange for tacit approval.

And your appearance adds the final chapter to the plan.

That is to break the balance between Wei Zhi and Emperor Xuanwu, to try to provoke a power struggle between the two, and thus shake the imperial power.

This is the path that Lü Zhen wants to explore.

Just how consolidated is the seemingly unshakeable imperial power?

Your fingertips, stained with tea, trace patterns on the table.

"The power structure within the imperial court is bipolar; the words of Emperor Xuanwu and Wei Zhi can determine the fate of the world."

"The confiscated assets of powerful families over the years are certainly not enough to incite conflict."

"Therefore, we need to create momentum."

"With overwhelming momentum, both sides were forced to make choices; someone had to back down, and the balance could no longer be maintained through constant negotiation."

You looked at Han Jing and chuckled, "As long as no one is willing to back down, conflict will be inevitable."

"I'll see then whether this empress's methods can shake the imperial power."

Hearing your words, Han Jing's confusion deepened rather than belatedly resolved.

[I can't help but ask: "How do we make both sides unwilling to back down? Interests? Over the years, we've amassed a huge amount of interests by investigating and collecting taxes on the powerful families and clans of Dacang Central Court."]

However, it still failed to provoke any conflict.

Could Mr. Wen possibly find even greater benefits than this?

"Could it be that even Wei Zhi and Emperor Xuanwu could not suppress their desires and were forced to fight over it?"

As Han Jing spoke, he suddenly realized something: there truly were beings in this world that could inspire murderous intent in Wei Zhi and the Xuanwu Emperor.

That is...

【imperial power!】