Simulated immortality allows me to calculate talent stats.

【"well."】

[Your sigh.]

[Open your mind completely.]

Each word was spoken slowly and deliberately, with sincerity and candor.

"Pei Qingyu and I share the same ideals and are willing to risk everything for each other. That's why she completely entrusts herself to me and is willing to risk being afflicted by an ominous force."

Gong Si's eyes widened in surprise.

Your current state, coupled with your open mind, makes it easy for her to judge the truthfulness of your words.

【It's all true.】

Her cherry-red lips parted in an alluring curve.

I gazed at you intently for a moment, then turned and drifted away with a complex expression.

[That appearance.]

[It's like being ripped off by a scumbag after booking a hotel room, and then losing your entire deposit.]

[Xu Kun seemed to have been opened the door to a new world.]

My worries vanished, and my eyes were filled with admiration and respect as I looked at you.

"Brother, when it comes to dealing with women, I would call you the strongest."

You rolled your eyes at him listlessly.

"Stop talking nonsense, let's go to the nearest town first. I want to see how the political landscape has changed recently."

[When you left the central courtyard and reached an agreement with Xiang Che and Chen Chao, you had already been cooperating with Lü Zhen's actions.]

[To create destiny, to bestow fate.]

You certainly don't possess such extraordinary skills, but you are adept at manipulating people's hearts.

After entering Shu, strange celestial phenomena appeared in various parts of the Great Cang Central Court, and extraordinary objects of destiny were unearthed.

[Just as the Hetu and Luoshu diagrams appeared on the Huai River, calculating a person's birth date and time, they corresponded in a mysterious way to Empress Wei Zhi.]

[A wordless book was unearthed at Yaishan, containing drawings of a goddess descending to earth.]

[From the belly of the fish, a yellow silk scroll was unearthed, containing words of abdication and the Mandate of Heaven.]

The Firefly Stone fell from the sky, inscribed with the words "Wei arrives, peace reigns."

【…】

Various strange phenomena were discovered throughout the Great Cang Courtyard, and after being sung in songs, they quickly spread far and wide.

The assembled white-haired elders at the Prime Minister's residence that day began to exert their influence, using their status and position.

[To win over the remaining powerful and ruthless aristocratic families who have been terrified by the massacres, to influence students and officials across the country, and to incite morale within the military.]

Ultimately, amidst the overwhelming tide of belief among the millions in the Great Cang Court that Empress Wei Zhi was destined by Heaven to bring peace to the world, […].

[Lü Zhen, holding a decree from the mouth of a phoenix, entered the court to meet the emperor.]

"Please, Emperor Xuanwu, obey the Mandate of Heaven."

【demise.】

This incident thoroughly alarmed the Great Cang Dynasty and the capital, but the first to be enraged was not Emperor Xuanwu.

[It was Wei Zhi.]

She immediately imprisoned Lü Zhen in a death row cell, claiming that everything was a conspiracy and that she had absolutely no intention of overthrowing the Great Cang Dynasty.

That being said.

[However, over the years, Lü Zhen's murderous schemes not only brought Wei Zhi enormous benefits but also built his immense prestige.]

[In addition, the divine signs and miracles you fabricated in various places have deeply penetrated the hearts and minds of the people.]

This allowed the interest group, led by the Wei family, to rapidly grow to a terrifying level.

At this point, it's no longer something that can be appeased by Wei Zhi's denial.

[Interested groups saw hope and rallied to push Wei Zhi to the position of destiny.]

Most importantly, the hearts of the people in the Great Cang Court have already turned towards Wei Zhi.

[Because over the years, by eliminating the blood and flesh of powerful families and clans, ordinary people have been able to survive, and even live well.]

This... is the true destiny.

[Those unusual signs that were planted in advance last week, last month, and last year.]

It's simply about making the people's inclinations tangible, giving them a real sense of security.

Chaos has broken out in the central courtyard of Da Cang.

Wei Zhi and Wei Qi forcefully suppressed the Wei family, preventing the clan from making decisions on its own.

However, the prevailing trend, as if the heavens and earth were conspiring in his favor, overwhelmingly crowned Wei Zhi.

Xiang Che and Chen Chao have found the opportunity you mentioned.

Both sides launched a northern expedition.

The Zhou state dared not sit idly by and await its doom, truly fearing that Xiang Che and Chen Chao would recklessly occupy the central courtyard and seize the Mandate of Heaven.

Therefore, the troops marched out of Shu Prefecture.

[Faced with the overwhelming rebel army and the chaos within the Central Court.]

[The Great Cang Kingdom has no capable generals to use.]

[Yue Mu guarded the southern frontier for many years, almost severing all contact with the central government.]

[Han Jing is not even interested in leading troops to quell the rebellion; he's practically begging his cavalry to conquer the capital and shout for Emperor Xuanwu to abdicate.]

Wei Zhi was deeply embroiled in court intrigues, so the task of suppressing the Wei family was left to Wei Qi, as he was unable to spare the time.

The world is in complete chaos.

[After you and Xu Kun entered the city, you gathered information about what had happened during that time.]

"Hey, big brother, your plan has succeeded. It seems the Great Cang imperial power isn't so unshakeable after all."

Xu Kun's face, covered in cracks, revealed a sinister smirk, as the treacherous power of his inner demons continuously seeped from the fissures.

Your brow is furrowed.

Things progressed as smoothly as expected, no, even more smoothly than planned.

Yet, a question lingers in your mind that you cannot resolve.

"What is that Xuanwu Emperor doing?"

Xu Kun paused, startled by your words, and realized something was amiss.

Yes, the Great Cang Court is in complete chaos, with each side acting in its own self-interest.

However, amidst the chaotic intelligence and information, there was not a single description of this Xuanwu Emperor.

[He remained detached, as if he were a bystander.]

"Yes, what is that Xuanwu Emperor doing?"

Xu Kun looked at you questioningly.

"You're asking me? Who should I ask?"

Soon, a message broke your reverie.

[Emperor Xuanwu issued his first decree since the chaos began.]

The traitor Lü Zhen was hung before the imperial city and subjected to whipping for one hundred days.

Your hand, holding the porcelain cup, paused for a moment.

This is not just about killing people, it's about destroying their spirit.

[Before being hung in the imperial city, he was whipped daily until, after a hundred days, his life force was finally shattered.]

This is to torture and humiliate him to death.

"Big brother..."

Xu Kun also heard the news and wants to advise you not to act impulsively.

"I want to go to the capital."

Xu Kun opened his mouth and reached out to touch the precious baby in his arms.

Killing his master gave him boundless confidence.

"Alright, brother, I'll stand by you through this."

……

[The capital city, the imperial city.]

[Golden tiles and red walls, a revered figure sits here, overlooking the passing years of humankind.]

The towering gallows stood, binding the figure of Dao.

[Clad in tattered white clothing, his thin body was covered in gruesome, blood-red wounds; flesh was torn and blood had congealed into black clumps, with new wounds seeping out.]

Second only to the emperor, above all others, the head of all officials in the court, the current prime minister.

[Lü Zhen.]

[Smack!]

The whip, distorting the void and imbued with supreme pressure, lashed fiercely at Lü Zhen.

[Another hideous scar was added.]

The pain that penetrated to the very core of his being caused Lü Zhen's body to tremble, his eyelids to twitch, and he struggled to keep them open.

He gave a cold laugh and shouted in a hoarse voice.

"The arrival of Wei brings peace; it is the mandate of Heaven!"

"Your Majesty, please do not remain obstinate. Abdicate the throne in accordance with the will of the people..."

[Smack!]

The treasonous words terrified the executioner, who then lashed out with a whip imbued with divine power.

The blows struck his face and mouth, and blood splattered instantly.