Master of Strange Dao

"A eunuch? Since when did Thousand Sect fall to such depths?"

"What does it matter if he's a eunuch? This identity can better conceal the Thousand Sect.

Moreover, the times have changed. In my era, the Dong Chang, led by eunuchs, even enjoys greater trust from Emperor Qian than the Jinyi Wei, holding more power."

"How long has it been?"

"I'm not quite sure, at least tens of thousands of years, I suppose."

"It's been that long, and only now has someone come here? What about Dadui?"

"Dadui is no more, which is why I was able to come here."

"Can you take me out?" The Man in Black seemed somewhat disdainful.

"I have found Ba. As long as I bring Ba here, the seal here can naturally be resolved, but I need to get the complete Thousand Sect Eight Classics first." The Old Eunuch put forth a condition, extending a finger.

"Impossible, don't delude yourself," the Man in Black scoffed sharply in rejection.

"We both know what kind of people are within the Thousand Sect.

If I had not been compelled, I wouldn't have hidden within Dadui's seal.

If the conditions are right now, and you can take me out, I will give you the complete Thousand Sect Eight Classics.

Otherwise, don't even think about it.

Whoever can take me out, the Thousand Sect Eight Classics will be theirs."

"Times have changed. Even if you get out, you will be hard-pressed to survive. The current era is nothing like the End Period of Dadui.

Now, Daqian, Dali, and Dazhen are all far stronger than Dadui was in its End Period.

Even Dazhen, which appears to be the weakest on the surface, had its Emperor Zhen step into the Tenth Tier over two thousand years ago.

We have also entered the palace, transforming into eunuchs and gaining favor from Emperor Qian.

We established the Dong Chang, which has authority far above the Jinyi Wei.

Without my help, once you step outside, you are doomed the moment you take action.

I finally found Ba after spending a great deal of time and effort to control it.

It took me over a thousand years to lay the groundwork and have the opportunity to bring Ba here.

You probably don't know that Ba is now married to a Prince of Daqian.

He is a true genius of the Sword Dao, already at the Ninth Tier.

You should know how difficult it was for me to reach this point.

Now that it's within reach, if you don't show me some advantage, I can hardly trust you.

If we get out, I won't help you."

The Old Eunuch spoke deliberately and assertively.

The Man in Black listened quietly, his brow slightly furrowed.

They had their own ways of discerning the true meaning behind words and of identifying truth from falsehood.

At this moment, the heart of the Man in Black sank slightly; even though he knew the Old Eunuch surely hid something, these words were undoubtedly true.

"I'll give you half first, and the other half after you take me out."

"No, it must be the complete Thousand Sect Eight Classics," the Old Eunuch refused to budge.

"If I give it to you and you don't break the seal, you can't take us out."

"Even if we can't get out, I need to have it in hand first."

"At most half, if you don't agree, forget it."

The Old Eunuch frowned slightly, pondering for a moment.

"Half first is fine, but once Ba arrives, I want the other half the moment I see Ba."

"Agreed," the Man in Black quickly consented, then he asked another question, "Which of the Four Classics of the Thousand Sect Eight Classics do you want?"

"Naturally, the Upper Four Classics." The Old Eunuch responded offhandedly.

The Man in Black glanced at the Old Eunuch, waved his hand, and four books appeared in his hand.

The Old Eunuch looked at the four books labeled 'Wind Fire Bewitchery,' his eyes flashing slightly.

"The Lower Four Classics will also do."

As he reached out to take the four books, the Man in Black took them back.

He pulled out four different books, labeled 'Standard Reverse Release.'

"Considering you've remembered me all these years, I'll give you the Upper Four Classics."

The Old Eunuch's hand paused briefly, then he shook his head.

"You're too cautious—what's the difference between Upper and Lower?"

The Old Eunuch took the four books, and the Man in Black immediately felt he had given the wrong ones.

Being here meant at least having cultivated one of the classics.

Whether it was the Upper Four or Lower Four, it wouldn't be complete.

But by then, it was too late.

Yu Ziqing just stood aside, watching the two old tricksters testing each other.

Seeing that book labeled 'Bewitchery,' he suddenly understood a lot of things.

The rumors in Dali were likely a result of this special Dharma Method.

This Old Eunuch probably had fully grasped the nature of the Man in Black.

He definitely already had the Lower Four Classics but openly stated he wanted the Upper Four.

Both were acting and testing, playing a game of predicting each other's predictions.

In the end, the Man in Black still gave him the Upper Four Classics.

Once the deal was completed, the Man in Black disappeared.

Yu Ziqing didn't chase after the man who vanished without a trace quickly, but rather followed the Old Eunuch.

Time passed bit by bit, the Old Eunuch found a place to live, waiting here for Ba's arrival, while studying the Upper Four Classics.

Yu Ziqing just stood behind him, studying alongside him.

The Old Eunuch laid out the four books in sequence, chuckling lightly.

"He never knew, eunuchs have always been gamblers from ancient times, not having even the qualifications for cultivation initially.

Besides being greedy and gambling, what else could they do?

The earliest form of the Thousand Sect Eight Classics originated from an eunuch who secretly practiced cultivation.

Unfortunately, the complete set of classics perfected over generations was eventually buried together by a con man.

As a former Sect Leader, having to rely on Dadui's seal to escape, really is pathetic."

As the Old Eunuch studied the classics, Yu Ziqing also casually followed along.

The first Standard Classic was precisely the orthodox Dharma Method of Qi Refining.