Transaction

"Ding—Commencing draw. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Divine-Grade Cultivation Method, Dark Yin Sword Canon."

Li Chen Zhou leaned against the dilapidated window of the teahouse. The window lattice creaked in the night wind, and flakes of peeling paint rustled onto his shoulders. The black纹路pattern on his right palm still throbbed faintly. Moonlight filtered through the broken window paper, casting a spiderweb-like shadow on his pale face. He frowned and asked, "System, what exactly is the background of this cultivation method?"

"The ultimate technique of Sword Demon Dugu Ye thirty years ago. The sword emerges like a phantom, killing without a trace," the System mechanically replied. "Fuse immediately?"

"Wait..." Li Chen Zhou suddenly narrowed his eyes. The copper bell on the eaves chimed softly as a draft of wind passed through. "I remember you said this was the complete version?"

"Yes, the host has obtained the complete Dark Yin Sword Canon."

"Then why..." His fingers paused in mid-air. A wisp of smoke from an unknown source drifted in from outside the window, mixed with a damp, musty smell. He pointed to the line of small print at the bottom of the System interface. "Does it say here: [Note: Complete cultivation requires self-castration]?"

"The Dark Yin Sword Canon is extremely Yin and soft. Complete cultivation requires a pure Yin body," the System explained calmly. The night owl on the eaves suddenly let out a strange cry. "After cultivation, the host's physique will gradually feminize..."

The System paused for a moment. "The complete version includes all cultivation paths, including both pure Yang and pure Yin body choices."

Li Chen Zhou's eyes lit up. The beams of the teahouse suddenly emitted a subtle groan. "So, I can choose not to castrate myself and still cultivate?"

"Theoretically possible." The System's voice suddenly became ethereal, as if mixed with the echo of the night watchman's clapper from the alleyway. "However, the difficulty of cultivating with a pure Yang body is ten times that of a pure Yin body, and..."

"And what?"

"And historically, no one has ever cultivated the complete version with a pure Yang body."

Li Chen Zhou slammed his fist on the window frame, and fragments of rotten wood fell like snowflakes onto the bluestone floor. "Are you kidding me?"

"The System is merely stating facts." The mechanical voice returned to its calmness. The sound of dogs barking came from afar. "It is recommended that the host first try the general outline."

"Stop!" Cold sweat broke out on Li Chen Zhou's forehead. A rat scurried across the corner, knocking over an empty wine jar. "I choose not to fuse for the time being."

"Stored for the host, retrievable at any time."

Just then, a soft "crack" came from downstairs, like the sound of a tile breaking.

"Someone's coming." Li Chen Zhou tensed up instantly. A corner of the window paper was lifted by the wind, revealing the pitch-black night sky outside. "System, scan the surroundings."

"Detected a Sixth-Rank martial artist. Feature match: Eastern Depot Captain Liu Xian."

"Young Lord Li," Liu Xian chuckled, his voice like a venomous snake slithering across ice. Moonlight shone on the Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist. "This humble one has been waiting here for a long time."

Li Chen Zhou quickly asked in his mind, "System, what is my current state?"

"Host's current state: 30% of full strength.

Recommendation: Avoid direct confrontation."

"Damn it..." Li Chen Zhou cursed inwardly, but his face remained impassive. The beams of the teahouse groaned under the heavy pressure. "Eunuch Liu visiting so late at night, what brings you here?"

Before Liu Xian could answer, Zhao Da Chui's loud voice rang out, "Hahaha, even the eunuch dogs from the Eastern Depot are here to join the fun?"

"Grasshopper" Sun San chimed in with a sarcastic tone, "This face is prettier than the top courtesan at the House of Blossoms. What a pity to be a eunuch."

Liu Xian's face flushed red, and his jade finger guard made a grating scraping sound. The lantern on the eaves swayed in the wind, casting distorted shadows of everyone on the wall. "Get rid of them for me!"

Dozens of secret agents surged forward like a black tide. Zhao Da Chui's wild laughter stopped abruptly—four iron chains had already entangled his limbs. Sun San had just wanted to use his Grasshopper footwork, but was nailed to the pillar by a flash of silver light. The cracks on the wood were clearly visible.

Li Chen Zhou's pupils shrank. Sanskrit characters from the Golden Bell Shield appeared on his skin, and the moonlight shone on the golden patterns, emitting an eerie cold light.

Liu Xian sneered, "So this is Young Lord's confidence?"

"System, analyze Liu Xian's state," Li Chen Zhou said urgently in his mind.

"Target's Blood Essence disordered, meridians flowing in reverse, consistent with the characteristics of cultivation backlash. Recommendation: Exploit his weakness."

Liu Xian's finger guard scratched against the brick wall, creating sparks and causing dust to fall at their feet. "My Yin Shattering Finger specializes in breaking protective energy. I wonder how many fingers Young Lord can block?"

A glint flashed in Li Chen Zhou's eyes, and he suddenly said, "Eunuch Liu, why not try this passage of incantation: 'Yin generates baleful energy, Qi flows through the Mysterious Pass'..."

Liu Xian's body shook. "You... How do you know..."

"This is just a little bit of the surface of the first half." Li Chen Zhou took out a Jade Scroll from his chest. The candlelight flickered at his fingertips, casting a long shadow of the Jade Scroll. "How about a deal?"

"System, confirm the contents of the Jade Scroll," he ordered in his mind.

"The Jade Scroll records the first half of the Dark Yin Sword Canon. Restrictions have been set, and it cannot be copied."

Liu Xian couldn't wait to snatch the Jade Scroll and hold it to his forehead to examine it. After a moment, his face suddenly became greedy, and the candlelight suddenly flickered erratically. "Not enough! This is only the first half!"

"The second half will be offered after I escape." Li Chen Zhou said as he retreated, stepping on pieces of broken porcelain that had fallen at some point. "If Eunuch doesn't believe me, you can kill me now. But the whereabouts of the second half..."

At this critical moment, more than a dozen men in black suddenly charged out from the street corner.

"Young Master, go quickly!" the leader shouted, and the sound of weapons clashing startled the night birds under the eaves.

"Protect Young Master Li!"The leader of the men in black shouted in a low voice, and took the initiative to block Li Chen Zhou, fighting with the Eastern Depot secret agents.

The leader of the men in black was tall, wearing a bronze mask on his face, and his voice was hoarse: "Young Master, come with us!"

Li Chen Zhou was stunned. Before he could react, the system in his mind suddenly warned:

[Warning! These men in black are Net assassins, and the mastermind behind them is Prince Jin!]

Li Chen Zhou's heart was shocked—Prince Jin sent people to "save" him? Obviously, he wanted to capture him alive and completely confirm the Li family's treason!

"Eunuch Liu!" Liu Xian waved his hand violently: "Eastern Depot, listen to my orders! These black-clothed assassins dare to attempt a prison break, kill them without mercy!"

"Yes!" The Eastern Depot secret agents immediately turned their blades and fought with the Net assassins.

In the chaos, Liu Xian winked at Li Chen Zhou, signaling him to leave quickly.

Li Chen Zhou understood and took advantage of the chaos to break out of the encirclement. Just as he ran a few steps, a black-clothed leader suddenly flew over and grabbed his shoulder: "Come with me!"

This person's light footwork was extremely high. Carrying Li Chen Zhou, he quickly shook off the pursuers and headed straight for the city gate.