Chapter 5

He was born a eunuch, sent into the palace before childhood, enduring countless hardships, until taken in by an unnamed old Eunuch who taught him Wu Gong.

Due to his congenital eunuch condition, though he reached the peak of Primordial, he could never break through the barrier, sinking into despair for a time.

But the strong always possess an unyielding heart; after six months of despair, he suddenly realized: if predecessors could create Wu Gong, why could he not?

Moreover, the ancient Wu Gong manuals were always most suited to their very creators!

Once he grasped this, his mind cleared, and he embarked on the path of creating his own martial art. Heaven did not forsake the determined—after twenty full years, he finally crafted his own cultivation art: The Sunflower Manual.

Thus, though his cultivation had stagnated for twenty years, he broke through the Grandmaster Realm in merely half a year, reaching the peak of Grandmaster, and, mindful of his rapid ascent, he refined himself until all conditions were ripe—finally attaining the Realm of Celestial Immortals!

Heavenly Dao's evaluation: Born as an ant, one must harbor the ambition of a swan; fate thinner than paper, one must still hold an unyielding heart!

Heavenly Dao's reward: Heaven-grade weapon: Swift Return Needle, retrievable by thought alone.

Silence!

Quiet!

Utterly silent!

Even after the Golden List's phenomenon had ended.

Still, none could shake off their stunned daze.

On their faces, nothing but shock—only shock!

No one knew how long it had passed.

Only then did the world recover from its shock.

If Master Hua Xi had created her art merely out of fear of aging, sickness, and death,

then the Kuihua Ancestor's ordeal and journey were comparatively inspiring!

Especially the line: "the ancient Wu Gong manuals were always most suited to their very creators!"

It struck like divine enlightenment, opening the minds of countless experts.

Indeed—if predecessors could do it, why can't I? Am I inferior to them?

In an instant,

countless experts, inspired, felt a quiet stirring within them—the thought of creating their own Wu Gong.

In the Song Dynasty, within the imperial palace.

Zhao Ji smashed the porcelain before him into shards, his face grim.

His eyes brimmed with displeasure.

His voice trembled with disbelief.

"The Heavenly Dao Golden List must be flawed! How could the Ancestor's cultivation rank only nineteenth?!"

From the shadows, a figure slowly stepped forward.

He bowed to Zhao Ji and soothed him.

"Your Majesty need not rage; we know our own strength—nineteenth is already impressive!"

"More importantly, the State Master's power far surpasses mine."

"If even I can rank nineteenth, the State Master's top-ten placement is certain."

Hearing this,

Zhao Ji's expression eased slightly.

Yet he still grumbled under his breath.

"Though the State Master is indeed powerful, in my view, your strength is no lesser."

"The Golden List must have erred—next ranking update, you'll surely enter the top ten!"

The Kuihua Ancestor smiled, saying nothing.

In the Great Ming, Hei Mu Cliff.

"So the martial art I've practiced—The Sunflower Manual—was created by this very person."

"It seems I must pay a visit to the Song Dynasty, when the time comes."

Withdrawing his gaze from the void,

Liu Hongyi, seated upon the Sect Leader's throne, mused silently.

It was at this moment

that she understood.

Why, though her progress with The Sunflower Manual had been swift, she always felt something missing.

The root cause was her eunuch condition!

Even as a woman, though not a true eunuch, she still matched the opening act of self-castration.

But as the Golden List stated,

every cultivation art is most suited to its creator.

Even those who later practice it will forever face an invisible, intangible barrier.

Once she grasped this, Liu Hongyi waved her hand decisively.

She looked up and ordered Tong Bai Xiong.

"I have had a sudden insight—I shall enter seclusion. Handle all sect affairs yourselves."

Saying this,

without waiting for Tong Bai Xiong's reply,

she vanished from the Sect Leader's throne.

"Such a cultivation art exists after all! Truly, Heaven has not abandoned me!"

She had read the content of the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

Zhao Gao's eyes flashed with sharp brilliance, and he couldn't help murmuring to himself.

Immediately, Yang Congcong returned to the mansion.

He dismissed the servants and gave a cold command.

"Six Sword Slaves, listen: send Susu Sect agents to the Great Song Empire—bring me the Sunflower Manual at all costs!!"

"If necessary, activate the Luo Wang undercover agents!"

"If you fail, return with your heads on your shoulders!!"

The moment he finished speaking.

Suddenly, several voices echoed in the empty room.

"We obey your lord's command!"

With a few faint whooshes of air.

The room fell silent once more.

As if nothing had just happened.

However.

Zhao Gao did not know.

The moment the Six Sword Slaves left.

The news had already reached Ying Zheng's desk.

Ying Zheng glanced at the message with interest.

Ying Zheng chuckled softly and said calmly.

"It's merely the Sunflower Manual—let him have it."

"Has the Heibing Tai uncovered any information on the Qinglong Society?"

Compared to Zhao Gao, he cared more about the Qinglong Society.

After all.

If it truly was as he suspected.

Then the Qinglong Society was undoubtedly a colossal force.

If it could be brought under his control, all the better.

If not, it was better than stumbling blindly in the dark later.

"Your servant is incompetent—please, Your Majesty, punish me!"