This was not the glow of spirit stones; those yellow talismans were covered in red runes that shone brightly.
"This is..."
Elder Qin rubbed his eyes hard, suspecting he was seeing things. How could this newly promoted errand disciple possibly possess Samadhi True Fire Talismans in a place like this?
Inside that small bundle, that stack of Samadhi True Fire Talismans numbered at least a dozen or so. Even if he didn't use them himself, taking them to trade for money would be fantastic!
A single Samadhi True Fire Talisman was worth at least a hundred good-quality spirit stones.
Over a dozen spiritual talismans amounted to a colossal fortune.
Even someone as high-ranking and powerful as Elder Qin was dazzled by this immense wealth.
A smile appeared on his face, making him look as though he were facing a wealthy patron.
"Brother Su, why go to all this trouble!"
"Why are you being so polite with me, even giving me such a wonderful gift?"
Though his mouth said no, Elder Qin's actions were anything but polite as he boldly reached out and took the true fire talismans.
"Didn't I just join the outer sect? I'm no longer an errand runner now, but as an outer sect disciple, I should still do something for the sect..."
Su Bai said it as if it were only natural. "To serve the sect—this is my blessing!"
Elder Qin thought to himself, *This old fellow is spouting official jargon with me. Is he just too used to bureaucratic talk?*
"Brother Su's awareness is truly admirable to this elder brother of yours. How about I send you to the Elixir Hall? The work there is easy, and there are plenty of elixir perks..."
For the sake of these spiritual talismans, Elder Qin prepared to arrange an easy job for Su Bai.
If it were anyone else, a thousand spirit stones wouldn't even buy them such a position!
But since Su Bai was so generous with his spending, Elder Qin naturally wanted to win over such a major client.
"The work in the Elixir Hall has too much toxic gas. I'm afraid these old bones of mine wouldn't be able to handle it..."
Su Bai refused.
"Then shall we go to the Forging Hall?"
"In the Forging Hall, you only need to help guard the warehouse. Many outer sect disciples change their flying swords and have to go through your hands. That's a lucrative position!"
Elder Qin was still showing loyalty.
"Guarding the warehouse—although very easy, the responsibility is also huge. If anything went wrong, I wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."
Su Bai put on a troubled look.
Elder Qin twitched a brow, feeling somewhat annoyed.
He won't go here, and he won't go there. What on earth does this kid want?
He was already starting to regret it, knowing those dozen or so precious spiritual talismans wouldn't be so easy to take.
This old fellow surnamed Su was a hard master to please. He would probably have to offer a genuinely good position to satisfy him.
"I surely can't have you giving massages to the female disciples!"
"Though such positions do indeed exist..."
"They were all snapped up by the juniors of those inner sect elders."
Elder Qin earnestly tried to persuade him with kind words.
"Elder Qin, what kind of person do you take Su for?"
Su Bai wore a deadpan expression. "I merely want to go to the Spirit Beast Garden to raise animals, yet you actually take this Su to be a libertine!"
Suddenly, a smile appeared on Su Bai's face.
"Though doing things like massages isn't entirely out of the question. I, this Su, spent all those years as an errand runner; I certainly still have the skills to massage bones and loosen tendons..."
Elder Qin nearly spat out his mouthful of tea.
You old fellow, did you really change your face that fast?
You're wide awake the moment female cultivators are mentioned!
"Ahem, the Spirit Beast Garden it is then! As long as you want to go, I will definitely grant your wish!"
Elder Qin just wanted to dispatch Su Bai as quickly as possible now, though there was a lingering doubt in his heart.
That place called the Spirit Beast Garden dealt with fierce beasts, where it was either dung or feed. It was such a filthy and foul place, yet someone actually wanted to go there of their own accord—it was truly bizarre.
Suddenly, Elder Qin had a bold conjecture, and he gazed at Su Bai with a very strange look.
"Ahem, don't let your imagination run wild. I don't have that sort of hobby!"
Su Bai was left speechless. *Do you old monsters who have lived for hundreds of years all have such unhealthy minds?*
In truth, Su Bai only had one reason for wanting to go to the Spirit Beast Garden.
Other posts were either very dangerous or carried heavy responsibilities.
But in a place like the Spirit Beast Garden, as long as you didn't let the animals die of neglect, it was fine. And fierce beasts were robust creatures that didn't die easily.
For someone like Su Bai who enjoyed peace, quiet, and a free-spirited life, the Spirit Beast Garden was naturally the most suitable fit.
He could raise animals when he had nothing to do, sleep when he wanted to sleep, be as lazy as he pleased, and have no one breathing down his neck.
Such a job was simply fantastic.
More importantly, there were simply too many delicacies to be had in the Spirit Beast Garden.
Hatching bird eggs incurred a certain amount of loss—that wasn't strange, right?
There were so many spirit bees being raised; it wouldn't be strange if a few beehives went missing, right?
Fierce beasts frequently fought amongst themselves; occasionally a spirit bear losing a bear paw also made sense, right?
Having spirit eggs for breakfast, a little honey dessert for lunch, and something light for dinner like a roasted bear paw.
Could life possibly be any more cozy and pleasant?
Su Bai had secured such a gig spending merely a dozen Samadhi True Fire Talismans; it was an absolute steal.
Of course, ordinary outer sect disciples couldn't pull off a stunt like his.
The prerequisite for wanting to eat bear paw was having the strength to suppress a bear demon; otherwise, who would end up eating whom was far from certain.
Su Bai possessed the divine ability of the Vermilion Bird Subduing Demon Sword, as well as the formidable physical body brought by the Azure Dragon Formula. Suppressing those ordinary fierce beasts with his strength was effortless.
Late at night.
In Lin Xiaoyue's small courtyard.
Su Bai brought the complete set of sword charts and walked respectfully into Lin Xiaoyue's room.
"Senior Sister Lin, I have brought the sword charts."
"And this is your token; I've brought that back as well."
On the surface, Su Bai wore a respectful expression, but inwardly he was filled with anticipation.
Once today's trade for the Jade Bracelet was complete, if he passed the Jade Bracelet on to Ziyun as a gift, he would definitely reap an even stronger magical artifact!
Lin Xiaoyue inspected the sword manual, a flash of excitement crossing her pretty eyes.
Other outer sect disciples couldn't even dream of advanced divine abilities like this.
Yet now, she had obtained it from this old fellow at a tiny cost. She had made out like a bandit!
"The complete version of the Fire Luan Swordsmanship!"
"With this thing, once I enter the inner sect, I'm afraid I'll be able to break through to Foundation Establishment in less than three years!"
Lin Xiaoyue's eyes burned with fervor as she held those diagrams, looking at them in a trance of infatuation before lazily waving a hand to dismiss Su Bai.
And that Jade Bracelet flew from her hand, landing accurately into Su Bai's grasp.
[Host successfully gifted: Fire Luan Sword Manual]
[Obtained critical strike return: Azure Wood Swordsmanship!]
Su Bai felt a surge of joy in his heart. This Azure Wood Swordsmanship was an ancient and wondrous technique; not only did it possess terrifying sword Qi, but it could also summon plants to bind and whip enemies.
The skill's effects were rather peculiar, not quite resembling a proper martial technique.
However, if he ever encountered the bewitching witches of the Hehuan Sect in the future, this ancient swordsmanship might just unleash unexpected power.