"More money..."
Su Bai's abrupt turn nearly threw Lin Xiaoyue off balance.
"I really don't understand how someone as money-grabby as you got the incredible luck to stumble upon the complete set of sword diagrams!"
Lin Xiaoyue pulled back her sleeve, revealing a pale green bracelet worn on her left wrist.
"This is a Jade Bracelet. Don't let its looks fool you—it's a middle-grade Magical Tool with powerful defensive properties."
"If you can get me the complete set of sword diagrams, I can trade you this bracelet for them."
From Lin Xiaoyue's perspective, this was a fantastic deal.
Although the Fire Luan Swordsmanship was worth far more than the Jade Bracelet, Old Man Su wasn't even a cultivator and had no way to unlock the true value of the swordsmanship.
Instead, it would be much better to give him a precious bracelet for self-defense, which might even save his life at a critical moment.
"Well..."
Logically speaking, Su Bai should have quit while he was ahead.
However, he was certain that this girl would never let go of the complete Fire Luan Swordsmanship, meaning he could push the price a bit higher.
"A trade is fine, but you know what my strength is like."
"There are so many fierce beasts in the mountains. If I go out there, wouldn't I just be walking right into their jaws as breakfast?"
"Hehehe, Senior Sister Lin, with your boundless divine powers, I wonder if you could lend me your outer disciple token..."
Su Bai had already set his sights on Lin Xiaoyue's token.
Because Su Bai needed to use the practice room.
The practice room contained an array that gathered spiritual energy, which was beneficial for cultivation. Su Bai wanted to make his breakthrough inside the practice room and truly become a cultivator.
Now, he would just take this opportunity to ask for the token.
Lin Xiaoyue looked at him suspiciously. "What do you want my token for?"
"I'm planning to go into seclusion to make a breakthrough, and I need to borrow the practice room. But as you know, I'm just a handyman, and you need an outer disciple token to use the practice room..."
Lin Xiaoyue looked at Su Bai, unsurprised by his request.
Su Bai was already an old man in his seventies, so he must have prepared some cultivation resources this time and wanted to go into seclusion in the practice room.
If this gamble paid off and he successfully broke through to become a Qi Refinement cultivator, his lifespan would naturally increase.
"Fine, we'll do it your way!"
Lin Xiaoyue said, "After you break through, bring the complete set of sword diagrams to see me!"
Leaving Lin Xiaoyue's room, Su Bai was in high spirits.
Once he successfully broke through and gave away the middle-grade Magical Tool he had obtained from Lin Xiaoyue to someone else, it might trigger a critical hit refund and turn into a top-grade Magical Tool!
The next day, Su Bai took Lin Xiaoyue's outer disciple token and headed to the practice room.
Su Bai wore a handyman's uniform, his snow-white beard draped down to his chest, carrying an air of nonchalance and extreme composure.
"Who is this guy? How can someone of such advanced age come to the practice room?"
"Could he be some senior master?"
"At that age, breaking through to the Qi Refinement 7th Layer is already extremely difficult. He probably has no hope of entering the inner sect in this lifetime."
The disciples all looked at Su Bai with pity, but suddenly someone noticed something strange.
"Wait, why is he wearing a handyman's uniform?"
"I remember now—he's Senior Sister Lin's man!"
"Senior Sister Lin has such wild tastes that even an old man isn't off-limits?"
"What are you thinking? I said he's a handyman from Senior Sister Lin's courtyard!"
Some of the outer disciple present had participated in the battle against the Beast Taming Sect yesterday and recognized Su Bai's identity.
Feeling the strange gazes of these people, Su Bai felt somewhat speechless.
So what if I'm a bit older?
Am I not allowed to use the practice room?
Cultivation isn't about dating; why look at age?
Just as Su Bai was about to walk into the practice room, he suddenly heard a commotion.
"Senior Sister Ziyun is here!"
"This is the new outer sect genius who just joined our Qingyun Sect!"
"She might even become the next Senior Sister Lin!"
Seeing Ziyun approaching, many outer disciples couldn't help but walk over to watch the spectacle.
Ziyun wore a long purple dress, looking youthful and beautiful, with a large crowd of young men and women surrounding her.
Unlike Lin Xiaoyue's arrogance, Ziyun spoke softly and behaved very gently, making it easy for her to win the favor of these outer disciples.
That was why, having arrived at the Qingyun Sect for only a single day, Ziyun's reputation was already catching up to Lin Xiaoyue's.
Ziyun wore a slight smile, nodding individually to those who greeted her. At that moment, her peripheral vision caught sight of Su Bai not far away. She paused for a fraction of a second and walked straight toward him.
"Greetings, Senior."
Ziyun bowed to Su Bai.
She believed that this worldly expert must have his own reasons for disguising himself as an old handyman.
Therefore, she did not expose Su Bai's identity, merely offering a bow and a greeting.
Ziyun's behavior only fueled the curiosity of those who were already intrigued by Su Bai.
"First Senior Sister Lin, and now Senior Sister Ziyun—what on earth does this old handyman have that makes him so extraordinary?"
"I get it. Senior Sister Lin must care for Senior Sister Ziyun, and it's out of respect for Senior Sister Lin that Senior Sister Ziyun is treating this old handyman this way."
"The old handyman is Senior Sister Lin's confidant, so it makes sense for Senior Sister Ziyun to treat him like this."
The crowd chimed in one after another, speculating about the relationship between the three of them.
Regardless, in their minds, Su Bai's identity remained shrouded in a layer of mysterious fog.
"What brings you to the practice room? Could it be that you want to practice the Qingyun Sect's cultivation techniques?" Su Bai asked with a smile.
"I'm actually on my way to collect my cultivation technique, and just happened to pass by, so I came over to take a look, never expecting to run into Senior here."
Ziyun's demeanor was gentle, and her attitude was extremely respectful.
Hearing this, Su Bai's eyes lit up instantly.
Since this girl hadn't collected her technique yet, why didn't he just give her one?
As an SS-rank Daughter of Fortune, the critical hit refund multiplier was 100!
If he gave her a basic Qingyun Sect cultivation technique, it might just refund a powerful technique in return.
Su Bai had come to the practice room precisely to break through the Qi Refinement Realm, and a high-quality technique would come in handy right now.
"Ziyun, you don't need to go collect one. I happen to have a basic Qingyun Sect technique here called the Qingyun Art, and it's even my annotated version accumulated over many years. I can give it to you."
Su Bai took out a yellowed, old book.
Many outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect scoffed inwardly.
An old handyman who had cultivated for decades without breaking through Qi Refinement—what use could his annotations possibly have?
It would be fine if she didn't read his insights, but if she did, she might end up being led astray.
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Senior, for the bestowal!"
Ziyun beamed with joy. Possessing stunning and captivating looks, she was an enchantress of the fox clan, carrying a natural allure.
With that smile, the male disciples nearby nearly lost their souls, grinning like fools with drool practically dripping from their mouths.
The surrounding Qingyun Sect disciples were utterly shocked.
What is going on here?!
This newly arrived Senior Sister Ziyun is giving him way too much face!
How does this old man deserve such treatment?!