A stunned silence fell over the courtyard.
The words “Earth Grade Cultivation Method” struck like a bolt of lightning.
The disciples who had been whispering moments ago were frozen in disbelief.
“Earth Grade…? Did I hear that right?”
“That can’t be true. Although the Bai Clan has Earth Grade Cultivation Methods, those are reserved for their elites. How can the Bai Zihan be allowed to give one to another? He would instantly be expelled even if he was an heir!”
“He’s definitely bluffing. It has to be a trick.”
…
But even if they thought it was a trick… no one dared to say it out loud.
After all, even the biggest of scammers wouldn’t casually throw around the term Earth Grade to entice people.
Profound-Grade might be somewhat believable, especially if it came from the mouth of a Bai Clan member who could afford that—but Earth Grade? That also a Cultivation method and not just a fighting technique? And for a handyman?
Even someone with the slightest intelligence would know that had to be a lie.
Lin Xuan’s eyes widened ever so slightly. His heart, which had been full of suspicion and caution, now trembled for a different reason.
Earth Grade Cultivation Methods weren’t just rare—they were mythical.
In the entire Heaven Sword Sect, even inner disciples only had access to Profound Grade.
Core disciples might have access to peak Profound Grade, but Earth Grade Cultivation Method?
Only disciples with powerful backgrounds—or the Sect Leader and the next Sect Leader—would ever see such things.
As for Heaven Grade Cultivation Method, no one in the Desolate Heaven Empire possesses.
Which meant Earth-Grade is the highest grade for cultivation method.
But Bai Zihan… he was claiming he had one in his possession and was willing to offer it to a handyman?
What… kind of game is he playing?
Lin Xuan didn’t speak. He couldn’t. He was still trying to process whether Bai Zihan was insane, lying, or actually… serious.
Bai Zihan stepped closer, his tone calm but carrying the weight of utter confidence.
“Not only that, I promise that you will get every resource you need for cultivation.”
He then proceeded to take something out of his storage ring.
“Here! I’ll give you this as a present for our first meeting.”
Bai Zihan tossed a jade bottle containing Core Formation Pills, all of high quality.
Considering he had already broken through to the Core Condensation Stage, those pills weren’t as useful to him as Core Condensation Pills.
His father had given him thousands of high-quality Core Formation Pills, unaware that Bai Zihan had already broken through.
So, Bai Zihan didn’t care about giving them away.
He also had a good number of Core Condensation Pills, also gifted in preparation for his breakthrough.
Moreover, even if he ran out, he could simply inform his clan and receive a new batch.
Lin Xuan caught the jade bottle and immediately recognized what pills they were. There were at least twenty of them—each of unusually high quality.
Though Bai Zihan didn’t think much of them, it was different for others—especially Lin Xuan, who had no background.
If he saved up for a year working as a handyman—and that was assuming he didn’t spend it on anything else—he might be able to afford one such pill.
But Bai Zihan had casually tossed twenty at him without a moment’s hesitation.
The other disciples and handymen saw this and were stunned.
Even disciples with decent backgrounds couldn’t afford to give away such pills—let alone of that quality, which even money couldn’t easily buy.
The handymen couldn’t help but feel jealous when they realized what Bai Zihan had just given away.
They had initially thought Lin Xuan was in serious trouble, but now, looking at the casual gift he’d received, they couldn’t help but envy him.
Their perspective shifted—from Lin Xuan being unfortunate, to being extremely lucky.
Lin Xuan felt the same.
With those pills, his cultivation would leap beyond what he had anticipated. In the next sect assessment, he might even have a chance to become the outer disciple of Heaven Sword Sect.
However, he also knew that nothing came free in this world. There had to be appropriate compensation.
“Young Master, this is too much. I can’t accept it!”
Suppressing his desire, Lin Xuan declined the offer.
Anyone could see that Bai Zihan was going far and beyond for just a handyman—which confused everyone.
Was Lin Xuan really that valuable?
Forget the Earth Grade Cultivation Method—even the high-quality Core Formation Pills were already too generous.
“Lin Xuan, think carefully,” Bai Zihan said. “Serving me will bring you benefits far beyond what you can imagine. As for those pills—you can keep them, whether or not you agree to serve me.”
Bai Zihan didn’t want to push too hard. That would make things too suspicious—though he figured his offer was already suspicious enough.
Still, if not today… Perhap Lin Xuan might change his mind in the future.
Even if that weren’t the case, those pills would still be valuable to Lin Xuan—and enough to place him in his debt.
Lin Xuan was still deep in thought.
Those pills alone would be a tremendous help.
And if Bai Zihan was telling the truth, and Lin Xuan could cultivate with an Earth Grade Cultivation Method, then becoming an outer disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect would be a simple matter.
After all, he and the other handymen only had access to Common Yellow Grade Cultivation Methods—the slowest of the slow.
If they wanted something better, they had to either pay a hefty price or somehow qualify as outer disciples.
And even then, all they’d get was a Profound Grade method at best.
But Bai Zihan was offering an Earth Grade Cultivation Method—something impossible for someone like Lin Xuan to obtain unless he was nominated to become the next Sect Leader… which was beyond unlikely.
While he was lost in thought, the other handymen who had been watching enviously could no longer hold themselves back.
“Y-Young Master Bai! I—I’m also willing to serve you!”
“Please, give me a chance! I’m hardworking, loyal, and will do anything you ask!”
“Lin Xuan’s already hesitating! Why not give someone else the opportunity?”
…
Their sudden eagerness shattered the silence, and a dozen or so handymen rushed forward, bowing and shouting over each other like a pack of starving dogs fighting over a single bone.
The scent of opportunity had drawn them in like moths to a flame.
After all, who wouldn’t want to trade a life of sweeping courtyards and scrubbing floors for Earth Grade Cultivation Methods and high-quality pills?
Those pills alone were enough reason to risk it—even knowing the rumors surrounding Bai Zihan.
After all, greater the risk, greater the reward.
Bai Zihan glanced at them without much interest.
“You?”
His voice was calm, but his words were cold.
“I offered it to Lin Xuan. Not you.”
The moment those words fell, the handymen who had stepped forward froze.
“Damn it…” one of them muttered under his breath. “Why him? Why Lin Xuan?”
But none dared to say it aloud.
They could only glare at Lin Xuan, their eyes filled with envy and resentment.
Bai Zihan turned back to Lin Xuan, his expression now more relaxed—almost casual.
“You see, Lin Xuan,” he said, gesturing lazily to the crowd behind him, “even they understand what I’m offering.”
His tone wasn’t mocking, but there was a subtle pressure in it—a reminder of just how rare this opportunity was.
“Think about it,” he added. “Do you really want to spend the rest of your life scrubbing stone paths for scraps while others cultivate their way to immortality?”
Lin Xuan’s fingers tightened around the jade bottle.
He wanted to say no—he should say no.
Nothing came free. This was too generous… too strange.
An Earth Grade Cultivation Method? Dozens of high-quality pills?
This was beyond anything he had ever dared to hope for—it was better than becoming an outer disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect.
There had to be a catch.
But even with all the doubt gnawing at his heart… part of him wanted to believe.
He had dreamed of becoming a powerful cultivator since the day he first stepped into the Heaven Sword Sect as a handyman.
He’d worked tirelessly, hoping for just one opportunity to change his fate.
And now… it was here.
Was it worth rejecting just because it seemed too good to be true?
“…If I agree,” Lin Xuan said finally, his voice cautious, “what exactly would I be expected to do?”
Bai Zihan smiled faintly. Not a smirk, not an arrogant sneer—just a calm, almost genuine smile.
“For now? Just watch over my courtyard. Serve me tea, maybe clean up a bit. Nothing more.”
He stepped a little closer.
“But in return, you’ll cultivate faster than any outer disciple. And when the time comes… I’ll expect loyalty.”
The last word lingered in the air like a hidden blade wrapped in silk.
Lin Xuan’s gaze sharpened. Loyalty, huh?
He wasn’t stupid. Bai Zihan wasn’t doing this out of kindness—he wanted something in return.
But if that something didn’t involve his life… and if it could change his destiny…
“Alright,” Lin Xuan said after a long pause.
“I’ll serve you, Young Master Bai.”