(Nice! Got him!)
Bai Zihan happily thought as Lin Xuan agreed.
He thought that perhaps he might need to wait for few more days before he could succeed, but Lin Xuan decisively agreed.
As expected, as long as one was willing to spend enough, there wasn’t anything that one couldn’t buy.
“Come,” he said over his shoulder to Lin Xuan.
“We will talk about other things at my courtyard.”
Lin Xuan followed, still holding the jade bottle of pills, his mind racing with questions.
However, no matter what, he had already made up his decision. He could only pray that Bai Zihan didn’t deceive him.
Disciples and handymen alike turned to watch as Bai Zihan and Lin Xuan walked away.
The handymen were filled with envy and regret, jealous that Lin Xuan had received precious pills as a gift so easily.
On the other hand, the disciples could only shake their heads, convinced that Lin Xuan had been fooled by Bai Zihan.
In their eyes, there was no way Bai Zihan would actually keep his promise—after all, Earth-Grade cultivation techniques were considered clan secrets.
No matter what, they believed Bai Zihan would never teach the Bai Clan’s techniques to an outsider.
“You said yes… but I know you’re still uncertain,” Bai Zihan said as they walked.
Lin Xuan remained silent.
“That’s fine. I don’t expect blind loyalty overnight. However, soon you will realize that this decision is the best decision that you made in your life.”
Lin Xuan didn’t say anything for a long time, and there was a long silence as the two of them entered the Mystic Moon Peak.
“Why me?”
Lin Xuan asked, after a long silence.
This was what bothered him for a long time.
He didn’t think that there was anything remarkable about him for Bai Zihan to personally seek him out.
Bai Zihan tilted his head slightly.
“Because I see potential,” he said simply.
(Stupid! You are the Heaven Chosen! Of course, I would want you.)
Bai Zihan thought.
“Because I believe in investing early… and reaping the rewards later.”
“Are you telling me that I am talented?”
Lin Xuan asked uncertainly. He didn’t think that he was bad, but didn’t think he was talented either.
He was feeling unsure because he had tried to become an Outer Disciple for the past 5 years and had failed time and again.
After experiencing so much failure, anyone would lose confidence in themselves.
However, that was only because Lin Xuan was comparing himself with others who had support of their families and comparing with the best of the best.
Of course, compared to disciples of Heaven Sword Sect, he might not be anything special and even the weakest disciple there was much better than him.
However, those disciples were already the cream of the crop within the entire Desolate Heaven Empire and shouldn’t be used as the baseline for comparison.
But without any support from others, to be able to reach Core Formation Stage at just 17 years old, that too with just a Common Yellow Grade Cultivation Method, Lin Xuan was very talented.
“You can take it in any way you want.”
Bai Zihan didn’t say much either.
There was another silence after that as Lin Xuan was thinking about what Bai Zihan said.
On the other hand, Bai Zihan was looking at his System Store.
He was going to buy an Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique from the System Store and give it to Lin Xuan.
Bai Zihan knew the Myriad Breathing Technique, but it was Heaven Grade and he wasn’t going to risk it and teach it to Lin Xuan, who might become his enemy.
Moreover, if others knew that he had such Cultivation Technique, they would surely come to hunt him down.
He also wasn’t going to teach him the Azure Dragon Breathing Method of the Bai Clan, which is only reserved for the Clan Leader and those with great talent.
Otherwise, when the Bai Clan found out, he would surely be punished and even expelled from the Clan, which he didn’t want.
Leaving the Clan wasn’t exactly bad, but he was sure to be crippled before being exiled.
Anyways, he felt that if just buying an Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique could make a protagonist on his side, it was totally worth it.
Moreover, in the future he could use the same Cultivation Technique to entice others to join him.
He looked at the System interface.
Currently, he had about 10,000 points.
And most Earth-Grade Cultivation Techniques cost around 5,000 points.
Bai Zihan scanned through the glowing panel only he could see, eyes moving quickly over the rows of cultivation techniques available in the System Store.
He wasn’t going to waste time.
He didn’t need perfection—he needed something powerful, presentable, and good enough to leave Lin Xuan in awe.
After a few seconds, he found one.
Without hesitation, he spent the 5,000 points.
A golden ripple flashed across his vision as the purchase completed.
*************************
[Star Breathing Technique: Earth-Grade]
Description:
A potent Earth-Grade cultivation technique that refines Qi using celestial resonance. It allows the cultivator to harmonize with the rhythm of stars, drastically improving Qi circulation and combat adaptability.
Absorption Efficiency: 100% increased Qi absorption. During nighttime, cultivation speed increases by an additional 50%.
*************************
Bai Zihan nodded with satisfaction.
“Star Breathing Technique, huh? Sounds fancy enough,” he muttered to himself.
By the time he finished, they had reached his courtyard.
The doors opened with a wave of Bai Zihan’s hand, after which he sat down on the table and took out his jade brush.
He sat down calmly and gestured for Lin Xuan to wait.
Then, with practiced ease, he began to write the technique from memory—line by line, stroke by stroke, each character glowing faintly with Qi.
Lin Xuan stood silently, not daring to interrupt, eyes filled with restrained anticipation.
It wasn’t long before Bai Zihan placed the finished scroll on the table and looked up.
“This,” Bai Zihan said, “is the Star Breathing Technique. An Earth-Grade cultivation technique.”
Lin Xuan’s breath caught in his throat.
Even though Bai Zihan had said he’d provide one, he didn’t believe it until he was given the scroll.
Still, he was skeptical.
Unless he tried it, he wouldn’t know whether Bai Zihan was lying or really giving him an Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique.
Bai Zihan tapped the scroll lightly.
“You are not to teach this to anyone. Not even your friends, should you have any. If I find out you’ve copied or passed it on without permission…”
He let the sentence hang, unfinished.
But Lin Xuan understood.
“I understand, Young Master Bai!”
He said seriously, taking the scroll with both hands and bowing deeply.
“I will never show it to anyone.”
Bai Zihan leaned back in his chair and smiled slightly.
“Good! You can cultivate in my courtyard and check its efficiency.”
Lin Xuan’s hands trembled slightly as he clutched the scroll.
He had walked into this courtyard as a mere handyman, a nobody.
But now… now he held in his hands something that countless people could only dream of.
This was his chance.
A new beginning!