Moved to tears, Lin Yan'er sincerely bid farewell to Xu Xiao once more before respectfully leaving the courtyard.

  She looked at the three slightly glowing magical artifacts in her hands, her heart a mix of emotions.

  Elder Xu... has been so kind to her!

  In the future, she must repay Elder Xu's kindness, no matter what he asks of her, she would gdly do it!

  Walking along the small path of the courtyard, she arrived at the main road leading up the mountain.

  Her two senior sisters were already waiting at the path entrance, though she didn't know when they had arrived.

  "Sisters? Why... why are you here?"

  Lin Yan'er looked at the two, a bit surprised.

  Chubby Senior Sister smiled, "Junior Sister, we saw you heading to Elder Xu's courtyard, so we came to check on you! How did it go? Elder Xu should be very kind, right? Did he give you any guidance?"

  Skinny Senior Sister also looked at Lin Yan'er with anticipation.

  "No... no guidance..." Lin Yan'er blinked her beautiful eyes.

  "What? No guidance... that's impossible... Junior Sister, you were at Elder Xu's pce all morning, and he didn't guide you at all?" Chubby Senior Sister was still in disbelief.

  Lin Yan'er said, "Really, he didn't... Elder Xu's shoulders were sore, I was just helping him massage them..."

  "What? Massaging his shoulders??"

  The two senior sisters were shocked, then their eyes lit up, "That's a good thing! It means Elder Xu has a good retionship with you! He finds you pleasing to the eye!"

  The chubby woman ughed, "No worries, if he didn't guide you this time, he'll definitely guide you in cultivation next time!"

  The two senior sisters were very excited.

  If Lin Yan'er could establish a good retionship with Elder Xu, then they, being close to her, would surely be taken care of together in the future!

  Even if they couldn't eat meat, they could still drink soup!

  "Eh? Junior Sister, why are you holding so many magical artifacts?"

  Skinny Senior Sister noticed something and excimed, "These... these are three low-grade magical artifacts! Junior Sister, where did you get these?!"

  Lin Yan'er blinked, recalling Elder Xu's warm smile, and said joyfully, "Elder Xu gave them to me... he said it was my reward for massaging his shoulders..."

  Boom!

  The two senior sisters, upon hearing this news, felt as if they had been struck by lightning, unable to recover for a long time.

  Massaging shoulders for a morning and receiving three low-grade magical artifacts in return??

  Such a thing was beyond their understanding!

  No!

  The two senior sisters roared internally.

  Why!

  Why wasn't it them!

  Magical artifacts... even combined, they didn't have a single one!

  ***

  Inside the small courtyard.

  Xu Xiao returned to his old rocking chair.

  On the table beside him was a box of eight pastries, of which only three were left after the massage session.

  "The pastries Lin brought are quite tasty."

  Xu Xiao picked up another one, eating it while sipping tea.

  The pastries seemed to have a hundred-flower filling, leaving a fragrant taste in his mouth after eating.

  "Ah... three mid-grade magical artifacts, no rush, I'll give them away when there's a chance."

  He had a pn in mind.

  For these Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples, low-grade magical artifacts were sufficient.

  Mid-grade magical artifacts were best given to Core Formation Stage cultivators, as the returns should be greater.

  According to the system's nature, gifts had to be reasonable, not random.

  He checked his spatial storage; there were still 16 low-grade magical artifacts left.

  There were 184 Foundation Establishment Pills left, 50 high-grade spirit stones, and 20 Gold-Nurturing Pills for Core Formation cultivators.

  With so many items, he could give them away slowly, no rush.

  That Lin Yan'er had good potential; once she reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could give her another batch.

  ***

  Early the next morning, the sect square was in an uproar.

  Lin Yan'er hadn't come; she was in her room, already in seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

  The thousand outer sect disciples in the square had lost interest in meditation and breathing exercises.

  They gathered in groups, discussing what happened with Lin Yan'er yesterday.

  "Oh my goodness! You've all heard, right? It's insane! Absolutely insane!!"

  "My Celestial Emperor of the Nine Heavens! Three magical artifacts! Elder Xu gave Lin Junior Sister three low-grade magical artifacts yesterday!!"

  Some disciples in the square were already going crazy.

  Even though they were low-grade magical artifacts, each one was worth a high-grade spirit stone!

  To give them away just like that was something they couldn't accept!

  "Do you know why Elder Xu gave Lin Junior Sister the magical artifacts? Just because she massaged his shoulders, he gave them to her! It's insane, absolutely insane!!"

  "Massaging shoulders for half a day and getting three low-grade magical artifacts as a reward? This world is too crazy!"

  "I've worked so hard to complete sect missions, and only after years could I afford one low-grade magical artifact, and Lin Yan'er just massages shoulders and gets three? I'm not convinced! I'm going to kill myself! Ah!!"

  Some of the more rational disciples began analyzing what was going on.

  "Don't panic! There's still a chance! There's a chance!"

  "Listen to my analysis, Elder Xu's time is almost up, and with his thousand years of accumution, he must have lots of good stuff in his pocket!

  Elder Xu has no Dao companion, no descendants, and no disciples! This means there's no one to inherit his belongings, which is why he's so generous!"

  After this analysis, all the disciples around became curious and gathered around.

  The person continued, "Lin Junior Sister just got lucky and caught Elder Xu's eye, it's not that she has anything special! Now we should act immediately, go to Elder Xu's pce and try our luck, maybe if he's in a good mood, he'll just throw out a bunch of magical artifacts and pills, and we'll all be rich!"

  After the analysis, everyone became excited.

  It made sense, a lot of sense!

  If Elder Xu's belongings weren't given to his own disciples, then who else?

  Surely he wouldn't take them to the grave?!

  "Elder Xu, I'm coming! I want to be your sworn son! No, sworn grandson!"

  "I'm going too! Even if it's just to serve Elder Xu tea and water, wash his feet, make his bed, I'd be willing! As long as he rewards me with a pill, I'd be satisfied!"

  "Me too, me too! If Elder Xu is willing to give me a magical artifact, I'd even warm his bed!"

  "Sister... have you looked at your squash face... even I wouldn't be willing..."

  "You get lost!!"

  The crowd was lively, but only a few dared to actually go down the mountain to Xu Xiao's courtyard.

  These were the ones who were willing to risk their reputation.

  On the Coiling Dragon Continent, cultivation resources were scarce and precious, essential for a cultivator's path.

  Even more important than mere money.

  If there was a way, even if it meant risking their lives, they would be willing, let alone losing face.

  Some female cultivators with a bit of beauty even sold their bodies for resources.

  "Disciple greets Elder Xu!"

  Outside came the sound of disciples paying their respects, leaving Xu Xiao in the courtyard a bit bewildered.

  What was going on?

  Why were so many outer sect disciples coming to his pce?