The people at the event, whether they knew Jake or not, were now speculating about Jake's identity. Even those who had previously known him believed that Jake was not as simple as they thought.
Xenia held the booklet, feeling a mix of excitement and hesitation. After some contemplation, she handed it back to Jake, saying, "Jake, this gift is too precious, and I can't accept it."
Indeed, it wasn't just any gift, and its significance weighed on Xenia. If it had been a typical gift, even one worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, she might have accepted it and thanked Jake. But this cultivation manual was different. It was something that money couldn't buy, and she couldn't ignore the envious gazes from the others in the room.
Dan, who was usually calm and collected, also became agitated. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Xenia, this is your teacher's gift, a token of his affection. How can you refuse it?"
Given the exceptional rarity of such a cultivation manual, Dan couldn't let his daughter return such a valuable gift. If it had been anything else, he might have respected her decision, but this was different.
"Xenia, what your father says is right. This is my birthday gift to you, and it wouldn't be appropriate to take it back once it's been given," Jake said with a smile.
Though he regretted his choice of gift upon realizing how rare the cultivation manual was, he had given it with good intentions and didn't want to take it back. Besides, seeing the envious looks from the others, he knew that trying to retrieve it now would only cause trouble.
Jake also understood that not everyone present could be trusted to act honestly. Bill and Jude, in particular, were not above using underhanded tactics. If the manual returned to Jake's possession, they would likely do everything in their power to seize it. For safety's sake, it was better to leave it with Xenia's family.
"But this gift is really too precious," Xenia still hesitated.
"Come on, it's just a handwritten booklet of mine, all tattered and torn. If you don't mind it, that's good enough," Jake replied.
Indeed, the cultivation manual was Jake's handwritten version, containing the Bulwark Blade Technique that Eli had taught him. As Eli wasn't a Grandmaster, Jake couldn't learn the technique with just one explanation. That's why he had meticulously recorded the teachings.
However, now that Jake had mastered the Bulwark Blade Technique, the manual had lost its value to him. When he was trying to figure out what to gift Xenia, he remembered he had this booklet in his backpack. It was essentially useless to him now, and he had even considered disposing of it before realizing it might make a meaningful gift for Xenia.
Jake's words drew silent frustration from the crowd. Calling something like this "tattered and torn" was almost insulting. They would gladly accept such "trash" if given the opportunity.
"Xenia, since your teacher has said so, don't refuse anymore. You wouldn't want to hurt his feelings," Dan said.
Xenia glanced at Jake and saw that he truly didn't mind parting with the booklet. She smiled and said, "Thank you, Teacher Jake. This is the best birthday gift I've ever received."
No one at the event dared to argue with Xenia on this matter. They all silently agreed with her statement. While some had given Xenia precious gifts in an attempt to win her favor, those items couldn't compare to the booklet Jake had given her.
The banquet continued, but the spotlight had shifted from Gary Elder and the others to Jake. After all, his generosity had made a lasting impression.
Jake, on the other hand, didn't realize the true value of the Bulwark Blade Technique until now. He had initially thought it was an ordinary martial arts technique, but the term "Xuan-level" had piqued his curiosity. It made him wonder if the skills he learned in the game world could surpass those in the real world in terms of levels.
This phenomenon reminded him of Alan's cooking skills. Jake had initially assumed that Alan, with his role as Kailomen's head chef, possessed a high-level culinary skill. However, he had discovered that his own culinary skill, even at an advanced level, surpassed Alan's.
Now, Jake was beginning to understand that skills and abilities in the real world were different from those in the game world. Some skills that were mediocre in the game world could be highly prized in reality, much like ordinary ingredients could become treasures in the culinary world.
Gary Elder, who had originally intended to leave after presenting his gift, changed his mind and stayed behind. He didn't engage with Xenia's family but instead struck up a conversation with Jake.
Jake, who could casually gift Xuan-level techniques, was no ordinary individual. There must be a significant force or influence behind him, perhaps even comparable to Celestial Moon Sect. Gary Elder didn't want to miss the opportunity to establish a connection with such a person.
Xenia's family members didn't take offense at Gary Elder's actions. They also wanted to converse with Jake or Gary Elder, but they realized that these two were now esteemed guests. They couldn't afford to offend them, so they refrained from approaching and causing any disturbance.
This situation left Xenia feeling somewhat dejected. She had invited Jake to spend time with her, not for any grand gifts. However, Jake had been occupied by Gary Elder. Fortunately, she had danced with Jake earlier, which had eased her disappointment to some extent.