https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-101-Thousand-Mile-Life-Binding-Mission-Accomplished-with-a-Brush-of-the-Robe-Seeking-Mont/12984002/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-103-The-Seven-Elemental-Thousand-Handed-Divine-Carving-Technique-Could-This-Child-Have-Wit/12984004/
Chapter 102: Behold, the Divine Art
Chapter 102: Behold, the Divine Art
Qin Mansion.
The spring rain fell, carrying a sense of melancholy.
The entire mansion seemed engulfed in an ocean of divine essence, with a high-level divine essence so dense it was almost suffocating.
And the source of all this divine essence was none other than the hunched old man standing amidst the devastation, his body shattered and broken, leaving a large crater.
Qin Di Kun, the Divine Physiognomist of the Nine Serpents Lamenting Heaven King Divine Physiognomy, was the old master of the Qin family.
The Nine Serpents Lamenting Heaven King Divine Physiognomy was a middle-grade seven-element divine physiognomy, the foundation of the Qin family's power in Golden Light City.
Although Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao were Divine Foundation Perfection grandmasters, even they found it difficult to breathe under the oppressive divine essence of the old master's divine physiognomy.
"Tang Clan's mechanisms..."
"Did the remnants of the Tang Clan make a move?"
Qin Di Kun, the old master of the Qin family, furrowed his brows slightly, his aged face twitching. "Using seventh-rank spirit wood as material and carving with such exquisite craftsmanship... Such intricate mechanisms cannot be easily crafted without the Tang Clan's mechanism techniques."
"This object's explosion speed is extremely fast. It was shot from an unknown distance, and with the essence and divine essence between heaven and earth, it still had the power to kill Yuqing after consuming those energies."
The old man narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with suppressed fury, and slowly retracted the Bodhi blood tear's strand of Bodhi silk.
This mechanism was extremely vicious. Once it entered a human body, it would explode, turning the flesh and blood into a ball of blood.
Qin Yuqing was mostly blasted into pieces; otherwise, with the mechanism's viciousness, her flesh and blood would have been torn apart like blood-colored tears, a gruesome death.
Thankfully, she was blasted into pieces, sparing her from a more horrific death.
"Tang Clan's mechanisms... Was it that old ghost who made a move? But why would he..."
"The Tang Clan has long been destroyed, and he's under the watchful eye of the Great Jing Court. How could he have acted?"
Qin Di Kun furrowed his brows.
Even he, a divine physiognomist, felt bewildered and confused by this incident.
Secluded in his chamber, he sensed the disturbance but was already too late. He tried to stop it with his divine sense but was pierced through.
So, he gave up on rescuing her. After all, by the time Qin Yuqing's qi and blood essence were activated, it was already too late to defend against it. He couldn't have made it in time even if he rushed out of his chamber, as he didn't possess the ability to teleport.
"Old Master..."
Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao greeted the old master, who had stopped pondering.
"Did Yuqing offend anyone recently?"
"First, her subordinate, Gray Face, was shot and killed. Then, she was killed by this terrifying mechanism right inside the mansion..."
"Who did she provoke to incur such a vicious method?"
Qin Di Kun asked calmly.
Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao's faces were filled with bewilderment. They opened their mouths but couldn't find the words to explain.
"Yuqing had a child with the City Lord of Thunderstrike City, Cao Guang. Their son, Cao Qingyuan, died in Thunderstrike City. Old Master, that Cao Guang cultivates the Three-Eyed Wrathful Vajra Divine Foundation...
"Is it possible that Cao Guang isn't dead? That he secretly came to the capital and, because of Yuqing's relationship with Jin Xuan of the Golden Rift Sect, became enraged and killed her?"
Qin Haonan couldn't help but speak up.
For Qin Yuqing to become the core true successor of the Golden Rift Sect, she must have had some means. With her ordinary talent, it took countless pills to reach the grandmaster realm, and her cultivation was unstable. How could she hold that position without support from above?
"Jin Xuan... The Golden Rift Sect's elder? That old thing..."
Qin Di Kun furrowed his brows. As the divine physiognomist, his current task was to oversee the family, leaving many matters to the family head. This was the first time he had heard of Yuqing's affair.
"That old thing is over two hundred years old, right? This lass..."
Qin Di Kun's eyes flashed with disdain.
"We'll wait for Qin Cang to return and let him handle it. You two should also investigate. Qin Yuqing is still our Qin family member, and being shot to death within our mansion... It's humiliating if this spreads."
"We probably won't find anything, as the mechanism was shot from at least twenty li away..."
"But they're blatantly disregarding our Qin family."
"We need to restore the Qin family's reputation and use this as an excuse to clean up the various powers within Golden Light City, removing the spies from other families and sects."
Qin Di Kun spoke calmly.
The next moment, he looked outside.
The light flashed through the air, not very loud but enough to attract attention. Many were curious and came to inquire.
Qin Di Kun casually picked up a few of the flesh pearls that had been carved out of Qin Yuqing by the Bodhi silk.
"Such a mechanism that can kill from a thousand li away... I'll let the other old fellows take a look. It's not just our Qin family that should be worried."
The old man's body flickered, and he soared into the air, stepping outside the mansion. With each step, he covered several zhang, moving like a wind-walking immortal from ancient times.
"We bid you farewell, Old Master."
Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao bowed respectfully.
They waited for the oppressive divine essence to dissipate like a receding tide.
The two stood up, gazing at the devastation in the courtyard and their sister, Qin Yuqing, reduced to a pile of flesh.
Both sighed.
"Could it be Cao Guang? The Three-Eyed Wrathful Vajra Divine Essence... Only the Thunderstrike City has it. I heard that Cao Guang was said to have died, torn to pieces..."
"But..."
Qin Haonan couldn't help but speak.
"We haven't seen his corpse."
Qin Leixiao shook his head. "He might not be dead..."
"But... What does this mean?"
The two looked at each other, their faces filled with worry.
"A mechanism from dozens of li away killed Yuqing..."
"Who dares to investigate this?"
They were afraid...
Of becoming the next Qin Yuqing.
Killed right in their own home.
...
...
The spring rain pattered outside.
Inside the tower, a warm stove dispersed the cold spring air.
Shangguan Qinghong removed her shoes and socks, revealing her crystal-like feet. She squatted on the sandalwood chancellor's chair, reading a book while cracking sunflower seeds with her nimble fingers and tongue.
Her beautiful brows furrowed, her pretty face filled with a thirst for knowledge. Her eyes remained still, but her fingers skillfully found the seeds, and with a crisp sound, she separated the shells from the kernels.
Lee Che entered the Celestial Surveillance Agency's treasure tower, its warm atmosphere making him feel relaxed and lazy.
His eyes narrowed slightly, showing no trace of the anxiety and unease from the recent assassination attempt.
Lee Che exhaled, realizing no one was there to greet him.
After a moment's hesitation, he headed straight to the private room, where he found Shangguan Qinghong, seemingly swimming in the air.
Her serious demeanor made Lee Che think she was studying some complex technical problem, especially when he noticed the romantic novel in her hands.
"Miss Shangguan," Lee Che coughed lightly, interrupting her.
Shangguan Qinghong's eyebrows relaxed as she noticed Lee Che, feeling a bit embarrassed for being caught 'swimming'.
As a civil servant, eating from the public's iron rice bowl, this was just a routine task for her.
"You're here?" Shangguan Qinghong casually clapped her hands, then, in front of Lee Che, began putting on socks and shoes for her crystal-clear feet.
Lee Che waited silently as she finished, and then Shangguan Qinghong, dressed in a tight-fitting uniform, led him deeper into the Celestial Surveillance Agency.
"You're quite early. The preparations for the examination are ready, and I'll take you up to the examination room on the third floor."
"The examination for the Third-Rank Guest Scholar position in the Celestial Surveillance Agency isn't presided over by the Supervisor, but by two Junior Supervisors."
Shangguan Qinghong explained with a smile.
The second floor was spacious, with transparent crystal boxes containing pills, divine carvings, and more.
"The items displayed on the second floor are the best among the divine artifacts of the Ten Prefectures, or even of the Nine Luminaries..."
"You were recommended by Senior Qing Shan, so the two Junior Supervisors specifically arranged for your individual examination today. Normally, the Third-Rank Guest Scholar examinations are only held when there are enough candidates."
Shangguan Qinghong talked a lot, chattering away.
Lee Che nodded, understanding the hierarchy within the Celestial Surveillance Agency. The Supervisor held the highest position, followed by the Deputy Supervisor, and then the Junior Supervisors, Celestial Surveillance Officers, and Attendants.
The Third-Rank Guest Scholar position was equivalent to the Attendant position.
Becoming a Third-Rank Guest Scholar was a highly sought-after position, with many woodcarving masters eager for it.
As they entered the inner private room on the second floor, Lee Che was surprised by its unusual size and the rich scent of wood that filled the room. Two figures in white robes sat there, deep in conversation.
When Shangguan Qinghong and Lee Che entered, the two stopped their conversation and glanced at them.
Lee Che felt a powerful divine sense descend upon him, startling him.
Divine Physiognomy?!
The power of this divine sense was almost on par with the divine sense released by the Qin family's ancestor when he killed the gray-masked spy yesterday.
However, Lee Che quickly dismissed this thought. The divine essence released by the two Junior Supervisors didn't give him the oppressive feeling of a high-level divine physiognomy master.
So, their divine sense was strong, but had their divine essence not yet reached that level?
Lee Che's mind raced with these thoughts, and he bowed respectfully: "Lee Che pays his respects to the two Junior Supervisors."
The two Junior Supervisors were a man and a woman, both middle-aged. The woman maintained her graceful charm, while the man sported a goatee and long, narrow eyes.
"You were recommended by Li Qingshan of the Divine Sect's Branch Supervisor Lei Feng, so we specifically arranged this Third-Rank Guest Scholar examination for you..."
"However, we won't go easy on you just because you were recommended by Li Qingshan. In fact, we'll be even stricter."
Lee Che bowed again: "As it should be."
The two Junior Supervisors nodded, and the graceful middle-aged woman glanced at Lee Che and said: "Lee Che, from Thunderstrike City, has a pure background. Three years ago, he became a woodcarving master at Xu Family Carving Shop in Thunderstrike City, showcasing exceptional talent..."
The woman revealed Lee Che's background.
Shangguan Qinghong sat on a small stool in the corner, took out some melon seeds from her pocket, and began eating them while watching Lee Che's examination.
"With a pure background, show us your Qi and Blood cultivation and divine essence."
The other middle-aged man in white robes spoke.
Lee Che stood up, clenched his fists, and his Qi and Blood surged. He displayed his Three Circulation Blood Replacement martial cultivation.
In terms of divine essence, he demonstrated the Xu Family's 'Suspensive Thought Flowing Sword' divine essence, with a 'Nourishing Nature Like Stream' quality.
The middle-aged man held a wolf-hair brush, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he wrote on white paper: "Three Circulation Blood Replacement, Nourishing Nature Like Stream... Cultivation is slightly weak, making the Third-Rank Guest Scholar examination quite challenging."
"Most Third-Rank Guest Scholars have Divine Foundation cultivation."
"However, the Guest Scholar examination focuses more on technique, and there are also non-Divine Foundation scholars who become Guest Scholars. Lee, prepare yourself, and the examination will begin."
"You've applied for the Third-Rank Woodcarving Master Guest Scholar examination, and there's only one task."
The middle-aged man stroked his goatee, and a Heaven-Earth Jade at his waist glowed after a quick induction.
A half-human-sized wooden statue suddenly appeared on the table.
Carved from Spirit Wood, the statue had rough lines, with chiseled grooves that were quite violent, forming a basic outline.
One could vaguely make out that the statue depicted a child, although it was crude and simple, the form was discernible.
The child stood barefoot on a ferocious dragon and snake, eyes filled with wrath, with four arms growing from its back. It wore a red bellyband, with red silk swirling around it. One hand held a jade bottle, the other a jade scepter, and it also held a horned hammer and a short spear!
Due to the rough initial outline, the statue appeared crude, but it already emanated a strong divine essence.
Lee Che's eyes were instantly drawn to it.
"This is a divine essence statue with only 30% completion. Lee, continue carving for three hours. When the time is up, stop carving, and the examination will be based on the completion of your continued carving."
The middle-aged woman, a Junior Supervisor, explained.
"This is a 'Four-Armed Wrathful Third Prince' divine essence statue. The original statue was of the 'Eight-Armed Hell Lotus Wrathful Third Prince' deity statue in the Four Virtues Strange Temple outside the city."
"The divine essence contained in the Nine Dragons River flowing through the capital city is derived from this Third Prince deity statue. It is the cultivation divine essence vein for divine essence cultivators in the Golden Light City."
"Once the Four-Armed Wrathful Third Prince statue is completed, it will attract the Nine Dragons River. Even though Lee is continuing the carving, if he can attract the river, the examination will be considered a success."
The young supervisor with a goatee spoke in a calm tone.
His words caused a pause in the actions of both the beautiful woman and Shangguan Qinghong, who was sitting in the corner shelling sunflower seeds.
"Supervisor Gongyang... When will the Third-Rank Guest Scholar Examination for the continuation of the divine statue carving require the stirring of the Nine Dragons River's waves?" Shangguan Qinghong asked.
The beautiful woman frowned, showing some dissatisfaction.
The young supervisor with the goatee smiled and said, "Supervisor Gongyunli, this person was recommended by Li Qingshan after all. If he can't even stir the river's waves... Wouldn't that mean Li Qingshan is just toying with us?"
"Besides, my evaluation standards are within the acceptable range. This divine carving is already thirty percent complete. If he can continue carving to seventy percent, he should be able to stir the waves. If he can't even carve to forty percent..."
"The threshold for guest scholars in the Celestial Surveillance Agency is not that low." His calm words echoed in the room.
The beautiful woman furrowed her brows, but remained silent.
Shangguan Qinghong, sitting in the corner, looked at Li Che with some sympathy. "Being recommended by Senior Qing Shan does make things easier, but the supervisors will have even higher expectations... One needs true skill and knowledge."
"Does Master Li, who became a woodcarving master in three years, have the necessary skills and knowledge?"
The room gradually became quiet, and the beautiful woman, Gong Yunli, also fell silent.
Li Che, with his elegant and amiable demeanor, bowed respectfully and said, "Supervisor Gongyang is right. I'm willing to give it a try."
His face was filled with kindness, and he made a deep impression on Gong Yunli, who looked at him with appreciation.
Such a refined and amiable person.
Calm and unhurried, with a peaceful mindset—indeed, he had the makings of a woodcarving master.
Gongyang Liancheng stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling as he smiled and said, "Then let's begin."
Li Che respectfully clasped his fists.
He then walked over to the wooden carving, embraced the half-human-sized statue, and channeled his qi and blood. He moved the carving to the workbench with ease.
The workbench was well-prepared with various carving knives, all of high quality, far superior to Li Che's own tools.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Li Che carefully examined the "Four-Armed Wrathful Third Prince." Although it was a simplified version of a temple deity statue, it still possessed a unique essence.
The carving was already thirty percent complete, and according to Supervisor Gongyang, Li Che needed to continue carving to seventy percent to stir the divine nature of the temple deity in the Nine Dragons River, causing the waves to rise.
The Treasure Tower of the Celestial Surveillance Agency was located on the bank of a tributary of the Nine Dragons River that flowed through Golden Light City. Built facing the river, one could see the gentle and calm river surface through the intricately carved wooden windows of the tower.
Continuing the carving meant completing the work based on the existing carving.
In reality, the conditions were set because the original carver's techniques and skills would influence the final product. It was necessary to seamlessly connect with the original carver's craftsmanship; otherwise, the sense of discontinuity would be too severe, and it might not even qualify as a divine carving.
For Li Che, this was not a problem at all.
Should he hide his skills?
No. Li Che shook his head. He didn't need to hide his abilities for this guest scholar examination.
Li Che's family had just arrived in the capital city, and they needed the support of a powerful faction, especially before Xixi joined the Divine Sect. They had offended the Qin Mansion and had previously taken action against Qin Yuqing.
If Qin Yuqing were to die, the Qin Mansion would undoubtedly be furious. Although Li Che was confident he had left no traces, it would be difficult for them to trace it back to him from dozens of miles away.
However, it was still necessary to establish a solid foundation in the capital city, and for that, they needed to associate themselves with a powerful faction.
Li Qingshan was a good backer, but he was currently not in the capital city, and his influence was insufficient.
So, Li Qingshan's recommendation to the Celestial Surveillance Agency might have been for this reason.
Li Che suddenly had an idea and decided not to hide his skills.
Primordial Technique · Thousand Analysis Hands.
Li Che's palms, glowing with a jade-like aura, gently brushed over the wooden carving, and information about it flooded his mind—the carver's skills, the angle of the knife, the force of the knife's descent, and the carving style.
As he opened his eyes, an invisible wave of energy surged within the room.
Li Che's aura transformed, his gaze turning cold and distant. The wooden statue in front of him seemed to come alive with countless undulating lines. He gripped the carving knife, and the flashing blade instantly descended, landing on a line, tearing through the air. The sharp blade smoothly sliced through the wood, shedding wood shavings.
The knife rose and fell, its light dancing like a dragon.
Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli only needed one glance to understand that Li Che was no ordinary talent; he had the skills and the potential.
The room fell into a deep silence.
Even Shangguan Qinghong, who had been shelling sunflower seeds in the corner, stopped, afraid of disturbing Li Che's... display of skill.
Her moist red lips parted slightly, and her eyes shone with surprise.
Divine energy filled the air, slowly gathering.
As the divine carving took shape, the movements and postures were perfectly captured...
The "Four-Armed Wrathful Third Prince" seemed to come to life.
The dragon and serpent under his bare feet roared, and he waved his arms, red silk fluttering. With a low, angry roar, the statue seemed alive, as if turning the river upside down and capturing dragons and subduing demons.
The divine energy in the air was being devoured by the divine carving, and through the intricately carved wooden window, the river flowing by the Treasure Tower of the Celestial Surveillance Agency began to stir, forming ripples. The white waves crashed, and divine energy spread...
But the waves were just the beginning, as if the divine energy in the water was being pulled by an invisible force! A wave crashed against the foundation of the Treasure Tower, sparkling in the sunlight.
Boom!
The waves slammed against the tower, their sound echoing within.
Li Che's eyes blazed with intensity, and his qi and blood surged uncontrollably.
The carving knife danced between his fingers, sending wood shavings flying.
Within his chest, the Divine Art fruit pulsed, as if sensing Li Che's surging power. He wanted to use his skills as a foundation for his family's stability in the capital city.
He wanted to make the world open its eyes and take notice.
What is...
Divine Art!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report