https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-14-First-Birthday-Feast-Spirit-Infant-s-Furious-Gaze/12983874/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-16-Glaring-Vajra-You-re-Not-Innocent/12983876/
Chapter 15: Vigilance and Precaution, But Death is the Ultimate Solution
Chapter 15: Vigilance and Precaution, But Death is the Ultimate Solution
"A Spirit Infant Statue?"
Li Che's eyes turned icy cold, and as expected...
Even after moving into Xuji Woodcarving Shop and receiving their protection, they couldn't completely avoid the Spirit Infants Sect's covetous gaze on Xixi. Just after the first birthday banquet, the Spirit Infants Sect reared its head!
"Their shadows linger..."
Li Che clenched his fist, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
However, recalling the figure that had just disappeared, his brows furrowed.
"This Spirit Infant Statue hasn't appeared since we moved into the Xuji Compound, but today it suddenly showed up... The only one who had contact with outsiders was those helpers and cooks we hired from Chunfeng Tower."
"But those helpers and cooks were sent away from the Xuji Compound by Master Sun, not allowed to linger. So, we can rule them out. There are many masters in the surrounding yards, all with formidable strength and keen perception... Yet, this person managed to sneak past them and place the Spirit Infant Statue in my yard..."
Li Che took a deep breath, feeling the wind and snow between heaven and earth turn a few degrees colder.
In his dark pupils, a fierce glint appeared.
"In other words... this follower of the Spirit Infants Sect is likely someone familiar with Xuji Woodcarving Shop!"
A chill ran through Li Che's body as if it were seeping into his pores at that very moment.
"This possibility... is very high!"
"I may have been too careless... Where can one truly find absolute safety?"
Li Che shook his head, his gaze fixed on the glaring Spirit Infant Woodcarving on the ground. He clenched his fist, and vital energy surged beneath his skin, causing his fingers to glow golden. With a 'pa' sound, the woodcarving burst open.
"I will find you..."
"Don't underestimate the determination of a father protecting his child."
...
...
"A Spirit Infant Statue appeared outside your courtyard?"
The next day, after a good night's sleep, Chen Dabao's eyes narrowed at Li Che's words.
"You suspect there might be followers of the Spirit Infants Sect in the woodcarving shop?"
Chen Dabao narrowed his eyes and spoke in a deep voice.
Li Che nodded, but he couldn't guess who it might be.
"It's very likely. Being able to appear outside the Xuji Compound, even in the Outer City, is not an easy feat..."
"The followers of the Spirit Infants Sect have already spread throughout Flying Thunder City. If there's a believer within the shop, it's indeed hard to predict."
"No, it's certain that there will be believers. The Spirit Infants Sect... To shake the rule of the major aristocratic families in Flying Thunder City, they must have planted their people. Faith infiltration is indeed the most effective method."
Old Chen spoke in a deep voice, "Rest assured, I'll look into it. It won't be difficult to investigate. It's not easy to hide being a believer. If we find out, I'll let you know. You should also be vigilant and cautious."
"The Third Manager was sent out of the city to eradicate the strange temple's evil. During this time, there's no one in charge at the shop, which is the best opportunity for them to act."
"But even if I know their identity, I can't act directly unless they make a move against Xixi."
Old Chen said with a frown.
Li Che understood.
The spread of the Spirit Infants Sect within Flying Thunder City meant that becoming a believer was something various factions might dislike, but they wouldn't go as far as killing them.
After all, until they caused trouble, it was just a matter of religious freedom.
"But at least knowing who it is will give me some peace of mind, and I can be more vigilant."
Li Che said earnestly.
Old Chen agreed; it made sense.
...
...
Old Chen's investigation took three days.
During these three days, Li Che had more time to cultivate. After all, the feedback from the Dragon Elephant Vajra's Dao Fruit allowed him to cultivate with great enthusiasm.
After three days of intense cultivation, he managed to raise the maturity of the Dragon Elephant Vajra to 5%. With the Dao Fruit power fully unleashed, it was even more powerful than Skin Polishing Perfection, capable of exerting a force of a thousand jin.
However, it was still only at the Skin Polishing Perfection stage.
In the training ground, Li Che was drenched in sweat, his skin glowing red, and the air was hot and hazy.
He put down the stone lock, his eyelids drooping.
"To break through to the Pulse Opening stage, I need a Pulse Opening cultivation method... But I can't seek Xu Beihu, as the cultivation I've shown him is only at the Skin Polishing Perfection stage..."
In the past two days, when Xu Beihu checked his cultivation, Li Che had only demonstrated his Skin Polishing Perfection cultivation.
He hadn't fully revealed his Skin Polishing Perfection strength.
Despite this, Xu Beihu was already astounded, and within a year, he had reached the pinnacle of skin polishing, his talent being somewhat astonishing.
Unfortunately, Xu Beihu expressed that to cultivate the Pulse Opening Technique and the Inner Strength Method, one must first achieve perfection in skin polishing.
Li Che was also unwilling to reveal his perfected skin polishing skills. Achieving skin polishing in a year could be explained by exceptional talent, and Xu Beihu was only at this level back then.
However, if one were to achieve skin polishing perfection in a year, that would be too exaggerated...
"So, this Pulse Opening Technique and Inner Strength Method... I'll have to find them myself."
Li Che changed into a clean set of clothes, his eyes glistening with determination.
"I now have some savings, so I can go to the Outer City's market to take a look. Perhaps there will be cultivation methods for sale, but I'll have to hide my identity when I go."
After finishing his training, Li Che returned to the workshop area of Xuji Woodcarving Shop.
A few days ago, he took on a woodcarving job, sculpting an "Eight Treasures Linglong Maitreya Statue." The client requested a rich essence, and the price offered was equivalent to a gold leaf, worth a hundred taels!
This was the highest-priced woodcarving job Li Che had received so far!
Gripping his chisel, he gently delved into the wood, tearing through the wood fibers as wood shavings fluttered like snowflakes.
His Celestial Craft's Dao Fruit slightly pulsated, and Li Che's eyes were focused, as if everything around him had vanished in that moment. His mind was filled with carving techniques for the Maitreya statue.
Old Chen, with a gourd of fermented wine hanging from his waist, knocked on the carved wooden door of Li Che's workshop with a solemn expression.
"Old Chen?" Li Che asked softly, chisel in hand, as he carved the wood.
"I found something." Old Chen searched for a chair, sat down, and opened the gourd stopper. "The woodcarving master and his family from the Outer City's Xuji Woodcarving Shop, who worship the Spirit Infant Sect, are indeed quite numerous. This investigation really scared me."
"But on the day of Xixi's first birthday, only one person secretly worshipped the Spirit Infant Sect."
Old Chen shook his head, his eyes revealing a trace of horror.
The expansion of the Spirit Infant Sect was faster and more terrifying than he had imagined.
Li Che didn't care about this; he was more concerned about who had set their sights on Xixi.
"Who?" Li Che asked again.
Old Chen sighed, "Sun Changbiao, the second son of Master Sun. He's been married for four years, and he's been anxious about not having a child. His wife was deceived by the Spirit Infant Sect, saying that worshipping the sect would grant them a child. So, Sun Changbiao went to worship."
Sun Changbiao? Li Che was taken aback, remembering the smiling Sun Changbiao who used to bring his family to play in their courtyard.
Sun Changbiao was his second son and also a woodcarving master at Xuji Woodcarving Shop, a Three-Knife Woodcarver, usually mild-mannered, but unexpectedly, he had joined the Spirit Infant Sect.
Moreover, he had set his sights on Xixi.
Li Che took a deep breath.
"What's Sun Changbiao's skill level?" Li Che asked expressionlessly.
Old Chen raised an eyebrow, "Average talent, he's been skin polishing for three years, and he just completed sinew opening and cultivated the Inner Strength Method in the past two years..."
"Thank you, I understand."
A smile blossomed on Li Che's face as he thanked Old Chen.
"You shouldn't underestimate your father's determination to protect his daughter."
"Despite having so many daughters, just because he doesn't have a son, he plans to exchange his daughter for a son?"
"It's truly incomprehensible."
Li Che extended his hand, plucking a snowflake.
His face gradually turned cold, and Old Chen said to keep an eye on Sun Changbiao.
But in Li Che's opinion...
Keeping an eye on him is not as good as...
Killing him.
Chapter end
Report
