https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-18-A-Father-s-Unwavering-Love-and-the-Weeping-Guanyin-Statue/12831070/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-20-If-the-Child-Dislikes-You-Do-Not-Force-It/12831072/
Chapter 19: The Nine-Headed Bodhisattva of Wrathful Crying and the Divine Art
Chapter 19: The Nine-Headed Bodhisattva of Wrathful Crying and the Divine Art
"Nine-Headed Bodhisattva of Wrathful Crying!"
Xu Beihu spoke in a deep, resonant voice, and as his words echoed, the howling wind and snow seemed to fade into silence.
Wrathful Crying to Subdue Ghosts?! Li Che's expression changed slightly.
He was no longer the naive young worker who only focused on transporting wood. He had gained a deep understanding of the intricacies of woodcarving.
The vast city of Feilei was divided into the Inner City and the Outer City. The Inner City, with its opulent and dreamlike splendor, was the home of the ancient and powerful families that had thrived for countless generations. It was a place of immense wealth and prosperity.
These powerful families each had their own cultivation methods, and they practiced the legendary Divine Art.
Each family also had their own woodcarving workshops, where they recruited and trained woodcarvers. The woodcarvings created by these artisans, if imbued with sufficient divine essence, could greatly benefit those practicing the Divine Art, allowing them to extract divine energy from the carvings.
This was why the woodcarvings created by these artisans were so expensive.
In the Inner City's woodcarving workshops, only master woodcarvers presided. Their carvings were rich in divine essence and extremely valuable, each piece worth hundreds or even thousands of gold coins.
Over the past year, Li Che had heard many stories from Old Chen.
Becoming a master woodcarver was no easy feat. The divine essence in the carvings needed to reach a level where it could overflow and form a tangible presence.
Li Che's [Transcendent Artisan] Dao Fruit had reached Level 2, allowing his carvings to possess a sense of meaning, but he still fell short of the master level. Perhaps reaching Level 3 would be enough to achieve that.
"The design for the statue will be provided by the Si family. You just focus on the carving."
Xu Beihu, a towering figure with a deep, resonant voice, looked at Li Che intently.
"This is a rare opportunity, one that you've earned through your reputation for creating woodcarvings with profound meaning. Don't feel too much pressure. Even if you fail and the divine essence in the final piece isn't as strong, it's fine. You've only been a woodcarver for a year, and there's still room for growth. Consider it practice."
Xu Beihu reassured him.
For a job worth five gold leaves, Li Che had no intention of letting it slip away.
"I'll give it a try," Li Che said, bowing.
Seeing Li Che agree, Xu Beihu's mood improved. He patted Li Che's shoulder and said, "The Si family's young master wants your woodcarving to practice the Divine Art. Their Divine Art is 'Wrathful Crying to Subdue Ghosts.' If you succeed, you'll have a comfortable life, and there will even be a chance for you to reach the master level."
"Divine Art... Wrathful Crying to Subdue Ghosts." Li Che had heard about it from Old Chen.
Cultivation methods included body refinement, internal energy cultivation, and the Divine Art. Among these, the Divine Art was the most mysterious, internal energy was precious, and body refinement was more common.
The Divine Art was always controlled by the powerful families in the Inner City, making it impossible for outsiders to practice.
Xu Beihu glanced at Li Che and said softly, "The Divine Art is commonly divided into seven categories: joy, anger, sorrow, thought, grief, fear, and surprise. 'Wrathful Crying to Subdue Ghosts' belongs to the category of grief. The Divine Art is infinitely profound, but it requires a gradual accumulation of divine essence, which is not easy."
Xu Beihu didn't say more, but he looked at Li Che deeply. "Your talent for woodcarving is exceptional. If you become a master woodcarver in the future, you will have the opportunity to learn the Divine Art of my Xu family. So... don't slack off."
Li Che quickly showed his gratitude, bowing deeply.
Xu Beihu nodded in satisfaction and took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve. "This is the design for the 'Nine-Headed Bodhisattva of Wrathful Crying.' The deadline is one month. I will come to find you then."
"At that time, I will take you to the Inner City to meet the Si family's young master."
Li Che nodded and took the design.
...
...
After finishing his practice, Li Che returned to the workshop, tidied up, and left Xu Beihu's woodcarving shop.
He claimed he was going to buy some yellow wine and some cold cuts, but in reality, he intended to visit the market in the Outer City. Since Xu Beihu couldn't provide him with the body refinement or internal energy cultivation methods, he had to find them himself.
Fortunately, body refinement methods, though rare, were not as difficult to obtain as the Divine Art.
After leaving the woodcarving shop, he walked to a small alley, making sure no one was around. He then activated the [Dragon Elephant Vajra], his body growing taller and more robust. He took out a woodcarving mask, placed it on his face, and wrapped himself in a cloak before disappearing down the long street.
Feilei City's market was located in the western part of the Outer City, an area that was not entirely run-down, with rows of shabby huts and old buildings.
It looked quite dilapidated.
But this was where the cultivators of Feilei City conducted their transactions. Most of the cultivators here were adventurers from outside the city, who hunted monsters and explored dangerous temples to obtain cultivation resources.
The cultivator laid out a tattered cloth on the ground, setting up a makeshift stall to display a variety of peculiar trinkets, and began his business.
Li Che strolled past, his gaze shifting curiously. This was his first visit to this place, primarily because he had never cultivated before and dared not come, fearing for his life.
After browsing through numerous small stalls, he finally stopped in front of a vendor who was similarly wrapped up tightly.
The similar aura gave Li Che a sense of security.
"Goods from the Haunted Temple, sir. Interested?" the vendor glanced at Li Che, who was entirely covered, and spoke in a raspy voice.
"Haunted Temple..." Li Che fell silent. It was an extremely dangerous place outside the city, rumored to be the origin of the Spirit Infants Cult's legacy.
The once-prosperous Dajing was now in turmoil, largely due to the proliferation of Haunted Temples and the rampaging evil creatures that escaped when these temples went out of control.
For martial cultivators, a Haunted Temple that had been suppressed was a place to explore for resources.
However, Li Che had little interest in the Haunted Temple. He had come to the market to seek a body-strengthening technique.
"Does the merchant have any body-strengthening techniques for sale?" Li Che altered his voice, speaking in a raspy tone.
"Body-strengthening techniques?" The vendor, seated on the ground, raised his head in surprise.
"What level are you looking for, sir?"
"Sinew Opening." Li Che replied.
"Sinew Opening?" The vendor's eyes flickered.
"I happen to have a middle-grade body-strengthening technique from the Haunted Temple in the southern city. It can be cultivated up to Bone Tempering. Interested?"
Li Che's imposing figure exuded a powerful presence, but the vendor was not intimidated. A man who needed a Sinew Opening technique couldn't be that strong, right?
"I only need a Sinew Opening technique." Li Che responded calmly.
The vendor, realizing further persuasion was futile, quickly pulled out a blue-covered old book from his chest and handed it to Li Che.
After flipping through it and confirming it was indeed a middle-grade Sinew Opening technique, Li Che closed the book, satisfied.
"If you have any Internal Qi techniques, I'd like to take a look."
In reality, Li Che didn't hold much hope for finding an Internal Qi technique, but if necessary, he could always buy one from Old Chen. Old Chen had mentioned he could sell him an Internal Qi technique.
"Sir, you jest. Internal Qi techniques are monopolized by noble families. We small vendors can't afford the risk of selling them. If discovered, we'd be driven out of Feilei City."
The vendor shook his head.
Li Che felt a twinge of regret but wasn't too concerned. "Then I'll take this Sinew Opening technique."
The vendor raised five fingers. "Five hundred taels!"
Li Che laughed, slowly standing up. His towering frame, like a mountain, exuded a surge of blood and qi, making the surrounding air thick and oppressive, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth splitting, pressing down on the vendor.
This man thought he was a martial cultivator stuck at the peak of Skin Tempering, desperate for a Sinew Opening technique, and was trying to take advantage?
Well... he wasn't wrong.
"One hundred taels, that's enough." Li Che said calmly. "I'm buying it for a younger generation. It should suffice."
The vendor, sensing this aura, paled slightly. As someone who dared to enter Haunted Temples for profit, he had keen judgment.
This man's blood and qi were as robust as a Bone Tempering martial cultivator, and the oppressive aura was even stronger. He had definitely taken lives!
A handwritten, not particularly rare, middle-grade Sinew Opening technique for one hundred taels was still a good deal. After all, he had several copies at home.
"Deal!"
The vendor immediately agreed.
Li Che tossed over one hundred taels and left with the Sinew Opening technique, disappearing into the market.
The vendor quickly packed up his stall and left.
...
...
With the Sinew Opening technique in hand, Li Che was in a good mood. He could start the cultivation tomorrow.
Leaving the market, he found a secluded spot, removed his cloak, and hid it. Then, he leisurely cut some braised meat, bought a jug of wine, and purchased a box of osmanthus cakes that Zhang Ya loved from a pastry shop. He returned to the woodcarving shop.
Snowflakes drifted down, covering the ground in a thick layer of white.
Li Che walked home, his steps gradually slowing as he carried the braised meat, wine, and osmanthus cakes. His brows furrowed as he stared at the figure standing at the entrance of his yard...
Ou Chuanxiong, the city's bailiff, stood there with a sly smile, a sword slung over his shoulder.
(End of Chapter)
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