https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-23-The-Bull-Demon-s-Enlightenment-the-Divine-Spirit-Infant/12831075/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-25-Shining-Skills-with-the-Heavens-Revisiting-the-Midwife/12831087/
Chapter 24: Dao Fruit Evolves Again, Divine Power Takes Shape
Chapter 24: Dao Fruit Evolves Again, Divine Power Takes Shape
"A good seed for cultivating divine power?"
Li Che's eyes narrowed, but he wasn't overly surprised.
He had thought about it before, wondering what made a Spirit Child so special that the Spirit Child Sect cared so much about them. It must be related to divine power.
"The Spirit Child Sect's methods are undoubtedly despicable. If Xiaoxi falls into their hands, she will be raised like a captive, and once she grows up and her divine power is abundant, they will forcibly extract it..."
"Being a captive Spirit Child is definitely not a good thing..."
Old Chen took a sip of wine, shook his head, and said gravely.
Li Che knew it wasn't a good thing, which was why he had been on edge since Xiaoxi's birth.
Furrowing his brow, Li Che pondered a strategy, thinking about how many years it would take for him to grow strong enough to single-handedly destroy the Spirit Child Sect.
With the Dao Fruit bound to his daughter, he would grow stronger over time.
Gently stroking Xiaoxi's head, the little girl blinked her innocent eyes, sparkling with clarity and purity.
Old Chen exhaled. "Actually, there's a way to deal with the threat from the Spirit Child Sect."
Li Che looked at Old Chen, his eyes showing a hint of confusion, urging him to continue.
"Spirit Children are rare, but not nonexistent. Spirit Children born to commoners are pitiful, like lambs, and usually don't survive long. They are often targeted from a very young age, not just by the Spirit Child Sect, but also by other cults that have received Legacy from eerie temples."
Old Chen's face was serious.
"But if they can survive until the age of four, they have a chance to live."
Li Che was taken aback.
"Four years... Is there any specific reason?"
Old Chen smiled. "No other reason, the Imperial Court of Great Jing will intervene."
The Imperial Court of Great Jing?
Li Che's expression changed slightly, having almost forgotten about it.
Willowbrook City... was mostly divided among the major noble families in the inner city, who held the power. The imperial bureaucracy was virtually powerless, only handling minor disputes among the commoners, and generally ignored by the noble families.
Old Chen took another sip of old yellow wine and shook his head. "Little Li, don't underestimate the Imperial Court of Great Jing. A dying camel is still bigger than a horse, and besides... the Great Jing Empire isn't dead yet. Although the imperial court has weakened, it remains one of the most powerful forces in the land. Even the major divine sects dare not ignore it."
"Willowbrook City is remote, and the presence of eerie temples has isolated it, making it somewhat beyond the court's control. But it's not completely lawless."
"Look at the current state of the local bureaucracy. The major noble families might act as if they ignore it, but they don't dare to really do so."
"Every four years, the Imperial Court of Great Jing conducts a selection process. If a child is identified as a Spirit Child with divine power, they are taken in and trained by the court. Now, this selection process is carried out by the major noble families in Willowbrook City on behalf of the local bureaucracy."
Old Chen glanced at Li Che.
Li Che nodded slightly. "So, as long as Xiaoxi can survive until the age of four and is selected for her divine power, she can join the Xu Clan for cultivation, learn divine power techniques, and be protected by them, living a safe and secure life?"
"Exactly."
Old Chen smiled.
"If the Imperial Court of Great Jing regains control over Willowbrook City, the noble families will still have to send the selected divine power children back to the court..."
Li Che frowned. "Would the noble families be willing to send them back?"
Old Chen took another sip of wine. "Does the Imperial Court of Great Jing not understand? So, what do you think the purpose behind this policy is?"
"The Great Jing Empire isn't ignoring it; it's just too lazy to manage. Eerie temples sprout like mushrooms after the rain, with almost every city having one or several. If the court tried to manage every eerie temple, how could it possibly handle it? So, they delegate the power to the noble families in each city, letting them deal with the eerie temples."
"These selected divine power children naturally serve to replenish the talent pool of the noble families."
Li Che nodded in understanding.
Old Chen narrowed his eyes. "Additionally, the divine sects also come every four years to screen for divine power children, taking them back to their sects for training. It's a bit like competing with the court for talent, but the divine sects have higher standards. Most of those who meet the criteria are the carefully nurtured children of noble families."
Li Che, naturally unfamiliar with the cultivation forces in this world, began to understand after Old Chen's explanation.
"If Xiaoxi can join a divine sect, that would be the best. But the divine sects have very high standards for selecting disciples..."
Old Chen sighed and shook his head, his eyes flashing with a complex expression.
Lee Zhi sensed that there was a story behind Old Chen's words and intentionally poured him a cup of wine. Holding Xi Xi in his arms, he blinked his eyes, the flames of curiosity burning brightly.
But Old Chen rolled his eyes and just drank his wine, not uttering another word.
Lee Zhi felt a bit disappointed and asked, "Old Chen, do you have any martial techniques for sale? If so, could you sell me a few?"
Old Chen had just taken a sip of wine and nearly choked. "Do you think martial techniques are as common as cabbage? A few... Martial techniques are far more precious than techniques like skin smoothing or meridian opening. Although I do have some in my study, they are not abundant."
Hearing this, Lee Zhi's eyes lit up, and he became even more interested in Old Chen's study.
"Martial techniques have distinct styles. The martial techniques of major noble families cannot be taught outside their lineage. If you learn them, you’ll face retribution. Forget it... What type of martial technique are you interested in?"
Old Chen pounded his chest to catch his breath and said irritably, "Any will do, as long as I can practice them. You decide which ones to sell me."
Holding Xi Xi, father and daughter both smiled in unison.
...
...
Time marches on, and the seasons flow like a river.
One month later.
In Feilei City, Spring Breeze Alley.
The small courtyard's door was tightly shut. The snow in the courtyard had almost completely melted, and scorching currents intertwined like dragons, causing the loquat trees to tremble continuously.
Lee Zhi stood bare-chested, his bronze skin pulsating with surging qi and blood. With each throb, the skin drummed like a muffled drum, echoing like thunder behind a cloud.
Thick, sinewy veins like coiled dragons emerged on his body, tensing and relaxing like taut bows.
Boom!
Qi burst forth, instantly raising a mist of snow.
Slowly reining in his internal qi and blood, Lee Zhi opened his eyes, which glinted like two sharp blades slicing through the fog.
His sinews slowly relaxed, and his black hair whipped wildly.
Putting on a thin shirt, Lee Zhi swung his arms and smiled.
His eyes focused, and a notification appeared.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv1, 50%)]
He twisted his neck, and his spine creaked, emitting a powerful aura.
"In one month, I've opened nine major sinews, and the Xu Family's Sinew Opening Technique is now complete... Not bad, faster than I expected. Indeed, everything comes down to my diligence and effort."
Raising his hand, qi surged, and nine snake-like streams of internal qi swirled around his palm.
"Mid-Serpent Internal Qi has reached the Second Heaven, and I can barely release it externally."
"Indeed, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit greatly enhances martial cultivation..."
"[Divine Craft] improves my woodcarving skills, while [Dragon Elephant Vajra] enhances my martial talent. Great, I wonder what the third Dao Fruit will be like?"
Lee Zhi couldn't help but look forward to the third Dao Fruit that would accompany his daughter Xi Xi when she turned two.
"Besides, I've successfully mastered the intermediate-level martial technique, White Tiger Chaotic Wind Fist, to a small extent. This type of external cultivation is truly easy for me."
"However, one martial technique is indeed a bit scarce. After completing the woodcarving transaction with the Si Family's young master tomorrow and earning some gold leaves, I'll visit the market again to see if I can find another martial technique to enhance my offensive capabilities."
Wearing a thin shirt, Lee Zhi started practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard. The wind from his punches roared like a fierce tiger, raising countless snowflakes that melted into water and froze again upon hitting the ground.
After finishing his set of fist techniques, Lee Zhi was thoroughly satisfied and reined in his qi.
The small success of the White Tiger Chaotic Wind Fist, combined with the Vajra Transformation, was extremely powerful.
But... it wasn't enough.
Returning to the inner room, he washed his body with hot water. Then, he bought a box of osmanthus cakes that his wife loved and returned to the woodcarving shop.
Putting on a leather apron, Lee Zhi sat down in his chair. In front of him was the "Nine-Headed Guanyin Weeping to Subdue Ghosts" statue, which he had meticulously carved over the past month.
Picking up his tools, the [Divine Craft] Dao Fruit trembled slightly. He calmed his mind and entered the carving state, fully focused on the finishing touches.
In the workshop, only the soft scraping sounds remained.
When the final step was completed, a golden light flashed before Lee Zhi's eyes.
The next moment, a notification appeared.
[Dao Fruit: Divine Craft (Lv3, 0%)]
[Reaching Dao Fruit Level 3, you unlock the embryonic form of the Divine Power "Divine Craft·Thousand Analysis Hands"]
(End of Chapter)
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