https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-248-The-Temple-God-s-Inheritance-the-Three-Bladed-Saber/12949095/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-249-Xi-Xi-s-Shock-at-Li-Che-s-Talent-the-Dao-Fruit-Suppressing-the-Three-Pronged-Double-Bl/12949097/
Chapter 249: Xi Xi's Shock at Li Che's Talent, the Dao Fruit Suppressing the Three-Pronged Double-Bl
Chapter 249: Xi Xi's Shock at Li Che's Talent, the Dao Fruit Suppressing the Three-Pronged Double-Bladed Saber (Part 1)
In the tranquil snow, flakes gently drifted down from the sky, landing on the black tiles and spreading across the eaves.
Before the sky had fully darkened, news of the new Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge in the Heavenly Origin Sect had spread rapidly throughout the entire Heavenly Origin Dao City.
In fact, rumors about the results of the Elder's assessment had already started circulating a couple of days ago.
But with the death of a Divine Carving Master from the Su family, the news had become too sensational, stirring up the entire Dao City and suppressing other information.
Li Che was not a famous figure, nor did he have the backing of a prominent family to create waves.
So, the news of Li Che becoming the fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge did not cause much of a stir.
But this time was different.
After completing the trial at the Strange Shrine of the Three-Eyed Supreme Monarch, Li Che officially became the fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge in the Heavenly Origin Sect.
From now on, Li Che would no longer rely on his daughter's connection to gain a foothold in the massive Heavenly Origin Sect.
Instead, he himself had become an Elder of the sect.
The Heavenly Origin Sect had become Li Che's powerful background.
Therefore, with the sect's intentional promotion, the entire Dao City was in an uproar!
A twenty-six-year-old Divine Carving Master, the youngest Elder in the history of the Divine Carving Ridge in the Heavenly Origin Dao City!
This news not only shocked the ordinary people and martial artists of the Dao City but also the various powerful families and factions.
A twenty-six-year-old Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge!
What kind of monster is this?!
Aren't the Elders of the Divine Carving Ridge all elderly Divine Carving Masters?
Each of them had immersed themselves in the art of divine carving for at least a couple of sexagenary cycles, and while talent was valued, experience and skill were equally important.
Twenty-six years old... compared to these sexagenarian Masters, he was indeed too young!
"Li Che? I heard he's from Flying Thunder City in Jin Guang Prefecture?"
"Flying Thunder City? How could such a small place produce such a talented individual? A twenty-six-year-old Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge, his future is limitless! He has at least one sexagenary cycle more than the other Elders to refine his divine carving skills!"
"That's right, at such a young age, if he continues to grow, he might even become the foremost among the Five Elders of the Divine Carving Ridge!"
"So young... is this reliable? What if he lacks experience and damages the sacred wood?"
"Ridiculous, you'd better find someone of his caliber to carve a divine sculpture for you before saying such things!"
...
The Dao City shook with excitement.
In the streets and alleys, the news spread like wildfire, and the more it was passed on, the more exaggerated it became.
"An Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge?"
"How could it be him?"
The Su Family.
The head of the Su family, Su Wenxi, had just finished the funeral arrangements for Su Huaiming, and the entire family was still draped in white, creating a somber atmosphere.
In a short period, the Su family had held two funerals, one for their Embryo Transformation expert and another for their highly valued Divine Carving Master, Su Huaiming.
It could be said that the Su family was holding back a great deal of anger.
Su Wenxi's face was icy, and Su Huaiming, who had been nurtured by the Su family since childhood and had consumed vast resources, was their most valuable asset...
...and the key to their disciples' freedom in divine carving, eliminating the need to rely on others.
Now, this pillar of the Su family had been shattered.
"Li Che..."
"Can a small place like that produce a true dragon?"
"I don't believe it."
"Was Su Huaiming's death related to you?"
"The Corpse God Sect? Nonsense, the Corpse God Sect had no grudge with Su Huaiming, and they understood how important he was to the Su family... How dare they kill him?"
"Who exactly killed Su Huaiming?!"
Su Wenxi's eyes radiated murderous intent, and his powerful divine nature surged, distorting the surrounding air and creating a suffocating pressure akin to a mountain or a tsunami.
Su Wenxi understood the Corpse God Sect well; they were known for their insidious methods, slowly infiltrating and eroding their targets.
They would never easily offend a major power like the Heavenly Origin Dao City.
The Su family, a three-thousand-year-old lineage, had established themselves in the Dao City alongside the Heavenly Origin Sect.
The Corpse God Sect must have lost their minds to kill a member of the Su family.
"Framing and slander, despicable tactics..."
"And they can block the investigation without a trace. Su Huaiming's death occurred not far from the Divine Carving Ridge, and once the aura erupted... how could Gong Shu Jing Jun not have noticed it?"
"In other words, the aura was blocked, just like how You Liqing died. It was only discovered after death..."
Su Wenxi's mind raced as information flashed through his thoughts.
The next moment, he abruptly opened his eyes.
"The Netherworld!"
"Behind Li Che... it's as if the Netherworld itself stands there! Li Che's daughter has an intimate relationship with the Niu Mo of the Netherworld!"
"So..."
"It's the Netherworld's doing again?!"
Su Wenxi's murderous intent was so intense that it seemed to fill the surrounding void, unyielding and unyielding!
The Netherworld!
You've offended the Su family!
You've truly kicked a real iron plate!
...
...
Heavenly Origin Dao City.
The Nine-Story Treasure Tower by the Bridge!
Celestial Observation Bureau.
Li Che was a second-class guest minister at the Celestial Observation Bureau, and for someone of his rank to pass the Elder assessment of the Divine Carving Ridge was a significant shock to the other guest ministers.
The commoners and martial artists of the Dao City might have only thought Li Che was remarkable.
But only those in the circle of Divine Carving Masters truly understood...
Li Che, a second-class guest minister, had surpassed the Divine Carving Masters of the Su, Zhou, and Yun families, who had exhausted their resources to train, and became the fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge...
It was truly an unbelievable feat!
Shangguan Qinghong's face flushed with excitement as she chatted animatedly with her colleagues at the Celestial Observation Bureau, clenching her small fists in enthusiasm.
"My Uncle Li is truly amazing!"
"Yes, yes, Uncle Li has shown extraordinary talent in divine carving since childhood!"
"That's right, in a short time, Uncle Li should become a first-class guest minister in our Celestial Observation Bureau, sitting alongside the deputy director!"
Shangguan Qinghong had never felt so proud.
From the prefecture's Celestial Observation Bureau to the Dao City's, she had been overlooked, but now she finally had her moment to shine.
Sang Yu was stunned; he thought Li Che was just boasting, never expecting him to actually achieve it.
When did this world become so fantastical?
A twenty-six-year-old Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge...
It's even more exaggerated than a six-year-old courtesan from Ting Chun Tower!"
But after his initial shock, Sang Yu soon became excited.
"My sister is the senior sister of Elder Li's daughter... so doesn't that mean I have that connection too?"
"My sister is amazing; she managed to connect with an Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge from Jin Guang Prefecture!"
"Perhaps I can find an opportunity to ask Elder Li to carve a divine sculpture of a mid-level temple god for me. With that, I might have a chance to advance!"
Sang Yu's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Previously, there was no opportunity, but now there is...
He was truly eager to improve!
...
...
Li Cheng officially became the Fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge in the Heavenly Origin Sect, receiving an identity token as proof of his certification.
Under the joint witness of Gong Shu Jing Jun, Zhao Fang Zhou, Ji He Shan, and other elders, they upheld the principle of honesty and integrity.
Li Cheng politely declined Zhao Fang Zhou's invitation to a banquet, stating that he needed to take his daughter to visit the Divine Talisman Tower under the Sect Master's Consort.
Gong Shu Jing Jun walked side by side with Li Cheng as they exited the inner gate of the sect.
In the midst of the wind and snow, Gong Shu Jing Jun's robe fluttered: "Ah Cheng, you are now the Fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge. According to your duties, you are required to carve a Six Ministries Upper Rank Temple God Divine Falcon once a month..."
"Of course, you are also entitled to receive a reward. Each month, you can collect three Five Elders Divine Nature Crystals from the Divine Carving Ridge, one Five Elders Divine Nature Crystal from the sect, and a bottle of Fifth-Rank Lower Grade Martial Elixir."
Gong Shu Jing Jun briefly explained the benefits to Li Cheng.
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng's eyes lit up instantly.
"However, you must visit the Divine Carving Ridge every three days to guide the wood carving masters there... This is also one of the elders' duties."
"If you wish, you can select those with talent and accept them as your direct disciples."
"But you can't just accept anyone; they must genuinely possess the talent for divine carving."
Gong Shu Jing Jun turned to look at Li Cheng as he spoke.
Li Cheng's eyes lit up slightly at these words. Did he, Li Cheng, now have the qualifications to accept disciples?
"Thank you, Ridge Master, for your guidance."
Li Cheng clasped his fists in gratitude.
"What kind of guidance is this... You'll understand later."
Gong Shu Jing Jun smiled and shook his head, patting Li Cheng's shoulder: "Young man, from today onwards, you will truly become famous in Heavenly Origin Dao City. However, your daughter has joined the Sect Master's Consort's faction, and in the future, she will be the last direct disciple to be examined by the Sect Leader Great Deity."
"In terms of brilliance, she will far surpass you, her father."
"Moreover, young man, becoming the Fifth Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge is not a matter of resting easy. Three years later... there will be other divine carving masters who will challenge you."
"Since you are so young, the divine carving masters challenging you three years from now will far exceed this time, and it might even become a grand event."
"Who's to blame for your youth?"
"In our line of work, there's a saying that goes, 'A smooth-faced youth is unreliable in his duties...'"
Gong Shu Jing Jun looked at Li Cheng with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"So, you can't slack off during these three years. Your divine carving skills must not regress..."
"If you are surpassed by others at that time, you'll become a laughingstock, and you'll have disappointed Elder Sun's expectations of you."
Gong Shu Jing Jun spoke with a serious tone.
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng's expression turned solemn: "Rest assured, no one can shake my position."
"Even my carving knife... is the best."
"Hahaha! Good, Tang Xiejia is waiting for your challenge!"
Gong Shu Jing Jun burst into laughter.
The First Elder of the Divine Carving Ridge was Tang Xiejia, a master of divine carving with exceptional skills. Although he was also skilled in mechanical arts, he had lost interest in the Tang family's mechanisms due to the downfall of the Tang clan.
Moreover, the path of mechanisms was too complex. Creating a single mechanized beast required an immense amount of effort and energy from a master.
If one were to immerse themselves in the path of mechanisms, it would hinder their cultivation. However, the path of divine carving was entirely different.
The divine carving path assisted cultivation, but the path of mechanisms was a sure way to lose one's ambition!
Gong Shu Jing Jun thought of this and turned to Li Cheng: "Tang Xiejia will pass on the Tang family's mechanical arts to you. You can study them, but don't become obsessed... The path of mechanisms, even if you create a powerful and unparalleled mechanized beast, will be of no use if your own strength is insufficient to protect it..."
"The Tang family... is the best example."
Gong Shu Jing Jun had high hopes for Li Cheng, but after receiving the inheritance from Elder Sun's Demi-Saint Divine Falcon Master, he hoped that Li Cheng would focus on the divine carving technique.
Li Cheng nodded gently without offering much explanation.
Gong Shu Jing Jun didn't say more and patted Li Cheng's shoulder.
Breaking through the wind and snow, the divine nature between heaven and earth twisted, and in an instant, they turned into a black dot and disappeared.
Watching Gong Shu Jing Jun leave, Li Cheng smiled.
With the Immortal Craft Fruit in his possession and his Painter in the Picture's divided body...
"Playing with mechanisms is like losing ambition?"
Li Cheng raised his hand, and his slender, jade-like fingers plucked a snowflake.
But with the Painter in the Picture's Dao Fruit...
He wasn't alone in playing with mechanisms.
...
...
Li Cheng returned to the Elder's Manor in the outer disciple city.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was greeted by a rich aroma. Zhang Ya was busy in the kitchen, preparing red-braised pork, which Xi Xi had been longing for.
Xi Xi deeply missed the taste of her mother's cooking.
Although the boss's culinary skills had reached a divine level, the taste of her mother's cooking still held an irreplaceable place in Xi Xi's heart.
Old Chen sat under the eaves of the courtyard, smoking a pipe, while Nie Yang held his sword, his demeanor as cold as Li Chengzhou, who sat beside him, also holding his sword in a similar manner.
It was as if they were watching Old Chen puffing on his pipe.
Xi Xi crouched beside Li Chengzhou, observing him holding his sword with a well-behaved expression.
Looking at his daughter, who was acting like a rogue, Li Cheng's lips twitched.
Xi Xi, engrossed in her beauty, didn't even come to greet her father upon his return?
"Elder Nie," Li Cheng said, nodding at Nie Yang.
"Elder Li, just call me Old Nie. As an elder of the Divine Carving Ridge, you'll need to travel frequently between the ridge and Heavenly Origin Dao City... I'm responsible for protecting your safety."
"Give me half a month, I'm about to break through."
Nie Yang spoke with a cold tone.
After breaking through, Nie Yang would immediately enter the state of sword energy blooming, becoming a Supreme Grandmaster.
A newly advanced Supreme Grandmaster would be a top-tier powerhouse in the Dao City, and protecting Li Cheng's safety should be manageable.
Unless assassins deploy divine embryos or martial saints, Nie Yang could hold them off for a while, and by the time reinforcements from the Divine Carving Ridge arrived, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Unless... the Netherworld launches an attack."
Nie Yang's eyes narrowed, and he spoke with gravity.
However, Li Cheng's family seemed to have a good relationship with the Netherworld.
The Netherworld...
Shouldn't attack Li Cheng, right?
"Old Nie, relax, there's no need to be so tense or put too much pressure on yourself... I, Li Cheng, have always been kind to others, honest, and straightforward in my actions. No one will come to harm me."
Li Cheng smiled gently.
Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Nie Yang's face.
Indeed...
He and Li Cheng were quite familiar.
Li Cheng was an extremely honest and straightforward person.
(End of Chapter)
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