https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-24-Dao-Fruit-Evolves-Again-Divine-Power-Takes-Shape/12831083/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-Sinister-Cries-the-Bull-Demon-Has-Arrived-/12831088/
Chapter 25: Shining Skills with the Heavens, Revisiting the Midwife
Chapter 25: Shining Skills with the Heavens, Revisiting the Midwife
The Dao Fruit transformed once again!
He had gained the Embryonic Form of a mystical ability... the Divine Craft: Thousand Analytical Hands!
This was something Li Zhi had never expected. Pushing the Dao Fruit to Level 3 actually led to such a transformation!
"Mystical ability... Embryonic Form..."
Li Zhi murmured to himself.
With a thought, he looked at his hands. A faint jade-colored aura seemed to rise from his arms, seeping out of his pores, making his fingers and arms appear as if carved from jade.
[Divine Craft: Thousand Analytical Hands (Embryonic Form): Absorb divine essence, nurture mystical abilities, transform divine craftsmanship, and elevate skills]
The description appeared before his eyes.
Just a glance left Li Zhi's mind reeling, utterly amazed.
"Absorb divine essence?!"
"Does it mean to draw divine essence? Can this Embryonic Form of a mystical ability absorb divine essence for my use?"
Divine essence... it was a realm he had never been able to touch before.
Although his wooden carvings were sent to the inner city for the disciples of noble families to cultivate their divine essence, Li Zhi had never truly come into contact with it.
Gradually calming down, Li Zhi exhaled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Unfortunately, I don't know what divine essence is for... but absorbing divine essence is just one effect of the Thousand Analytical Hands. There will be further transformations."
Li Zhi focused, looking at his arms enveloped in a golden aura, a smile playing on his lips.
He looked at the "Nine-Headed Guanyin Crying Demon Suppression Statue" in front of him, raised his hand, and placed his palm, now enveloped in a jade-colored aura, on the wooden carving.
Instantly, the jade aura seemed to turn into a stream of light, and all the techniques and skills used to carve the statue were presented before his eyes, easily analyzed and controlled by Li Zhi.
Li Zhi released his hand, his smile growing wider. "Thousand Analytical Hands... can analyze any craft."
"By touching it, one can analyze the essence, understand the true nature, and gain the skill."
To confirm his suspicions, he left the workshop and went to the finished statues outside.
Snow was falling heavily.
A few figures were carefully placing the finished statues.
These were the laborers from the shop, and Li Zhi had once been one of them.
"Master Li!"
The laborers saw Li Zhi and immediately showed him a flattering smile.
"What kind of wood do you need? Just tell us, and we'll bring it in for you. It's freezing outside, and you shouldn't have to come out here yourself," one of the laborers said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Li Zhi waved his hand. "No, I just wanted to take a look."
He walked to one of the finished statues, placed his hand on it, and a hazy jade aura spread from his palm.
Instantly, all the carving techniques and processes of the statue were presented in his mind. Unlike before, when he could only grasp the techniques once a day, he now had no such limitation.
Moreover, he could grasp the techniques in greater detail and even innovate, improving on the original techniques to correct their flaws.
"Indeed..."
Li Zhi released his hand, a smile on his face, his confidence soaring. He felt even more confident about creating the remaining nine highly complex mechanisms described in the "Tang Clan Mechanism Records."
"I should find some time to update the mechanisms... and give Zhao Chuanxiong a bigger surprise."
A month passed.
Li Zhi had undergone significant changes.
His cultivation had improved, his divine craftsmanship had advanced, and he had gained the Embryonic Form of the mystical ability, Thousand Analytical Hands.
It was time to eliminate the potential threat posed by Zhao Chuanxiong.
Otherwise, Li Zhi always felt as if a sword was hanging over his head, making him restless and unable to sleep, always fearing that Xixi might face great danger at any moment.
...
...
In the afternoon.
Xu Beihu, as promised, arrived, wearing a large cloak, his body even more robust.
"Master Li, is the wooden carving complete?"
Xu Beihu's voice was rough, his eyes sparkling with energy. He entered the wooden carving shop and immediately sought out Li Zhi.
Entering the workshop, he saw the wooden statue quietly placed on the workbench, his eyes lighting up.
"Excellent, excellent, very good! Master Li, your skills have improved even more! This Guanyin Crying Demon Suppression Statue... is indeed outstanding, full of meaning!"
Xu Beihu stared at the statue, unable to look away.
"Unfortunately, the divine essence I cultivate is not 'Crying Demon Suppression.' Otherwise, I wouldn't sell your wooden carving to the Si family... at the very least, I'd ask for more money, hahaha."
Xu Beihu laughed.
"If the second manager needs it, you can place an order with me. A business deal of five gold leaves, I would be delighted to have more, securing a life of comfort and peace."
”
“Ha ha ha, I'll come looking for you when the time is right, but… the wooden sculptures I need must be crafted by a master sculptor.”
“If you want to sell wooden sculptures to me, you need to become a master sculptor first. The Xu family’s direct lineage cultivates divine nature, and the divine wooden sculptures we use are all crafted by masters. Simu Bai… is currently at a critical breakthrough stage, so he’s casting a wide net and not being picky. He needs a large number of wooden sculptures, which is why he came to you.”
Xu Beihu explained with a smile.
Reluctantly releasing his grip, Xu Beihu looked at Li Che with curiosity: “Master Li, your talent for wooden sculpture… is truly exceptional. You have the potential to become a master. If you diligently study divine nature, you might have a chance to become a master sculptor in the future.”
Li Che, hearing this, asked curiously: “Second Manager, what’s the difference between a master sculptor and an ordinary sculptor?”
Xu Beihu, who had high hopes for Li Che, didn’t hold back.
The two men called for the workers to load the wooden sculptures onto the prepared carriage. Xu Beihu then pulled Li Che into the luxurious and opulent carriage.
Inside the carriage, a boiling stove was heating water for tea.
Xu Beihu poured a cup for Li Che and explained: “A master sculptor is called a master… because the wooden sculptures they create are fundamentally different from those of ordinary sculptors.”
“The difference lies in divine nature.”
“The wooden sculptures crafted by a master sculptor possess real divine nature, which can be absorbed.”
“This single point is the difference between heaven and earth.”
Xu Beihu said softly.
Li Che’s body trembled slightly at this revelation. Wooden sculptures… with real divine nature?
“It’s not hard to understand. You know about spirit infants, right? When a man and a woman combine to give birth to a child, only those favored by heaven and earth are born with divine nature. A master sculptor… crafting a spirit infant wooden sculpture is like a pregnant woman giving birth to a spirit infant, giving the wooden sculpture a chance to possess divine nature. Although the divine nature it produces can’t compare to a real spirit infant, it’s like showing off to the heavens, capturing the wandering divine nature of the world.”
Xu Beihu smiled and said.
“Do master sculptors cultivate divine nature techniques?” Li Che asked.
Xu Beihu nodded matter-of-factly: “Without cultivating divine nature techniques, one remains a mere ant. Without divine nature, how can one feel, understand, and bestow divine nature?”
Perhaps thinking of something, Xu Beihu smiled at Li Che: “Master Li, don’t rush. Divine nature techniques are incredibly precious, the bottom-of-the-box treasures of every major family and clan.”
“Although Master Li’s talent is good, it still needs to be evaluated. Moreover… Master Li is too young and needs more experience and cultivation. Only after adding some experience and qualifications should you attempt to cultivate divine nature techniques, which will give you a chance to become a master sculptor.”
“But it’s just a chance.”
The carriage passed through the bumpy outer city and soon arrived at the magnificent inner city walls.
Because it was the Xu family’s carriage, it was allowed to enter the bustling inner city without any inspection.
This was Li Che’s first time in the inner city. The buildings were clean and luxurious, lined up in neat rows. Through the window, he could see all kinds of prosperous scenes.
Compared to the outer city, where people struggled to survive in a dilapidated environment, the inner city was a world apart.
The carriage stopped in front of a tavern. The tavern was decorated in gold and splendor, with intricate carvings and lavish furnishings.
Several workers quickly ran out of the tavern, carefully carrying the wooden sculptures and following behind Xu Beihu and Li Che.
“This Golden Splendor Pavilion is one of the best taverns in the inner city. A basic meal starts at a hundred taels. It seems Simu Bai values you and is looking forward to your ‘Wrathful Cry to Subdue Ghosts,’ which is why he set up this feast here.”
Xu Beihu smiled.
The two walked through a long corridor adorned with exquisite carvings, each piece of wood meticulously crafted, making it a feast for the eyes.
In the distance, there was a pavilion with open sides, suspended in the air, with curtains hanging from it. The wind blew, making the curtains flutter.
Li Che saw a white-robed figure sitting and drinking in the suspended pavilion from afar.
Beside the white-robed figure stood an old woman, head bowed, reporting something.
Li Che’s steps suddenly halted.
Looking at the old woman, the warmth on his face gradually faded.
Finally…
It completely froze!
Gazing at the face of the old woman, a face he could see even in his dreams…
A subtle hint of killing intent spread from the depths of Li Che’s eyes.
For this old woman was none other than the midwife who had attended to Xixi’s birth and killed dozens of other newborns…
The midwife, Lei Chunlan!
(End of Chapter)
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