https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-Strange-Wrath-the-Ox-Demon-Arrives-/12983888/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-28-The-Dharma-Master-s-Spirit-Infant-Devouring-Divinity/12983890/
Chapter 27: Caution and Hell's Ox Head
Chapter 27: Caution and Hell's Ox Head
Li Che had never considered letting Lea Chunlan off the hook. It was a rare opportunity, and he couldn't rest easy without finishing her off.
Twisting his neck, the large tendons on his back stretched tautly.
Xu Shi's Nine Tendons, Li Che had opened up nine major tendons, and now his cultivation had already reached the Perfect Tendon Opening stage. He was just one step away from Bone Tempering.
In just one month, Li Che had undergone a tremendous transformation. With the Vajra Transformation of the Dragon Elephant Fruit Dao, he was now confident he could easily defeat Zhao Chuanxiong and his companion who wielded the Bagua Staff. He had planned to deal with Zhao Chuanxiong after this matter was settled, eliminating the threat.
However, he never expected to encounter Lea Chunlan during his trip to the Inner City.
Hiding within the Inner City, it was no wonder Li Che had been unsuccessful in his search for Lea Chunlan while disguised during this time.
He flicked his sleeves, revealing the hidden sleeve crossbow and thousand spider threads, both ready for action. Beneath the mask, his eyes flickered with a chilling glint and murderous intent.
With a stomp of his foot, his body suddenly darted out of the alleyway.
...
...
The curtains fluttered gently.
They rose and fell, seemingly moving in sync with the person's breathing.
Xu Beihu sat in his chair, the water boiler bubbling furiously, and the rushing heat produced a continuous gurgling sound. He brewed tea, filling the air with a rich fragrance.
Si Mu Bai stood before the "Nine-Headed Guanyin Wrathful Cry Ghost-Suppressing Statue" carved by Li Che. At this moment, the woodcarving no longer resembled its original form, appearing as if it had been eroded by the passage of time and the elements, its features completely distorted.
Upon closer inspection, one could discover countless tiny holes beneath the woodcarving, as if it had been devoured and left as a remnant by wood-eating insects.
After a long while, Si Mu Bai shuddered, took a step back, and shed two lines of warm tears. He seemed to be both laughing and crying, slapping the statue that had become rotten with a palm. In an instant, the entire statue exploded with a "boom," turning into debris.
"Not bad, the taste is really good."
Si Mu Bai extended his tongue and licked his lips.
"Although it doesn't contain divinity like the master's woodcarving and fails to capture the roaming divinity between heaven and earth... it's still quite impressive. With this essence, if I accumulate it three or four times, I can also gather a strand of divinity, which will be of great help to my Wrathful Cry Ghost-Suppressing technique."
Si Mu Bai sat back in the yellow sandalwood armchair and accepted the high-quality Pu'er tea brewed by Xu Beihu.
"Your Xuji Woodcarving Shop has found a treasure. This is a true master's seedling. As long as you're willing to nurture him, he will become the next Master Woodcarver."
Si Mu Bai felt a twinge of envy.
Xu Beihu's rugged face broke into a smile, "It's not as easy as it seems. And he needs to be loyal... In over two hundred years, Xuji has trained many woodcarvers, but only a few have become masters."
"If you don't want him, let me give him to the Shi Family." Si Mu Bai took a sip of tea, his smile enigmatic.
"Was that old woman your Shi Family's doing? She seemed to be from the Spirit Infant Sect. You have connections with the Spirit Infant Sect, but does the Shi Family not mind?" Xu Beihu's smile instantly faded, and he spoke calmly.
Si Mu Bai put down the tea, "Don't be so resistant to the Spirit Infant Sect. Not everything that comes out of the Strange Temple is evil. The reason the court uses martial arts to suppress the temple is because there are good things inside, right?"
"Divinity, divine techniques, martial skills, martial arts... all sorts of legacies... they all originate from the Strange Temple. So, why resist?"
Si Mu Bai took a sip of tea and smiled.
"The court asks us to recruit divine children with spiritual sensitivity and nurture them into talents. This is so that we can explore those strange temples they don't have time to explore. I heard from a friend in the capital that those supreme deities in the court are exploring the newly emerged 'Three Purities' Strange Temple outside the capital."
"If the court is exploring, accepting, and integrating, why should we resist?"
Si Mu Bai shook his head.
Xu Beihu remained calm, "The Strange Temple is the Strange Temple, and the Spirit Infant Sect is the Spirit Infant Sect. Don't mix them up."
"Let's not talk about that. I know my boundaries. The noble families of Thunderstrike City should manage it. How can I not care?"
Si Mu Bai waved his hand, unconcerned.
"Speaking of Li Che, he's quite sensible and cautious. I heard that Lea Chunlan was targeting him, but he managed to endure it..."
Si Mu Bai continued, "This is his cautiousness. Although he has the support of my Xu Family, he can't be sure that we will back him up. He must hate Lea Chunlan, but he's rational and knows that your Shi Family is protecting her. If he makes a scene, it will be embarrassing for both families, and he can't do anything about it. So, he chooses to take a step back and seek a moment of peace."
Xu Beihu spoke in a calm tone.
"In summary, this person... is stable, timid, and not much of a threat."
...
...
Golden Radiance Pavilion.
Li Che, having transformed into a shadow, stealthily approached. With the power of the Dragon Elephant Vajra, he could unleash the strength of a Perfect Bone Tempering Realm, opening nine major tendons, and the force he unleashed was enough to reach a thousand pounds.
In reality, he only possessed the strength of a Perfect Tendon Opening.
The Dragon Elephant Vajra allowed him to unleash the power of crossing a major realm.
The large tendon on his back tensed, and the force he released bounced off the ground, silently raising the accumulated snow. Li Che's body swiftly glided out.
Hugging the wall, he slipped into the Golden Radiance Pavilion. Since he had been here once before, he was familiar with the route.
The Golden Radiance Pavilion was vast, with an incredibly wide interior, resembling a grand aristocratic estate. Alleys crisscrossed, and paths stretched in all directions.
There were patrolling guards, and none of them were weak. They all possessed the cultivation of Tendon Opening.
Li Che hid in the darkness, observing with a detached gaze.
Behind the Golden Radiance Pavilion stood several aristocratic families, who had jointly invested in the pavilion. Therefore, few dared to cause trouble here, and the defensive forces, though present, seemed somewhat sluggish.
Li Che easily avoided the defensive forces and, based on his memory, recalled the direction Lei Chunlan had taken after going downstairs.
His body moved with a rhythmic cadence, and the strength of a Perfect Bone Tempering allowed him to move at an extreme speed, making it impossible for ordinary people to even catch a glimpse of his shadow.
Li Che didn't know what relationship Lei Chunlan had with Si Mu Bai, nor did he know what dealings the Shi Family had with the Spirit Infants Sect...
Why should he care about any of that? Lei Chunlan wanted to harm his daughter Xixi, and Li Che had only one objective.
Kill her!
...
...
In a luxurious courtyard.
Artificial hills stood tall, and tree shadows cast a hazy shade.
Lei Chunlan had changed into a clean brocade dress and leaned against the railing, gazing at the Shi Family guard who stood in her courtyard. She then looked around at the scenery, and a smile appeared on her wrinkled old face.
"As expected of the most luxurious and extravagant Golden Radiance Pavilion in the Inner City, it truly is a wonderful place to enjoy. I, an old woman, have suffered all my life, but now I can finally live a life of luxury."
"This is what life should be like."
Lei Chunlan smiled like an old chrysanthemum in full bloom.
The Spirit Infants Sect had given her things she had never experienced before.
"As long as the Shi Family agrees to the deal with the Dharma Master, I, as an old woman, can become a distinguished guest of the Shi Family... enjoying endless glory and wealth."
Lei Chunlan's body trembled slightly with excitement.
She had brought those infants into this world, allowing them to exchange their lives for her glory and wealth... It was only fair, wasn't it?
"What a pity, that Li Che is so steady and knows about my connection with the Spirit Infants Sect. He moved into Xuji's Woodcarving Shop... He's had some incredible luck, and this mere woodcarver has become a master woodcarver at Xuji's."
"What a pity about that Spirit Infant, it was so full of divinity... If I could offer it to the Dharma Master, I might even gain the inheritance of the Divinity Method."
Lei Chunlan clenched her fists, her old eyes widening with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"It's just a matter of time before I get my hands on that Spirit Infant."
"In front of the Shi Family, a mere woodcarver from Xuji's Woodcarving Shop is nothing but an insignificant ant."
Whoosh—
The snow, which had stopped for a while, seemed to sense the chill in the world, and began to fall again.
Snowflakes fluttered, blurring the sight.
Lei Chunlan rubbed her hands and exhaled a puff of hot air, "This damn weather."
She turned around and began to stoke the hot stove, adding more charcoal.
Suddenly, her movements froze, and her stiff neck raised to look at the artificial hill in the courtyard.
There, standing atop the hill, was a figure wearing a conical hat and a cute ox mask, as sturdy as a small mountain. It stood like a halberd piercing through the sky, amidst the swirling snow and wind.
Its eyes blazed, resembling the hellish ox-headed demon god.
It stared at her, exuding a chilling killing intent.
(End of Chapter)
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