https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-29-Fear-Reversal-Light-Who-is-the-Ox-Demon-/12983891/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-31-Low-key-and-Explosive-Killings/12983893/
Chapter 30: Devouring Divinity, Xu Ji's Bone Shattering Spear
Chapter 30: Devouring Divinity, Xu Ji's Bone Shattering Spear
Li Che returned to the woodcarving shop as the sky gradually darkened.
During heavy snowfall, the sky always seemed to turn dark earlier.
Back in his own courtyard, the place was brightly lit, and Xixi was playing with Old Chen.
Old Chen was also indulgent towards Xixi, and whenever he went out to play, he would use his inner strength to create a dry and comfortable area, dispelling the cold snow, allowing the little girl to play without freezing and catching a cold.
"You're back? How was the inner city? Did it broaden your horizons?" Old Chen asked with a smile.
"The inner city is indeed more prosperous than I could have imagined, and it's completely different from the outer city. It's not comparable at all," Li Che nodded, unable to deny the prosperity of the inner city.
Old Chen snorted, "Those who live in the inner city are mostly from noble families or at least small clans. They must have arranged for a better living environment."
"As for the outer city, it's a mix of all sorts. Whether they're refugees from other places or locals, they're all mixed together. Those big shots in the inner city don't care about your life or death; they can't manage it all."
The topic became heavy, and Li Che, having heard that Old Chen had also fled to Thunderstrike City, didn't continue the conversation.
He took out a jar of fine wine from the inner city and handed it to Old Chen.
"This is the excellent wine from Golden Radiance Pavilion in the inner city. I brought it especially for you. It's not cheap; this jar alone costs five taels of silver!"
Old Chen's eyes lit up with joy, "It seems I didn't misjudge you, young man. You have a conscience!"
He eagerly opened the sealed jar, took a big gulp, and the rich aroma of the wine filled the small courtyard.
Old Chen gulped down a mouthful, his face glowing with satisfaction.
"It's so refreshing! This wine from Golden Radiance Pavilion is truly delicious!"
"Grandpa..." Xixi tugged at Old Chen's clothes as soon as he finished drinking, her big, innocent eyes staring at him.
Children are naturally curious and want to try everything.
Li Che burst into laughter, picked up Xixi, and carried her back into the house.
Night fell.
After Zhang Ya recooked the food Li Che had brought back from the restaurant, she invited Old Chen to join them for dinner. The delicious food from the inner city still increased their appetites, and even Old Chen ate two extra bowls of white rice.
"Wife, I earned five gold leaves on this trip. Here, take these four, and I'll keep one for our expenses."
Li Che took out the day's earnings from selling woodcarvings and shared them with his wife.
Zhang Ya pursed her red lips, gazing at her husband in the lamplight, her heart fluttering with contentment and happiness.
Life was getting better and better.
Earning five gold leaves in one trip was something they couldn't even dare to imagine before.
After dinner, Li Che put Xixi, who had played all day, to bed.
As night deepened, silence enveloped the house.
Exhausted, Zhang Ya fell into a deep sleep.
Li Che, wearing a thin robe, tucked the blanket around his wife and slowly walked to the study.
Instead of starting to study and create other mechanisms from the Tang Family Mechanism Manual, he raised his hand. In the oil lamp's light, his arm seemed like jade, emitting a jade-colored mist.
Within the mist, a fire-red snake seemed to slither.
If it weren't for the Thousand Analysis Hand suppressing it, this divinity would have instantly drilled into his head, eroding his consciousness, driving him into a state of madness and anger, and losing control.
"So domineering, so strange."
Li Che's expression turned extremely solemn.
His heart sank slightly, realizing that this was just a strand of divinity stored in the woodcarving by the Spirit Infant Master, and by observing a single leaf, he could sense the autumn. The Spirit Infant Master himself must be incredibly powerful!
This was a blade hanging over his head, even more terrifying than Lea Chunlan!
Only by becoming stronger, continuously stronger... could he protect Xixi from the threat of the Spirit Infant Master.
"And if Lea Chunlan appeared in the Shi family, does that mean... those children who hadn't even turned one year old, their deaths were related to the Shi family?"
Li Che furrowed his brows, his expression becoming extremely grave.
This world was darker and dirtier than he had imagined.
Taking a deep breath, Li Che calmed down and continued his research.
"These strands of divinity, now gathered in my arm, if I use the martial skill 'White Tiger Storm Wind Fist', perhaps I can unleash the power of divinity and make it my own!"
Li Che's eyes gleamed with understanding, immediately analyzing the usage of the divinity extracted by the Thousand Analysis Hand.
Closing his eyes, he used his mental power to sense the divinity within his arm, like jade.
Suddenly, Li Che's eyes snapped open, feeling the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit violently throbbing in his heart!
The sound of dragon roars and elephant trumpets echoed in his ears!
The divinity absorbed by the Thousand Analysis Hand seemed to flow like a hot stream, and as the Dao Fruit jumped and bounced, it was completely extracted!
Li Che was utterly astonished.
Before his eyes, a prompt appeared.
【Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv. 1, 60%)】
Li Che's breath hitched, his eyes shining with intense excitement!
The Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit could actually devour divinity and hasten its ripening?!
Divinity...
It was so nourishing!
...
...
The next day.
Li Che went to the Xu Family Compound's training ground early.
His current cultivation level was Mo Pi Zheng Shi, and he was working hard to open his tendons.
The training ground was as bustling as ever.
After practicing for a while, Xu Beihu arrived, striding through the snow.
"Master Li, come with me."
Xu Beihu's gaze fell upon Li Che, and he spoke in a low voice before entering the inner room.
Li Che knew why Xu Beihu had come, but his expression remained calm.
Inside the room, a charcoal stove was burning, and water was boiling with a loud whistle. Tea leaves were swirling in the water.
After the water was boiled, the tea was brewed three times, and a rich fragrance filled the air.
Xu Beihu extended two fingers and pushed the tea towards Li Che.
"Master Li... Lea Chunlan is dead."
Xu Beihu sipped his tea as he spoke softly.
Li Che had just taken a sip of tea when he suddenly felt as if his mouth was scalded. He fumbled for a moment, and then his eyes lit up with surprise: "What? Lea Chunlan... is dead?"
"She was fine yesterday... how did she die?"
Xu Beihu kept his eyes fixed on Li Che, seeing his genuine reaction. He furrowed his brows.
Sun Changbiao's death... was related to Li Che, as it was said that he had set his eyes on his daughter.
Lea Chunlan's death was also related to Li Che, but the murderer who killed both of them was the brutal killer, the Ox Demon.
That Ox Demon could easily kill a fully tempered bodyguard, indicating that his strength was at the Bone Tempering level. It couldn't possibly be this simple, steady, and honest Li Che.
Li Che lowered his voice and looked around before speaking softly: "Second Manager... could it be that Si Mu Bai killed Lea Chunlan?"
"I heard that Lea Chunlan did all sorts of bad things, killing many infants who had just turned one year old... This Si Mu Bai cultivated the Wrathful Crying Ghost-Suppressing Divinity..."
Xu Beihu: "..."
"Don't talk nonsense!"
"Don't say such things outside, Si Mu Bai has no reason to kill Lea Chunlan."
Xu Beihu was truly speechless. He had wanted to test Li Che, but he hadn't expected Li Che to directly guess that it was the Shi Family's doing.
The Shi Family definitely wouldn't do such a thing, but...
Xu Beihu fell silent. After this interruption, he felt a chill down his spine. The Shi Family wouldn't... the Xu Family wouldn't... but who could guarantee that other wealthy families wouldn't take action?
Xu Beihu shook his head, his expression turning serious. This issue should be discussed with the elders in the inner city and the family.
Xu Beihu had come today mainly because Li Che's cultivation had broken through to Mo Pi Zheng Shi, so he was teaching him the Tendon Opening Technique.
"Thank you, Second Manager!" Li Che's face was filled with excitement as he received the Tendon Opening Technique and Inner Strength Technique from Xu Beihu.
They were both of intermediate quality, not much different from what Li Che had purchased in the market square. Old Chen had said that unless he was willing to enter the inner city and join the Xu Family, it would be difficult to obtain high-quality martial arts.
Unexpectedly, in addition to the Tendon Opening Technique and Inner Strength Technique, Xu Beihu also taught a martial skill.
"Xu Ji Eight-Linked Bone Shattering Spear!"
It was a spear technique that required the use of a weapon, but if one's body was strong and resilient enough, it could also be performed with the arms.
Li Che eagerly read through the technique again and again.
Seeing Li Che's delight, Xu Beihu smiled and patted Li Che's shoulder, encouraging him to work hard on improving his woodcarving skills and preparing for his future as a master woodcarver.
After Second Manager Xu Beihu left, Li Che practiced the Xu Ji Eight-Linked Bone Shattering Spear in the training ground for a while. Because of the increase in Dragon Elephant Vajra, Li Che's martial arts comprehension became even higher, and after a morning of hard practice, he had mastered this intermediate-level spear technique.
Returning to the workshop, Li Che first took on a woodcarving commission and then went to the courtyard to select wood.
Li Che was accustomed to choosing the wood suitable for his carvings himself, and then the workers would move it. Li Che didn't move it himself, after all, these workers earned their living by moving things, and there was no need for him to do it.
Snowflakes fell from the sky.
They swayed in the wind.
Li Che directed the workers to move the wood back to the workshop.
Just then, he saw his uncle, Li Liang, wearing a scholar's robe and a thick coat, being led by the gatekeeper. He was bowing and looking flustered.
"Uncle?"
Li Che called out upon seeing the visitor.
The old scholar's eyes were dark, his eyes bloodshot, and his spirit seemed to be on the verge of collapse, and upon seeing Li Che, the old man couldn't hold back his tears.
"Ah Che, help your uncle..."
(End of Chapter)
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