A Father's Silent Wish: Guarding Your Immortal Growth Chapter 34: Daughter at Two Years Old, Dao Fruit [Purity of Heart] - Novel Cool

Chapter 34: Daughter at Two Years Old, Dao Fruit [Purity of Heart]

Chapter 34: Daughter at Two Years Old, Dao Fruit [Purity of Heart]

Li Che brought his uncle’s family back to the Xu Family Compound, where they spent a night in his yard. The next day, he went to find the steward, Sun.

Thanks to Xu You’s promise, Sun did not make things difficult, even though his attitude toward Li Che had grown much colder after the loss of his son. But upon reflection, it was Sun Changbiao who had sought to sacrifice Xi Xi for a son, not Li Che and his family, who were the victims.

With the uncle’s living arrangements settled, Li Che let out a sigh of relief.

Recalling the oppressive aura the Spirit Infants Cult followers had brought during their parade, Li Che couldn’t help but frown slightly.

The entire Spirit Infants Cult... none of them seemed to be good people.

Sooner or later, they would be a disaster.

In the workshop, Li Che put down his carving knife, his black hair dusted with wood shavings, and gazed at the snowflakes drifting through the courtyard. He mentally added the entire Spirit Infants Cult to his list of targets, with the Cult Master, Spirit Infants Law Lord, at the very top, circled and highlighted.

Days passed by.

Since the bounty on the Bull Demon was raised to five hundred taels, Li Che, after helping his uncle’s family, chose to stay low and did not act again. He had also tried to track down the constable, Zhao Chuanxiong, but Zhao seemed to know that someone was after him and became cautious and evasive. He never appeared alone, always accompanied by several constables and officials, and at night, he did not return home, hiding somewhere unknown.

Without finding an opportunity to strike, Li Che decided to give up.

Perhaps due to the death of the Bone Tempering realm martial artist with the Eight Trigram Staff, the Outer City of Thunderclap seemed to calm down for a while, but gradually, more reports of children being harmed began to surface.

As long as there were people, evil would never cease.

Time slipped through his fingers like sand, marking the change from spring to summer.

Before he knew it, half a year had passed.

At the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop, Li Che took a deep breath, blowing away the wood shavings. In the fluttering dust, a lifelike "Nine Children Embracing the Lotus" sculpture appeared before him.

Old Chen had also carved the "Nine Children Embracing the Lotus" wood sculpture, but Li Che’s version was more vivid and carried a unique aura, as if the nine children were alive, playing and laughing as if they were right there.

This was the result of the [Divine Craftsmanship] Dao Fruit reaching level 3, enhancing the depth of the aura.

"Ah Che, your skills have really improved! Next month’s evaluation, you might be rated as a Fourth Level Carver."

At the workshop door, Xu You, dressed in a white silk robe, leaned against the frame, holding a jug of wine with a gentle smile.

"Fourth Level Carver, you can move freely between the Inner and Outer Cities. Ah Che... have you considered moving your family to the Inner City?"

Xu You asked.

Li Che, upon hearing this, thought about the Inner City, where experts were abundant, and it was said that the true power of the Spirit Infants Cult resided there. Moving there would be too risky.

As Old Chen had said, although the living conditions in the Outer City were poorer, it was far from the center of conflict, free from the many troubles, and life was more carefree and peaceful.

Seeing that Li Che did not respond for a long time, Xu You waved his hand. "Forget it, let’s not talk about this. If you move to the Inner City, it will be harder for me to find you for a drink."

As an outcast in the family, having lost the chance to compete for the head of the family, staying in the Outer City was like being exiled, and most of them were too lazy to return to the Inner City.

Since the last time Xu You returned from the Outer City after clearing out the sinister temple, he seemed to have taken a liking to Li Che. At first, it might have been out of a desire to form an alliance, but over time, he truly considered Li Che a friend.

He became more familiar with visiting Li Che’s small yard for meals.

After work, Li Che and Xu You returned to the small yard together.

The loquat tree in the yard was lush and vibrant with green leaves.

Little Xi Xi, holding a wooden stick, was shouting and laughing under the loquat tree.

At one and a half years old, Xi Xi was lively and intelligent, as if she were already three years old, full of energy and always bouncing around, a difference that became more apparent as she grew.

"Daddy!"

When Xi Xi saw Li Che return, her chubby little face lit up, and she ran over barefoot.

She came to a sudden stop in front of Li Che and Xu You, almost bumping her head, which was tied in a topknot, into Li Che’s thigh.

"Daddy... didn’t you promise to bring Xi Xi some candied haws? Where are they?"

Xi Xi blinked her big eyes, already searching.

But after looking around and not finding them, she deflated like a deflated balloon, her chest sinking.

Li Che smiled and picked up the disappointed Xi Xi, laughing innocently. "I promised you that two days ago. Didn’t I bring you candied haws yesterday? You must have mixed it up."

Xi Xi was confused for a moment, tilting her head. "Really? I’ve forgotten the taste of the candied haws from yesterday..."

She then stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.

Xu You burst out laughing. "I’ll carry you. Your daddy didn’t bring any, but Uncle Xu You did."

As if by magic, Xu You pulled out a stick of candied haws, and Xi Xi cheered.

Old Chen pulled over a bamboo chair and sat under the loquat tree to cool off. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. "Third Manager, don’t spoil little stinky Xi. Candied haws every day will ruin her teeth."

Upon hearing this, Xi Xi pouted. "Stinky Old Chen, I’m not little stinky Xi, I’m Nuan Xi, Li Nuan Xi!"

Her grumbling words still carried a hint of baby talk.

A few people couldn't help but chuckle.

Zhang Ya had just finished her work in the kitchen and was busy setting up the meal.

Xu You and Old Chen, who had dropped by for dinner, joined the Li family, and they all set up a table in the courtyard to enjoy their meal on a summer evening.

Xu You relished this atmosphere. Living alone in the outer city, he usually ate by himself. The warmth and comfort of this gathering were something he cherished deeply.

Taking a bite of braised pork head, Xu You looked at Li Che and said, "Ache, lately... the actions of the Spirit Infants Sect have become more brazen."

"In the inner city, the Spirit Infants Sect has allied with the Si family... They've started targeting the spirit infants and spirit children of the other three families, effectively turning against the other three major clans. Several Bone Tempering Realm experts have been killed."

"The Si family can't bear the wrath any longer. The instigator, Si Mu Bai, has been expelled from the inner city, and the Spirit Infants Sect's influence in the inner city has been completely eradicated. Most of them have retreated to the outer city..."

Xu You spoke solemnly.

Li Che took a sip of wine. "Since the three major families in the inner city have turned against the Spirit Infants Sect, why don't they completely wipe out the sect's influence? Why not finish them off completely?"

Old Chen gave a cold laugh. "The Spirit Infants Sect originated from a strange temple outside the city. Do you think it's that easy to clean them out? Most of the sect's higher-ups wear masks to hide their identities... Their network is complex and intertwined. How could they be completely eradicated?"

"Who knows? There might be Spirit Infants Sect strongmen among the higher-ups of the three major families, or even in the city's administration."

Old Chen seemed accustomed to such matters, his words tinged with a hint of sorrow and bitterness.

"If the Spirit Infants Sect issue isn't handled properly, Feilei City... will eventually fall."

The table fell silent after his words.

Xu You frowned, then relaxed.

He glanced at Old Chen, hesitating to speak.

Old Chen took a large gulp of wine and slammed the bowl on the table. "Third Manager knows my background. I'm a refugee from Zhouyun City in the north. I will never forget how Zhouyun City was destroyed."

Xu You sighed, not saying more, and looked at Li Che. "Lately, keep an eye on Xixi. Don't let her wander around... After the Spirit Infants Sect issue is resolved, or by next year's spirit child selection, I'll arrange for her to enter the 'Divine Cultivation Academy' established by the major families of Feilei City. That way, she'll be safer."

"However, I've also received word that the Divine Sect will send strongmen down the mountain to recruit disciples next year. Unfortunately, Xixi is a bit young, so it's uncertain if she'll catch the eye of the Divine Sect's disciples. I'll do my best to arrange it. If she can join the Divine Sect, she won't have to worry about the threats from the Spirit Infants Sect."

"Before the might of the Divine Sect, the Spirit Infants Sect is pitifully weak."

"Therefore, the Spirit Infants Sect will likely go on a rampage before the Divine Sect's disciples arrive."

Li Che nodded, refilled his bowl, and toasted Xu You.

"Thanks for looking out for Xixi, Old Xu."

Xu You rolled his eyes but still raised his bowl in return.

"Don't be so formal. Xixi and I are close."

...

...

Li Che took Xu You's advice and didn't let Xixi wander around.

He also noticed that the outer city had become much more chaotic, with the Spirit Infants Sect's activities becoming more frequent. Even outside Xu's Woodcarving Shop, there were often martial artists prowling around at night, eyeing the place greedily.

However, the guard team organized by Xu You, consisting of many martial woodcarvers, increased their patrols. After Xu You personally killed a Bone Tempering Realm expert who was eyeing the shop, the Spirit Infants Sect became more cautious.

But the sect's activities remained intense in other areas.

The outer city of Feilei fell into a state of mourning over the next six months, with many parents of lost children filing complaints with the city hall.

The city hall's patrol teams organized raids, but with little success. The Spirit Infants Sect's criminals often seemed to get wind of the raids in advance.

Amidst this chaos, six months passed, and the chaos only worsened.

A cold wind blew, and early winter arrived quietly.

Another six months had passed without notice.

Xixi was two years old.

In the outer city, in the Rain Listening Alley, in the courtyard Li Che rented.

Li Che sat cross-legged, and as snowflakes fell from the sky, they were immediately shattered into mist by the dragon-like inner strength that surged from within him.

He slowly opened his eyes, reined in his inner strength, and focused it entirely into the Dao Fruit [Dragon Elephant Vajra].

"The Snake Inner Strength... has reached the Third Heaven. This technique has reached its limit."

"To break through to the Fourth Heaven, I need a superior inner strength technique."

Li Che exhaled, and a powerful stream of air shot out of his mouth like a sharp arrow.

Suddenly, the Dao Fruits [Heavenly Artisan] and [Dragon Elephant Vajra] in his chest began to pulse!

Familiar images appeared before his eyes.

On a vast, desolate land, a towering treasure tree rose into the clouds. Its countless leaves shimmered, and slowly, a seven-colored fruit began to form. The fruit glowed with a radiant light, reflecting the many moments of Xixi's growth over the past year.

His black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and Li Che's eyes sparkled.

Another year of anticipation, finally blossoming at this moment.

Xixi, two years old, the third Dao Fruit...

Has arrived!

...

[Your daughter is two years old, healthy and safe. You have obtained a Dao Fruit "Pristine Heart"]

(End of Chapter)

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