https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-3-Nine-Sons-Embracing-the-Lotus-the-Technique-of-Inner-Strength/12831053/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-5-The-Spirit-Child-Dharma-Master-and-Master-Carver/12831055/
Chapter 4: Divine Craftsmanship Upgrade, Bad News Arrives
Chapter 4: Divine Craftsmanship Upgrade, Bad News Arrives
The piece of wood was a leftover from the wood carving shop, a small scrap that no one paid much attention to when he brought it back.
The carving knife was something he had prepared years ago when he decided to learn wood carving on his own. He had it specially crafted by a blacksmith in the western part of the city, and it wasn't cheap. Now, it finally had a purpose.
The Dao Fruit of Divine Craftsmanship pulsed with energy, and a sense of divine assistance surged within him.
Since this was just a test, Li Che didn't use ink lines to outline the shape. Instead, he went straight to carving, and with the help of the Dao Fruit, he felt the design of the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" deeply etched in his mind.
It was as if he had carved the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva hundreds of times, just like Master Chen, becoming proficient through constant practice.
For every cut, he had a precise understanding of the wood's structure, the spatial dimensions, and the amount of force needed for each strike. However, since this was his first time doing it himself, there was still a bit of stiffness in his movements. But as he continued, the stiffness gradually faded, and his technique became smoother.
His carving techniques became increasingly elegant, even developing a unique charm, a sign of mastery.
Mastery in carving techniques required continuous experience and practice. But Li Che, through the Dao Fruit of Divine Craftsmanship, seemed to absorb Master Chen's years of carving experience like a sponge.
The sound of the sharp knife scraping against the wood was soft and rhythmic.
The oil lamp flickered, and wood chips and scraps fell to the ground. In Li Che's hands, a miniature "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" statue, no bigger than a palm, began to take shape, with its sharp edges and intricate details.
Although it was unpolished and the lines were rough, the form was already a masterpiece, as if carved by a master.
Zhang Ya, who had just put Xi Xi to sleep, was amazed to see Li Che create the rough shape of the statue in such a short time. She didn't dare to disturb him, suppressing her curiosity.
She couldn't sleep either, so she sat by the bed, quietly watching Li Che carve with intense focus under the oil lamp.
As she watched, her eyes grew misty, and a warm smile spread across her lips.
She thought her husband might have given up on wood carving long ago, but she was wrong...
Her husband had never given up and had been working hard all along. Now, he was giving her a surprise!
"I just hope my husband can become a wood carver at the shop, or even an apprentice... that way, he won't have to work so hard, carrying heavy wood and carvings every day."
Zhang Ya's wish was simple and sincere—she only hoped her husband could earn a living more easily.
Li Che, immersed in his carving, soon came to his senses when the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue was complete, though it was unpolished and not yet a finished product. But he was elated.
Suddenly, he felt a change in his mind.
[Dao Fruit: Divine Craftsmanship (Level 1, 10%)]
What?!
Li Che's eyes widened as he noticed the experience-like indicator in the Dao Fruit's suffix had increased.
"Did I gain experience by carving a wood sculpture? Is it like skill proficiency?"
"Or did I gain 10% by touching the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' wood carving, learning its technique, and successfully completing it?"
From this, it seemed the Dao Fruit was like a newly formed but immature fruit. It needed to be cultivated to unlock its true potential.
Li Che couldn't help but speculate.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any more wood to try immediately. He had to suppress his curiosity, stretch, and then noticed his wife, Zhang Ya, leaning against the headboard, dozing off.
Li Che knew she was waiting for him to sleep, and his heart warmed.
It was freezing outside, so he quickly blew out the oil lamp, gently woke Zhang Ya, and they both climbed into bed.
Snow was falling heavily outside, piling up on the roof and making a soft sound, perfect for falling asleep.
...
...
The next day, Li Che went to the Xu Family Wood Carving Shop as usual.
"Master Chen, can I take this scrap wood home to practice?"
During a break, Li Che approached Master Chen, looking at the leftover "Flowering Willow" wood, and asked.
Master Chen, with wood shavings on his beard, glanced at Li Che. "Planning to learn wood carving? You have a good eye. You're a good fit, but you're a bit old for it. Still, it's good that you have the heart. Take any scrap wood you want."
Li Che had been helping Master Chen for years, so Master Chen was more lenient with him.
Delighted, Li Zhe hurriedly thanked the master and began selecting scrap materials he could use for practice.
Master Chen glanced over, chuckled, shook his head, and continued to focus on carving the "Nine Sons Embracing the Lotus."
Li Zhe gathered the selected scraps, wrapped them in a cloth, and placed them at his workstation. Then, he ran to the courtyard, claiming he needed to adjust the transported wooden sculptures, and began touching them.
The Dao Fruit of Divine Craftsmanship trembled slightly. This time, he touched a wooden sculpture named "Spring Fills the Universe," which required extremely delicate carving and patience to depict lifelike leaves and capture the essence of spring.
As Li Zhe touched the sculpture, a familiar sensation washed over him.
He saw a female woodcarver holding a chisel, intricately carving the vast universe, and the springtime vitality blooming from the wood under her skilled hands.
A surge of techniques and skills for the "Spring Fills the Universe" sculpture flooded his mind.
Li Zhe felt elated. Just like when he touched the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" statue, he had learned another woodcarving technique.
However, when he touched other sculptures, the Dao Fruit no longer responded, indicating a daily limit on the number of times he could learn.
Over the next few days, Li Zhe studied the Dao Fruit of Divine Craftsmanship.
With the Dao Fruit, he could learn woodcarving techniques and skills by touching statues. Each sculpture, when carved once, provided 10% experience, but only once. Therefore, Li Zhe needed to learn and carve ten different sculptures to advance the Dao Fruit to Level 2...
Understanding the Dao Fruit's purpose, Li Zhe felt a bright future ahead!
...
...
Days turned into weeks.
Soon, a month had passed.
Xixi, Li Zhe's daughter, was now a month old. Her lively eyes blinked, and she waved her chubby little hands, curiously observing the world from her cradle.
Li Zhe held a handbell he had made himself, teasing Xixi and making her laugh nonstop.
Xixi loved to laugh, and when she did, she had dimples, just like her mother.
Beside them, Zhang Ya was mending old clothes, watching the interaction between father and daughter with a gentle and content look in her eyes.
"Dear, how are things with the third shopkeeper at the woodcarving shop? You mentioned wanting to become a woodcarver," Zhang Ya asked curiously.
For the past month, Li Zhe had been carving wood sculptures every night, creating a wide variety of them. Zhang Ya was amazed by his skill, and in her blind admiration, she believed he was even better than the apprentices and woodcarvers at the shop.
"The third shopkeeper said I need to follow the rules and take the woodcarving skills test with the students who pay to learn. If I pass, I can join the shop as a woodcarver," Li Zhe replied while playing with Xixi, who reached out with her little hands to grab the handbell.
Zhang Ya nodded, her lips forming a determined line. "My dear, you can do it!"
Li Zhe smiled, feeling confident and full of spirit.
A thought crossed his mind.
[Dao Fruit: Divine Craftsmanship (Level 2, 8%)]
After a month of relentless practice, touching various wood sculptures and working overtime, he finally advanced the Dao Fruit to Level 2.
At Level 2, the Divine Craftsmanship Dao Fruit enhanced Li Zhe's ability to infuse his sculptures with a strong sense of meaning. His hand skills also became incredibly proficient, not just in woodwork but also in setting up complex mechanisms and ingenious devices.
After playing with Xixi for a while, Li Zhe got ready to head to work.
The snow had lessened, and winter was nearing its end, but the air was still cold and biting.
As he stepped out of the earthen house, he saw a familiar figure approaching. The old scholar, puffing on his pipe, frowned and wore a tattered robe and a thick coat, hurrying over.
"Uncle."
Li Zhe called out.
Since learning that Xixi was a girl, Uncle, influenced by his preference for boys, had not visited for a month. However, Aunt had come once, bringing eggs for Zhang Ya to nourish herself.
"Zhe, are you heading to work? It's good timing," Uncle said, his frown not easing.
Li Zhe nodded, and the old scholar, hesitating for a moment, finally spoke. "Zhe, have you heard?"
"About the old lady Lei who helped deliver Xixi..."
"She's... killed several children..."
"They say... all the children she killed were ones she delivered!"
(End of Chapter)
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