https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-61-Master-Woodcarver-Three-Immortals-Riding-Bulls-Suspended-Thought-Sword/12983941/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-63-Thousand-Buddha-Carving-Feast-The-Chess-Sage-Observes-the-Game/12983943/
Chapter 62: The Temple Deity's Promotion and the Father-Daughter Treasure
Chapter 62: The Temple Deity's Promotion and the Father-Daughter Treasure
Master Woodcarver!
Xu You stared at the wooden sculpture in his hand, which exuded a powerful divine essence, and felt both surprised and delighted.
A woodcarver who could create sculptures imbued with divine essence was called a Master Woodcarver, a title that granted them an esteemed status, making them an honored guest in any major aristocratic family.
Even among Master Woodcarvers, there were different ranks, determined by the strength of the divine essence they could impart into their creations.
Divine essence cultivators, in their pursuit of elevating the status of Master Woodcarvers, referred to the official rankings of strange temples published by the court to classify the ranks of Master Woodcarvers.
For example, a woodcarver who could consistently create sculptures imbued with divine essence would be called a "Ten Capital Rank" Master Woodcarver.
When a woodcarver's creations possessed divine essence on par with the sacred objects found in the "Nine Star" strange temples, they would be known as a "Nine Star Rank" Master Woodcarver.
"Congratulations, congratulations... I knew I didn't misjudge you. I always said you'd become a Master Woodcarver!"
Xu You was overjoyed, playing with the wooden sculpture given to him by Li Che, which was imbued with the divine essence of the Xu Family's Suspended Thought Flowing Sword. His eyes seemed to sparkle with newfound light.
"Now that you're a Master Woodcarver, I can finally carry out my mission with peace of mind."
Xu You smiled.
As the daughter of a Master Woodcarver, she would be well-protected by the Xu Family, ensuring she wouldn't face any harm.
Currently, there was only one elderly Master Woodcarver in the Xu Family, and even maintaining Xu He Li's cultivation was already a challenging task.
Naturally, Li Che's achievement as a Master Woodcarver would receive significant attention.
Li Che smiled and decided to showcase his talent and woodcarving skills...
Not only was the timing right, but he also wanted to proactively gain the Xu Family's respect and ensure Xixi's safety in Thunderstrike City.
Additionally, he wanted to provide Xu You with more leverage.
Xu You, however, was purely delighted for Li Che. After chatting with Li Che for a while, he hurriedly left.
He wanted to share the news of Li Che becoming a Master Woodcarver with the Xu Family, ensuring they would give it the importance it deserved.
...
...
The night was chilly, and the snow was falling.
Li Che watched as Xu You pushed through the heavy snow and disappeared at the end of the long street. He exhaled softly.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the swirling snow.
Li Qingshan appeared, dressed in simple attire, and landed in the courtyard. His back was hunched, and he observed Xu You's departing figure with a raised eyebrow.
"You're a thoughtful young man. By revealing your talent as a Master Woodcarver, you've secured a solid background. Once you join the Divine Sect, your status will protect Xu You from being bullied too much in Thunderstrike City."
Li Qingshan explained with a smile.
"Honest people are often taken advantage of. Having a solid background will make it less likely for you to be bullied."
Li Che exhaled a warm breath in the cold weather.
"Senior, you've been elusive most of the time. Have you found the main altar of the Spirit Infants Sect?"
Li Che served Li Qingshan a bowl of hot tea from the boiling pot.
Li Qingshan accepted the tea without hesitation and sat down with Li Che under the eaves, sipping the hot tea.
"I've made some progress and have a better understanding now. I initially thought that the Spirit Infants Sect had deep connections with the government and would set up their main altar in the City Lord's Mansion. But when I infiltrated the mansion, I found that it wasn't the case..."
Li Qingshan sipped the hot tea, and his brows furrowed as he spoke.
Li Che's brows also knitted in response: "Not in the City Lord's Mansion?"
"Indeed. The City Lord's Mansion is the official residence of the Great Jing Dynasty. Even if the Spirit Infants Sect is audacious, setting up their main altar there would be like slapping the court in the face. Once word gets out in Thunderstrike City, the Temple Guardian of the Golden Light Sect won't just sit idly by." Li Qingshan chuckled.
"The Great Jing Dynasty is currently most concerned about maintaining its dignity, even though the country is in decline. The nation's authority still needs to be upheld." Li Qingshan extended his hand, catching a snowflake, and then crushed it into powder.
"Li Che, I must admit that your achievement as a Master Woodcarver came as a surprise to me. It seems your sensitivity to divine essence is quite remarkable, young divine child."
"Perfect. After joining the Divine Sect, I can recommend you to 'Woodcarving Ridge.' With that connection, you'll have a better standing within the sect, and it will be easier to obtain divine essence sculptures for Xixi's cultivation."
Li Che took a sip of tea, raising his eyebrows. "Are divine essence sculptures that competitive within the Divine Sect?"
Li Qingshan glanced at Li Che and smiled. "Within the sect, Ten Capital Rank sculptures are not in high demand, but those with 'Nine Star' and 'Eight Extremes' divine essence are highly sought after..."
Li Che nodded, indicating his understanding.
The current Li Che had obtained the Divine Fruit [Celestial Art]...
With their help, Li Che could focus all his efforts and perhaps create the highest-quality "Ten Capital" woodcarving.
However, Li Che had no clue about a Nine Star-ranked Divine Carving...
It was as if he lacked some crucial opportunity.
Li Qingshan looked at Li Che with a thousand emotions, "Being a Master Woodcarver is a highly sought-after profession. One who achieves this title is guaranteed a secure path in cultivating their Divine Nature... However, advancing in the Master Woodcarver's rank is extremely dangerous."
"Besides the Ten Capital Rank, advancing to each subsequent rank through personal understanding is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Therefore, you need to capture the corresponding rank of Strange Temple's Temple Deity's Divinity and then infuse this captured Divinity into the woodcarving to achieve promotion. This is why the Master Woodcarver's ranking is similar to the Strange Temple's."
As if struck by a sudden thought, Li Qingshan fell into deep contemplation for a moment.
"Little Li Che, have you ever been to a Strange Temple?"
Strange Temple?
Li Che shook his head unconsciously.
He had heard of it but had never been there.
After the great changes in the world, Strange Temples sprang up like bamboo shoots after the rain, bringing chaos and evil to the mortal realm.
Even the decline of a nation's power was greatly related to these Strange Temples.
"In a few days, I'll come to find you. I'll take you to the Ten Capital Strange Temple outside the city. The Temple Deity Statue within the temple holds the key to capturing the Temple Deity's rank of Divinity, which is crucial for a Master Woodcarver's promotion."
"Let's visit the Strange Temple before it advances to the Nine Star Rank... Once it does, it'll be too late."
"It's just right... I can also take advantage of your formidable strength..."
Li Qingshan finished the hot tea in his bowl, chewing on the tea leaves as he spoke.
Glancing at Li Che, who seemed lost in thought, Li Qingshan smiled and shook his head, then quietly disappeared without stirring up any snow.
"A Strange Temple?"
Li Che exhaled a breath of warm air, gazing at Li Qingshan, who had vanished into the wind and snow.
A faint glimmer of anticipation flashed in his eyes.
It was a feeling of...
...
...
In the inner city of Thunderfall City, at the Xu Family Manor.
The lights were bright, dispelling the cold.
In the main seat, Xu Nanming, the current head of the Xu family, sat in a grandmaster's chair, examining a wooden statue.
After a moment, a strange light flashed in his eyes.
Below, Xu You pursed his lips, his face filled with excitement.
"It's truly a Ten Capital Divine Carving. Has Teacher Li... really become a Master Woodcarver?"
"He's only twenty-two, right? Amazing... truly amazing!"
Xu Nanming let out a breath.
A twenty-two-year-old Master Woodcarver, no, to have achieved the Master Woodcarver rank in just three years of actual woodcarving... Such talent is a treasure!
"My daughter is a treasure, and so is her father... Both father and daughter are treasures."
After returning the "Three Immortals Riding Bulls Suspended Thought Sword Image" to Xu You, Xu Nanming waved him away.
"Father, Teacher Li has become a Master Woodcarver. The Xu family must protect Xixi well so as not to disappoint Teacher Li," Xu You said earnestly before leaving.
"Go," Xu Nanming dismissed him with a wave.
"This son takes his leave," Xu You said, his joy fading as he retreated with a gloomy expression.
After Xu You left, Xu Nanming respectfully bowed towards the dark area at the back of the house.
Faintly, an aged voice drifted out from the darkness.
"It seems the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect has sent someone to Thunderfall City ahead of schedule. I wonder who it is... The Si family's destruction had the Divine Sect's involvement, and Li Nuanxi is an Upper Divine Child. We of the Xu family can't keep her. Li Che, this Master Woodcarver... we can't keep him either."
"Achieving Master Woodcarver in just three years, his future potential is likely to reach the Nine Star Rank, or even... the Eight Trigram Rank!"
"A pity, in the end, he won't stay with the Xu family..."
"Great changes are coming to Thunderfall City... Since it's like this, there's no need for such a Master Woodcarver..."
The faint, aged voice carried a hint of disinterest.
"Tomorrow, send He Li with a request to purchase a Ten Capital Divine Carving. If Li Che gives face and accepts, then fine. If not..."
"...then let the City Lord's Manor handle it. The City Lord is seeking more woodcarvers for his projects..."
"A Master Woodcarver who has just entered the Ten Capital Rank..."
"...should be satisfactory."
In the darkness, an aged and hoarse voice echoed faintly.
Hearing this, Xu Nanming felt a chill run through his body, and cold sweat formed on his forehead.
(End of Chapter)
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