https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-62-The-Temple-Deity-s-Promotion-and-the-Father-Daughter-Treasures/12932878/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-64-The-Wrathful-Cry-of-a-Hundred-Ghosts-the-Ox-Demon-Returns/12932880/
Chapter 63: Thousand Buddha Feast, Chess Sage's Observation
Chapter 63: Thousand Buddha Feast, Chess Sage's Observation
Xi Xi's birthday had just passed, and the weather became increasingly cold.
Winter plums stood tall in the harsh winter, adorned with pure white snowflakes. The bluestone pavement of the inner city's main street was covered in thick snow, a dazzling white.
Li Che sent off Xu You, who led a team out of the city to eradicate evil spirits, and returned to his small courtyard located in Clear Wind Lane.
Old Chen sat in a rattan chair under the eaves, sipping aged wine and staring blankly at the withered old tree in the courtyard.
"Old Chen, what are you thinking about?" Li Che asked curiously after shaking off the snow from his oiled paper umbrella and returning.
Old Chen's gaze refocused, and he shook his head, "As one grows older, it's easy to become absent-minded..."
"In a while, the Divine Sect will send people to Thunder City to select Spirit Children... If Xi Xi remains safe during this period, she will most likely be chosen to enter the Divine Sect..."
"Old Chen, I... will probably not be able to see Xi Xi again."
Old Chen sighed, picking up the wine gourd and taking a few gulps.
After spending so much time with the child, if they were to suddenly part ways for a long time, Old Chen would indeed feel a sense of blockage in his heart, with endless loneliness and worry creeping in.
He worried about his own passing... and the thought of not being able to see the child again.
"Then why don't you come with us to the Divine Sect to accompany Xi Xi in her cultivation?" Li Che suggested softly.
Old Chen rolled his eyes, looking at Li Che as if he were an idiot, "Ah Che, you're still too young."
"The Divine Sect only allows family members to accompany the selected disciples. How can I qualify to go with Xi Xi when she enters the sect for cultivation?" Old Chen shook his head; after all, he was in his fifties and knew some inside information about the Divine Sect.
Upon hearing this, Li Che couldn't help but smile, "Rest assured... Xi Xi won't abandon you."
"It's just going to the Divine Sect, no problem..."
Old Chen shook his head; how could the rules of such a colossal sect be easily changed for anyone?
After chatting with Old Chen for a while, Li Che was about to head to the Independent Workshop to cultivate and work.
However, before he could even step out, footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.
Li Che looked up, and the wind and snow parted.
Two figures, draped in crane cloaks and treading softly on the thick snow, approached and gently knocked on the wide-open courtyard door.
"Master Li, are you in?"
The visitors were none other than Xu Heli and Xu Beihu.
"Congratulations, Master Li, on your promotion to the 'Ten Capital' Woodcarving Master. It's a joyous occasion and a blessing for Xuji," Xu Heli said with a gentle smile, a divine sword hanging at his waist.
His gaze held a mixture of surprise and intensity as he looked at Li Che.
Xu Heli truly never expected that a commoner from the outer city could become a Woodcarving Master.
"It's just luck," Li Che responded with a fist salute.
It was clear that Xuji didn't value him as a Woodcarving Master as much as they should have, otherwise, it would have been Xu Nanming, the family head, who came instead of Xu Heli.
The ever-calm Chen Da Bao was shocked to hear that Li Che had become a Woodcarving Master, and he jumped up from his rattan chair, his jaw dropping.
What was this? Who taught Li Che woodcarving? Had he lost their trust?
Old Chen stared at Li Che with uncertainty.
But being an old hand in the game, he soon calmed down, keeping many things to himself and not asking any questions.
Xu Beihu, standing next to Xu Heli, also had a complex expression, his heart still reeling from the shock.
"The title of Woodcarving Master is earned through true skill and craftsmanship, not just luck."
"Master Li, please don't be modest. I heard that you carved a statue of 'Three Immortals Riding a Bull, Suspended Thought Sword' for your third brother yesterday. May I ask... if I could request a divine wood sculpture from Master Li?" Xu Heli asked with a salute.
"Five hundred gold leaves. I'll provide the design and the spiritual wood. Although Master Li is our Xuji woodcarver, according to the rules of a Woodcarving Master, Xuji won't take a cut..."
Five hundred gold leaves for a single wood sculpture—truly a sky-high price.
But for a divine cultivator, a divine wood sculpture could help them reduce the hardship of their monthly cultivation, making it well worth the price.
After all, to forge a divine foundation and cultivate... every second counts.
Li Che looked at Xu Heli in surprise; he was directly asking for a divine wood sculpture? Xuji's attitude and reaction after learning that he had become a Woodcarving Master were indeed... somewhat unexpected for Li Che.
Chen Da Bao, standing beside him, also frowned.
Li Che thought carefully, and the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit greatly enhanced his reasoning and thinking abilities.
He soon understood the reason.
"Grand Manager, I've just become a Woodcarving Master, and carving that statue for Xu You has taken a toll on me. For now, I won't be taking any orders..." Li Che shook his head, declining this transaction.
It wasn't that he didn't want to earn those five hundred gold leaves.
Instead, he planned to officially break through to the Pulse Channeling Realm in the next few days, strengthening his foundation in qi and blood martial arts.
Li Qingshan had promised to take him to the Mysterious Temple, and Li Che valued this opportunity but also approached it with caution. The stronger he was, the safer it would be.
Xu Heli's smile gradually faded, surprised that Li Che had refused, even though his reason was reasonable.
He still felt a sense of discomfort in his heart.
"Then I'll trouble Master Li. Heli will come another day to request the statue..." Xu Heli suppressed his emotions and bowed respectfully.
After Li Che returned the greeting, Xu Heli and Xu Beihu turned and left.
Old Chen watched the two brothers' departing figures, his eyebrows furrowed. "Ah Che, you should have taken this order."
"There's probably going to be a major change in Thunder City, so Xuji's attitude towards the master carver has changed. They're worried that after investing resources, you'll just leave. But if we take the order, at least Xuji's attitude will become more amiable."
Li Che opened his oil-paper umbrella and smiled. "No worries."
"Old Chen... I now have the confidence to refuse orders."
With that, he held the umbrella and stepped into the snow.
Chen Da Bao stared at Li Che, feeling a bit dazed for a moment.
He couldn't believe that the calm and confident young man before him was the same person who had once sought his help in Xuji's woodcarving shop in the outer city, nervous and timid.
Time had brought about such a significant change in this person.
...
...
In the luxurious carriage, the water in the stove was boiling.
Steam rose from the water, filling the carriage.
Xu Heli sat expressionlessly, leaning against the soft chair, gazing at the falling snow outside the window.
"I didn't expect that the country bumpkin from back then would one day become a master carver..."
"He leaped over the Dragon Gate, a complete reversal of fortunes."
Xu Beihu poured a cup of tea for Xu Heli and sighed.
"This is talent... To give birth to an exceptional spirit child like Li Nuanxi, his own talent must be extraordinary."
"It's a pity..." Xu Heli shook his head.
Thinking of what the old patriarch had said to him, Xu Heli lowered his eyes slightly, and a hint of killing intent flashed across them.
You carved a statue for the third young master for free, yet you won't take the order even for five hundred gold leaves...
What a thick face you have!
Taking advantage of the situation...
Xu Heli slowly closed his eyes and said to Xu Beihu, "Go to the City Governor's Mansion and find Zhao Xuanhai. Tell him that Li Che has become a master carver. He's always wanted Li Che to carve a statue, right?"
"This way, we'll grant his wish."
Upon hearing this, Xu Beihu's hand, which was pouring tea, suddenly froze.
Scalding hot tea spilled out.
...
...
The sky gradually darkened, and snowflakes filled the air.
The snowflakes, like goose feathers, fell upon the world, carrying a chill.
On the long street, the number of pedestrians dwindled.
Although the inner city was more prosperous than the outer city, there were also fewer people, so when night fell, there were hardly any pedestrians to be seen.
Zhao Xuanhai wore a hood, with one hand tucked inside his chest. His tall figure resembled a bear walking among humans, but despite the deep snow, he left no footprints as he walked.
"This Li Che... has become a master carver. How interesting."
"He's truly a genius. The City Governor will surely like him. If the City Governor's 'Thousand Buddha Feast' can get a master carver, it will definitely be a success."
Most master carvers had long-term ties with noble families and were not easy to move.
A newly emerged master carver, that was a rare find.
"The Xu Family is straightforward. Knowing they can't stop the City Governor's 'Thousand Buddha Feast,' they directly chose to sell this newly emerged master carver."
"They are indeed merchants, cold-blooded, only pursuing profit."
Looking towards the independent workshop in the small alley, the Xu Family had directly revealed its location to him.
"Li Che, Li Che..."
"You didn't want to drink with me when I offered silver, but now... you'll have to drink the penalty."
Zhao Xuanhai took a step forward, pulling out an angry boy mask from his chest and covering his face with it.
The wind and snow seemed to freeze, as if being burned and melted by flames.
...
...
Inside the independent workshop, Li Che sat quietly, the falling snow swaying gently.
Just as a snowflake was about to land on his hair, an invisible force twisted and tore it apart.
In front of him, Li Che had crafted a chessboard from camphor wood, with vertical and horizontal lines arranged, but the board was empty, without a single chess piece.
He gently placed his palm on the closed chessboard.
In an instant, the Chess Sage Fruit within him trembled violently.
His spirit soared, and the lines of divine essence, woven and condensed by the boiling heavens and earth, formed an invisible chessboard, crisscrossing like a vast network.
Li Che slowly opened his eyes.
He saw...
At the alley entrance, Zhao Xuanhai slowly took out an angry boy mask and covered his face...
He saw Zhao Xuanhai walking step by step towards the workshop in the alley.
Like a black chess piece on the chessboard.
Impatiently...
Walking towards death.
PS: Some bad news, the new book has been launched, and I'm now competing in the Triple Peak Battle, which is even more challenging. But the good news is that the number of virtual followers in the background has exceeded three thousand, so there's a bit more hope. So, everyone, please support me! I'll be very grateful! Tomorrow is Monday, the day of the Triple Peak Battle, so please show your support! I'm begging you!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
