https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-7-The-Four-Armed-Bodhisattva-Embracing-a-Child/12831057/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-9-The-Three-Headed-Six-Armed-Spirit-Infant-Statue-and-the-Hidden-Crossbow/12831059/
Chapter 8: The Woodcarving Prodigy and the Divine Inner Qi
Chapter 8: The Woodcarving Prodigy and the Divine Inner Qi
Xu You, the third steward, narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in his gentle gaze.
He watched the rough form of the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Embracing a Child" statue taking shape, the lines still crude but already exuding a unique beauty.
It was... the essence of art!
The expression, posture, and aura... they were all vividly present!
It was as if a truly benevolent four-armed bodhisattva, holding a child in one arm, with lowered eyelids, fingers forming the mudra of rebirth, holding a jade bottle, and a jade ruyi...
Could this have been carved by a mere laborer?
Xu You nodded slightly. As the third steward of the woodcarving shop, he had seen countless woodcarvings and had a high level of appreciation for the styles and techniques of many master carvers.
In Li Che's Four-Armed Bodhisattva, there were many elements of Chen Dabao's style and essence!
His talent... was astonishing!
Li Che had not spent money to learn woodcarving at the shop, and Chen Dabao certainly wouldn't have been kind enough to teach him.
This means... Li Che had achieved all this through self-study!
During the day, he had to move wood and finished statues at the shop, and only had time to carve at night. Yet, with just the evenings, he had reached this level!
"The lines and finishing have some flaws, but what's truly remarkable is... the essence! The Four-Armed Bodhisattva Li Che carved is incredibly rich in essence, almost as if it were alive... This is a natural talent!"
Chen Dabao smacked his lips, coming back to his senses after sensing the arrival of the third steward, Xu You, and was filled with amazement.
"Indeed, the most important aspect of woodcarving is the essence. Without it, no matter how skilled the technique, it's just a piece of broken wood," Xu You nodded in approval.
"He's a good seed, and Li Che's technique isn't bad either. He just lacks the experience of the masters, but he far surpasses the apprentices..."
"It seems our Xu family woodcarving shop is about to produce a true prodigy."
Xu You's lips curled into a bright smile.
"Our Xu family woodcarving shop is among the best in Feilei City, not just because of the Xu family's influence, but because our woodcarvings are rich in essence, allowing the city's young nobles to refine and extract divine inner qi..."
"Someone with such a natural talent for grasping the essence of woodcarving, our Xu family will certainly nurture and cultivate!"
Xu You folded his arms and quietly watched Li Che's carving for a while.
From the technique of the chisel to the deepening essence and aura of the woodcarving as it progressed, Xu You was certain that this work was indeed Li Che's.
Li Che, of course, had also sensed Xu You's arrival and his evaluation.
His heart couldn't help but race. He had restrained his technique a lot, but it still seemed to outshine the apprentices, making him stand out like a crane among chickens...
It was his first time trying to gauge his skills... he still lacked experience.
However, from the third steward's reaction, it seemed that becoming a woodcarver was a sure thing!
Four hours passed quietly, the sound of chisels slicing through wood filling the air.
Clang—
With a sound like a copper gong shattering, Xu Beihu, the second steward, who was sitting in a grand armchair sipping tea, stood up abruptly. His massive frame emitted a powerful aura that surged through the air.
"The time is up! Everyone, stop what you're doing!"
"The examination is over!"
"If I see anyone still using their chisels, they will be disqualified, and their results will be nullified!"
His commanding voice, rough and intimidating, silenced everyone.
All the woodcarving apprentices hurriedly stopped their work, looking at Xu Beihu with eyes like those of tigers scanning the room, trembling in fear.
Li Che also put down his polishing stick, stopping the final touches on the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Embracing a Child," taking a long breath and feeling a slight sense of regret.
If only he had a few more moments, he could have completed the final polish, and the statue would have been finished.
The third and second stewards, along with several master carvers from the shop, began evaluating the apprentices' work.
The evaluations were not overly harsh, but they were fair.
Unless they encountered an exceptionally poor piece, where four hours had only produced a rough formless shape, they would refrain from harsh criticism.
Chen Dabao followed the group, squinting his eyes. When they reached Li Che's workstation, he saw the Four-Armed Bodhisattva standing tall and polished, emerging from a pile of wood shavings, already taking on the form of a finished woodcarving.
Many of the senior craftsmen were amazed.
"Remarkable! A mere mover can have such skill and precision with a knife!"
"My apprentices must be learning from dogs!"
"A promising talent. It's a shame he hasn't had formal training in wood carving for so many years. He started late, but the depth of his work... I'd believe it was carved by Master San Dao himself!"
...
Praise continued to flow.
Xu You looked at Li Che with a warm expression, his eyes gleaming with approval. He nodded slightly, "Not bad."
Li Che bowed respectfully, his face calm, not letting the praise go to his head.
The group continued to evaluate the works, and after a short while, they had assessed all the pieces.
"Li Che, Zhao Xuan, and Wang Zhengpin, your wood carvings stand out in this examination. You will be granted the title of One-Knife Wood Carver, with a monthly salary of five taels of silver and a 60% profit share."
When Xu You announced the three names, the shop erupted in a flurry of reactions.
When the final results were settled, many apprentices were disheartened. Some looked lost, others shed tears...
Years of hard work had ultimately not been enough to pass the examination, and to be outshone by a mere mover was a bitter pill to swallow.
The small shop became a microcosm of human emotions.
"Follow us."
Xu You and Xu Beihu put on their fox cloaks and glanced at the three successful candidates.
Li Che and the other two apprentices hurriedly followed, stepping into the snow and heading deeper into the courtyard.
They passed through a long corridor and arrived at a spacious courtyard, which seemed like a flattened training ground. It was filled with stone stools and practice stakes, all covered in snow.
"This is the training area of the Outer City Xu's Wood Carving Shop. Now that you are wood carvers of the shop, you are part of our family. From now on, you can enter this area with your One-Knife Wood Carver 'Jade Blade' to practice and strengthen yourselves, preparing to advance to higher levels."
The group stood in the courtyard, facing the snow.
Xu You distributed three small jade knives to the three of them, then stood with his hands behind his back, leaving Xu Beihu to speak.
"Wu training will be taught by me. I will come to the Outer City twice a month. If you have any questions about wu training, you can come to me."
Xu Beihu's voice was deep and resonant, his qi and blood strong. Standing in the heavy snow, not a single flake touched him.
The three apprentices quickly responded.
"Now, let me explain the path of wu training to you."
"Wu training is divided into three categories: Body Refinement, Inner Qi, and Divine Essence."
"Divine Essence is beyond your reach and not something you are qualified to learn. Body Refinement can be practiced by anyone, while Inner Qi requires more talent and time to accumulate."
"I will teach you Body Refinement now. As for Inner Qi, you will need to reach the Skin-Grinding stage of Body Refinement before I can teach you and let you try it."
Xu Beihu spoke calmly.
He then began to explain the methods of Body Refinement. Essentially, it involved enduring harsh training and using external tools to refine the body. The various instruments in the training ground were all designed for this purpose.
"Body Refinement involves skin grinding, tendon opening, bone tempering, and blood replacement. If you can move your internal qi and blood, making your blood as fluid as mercury, you will be considered a formidable expert. As for the Blood Replacement stage and beyond, even in a city, there are few who can achieve it."
"Starting with skin grinding, you can receive a bowl of 'Boiling Skin Powder' every half month. If you feel it's not enough, you can buy more at one tael of silver per bowl. This will accelerate your Body Refinement process."
...
Xu Beihu taught with great dedication, and Li Che listened just as attentively.
This was his first exposure to the world of wu training, and he dared not be complacent. The threat of the Spirit Embryo Sect loomed over him like a sharp blade, leaving him no room for relaxation.
Wu training could enhance his ability to resist the Spirit Embryo Sect, so he could not afford to be lax.
As the sky grew dark, Xu Beihu concluded today's lesson.
He would stay in the Outer City for one more day to continue teaching wu training.
"Dismissed. Digest the wu knowledge I've taught you. Tomorrow, we will begin the skin-grinding stage."
Xu Beihu spoke solemnly, raised his hand, and turned to leave.
However, Li Che did not leave. He sought out the third manager to inquire about his move.
(End of Chapter)
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