https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-7-Four-Armed-Bodhisattva-Holding-a-Child-Statue/12983853/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-9-Three-Headed-Six-Armed-Spirit-Infant-Statue-and-the-Mechanical-Sleeve-Crossbow/12983858/
Chapter 8: Woodcarving Prodigy, Inner Strength and Divinity
Chapter 8: Woodcarving Prodigy, Inner Strength and Divinity
The third manager, Xu You, narrowed his eyes, a hint of astonishment flashing in his gentle gaze.
He observed the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue" taking shape, its rough outline being carved with coarse lines. Despite its unfinished state, the sculpture exuded a unique beauty.
It was... the essence of the piece!
The expression, posture, and aura seemed to leap out at him!
It was as if a compassionate four-armed Bodhisattva with kind eyes was holding a child, eyelids lowered, fingers forming the mudra of death, holding a jade bottle, and a jade scepter...
Could this be the work of a laborer? Xu You nodded slightly. As the third manager of the woodcarving shop, he had handled countless sculptures and possessed a keen eye for the styles and techniques of various master carvers.
In Li Che's Four-Armed Bodhisattva, he could discern the influence of the four-knife woodcarver, Chen Dabao's style and essence!
What an astonishing talent!
Li Che hadn't spent any money learning woodcarving at the shop, and Chen Dabao certainly wouldn't have taught him out of kindness.
In other words... Li Che had taught himself everything! He worked during the day, transporting wood and finished sculptures, leaving only the night to practice carving. Yet, even with such limited time, he had achieved this level of skill!
"The line carving and treatment still have minor flaws, but what's precious is... the essence! The Four-Armed Bodhisattva carved by Li has an incredibly rich essence, as if it could come to life... This is an innate talent!"
Chen Dabao clicked his tongue, still amazed after sensing the arrival of the third manager, Xu You.
"Indeed, the most crucial aspect of woodcarving is its aura," Xu You agreed, nodding in approval. "Without an aura, no matter how skilled the technique or how ingenious the method, it's just a piece of junk wood."
"He's a promising talent, and Li Che's technique isn't bad either. It's just a bit less refined compared to the master carvers, but far superior to the other apprentices..."
"It seems our Xuji Woodcarving Shop has indeed found a true talent."
Xu You's lips curled into a smile, brightening his face.
"Our Xuji Woodcarving Shop is among the top in Flying Thunder City, not only because of the Xu family's reputation but also due to the abundant aura in our sculptures, which is perfect for the city's young masters to refine and extract their divinity..."
"For someone with such innate talent in capturing the sculpture's aura, our shop will surely nurture and cultivate them well!"
Xu You stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing Li Che's carving for a while.
From the knife's cutting technique to the deepening of the sculpture's essence and aura as the carving progressed, Xu You confirmed that it was indeed Li Che's work.
Li Che also noticed Xu You's arrival and his attention.
His heart skipped a beat. He had already restrained his carving technique, but it seemed he was still significantly better than the other apprentices, making him stand out like a crane among chickens...
The first attempt at carving... still lacked experience.
However, judging by the third manager's reaction, Li Che's path as a woodcarver seemed secure!
Four hours passed quietly, marked by the rustling sound of the carving knife slicing through the wood.
Dang!
A loud crash, like a copper gong shattering, filled the air.
The second manager, Xu Beihu, sitting in a grand armchair, abruptly stood up, his towering figure commanding attention.
"Time's up! Everyone, stop!"
"The test is over!"
"Anyone I see still carving will be disqualified! Your work will be voided!"
His authoritative voice carried a hint of intimidation.
All the woodcarving apprentices hurriedly stopped their work, some looking at Xu Beihu with trepidation as his tiger eyes swept the room, their silence like the silence of cicadas in winter.
Li Che also put down the polishing rod, ending the refinement of the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue." He sighed, feeling a tinge of regret.
If given just a bit more time, he could have polished the entire statue, completing the piece.
The third and second managers, along with several master carvers from the shop, began evaluating the apprentices' sculptures.
The evaluations were fair, and they rarely criticized harshly. Only if they encountered an exceptionally poor piece, where an apprentice had barely managed a rough sculpture in four hours, would they scold them.
Chen Dabao followed the group, squinting as they approached Li Che's workbench. He observed the Four-Armed Bodhisattva standing tall amidst the wood shavings, its initial form now taking shape after the polishing.
In the workshop, many master carvers marveled at the sight before them.
"Astonishing! A laborer with such knife skills and standards!"
"The apprentices I trained are all but lost causes!"
"Such talent! It's a shame they haven't received proper woodcarving training. They started late, but their understanding of woodcarving... I believe they can even surpass the works of a Three-Knife Master Carver!"
...
Praise filled the air.
Xu You glanced at Li Che with a peculiar look in his eyes, then nodded slightly. "Not bad."
Li Che bowed respectfully, his expression calm, unaffected by the surrounding admiration.
The group continued their assessment, and soon, they had evaluated all the works.
"Li Che, Wang Zhengpin, and Zhang Ya, your woodcarvings stood out in this assessment. You will be granted the title of One-Knife Woodcarver, with a monthly salary of five taels, sixty percent of which will be shared."
As Xu You recited their names, a buzz filled the workshop.
When the final results were announced, some apprentices were disheartened, some were lost, and some shed tears...
After years of hard study, they still failed to pass the assessment, even being surpassed by a laborer. Their mental state was slightly imbalanced.
Within the small workshop, a myriad of human emotions were on display.
"You three, follow me."
Xu You and Xu Beihu donned their fox furs and scanned the three successful apprentices.
Li Che and the other two apprentices hurried to catch up, braving the flying snow and heading deeper into the courtyard.
They walked through the long corridor and entered a spacious courtyard, like a training ground, filled with snow-covered stone stools and various martial arts equipment.
"This is the training area of Xuji Woodcarving Workshop in the Outer City. As woodcarving masters, even if you are your own people, from now on, you can enter this area with your One-Knife Woodcarver identity and the 'Jade Token' to train and refine your inner strength. Prepare to ascend to a higher level of woodcarving mastery."
The group stood in the snow, and Xu You distributed three small jade knives to them. Then, he stood silently with his hands behind his back as Xu Beihu began to speak.
"Martial arts instruction will be provided by me. Each month, I will spare two days to come to the Outer City. If you have any questions about martial arts, you can come to me."
Xu Beihu's voice resonated like a deep bell, his robust energy unaffected by the snow.
Li Che and the other two apprentices quickly responded.
"Now, let's talk about martial arts..."
"Martial arts cultivation is divided into three types: Body Refinement Technique, Inner Strength Technique, and... Spiritual Nature Technique."
"Spiritual Nature Technique is beyond your reach, and you are not yet qualified to learn it. Body Refinement Technique is accessible to all, but Inner Strength Technique relies more on talent, and it takes time to accumulate. As for Body Refinement Technique, I will teach you now, and when you reach the Skin Grinding Level, I will impart the Inner Strength Technique to you, allowing you to try it out."
Xu Beihu spoke calmly.
Then, he began to explain the Body Refinement Technique, which was, in fact... a process of hard work and patience, using external tools and equipment in the training ground to refine the body.
"The Body Refinement Technique involves Skin Grinding and Sinew Opening, Bone Tempering, and Blood Replacement, enabling the circulation of energy and blood within the body. Achieving Mercury-like Blood is a sign of a high-level master! As for Blood Replacement and above, Meridian Opening, there are very few people in the city who have achieved this."
"For Skin Grinding, every half a month, you can obtain a bowl of 'Boiling Skin Powder.' If you find it insufficient, you can purchase it yourself; one bowl costs one tael of silver, and it can accelerate your Body Refinement speed."
...
Xu Beihu's teachings were meticulous, and Li Che listened attentively.
This was his first encounter with the martial arts of this world, so he dared not slack off. The threat from the Spirit Infant Master loomed like a sword above his head, keeping him vigilant and alert.
Martial arts training was his capital to strengthen himself against the Spirit Infant Master, and he dared not slack off for a moment.
As night fell...
Xu Beihu concluded the day's teachings.
Tomorrow, he would stay in the Outer City for another day to impart martial arts knowledge to the group.
"Disperse, digest what I've taught you about martial arts, and start your Skin Grinding training tomorrow."
Xu Beihu spoke in a deep voice, waved his hand, and turned to leave.
However, Li Che did not leave. Instead, he found the Third Manager and inquired about the move.
(End of Chapter)
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