Chapter 87: Advancing Divine Foundation Technique, Xixi Thinks of Niu Niu

Chapter 87: Advancing Divine Foundation Technique, Xixi Thinks of Niu Niu

The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of countless wooden spirit infant statues, like fanged and clawed demons and monsters.

The Bull Demon mask tilted, the temple deity's wooden statue gripped his arm, and its eyes rolled, as if a scorching fire was about to erupt.

In the air, there seemed to be a silent roar, like a tide, wave after wave, crashing in.

The temple deity's wrathful gaze, with all three eyes filled with anger.

It seemed to be directed at the insatiable Bull Demon before him.

Almost there!

Take it and get out!

Don't push your luck! But Li Che remained oblivious.

The eyes beneath the mask's holes burned faintly, as if observing a fire.

...

【Divine Foundation Technique (Eighth Apex Superior): Three-Eyed Wrathful Vajra Divine Foundation】

【Origin: Branch of Wrathful Divinity, the wrath of ten thousand people, swallowing with three divine eyes, arranging a thousand infant wooden statues to contain divine intent, bestowed by Langshen True Lord, derived and acquired】

【Advancement: Obtaining the Divine Foundation of the Three-Eyed Compassionate True Monarch and the Three-Eyed Intimidating True Monarch, can cast the Seventh Rank Supreme Three-Eyed Three-Spirit True Monarch Divine Foundation】

【Requirement: Wrathful Divinity, Peak Nature Like River】

...

The flowing light of the words before him slowly faded.

A vast amount of information flooded into his mind, and Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, filled with surprise.

Breaking free from the temple deity's wooden statue's grip, Li Che instantly leaped off the altar, landing on the ground. He calmed his emotions and silently received the information flowing into his mind.

"This is... a Divine Foundation Technique?!"

"And it's an Eighth Apex Superior Divine Foundation Technique. The Heart Stun Firmness Divine Foundation Technique I got from Elder Yang is only a Ninth Luminance Inferior grade..."

"An Eighth Apex Superior Divine Foundation Technique..."

Li Che was surprised and quite taken aback.

"Senior Green Mountain once said that in the Mysterious Temple, one can receive the temple deity's gifts, and many divine nature techniques and divine foundation techniques are obtained from the Mysterious Temple. Thus, many wild and unexplored Mysterious Temples attract countless cultivators..."

"So... this is what they call the temple deity's gift?"

Although it seemed more like the temple deity's impatient dismissal, Li Che was delighted.

"This temple deity's divine foundation technique seems to be... further upgradable!"

"Obtaining the Divine Foundation of the Three-Eyed Compassionate True Monarch and the Three-Eyed Intimidating True Monarch, one can cast the Three-Eyed Three-Spirit True Monarch Divine Foundation, which is the Seventh Rank Supreme."

Li Che pondered, his heart stirring slightly, and his eyes brightened.

"As expected, there should be others in the world who have thought of casting the Seven Emotions Divine Foundation. Although it's a joint casting, the idea is somewhat similar."

"Casting three divine nature foundations into one, while I plan to cast seven divine foundations."

Essentially the same.

In terms of cultivation path and ideas, it was the same.

Li Che was inexplicably happy, feeling much clearer about his cultivation path, with new hope.

"Additionally, this Mysterious Temple is a branch of the Ten Capitals Mysterious Temple, so can future divine foundation enhancements be achieved through that temple?"

"This Ten Capitals Mysterious Temple can produce an Eighth Apex Superior Divine Foundation Technique... Can the Three Pure Level Divine Foundation Technique be obtained from the Three Pure Level Mysterious Temple?"

In his mind, the Divine Foundation Technique was completely absorbed.

Today, he spent more time in the Mysterious Temple.

Li Che's ears twitched slightly, and with his enhanced martial arts, his five senses and six perceptions were heightened.

He heard a hurried yet extremely faint sound coming from outside the Mysterious Temple.

Someone's here!

After leaving behind a Thunderbolt Chess Piece anchor, Li Che clenched his fist and disappeared.

The door of the Mysterious Temple opened.

A white-robed figure, wearing a faceless mask, swiftly rushed in, the mask reflecting countless distorted flames.

"The temple deity's divine nature is in turmoil... Was someone in the temple just now?"

"Who is it?!"

Without even opening the temple gate... how did they appear inside the Mysterious Temple? What the hell is this!

The white-robed figure's hair fluttered, and the eyes beneath the mask were filled with gravity.

Winter thunder rumbled, and electric snakes danced.

Suddenly, the white-robed figure's neck stiffened, and they slowly raised their head.

The statue's movement changed!

The temple deity's wooden statue... was different from before! It seemed to want to grab something...

The white-robed figure felt their divine nature obstructed, clearly sensing the temple deity's surging, uncontrollable wrath, like a tidal wave.

They couldn't help but let out a muffled sound, and their body seemed to have strange black patterns emerging, slowly writhing.

The white-robed figure's body trembled, and then...

Their knees bent...

Slowly, they knelt.

...

...

Li Che returned to the Independent Workshop.

His tall figure stood quietly, removing his mask and taking off his clothes.

"An unexpected joy, I didn't expect to obtain a Divine Foundation Technique in the Mysterious Temple."

"Eighth Apex Superior."

Li Che looked up at the gradually darkening sky, the night approaching.

The evening sun illuminated the roof tiles, burning a fiery red.

"My current cultivation of Wrathful Compassionate Buddha has reached the Peak Nature Like River, just one step away from Divine Foundation... It's the perfect time to attempt it."

Li Che pondered, but casting the Divine Foundation was clearly not an easy task.

"Casting the Divine Foundation will undoubtedly trigger a violent divine nature disturbance in the world, impossible to hide, it will be exposed..."

"The most important thing is that if it's disrupted midway, there might even be backlash, which is completely different from the martial arts pulse breakthrough."

Li Che sat down, playing with a carved wooden statue, but his mind was considering the preparations needed for casting the Divine Foundation.

"First, it can't be done within the city, I need to find a tranquil place outside... Also, I need to set up mechanisms and traps, and my qi and blood martial arts must be strong enough. During this time, I'll consume and refine all the remaining Python Blood Martial Pills to enhance my qi and blood cultivation."

"With the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, my physical body is robust. Even without Profound Pulse cultivation, my physical strength is not weak, and might even be stronger, so casting the Divine Foundation should be feasible."

After arranging everything, Li Che calmed himself in the workshop, taking out the "Bloody Meat Red" spirit wood obtained from Elder Yang, and crafting the "Bodhimanda Blood Lotus" mechanism.

This thing has immense power and poses a significant threat even to Divine Foundation Cultivators.

Unfortunately, it is highly difficult to produce, and Li Che only has one. After using it, he will have to prepare another.

Fortunately, the piece of Bloody Meat Red Spirit Wood that Elder Yang had in his collection is large enough. Li Che estimates that he should be able to make three Bodhimanda Blood Tears.

After working for a while, Li Che stopped what he was doing.

Seeing that the sky had turned completely dark, he did not stay in the workshop any longer.

He left the workshop and headed to the Golden Radiance Pavilion. Due to Li Qingshan’s influence, the City Lord’s Mansion had completely restrained itself and no longer had any designs on Li Che or Xixi.

With the Yang Clan’s destruction, the Shi Family’s decline, and the An Family’s relocation, the only remaining noble family in Thunderstrike City was the Xu Family. For a time, the order within Thunderstrike City became unusually good.

Li Che ordered a table full of fine wine and dishes, then returned to his courtyard.

Upon returning to the courtyard, he saw Xixi and Old Chen, one big and one small, sitting on bamboo chairs under the eaves, eating fruit.

Old Chen doted on Xixi and often bought her a lot of delicious food. Even in winter, when fruit was expensive, Old Chen still spent money to buy fruit for Xixi.

“Father!”

Xixi, seeing Li Che return, excitedly jumped up from the chair.

She ran over to Li Che and crashed into his arms.

“Father, are we moving? Can we take Grandpa Chen with us?”

Xixi’s eyelashes trembled, and her big, watery eyes were full of reluctance.

Old Chen, sitting on the chair, was instantly stunned. His eyes softened, and he grabbed the gourd, pulled out the stopper, and took a swig of wine. "This girl..."

“You are going to the prefectural city to cultivate. What’s Grandpa Chen going to do there?”

Li Che smiled. “Old Chen, don’t be shy. Go with us. Xixi has been learning martial arts from you since she was little. Don’t you want to see the moment when she suppresses the spirit children from all the cities and forcefully enters the Divine Sect?”

Old Chen was immediately speechless. “This girl, though she’s cute and sweet, has the strength to uproot mountains and the spirit to dominate the world…”

“At this age of three, no one can match this little stinker!”

Old Chen laughed heartily, as if he could already see Xixi’s domineering scene in the prefectural city, where she would beat the spirit children from all the cities.

Xixi wrapped her arms around Li Che’s neck, wrinkled her little nose, and said, somewhat discontentedly, “Grandpa Chen, I’m Xixi, Li Wanxi, not little stinker!”

“Hahaha, alright, alright. Grandpa Chen knows, little stinker.”

Old Chen laughed in response.

Xixi was so annoyed that she pouted her lips and stopped talking.

“Old Chen, get ready. In a couple of days, I’ll go with you to resign as a wood sculptor from the Xu Family…” Li Che said.

Old Chen was still a bit hesitant. “A spirit child can only bring family members, right? Is it appropriate for me to go?”

“Don’t worry, your spot won’t be a problem.” Li Che said.

Old Chen didn’t resist anymore after hearing this.

In a couple of days, after the Golden Radiance Pavilion’s spirit child selection, Li Che planned to talk to his uncles and have them move to the prefectural city as well.

Mainly because… Thunderstrike City was no longer safe.

Night fell.

Li Qingshan returned with a radiant face, walking as if he were carrying the wind.

Lu Chi, who was competing with Xixi for the wobbly car, looked up in confusion, seeing his master seemingly rejuvenated.

Rolling his eyes, Lu Chi resumed his struggle with Xixi for the wobbly car.

“I’m not playing anymore, Brother Lu Chi, you can have it.”

Xixi was very generous, letting Lu Chi have the wobbly car. She then walked to the eaves and sat down, her chubby little hand supporting her chin, looking a bit melancholic.

From a distance, Li Che, who was teaching Zhang Ya martial skills, immediately cast a glance.

Lu chi’s entire body shuddered, and he quickly bounced up from the wobbly car, feeling as if it had burned his bottom. Li Che’s gaze felt like a thousand cuts and a million slashes.

Feeling like crying, Lu Chi hadn’t provoked Xixi at all.

Li Che walked to Xixi’s side. “Xixi, are you unhappy?”

Xixi pouted her little lips. “Xixi misses Master Niniu. Master niniu hasn’t come to see Xixi for days, I miss him.”

Li Che paused.

The Bull Demon is clearly not a good person, why do you miss him so much, little girl?

However, since his daughter had a wish, Li Che naturally would fulfill it.

“Don’t worry, maybe your master niniu knows you’re moving and is preparing a gift for you?” Li Che pinched Xixi’s chubby little cheeks.

Xixi’s eyes immediately brightened.

Lu Chi, standing to the side, secretly rolled his eyes where Li Che couldn’t see.

He, Lu Chi, had already cleverly seen through the adults’ secrets.

An old man, deceiving a granny, seeking spring in his old age.

A father, coaxing his daughter, pretending to be a master.

The adult world, it’s all fake.

…

…

The next day.

Dark clouds piled up, and winter thunder rumbled within, flashing lightning.

After helping his wife Zhang Ya deeply massage her bones last night, Li Che felt refreshed and clear-minded.

In the courtyard.

Li Qingshan, dressed in a green robe, sat on a wooden chair, flipping through a book. Beside him, boiling water steamed, and he sipped hot tea, the steam swirling around.

Lu Chi was seated below, cultivating his divine nature.

The book Li Qingshan was reading was precisely the “Tang Family Mechanism Essentials” he had obtained from Old Chen.

The old man frowned, looking at the book, and said to Li Che, “Mechanisms… you used the mechanisms in here to kill the Yang Clan’s Divine Foundation Cultivator?”

“The Tang Family mechanisms are indeed powerful, but also complex. This book is just a fragment, and most of the mechanisms recorded here are vague. You actually managed to make them? Your craftsmanship is really impressive…”

Li Qingshan looked at Li Che and smiled, his eyes showing some curiosity.

The path of mechanisms… requires talent.

It’s not something you can just do with a bit of skill.

Back in the day, the Tang Family of Great Jing was so glorious, but after the Divine embryo of the family fell, there were few mechanical geniuses born, and gradually, the Tang Family declined.

Because many of the Tang Family mechanisms, even with blueprints, can’t be made without talent.

“Your talent in the path of mechanisms shouldn’t be wasted. Once you enter the Divine Sect, I’ll introduce you to someone who can teach you a lot about mechanisms.”

Li Che didn’t refuse when he heard this. He was very interested in the path of mechanisms, and if he could learn more, it would be beneficial for “Immortal Artisan.”

After chatting with Li Qingshan for a while, Li Che went to find Old Chen, intending to go to Xu Family's Woodcarving Shop to resign from his woodcarving job.

"You're going to Xu Family? It's on my way, let's go together."

Li Qingshan lazily got up.

Li Che was taken aback. On the way? What way?

However, he didn't say much more. Li Qingshan's public identity in Thunderstrike City was so influential that he could walk around as he pleased, even in the Xu Family, he would be treated as an honored guest.

Soon, the three of them arrived at Xu Family's Woodcarving Shop in the inner city. Li Qingshan strolled off on his own.

Li Che and Old Chen explained their purpose, and after a moment, Xu He Li, dressed in white, and Xu Beihu hurried over.

"Master Li, are you here to resign from your woodcarving job at Xu Family's shop?"

"Is it because your daughter has been recognized as a Divine Child by Senior Qing Shan and will be going to the prefecture city?" Xu He Li smiled as he looked at Li Che.

His expression was complex. It was hard to imagine that a mere villager could rise to such heights in just three years.

As for whether Li Che was the Ox Demon, Xu He Li couldn't be sure.

When Cao Qingyuan and Zhang Xiangyang went to Li Che's courtyard, they had also observed from a distance.

The Ox Demon fought against the Yang Family's Divine Foundation, but Li Che appeared in the courtyard.

So, they ruled out the possibility of Li Che being the Ox Demon.

Moreover, whether Li Che was the Ox Demon or not... it no longer mattered.

There were powerful members of the Divine Sect supporting Li Che and his daughter, and in Thunderstrike City, no one dared to harm them.

Even if it was confirmed that Li Che was the Ox Demon, what could be done? The news of the Ox Demon killing the Yang Family's Divine Foundation had already shocked the entire Thunderstrike City.

When Xu He Li heard this news, he was completely stunned. He never imagined that the Yang Family's Divine Foundation would be defeated, and the Ox Demon would even be able to counterattack.

Xu He Li immediately dismissed the possibility of Li Che being the Ox Demon.

Li Che had only cultivated for three years, how could he possibly reach the level of killing a Divine Foundation?

"Shopkeeper, let's forget about the nominal position... We are not in Thunderstrike City, but we are still receiving the nominal wages from Xu Family, which makes me feel rather embarrassed."

Li Che shook his head, declining Xu He Li's offer.

Chen Dabao, who was standing beside him, naturally followed suit and refused as well.

Xu He Li wasn't surprised, as he had expected Li Che's attitude.

Ever since Li Che became a Master Woodcarver, Xu Family Shop hadn't shown much enthusiasm, and Li Che had only worked there for three years, one of which was as a mover. It was normal for him to not have much attachment to the shop.

After a symbolic attempt to keep them, Xu He Li agreed to Li Che and Chen Dabao's resignation.

"Has the Third Shopkeeper not returned yet?"

Before leaving, Li Che turned to Xu He Li and asked.

Xu He Li narrowed his eyes, "The Third Brother has gone outside the city to lead a team to eliminate evil spirits. It's possible that they've gone quite far, so it's normal for them to be gone for half a year or more."

Li Che nodded in response, and the two of them left the woodcarving shop.

Winter rain pattered on the oil-paper umbrella.

Old Chen's whole body felt relaxed, and he experienced an unprecedented sense of relief. However, as he was already semi-retired, he didn't have much attachment to Xu Family's Woodcarving Shop.

"A Che, let's go and have some wine."

...

...

Xu Family Mansion.

Xu He Li informed the family head, Xu Nanming, that Li Che and Chen Dabao had resigned from their woodcarving positions at Xu Family Shop.

"It's normal. Li Che plans to accompany his Divine Child daughter to the prefecture city. As for Chen Dabao... these past few years, his heart hasn't been in his woodcarving work. If he wants to resign, then let him. However, he wants to follow them to the prefecture city, thinking that by clinging to Li Wanxi, an Upper-Ranked Divine Child, he can enter the Divine Sect."

Xu Nanming was currently handling numerous documents related to the Shi Family, Yang Family, and An Family. Some had fallen, some had been exterminated, and some had relocated... Xu Family had suddenly become the largest aristocratic clan in Thunderstrike City.

Xu Nanming had been busy with the sudden influx of so many businesses.

He had failed to break through the Divine Foundation and had long given up on that pursuit, so he focused all his efforts on expanding the family's businesses.

Now, things were going as he wished. Xu Family, under my leadership, has grown to its strongest in two hundred years. How could I not be happy?"

Even if it was a case of lying down and winning, it was still his, Xu Nanming's, achievement.

"Where's Xu You? Is he still outside the city hunting evil spirits? Send him a message to return... The City Lord's Mansion sent word that as soon as the Summoner from the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect leaves, they will immediately hold the Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet. So, call Xu You back..."

Xu He Li paused upon hearing this.

"Why call the Third Brother back?"

Xu He Li furrowed his brows.

The Shi Family, Yang Family, and An Family had all been eliminated, leaving only Xu He Li, the third young master of Thunderstrike City. Once the Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet was held, he would undoubtedly become the biggest beneficiary.

He might even have a chance to break through the Divine Foundation, so at this time, calling Xu You back to share the benefits was something he was reluctant to do.

However, Xu Nanming looked at him with a profound gaze.

"Do you think your chances of breaking through the Divine Foundation are high?"

"Grandfather has high hopes for you... If our Xu Family can produce another Divine Foundation, then after the Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet, we can continue our two-hundred-year legacy in other cities."

"So, you must succeed in breaking through the Divine Foundation, and failure is not an option."

Xu He Li said, "I know, so I will work hard..."

"Work hard? Ridiculous... Your Qi and blood cultivation has barely reached the level of opening meridians. Your chances of failing to break through the Divine Foundation are extremely high..."

"Take advantage of the Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet and borrow the power of the Temple Deity's Divinity to make Xu You and Beihu your helpers... Only then can you succeed. Do you understand?"

"This is Grandfather's wish."

Xu He Li was stunned, and suddenly felt his hair stand on end.

He swallowed, his mouth feeling dry.

"How... how can they help?"

Xu Nanming paused for a moment, then lifted his head from the pile of documents.

A chilling smile spread across his face, revealing his white teeth.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end