https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-The-Woodcarving-Prodigy-and-the-Divine-Inner-Qi/12831058/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-10-Nine-Crossbow-Arrows-Mechanisms-of-Death/12831060/
Chapter 9: The Three-Headed, Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue and the Hidden Crossbow
Chapter 9: The Three-Headed, Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue and the Hidden Crossbow
"Are you thinking of moving into the wood carving shop?"
"Now that you're a wood carver, it's only natural... However, there are still some formalities to go through. I'll have someone expedite the process for you. In a couple of days, you can go and check out the yard."
Xu You, the third manager, greatly admired Li Che's talent.
The wood carvings he created were full of meaning and depth. Such a talent was extremely precious and sought after by any wood carving shop. It was because of this that a wood carver had the chance to grow into a master carver!
Thus, he naturally wouldn't refuse Li Che's request; in fact, he was more than willing to accommodate it.
Genius deserved to be treated as such.
"Thank you, Third Manager," Li Che said sincerely, bowing respectfully.
Xu You nodded and disappeared into the snow with Xu Beihu.
Li Che let out a long breath, a smile spreading across his face. Once he moved into the wood carving shop, the threat from the Spirit Infant Sect would be much less.
Back at the shop, he took his hat, collected his monthly salary as a wood carver—five taels of silver—and prepared to go home to share the good news with his wife and daughter.
Under the admiring and respectful gazes of the apprentices, Li Che packed his things. However, before leaving, he approached Master Chen with a sheepish smile.
"Master Chen, can I take some scraps home to practice?"
Chen Dabao, sipping from his gourd of wine, frowned and said, "Ache, from now on, you're also a wood carver in this shop. Let's drop the formalities. Call me Old Chen."
"Take whatever scraps you want, and if you like, you can even pick from the yard, as long as they're not too large."
Chen Dabao had seen Li Che's talent and knew it was important to maintain a good relationship. At his age, he was no fool and wouldn't easily offend someone.
"By the way, when you pick your yard, let me know. I'll give it a look, and we can be neighbors," Old Chen said with a smile.
...
...
Good news always lifted one's spirits.
Li Che was in high spirits. As a wood carver, his salary had increased, and he now had something to look forward to. The dream of living a wealthy life and providing a good life for his wife and daughter was no longer a distant wish.
Walking down the long street of Feilei Outer City, stepping on the snow, he arrived at the shop, bought two taels of wine, and then cut some pig head meat and braised beef. He then headed home.
The sky grew dark, and the streetlights were sparse.
From a distance, Li Che saw the faint oil lamp light from his humble home.
Thinking of his adorable daughter, Xixi, babbling away, he couldn't help but smile.
Reaching the door of his home, he raised his hand to call out to his wife, Zhang Ya, to open the door.
But suddenly, something caught his eye, and his breath caught. The air around him seemed to freeze.
His neck stiffened as he slowly turned his head.
His gaze fell on the lower left corner of the wooden door, where a small palm-sized wood carving lay quietly on the thick snow!
A three-headed, six-armed child sat on a lotus platform, with a half-smile on its face, one eye open and the other closed.
The longer he looked...
Li Che even heard the faint sounds of a child's laughter and crying in his ears!
"Lord Spirit Infant?!"
Li Che's face darkened as he scanned the surroundings, his eyes full of fury.
So... they've come for me? Xixi is only a month old!
Lei Chunlan!
Where are you? Show yourself!
But the surroundings were silent, with only the sound of falling snow and the faint babbling of Xixi inside the house.
Picking up the wood carving, it seemed ordinary...
Yet it sent a different message to Li Che, and the joy in his heart withered and froze.
Just like a thief would leave a mark before stealing, perhaps the other party had a similar purpose.
Li Che's face remained grim as he thought for a moment, then threw the Spirit Infant wood carving into the woodshed, planning to bring it to the wood carving shop the next day to inquire about the situation.
After doing everything, he forced a smile.
When returning home, one should always bring good news, not worries.
"My love, you're back?"
Zhang Ya opened the door, and the wind and snow rushed in. Seeing the wine and meat in Li Che's hands, her eyes lit up with surprise. She knew her husband had something good to share with her.
When Li Che became a woodcarver at Xu's Woodcarving Shop, Zhang Ya couldn't help but cheer like a schoolgirl, hugging his waist and bouncing up and down, making Li Che's heart race.
"Dear, we must celebrate tonight!"
Zhang Ya lifted her smooth chin, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Li Che wrapped his arms around her, a mischievous smile curling at the corners of his lips. "How do you plan to celebrate, my love?"
Seeing Li Che's grin, Zhang Ya immediately understood his intentions, and her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
Li Che then took out the five taels of monthly pay he had received today and told Zhang Ya about his plans to move into the woodcarving shop.
Zhang Ya was taken aback by the news of the move, but she didn't ask many questions. Wherever her husband went, she and their daughter would follow. Besides, she knew the woodcarving shop would be much safer than their current home.
After dinner, Zhang Ya put Xi Xi to sleep early, and the couple carefully engaged in a passionate night.
On the bed, Zhang Ya's black hair was spread out, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Li Che, however, felt invigorated. He sat by the oil lamp, taking out the "Tang Clan Mechanisms" he had borrowed from Old Chen.
The Dao Fruit [Master Artisan] trembled once more.
Li Che's eyes gleamed with excitement as he began to read, carefully studying the intricate designs.
The book detailed a variety of ingenious mechanisms, some of which were extremely lethal.
As Li Che read, his understanding, enhanced by the Dao Fruit, made him completely engrossed. He was thoroughly captivated by the ingenious designs and creative ideas.
However, the book only recorded twelve mechanisms, nine of which required internal energy and divine essence to create.
Li Che, at his current stage, couldn't consider those.
He chose the remaining three mechanisms that could be made without internal energy or divine essence: the "Sleeve Crossbow," the "Goddess Blood Lotus," and the "Thousand Silk Spider."
Taking out some scrap wood from the shop, Li Che decided to start with the Sleeve Crossbow.
It was similar to his original crossbow design, so he could begin the process immediately.
The sound of the carving knife slicing through the wood and tearing apart the wooden fibers echoed through the night.
As the first rays of dawn broke through the darkness, covering the snow-laden ground, Li Che finally completed the small, exquisite Sleeve Crossbow!
[Dao Fruit: Master Artisan (Level 2, 19%)]
The moment he finished, a flood of information about the Sleeve Crossbow's usage and techniques surged into Li Che's mind. At the same time, a notification appeared before his eyes.
Li Che's eyes brightened, his spirit soaring. He hadn't expected that making the Sleeve Crossbow would give him 10% more Dao Fruit maturity!
Li Che referred to the percentage in the suffix as the Dao Fruit's maturity, as it would level up when it reached 100%, much like a fruit ripening.
"Is it based on the complexity of the mechanism?" Li Che wondered.
Originally, the slow progress of the Dao Fruit had made him anxious. But now, it seemed he had found another way to enhance it.
However, the limited number of mechanisms quickly brought him back to reality, and he felt a bit disappointed.
"But the manual details twelve mechanisms. If I make them all, I can definitely level up Master Artisan to Level 3!" Li Che's eyes gleamed with excitement.
There was still a chance!
Because he had created the Sleeve Crossbow, Li Che now knew how to use it. He was eager to try it out, especially with his internal energy and bloodline power, which would make it even more powerful!
But he glanced at his sleeping wife and daughter and restrained himself.
Stretching, he heard his bones crackle.
Perhaps due to the Dao Fruit, he felt refreshed despite staying up all night.
He hid the Sleeve Crossbow in his sleeve. The wooden crossbow and arrows he had made were not very durable, but the sharp wooden arrows were still quite powerful and light. Best of all, he could make more at any time.
In the kitchen, Li Che prepared breakfast.
His gaze involuntarily fell on the spirit-infused woodcarving he had placed in the shed.
His brow furrowed as he pondered, then he shook his head.
"No, I can't leave Xi Xi and her mother in this earthen house... it's not safe anymore."
(End of Chapter)
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