Vast snowfalls, drifting through the sky, freezing three feet deep.
The heavy, pristine snow blanketed the entire street of the Outer City, yet the desperate citizens still braved the snowstorm to work and set up stalls, all to earn more cast copper coins to buy firewood and survive this deadly winter.
Li Che, intending to head to the small courtyard he rented in Ting Yu Alley for cultivation, dressed in cotton clothes and donning a hat, walked along the long street, where he saw many households hanging white silk and heard the sounds of crying drifting out amidst the snowstorm.
These were families who had lost their children, and in recent months, the activities of the Spirit Infant Sect had become increasingly frequent.
After being driven to the Outer City, they were like starving wolves entering a flock of sheep, not at all restrained but, on the contrary, becoming even more rampant.
Even the large courtyards set up in the Outer City by prominent Inner City families like the Yang Family were raided for Spirit Children.
It could be said that the entire city’s atmosphere had become increasingly bizarre and oppressive.
Although Fei Lei City had the government office, the arrest officer of the Outskirts Government Office, Zhao Chuanxiong, was a follower of the Spirit Infant Sect; how could ordinary citizens resist?
And who could stand up for their justice?
No one.
The major families of the Inner City had only expelled the Spirit Infant Sect and seemed not to dare to completely offend them to death.
Mainly because the Spirit Infant Sect was deeply entrenched and even involved with the Mysterious Temple, perhaps even with some weighty figures within Fei Lei City.
“According to Old Xu, the Spirit Infant Sect has even reached out to the Spirit Children of the noble families and clans of the Inner City—that’s the very foundation of these families and clans…”
“Yet those noble families and clans only expelled the Spirit Infant Sect and did not fully go to war… clearly fearing something.”
As his feet sank into the snow, Li Che saw a woman, frozen stiff, numbingly burning paper money at her doorway.
On the long street, members of the Spirit Infant Sect passed by shouting slogans in groups, their faces filled with fanaticism and excitement, forming a stark contrast with the numb and despairing woman.
“This damned era, this damned Spirit Infant Sect… my son, oh, my son…”
The woman numbly stared at the departing adherents, suddenly began to wail, her tears flowing freely, her voice mournful.
Li Che stood still, coldly watching the fervent adherents trample the long street as they passed.
He slowly closed his eyes.
He could not help but think if he had not obtained the Dao Fruit, whether he would now be as numb and powerless as this woman.
Upon reflection, it felt a bit… empathetic.
This era did not have anyone to stand up for their justice.
None.
Li Che opened his eyes, he too could not…
because he had a family, a lively and adorable daughter, and he had to consider more things.
Unknown to him, Li Che walked back to the small courtyard in Ting Yu Alley.
This was the place he rented in the Outer City.
In the courtyard amidst the swirling snow, he moved a bamboo chair to sit down, took out a thin wooden board from his bosom, and drew a carving knife he carried with him.
Calmly, very diligently and focused, he began to carve.
As the carving knife scraped the wooden surface, the rustling sound of falling wood chips mingled with the sound of the wind and snow flying.
A Cute Bull Mask took shape.
Since Xi Xi was born in the year of the Cow, Li Che had gotten used to wearing a Cute Bull Mask.
He placed the Cute Bull Mask over his face, Li Che raised his head, and beneath the mask, his eyes flashed with coldness and recklessness.
The things Li Che dared not do.
The Bull Demon could.
The things Li Che could not do.
The Bull Demon could.
The recklessness Li Che dared not pursue.
The Bull Demon, too, could!
“The followers of the Spirit Infant Sect… they were already on my list; then let’s… begin settling accounts.”
The Bull Demon muttered.
The entire city was made too oppressive by the Spirit Infant Sect.
Your Grandpa Bull Demon is coming… to relieve some pressure!
Not seeking justice, only seeking unrestraint!
…
…
Inner City of Thunder.
Golden Splendor Pavilion.
Curtains fluttered.
Inside the suspended pavilion, with the charcoal stove glowing red, the temperature inside was kept comfortably warm.
Si Mubai sipped tea, facing several figures wearing children’s masks across him, and though the charcoal stove tried hard to warm the surroundings, the ice-cold and solemn atmosphere still made it chilling.
“That Bull Demon, we did not seek trouble with him, yet he has begun to act again… In this past half-month, he has frequently taken action, killing several of our Spirit Infant Sect members in the city who were searching for children!”
“Twisting their heads, cutting off their hands, nailing the bodies to the wall with his signature crossbow arrows… his methods are extremely vicious!”
“Is this his way of dispensing justice? Pretending to be a heroic Bull Demon? Ridiculous to the extreme… In this era, those who dare to play the hero… all meet a bad end!”
A girl’s mask with a smiling face emitted a cold voice, as harsh as a scraping knife across a white wall.
Si Mubai looked at the masks hiding the various demons and deities and couldn’t help but sigh softly.
“Don’t worry, this Bull Demon… is bound to die.”
“I asked the four of you to come because… this matter still requires your assistance.”
As he finished speaking, Si Mubai gestured toward one side.
His assistant, the Blood Exchange Warrior Guo Zhan, immediately lowered his body and approached.
“Go, let Zhao Chuanxiong make his move…”
“My ‘Godly Essence Sculpture’ lacks only that one Upper Class Spiritual Child, we can’t delay any longer…”
…
…
Ting Yu Alley, within a small courtyard.
The Bull Demon, having just killed a disciple of the Spirit Infant Sect, returned using the “Slumbering Dragon Elephant” to conceal his breath.
After cleaning up, Li Che sat cross-legged and began his daily divine cultivation.
The “Pure Heart” Dao Fruit pulsated slightly and, in a heartbeat, contracted and expanded like a heart, attracting the immaculate divinity of the universe like sprites, converging it into a delicate stream that flowed into his body, gathered in the ‘Pure Heart’.
[Dao Fruit: Pure Heart (LV1, 3%)]
Li Che opened his eyes, furrowing his brows, and slowly exhaled.
“Although the ‘Pure Heart’ Dao Fruit can draw in the divinity from nature, ultimately, due to the lack of a Divine Method, my efficiency in drawing divinity is extremely low…”
“Till now, I have only just pushed the maturity of the Dao Fruit to 3%… and the speed is getting slower.”
“I really need to get a Divine Method to study.”
Li Che pondered.
This thought had lingered in his mind for a long time and was now growing stronger.
Unfortunately, Divine Methods are not available in the marketplace, there’s no channel for them.
Even in the Noble Families and Clans of the Inner City, such Divine Methods are treasured secrets.
Even becoming a Woodcarving Master recognized by the Noble Families and Clans only grants the lowest Divine Methods after passing various trust assessments.
“So, if I want to acquire a Divine Method, I still need to figure out a way with the Noble Families and Clans…”
Setting aside the Divine Method.
Li Che’s eyes grew sharp.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV1, 90%)]
Li Che watched in astonishment as the ‘Dragon Elephant Vajra’ Dao Fruit in front of him climbed from an original maturity of 70% to 90% in just half a month.
“Combat… killing… can also enhance the maturity?”
Li Che murmured.
In the half-month since the Bull Demon re-emerged, Li Che, wielding the capabilities of the “Slumbering Dragon Elephant” and “Vajra Transformation,” had killed many vicious members of the Spirit Infant Sect.
Most battles were overwhelmingly one-sided, with Bone Tempering Realm villains falling in just a few rounds against him.
Unexpectedly, these victories had accelerated the maturity of his Dao Fruit.
Li Che couldn’t help but feel some anticipation.
And with the increase in the Dao Fruit’s maturity,
Li Che’s Bone Tempering Cultivation had also officially reached completion.
“Bone Tempering complete… External practices now lack a Blood Exchange Method. Moreover, having reached the Three Heavens in Internal Strength for quite a while now, without a Superior Internal Strength Technique, breaking through to the Fourfold Heaven is difficult…”
“Divine Methods, Blood Exchange Methods, Superior Internal Strength Techniques… alas, where should I even begin looking for these?”
Li Che rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.
As the main Wood Carver at Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop, his personal wealth was extremely substantial.
But having money doesn’t mean getting everything you want.
He cleaned up a bit.
Li Che, braving the snow, headed towards Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.
His mind was preoccupied with how to acquire Divine Methods and Blood Exchange Methods.
Walking along.
Just as he reached the entrance of Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.
Li Che felt something was amiss.
At the door stood two groups of officers in red and black uniforms, with side knives hanging at their waists.
And from within the wood carving shop.
The arrest officer Zhao Chuanxiong, who was listed in Li Che’s notebook, was escorting someone out of the shop.
Watching the figure being escorted by Zhao Chuanxiong.
Li Che’s face immediately darkened.
“Old Chen?”
ps: Tuesday is a crucial day for the pk, concerning the recommendation for the second round. I ask for your support! Just a light tap, and accessing the last chapter will show the reading rank. Old Li thanks you!