Woodcarving Master!
Looking at the wood carving in his hands, emitting a rich divinity, Xu You was both shocked and delighted.
To carve a wood carving that possesses divinity is to be called a Woodcarving Master, a title that brings great prestige and garners the highest respect in any noble family or clan.
Although becoming a Woodcarving Master, there were still ranks among them, classified according to the strength of the divinity endowed in the wood carvings.
The Divine Cultivators, in order to enhance the prestige of Woodcarving Masters, classified their rank based on the strength of the Mysterious Temples as announced by the Imperial Court.
For instance, after becoming a Woodcarving Master, if one could steadily ensure that each carved wood carving possessed divinity, he was named a “Tenth Capital” level Woodcarving Master.
When the carved wood carvings reached the “Nine Luminaries” level of divinity contained in the Mysterious Temples, he was called a “Nine Luminaries” level Woodcarving Master.
“Congratulations, congratulations… I knew I was not mistaken about you, I said you would definitely become a Woodcarving Master!”
Xu You was very happy, playing with the divine wood carving of the “Xuansi Liu Sword” given by Li Che, his eyes seemingly alight.
“Now that you have become a Woodcarving Master, I can also undertake the cleansing mission with peace of mind,” Xu You said with a smile.
A Woodcarving Master’s daughter is basically untouchable, and the Xu Family would do their utmost to protect her from any harm, to win over the Woodcarving Master.
Currently in the Xu Family, there was only one elderly Woodcarving Master, and maintaining Xu Heli’s cultivation was already extremely difficult.
Therefore, Li Che becoming a Woodcarving Master was naturally given great attention.
Li Che smiled, intentionally revealing his talent and strength in wood carving…
Not only because the timing was right but also to actively make the Xu Family pay attention and ensure Xi Xi’s safety in Fei Lei City.
Of course, it was also meant to give Xu You more leverage.
Xu You was completely happy for Li Che, and after saying a lot more to him, hurriedly left.
He went to inform the Xu Family that Li Che had become a Woodcarving Master, to make them fully recognize his importance.
…
…
The night was cool, and the snow, dense.
Li Che watched Xu You, who had braved the heavy snow and disappeared at the end of the long street, exhale gently.
Suddenly, a sheet of falling snow was torn apart.
Li Qingshan, dressed in simple cloth, with hands clasped behind his back, appeared in the yard, hunched over, watching Xu You’s departing figure, raising an eyebrow.
“You, young man, are indeed one to remember kindness, revealing your Woodcarving Master talent. After you join the Divine Sect, with this background, Xu You won’t have to worry too much about being bullied in Fei Lei City,” said Li Qingshan with a smile.
“It’s always easy for honest people to be bullied, having some background makes it less likely,” Li Che said as he exhaled a puff of warm breath in the cold air.
“Elder, you seldom appear, have you by chance located the headquarters of the Spirit Infant Sect this time?” Li Che asked as he poured hot tea for Li Qingshan from a bubbling cauldron.
Li Qingshan, not bothering with formalities, took the hot tea and sat down with Li Che under the eaves, sipping noisily.
“I’ve made some headway, almost have it figured out. I thought the Spirit Infant Sect was deeply entwined with the government office and would set up headquarters in the City Lord’s Mansion. I sneaked into the City Lord’s Mansion, only to find that’s not the case…” Li Qingshan said, sipping the hot tea and frowning.
Hearing this, Li Che also could not help but frown, “Not in the City Lord’s Mansion?”
“I suppose, the City Lord’s Mansion… after all, is the Grand Prospect Dynasty’s official residence. If the Spirit Infant Sect were so bold to set up their headquarters there, stepping on the face of the Imperial Court, once the word spreads out of Fei Lei City, well… the Temple Control Bureau of the Golden Light Prefecture is not for show,” scoffed Li Qingshan.
“The Grand Prospect Dynasty cares most about its face now, even though the national fortune has declined, but the majesty of a country still needs to be maintained,” Li Qingshan said as he caught a snowflake and crushed it into powder.
“Li Che, you boy, to think you could become a Woodcarving Master… that is somewhat unexpected for me. It seems you, this Old Spirit Child, are indeed very sensitive to divinity,” he said.
“Perfect, once you’re in the Divine Sect, I can recommend you go to ‘Wood Carving Ridge’. Once there, you can better establish your footing within the sect, and it will also be easier to secure the divine wood carvings needed for Xi Xi’s cultivation later on,” Li Qingshan continued.
Li Che also took a sip of tea, raising an eyebrow, “Within the Divine Sect… is divine wood carving really that tight?”
Li Qingshan glanced at Li Che, grinned, and said, “Within the sect, Tenth Capital level wood carving is naturally not in demand, but the ‘Nine Luminaries’ and ‘Eight Extremes’ divine wood carvings are in very high demand…”
Li Che nodded, indicating he understood.
Now, with the help of the “Dao Fruit” and “Immortal Artisan”, Li Che was putting his all into carving the highest quality “Tenth Capital” wood carvings.
But as for Nine Luminaries level divine wood carvings, Li Che had no clue…
It was as if he was missing some critical opportunity.
Li Qingshan looked at Li Che, filled with emotion: “Being a Woodcarving Master is a coveted profession. Those who achieve it, their path of divinity is somewhat secured… However, advancing in rank as a Woodcarving Master is also extremely dangerous.”
“Besides the Tenth Capital level, advancing each subsequent rank, if reliant only on personal insights, is as hard as reaching the heavens. Therefore, it’s necessary to capture the divinity of the Temple Gods from corresponding level Mysterious Temples, and embed this captured divinity into the woodcarvings to advance.
This is why the rating of Woodcarving Masters is similar to that of Mysterious Temples.”
It seemed that something had occurred to Li Qingshan as he pondered for a moment.
“Li Che, boy, have you ever been to the Mysterious Temple?”
Mysterious Temple?
Li Che couldn’t help but shake his head.
He had heard of it, but had never visited it.
This Mysterious Temple, springing up like bamboo shoots after a rain following the great changes in the world, brought turmoil and malaise to the human world with its strangeness and evil spirits.
Even the decline of a nation’s power was greatly linked to this Mysterious Temple.
“In a few days, I will come to find you, and it just so happens that I can take you to the Ten Capitals Mysterious Temple outside the city. There is a ‘Temple God Statue’ in the Mysterious Temple. Observing the Temple God Statue and capturing the rank and divinity of the Temple God is a key step for a Woodcarving Master’s advancement.”
“Taking advantage of the fact that the Mysterious Temple has not yet advanced to the Nine Luminaries level, go for a visit. Once it advances to the Nine Luminaries level… it will be too late.”
“It’s a good chance… to also make use of your Horizontal Refinement power…”
Li Qingshan finished the hot tea in his bowl, chewing on the tea leaves as he spoke.
Glancing at Li Che, who seemed to be lost in thought, Li Qingshan smiled, shook his head, and quietly vanished, not stirring a single flake of snow.
“The Mysterious Temple, huh?”
Li Che exhaled a cloud of warm breath, watching Li Qingshan disappear into the snowstorm.
A flicker of anticipation sparkled in his eyes.
It was the kind of anticipation…
that one feels when about to touch the true wonders of this world.
…
…
In the Inner City of Thunder, Xu’s Courtyard.
The lamps were bright, dispelling the severe cold.
Seated in the principal seat, the current Family Head of the Xu Family, Xu Nanming, was carefully admiring a wood carving.
After a moment, a hint of unusual expression flashed in his eyes.
Beneath him, Xu You pressed his lips together, his face showing excitement.
“Is it really a ‘Tenth Capital’ Divine Wood Carving? Has Master Li… truly advanced to Woodcarving Master?”
“Only twenty-two years old, right? Impressive… truly impressive!”
Xu Nanming breathed out.
A twenty-two-year-old Woodcarving Master. No, it should be said that he had only truly engaged in wood carving for three years… achieving mastery in just three years… such talent is truly a treasure!
“A daughter is a treasure, and so is her father who is also a treasure… Truly, both father and daughter are treasures.”
After returning the “Three Immortals Riding Ox Pondering Sword Statue” to Xu You, Xu Nanming waved his hand to dismiss him.
“Dad, now that Master Li is a Woodcarving Master, our Xu Family must ensure Xi Xi’s safety thoroughly so as not to disappoint Master Li,” Xu You said seriously before leaving.
“Go on,” Xu Nanming waved his hand indifferently.
“Your son takes his leave.” Xu You paused, the joy on his face faded, and he retreated with a gloomy expression.
After Xu You had left, Xu Nanming respectfully bowed to the dark area behind the room.
An ancient voice drifted from the darkness.
“Cough cough cough… Qian Yuan Divine Sect has probably sent someone to Flying Thunder City in advance, I wonder who the visitor is… The fall of the Si Family had the shadows of the Divine Sect within it, and this Li Nuanxi is a Superior Grade Spirit Child. Xu’s Courtyard can’t hold on to her, sooner or later she must go to the Divine Sect, and this Li Che, the Woodcarving Master…
We can’t keep him either.”
“Three years to reach Woodcarving Master, his future potential might reach the Nine Luminaries and perhaps… the Eight Extremes Level!”
“Alas, such a person will eventually soar high and will not stay with Xu’s Courtyard…”
“A great change is coming to Flying Thunder City… Since it is so, such a Woodcarving Master… Why should Xu’s Courtyard sponsor him?”
The faint and ancient voice, tinged with a sense of disenchantment.
“Have Heli go tomorrow, bring an attitude, make an offer to buy a ‘Tenth Capital’ Divine Wood Carving. If Li Che agrees to take the order, well and good, but if not…”
“Let’s leave it to the City Lord’s Mansion then, the City Lord is currently pressuring the three major Noble Families and Clans, and needs to recruit more wood carvers…”
“A Woodcarving Master who has just entered the ‘Tenth Capital’, the City Lord…”
“Should be somewhat pleased, I suppose.”
In the darkness, the old and hoarse voice sounded faintly.
Upon hearing this, Xu Nanming felt a chill all over his body and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.