Chapter 8: Woodcarving Prodigy, Divine Inner Strength

Third Manager Xu You narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in the depths of his warm gaze.

He looked at that rough embryo taking shape, the 'Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue' whose lines were being outlined; although it was only a rough embryo, the lines coarse, the whole already exuded a different kind of beauty.

That was……the flavor of artistic conception!

Demeanor, posture, aura……already came rushing forth!

As if there truly were a kind-eyed, benevolent Four-Armed Bodhisattva, one arm holding a child, eyelids lowered, hand forming the seal of rebirth, hand holding a pure jade vase, hand holding a jade ruyi……

This was actually carved by a laborer?

Xu You gave a slight nod; as the woodcarving shop's third manager, having handled too many woodcarvings, he had a high level of appreciation for the styles and carving techniques of many senior craftsmen.

In Li Che's Four-Armed Bodhisattva, the carving technique contained embodied many of the style and flavor of the four-blade woodcarver Chen Dabao!

Talent……astonishing!

Li Che did not spend money to learn woodcarving at the shop, and Chen Dabao obviously would not kindly teach him.

In other words……all of this relied on Li Che's self-taught mastery!

During the day he needed to move timber and finished statues in the woodcarving shop; only at night did he have time to carve, meaning that with just nighttime study he could actually reach this level!

"The line carving and handling still have slight flaws, but what's precious is……artistic conception! Little Li's carved Four-Armed Bodhisattva has extremely rich artistic conception, as if it had come alive……this is an innate talent!"

Chen Dabao smacked his lips, and upon sensing Third Manager Xu You's arrival, he came to his senses, astonished.

"Indeed, the most important thing in woodcarving is spirit and rhythm; without it, no matter how good the technique or how marvelous the skill, it's just a piece of rotten wood." Xu You responded with an approving nod.

"He's a promising seedling, and Li Che's technique isn't bad either; it's just less seasoned than the old masters', yet far surpasses the apprentices……"

"Our Xu Ji seems destined to produce a true genius."

Xu You's lips curled up, his smile inevitably becoming somewhat brilliant.

"Our Xu Ji Mu diao Pu ranks among the best in Flying Thunder City not only because of the Xu family connection, but mainly because the woodcarvings we produce are full of spirit and rhythm, which can be used by the city's youths to refine and extract divinity……"

"For those exceptionally gifted in grasping woodcarving spirit and rhythm, our Xu Ji will surely seize and nurture them well!"

Xu You stood with hands behind his back, also quietly watching Li Che's carving for a while.

From the method of the chisel's strokes, to how the woodcarving's artistic conception and spirit deepened overall as carving progressed, confirming it was indeed Li Che's work, Xu You already had the answer in his heart.

Li Che naturally also noticed Xu You's arrival and his evaluation of him.

Yet his heart couldn't help but startle; his carving technique had already been restrained considerably, yet it still seemed far stronger than the shop's apprentices, somewhat like a crane among chickens……

First time grasping control……still lacking experience.

However, judging from the third manager's reaction, becoming a woodcarver should be a sure thing!

Four hours passed silently amidst the rustling sound of the chisel tearing wood.

Dong——

Accompanied by an explosive boom like a bronze gong shattering!

The second manager Xu Beihu, who had been sipping tea in the master's chair, suddenly rose with a burly frame, his fierce qi and blood surging like a vast tide.

"The time has come! Everyone, stop!"

"The examination is over!"

"If I see anyone still carving again, I'll cancel their quota and void their results!"

His overbearing voice, rough yet carrying intimidation.

All the woodcarving apprentices hurriedly stopped their movements; some, trembling with fear, looked toward Xu Beihu whose eyes swept the field like a tiger's, silent as cicadas in winter.

Li Che also set down the polishing rod, ceased polishing the 'Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue', exhaled a long breath, and felt slightly regretful in his heart.

If only given him a little more time, he could finish polishing it completely, and this statue would count as a finished product.

The third and second managers, accompanied by several senior craftsmen from the shop, began evaluating the many apprentices' woodcarvings.

The evaluation wasn't overly strict, and was fairly fair.

Unless they truly encountered utter garbage—just a rough embryo after four hours, not even taking shape, a heaven-defying woodcarving—would they utter a few scoldings.

Chen Dabao followed in the line, squinting; when arriving at Li Che's workstation, he saw the statue placed on the workbench, rising from a pile of wood shavings, initially polished into the form of a finished Four-Armed Bodhisattva.

Many senior craftsmen exclaimed in astonishment.

"What a rarity! A laborer actually possesses such carving skill and level!"

"The apprentices I've taught are all practically learning to be dogs!"

"What a promising seedling; it's truly a pity that these years he hasn't formally studied woodcarving, starting late, but this woodcarving's artistic conception……I'd believe it was carved by a three-blade master!"

……

The praises never ceased.

Xu You warmly gazed at Li Che, his eyes flashing with an unusual hue, he gave a slight nod: "Not bad."

Li Che clasped his fists in salute, his expression calm, not losing himself in the praise.

The group continued to appreciate the works; after a moment, they finished evaluating all the pieces.

"Li Che, Zhao Xuan, Wang Zhengpin, your three woodcarvings stood out in this examination; you may be granted the title of First-Blade Woodcarver, a monthly stipend of five taels, and a sixty-percent share."

After Xu You spoke the three names, the shop instantly erupted in an uproar.

When the final results settled, many apprentices felt disheartened; some were at a loss, some shed tears……

After years of bitter study, they still failed to pass the examination, even being surpassed and crushed by a laborer, their mindset somewhat unbalanced.

Within this tiny shop, all aspects of human life were actually displayed.

"You three, follow me."

Xu You and Xu Beihu donned fur cloaks, glanced at the three who had passed the examination.

Li Che and the other two apprentices hurriedly followed, plunging into the swirling wind and snow, heading deeper into the courtyard.

Passing through the corridor, they arrived at a spacious courtyard, like a flattened training ground, filled with stone bases and training posts covered in white snow, and other martial training equipment.

"This is the martial training area of the Xu Ji Mu diao Pu in the Outer City; as long as you become a woodcarver of the shop, even if you're one of our own, you can hereafter enter this area by virtue of the 'Jade Talisman Blade' representing your First-Blade Woodcarver status, to train martial arts and cultivate strength, preparing to advance to higher-level woodcarvers."

Everyone stood in the courtyard, bearing the flying snow.

After Xu You handed out three jade-quality small knives to the three, he clasped his hands behind his back and stood silently; then the second manager, Xu Beihu, spoke.

"I will conduct the martial arts instruction; each month I will set aside two days to come to Wai Cheng. If you have any martial arts questions, you may come ask me."

Xu Beihu's voice rang like a great bell, his qi and blood vigorous; standing in the great snowstorm, not a speck of snow clung to him.

Li Che and the three promptly responded.

"Now, let me begin to talk about the martial path..."

"Martial arts training is divided into three kinds: body refining method, internal strength method, and... divinity method."

"You cannot access the divinity method, nor are you qualified to; the body refining method anyone can cultivate, while the internal strength method relies more on talent and requires time to accumulate."

"I will now teach you the body refining method; as for the internal strength method, you will only receive it after you have reached the skin-tempering stage in body refining, so you can try it."

Xu Beihu said lightly.

He then began to explain the body refining method to the three; in fact, it was merely arduous training, using external tools to temper the body, and all the various equipment in the training ground served for body refining.

"The body refining method: temper the skin, open the tendons, forge the bones and change the blood, enabling one to circulate qi and blood; if one's blood becomes like mercury, they are considered a regional master! As for opening the meridians beyond blood changing, such are rare even in a city."

"Starting with skin tempering, every half month you may receive a bowl of 'Boiling Skin Powder'; if you feel it's not enough, you can buy it yourself at one bowl for one tael of silver, which can accelerate your body refining speed."

……

Xu Beihu taught earnestly, and Li Che listened earnestly.

This was his first exposure to this world's martial arts; naturally he dared not be lax, for the threat brought by the Spirit Infant Dharma Master hung over his head like a blade, making him dare not relax his vigilance.

Training martial arts increases one's capital to oppose the Spirit Infant Dharma Master, and he dare not be the slightest bit lax.

When the sky turned completely dark.

Only then did Xu Beihu conclude today's instruction.

Tomorrow he will still stay in Wai Cheng for one day, imparting martial arts to everyone.

"Disperse now, properly digest the martial knowledge I have imparted; tomorrow we will formally begin practicing skin tempering."

Xu Beihu said in a deep voice, waved his large hand, and turned to leave.

However, Li Che did not leave; he sought out the third manager to inquire about moving house.

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(End of chapter)