Chapter 87: with translation of chapter title

The candlelight flickered dimly, casting the shadows of countless wooden carvings of spirit infants, like fanged, clawing demons and monsters.

The cute ox mask reflected the firelight, the temple god's wooden carving gripped his arm, its vertical eye rolling, as if a scorching, fire-like atmosphere burst forth.

In the air, there seemed to be a soundless roar of anger, like waves, one surge after another striking.

The temple god glared angrily, all three eyes blazing with fury.

As if roaring at the greedy, endless ox demon before it.

Enough already!

Take it and get lost!

Don't push your luck any further!

Li Che, however, was completely unaware.

Beneath the mask's two eye holes, his pupils burned faintly, as if observing fire.

【Divine Foundation Method (Eight Extremes Supreme): Three-Eyed Wrathful True Lord Divine Foundation】

【Origin: A branch of the wrathful divinity, the intent of myriad wraths, absorbing with the three-eyed divine pupil, arranging a thousand infant wooden carvings to harbor divine intent, receiving the blessing of the Langshen True Lord, thus deriving this method】

【Advancement: If one obtains the Divine Foundations of the Three-Eyed Compassionate True Lord and the Three-Eyed Dreadful True Lord, they can jointly forge the Seven Elements Supreme Three-Eyed Three-Spirit True Lord Divine Foundation】

【Condition: The wrathful divinity, nurturing nature like a river's peak】

The flowing light text prompts before his eyes gradually faded.

Vast information surged into his mind; Li Che's eyes narrowed, a hint of delight.

Breaking free from the temple god's wooden carving's grip, Li Che shot down from the altar, landed on the ground, calmed his emotions, and silently received the information flooding into his mind.

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

"And it's an Eight Extremes Supreme Divine Foundation Method; the one I obtained from Old Man Yang's family, the Startled Shock Foundation Method, is only a Nine Luminaries Inferior Grade..."

"Eight Extremes Supreme Divine Foundation Method..."

Li Che felt somewhat surprised and quite unexpected.

"Senior Qing Shan said that in the Guiyi Miao one can receive the temple god's gifts; many divine arts and divine foundation methods are obtained from the Guiyi Miao, so many cultivators flock to the unexplored, wild Guiyi Miao one after another..."

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

Although it seemed more like the temple god impatiently brushing him off, Li Che was nevertheless happy.

"This temple god's Divine Foundation Method... seems like it can still be advanced!"

"Obtaining the Divine Foundation Methods of the Three-Eyed Compassionate True Lord and the Three-Eyed Dreadful True Lord allows one to jointly forge the Three-Eyed Three-Spirit True Lord Divine Foundation, which is a Seven Elements Supreme Divine Foundation!"

Li Che pondered, his emotions fluctuated slightly, and his eyes grew ever brighter.

"Indeed, I shouldn't be the only one who has thought of forging a Seven Emotions Divine Foundation; although it's a joint forging, the idea is actually somewhat similar."

"Fusing three divine natures' foundations into a single foundation, whereas I plan to forge seven foundations."

Much the same, with minor differences.

In terms of the cultivation path, they are actually the same.

Li Che inexplicably felt happy; the future path became clearer, giving him hope.

Moreover, Senior Qing Shan said this Guiyi Miao is a branch shrine of the Four Emperors Guiyi Miao; could it be that future divine foundations could still be enhanced and altered through those Four Emperors Guiyi Miao?

This Ten Metropolises Guiyi Miao can squeeze out Eight Extremes Supreme Divine Foundation Methods; could the Four Emperors Guiyi Miao, if squeezed, yield Divine Foundation Methods of the Three Purities level?

In his mind, the Divine Foundation Method was completely received.

Today he lingered a bit longer in the Guiyi Miao.

Li Che's ears twitched slightly; after his martial arts enhancement, his five senses and six perceptions were all strengthened.

He heard from outside the Guiyi Miao a hurried yet extremely faint sound.

Someone is coming!

After Li Che left behind a Flying Thunder chess piece anchor point, he clenched his five fingers and vanished.

The gate of the Guiyi Miao was opened.

A white-clad figure, wearing a faceless mask, swiftly rushed in, the mask reflecting myriad twisted firelights.

"The temple god's divinity is acting up... was someone just inside the temple?"

"Who is it?!"

"Without even opening the temple door... they appeared inside the Guiyi Miao?"

"What the hell is this!"

The white-clad figure's black hair flew wildly, the eyes beneath the mask were extremely solemn.

Winter thunder rumbled, lightning like wandering snakes.

Suddenly, the white-clad figure's neck stiffened, then slowly lifted.

The movement changed!

The temple god's wooden carving... is different from before!

Gazing at the altar, the wooden carving that had changed its motion, as if reaching to grab something...

The white-clad figure only felt his inner divinity obstructed, clearly sensing the temple god's unstoppable anger, like a mountain‑toppling sea surging forth.

He couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, as strange black patterns surfaced on his body, slowly writhing.

The white-clad figure's body trembled slightly, then...

Both knees bent...

Slowly knelt down.

……

Li Che returned to the independent workshop.

Tall figure, standing still, put away the mask, removed clothing.

"What a pleasant surprise, I never expected to obtain the Divine Foundation Method in the Guiyi Miao..."

"Eight Extremes Top Grade."

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

The evening sunset shone on the black tiles of the roof, burning fiery red.

"I have now cultivated the Furious Maitreya to the peak of nurturing nature like a river; only one step remains from the Divine Foundation—perfect to give it a try."

Li Che pondered, but forging the Divine Foundation is obviously not easy.

"Forging the Divine Foundation will inevitably stir violent divine fluctuations in heaven and earth; it cannot be concealed and will be exposed."

"Most importantly, if interrupted midway, one could even suffer backlash, which is completely different from the martial arts impact on the meridians."

Li Che sat on a chair, playing with a carved wooden figurine, but his mind was on the preparations needed for forging the Divine Foundation.

"First, cannot be in the city; must go outside to find a tranquil place. Second, need to set up mechanisms and hidden weapons. Also, qi-blood martial arts must be strong enough; during these days, consume all remaining Python Blood Martial Pills, refine and transform them into qi-blood cultivation."

"I possess the Dragon Elephant Golden Vajra Dao Fruit; my flesh is formidable—even without meridian cultivation, my bodily strength is not inferior to that of meridians, perhaps even stronger. Forging the Divine Foundation should be trouble-free."

After Li Che had arranged everything.

Again, in the workshop he calmed down, took out the "Blood-Red" spirit wood harvested from Old Master Yang of the Yang family, and fabricated the "Bodhi Blood Tears" mechanism.

This device's power is enormous; even a Divine Foundation cultivator faces a great threat from it.

Unfortunately, production is difficult; Li Che only has one, and after using it he must prepare another.

Fortunately, the block of Blood-Red spirit wood stored by Old Master Yang is large enough; Li Che estimates he can produce three Bodhi Blood Tears.

After working for a while, Li Che stopped his task.

After glancing at the completely darkened sky, he did not linger in the workshop.

He left the workshop and went to the Golden Splendor Pavilion; because of Li Qingshan, the lord's manor fully restrained itself, no longer harboring any thoughts toward Li Che and Xixi.

Plus the Yang family's downfall, the Shi family weakened, the An family relocated the whole clan; the aristocratic clans of Feilei City now only have the Xu family left, and for a time order in Feilei City became surprisingly good.

A table of fine food and drink was set, and Li Che returned to his own courtyard.

He returned to the courtyard.

Xixi and Old Chen, one big and one small, sat on the bamboo chairs under the eaves, eating fruit.

Old Chen dotes on Xixi, often buying her many treats; in winter fruit is expensive, yet Old Chen also spends money to buy for her.

"Dad!"

Xixi saw Li Che return and excitedly jumped up from the chair.

Thump thump thump she ran toward Li Che and bumped into his embrace.

"Dad, are we moving? Can we bring Grandpa Chen?"

Xixi's eyelashes trembled; her big, watery eyes were full of reluctance.

Old Chen on the chair was startled, his eyes grew gentler; he picked up a gourd, pulled the stopper, took a sip of wine, and said, "This girl..."

"You're going to the Prefecture City to cultivate; why would Grandpa Chen come along?"

Li Che heard, smiled: "Old Chen, don't be shy; let's go together. Xixi has been taught martial arts by you since childhood; going to the Prefecture City she'll still need to be examined. Don't you want to see Xixi suppress all the city's spiritual children and powerfully enter the Divine Sect?"

Old Chen hearing this was speechless: "This girl, she's cute and sweet, yet possesses strength to lift mountains and cover the world..."

"At this three-year-old stage, nobody can match this little stinky Xixi!"

Old Chen burst out laughing, as if seeing Xixi in the Prefecture City, punching the spiritual children of various cities—a domineering scene.

Xixi wrapped one arm around Li Che's neck, wrinkled her little jade nose, and protested: "Old Chen, I am Xixi, I am Li Nuanxi, not little stinky Xixi!"

"Hahaha, okay, Old Chen knows, little stinky Xixi."

Old Chen laughed in response.

Xixi was angry, puffed her cheeks and said nothing.

"Old Chen, get ready; in two days I'll go with you to resign from the woodcarver position at the Xu family." Li Che said.

Old Chen still hesitated: "A spiritual child can apparently only bring one's own family; would my going be inappropriate?"

"Don't worry, it won't lack your quota." Li Che pressed his lips and said.

Old Chen hearing this, also did not resist further.

After two days, waiting for the spiritual child selection at the Golden Splendor Pavilion to end, Li Che plans to also tell his uncles so they can move to the Prefecture City.

Mainly, Feilei City is no longer safe.

Night fell.

Li Qingshan returned, face glowing red, his steps bringing wind.

Lü Chi, who was competing with Xixi for the twisty car, doubted and looked up, seeing his master seemingly having undergone a second cycle; at his young age he already understood many adult secrets.

Rolling his eyes, Lü Chi again competed with Xixi for the twisty car.

"I'm not playing, Lü Chi older brother—you play."

Xixi was generous, let the twisty car to Lü Chi, then walked to under the eaves and sat, her chubby little hand propping her chin, a little one, slightly gloomy.

In the distance, Li Che, who was teaching Zhang Ya martial arts techniques, suddenly cast his gaze.

Lü Chi's whole body shuddered; he hurriedly jumped up from the twisty car, only feeling the twisty car scorched his buttocks, Li Che's gaze felt like a thousand blades.

He wanted to cry but had no tears, and he hadn't provoked Xixi.

Li Che walked to Xixi's side: "Xixi, are you unhappy?"

Xixi pouted her little mouth: "Xixi misses Master Niu Niu; Master Niu Niu hasn't come to see Xixi for several days, I miss him."

Li Che paused.

The Ox Demon is clearly no good person, you little girl—why do you think so highly of him?

However, the daughter has a wish; Li Che will naturally fulfill her.

"Don't worry, maybe your Ox Ox master knows you're moving and is preparing a gift for you?" Li Che pinched Xixi's little meaty cheek.

Xixi's eyes lit up instantly.

Meanwhile, Lü Chi, in a direction where Li Che couldn't see his face, secretly rolled his eyes.

Adults' secrets, Lü Chi has already cleverly seen through.

An old man, deceiving an old woman, an old-age spring.

A father, coaxing his daughter, posing as a master.

The adult world is all fake.

……

……

The next day.

Dark clouds piled up, winter thunder darted within, flashing electric light.

After helping his wife Zhang Ya with a deep bone examination last night, Li Che felt refreshed and invigorated.

In the courtyard.

Li Qingshan wore a green robe, sitting upright on a wooden chair, flipping through a book; beside him, a hot stove boiled water, steeping tea, with misty vapor swirling.

Lü Chi sat cross-legged below, nurturing his divine nature.

The book Li Qingshan was flipping through was exactly that volume of the Tangji Jianji Yaowu, obtained from Old Chen.

The old man frowned, looking at the book, and said to Li Che: "Mechanisms... did you use the mechanisms inside to kill the Yang family's divine foundation?"

"The Tang mechanisms are indeed powerful, but also complex; this book is merely a fragment, and the mechanisms recorded therein are mostly vague—how could you have manufactured them? Your skill is truly impressive..."

Li Qingshan glanced at Li Che, smiled, and there was something strange in his eyes.

The way of mechanisms... requires talent.

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

Back then, the Tang clan of the Dàjǐng dynasty was extraordinarily glorious, but after the family's guardian divine fetus fell, mechanism geniuses rarely appeared, and gradually the Tang clan declined.

Because many Tang mechanisms, even with form diagrams, cannot be made without talent.

"Your talent in the way of mechanisms must not be wasted; once you enter the Divine Sect, I'll recommend someone to you who should be able to teach you much about the way of mechanisms."

Upon hearing that, Li Che did not refuse; he was still very interested in the way of mechanisms, and moreover, if he could learn more mechanisms, it would greatly aid the maturation of the Immortal Artisan Dao fruit.

After chatting with Li Qingshan for a while, Li Che went to call Old Chen, intending to go to the Xu family to resign from his position as a woodcarver at the Xu family's woodcarving shop.

"Going to the Xu family? On the way, let's go together."

Li Qingshan rose lazily.

Li Che blinked, "On the way? What way?"

However, he didn't say much more; Li Qingshan's public identity in Fēiléichéng basically lets him walk sideways, and even the Xu family treats him as an honored guest.

Soon, the three arrived at the Xu Ji Nei Cheng woodcarving shop; Li Qingshan went off on his own stroll.

Li Che and Old Chen then stated their purpose; moments later, Xu Helì in a white robe, together with Xu Beihu, hurried over.

"Master Li, are you resigning from your position as woodcarver at the Xu Ji woodcarving shop?"

"Is it because your daughter's spiritual child status has been acknowledged by Senior Qingshan, and you're about to go to the prefectural city?" Xu Helì smiled at Li Che.

His expression was very complex; one cannot imagine a commoner rising to this extent, having spent only about three years.

As for whether Li Che is the Ox Demon, Xu Helì could not determine.

Because when Cao Qingyuan and Zhang Xiangyang initially went to Li Che's courtyard, they were also observing from afar.

★CO

The Ox Demon battled the Yang family's divine foundation, yet Li Che appeared in the courtyard.

Therefore, they ruled out the speculation that Li Che was the Ox Demon.

Moreover, whether Li Che is the Ox Demon or not... is no longer important.

With powerful experts from the Divine Sect backing Li Che and his daughter, in Fēiléichéng no one dares to move against them.

Even if it were truly confirmed that Li Che is the Ox Demon, what could be done?

The fact that the Ox Demon killed the Yang family's divine foundation has long shocked the entire Fēiléichéng.

When Xu Helì heard this news, he was completely dumbfounded; he never expected that the Yang family's divine foundation would strike, yet the Ox Demon could still counter-kill.

Xu Helì then felt that the Ox Demon could absolutely not be Li Che.

Because Li Che has only cultivated for three years, how could he possibly reach the level of killing a divine foundation?

"Head Manager, let's forget about the nominal position... we're not in Fēiléichéng, yet we take the Xu family's nominal wages, which always makes us feel uneasy."

Li Che shook his head and refused Xu Helì.

Beside him, Chen Dabao naturally also refused.

Xu Helì was not surprised at all; evidently he had anticipated Li Che's attitude.

Originally, the Xu Ji's attitude toward Li Che after he became a woodcarving master was not enthusiastic; Li Che had only worked at Xu Ji for three years, one of which was spent relocating work, so having no feelings is normal.

After a symbolic attempt to retain them, Xu Helì agreed to Li Che and Chen Dabao's resignation requests.

"Head Manager, has the Third Manager not returned yet?"

Before leaving, Li Che looked at Xu Helì and asked.

Xu Helì narrowed his eyes: "Third Brother went outside the city to lead a team to eliminate Xiejwei; he might have gone far, and a trip usually lasts half a year, which is normal."

Upon hearing that, Li Che nodded, but didn't say anything else.

The two left the woodcarving shop.

Winter rain drizzled onto the oil-paper umbrella.

Old Chen's whole body relaxed, feeling an unprecedented ease; though he was already semi-retired, he didn't feel much attachment to Xu Ji Mu diao Pu.

"Ah Che, let's go, I'll treat you to drinks."

……

……

Xu Ji Estate.

Xu Heli informed the family head Xu Nanming that Li Che and Chen Dabao had resigned their positions as Xu Ji woodcarvers.

"Normal, Li Che plans to accompany the spirit child's daughter to the prefectural city; as for Chen Dabao…… over these years, his mind has never been on woodcarving work, so quitting is fine, but he thinks it's natural to follow to the prefectural city, assuming that by clinging to Li Nuanxi, this top-grade spirit child, going to the prefectural city will allow him to enter the Divine Sect?"

Xu Nanming was handling numerous documents in his hands; the Si, Yang, and An families—some fell, some were exterminated, some relocated…… the Xu family instantly became the greatest Shijia Zhuzu in Fēiléichéng.

With so many properties suddenly taken over, Xu Nanming was busy to the point of flying during this period.

He had failed to break through the Divine Foundation, had long given up the thought of breaking through, so he focused all his mind on expanding the family's industry.

Now it actually fulfilled his wish; Xu Nanming is in extremely high spirits, after all…… Xu Ji, in his hands, has grown to its greatest in two hundred years—how could he not be delighted?

Even if it's a lying victory, it's still his Xu Nanming's achievement.

"What about Xu You? Is he still hunting Xiejwei outside the city? Send a message to call him back…… The lord's mansion sent back word: as soon as the Divine Yuan Sect's emissary departs, the Thousand Buddha Carving Feast will be held immediately, so…… call Xu You back……"

Xu Heli, upon hearing this, was momentarily stunned.

"Why call Old Three back?"

Xu Heli furrowed his brows.

The Si, Yang, and An families have all withdrawn; the Fēiléichéng Three Young Masters now only have him left; once the Thousand Buddha Carving Feast is held, he will inevitably become the greatest beneficiary.

He even has a chance to impact the Divine Foundation; at this point, calling Xu You back to share the benefits, he is naturally unwilling.

However, Xu Nanming merely gazed at him faintly.

"What do you think your success rate in forging the Divine Foundation is?"

"The old master has great hopes for you…… If our Xu family could produce another Divine Foundation, after the Thousand Buddha Carving Feast we could go to other cities and continue our two-hundred-year foundation."

"So, regarding your attempt to impact the Divine Foundation, only success is allowed, no failure."

Xu Heli said: "I know, so I will strive……"

"Effort? Ridiculous…… Your qi and blood cultivation is barely enough to step into the meridians; your failure rate in forging the Divine Foundation is extremely high……"

"Taking advantage of the Thousand Buddha Carving Feast, borrowing the deity's divinity, let Xu You and the Northern Tiger become your assistance…… Only then can you succeed, understand?"

"This is the old master's intention."

Xu Heli startled, suddenly feeling his body's hair stand on end.

Xu Heli swallowed a mouthful of saliva, involuntarily feeling dry-mouthed.

"How…… how to assist?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Nanming paused his hand's motion; the next moment, he lifted his head from the numerous documents.

Revealing a grim smile full of white teeth.

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