Chapter 19: Mysteries of the Sculpted Fate

“Nine-Headed Guan Yin Weeping Statue!”

Xu Beihu growled, and as soon as his words died away, the roaring blizzard seemed to vanish into nothingness.

“Weeping to Subdue Ghosts?!”

Li Che’s expression shifted slightly.

He was no longer the inexperienced laborer hauling timber; his profound knowledge of wooden carving had grown immensely.

Feilei City was divided into the Inner and Outer Cities. The Inner City shimmered with dreamlike prosperity, occupied by long-established noble families.

Each of these clans practiced their own cultivation techniques, including the fabled Divine Essence Technique.

In fact, every wood carving shop nurtured talented carvers, for a masterfully carved piece imbued with spirit could greatly aid practitioners of the Divine Essence Technique.

One could even extract divine energy from the artwork.

This was why such wood carvings commanded exorbitant prices.

Within the Inner City’s wood carving shops, master carvers presided over their work. Their pieces exuded rich spiritual presence and were valued at hundreds to thousands of taels!

Over the past year, Li Che had heard many such tales from Old Chen.

Becoming a master carver was no easy feat; the artwork’s soul had to be so profound that it almost took shape on its own.

Li Che’s 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit had reached Lv2, endowing his carvings with latent meaning, yet he needed to reach Lv3 to truly achieve master-level finesse.

“The Si Family Young Master will provide the design. Just carve to your heart’s content…”

The burly Xu Beihu regarded Li Che deeply, his voice resonant.

“This is a rare opportunity, earned from your reputation as a carver. Your pieces have always been rich in spirit, earning you this chance.”

“And don’t worry too much. Even if your carving falls short, you’re only a year into being a woodcarver. Think of it as practice,” he consoled.

Xu Beihu’s reassuring tone lingered in the air.

Tasked with crafting a piece using five Gold Leaves, Li Che gritted his teeth, determined not to let the chance slip by.

“Alright, I’ll give it a try,” Li Che replied, clenching his fist in resolve.

Delighted at his acceptance, Xu Beihu patted Li Che on the shoulder and said, “The Si Family Young Master awaits your carving, likely to enhance his Divine Essence Technique. If you succeed with the ‘Weeping to Subdue Ghosts’ method, you’ll never want for food or clothing—and you might even breach the master level.”

“Divine Essence… Weeping to Subdue Ghosts,” Li Che murmured, recalling what Old Chen had mentioned.

Among the cultivation methods, Body Refinement, Inner Strength, and Divine Essence were key—with Divine Essence the most enigmatic, Inner Strength most precious, and Body Refinement more commonplace.

The Divine Essence Technique was traditionally monopolized by the noble families of the Inner City, leaving outsiders with little hope.

Xu Beihu glanced at Li Che and whispered, “Divine Essence is commonly divided into seven aspects: joy, anger, sorrow, worry, grief, fear, and shock… The Weeping to Subdue Ghosts method falls under grief. Its mysteries are boundless, yet it demands painstaking accumulation of divine energy.”

Without further ado, he looked deeply into Li Che’s eyes and added, “Your talent with wood is extraordinary. Should you become a master carver, you might earn a chance to learn our family’s Divine Essence Technique. So, do not slack off.”

At these words, Li Che quickly displayed a grateful smile, clasping his fists in thanks.

Satisfied, Xu Beihu drew a neatly folded paper from his sleeve. “This is the design for the ‘Nine-Headed Guan Yin Weeping Statue.’ Your deadline is one month. I’ll come looking for you then.”

“At that time, you’ll accompany the Si Family Young Master to finalize the deal in the Inner City,” he continued.

Li Che nodded as he accepted the design.

……

……

After finishing his practice, Li Che tidied up his workshop and left Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop.

He claimed he was off to fetch some huangjiu and sliced some braised pork, though in truth he intended to inspect the marketplaces in the Outer City. Xu Beihu had yet to arrange courses for the Muscle-Opening Technique and Inner Strength Technique, so he would have to practice on his own.

Thankfully, the Muscle-Opening Technique, while rare, was far less coveted than the Divine Essence Technique.

Once outside the shop, he strode into a narrow alley. After ensuring the coast was clear, he activated the Dragon Elephant Vajra. His stature rose, muscles bulging, as he pulled out a wooden carving mask. Donning it along with his ragged cloak, he vanished into the lengthy street.

The marketplace of Feilei City lay in the western part of the Outer City—a district of modest, aging sheds and worn-out buildings.

It appeared utterly dilapidated.

Yet, this was the trading hub for the city’s cultivators, mostly adventurers from outside who battled demons in mysterious temples to secure cultivation resources.

Using scraps of cloth as makeshift mats, these cultivators turned any spot into a stall, showcasing all manner of peculiar trinkets.

Li Che wandered through the stalls, his eyes alight with curiosity. It was his first time here—previously, he hadn’t dared to venture out for fear of unnecessary danger.

After a long stroll past many small stands, he finally paused before a vendor wrapped head-to-toe in layers.

Their shared aura of caution gave Li Che a measure of comfort.

“Care to take a look at some new oddities fresh from the Bizarre Temple?” the vendor rasped.

The vendor shot a wary glance at Li Che’s tightly bundled frame before speaking in a hoarse tone.

“Bizarre Temple…” Li Che fell silent. That was the perilous place beyond the city, whispered to be the source of Lingying Sect’s secret legacy.

The once-magnificent metropolis had fallen into turmoil, its decay linked to the sudden emergence of numerous Bizarre Temples—and the rampaging evil that escaped when one went out of control.

For warrior cultivators, a pacified Bizarre Temple was a trove of resources to be exploited.

Still, Li Che was not truly interested in the temple itself. His aim in the marketplace was solely to acquire a Body Refinement Technique manual.

Lowering his voice into a husky tone, he inquired, “Do you have a Body Refinement manual for sale?”

The vendor, seated cross-legged, raised his head quizzically at the mention of Body Refinement.

“What level are you looking for?”

“Muscle-Opening,” Li Che replied coolly.

“Muscle-Opening?”

The vendor’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.

“I happen to have a mid-level manual recovered from a Bizarre Temple in the South. It can take you up to Bone Tempering. Would that suit your needs?”

Despite Li Che’s formidable presence, the vendor showed no sign of fear. After all, what strength could a man buying a Muscle-Opening Technique manual possibly have?

“I only need the Muscle-Opening Technique,” Li Che stated flatly.

Hearing this, the vendor wasted no time. He pulled out an old, blue-covered book from his cloak and handed it over.

Leafing through it to confirm it was indeed a mid-level Muscle-Opening manual, Li Che smiled in satisfaction as he tucked the book under his arm.

“If you have any Inner Strength manuals, feel free to show them too,” the vendor offered.

In truth, Li Che had little hope for an Inner Strength manual, but if need be, he could always buy one from Old Chen—who had mentioned he might sell him one.

The vendor chuckled, “You’re joking. Inner Strength is typically monopolized by the noble families. We little traders can’t afford the risk; if caught, we’d be finished in Feilei City.”

The vendor shook his head.

Though disappointed, Li Che was undeterred. “Then I’ll take the Muscle-Opening manual.”

The vendor raised five fingers. “That’ll be five hundred taels!”

Li Che let out a soft laugh as he slowly stood. Towering like a mountain, his circulating energy surged, freezing the air around him. The overwhelming pressure hit his counterpart like a collapsing sky.

Had the vendor assumed he was an under-strength warrior desperately needing the Muscle-Opening Technique to survive?

Well… he had guessed correctly.

“Just one hundred taels—it’s for a young protégé, so it should suffice,” Li Che replied coolly.

The vendor, sensing the sheer aura behind him, paled slightly. For someone venturing from beyond the city and from the dangerous Bizarre Temple, his perceptiveness was unsurprising.

The brute’s life force was so potent that its pressure far surpassed that of even a Bone Tempering warrior—and his hands had stained with blood!

Clearly, he was a ruthless man who treated lives as nothing more than weeds.

A hand-copied mid-level Muscle-Opening manual for one hundred taels? It was a steal.

After all, the vendor had several copies at home.

“Deal!”

The vendor sealed the deal in his heart immediately.

After tossing down one hundred taels, Li Che grabbed the manual and turned away, disappearing into the bustling market.

The vendor promptly packed up his wares and left his stall.

……

……

Now in possession of the Muscle-Opening manual, Li Che felt a surge of optimism—tomorrow he would begin his practice.

Leaving the marketplace, he found a quiet spot where he shed his cloak and stowed his belongings before leisurely treating himself to braised pork, huangjiu, and a box of桂花糕 favored by Zhang Ya, then returned to the workshop.

Snow fell steadily, swirling in the blustery wind.

The deep snow blanketed the ancient stone pavement.

Li Che began his journey home.

But soon his steps faltered. Clutching the braised pork, a jar of wine, and the Osmanthus Cake, his brows furrowed as he fixed his gaze on the figure standing at his courtyard door…

A wry smile played on the lips of Zhao Chuanxiong, the local magistrate’s constable, who stood armed with his saber.