Chapter 102: Mysteries in the Qin Mansion

Qin Mansion.

The spring rain murmured a note of melancholy.

The entire mansion seemed engulfed in an ocean of divinity, teeming with a high-level divine aura so dense it nearly stole someone’s breath.

And all this divine power stemmed from none other than that stooped old man, standing amid wreckage and the vast crater he’d wrought.

Qin Mansion’s physiognomy cultivators follow the art of the “Nine-Serpent Weeping Heavenly King” under their founding ancestor, Qin Di Kun.

The “Nine-Serpent Weeping Heavenly King” physiognomy is a mid-grade seven-element technique—a Qin family ancestral method that laid the very foundation for their foothold in Jingguang City.

Although Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao were masters with perfected divine foundations, the oppressive divine aura of the family patriarch left them gasping for air.

“Tang Mechanism…”

“Is it the handiwork of the remnants of the Tang Clan?”

Qin Di Kun furrowed his brows. His weathered, bark-like face twitched as he said, “Using Seven-Stage Lingmu as material, coupled with masterful, almost otherworldly carving techniques… such a precise mechanism could scarcely be crafted without the foundation of Tang Clan mechanisms.”

“This device releases its power with incredible speed, launching its attack from a distance. In the midst of the omnipresent qi and divine energy, even after significant depletion, it still had enough force to slay Yuqing…”

The old man squinted, a flash of fury simmering beneath his eyes. Slowly, he reined it in and, with a swift flick, retrieved a strand of Bodhi thread from the Bodhi Blood Tears.

This mechanism is insidious—once it infiltrates the body, it erupts in a thunderous explosion, dismembering flesh into gruesome blood globes.

Qin Yuqing was shattered into fragments; otherwise, with such lethal trickery, her flesh would have cascaded over the ground like crimson teardrops—a most ghastly demise.

At least being blown to pieces concealed the full horror of her disfigurement.

“Tang Mechanism… was that old ghost’s doing? But there’s no reason…”

“The Tang Clan has long perished. Besides, he’s under the constant watch of the Great Jing Court—how could he act?”

Qin Di Kun’s brows knitted tighter.

This time, even he—a divine physiognomy cultivator—could only feel bewilderment and chaos.

He had been secluded in his secret chamber; by the time he sensed that streaming light, it was already too late. His attempt to block it with his divine perception was completely pierced through.

Thus, he abandoned any rescue. Qin Yuqing’s sudden burst of blood and divine energy unfolded in just a blink—how could he, rushing out from his chamber, possibly intervene?

Besides, he couldn’t teleport.

“Ancestor…”

Seeing their elder’s silent demeanor, Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao greeted him.

“Who did Yuqing offend this time?”

“First, one of his grim-faced scouts was shot dead, and then someone inside the residence was ruthlessly killed by that dreadful mechanism…”

“Who is this vicious, ruthless figure she angered?”

Qin Di Kun asked coolly.

Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao were instantly dumbfounded, mouths agape, unable to form an answer.

“Qin Yuqing’s offspring, Cao Qingyuan, born of her and Feilei City’s lord Cao Guang, has died in Feilei City—and that very Cao Guang cultivates the 【Three-Eyed Furious True Lord】 divine foundation…”

“Could it be that Cao Guang isn’t dead? That he covertly arrived at the mansion, incited by Qin Yuqing’s liaison with Jin Xuan of Jin Lie Men—his envy boiling over into murderous rage?”

Qin Haonan couldn’t help but remark.

For Qin Yuqing to become the core inheritor of Jin Lie Men, she must have had some means. Her innate talent was so ordinary that she had to rely on countless pills to reach master status, leaving her abilities superficial. How, then, could she secure such a prestigious position?

It could only mean someone high up was behind it.

“Jin Xuan… the Grand Elder of Jin Lie Men? That old scoundrel…”

Qin Di Kun’s brows furrowed further. As the founding elder, his task now was to oversee the family while leaving many matters to the head. As for Qin Yuqing’s mess… it was the first time he’d encountered such a predicament.

“That old fellow must be two hundred years old, right? And this girl…”

Disgust flashed in Qin Di Kun’s eyes.

“When Qin Cang returns, let him handle it. You two also go investigate—after all, Qin Yuqing, one of our own, was shot dead within the mansion. If word gets out, it will be utterly disgraceful.”

“Although it’s unlikely we’ll find any leads, the mechanism struck from at least twenty li away…”

“But time and again, they’ve completely disregarded the pride of our Qin family.”

“We must restore the reputation of the Qin name. This incident is the perfect pretext to reorganize the forces within Jingguang Prefecture and root out the spies implanted by other noble clans and sects.”

Qin Di Kun stated coolly.

In the next moment, he looked into the distance.

A stream of light tore through the air. Though its display was modest, the explosive force at the moment it struck Qin Yuqing had already drawn considerable attention.

Many divine physiognomy cultivators sensed it and were now approaching in curiosity.

Qin Di Kun casually plucked a few flesh beads carved from Qin Yuqing by the Bodhi thread.

“A mechanism capable of striking from a thousand li away… Let the other old-timers have a look too. It wouldn’t do if only my Qin family lived in constant dread, would it?”

The old man shook his frame and soared into the air, striding out of the mansion. Each step carried him several meters, as graceful as the wind and reminiscent of ancient immortals.

“Farewell, Ancestor.”

Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao clasped their fists and bowed.

Only once the overwhelming divine aura receded like a tide…

Did the two finally rise, surveying the ruined courtyard and the shattered remains of their own younger sister, Qin Yuqing.

Both heaved a sigh.

“Is it still Cao Guang? The 【Three-Eyed Furious True Lord】 divine aura… it’s only found in Feilei City. I’ve heard that when Cao Guang merged with the Temple Spirit, his power surged dramatically…”

“Although reports claimed he died, dismembered into countless pieces… but…”

Qin Haonan couldn’t help but add.

“No body was recovered.”

Qin Leixiao shook his head, saying, “He might not be dead…”

“But… what does this signify?”

The two exchanged glances, their faces etched with worry.

“A mechanism launched from dozens of li away managed to kill Yuqing…”

“Who would dare investigate this…?”

They were all afraid…

Afraid of becoming the next Qin Yuqing.

Just when one was preening at home, being shot dead.

……

……

The spring rain fell in a gentle, drizzling cadence.

Inside the pavilion, a warm stove dispelled the biting chill of early spring.

Shangguan Qinghong had removed her shoes and socks, her bare, lustrous feet elegantly visible as she squatted on a sandalwood chair, munching on melon seeds while poring over a book.

Her delicate brows knit in concentration, her beautiful face brimming with a thirst for knowledge, while her nimble fingers deftly found each seed. With a crisp crunch and a deft flick of her tongue, the shell separated from the kernel.

Li Che entered the Imperial Watch Treasury Building, where the cozy atmosphere made one feel languid and at ease.

His eyes narrowed slightly, offering no hint of the anxiety from the recent assassination attempt.

After exhaling a deep breath, Li Che found no one there to greet him.

After a brief hesitation, he headed straight for the private room, where he discovered Shangguan Qinghong idly passing time.

Her earnest demeanor—though the book’s cover revealed a romantic novel—had Li Che almost convinced that she was immersed in some complex technical study.

“Miss Shangguan.”

Li Che cleared his throat softly, dashing her enthusiasm.

Shangguan Qinghong’s dark brows relaxed; upon seeing Li Che, she appeared rather embarrassed at her own idleness being discovered.

As a civil servant enjoying a secure government job, it was merely routine for her.

“You’re here?”

In a measured pace, Shangguan Qinghong clapped her hands and, right before Li Che’s eyes, began slipping socks and shoes onto her pristine toes.

Li Che waited silently as she completed her preparations. Clad in a tight ceremonial uniform, she then led him deeper into the Imperial Watch.

“You’re quite early; everything for the evaluation is set. I’ll take you upstairs—the examination chamber is on the third floor.”

“For the third-class guest official evaluation at the Imperial Watch of Jingguang Prefecture, the head won’t preside personally; instead, two junior monitors will oversee it.”

“You must earn the approval of both to secure a third-class guest official position.”

Shangguan Qinghong said with a smile.

The two ascended to the second floor, which was equally spacious and displayed transparent crystal boxes filled with pills, divine wooden sculptures, and more.

“Everything showcased on this floor consists of the finest divine artifacts—either top-tier treasures among the gods or Jiuyou-level wonders…”

“Because you were recommended by Senior Qingshan, the two junior monitors have arranged this special evaluation just for you today. Normally, third-class guest official assessments are only held when numbers are sufficient.”

Shangguan Qinghong continued chattering animatedly.

Li Che nodded. The ranks within the Imperial Watch varied: the head was the highest, followed by the deputy, then the junior monitors, the Imperial Minister, and the attendants.

A third-class guest official’s status was equivalent to that of an attendant in the Imperial Watch.

However, becoming a third-class guest official of the Imperial Watch was a coveted achievement—one for which many renowned wooden carving masters vied.

They arrived at an unexpectedly spacious private room on the second floor.

The room was impressively large, suffused with a rich aroma of wood, where two figures in white robes sat, deep in conversation.

As Shangguan Qinghong and Li Che stepped inside, the two conversing figures halted and cast their scrutinizing gazes upon them.

Li Che suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of divine perception crash upon him.

His heart skipped a beat!

Divine physiognomy?!

The force of this divine perception was no different from that unleashed by the Qin patriarch during yesterday’s grisly incident that claimed Qin Yuqing’s life.

However, Li Che quickly dismissed it—the divine aura emanating from these two junior monitors lacked the oppressive intensity typical of a seasoned physiognomy cultivator.

So, they possessed formidable divine perception, yet their divine essence hadn’t reached that level?

A flurry of thoughts raced through Li Che’s mind until he finally clasped his fists in greeting, “Li Che pays his respects to the two junior monitors.”

The two junior monitors—one man and one woman, both middle-aged—stood out: the woman maintained a graceful allure, while the man sported a goatee and had sharp, slender eyes.

“You were recommended by Li Qingshan of the Qianyuan Divine Sect Branch’s Zhenleifeng. We’ve arranged this special third-class guest official evaluation just for you…”

“However, just because you come with Li Qingshan’s recommendation, we won’t go easy on you—in fact, our standards will be even stricter.”

Li Che bowed and replied, “It should be so.”

Both nodded. The elegant middle-aged lady scrutinized Li Che and said, “Li Che, a native of Feilei City—you ventured into wooden carving three years ago with remarkable talent and, in three short years, became a master carver at Xu Ji’s Wood Carving Shop…”

The lady then recounted Li Che’s origins.

Li Che remained silent, awaiting her continuation.

Shangguan Qinghong fetched a small stool and sat in the corner. She pulled out a handful of melon seeds from her pocket, munching as she observed Li Che’s evaluation.

“Your background is spotless. Now, display your cultivation of blood and divine essence.”

Another middle-aged man in white remarked.

Li Che rose, clenching his fists as his qi and blood surged; he demonstrated his martial cultivation of the Three-Stage Blood Exchange technique.

In terms of divine essence, he unveiled the Xu Family’s 【Suspended Thought Sword】 technique, balanced like a gentle stream.

The middle-aged man, holding a wolf-hair brush and furrowing his brows, lightly inscribed on a sheet of white paper, “Three-Stage Blood Exchange, nurturing like a stream… Your cultivation is a bit weak; qualifying as a third-class guest official is rather a stretch.”

“Most third-class guest officials possess divine foundation cultivation.”

“However, this evaluation focuses on technique; there are cases where even those without a divine foundation become guest officials. Master Li, prepare yourself—the assessment begins.”

“You are applying for the third-class Wooden Carving Master Guest Official evaluation, which consists of only one test.”

The man stroked his goatee. A swift guidance of the Qian Kun Jade at his waist sent a flicker of light dancing about.

A wooden carving, half the size of a person, suddenly landed on the table.

Carved from Lingmu, the sculpture bore coarse lines and chisel marks that were decidedly rough—merely an initial outline.

One could faintly discern that the carving depicted a child; though rudimentary, its form was unmistakable.

Barefoot, the carved child stood astride a ferocious dragon-snake, its eyes blazing with fury. From its back sprouted four arms; it donned a red bellyband with swirling red ribbons. One hand grasped a Jade Purity Vase, another a Jade Ruyi, while a third held a collar and a fourth a short gun!

Because the lines were only an initial sketch, the work appeared crude yet already exuded a potent, underlying divine aura.

Li Che’s eyes were instantly captivated.

“This is a divine wooden carving that’s only 30% complete. Master Li will continue carving for three shi, and when time’s up, his additional work will be evaluated based on its completion.”

The elegant middle-aged junior monitor remarked.

“This is the divine wooden sculpture of the ‘Four-Armed Furious Third Prince.’ Its original form was modeled after the temple god figure—the ‘Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince’—from that bizarre temple outside the city walls.”

“The divine aura within the Jiulong River that flows through the mansion city is, in fact, a dilution of this Third Prince’s temple god power; it serves as the divine vein for Jingguang City’s cultivators.”

“Once the Four-Armed Furious Third Prince statue is complete, it will trigger waves in the Jiulong River. Even though Master Li is merely completing the carving, if it can stir the waves, the evaluation will be deemed a success.”

The junior monitor with a goatee remarked calmly.

No sooner had he spoken than both the elegant lady and Shangguan Qinghong, idly munching seeds in the corner, froze in their actions.

“Junior Monitor Gongyang… when does the third-class guest official evaluation require the completed statue to trigger waves in the Jiulong River?”

The elegant lady frowned, clearly discontented.

The middle-aged junior monitor with a goatee smiled and said, “Junior Monitor Gongyunli, after all, this candidate was recommended by Li Qingshan. If he can’t even trigger waves in the Jiulong River, then hasn’t Li Qingshan brought us nothing but amusement?”

“Moreover, my evaluation criteria are within reason. This divine wooden sculpture is currently 30% complete; if he can carve it to 70%, it should stir the waves. But if he fails to add even 40% more…”,

“Our Imperial Watch’s standard for guest officials is by no means this low.”

His calm words lingered throughout the room.

The elegant lady furrowed her brows further but said nothing more.

Sitting in the corner, Shangguan Qinghong cast a sympathetic glance at Li Che and muttered, “Senior Qingshan’s recommendation certainly took the easy route—but that only means the junior monitors’ demands will be even higher… real talent is needed.”

“Master Li, becoming a wooden carving master in three years… does that really prove genuine skill?”

Gradually, the room fell silent; the elegant lady, Gongyunli, said no more.

“Junior Monitor Gongyang is right. I’m willing to give it a try.”

Li Che, refined and affable, bowed with his clasped fists.

The elegant lady’s expression softened as she regarded Li Che with genuine admiration.

What a refined, affable man he was.

Calm, unhurried, and with a serene mindset—truly the mark of a master carver.

Gongyang Liancheng stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling as he said, “Then, let us begin.”

Li Che bowed with his clasped fists in greeting.

He then approached the wooden sculpture, cradled the half-person-tall carving in both arms, and, as his qi and blood surged, moved it onto the carving workstation.

The workstation was fully equipped with carving knives—each of extraordinary quality, far surpassing what Li Che’s own could offer.

Taking a quiet breath to steady himself, Li Che began scrutinizing the “Four-Armed Furious Third Prince.” Though merely a simplified version of a temple god statue, it possessed its own unique charm.

The carving was at 30% completion. According to Junior Monitor Gongyang, Li Che needed to continue until it reached 70% to awaken the temple god’s divine aura in the Jiulong River and stir the waves.

The Imperial Watch Treasury Building stood along the bank of a Jiulong River tributary that flowed through Jingguang Prefecture. Looking out through its intricately carved wooden windows, one could see the gentle, calm river beyond.

“Continuing the carving” meant finishing the work based on the existing design.

In reality, it came with conditions; the original carver’s techniques—his methods, the angle of his chisel, the force of each strike—would affect the final piece. One had to closely mimic the original style, or else the work would feel disjointed and might not qualify as a divine wooden sculpture.

For Li Che, this was no issue at all.

What Li Che needed to consider was…

Just how much completion was required.

Should he hold back his true skill?

No. Li Che shook his head—he wouldn’t conceal his abilities for this evaluation.

When Li Che’s family first arrived in the mansion city, they needed a powerful backer—especially until XiXi joined the Divine Sect—and, having offended the Qin Mansion and previously acted against Qin Yuqing, they required new patronage.

If Qin Yuqing were dead, the Qin Mansion would surely erupt in fury. Although Li Che was confident he’d left no trace, it would be hard for them to track him down from several dozen li away.

Yet, to be prudent, he needed to secure an influential backing—grab a proverbial tiger skin—to establish himself in the mansion city.

Although Li Qingshan was a respectable patron, his standing was no longer sufficient now that he was absent from the city and had little influence within the Divine Sect.

Thus, Li Qingshan’s recommendation for him to join the Imperial Watch likely carried that very consideration.

A thought sparked within Li Che—he would no longer hide his true capabilities.

Nascent form: Thousand Analysis Hand.

With a gleam of jade, Li Che’s hand gently brushed over the wooden carving as a torrent of details about it surged into his mind.

The original carver’s techniques, the knife’s angle, the force of his strokes, and his carving style—all flooded his thoughts.

As he opened his eyes, an invisible surge of qi roared from within the building.

Li Che’s demeanor transformed; his eyes grew cold and desolate. In his gaze, the carving’s countless lines danced. Gripping his knife, its flashing gleam descended in an instant, slicing along a line with a ripping sound as the sharp blade smoothly cut through the Lingmu, sending wood chips flying.

The knife rose and fell, its flash as graceful as a soaring dragon.

Gongyang Liancheng and Gongyunli exchanged a glance, instantly recognizing that Li Che was truly talented and capable—far from someone who took shortcuts.

The room fell into complete silence.

Even Shangguan Qinghong, who had been idly munching seeds in the corner, ceased her snacking, fearful of disturbing Li Che’s display of skill.

Her moist red lips parted slightly as an unusual gleam appeared in her eyes.

The diffuse divine energy in the air began to gradually coalesce.

As the shape of the divine wooden sculpture slowly took form, with its posture and movements being exquisitely delineated…

The “Four-Armed Furious Third Prince” seemed to come alive.

Barefoot, with the dragon-snake at his feet roaring, its four arms flailing, red ribbons swirling, and eyes blazing in fury—it looked so lifelike, as if overturning seas, subduing demons.

The divine essence drifting through the heavens began to be voraciously consumed by the sculpture, to the point where…

Even the waters along the Jiulong River near the Imperial Watch Treasury, visible through the carved wooden windows, started to ripple gently, white waves lapping as divine energy diffused.

But the white waves were only just beginning to form—as if the divine energy in the water were drawn by an unseen force!

A wave struck the treasury’s foundation, sending up sparkling, translucent splashes in the sunlight!

Boom—!

The crashing wave shattered the silence around the tower!

Inside the treasury building.

Li Che’s eyes blazed while his qi and blood surged uncontrollably.

The carving knife whirled between his fingers as wood chips flew about.

Within his chest, the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit thumped vigorously, as if sensing his surging prowess—a bid to secure his family’s future in the city through his craft.

He intended to make the world watch in awe.

What is it…

Xiangong!

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