Chapter 66: Whispers of Divine Carvings

A fierce gust shattered the drifting snow that lazily floated from the heavens.

Xu Helil’s feet danced lightly along the ground, sending up bursts of snow dust as he sped like an unstrung arrow into the depths of the alley toward the courtyard.

Upon reaching the courtyard gate, he drove his knees forcefully into the ground, unleashing a surge of power that propelled him in a single leap onto the high wall, where he stood like a razor-sharp spear against the barrier.

The wind howled and wailed, like the cries of tormented spirits!

Inside, Xu Helil’s inner energy pulsed through every limb, and his clear eyes locked onto the scene in the courtyard.

A solitary winter plum, heavy with accumulated snow, hung silently.

In the center of the courtyard sat Li Che, wearing a leather apron and perched on a chair. He worked meticulously with his carving knife on a wooden sculpture, as fine shavings from its silver, razor-sharp edge floated and piled on the ground.

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

The soft, rhythmic sound carried an almost tangible divine essence, seemingly being woven into the wood itself.

Though the carving marks were rough, they somehow brought the sculpture to life.

Frowning, Xu Helil slowly unclenched the hand that gripped his sword hilt.

It wasn’t him…

Li Che remained deeply engrossed in carving his divine wooden sculpture—a process that required time for the cosmic divine essence to gather and for his inner calm to settle.

There was no way he could switch into this sacred state immediately after a kill.

Such haste would only lead to self-destruction.

Yet, judging by Li Che’s composed demeanor, he had spent a long time perfecting his state, completely absorbed as he channeled the wandering divine essence of the universe into his work.

Even a master carver of the Nine Luminaries level would struggle to transition states so swiftly!

Eventually, Li Che paused his work, turned his head with a frown as if mildly annoyed by the interruption, and glared disapprovingly at Xu Helil standing atop the wall.

“Boss… you really shouldn’t barge into my private workshop like that, should you?”

Li Che replied coolly.

On hearing this, Xu Helil descended gracefully, his eyes still fixed in a scrutinizing manner.

But… what a coincidence!

Just as Zhao Xuanhai was about to abduct Li Che, he was spotted in the alley and brutally slain by the Ogre…

Could it be that the Ogre truly had nothing to do with Li Che?

Or rather…

Could the Ogre be hiding within Li Che’s very own workshop?!

“Sorry to trouble you, Master Li, but there’s been a murder in the alley… The culprit, the Ogre, has appeared and slain the divine investigator Zhao Xuanhai. Aren’t you, as a consummate Bone Tempering martial artist, supposed to have sensed the burst of energy and divine clash out there?”

Xu Helil’s expression darkened slightly.

Li Che looked at him as if he were a fool and laughed, “Sensed something? So what if you did—then you’d open your door to watch the spectacle, only to get yourself killed by that ruthless Ogre who’d just twist your head right off!”

Xu Helil froze for a moment.

Indeed, with the Ogre’s sheer ferocity, if Li Che were to peek out and witness its killing, that head-twisting brute would undoubtedly follow through without hesitation.

Li Che, hardly more than a Bone Tempering practitioner, stood no chance against an Ogre at the level of Yangxing Ruhe!

“Boss, just say what you need to say…”

Li Che picked up the wooden carving, examined it carefully, and replied coolly.

Xu Helil’s eyes narrowed as he regarded Li Che’s nonchalance. “You’ve made an enemy,” he stated evenly.

His words hung in the air.

In a burst of energy and divine power, Xu Helil vanished in a flash.

Moments later, after thoroughly searching the entire house, he returned to the courtyard.

“Boss, are you suspecting that the Ogre is hiding in my courtyard?”

“The Ogre is ruthless. If it hides while Master Li remains unaware, and eventually takes his life… that would be disastrous,” Xu Helil said, a smile playing on his lips.

Li Che narrowed his eyes, his gaze on Xu Helil icy and indifferent.

How dare he search his private quarters without permission…

Xu Helil’s condescending manner only confirmed Li Che’s belief that the Xu Family had, after all, sold him—the master carver—to the City Lord’s Residence.

Zhao Xuanhai’s presence here was no mere coincidence.

Feeling the potent divine essence of the 【Xuan Si Liu Jian】 technique emanating from Xu Helil, Li Che licked his lips, a sudden impulse stirring within him to eliminate Xu Helil and then… drain his power.

He shook his sleeve, his poisoned sleeve crossbow primed and ready.

After all, if you act without mercy, don’t expect me to show righteousness.

The Xu Family did shelter him in his weaker days, but now that they’ve betrayed him, any sense of loyalty has long been drained.

Li Che couldn’t fathom why the Xu Family would push a master carver out like this… It defied all reason.

Even if he knew he would eventually leave Feilei City and avoid entangling with alliances, provoking death was never an option, right?

Such actions were not in keeping with the traditional conduct of noble clans.

Just as Li Che wavered on whether to act, his eyes suddenly narrowed in realization.

Deep in his chest, the 【Pure Heart】 Dao Fruit began to pulse violently, its urgent warning quelling any thoughts of assault.

But then he noticed—a palm-sized, remarkably lifelike wooden sculpture had mysteriously appeared on the wall, standing on the dark tiles and watching the courtyard scene with cold detachment.

Xu Helil caught sight of the wooden figure and was momentarily stunned before clasping his fists in a respectful bow.

“Old Master.”

The venerable ancestor of the Xu Family…

A Divine Foundation cultivator!

Li Che was utterly astonished.

“Helil, come back. The Ogre isn’t hiding in Master Li’s courtyard. Apologize to Master Li—after all, he’s a master, and the Xu Family must show him full respect.”

A calm voice emanated from the wooden sculpture.

“Yes,” Xu Helil replied respectfully.

The wooden figure glanced at Li Che; though its eyes were carved, they looked startlingly lifelike, as if a real person were watching.

“Such craftsmanship… truly exquisite!”

There was no doubt that this carving was the work of a master!

But what chilled him most was the vivid infusion of divine essence that made the sculpture seem almost alive.

It was precisely this presence that dissuaded Li Che from attacking Xu Helil.

Watching Xu Helil depart without a word and the divine foundation sculpture standing there, Li Che’s eyes sparked with interest.

“Using a divine wooden sculpture as a medium, channeling a Divine Foundation cultivator’s immense power—it’s almost like commanding a clone?”

“This must be some kind of divine secret technique…”

“A Divine Foundation cultivator—a mere wooden vessel channeling divine essence—and yet it exerts such overwhelming pressure on me…”

Li Che exhaled deeply, his heart pounding as he grew increasingly wary of Divine Foundation cultivators.

According to the ‘Nine Luminaries: Wrathful Cry, Ghost-Subduing, and Cultivation Manual’ he had obtained from Si Mu Bai, divine cultivators of lesser realms might even push beyond their limits to fight.

Yet the gap between ranks was as vast as an impassable chasm.

Even one versed in a Four Sovereigns level Divine Essence Technique would be suppressed when facing a Divine Foundation cultivator wielding a Tenth-Progress Divine Essence Technique.

This was the so-called rank suppression.

And any Divine Essence Technique capable of shattering that barrier… that was truly the supreme method in the world.

After a slow exhale of stale air, Li Che traced the carvings on the wooden sculpture and pursed his lips.

“The divine essence within that wooden sculpture must be overwhelmingly vast—it’s almost… tantalizing.”

……

……

The private workshop courtyard.

Drifting, swirling snow.

Li Che resumed his immersion in carving…

After the incense had burned for a long while, he was sure that neither Xu Helil nor the divine sculpture would return.

Only then did Li Che rise with a lazy stretch, his bones cracking as he activated the divine power of the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit. A chessboard pattern spread out, enveloping the courtyard to ensure no prying eyes remained.

Next, he retrieved Zhao Xuanhai’s Qian Kun Jade from the Qian Kun Space, preparing to take stock of his spoils from Zhao Xuanhai’s demise.

Besides the Qian Kun Jade, he had already claimed Zhao Xuanhai’s 800-pound precision iron broadsword.

Once infused with divine essence, the Jade Pendant was immediately breached.

Its inner treasures were suddenly exposed to Li Che’s perception.

After carefully counting silver bills, silver ingots, Gold Leaf, gold ingots, and other wealth-bringing items,

Li Che raised his hand; after a few seconds of guidance from the Qian Kun Jade,

two leather-bound books fell into his grasp.

One was a Divine Essence Technique manual, and the other… a Divine Secret Technique!

The first volume immediately caught his eye.

“Dajing Zhenmiao’s Eight Extremes: Wrathful Amitabha Cultivation Technique.”

Li Che clutched the book, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Based on the fundamentals of divine cultivation, the Seven Emotions Divine Essence Technique refines spirit through emotion; overindulgence in one can lead to emotional breakdown and a fractured spirit…

Feeling the rapid pulsation of the 【Pure Heart】 Dao Fruit in his chest, Li Che’s breath grew hot.

“Then can I cultivate two Divine Essence Techniques at once?”

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