"A top candidate for cultivating Divine Methods?"
Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, but he wasn't too surprised.
He had thought about it before, what was so special about the Spirit Baby that made the Spirit Infant Sect care so much about it.
It must also be related to divinity.
"The methods of the Spirit Infant Sect should be quite vicious and despicable. If Xi Xi falls into their hands, she will be raised until she grows up, and once her divinity is abundant, it will be forcibly extracted..."
"Becoming a raised Spirit Baby is definitely not a good thing..."
Old Chen took a sip of his drink and said with a shake of his head and a grave voice.
That was certainly not a good thing, and Li Che was aware of that, which was why he had been treading on thin ice since Xi Xi was born.
Frowning, Li Che thought about strategies to respond, considering how many years it would take for him to develop the strength to single-handedly destroy the Spirit Infant Sect.
He had the Dao Fruit bound with his daughter, and as she grew slowly, she would become stronger.
Gently stroking the back of Xi Xi's head, the little girl's naive eyes blinked, sparkling with crystalline innocence.
Old Chen let out a breath: "Actually, there is a way to deal with the crisis brought by the Spirit Infant Sect."
Li Che glanced at Old Chen, a flash of confusion in his eyes, indicating for him to continue.
"Spirit Babies are rare, but not nonexistent. The Spirit Babies born to commoners are pitiful, like lambs, usually unable to grow up and targeted from a young age, not just by the Spirit Infant Sect, but also by other sects that have inherited mysterious temple traditions, all aiming to capture Spirit Babies."
Old Chen's expression grew solemn.
"But if they can make it to four years old, then there's a chance they can survive."
Li Che was taken aback.
"Four years old... Is there a reason for that?"
Old Chen smiled and said, "Nothing special, the Imperial Court steps in."
The Imperial Court?
Li Che's face changed slightly, he had almost forgotten about the Imperial Court.
In Fei Lei City, power was basically divided among the noble families of the Inner City, holding the authority. The Yamen, representing the Imperial Court, was virtually nominal, managing only some civilian disputes; the noble families hardly took it seriously.
Old Chen took a sip of his yellow wine, and shook his head: "Little Li, don't underestimate the Imperial Court. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse, and moreover... the Da Jing Dynasty isn't dead yet. Although the Imperial Court is declining, it's still one of the most powerful forces in the world; even the great Divine Sects wouldn't dare to ignore it."
"The main reason is that Fei Lei City is remote. Coupled with the isolation caused by the Mysterious Temple, it's somewhat out of the Imperial Court's jurisdiction, but that doesn't mean it's lawless."
"You see the Yamen's imperial hall appearing nominal today, but would the noble families and clans really dare to ignore it blatantly?"
"The Imperial Court conducts a selection test every four years. If it's a Spirit Baby containing divinity, they will be recruited and trained by the Imperial Court. Nowadays, the right to conduct this selection test has been delegated by the Yamen to the noble families of Fei Lei City."
Old Chen glanced at Li Che as he said this.
Li Che nodded slightly: "So you mean to say, as long as Xi Xi safely reaches four years old, is selected for her divine talents, enters the Xu Clan for cultivation, and practices the Divine Methods, she will be protected by the Xu Clan and be safe, right?"
"Exactly,"
Old Chen smiled.
"If the Imperial Court regains control over Fei Lei City, the noble families and clans will still have to return the divinely talented children they've selected back to the Imperial Court..."
Li Che frowned, "Would the noble families be willing to return them?"
Old Chen took a sip of his drink, "Would the Imperial Court not understand... So, what do you think is the purpose behind this order?"
"The Da Jing Dynasty doesn't ignore things; it's just too lazy to intervene. With Mysterious Temples sprouting like bamboo after a spring rain, almost every city has one or several... "
"If the Imperial Court were to manage every Mysterious Temple, how could they manage? Therefore... power is decentralized to the noble families and clans in the major cities, leaving them to deal with the Mysterious Temples."
"These selected divine seedlings naturally supplement the talent for noble families."
Upon hearing this, Li Che couldn't help but realize.
Old Chen narrowed his eyes: "Moreover, every four years, the Divine Sect also comes once to screen if there are divine children to take back to their sect for training, which is kind of competing with the Imperial Court for people. But the Divine Sect's requirements are even higher, and generally, those who meet the standards are children carefully cultivated by the noble families and clans."
Li Che, naturally very clueless about the cultivation forces of this world, now felt a bit clearer after hearing Old Chen's explanations.
"If you can enter the Divine Sect for cultivation, that would be the best, but the Divine Sect's requirements for selecting disciples are too high..."
Old Chen sighed and shook his head, his eyes flashing with a complex look.
Li Che sensed there might be a story in his words, poured an extra glass of wine, holding Xi Xi and blinking, his curiosity ablaze.
But Old Chen just rolled his eyes and kept on drinking, not saying another word.
Feeling slightly disappointed, Li Che then asked, "Old Chen, do you have any martial techniques for sale? If yes... could you sell me a few?"
Old Chen had just taken a sip of his drink and almost choked.
"Do you think martial techniques are as common as cabbages? Even several... Strictly speaking, martial techniques are much more precious than the Skin Grinding Technique or the Meridian Opening Method. Although I have a collection of them in my study, it's not extensive."
Upon hearing this, Li Che's eyes suddenly lit up, becoming increasingly interested in Old Chen's study.
"Martial techniques are distinctive in style. The techniques of the major noble families and clans naturally cannot be taught openly. If one learns them and uses them, they're in for some serious trouble. Forget it, forget it... What type of martial technique are you looking for?"
Old Chen thumped his chest, took a breath, and said irritably.
"Any kind will do, as long as I can practice it... Are you looking to sell?"
Li Che, holding Xi Xi, father and daughter both smiled synchronously.
...
...
Time waits for no one, and seasons flow like a river.
One month later.
Fei Lei City, Spring Breeze Alley.
In the closed courtyard, the snow had completely melted away; torrid air currents intertwined like dragons, causing the loquat tree planted in the yard to shake incessantly.
Li Che, with his upper body bare, revealed a bronze skin that seemed to boil with surging blood and qi, thundering like the relentless beating of a drum resembling thunder behind clouds.
Large tendons like coiling dragons emerged on his body, writhing and taut, like tightly drawn large bows.
Boom!
His inner strength burst forth, momentarily shrouding the lingering snow in a blur.
Gradually reining in his inner strength and blood qi, Li Che opened his eyes, his gaze cutting through the haze like two sharp blades slicing through dense fog.
His body's large tendons gradually relaxed, and his black hair wildly fluttered about.
Throwing on a thin shirt, Li Che swung his arms and a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
His eyes condensed, and a prompt appeared.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv1, 50%)]
Twisting his neck, his spine made a straining noise, and a formidable aura flowed.
"One month to open nine major sinews, Xu Clan's Sinew Transforming Method at perfection… Not bad, faster than I expected. Indeed, all attributes to my diligence and effort."
Raising his hand, inner strength surged wildly, nine snake-like tendrils of strength coiled outside his palm.
"Si Snake Inner Strength, also reached the Second Heaven, barely able to be released externally."
"Indeed, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit greatly enhances my cultivation in martial arts…"
"The Immortal Artisan augments my wood carving skills, while the Dragon Elephant enhances my martial arts talent, quite good. I wonder what type of the third Dao Fruit will be, the one associated with Xi Xi turning two years old?"
Li Che couldn't help but look forward to the third Dao Fruit associated with his daughter's second birthday.
"Furthermore, the Middle Vehicle Martial Technique 'White Tiger Chaotic Wind Fist' that I acquired from Old Chen has been successfully mastered to the level of a minor accomplishment. This Horizontal Cultivation Martial Art is indeed effortless for me to practice."
"However, one martial technique is indeed too few. After completing the wood carving trade with the young Master Si tomorrow and earning some Gold Leaf, I will make another trip to the Marketplace to see if I can acquire another martial technique to increase my offensive capabilities."
Wearing a thin shirt, Li Che began practicing his punches directly in the courtyard, his punches roaring like a ferocious tiger stirring up the wind and the countless snowflakes lifted by his blood qi melted into water upon hitting the ground and then turned back into ice.
After completing a set of fist techniques, Li Che was fully satisfied and reined in his strength.
The minor accomplishment level of the White Tiger Chaotic Wind Fist, combined with the Vajra Transformation, was extremely explosive.
But… it was not enough.
Returning to the inner room, he washed himself with hot water and then bought a box of osmanthus cake, which his wife loved, before returning to the wood carving shop.
Donning a leather apron, Li Che sat on a chair, facing the "Nine-Headed Guanyin Angry Cry Ghost-suppressing Statue" meticulously crafted over a month.
Picking up his tools, the Immortal Worker Dao Fruit trembled slightly. He settled his mind, entered into a carving state, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the finishing touches.
Within the workshop, only the soft rustling noises remained.
Upon completing the final step.
A streak of golden light suddenly flashed before Li Che's eyes.
The next moment, a prompt appeared.
[Dao Fruit: Immortal Worker (lv3, 0%)]
[Dao Fruit lv3, further transformation, prototype of Divine Powers "Immortal Worker: Thousand Analyzing Hands"]
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