Chapter 19: The Nine-Headed Avalokiteshvara Weeping Ghost Suppressing Statue

-----------

This high quality machine translation is powered by: https:// geriatrictranslations.com/

Special Permission was given to upload the novel on WebNovel.

Geriatric Translations can be supported on patreon (https://www. patreon.com/geriatricvibes) where additional chapters can be enjoyed. 

You can also join the Geriatric Translations Community on Discord to connect with other readers: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua

-----------

"Nine-headed Avalokiteshvara Weeping Ghost Suppressing Statue!"

Xu Beihu said in a deep voice. As his words fell, the sound of the snowstorm seemed to fade away.

Chenku Zhen Gui?!

Li Che's expression changed slightly.

He was no longer the naive wood mover he once was, focused solely on transporting wood. He now had a good understanding of the intricacies of wood carving.

The vast Feilei City was divided into the Inner City and the Outer City. The Inner City, bustling with activity, was where the Noble Families that had thrived for countless generations resided, making it extremely wealthy and prosperous.

These Noble Families all had their own cultivation methods, and some even practiced the legendary Divine Essence Technique.

In fact, each family owned a wood carving shop, where they recruited and trained Woodcarvers. The wood carvings created by these Woodcarvers, if imbued with a strong spiritual essence, could greatly benefit the cultivators of the Noble Families who practiced the Divine Essence Technique.

They could extract divine essence from the wood carvings for their cultivation.

This was also why the prices of wood carvings created by Woodcarvers could be so high.

In the wood carving shops of the Inner City, there were always Master Woodcarvers in residence. The carvings they created were rich in spiritual essence, extremely precious, and each piece could be worth hundreds or even thousands of gold.

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

Becoming a Master Woodcarver was no easy feat, as the spiritual essence of the carvings needed to reach a level where it could overflow and form a tangible presence.

Li Che's [Divine Artisan] Dao Fruit had reached level 2, allowing his carvings to possess a certain spiritual essence. However, to reach the Master level, he still had some distance to go. Perhaps reaching level 3 would be enough to achieve that.

"Si Family will provide the design for the statue. You just need to focus on the carving…"

Xu Beihu, with his robust build and deep voice, looked at Li Che intently.

"This is a rare opportunity, a result of the reputation you've built up from your previous carvings. Your carvings are imbued with a rich spiritual essence, which is why you've been given this chance."

"You don't need to feel too much pressure. Even if you fail or the spiritual essence of the finished carving isn't as rich, it's fine. After all, you've only been a Woodcarver for a year, and you still have room to grow. Consider it practice."

Xu Beihu reassured him.

For a job worth five Gold Leaves, Li Che gritted his teeth and decided not to let it slip away.

"I'll give it a try," Li Che said, clasping his fists in respect.

Seeing Li Che agree, Xu Beihu was in a great mood. He patted Li Che's shoulder and said, "The Si Family's young master wants your carving, likely to use it for cultivating the Divine Essence Technique. The Si Family's Divine Essence Technique is called 'Chenku Zhen Gui.' If you succeed, you'll have a life of comfort and even a chance to reach the Master level."

"Divine essence… Chenku Zhen Gui." Li Che had heard about it from Old Chen.

Cultivation methods were divided into body strengthening, internal energy, and divine essence. Among them, the Divine Essence Technique was the most mysterious, while internal energy was precious and body strengthening was more common.

The Divine Essence Technique was always controlled by the Noble Families of the Inner City, making it impossible for outsiders to cultivate.

Xu Beihu glanced at Li Che and said softly, "The Divine Essence Technique is typically divided into seven streams: joy, anger, worry, thought, sorrow, fear, and surprise… Chenku Zhen Gui belongs to the sorrow stream of divine essence. The techniques of divine essence are infinitely profound, but they require a long-term accumulation of divine essence, which is not easy."

Xu Beihu didn't say more, but he looked at Li Che deeply. "Your talent for wood carving is exceptional. If you become a Master Woodcarver in the future, you might have a chance to obtain the Xu Family's Divine Essence Technique. So… don't slack off."

Li Che, hearing this, quickly showed a look of gratitude and bowed.

Xu Beihu nodded in satisfaction and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve. "This is the design for the 'Nine-headed Avalokiteshvara Weeping Ghost Suppressing Statue.' The deadline is one month. I will come to find you in a month."

"At that time, I will take you to the Inner City to meet the Si Family's young master for the transaction."

Li Che nodded and took the design.

…

…

After finishing his practice, Li Che returned to the workshop, tidied up, and left Xu's Wood Carving Shop.

He claimed he was going to buy some yellow wine and some preserved meat, but in reality, he planned to visit the marketplace in the Outer City to see if he could find a Sinew Opening Technique and an Internal Energy Technique, since Xu Beihu couldn't provide them.

Fortunately, the Sinew Opening Technique was just a Body Strengthening Technique, which, though rare, was not as difficult to obtain as the Divine Essence Technique.

After leaving the wood carving shop, he walked to a small alley, confirmed that no one was around, and activated [Dragon-Elephant Vajra]. His body grew taller and more robust. He took out a wooden mask, placed it on his face, wrapped himself in a cloak, and disappeared down the street.

Feilei City's marketplace was located in the western part of the Outer City, a place that wasn't too rundown, with rows of shacks and old buildings.

It looked quite dilapidated.

However, this was where the cultivators of Feilei City conducted their transactions. Most of the cultivators here were adventurers from outside the city, who hunted demons and monsters and explored the Strange Temples to obtain cultivation resources.

The cultivators would lay out a piece of cloth on the ground and set up a makeshift stall, displaying various strange items for sale.

Li Che walked through, his eyes darting around. This was his first time visiting, mainly because he hadn't started cultivating and was afraid of losing his life if he came here.

After browsing many small stalls, he finally stopped in front of a vendor who was also heavily wrapped up.

The similar demeanor gave Li Che a sense of security.

"Strange Temples have just produced some new items. Are you interested, sir?" the vendor asked, glancing at Li Che, who was completely covered.

"Strange Temples…" Li Che remained silent. The Strange Temples outside the city were extremely dangerous. It was rumored that the Spirit Child Sect's legacy came from the Strange Temples.

The turmoil in the vast Dajing was closely related to the Strange Temples that sprang up like mushrooms after the rain and the rampant evil creatures that escaped when the Strange Temples went out of control.

For martial cultivators, the Strange Temples, once suppressed, were places to explore for resources.

However, Li Che wasn't particularly interested in the Strange Temples at the moment. He had come to the marketplace only to find a Body Strengthening Technique.

"Do you have any Body Strengthening Techniques for sale?" Li Che altered his voice and asked in a hoarse tone.

"Body Strengthening Techniques?" The vendor, seated on the ground, raised his head in surprise.

"What level are you looking for, sir?"

"Sinew Opening," Li Che replied.

Sinew Opening?

The vendor's eyes flickered.

"I happen to have a mid-level Body Strengthening Technique that I obtained from a Strange Temple in the southern part of the city. It can be cultivated up to the Bone Tempering stage. Are you interested, sir?"

Li Che's robust frame exuded a strong sense of pressure, but the vendor wasn't intimidated. After all, what kind of strength could a person who needed to buy a Sinew Opening Technique have?

"I only need a Sinew Opening Technique," Li Che replied calmly.

The vendor didn't waste words and quickly pulled out an old blue-covered book from his pocket and handed it to Li Che.

After flipping through it and confirming it was indeed a mid-level Sinew Opening Technique, Li Che closed the book, feeling satisfied.

"If you have any Internal Energy Techniques, you can show them to me as well."

In reality, Li Che didn't hold much hope for finding an Internal Energy Technique. If it didn't work out, he could always go back and ask Old Chen, who had mentioned he could sell Internal Energy Techniques.

"Sir, you're joking. Internal Energy Techniques are mostly monopolized by the Noble Families. We small vendors can't afford the risk of selling them. If we're discovered, we won't be able to survive in Feilei City."

The vendor shook his head.

Li Che felt a bit disappointed but wasn't too concerned. "Then I'll just take the Sinew Opening Technique."

The vendor raised five fingers. "Five hundred taels!"

Li Che laughed, slowly stood up, and his robust body exuded a powerful aura, causing the air around him to become stagnant. The oppressive pressure was so intense that it felt like the sky was collapsing and the earth was cracking.

Did this person think he was a martial artist stuck at the peak of the Skin Tempering stage, in desperate need of a Sinew Opening Technique, and was trying to take advantage of him?

Well… he was right.

"One hundred taels, that's enough," Li Che said calmly. "I'm buying it as a gift for a younger generation. It's fine as long as it's good enough."

The vendor, sensing this aura, changed his expression slightly. As someone who dared to enter Strange Temples for gains, he had keen judgment.

This man's aura was as strong as a Bone Tempering martial artist, and he had clearly taken lives!

He was undoubtedly a ruthless killer!

A hand-copied mid-level Sinew Opening Technique, selling for one hundred taels, was still a good deal.

After all, he had several copies at home.

"Deal!"

The vendor immediately agreed.

Li Che threw down one hundred taels and took the Sinew Opening Technique, then left the marketplace.

The vendor quickly packed up his stall and left as well.

…

…

With the Sinew Opening Technique in hand, Li Che was in a good mood. He could start the Sinew Opening process tomorrow.

After leaving the marketplace, he found a secluded spot, removed his cloak, and hid it. Then, he leisurely went to buy some preserved meat and wine and a box of osmanthus pastries that Zhang Ya liked, before heading back to the wood carving shop.

The snow fell softly, covering the ground in a thick layer of white.

Li Che walked home, his footsteps crunching on the snow-covered cobblestones.

However, his steps gradually slowed as he noticed someone standing at the entrance of his courtyard.

With a faint smile, a sword slung across his back, stood the Magistrate's Chief Constable, Zhao Chuanxiong.

(End of Chapter)