Li Che quietly held the wine cup, savoring the warmth of the old Huang wine.
The rich aroma and bitter taste filled his mouth, but his thoughts had already drifted to the majestic Dao Tree rising from the vast earth.
His daughter was one year old, and the Dao Tree bore fruit.
A Raw Dao Fruit: [Dragon Elephant Vajra]!
This was the second Dao Fruit Li Che had obtained. The first Dao Fruit was [Immortal Artisan], which enhanced his wood carving talent, providing him with the means to establish himself in this world.
It also allowed him to become the wood carver at Xu's Wood Carving Shop, reside in Xu's Courtyard, and ensure that his daughter, Li Nuanxi, could grow up safely to her first birthday.
Li Che had long understood the importance of Dao Fruits.
Thus, he eagerly anticipated the second Dao Fruit, and now, it had finally borne fruit!
[Dragon Elephant Vajra (Dao Fruit): Flesh Dragon Elephant, Vajra Indestructible, Unrivaled Refinement]
Before his eyes, insights into the Dao Fruit [Dragon Elephant Vajra] surged forth like a tidal wave.
In an instant, Li Che felt the Qi and blood inside him boiling and surging. Deep within, his blood and flesh seemed to undergo an earth-shattering transformation.
If he wished, he could actively stimulate the Dao Fruit and trigger a transformation of his physical body.
However, Old Chen was by his side at the moment, so Li Che restrained himself and didn't explore the special abilities of Dragon Elephant Vajra.
Flesh Dragon Elephant, Vajra Indestructible, Unrivaled Refinement!
*Li Che's heart was stirred, his spirits soaring, as he drained the cup of Huang wine in one gulp.*
This was a Dao Fruit capable of elevating his martial path!
It was also the Dao Fruit Li Che desperately needed at the moment.
*This Dao Fruit not only confirmed the truth of a Dao Fruit appearing each year as his daughter grew, but it also made Li Che realize that he must do everything in his power to protect his daughter and ensure her safe growth.*
*Perhaps, he thought, his daughter could attain… immortality.*
*Li Che's heart skipped a beat. If his daughter truly achieved immortality, with a Dao Fruit every year… What heights could he himself reach, gaining Dao Fruits in abundance?*
"Hey, when did you become so bold with your drinking?" Old Chen shot him an odd look, his emotions stirred by Li Che's bravado as he drained his cup.
Li Che smiled lightly, his gaze soft as it landed on Xi Xi, who was toddling along with her walker. "Before I knew it, the little girl is already a year old..."
Old Chen chuckled upon hearing this, his indulgent gaze returning to Xi Xi.
"Yeah, she used to be so tiny. Now she's grown a bit."
"I never had descendants, no children of my own… but this Little Stinky Xi, she sure has a way of touching my heart," Old Chen said fondly.
Old Chen also drained his cup of wine, his mood lifted as all gloom was swept away.
From this day forward, Xi Xi would be like his own granddaughter!
Understanding the sentiment behind Old Chen's words, Li Che poured him another cup of wine, and the two clinked their cups and drank deeply.
...
...
The training yard.
Snowflakes cascaded thick and fast.
Several figures were training enthusiastically in the yard, their vigorous Qi and blood dispersing the falling snow.
Li Che changed into training clothes and approached the training yard.
From the distance, two figures noticed Li Che and immediately stopped their actions, exhaling clouds of warm breath.
Zhao Xuan, tall and slender, with jet-black hair tied up neatly, said with a smile, "Master Chen, you're here, huh?"
"Isn't today Xi Xi's first-year banquet?"
The other trainee, Wang Zhengpin, also grinned, saying, "I was just about to finish training and head to the banquet with Zhao Xuan."
"Hahaha, everyone should come. It's Xi Xi's first birthday celebration, and you, as her uncle and aunt, definitely can't be without gifts," Li Che laughed heartily.
"The banquet is set at Spring Breeze Building in the Outer City. They've sent chefs and staff to handle everything, so I don't have much to do, and Xi Xi has been taken by Old Chen. With nothing else going on, I came here to train," Li Che explained.
Wang Zhengping pursed his lips at this. "A feast at Spring Breeze Building, huh? Looks like we'll be eating well tonight."
After a few casual exchanges, the three returned to training.
The Second Shopkeeper, Xu Beihu, had mentioned before that if the three of them wanted to achieve Skin Refinement Perfection, they'd need to work diligently for two years. Slacking off could extend that timeframe even more.
Thus, none of them dared show the slightest laziness.
Li Che, being older than Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengpin by several years, was now twenty years old, while the other two were in their mid-teens. If he didn't work hard, the advancing age and declining Qi and blood would make progress on the martial path even harder.
Xu Beihu often said that Body Refinement is all about diligence—it's a race against time.
This past year, Li Che's life had been busy and fulfilling. Mornings were spent training, afternoons carving wood, and evenings experimenting with mechanisms.
Despite his full schedule, Skin Refinement training hadn't been neglected, and he had now achieved Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refinement.
His progress had even surpassed Zhao Xuan and Wang Zhengpin.
Although Xu Beihu claimed talent mattered little in Body Refinement, there was still a trace of difference.
Now, as Li Che entered the training yard, it was to test out the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.
Grasping a stone lock, his Qi and blood surged violently. The boiling essence coursed through his blood and flesh, pounding against his skin membrane, which instantly flushed a bright crimson, emanating waves of heat.
At the same time—
The [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit, stimulated by the surging Qi and blood, seemed to fully activate, vibrating with life!
Before his eyes, prompts suddenly appeared.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Level 1, 1%)]
*A flicker of joy surfaced in his pupils as an invisible force spread across his body, pounding against his skin membrane, as if undergoing thousands of simulated strikes in an instant, rapidly accelerating the progress of his Skin Refinement.*
*Originally at Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refinement, Li Che now felt his body's power soar. His skin membrane grew incredibly resilient, even faintly glowing, and with the Dao Fruit's activation, he leaped directly to Perfection in Skin Refinement!*
*Unlike the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit, the maturation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit required only diligent practice.*
*In simpler terms, it could be "grinded out"!*
*Li Che was overjoyed, and with a single thought, the faint glow covering him receded, his powerful aura fully concealed.*
*It was as if he had vanished from the world entirely.*
"To control it at will—what a perfect Dao Fruit for ambushes!"
The Qi and blood were completely contained, leaving nothing exposed.
"Now, I don't have to worry about my rapid progress in cultivation drawing suspicion. My constitution was assessed by Xu Beihu. If I advance too quickly, I'll definitely provoke scrutiny, or worse, invite death."
"In such chaotic times, Xu Ji's ability to remain stable in Fei Lei City for two centuries surely comes from ruthless methods..."
"So, vigilance is imperative."
*Li Che reflected for a moment, then exhaled lightly.*
He continued training diligently on the Skin Refinement Cultivation Method for half the day.
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Level 1, 2%)]
The Dao Fruit's maturation level had increased by 1%!
*This brought an even broader smile to Li Che's face. Taking advantage of no one noticing him, he once again unleashed the power contained within the Dao Fruit.*
Instantly, his Qi and blood surged to new heights, achieving Skin Refinement Perfection. His skin membrane glimmered with faint golden light, his temple pulsated, and formidable strength coursed through his fists and palms.
*Feeling the surge from a 1% increase in maturation, Li Che's expression brimmed with joy. This meant he was already qualified to break into the Muscle Channeling Stage!*
*It was time to begin training in the Internal Strength Technique!*
*Moreover, the [Dragon Elephant Vajra] Dao Fruit possessed a special ability to unleash the Power of the Dragon Elephant. Unfortunately, with many people around at the training yard, Li Che found it inconvenient to activate it.*
*But he could imagine the immense strength the Power of the Dragon Elephant would bring.*
*Reabsorbing the Qi and blood back into the Dao Fruit,*
Li Che tilted his head upward, snowflakes drifting gently onto his cheeks.
The corners of his lips curled upward.
*In terms of personal martial strength…*
*The future now held boundless promise.*
*A future where he could someday kill the Spirit Infant Master!*