Third Shopkeeper Xu You squinted his eyes, a hint of astonishment flashing across his gentle gaze.
He looked at the roughly shaped "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue," currently having its lines sketched out. Although it was just a rough model with crude lines, the overall piece already exuded a unique aesthetic beauty.
*This was... the taste of artistic intent!*
*Expression, posture, aura—they were already vividly palpable!*
It was as if there truly was a Four-Armed Bodhisattva, benevolent and compassionate, holding a child in one arm, eyelids lowered, one hand clasping the rebirth mantra, another holding the Pure Jade Vase, and yet another holding the Jade Ruyi...
*Could this truly be carved by a porter?*
Xu You nodded slightly. As the Third Shopkeeper of the wood carving shop, he had handled countless carvings. He possessed a keen appreciation for the styles and techniques of veteran wood carvers.
Within Li Che's Four-Armed Bodhisattva statue, there were many elements resembling the style and craftsmanship of the Four-Knife Wood Carver Chen Dabao!
*Such an incredible talent...*!
Li Che had not spent silver to learn wood carving at the shop, and it was evident that Chen Dabao wouldn't have kindly imparted his skills.
*Which meant everything Li Che learned was self-taught!*
During the day, he had to transport lumber and finished carvings for the shop, leaving only his evenings to practice carving. Despite carving only at night, he had somehow achieved such prowess!
"The line carving and processing still have minor flaws, but what's truly admirable is... the artistic intent! The Four-Armed Bodhisattva carved by Little Li is so richly infused with spirit that it feels almost alive. That's a naturally gifted talent!"
Chen Dabao smacked his lips in astonishment, snapping out of his thoughts upon noticing Third Shopkeeper Xu You's presence.
"Indeed, the essence of wood carving lies in its spirit. Without spirit, no matter how refined the technique or skill, it's nothing but a worthless hunk of wood," Xu You responded with an approving nod.
"A promising talent. Li Che's methods aren't bad either. Though lacking the seasoned touch of veteran artisans, he far surpasses the apprentices by a large margin..."
"It seems our Xu Ji is about to nurture a prodigy." Xu You's lips curled in a radiant smile.
"Our Xu's Wood Carving Shop holds an esteemed position in Fei Lei City for good reason. Beyond the backing of the Xu Family, the greatest factor is the spirit imbued in Xu Ji's carvings—the ability to offer the city's pupils a means to refine and extract divinity."
"Someone with such an innate gift for capturing spirit in their carvings—our Xu Ji must seize the opportunity to mentor and cultivate them to their fullest potential!"
Xu You clasped his hands behind his back and quietly observed Li Che's carving for a while.
From the way his knife descended to the deepening layers of artistic spirit accompanying the carving's progress, he confirmed that it was indeed Li Che's handiwork.
Li Che, too, sensed Xu You's arrival and overheard his evaluation of him.
*His heart couldn't help but skip a beat. Despite having restrained his carving technique, it still seemed to outshine the apprentices, making him stand out conspicuously…*
*This was his first time trying to blend in, but clearly, he lacked experience.*
*Still, judging by the Third Shopkeeper's reaction, his ascension to becoming a wood carver seemed practically assured!*
Four hours slipped by quietly amidst the rasping sound of the knife tearing through the wood.
DONG—
A piercing clang erupted, loud as a broken copper gong!
Seated on the Taishi Chair, drinking tea, the Second Shopkeeper Xu Beihu abruptly stood, his towering frame radiating an overwhelming wave of Qi-blood that swept across the room like a tidal wave.
"Time's up! Everyone, stop what you're doing!"
"The assessment is over!"
"If I see anyone still working with their knife, your chances are forfeited, and your results voided!"
His domineering voice, rough yet commanding, reverberated through the space.
Every wood carving apprentice hastily ceased their actions, some trembling with fear as they stole glances at Xu Beihu, whose tiger-like gaze swept across the room, silencing them into submission.
Li Che also laid down his grinding tool, halting his work on the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva Holding Child Statue," exhaling deeply. *A pang of regret tugged at his heart. If only he'd had a little more time… he could've completed the polishing, fully transforming the statue into a finished product.*
The Third and Second Shopkeepers, accompanied by several veteran craftsmen, began evaluating the apprentices' wood carvings.
The evaluations were fair and not overly harsh unless encountering remarkably poor work—like a carving that remained a crude form without even resembling its intended shape after four hours. In such cases, an occasional scolding followed.
Following the group, Chen Dabao narrowed his eyes. Upon reaching Li Che's workstation, he saw the Four-Armed Bodhisattva standing distinct amidst the wood shavings—a carving polished enough to resemble the shape of a finished product.
Several veteran craftsmen couldn't help but marvel aloud.
"Quite rare—a porter with such knife skills and craftsmanship!"
"The apprentices under me? Bah, might as well say their learning went to the dogs!"
"A promising talent, though it's a shame he hasn't undergone formal training. Starting late, he's missed some foundational time. But judging by this carving's spirit… I could believe it was crafted by a Three-Knife Master!"
...
The shower of praises continued unabated.
Xu You gazed at Li Che with gentle approval, an unusual glint in his eye. He nodded slightly. "Not bad."
Li Che cupped his hands respectfully, his expression calm, remaining composed amidst the accolades.
The group continued their review, and after a short while, they finished evaluating all the works.
"Li Che, Zhao Xuan, Wang Zhengpin—your wood carvings have stood out in this assessment. You are hereby granted the title One-Cut Wood Carver, with a monthly salary of five taels and a sixty-percent commission on sales."
As Xu You recited the three names, the shop burst into commotion.
When the final results were announced, many apprentices felt solemn disappointment; some seemed lost, while others shed tears…
*Years of diligent study had ultimately failed to yield success, and some were even overtaken by a mere porter. The blow to their pride was evident.*
*A small shop, yet it unveiled a kaleidoscope of human nature.*
"You three, follow me," Xu You and Xu Beihu donned their fox-fur cloaks, casting a glance at the three selected candidates.
Li Che and the two other apprentices hurriedly followed them into the swirling snow, heading deeper into the courtyard.
Passing through a long corridor, they entered a spacious main yard paved flat like a training ground. It held an array of martial arts tools—all crusted with white snow—including stone blocks and training stakes.
"This area is the martial training zone of Xu's Wood Carving Shop's Outer City branch. Becoming a wood carver means you're considered one of us. From now on, you may use your One-Cut Wood Carver identity—symbolized by the jade talisman knife—to enter this area for martial arts training, honing your Inner Strength to prepare for becoming higher-tier wood carvers."
Standing amidst the falling snow, Xu You distributed three jade knives to the trio, then clasped his hands behind his back, leaving the speaking to Second Shopkeeper Xu Beihu.
"I will oversee your martial arts training personally. Each month, I'll set aside two days to visit the Outer City. If you have any martial arts-related questions, come to me directly."
Xu Beihu's voice rang out like a bell, his abundant Qi-blood radiating powerfully. Standing mid-blizzard, not a single snowflake dared land on him.
The trio hurriedly replied in unison.
"Now, let me explain the Martial Path to you..."
"Martial arts cultivation is divided into three techniques: the Body Refinement Technique, the Internal Strength Technique, and... the Divine Method."
"You won't have the chance to encounter the Divine Method—it's not within your reach. The Body Refinement Technique is accessible to everyone, whereas the Internal Strength Technique relies more on talent and requires time to accumulate."
"Today, I'll teach you the Body Refinement Technique. As for the Internal Strength Technique, you'll have to progress to the skin-grinding level in Body Refinement before I pass it on to you."
Xu Beihu spoke coolly, then began detailing the Body Refinement Method, which essentially involved arduous training, utilizing external tools to temper the body. The training equipment in the yard served this exact purpose.
"The Body Refinement Method involves Skin Refinement, Sinew Transforming, Bone Tempering, and Blood Exchange. If you manage to circulate Inner Qi and achieve 'blood like mercury,' you'll be considered a formidable expert. Beyond Blood Exchange, the next level—Channel Opening—is exceedingly rare, even in an entire city."
"Starting from skin-grinding, you'll get a bowl of 'boiling skin powder' every half month. If it's insufficient, you'll need to purchase extra with your own money. One bowl costs one tael of silver and can accelerate your Body Refinement progress."
...
Xu Beihu taught with great seriousness; Li Che listened attentively as well.
*This was his first time encountering martial arts in this world. Naturally, he dared not let his guard down. The looming threat of Spirit Infant Master hovered like a blade above his head, ensuring he stayed vigilant.*
*Cultivating martial arts would increase his ability to counter Spirit Infant Master, giving him no room for negligence.*
When the sky was completely dark, Xu Beihu concluded the day's lesson.
Tomorrow, he would remain in the Outer City for another day to teach martial arts.
"Disperse now. Make sure to thoroughly absorb the Martial Path knowledge I've imparted today. Tomorrow, we begin skin-grinding training in earnest," Xu Beihu said gravely, waving his hand before turning to leave.
However, Li Che did not depart immediately. Instead, he approached Third Shopkeeper Xu You to inquire about the matter of relocating.
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