Chapter 63: Thousand Buddhas Feast, [Chess Master] Watching Chess

Xixi’s birthday had just passed and the weather was getting colder.

The wintersweets stand proudly in the cold winter, stained with pure white snowflakes. The bluestone pavement of the long street in the inner city is covered with thick snow, so white that it is dazzling.

Li Che bid farewell to Xu You, who led a team out of the city to eliminate evil spirits, and returned to his own courtyard located in Qingfeng Lane.

Old Chen sat on a rattan chair, drinking old wine under the eaves, staring at the dry old tree in the yard, in a daze.

"Old Chen, what are you thinking about?" After Li Che came back, he shook off the snow on the oil-paper umbrella and asked curiously.

Old Chen regained his focus and shook his head: "When people get old, they tend to be dazed..."

"After a while, the Divine Sect will send people to Feilei City to select spiritual children... If Xixi is safe and sound during this period, she will probably be selected to join the Divine Sect..."

"Old Chen, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to see Xixi in the future."

Old Chen sighed, picked up the wine gourd, and took a few sips.

After spending so much time with his children, if he suddenly has to be separated from them for a long time, Lao Chen will really feel suffocated in his heart, with endless loneliness and worries eroding him.

Worried about dying in the future...can't bear to see children.

"Then why don't you come with us to Shenzong to practice with Xixi?"

Li Che said softly.

Old Chen rolled his eyes and looked at Li Che as if he was a fool: "Ah Che...you are still too young."

"The Divine Sect is recruiting disciples, and only family members are allowed to accompany. Xixi has entered the sect to practice, so how can I be qualified to go with her?" Old Chen shook his head. After all, he was in his forties and knew some inside stories of the Divine Sect.

Hearing this, Li Che couldn't help but chuckle: "Don't worry...Xixi won't abandon you."

"It's just to go to the Divine Sect, no problem..."

Old Chen shook his head. How could the rules of a giant like the Divine Sect be easily changed for you? Li Che chatted with Old Chen for a few more words, and then planned to go to the independent workshop to practice.

However, before he went out, he heard rustling footsteps outside the yard.

Li Che looked up and saw the wind and snow being torn apart.

Two figures wearing crane cloaks came over on the soft snow and knocked gently on the wide-open gate.

"Master Li, are you here?"

The people who came were none other than Xu Heli and Xu Beihu.

"Congratulations to Master Li on being promoted to the master of wood carving in 'Shidu'. This is a cause for celebration and a great honor for our Xu family." Xu Heli had a gentle smile on his face and a divine sword on his waist.

He looked at Li Che with a bit of surprise and burning eyes.

Xu Heli had never imagined that a peasant who had worked hard in the outer city could become a master of wood carving.

"It's just luck." Li Che responded with a fist.

It was obvious that Xu Ji did not value this wood carving master as much as imagined, otherwise the person who came would not be Xu Heli, but the head of the family, Xu Nanming.

A master of wood carving, isn't worthy of the head of the family's personal attention?

Chen Dabao, who was calm and composed, was so surprised when he heard that Li Che had become a master of wood carving that he jumped up from his rattan chair with his jaw dropped.

What the hell, how come he didn't know about the woodcarving he taught Li Che? No trust, right? Old Chen stared at Li Che in doubt.

But he was an old hand after all, so he calmed down quickly and kept many things in his heart without asking.

Xu Beihu beside Xu Heli also had a complicated expression and had not yet digested the shock in his heart.

"A woodcarving master relies on real skills and craftsmanship. How can luck alone make him successful?"

"Master Li, please don't be modest. I heard that Master Li carved a statue of 'Three Immortals Riding Oxen and Asking for Swords' for me yesterday? I wonder... can He Li ask Master Li for a divine wooden sculpture?"

Xu Heli clasped his fists and said.

"Five hundred gold leaves. I'll provide the shape and the spiritual wood. Although Master Li is the woodcarver of Xuji, according to the rules of woodcarving masters, Xuji will not take a commission..."

Five hundred gold coins for a wooden sculpture.

It really can be called a sky-high price.

But for the divine monks, a divine wood sculpture can help them alleviate their ascetic training for months, which is naturally worth it.

After all, if you want to build a divine foundation and practice... you have to race against time.

Li Che looked at Xu Heli in surprise. He came directly to ask for divine wood carving? Xu Ji's attitude and reaction after knowing that he had become a wood carving master were really...somewhat beyond Li Che's expectations.

Chen Dabao on the side also frowned.

Li Che thought about it carefully. The [Chess Saint] Dao Fruit has greatly improved and helped his reasoning and thinking abilities.

He soon figured out the reason.

"Boss, I have just become a master of wood carving. I spent a lot of time and energy carving that statue for Xu You, so I will not accept orders for the time being..." Li Che shook his head and rejected the deal.

It’s not that he was unwilling to earn these 500 gold leaves.

Instead, in the next few days, he planned to formally strive for the Tongmai Realm so that he could be more confident in the art of Qi and blood martial arts.

Li Qingshan said he would take him to the strange temple. Li Che took it very seriously, but was also very cautious. The stronger he was, the safer he would be.

The smile on Xu Heli's face gradually faded. He never expected that Li Che would actually refuse, although the reason was reasonable.

But he still felt a little uncomfortable.

"Then I'm sorry to bother you, Master Li. I'll come back another day to ask for the statue..." Xu Heli suppressed his emotions and bowed with his fists.

After Li Che returned the gift, the two brothers Xu Heli and Xu Beihu turned around and left.

Old Chen looked at the two men as they left, frowning, "Ah Che, you should actually take this order."

"It seems that something big is going to happen in Feilei City, so Xu Ji's attitude towards the woodcarving master has changed a little. They are worried that after investing resources, you will just walk away... But if you accept the order, at least Xu Ji's attitude will be more relaxed."

Li Che opened his oil-paper umbrella and smiled: "It's okay."

"Old Chen... I now have the confidence to refuse the order."

After saying this, he stepped into the snow with an umbrella.

Chen Dabao looked at Li Che in shock, feeling a little dazed for a moment.

He was unable to reconcile the calm and confident young man in front of him with the nervous and timid figure who had sought his help at Xu's Woodcarving Shop in the outer city.

Can time bring such great changes to people?

…

…

In the luxurious carriage, water is boiling.

The air was filled with steam inside the carriage.

Xu Heli had an expressionless face as he leaned back in a soft chair, watching the falling snow outside the car window.

"I was wrong... I never thought that a peasant like me could become a master woodcarver one day..."

"The fish has leapt over the dragon's gate, bringing about earth-shaking changes."

Xu Beihu poured Xu Heli a cup of tea and said generously.

"This is talent... To be able to give birth to a top-grade spirit child like Li Nuanxi, one's own talent must be extraordinary."

There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!

"What a pity..." Xu Heli shook his head.

Thinking of what the old man had said to him, Xu Heli lowered his eyes slightly, and a hint of hostility flashed across his eyes.

You carved wood carvings for Lao San for free, and you refused to accept my order even though I spent 500 gold leaves...

What a great honor!

Shame on you...

Slowly closing his eyes, Xu Heli said to Xu Beihu, "Go to the City Lord's Mansion, find Zhao Xuanhai, and tell him about Li Che becoming a woodcarving master. Didn't he always want Li Che to carve woodcarvings?"

"It just happened to be what he wanted."

Upon hearing this, Xu Beihu stopped pouring tea.

The boiling hot tea poured out.

…

…

The sky gradually darkened and snow fell all over the sky.

Snowflakes like goose feathers are scattered all over the world, bringing a chill.

There are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the long street.

Although the inner city is more prosperous than the outer city, the population is much smaller, so once it gets dark, there are basically few pedestrians to be seen.

Zhao Xuanhai wore a bamboo hat, with one hand tucked into his chest. His burly figure looked like a bear walking on the earth, but the ground was covered with snow, and as he walked, no footprints were left.

"This Li Che...actually became a master of wood carving. Interesting."

"What a genius! The city lord will definitely like him. If the city lord can get a woodcarving master for his 'Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet', it will surely be a success."

Most wood carving masters have been tied to aristocratic families for many years and are difficult to move.

A wild and emerging master of wood carving, that would be so delicious.

"The Xu family was also straightforward. Knowing that they could not stop the city lord's 'Thousand Buddha Carving Banquet', they directly chose to sell this new wood carving master."

"As expected of a businessman, he is cold-blooded and only pursues profit."

Looking up at the independent workshop in the alley, the Xu family directly revealed the location of the workshop to him.

"Li Che, Li Che..."

"I spent money to invite you to drink a toast, but you refused. Now...just drink the penalty wine."

Zhao Xuanhai took a step forward, took out an angry boy mask from his arms, and covered his face with it.

The sky is full of snow.

They all seemed to be stuck in a stagnation, as if being burned and melted by flames.

…

…

In an independent workshop.

Li Che sat quietly while Feixue swayed.

But when it was about to fall on his hair, it was twisted and torn apart by an invisible force.

In front of him, Li Che made a chessboard out of nanmu wood, with vertical and horizontal lines arranged on it, but there was not a single chess piece on the board, it was empty.

The palm of your hand gently strokes the chessboard.

In an instant.

In the chest cavity.

Daoguo [Chess Saint] trembled violently.

The spirit was elevated in an instant, and the lines of divinity boiling and interweaving between heaven and earth formed an invisible chessboard.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes.

He saw...

At the entrance of the alley, Zhao Xuanhai slowly took out an angry child mask and covered his face with it...

I saw him walking step by step towards the workshop in the alley.

Like a black chess piece on a chessboard.

Can't wait...

Towards a death.

ps: Bad news, it is off the new book list, and it is more challenging to rush to Sanjiang. Good news, our backstage fake follow-up reading has exceeded 3,000. If it can be maintained, the hope is a little bit bigger, so Lao Li continues to ask for follow-up reading! Tomorrow, Monday, is the day to rush to Sanjiang, everyone support it! Lao Li is kneeling to thank you!

(End of this chapter)