Chapter 7: The Four-Armed Bodhisattva with a Child

It seems there's something valuable here!

This ancient text... might be of great help to the [Immortal Craft] Dao fruit!

Suppressing the excitement of the Dao fruit in his heart, Li Che took a deep breath. Although his emotions were stirred, he did not investigate further.

As the sound of the gong echoed, everyone in the woodcarving shop put down their tools, and the atmosphere became solemn.

The door to the courtyard was opened, and the wind and snow rushed in, with several figures crowding in.

The two leading figures were draped in fox fur and wore headbands, their eyes sharp and full of a powerful aura that seemed to captivate the soul at first glance.

These two figures had robust qi and blood, and the wind and snow did not touch them, not even a single snowflake clung to them as they walked through the storm.

These two were the second and third managers of the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop.

Usually, the outer city Xu Family Woodcarving Shop was managed by the third manager, Xu You. The first manager, Xu Helì, and the second manager, Xu Beihu, resided in the inner city. However, for today's assessment, the second manager, Xu Beihu, had come in person.

The Xu Family Woodcarving Shop was not weak in the inner city; it could even be called a powerful force. The main reason was these three managers, each of whom was a top-notch expert with considerable strength.

Once inside the shop, they removed their fox fur cloaks and sat on the armchairs, their gazes sweeping over the gathered apprentices.

"The woodcarving master assessment is held once a year, and we recruit three new masters each time. After becoming a woodcarving master, you will receive a fixed monthly salary of five taels, and after the sale of your finished woodcarvings, the shop will take 40%, and the rest will be yours."

"Of course, after becoming a woodcarving master, you will be evaluated annually. For each additional skill you master, the shop's share will decrease by 10%, and your monthly salary will increase."

The third manager, Xu You, sat calmly, his gaze sweeping over the apprentices. He had a fair complexion and a gentle demeanor.

In contrast, the second manager, Xu Beihu, lived up to his name, exuding a powerful aura. He sat upright, with a broad waist and shoulders, his qi and blood surging like a blazing furnace.

After the third manager finished speaking, the second manager, Xu Beihu, also spoke, his voice like a bell, causing a wave of energy to ripple through the room.

"Once you become a formal woodcarving master in our shop, you will have the right to practice martial arts and cultivate inner strength. To advance further in the art of woodcarving, inner strength is essential. The Xu Family Woodcarving Shop has been passed down for two hundred years in Feilei City, and without some martial prowess, we could not have maintained our business."

"Additionally, choosing to participate in the assessment means you are tacitly joining the Xu Family Woodcarving Shop. If you betray us, do not blame us for being ruthless."

"I, Xu Beihu, despise traitors!"

His rough voice echoed like a tiger's roar, shaking the hearts of every apprentice.

Li Che also felt a chill in his heart.

"Now, those who wish to continue with the assessment, please come forward to register and collect your wood for the assessment."

After the second manager, Xu Beihu, finished his stern warning, the third manager, Xu You, spoke in a gentle and soothing tone.

Many apprentices hurriedly and orderly went forward to register their names and collect their wood.

"Li Che, go ahead." Old Chen smiled, took a sip of wine, and said with a squint.

After bowing, Li Che also went to register.

"Li Che?" The third manager, Xu You, raised an eyebrow when he saw Li Che come to register, slightly surprised.

A few days ago, Li Che had come to seek him out, but he had not taken it seriously. After all, every year, some laborers envied the high income of woodcarving masters and sought opportunities to participate in the assessment, but most gave up after a few attempts at woodcarving.

It was quite rare for someone like Li Che to actually come and register for the assessment.

Was it a lack of self-awareness, or... did he have real talent?

"Turning from a laborer to a woodcarving master is not unprecedented. I hope you can surprise me. Do your best." Xu You, being a gentle person, encouraged him.

Li Che nodded, selected a piece of wood, and found a workbench to stand at.

Once all the participants had chosen their wood, the third manager, Xu You, stood with his hands behind his back, scanned the crowd, and said calmly, "The subject for this woodcarving assessment... the Four-Armed Bodhisattva with a Child."

After he finished speaking, the third manager lifted the red cloth covering the woodcarving on the table, revealing its true form.

A Four-Armed Bodhisattva with a child, standing on the table, with four arms extended in different poses. One hand was making a gesture, one held a jade bottle, one held a ruyi (a traditional Chinese scepter), and the last arm held a child with a topknot, who was laughing with his mouth open.

"Whoa—"

The sound of gasps came from the apprentices.

This year's subject... was so difficult?

Even the veteran masters watching from the sidelines showed signs of surprise.

In previous years, the subjects were usually ordinary Bodhisattva images, but this year, there was an additional child and the requirement of four arms.

Each additional arm made the overall composition, error rate, and carving technique much more challenging.

Difficult, difficult, difficult!

Old Chen smacked his lips: "Li Che's luck is really something... he's really unlucky. With this subject, there's no way to just get by."

Li Che stared at the Four-Armed Bodhisattva, but he felt a slight relief in his heart...

Not bad luck at all!

It was a type he had handled before!

He was set!

Old Chen had previously carved a "Nine Children Embracing the Lotus" and earned 150 taels, which Li Che had studied, learning how to carve children. Additionally, the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva image had provided Li Che with techniques for carving Bodhisattvas...

The only shortcoming was... the four arms.

But with the level 2 [Immortal Craft] Dao fruit, Li Che was confident he could carve it!

"Focus more on the essence and meaning."

Li Che pondered, making a plan for his assessment.

He didn't need to hide his skills, but the essence and meaning, such an intangible quality, could only be attributed to talent.

If a laborer were to display woodcarving skills on par with the veteran masters of the shop... it would be hard to explain.

"The assessment time is four hours. When the time is up, everyone must stop carving. Violators will be disqualified. Do you understand?"

The second manager, Xu Beihu, stood up and issued a stern warning, exuding a powerful presence.

All the apprentices, including Li Che, responded.

"The outer city Xu Family Woodcarving Master assessment begins now!"

Xu Beihu waved his hand, and a powerful energy surged through the shop.

Four hours to carve the "Four-Armed Bodhisattva with a Child" was a tight schedule, not very generous.

Therefore, the apprentices did not waste any time, holding their wood and starting to sketch with ink lines.

The wood had already been dried, saving some steps.

Li Che placed the wood on the workbench, touched it, and visualized the outer and inner contours in his mind. After a moment, he began to draw lines with a wolf-hair brush dipped in ink.

The workbench was equipped with axes, hammers, saws, and chisels for rough carving.

Rough carving involves simplifying the design into basic geometric shapes, capturing the overall composition, movement, proportions, and balance.

Rough carving is crucial and the most challenging part, testing one's talent.

After a moment, the apprentices who had finished drawing lines began to chisel and carve...

The [Immortal Craft] Dao fruit vibrated, and Li Che closed his eyes and then opened them, his entire demeanor seeming to undergo a dramatic transformation.

Old Chen, holding a wine gourd, was taken aback when Li Che picked up the carving knife and his demeanor changed, as if he were looking at... his younger self.

"This kid... his demeanor is quite something," Chen Dabao muttered.

However, as Li Che began to chisel and rough out the form, Chen Dabao squinted his eyes.

Wood chips and shavings fell, and the sharp blade cut into the wood, tearing apart the fibers and leaving marks.

The rough lines had already outlined the overall form of the rough carving.

Time passed like sand through the fingers, slipping away with the sound of the chisels.

The third manager, Xu You, walked slowly, inspecting the progress and skill of each apprentice at their workbenches.

Suddenly,

Xu You stopped, looking at Chen Dabao, who stood like a statue, slightly surprised.

Following Chen Dabao's gaze, he saw the courageous laborer, Li Che.

"Watching so intently?"

Xu You's curiosity was piqued. For Chen Dabao, a seasoned four-skill master, to be so captivated...

Could this laborer really have something special?

Xu You walked slowly, approaching Li Che, his eyes lowered, focusing on Li Che's face as he carved with intense concentration, then shifting his gaze to the woodcarving on the workbench...

(End of Chapter)