Heaven's Tears: Subjugation of Demons Divine Art

"The Weeping Guanyin subduing Nine-Headed Demon Statue" Xu Beihu spoke solemnly. As his words fell, the howling wind and the harsh bite of the snow outside seemed to vanish entirely.

The Weeping Guanyin subduing Nine-Headed Demon Statue?!

Li Che's expression shifted slightly. Over the past year, he had grown far beyond the naive youth who had only known how to transport lumber. Through relentless practice and keen observation, he had gained considerable insight into the art of woodcarving.

The sprawling Flying Thunder City was divided into two distinct regions: the inner city and the outer city. The inner city was a dreamlike sanctuary of prosperity, home to the noble families who had resided there for countless generations. It radiated opulence, with its streets paved in gold and its air thick with the aura of ancient cultivation.

These aristocratic families possessed unique cultivation methods. Each family also maintained its own woodcarving workshop, diligently recruiting and training craftsmen. The reason was simple yet profound: the wooden carvings produced by these workshops, when imbued with sufficient spiritual intent, greatly enhanced the effectiveness of divine cultivation techniques. Practitioners could extract divine essence from the carvings, accelerating their training and deepening their connection to their cultivation paths.

This made woodcarvings immensely valuable. In the prestigious workshops of the inner city, master woodcarvers presided like sages, creating pieces that brimmed with spiritual intent. These masterpieces were extraordinary treasures, each commanding hundreds or even thousands of gold coins.

Li Che had learned much about these matters from Old Chen over the past year. The old craftsman, though weathered and gruff, had shared insights that illuminated the mysterious world of woodcarving.

Becoming a master woodcarver was no simple feat. To achieve such an exalted status, one had to craft carvings that exuded a profound aura—a resonance so intense it felt almost alive. Li Che, despite his limited experience, had made rapid progress. His "Immortal Craft" Dao Fruit had reached Level 2, allowing his works to exhibit significant crafting intent. Yet, he remained a step away from true mastery. Perhaps reaching Level 3 would enable him to cross that threshold.

Xu Beihu, a burly man with a voice as deep as rolling thunder, looked intently at Li Che. "The design for the statue will be provided by the Si family. Your task is to focus solely on the carving."

Li Che listened attentively, noting the seriousness in Xu Beihu's tone.

"This is a rare opportunity," Xu Beihu continued, "granted because of the reputation you've built with your recent works. Your carvings are known for their rich resonance, which is why the Si family has entrusted you with this task."

He softened his tone slightly, adding, "Don't stress yourself too much. Even if the carving fails or doesn't meet expectations, it's not the end of the world. After all, you've only been a woodcarver for a year—there's plenty of room for growth. Consider this a valuable practice."

Xu Beihu's words, though encouraging, carried a weight of expectation. A job worth five golden leaves was not an opportunity to be taken lightly.

"I'll give it my best," Li Che replied, bowing with his hands clasped in respect.

Satisfied, Xu Beihu nodded. He patted Li Che on the shoulder and said, "The young master of the Si family intends to use your carving to aid in cultivating their divine technique. The Si family's technique is called Heaven's Tears: Subjugation of Demons Divine Art. If you succeed, your future will be secure, and you might even have a chance to reach the level of a master."

Divine Art... Li Che repeated the name silently, his mind racing. He recalled Old Chen's teachings about the nature of divine cultivation.

In the world of cultivation, techniques were categorized into three main types: those for the body, those for inner energy, and those for divine nature. Among these, divine techniques were the most enigmatic and coveted. Inner energy techniques were immensely valuable, while physical techniques were comparatively more common.

Divine techniques, however, were the guarded secrets of the inner city's noble families, completely inaccessible to outsiders.

Xu Beihu's expression turned contemplative. "Divine techniques are generally divided into seven paths: joy, anger, worry, thought, sorrow, fear, and shock. Heaven's Tears: Subjugation of Demons divine Art falls under the path of sorrow. The way of divine nature is incredibly profound, but it requires the slow and arduous accumulation of divine essence, making it one of the most challenging paths to master."

He paused, then added meaningfully, "Your talent in woodcarving is exceptional. If you can one day become a master woodcarver, you might have the opportunity to obtain the Xu family's divine technique. So... don't slack off."

Li Che's heart surged with a mix of gratitude and determination. He bowed deeply, his voice steady. "I will not let you down."

Pleased with the response, Xu Beihu reached into his sleeve and retrieved a folded piece of paper. "This is the design for the The Weeping Guanyin subduing Nine-Headed Demon Statue. You have one month to complete it. I will come for it then. At that time, I'll take you into the inner city to meet the Si family's young master."

Li Che carefully accepted the design, treating it as though it were a sacred relic.

After finishing his practice for the day, Li Che returned to his modest workshop. He tidied up briefly, then left the Xu family's woodcarving shop. Ostensibly, he was heading out to buy some yellow wine and braised meat, but in truth, his destination was the bustling market of the outer city.

Since Xu Beihu wouldn't provide him with techniques for inner energy or physical cultivation, Li Che had resolved to seek them out himself. Fortunately, while rare, techniques for physical cultivation—like the tendon-muscle strengthening techniques—were not as difficult to acquire as divine techniques.

Leaving the shop, he slipped into a narrow alley. After confirming that no one was watching, he activated his Dragon Elephant Vajra, a technique that transformed his physique. His body grew taller and more muscular, radiating strength. He then donned a wooden mask and wrapped himself in a heavy cloak, blending into the shadows before disappearing into the bustling streets.

The market in Flying Thunder City was located in the western part of the outer city, an area that bore the weight of time. Though not entirely decrepit, its age showed in the sagging rooftops and cracked walls of its buildings. This was a place where the vibrant hum of trade mingled with the whispers of danger.

Despite its worn appearance, the market thrived as a hub for cultivators. Most who frequented it were adventurers from beyond the city's walls. They hunted monsters in the wilderness, plundered ancient temples, and risked their lives to obtain cultivation resources. For them, the market was a lifeline, a place where fortunes were made and destinies were forged.

Cultivators would spread a piece of tattered cloth on the ground, which would serve as their stall. Strange and fascinating items of all kinds would be displayed, and trading would commence right there amidst the bustling marketplace.

As Li Che wandered through the crowded lanes, his sharp gaze darted from stall to stall. It was his first time visiting such a place. Before he had started cultivating, he hadn't dared to come; lacking strength, he had feared losing his life unnecessarily. Now, however, he walked with purpose, his towering frame moving like a shadow through the throng.

After browsing through countless small stalls, he finally stopped in front of one particular vendor. This seller was wrapped tightly in layers of clothing, much like Li Che himself. The similarity in their appearances gave Li Che a faint sense of safety.

"Curios from a strange temple. Are you interested?" the vendor rasped in a hoarse voice, his eyes scanning Li Che's covered figure.

"Strange temple…" Li Che repeated under his breath, his expression remaining unreadable. He knew well the dangers associated with those places. Strange temples outside the city were incredibly perilous. Rumor had it that the infamous Spirit Infant Cult had originated from one such temple. The precarious state of the kingdom was closely tied to these strange temples, which had been appearing like mushrooms after a rainstorm. When the temples spiraled out of control, horrific creatures escaped from them, wreaking havoc across the land.

For martial cultivators, however, a subdued strange temple was a treasure trove of resources. Yet, Li Che had no interest in strange temples for now. He had come to this marketplace with a singular goal: to obtain a body cultivation technique.

"Do you have any body cultivation techniques for sale?" Li Che altered his voice to sound hoarse, masking his true tone.

The vendor raised an eyebrow and asked, "Body cultivation techniques? What level do you need?"

"tendon-muscle strengthening" Li Che replied flatly.

The vendor's eyes flickered with interest. "I happen to have a mid-level body cultivation technique retrieved from a strange temple in the southern part of the city. It can be cultivated up to the Bone Tempering stage. Are you interested?"

Li Che's imposing figure exuded a quiet pressure, but the vendor remained composed. He surmised that this man before him was likely a martial artist stuck at the peak of the Skin tempering stage, desperate for a tendon-muscle strengthening technique. In the vendor's eyes, such desperation made him an easy target to exploit.

"I only need a tendon-muscle strengthening technique," Li Che said evenly, his voice giving nothing away.

Without further probing, the vendor reached into his robes and pulled out an old, blue-covered book. The weathered tome bore faint traces of age and use. With practiced ease, the vendor handed it to Li Che, who flipped through it carefully.

After confirming it was indeed a mid-level tendon-muscle strengthening technique, Li Che closed the book with a faint nod of satisfaction. "If you have any inner energy techniques, you can show me those as well," he added, though his tone suggested he didn't hold much hope.

The vendor chuckled dryly. "You must be joking. Inner energy techniques are monopolized by the noble families. Small vendors like us wouldn't dare sell them. If we were caught, we wouldn't survive in Flying Thunder City."

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, but he gave no response to the vendor's words. He'd half-expected as much. If he couldn't find one here, he could always turn to Old Chen, who had once promised to sell him an internal energy technique if needed.

"Then I'll take this tendon-muscle strengthening technique," Li Che said at last.

The vendor raised a hand, showing five fingers. "Five hundred silver taels!"

Li Che's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as he slowly stood up. His towering frame loomed like a mountain, and the air around him grew heavy with an oppressive aura. It was as though the heavens themselves were bearing down. This vendor thought he was just a desperate martial artist to be fleeced?

Well… he wasn't entirely wrong.

"One hundred taels," Li Che said calmly. "It's just a gift for a junior. No need for anything extravagant."

The vendor's expression shifted as he felt the suffocating pressure emanating from Li Che. His instincts, honed from countless ventures into strange temples, screamed that the man before him was no ordinary customer. The vitality radiating from Li Che rivaled that of a Bone Tempering martial artist—a level far beyond what the vendor had anticipated. This was someone who had likely taken lives, a ruthless individual who viewed human life as fleeting as the morning dew.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the vendor forced a smile and nodded. "Deal!" he said quickly.

Li Che tossed over a hundred taels, took the book, and walked away without another word. His towering figure soon disappeared into the crowd, leaving the vendor to hurriedly pack up his stall and leave the marketplace. He had no intention of lingering.

Having obtained the Tendon Opening technique, Li Che was in high spirits. Tomorrow, he could finally begin cultivating the Tendon Opening stage.

Leaving the bustling marketplace behind, he found a secluded alley where he removed his heavy cloak and hid it carefully. His mood lightened as he made his way to a familiar part of the city. He stopped at a food stall to buy braised meat and yellow wine, then visited a pastry shop to purchase a box of osmanthus cakes—Zhang Ya's favorite.

With his arms full of purchases, he walked along the snow-covered, stone-paved streets, the wind and snow dancing in the air. The world around him was blanketed in white, silent except for the crunch of his boots on the ground.

As he approached his home, his steps gradually slowed. His sharp eyes focused on a figure standing at the entrance to his courtyard. The man had a faint smile on his lips, and a blade was strapped to his side. Li Che's expression darkened slightly as he recognized the figure.

It was Zhao Chuanxiong, the head constable of the government office.

The braised meat, the jar of wine, and the osmanthus cakes in Li Che's hands suddenly felt heavier. His brows furrowed as he stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Zhao Chuanxiong's enigmatic smile.