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One could vaguely discern that the wood carving depicted a child, though rough and simplistic, the form was faintly recognizable.

Barefooted, stepping on fierce dragons and snakes, eyes filled with fury, a child with four arms rising from its back, wearing a red bib, red silk fluttering, one hand clutching a jade cleansing bottle, another a jade ruyi, one a necklace, and another holding a short spear!

Because the lines were only a preliminary sketch, they appeared very raw, but there was already a brimming essence of divinity lingering within.

Li Che’s gaze was instantly captivated.

"This is a divine wood carving with only thirty percent completion. Master Li shall continue the carving for three hours, and when the time is up, cease carving. The completion of Master Li’s work will be used for evaluation."

The middle-aged beautiful woman, a minor supervisor, spoke.

"This is the ’Four-armed Angry Third Prince’ divine wood carving, originally the statue of the ’Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince’ from the Four Royal Mysterious Temples outside the city wall."

"The divinity contained in the waters of the Nine Dragons River that flows through Mansion City is diluted from the Temple God Divinity of this Third Prince Temple, and it serves as the divine vein for the cultivation of divine cultivators of Golden Light Prefecture City."

"Once the statue of the Four-armed Angry Third Prince is completed, it can provoke the waves of the Nine Dragons River. Although Master Li is to continue the work, if he can stir the waves, consider the assessment a success," the bearded supervisor said indifferently.

As his words fell, whether it was the beautiful woman or Shangguan Qinghong who was cracking melon seeds in the corner, their actions momentarily froze.

"Gongyang Minor Supervisor... Since when does the continuation carving test for a third-class guest official require stirring the waters of the Nine Dragons River?"

The beautiful woman’s brow furrowed slightly, showing a touch of displeasure.

The bearded middle-aged minor supervisor, however, smiled: "Gong Yunli Minor Supervisor, after all, this man comes recommended by Li Qingshan. If he can’t even stir up the waters of the Nine Dragons River... wouldn’t that mean Li Qingshan is here to make a mockery of us?"

"Moreover, my evaluation standard is within the range, isn’t it? This divine wood carving is already thirty percent complete; if he can continue carving to seventy percent, it should suffice to stir the waters. If he can’t even accomplish a forty percent continuation..."

"Our threshold for a guest official at the Qintian Observatory isn’t that low."

His casual words lingered in the room.

The beautiful woman’s eyebrows knitted even more, but she said nothing more.

Shangguan Qinghong, sitting in the corner, looked at Li Che with a hint of sympathy, muttering to himself: "Senior Qingshan’s recommendation indeed provided a shortcut, but it means the supervisors’ demands will be even more stringent... It requires true skill and knowledge."

"Does Master Li possess the real talent and knowledge after becoming a Wood Carving Master in just three years?"

The room gradually quieted down, and Gong Yunli no longer spoke.

"The Minor Supervisor is right, I’m willing to give it a try," Li Che said, a blend of grace and affability on his face as he bowed with clasped hands.

The beautiful woman’s demeanor softened considerably, and her eyes shone with appreciation as she looked at Li Che.

Such elegance, such amiability – truly the makings of a Wood Carving Master.

Composed and unperturbed, indeed the temperament for a master.

Gongyang Liancheng stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling, and he laughed: "Then let us begin."

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Li Che bowed with clasped hands.

He then walked over to the wood carving, embraced it with both hands, transferring the flow of his vital energy, and moved the half-person-high carving onto the carving table.

The table was fully equipped with chisels of extremely high quality, far surpassing those owned by Li Che himself.

Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, Li Che began to carefully examine the "Four-armed Angry Third Prince." Although it was a simplified version of the temple deity’s statue, it possessed a unique significance.

The carving was already thirty percent complete. According to Gongyang Minor Supervisor, he needed to continue until seventy percent to invoke the Temple God Divinity within the waters of the Nine Dragons River and cause the waves to stir.

The Qintian Observatory Treasure Building was located beside a tributary of the Nine Dragons River that ran through the Golden Light Prefecture, built facing the river. Looking out through the carved wooden windows of the Treasure Tower, one could see the serene river surface.

To continue carving is to finish the work upon the original carving.

Actually, conditions were set because the techniques and skills used by the original carver would impact the final product; one must connect seamlessly to the original artist’s craft, otherwise, the disconnection would be too severe, making it impossible to consider it a divine wood carving.

For Li Che, this was not an issue at all.

Li Che needed to consider...

The issue of completion to what degree.

Hide his skill?

No, Li Che shook his head, he didn’t need to hide his skill in this assessment for the position of Guest Elder.

Having just arrived in Mansion City, Li Che’s family required the backing of a powerful entity, at least until Xi Xi was admitted to the Divine Sect. They needed to find another strong foundation to count on, especially since they had offended the Qin Mansion and had previously laid hands on Qin Yuqing.

If Qin Yuqing were to die, the Qin Mansion would certainly be furious. Although Li Che was confident he had left no trace behind and it would be difficult for anyone to connect the dots from dozens of miles away.

However, to play it safe, he must pull some strings and establish connections to secure a footing in Mansion City.

Li Qingshan could be a solid backing, but he was not currently in Mansion City and hence the face of the Divine Sect was not enough.

Therefore, it’s likely that Li Qingshan had recommended him for the position at the Qintian Observatory also with this consideration in mind.

An idea suddenly struck Li Che’s mind, and he chose not to conceal his own skills any longer.

Proto-Divine Power: Thousand Analyzing Hands.

With jade-like fluidity, Li Che’s hand gently brushed across the wood carving, and information about the carving flooded into his mind.

The carver’s skills, the angle of the carving knife, the force applied, the style of cutting, and so on, all streamed into his consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, an invisible surge of air howled forth from within the building.

Li Che’s demeanor completely transformed, his eyes turned cold and detached. In his gaze, the wood carving seemed to come alive with countless lines undulating and leaping. Grasping the carving knife, the flashing blade instantly came down, touching on a line, and with a tearing sound, the sharp blade smoothly cut through the Spirit Wood Organization, leaving behind wood shavings.

Knife rising, knife falling, the blade’s light danced like a roaming dragon.

Gongyang Liancheng and Gong Yunli only needed one glance to understand that this Li Che had true talent and skill—he was not someone who simply got in through the back door.

The room was incredibly silent.

Even Shangguan Qinghong in the corner, who was spitting out melon seeds, stopped her activity, afraid to disturb Li Che’s... dazzling display.

Her lips slightly parted and moist, her eyes showed a hint of astonishment.

Divinity began to slowly gather between heaven and earth.

As the shape of the Divine Wood Carving gradually took form, as the motion and posture were perfectly delineated...

The "Four-armed Angry Third Prince" seemed as if it had come to life.

Beneath the bare feet, the dragons and serpents roared, four arms swung, red silks tumbled, eyes glaring with fury—all vividly coming to life as if they could overturn rivers and seas, capture dragons and subdue demons.

The stray Divinity in the world began to be voraciously consumed by the Divine Wood Carving, to the point...

Through the flower-carved wooden window, near the bank of the Nine Dragons River by the Qintian Observatory Treasure Building, the water also started to stir slightly, the waves slapping, Divinity dispersing...

And the waves were just beginning to brew, as if the Divinity in the water was being drawn by an invisible force!

A wave crashed against the foundation of the Qintian Observatory Treasure Building, bursting into sparkling, translucent sprays of water beneath the sunlight!

Bang—!

The sound of waves against the Treasure Building shattered the silence!

Inside the Treasure Building.

Li Che’s eyes burned fiercely, his blood and qi surged unstoppably.

The carving knife twirled between his fingers, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

In his chest, the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit throbbed as if it sensed Li Che’s tumultuous surge, wanting to use his own craft to secure a stable base for his family in Mansion City.

He wanted the world to open its eyes and see.

What is...

An Immortal Artisan!