As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

He returned with a ”Three-Headed Six-Armed Spirit Infant Statue” in his arms.

”Spirit Infant Sect?!”

Xu Beihuʼs eyes widened in anger, his hair standing on end as he turned to Madame Liu and bellowed, ”You worship the Spirit Infant Sect?!”

Zhao Chuanxiong narrowed his eyes, patting his hand lightly, ”So itʼs the Spirit Infant Sect, that clarifies things…”

He glanced at the four girls standing in the corner, the youngest looking only two or three years old, tilting her head, her hair messy, and her face confused.

Xu Beihuʼs face darkened, knowing the Spirit Infant Sect had infiltrated his shop was an anticipated circumstance, but having it exposed so abruptly was embarrassing for Xu Ji.

”Now the matter seems clear. Sun Changbiao had joined the Spirit Infant Sect, and his daughter must have caught their eye for sacrifice. Unwilling to comply, Sun Changbiao chose to protect his daughterʼs life, thus intervening and succumbing to a vile hand.”

”Tsk tsk, truly a tearjerker of fatherly love...”

”Madame Liu, you say it is or it isnʼt?”

Sitting in her chair and still crying, Madame Liu suddenly froze.

Mingled among the crowd, Li Che couldnʼt help but twitch the corner of his mouth when he heard the constableʼs analysis.

Sun Changbiao had indeed died of fatherly love, but it was his, Li Cheʼs, fatherly love...

Without further ado, Li Che headed to the practice field to train.

...

...

The atmosphere at the training field was fiery and enthusiastic.

The new wood carvers recruited by the shop this year had just received the Skin Refinement Cultivation Method and were brimming with fighting spirit, carrying stone locks and continuously refining their bodies.

Zhao Xuan, with her straight and slender legs, was giving pointers to the newcomers. When she saw Li Che appear, she greeted him with a smile brimming with warmth, ”Master Li has arrived?”

Li Che smiled warmly and nodded in response.

Wang Zhengpin, drenched in sweat, also stopped his training, ”Master Li, have you heard? Master Sunʼs death was terribly gruesome; a villain crushed his entire skeleton and tortured him to a brutal death. In the end, they even cut off his head. It was too dreadful to behold.”

The corner of Li Cheʼs mouth twitched again—the story had become more exaggerated... Was he really so ferocious?

Nevertheless, Li Che joined the conversation with a sigh on his face.

While a few elders chatted, the new recruits did not dare to join in. After a while, Li Che began his training.

His publicly displayed cultivation level was now at Great Success in Skin Refinement, which already made many people envious.

Li Che would not skip his daily training, for the Dao Fruit of the Dragon Elephant Vajra could mature through diligent practice, making daily training indispensable.

However, while he was training, he began to ponder the Tendon Activation Technique and the Internal Strength Method.

Just as he was deep in thought, Xu Beihu arrived at the practice field.

”Second Shopkeeper.”

Everyone immediately ceased their movements and greeted him with a fist-and-palm salute.

Xu Beihuʼs face softened slightly, ”I came to investigate Sun Changbiaoʼs cause of death in the Outer City today. Itʼs also a good opportunity to give you some guidance on your cultivation levels.”

His gaze fell on Li Che, showing a look of satisfaction, ”To reach Major Accomplishment in Skin Refinement within a year demonstrates excellent body refinement talent. Keep up the hard work and do not slack off. If you have any needs, feel free to mention them.”

Upon hearing this, Li Che clasped his fist and said, ”Second Shopkeeper... Now that Iʼve achieved Major Accomplishment in Skin Refinement, may I request a share of the Tendon Activation Technique and the Internal Strength Method?”

”Today, I passed by Master Sunʼs courtyard and saw his dreadful death, which left me terrified. Iʼve heard that Master Sun was like a mountain of fatherly love, dying tragically to protect his daughter, and Iʼm... scared.”

Li Cheʼs words were filled with sincerity and worry.

Xu Beihu fell silent upon hearing this, as he was indeed aware of Li Cheʼs situation.

Li Che had joined Xu Ji for protection against the Spirit Infant Sect, and now this incident had occurred... Indeed, the Xuʼs reputation had been somewhat tarnished, a sign of diminishing prestige.