As a Father, I Just Want to Watch You Achieve Immortality Chapter 2: Dao Fruit Immortal Craftsman, Six-Eyed Bodhisattva

He steadied his breathing and shut his eyes tightly.

Once again, Li Che witnessed the ethereal vision he had only glimpsed a moment ago.

Across a boundless horizon, a massive tree towered over the earth, its lush canopy swaying as leaves fluttered in the wind. Hanging from its branches was a singular fruit, radiating a liquid, multicolored glow.

As if responding to his prolonged gaze, the vibrant fruit detached with a soft "plunk" and fell gently into Li Che's waiting palm.

"Dao Fruit..."

Li Che whispered, his eyes locked onto the treasure resting in his hand.

...

[Your daughter has been born safely; you have obtained the Dao Fruit: "Immortal Artisan"]

[Immortal Artisan (Dao Fruit): The grand crafter of infinite forms, blessed with a divine touch and peerless craftsmanship]

The shimmering script flickered across his vision.

Li Che’s eyes sharpened, and a surge of emotion rose within him.

In the nineteen years since he arrived in this world, he had never possessed a Golden Finger. Yet now, coinciding with his daughter's birth, his cheat had finally manifested in this incredible form.

Was this a blessing brought by his child?!

Overwhelmed with joy, Li Che felt that the prestigious name of the Dao Fruit alone was enough to serve as his foundation for building a life in this world.

As he basked in his excitement, the notifications before him shifted once more.

...

[Name: Li Che]

[Bonds: Li Nuanxi (Daughter)]

[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (Level 1, 0% progress, Un-evolved)]

[Note: For every year the bond target survives safely, the Dao Tree shall bear a Dao Fruit]

...

His breath quickened as he stared at the prompts in disbelief, his heart racing with intensity.

As long as his daughter grew up safely each year, the Dao Tree would provide him with a new Dao Fruit...

In Li Che’s basic understanding, the purpose of a Dao Fruit was to grant him a specific skill or innate talent.

Currently, Li Che made a living at a wood carving workshop in the Outer City of Flying Thunder City. His job involved hauling finished carvings—backbreaking labor, certainly, but the piece-rate pay was fair for everyone.

Still, even after a grueling day of work, he only earned about thirty or forty Dajing Cast Copper Coins. It was enough to survive, but dreaming of a life of luxury in this harsh world was nothing but a fantasy.

But everything was different now. If he could ensure his daughter’s safety, receiving one Dao Fruit every year would change his destiny entirely!

"Xi Xi is my daughter. Protecting her and ensuring she grows up safe is my responsibility as a father..."

Li Che beamed with happiness. Between the luck brought by his daughter and the hope for their future, he couldn't help but feel jubilant.

As the Dao Fruit in his hand gradually dissolved into his body, Li Che didn't notice any immediate physical changes.

He tried to analyze the [Immortal Artisan] fruit, but he remained without a clue for the moment.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

The sound of carp soup bubbling in the pot broke his train of thought.

He hurried to ladle a bowl of the fragrant, milky-white soup. Taking a deep breath of the savory steam, he smiled and carefully carried the hot bowl toward the earthen house.

His wife, Zhang Ya, had finished nursing Xi Xi and was now contentedly drinking the soup Li Che had prepared.

Li Che took Xi Xi into his arms, gently patting her small back under the watchful eye of Grandma Lei to help the infant burp.

After helping out around the house for a while, Grandma Lei shared a few more parenting tips before preparing to take her leave.

Li Che handed the baby back to Zhang Ya and walked the old woman to the door.

"Grandma Lei, I can't thank you enough. You've been a lifesaver," Li Che said, pressing ten coins into her hand.

Grandma Lei waved them off with a sigh. "Che, I’ve seen you grow up. You haul those heavy logs and statues for Xu’s Wood Carving Shop every day. That money is hard-earned; keep it and look after your family."

"The Outer City has been dangerous lately... births are rare, and many young ones don't make it. Watch over Xi Xi closely and stay safe."

Hearing her words, Li Che’s expression turned grave.

"Grandma..."

Grandma Lei wrapped a cloth around her head and picked up her bamboo basket. Preparing to face the blizzard, she warned him, "Listen, don't take the child out into the streets for no reason. Stay far away from those who follow the Child God... those who profit from the offerings..."

"The world is cruel, and children are fragile. As parents, you must be incredibly watchful."

Li Che exhaled a mist of white breath into the freezing air, nodding with total sincerity.

His heart grew heavy. He had heard rumors of many child deaths recently.

Previously, he hadn't paid much attention, but now that he was a father, his instincts were on high alert.

"I understand, Grandma Lei," Li Che replied solemnly.

With a final sigh, Grandma Lei pulled her coat tighter and vanished into the snowy darkness of the narrow alleys.

Li Che watched her disappear before returning inside, quickly sealing the door cracks to keep the warmth from escaping.

He rubbed his cold hands together, added charcoal to the burner, and brought the remaining soup from the kitchen.

Once the couple had eaten their fill, Li Che climbed into bed.

He gently patted his daughter, who had fallen into a deep sleep after her meal. He couldn't stop a wide smile from spreading across his face.

He whispered softly to Zhang Ya, who was already drifting off, exhausted from the labor.

Even so, Li Che remained wide awake, murmuring with renewed energy.

"We're out of charcoal again. I'll buy more from the vendor tomorrow. Xi Xi is so small; we can't let her catch a chill."

"You need to recover properly during your confinement—otherwise, you might face health issues later..."

"I'll take on more statue deliveries at the shop tomorrow. Demand in the Inner City has spiked lately. There's plenty of work and good money to be made."

"I'm going to work hard and save up for a large mansion, somewhere we can stay warm even in the middle of winter."

"Don't worry, wife. Our lives are going to get much better..."

Lying on the bed, Li Che held his wife and daughter close, eventually closing his eyes.

The only sound in the room was the rhythmic, peaceful breathing of his family.

...

...

The following morning arrived.

Li Che rose early, ensured his wife had breakfast for her confinement, and helped Xi Xi burp after her morning milk. Then, he donned his bamboo hat and stepped out.

The world was a blanket of white, and the wind bit like a frozen blade, carrying snowflakes the size of palms.

The cold was piercing. The blizzard showed no signs of letting up, piling deep drifts across the Outer City of Flying Thunder City.

After trekking several miles through the dim, snowy morning, he reached his workplace: Xu’s Wood Carving Shop.

Despite the name, it was a massive estate filled with stacks of raw timber.

Li Che and the other laborers were tasked with moving logs to the artisans or delivering finished statues.

While the weight of the carvings varied, the pay was fixed: five Dajing cast copper coins per statue delivered. Moving raw logs paid less—only one copper coin per trip.

The higher pay for statues was due to the risk; a single scratch meant losing your entire day's wages.

Brushing the snow from his clothes, Li Che hung up his hat at his station and entered the workshop.

Inside, the air was warmed by charcoal heaters and thick with the pleasant aroma of wood.

"Little Li, get me a large piece of 'Curved Willow.' Also, move that 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva' we finished three days ago into the back. Someone from the Inner City is coming for it soon, and we can't let the dampness ruin it."

An old man in a padded coat, his face ruddy and his hair white, called out to Li Che while sipping aged wine from a polished gourd.

"Right away, Master Chen!" Li Che replied with a bright grin.

Because he was careful and reliable, Li Che had never damaged a carving. This reputation made him a favorite among the master artisans.

Master Chen was one of his most frequent employers.

Li Che headed out into the large courtyard.

The snow was coming down hard, burying the logs. It took him some time to locate the "Curved Willow" section.

After selecting a large piece, he dragged it out.

He bound it securely with hemp rope, checked the weight, and then moved toward the corner where the completed works were stored.

He knew exactly where the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" was kept.

He found the man-sized statue, carved from "Flowering Curved Willow," covered in a layer of snow.

As Li Che reached out to brush the snow away,

A bizarre sensation washed over him. It felt as though the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" had come to life—its six eyes seemed to blink as they stared directly at him.

Suddenly, a flood of memories rushed into his mind.

He saw Master Chen working, every chisel stroke and detail of the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" appearing before him. Li Che felt as if he were there, his consciousness merging with the master's.

In that moment, the intricate techniques and secrets of carving the statue became part of Li Che’s own... instinct!

"What?"

The visions faded, and the statue returned to its wooden state. Li Che’s heart hammered against his ribs.

He was stunned. Just by touching the carving, he had absorbed Master Chen's years of expertise.

This had to be the power of the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit he had gained after Xi Xi was born!

"Divine touch, peerless craftsmanship..."

"The power of this Dao Fruit... might actually give me the chance to become a true master wood carver!"

Li Che’s eyes glowed with newfound ambition.

If he could become an artisan at Xu’s instead of just a laborer, his prospects would skyrocket!

Providing a good life for his family in this chaotic world was no longer a distant dream; it was within his reach!