The Heavens: Man Covers the Heavens, Refines Treasures to Become an Emperor

"Instructor Xiao Ke, please watch your words. My trainees are simply using the most efficient methods to pass the assessment. Only thirty will remain; the methods don't matter, the result is everything."

Xiao Ke wanted to argue, but a blinding red light suddenly flashed across the projection disc.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw a trainee in the video with his chest pierced and blood gushing out.

"Another one out."

"I can't help but comment," the wretch remarked indifferently.

"Looks like Camp 39 is having a run of bad luck today."

Xiao Ke clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.

She looked at another image on the projection disc, which showed the swampy area of ​​Poison Scorpion Ridge. It seemed calm, but it concealed deadly dangers.

In the swamp, Jiang Xuan lay hidden in the murky water, only his eyes and nostrils showing.

He knew this place all too well. Just two hours ago, a young girl's body lay here, her throat cleanly and neatly slit.

"The most dangerous place is the safest place."

Jiang Xuan silently recited this old saying in his heart.

He carefully erased all traces of himself, even controlling his breathing to the slowest possible frequency.

The area around the swamp was deathly silent, with only the occasional rustling of the reeds in the wind.

But Jiang Xuan knew that this peace would soon be broken.

The training grounds of Poison Scorpion Ridge are never short of hunters and prey, and today, he is both hunter and prey.

"rustle."

The barely perceptible footsteps came from thirty feet away, and Jiang Xuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

They're here! His soul perception detects any unusual movement within a hundred feet.

The footsteps were very light, but they did not escape his perception.

At the edge of the swamp, a short, stout figure appeared furtively.

He was dressed in a gray outfit, with bulging waistbands, clearly concealing some kind of weapon.

The boy's face was filled with panic, and he kept looking back, as if he was trying to escape something.

"This place is nice."

The short, chubby boy muttered to himself.

"People just died here; those guys would never expect me to hide here."

Jiang Xuan sneered inwardly.

How foolish! They actually thought of the same thing as him.

But what alarmed him even more was that the short, chubby boy, though seemingly flustered, had an unusually calm and even cunning look in his eyes.

The short, chubby boy squatted down to examine the marks on the edge of the swamp.

When he saw the strands of hair floating in the water, a smile actually appeared on his lips.

"Interesting, looks like I'm not the only one."

He murmured to himself, his right hand quietly reaching for his waist.

Jiang Xuan's muscles tensed instantly. Danger! His intuition screamed a warning.

Without any hesitation, he suddenly sprang up from the mud, his body darting to the left like an arrow amidst splashing mud and water.

"Whoosh!"

A cold glint grazed his shoulder and embedded itself deep in the mud behind him.

With a deafening roar, the mud exploded into a wave three meters high, creating a huge crater in the water.

"Armor-piercing Blood-Piercing Crossbow!"

Jiang Xuan was startled.

This is a standard magical weapon of the imperial army, with astonishing power, capable of easily penetrating the protective aura of a True Martial Realm cultivator.

The short, chubby boy looked surprised when his attack missed, but quickly regained his harmless expression.

"Wow, this senior brother has impressive skills!"

He said with a grin, but his hands didn't stop. He quickly put away the blood crossbow and instead drew out a pale white bone knife.

Jiang Xuan landed steadily on the other side of the swamp, his Azure Wave Battle Blade already unsheathed.

"Whale Bone Spirit Blade?"

He said coldly.

"It seems you've killed quite a few sea monsters."

"Likewise."

The short, chubby boy licked his lips.

"Senior Brother's Azure Wave Battle Blade is no ordinary weapon either."

The two men faced off across the mud.

Jiang Xuan quickly assessed his opponent: a peak True Martial Ninth Level cultivator, excellent weapon, and rich combat experience.

More importantly, this person appears flustered but is actually calm, making him a difficult character to deal with.

"Why are you so nervous, senior brother?"

The short, chubby boy suddenly laughed.

"We have no grudge against each other, so why don't we go our separate ways?"

Jiang Xuan did not answer, his eyes were cold.

In such a place, any lapse in vigilance can be fatal.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan remained unmoved, the short, chubby boy sighed.

"Then there's nothing we can do."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly sprang up, the whale bone spirit blade drawing a pale arc of light, aiming straight for Jiang Xuan's throat.

"clang!"

The Azure Wave Battle Blade parried precisely, and the two blades collided, sparking dazzling flames.

Jiang Xuan flicked his wrist, the blade flowing like water, instantly changing his move and thrusting straight for his opponent's heart. The short, stout boy hurriedly dodged to the side, the blade grazing his clothes and leaving a bloody gash.

"What a sharp knife!"

The short, chubby boy exclaimed, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.

He held nothing back, wielding the Whale Bone Spirit Blade with the speed of the wind, his swordsmanship unpredictable and ever-changing. Sometimes it moved like a giant whale swaying its tail, powerful and heavy; other times it was like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, insidious and cunning.

Jiang Xuan responded calmly, and the Azure Wave Battle Blade seemed to come alive in his hands.

The blade is infused with water-attribute spiritual energy, giving each strike a continuous and powerful force.

The two darted and weaved through the mud, their swords flashing and the surrounding reeds being cleaved into pieces by the sharp blades.

"boom!"

It was another head-on clash, and both men took three steps back.

Jiang Xuan's chest heaved, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The short, chubby boy was in no better shape, his face flushed and his breathing heavy.

"Senior brother, if we continue fighting like this, we'll only both suffer heavy losses."

The short, chubby boy suddenly spoke, his tone sincere.

"How about we stop? This Scorpion Ridge is fraught with danger; it's not worth letting others get away with it."

Jiang Xuan did not respond immediately.

He never believed the enemy, especially not in such a life-or-death situation.

Seeing Jiang Xuan remain silent, the short, chubby boy continued.

"I can tell you a secret about the true purpose of this trial."

"Not interested."

Jiang Xuan said coldly, raising his Azure Wave Battle Blade once more.

The short, chubby boy's expression changed; he clearly hadn't expected Jiang Xuan to be so decisive.

you!"

He gritted his teeth.

"What a madman!"

Jiang Xuan stopped wasting words, his figure moving like lightning, his battle blade slashing towards his opponent with a sharp whooshing sound. The short, stout youth hastily blocked, but was knocked back several steps by the blow, nearly falling into the mud.

"Oh shit!"

The short, chubby boy cursed loudly and suddenly turned and ran away.

He fled at an extremely fast speed, leaping out of the safe distance of the armor-piercing crossbow in just a few bounds.

Jiang Xuan didn't give chase, but stood warily in place. The short, chubby boy stopped some distance away and called back.

"Senior brother, your skills are impressive! I hope we'll have another chance to spar next time!"

"Next time we meet, I will take your life."

Jiang Xuan responded coldly.

The short, chubby boy's face stiffened, then he snorted coldly and turned to disappear into the depths of the dense forest.

After the battle ended, Jiang Xuan exhaled a breath of stale air.

He looked around to make sure there were no other ambushes before sheathing his sword. Silence returned to the area around the swamp, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects and the distant roars of beasts.

"The ambush site has been exposed."

Jiang Xuan frowned in thought.

This swamp was a carefully chosen hiding place for him, and in theory, it should have been difficult to be discovered.

He crouched down, examining the marks on the edge of the swamp, trying to figure out how the other person had discovered him.

"The spirit runes show no signs of being tampered with."

Jiang Xuan muttered to himself.

"Could it be some kind of special ability?"

He recalled the unusually bright eyes of the short, chubby boy, which shone with an eerie light in the dim mud.

The light seemed to pierce through the darkness and lock onto his location.

"We need to find a different place."

Jiang Xuan made a quick decision. He packed his meager gear, erased all traces of himself, and quietly left the swamp.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Bloodthirsty Camp, twenty huge projection discs floated in mid-air, each displaying real-time images of different assessment battlefields.

"Who is that chubby kid?"

Xiaoman pointed to one of the light screens and asked.

She was dressed in a black outfit, with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, and her almond-shaped eyes were fixed on the short, chubby boy running away in the scene.

Xu Sanqi stood beside her, his hands behind his back.

The instructor of the Blood Killing Camp had a stern face and a hideous scar above his right eye.

"Ye Xiaoqi, a descendant of the Ye family of Donghai."

"The Ye family?"

Xiaoman raised an eyebrow.

"Is that the family that Ye Zhankong, who's known as the King of the East Sea, belongs to?"

"good."

Xu Sanqi nodded.

"The Ye family has a thousand-year history and wields immense power in the East China Sea Province. The Embroidered Soul Blade Technique and the Spiritual Illumination Eye that Ye Xiaoqi just used are both unique secret techniques passed down within the Ye family."

Xiaoman was a little excited.

"The Eye of Spiritual Illumination? No wonder he was able to find Jiang Xuan hiding in the swamp."

"Exactly."

Xu Sanqi said calmly.

"The Eye of Spiritual Illumination can see through illusions and discern concealment. Among the younger generation of the Ye family, no more than three can cultivate this eye technique, and Ye Xiaoqi is one of them."

Xiaoman smiled.

"Jiang Xuan performed well, holding his own against the direct descendants of the Ye family."

Xu Sanqi glanced at her.

"Just above average. Compared to people like Bai Lingxi and Zhao Yin, the gap is obvious."

"You're being too harsh."

Xiaoman retorted, unconvinced.

"Jiang Xuan comes from a humble background, so his performance is already quite remarkable."

"The Bloodthirsty Camp doesn't care about background; it only looks at strength."

Xu Sanqi spoke in a flat tone.

"The number of spots in the Lake of Transformation is limited, and given his current performance, his chances are slim."

Xiaoman snorted defiantly and turned her gaze to the other projection discs.

In one of the light screens, a girl in white is facing an attack from five students all by herself.

Her movements were as graceful as a dance, yet each move was deadly, and she knocked down all her opponents in the blink of an eye.

"White Rhinoceros"

Xiaoman murmured the name softly, her expression complex.

"The most outstanding genius of the Bai family in this generation."

Xu Sanqi commented.

"I have already touched the threshold of the Spirit Realm. If nothing unexpected happens, I will definitely enter the Transformation Realm Lake."

In another light screen, a tall young man was wielding a giant axe, each strike powerful and heavy, splitting the boulder in front of him in two.

"Zhao Yin, a direct descendant of the Zhao family."

Xu Sanqi continued his commentary.

"Born with superhuman strength, and having cultivated the Zhao family's secret Overlord Force, his power is no less than Bai Lingxi's."

Xiaoman pursed her lips, her gaze returning to the scene where Jiang Xuan was.

Although Xu Sanqi's evaluation made her uncomfortable, she had to admit that Jiang Xuan was indeed still lacking compared to these true prodigies.

"And Changsun Hen and Li Duxing."

Xu Sanqi pointed to the other two light screens.

"One is skilled in assassination, the other is an expert in poisons; both are formidable opponents."

Xiaoman suddenly asked.

"What if Jiang Xuan can make a breakthrough in the upcoming assessment?"

"Unless a miracle occurs."

Xu Sanqi shook his head.

"However, the Bloodthirsty Camp is never short of miracles."

Xiaoman was a little excited.

"How's it going with Lao Mo?"

"That's good, but it will take time."

Xiaoman answered, then hesitated for a moment before adding.

"Instructor, could you... keep Jiang Xuan here? He's a genius in spirit runes, but the Obsidian Sanctuary doesn't value him at all."

Xu Sanqi frowned slightly.

"Rules are rules. Those sent by the Obsidian Sanctuary must return unless they are eliminated."

"But."

"No buts."

Xu Sanqi interrupted her.

"Furthermore, the Obsidian Sanctuary may well be aware of his value."

Xiaoman didn't say anything more.

The Obsidian Sanctuary was indeed unaware of Jiang Xuan's talent in spirit patterns; otherwise, they would never have underestimated him so much.

This secret is currently known only to her and Lao Mo.

Meanwhile, at temporary camp number 40, Remnant Wolf stared at the Reflection Disc in front of him, a cold smile on his lips.

"The overall situation is settled."

He said to his deputy beside him.

"Camp 39 has only thirteen men left, while we have twenty-six. With double the numbers, they can't turn the tide."

The deputy nodded respectfully.

"The wolf pack tactic was very successful; we defeated them one by one."

The wolf stroked his chin with satisfaction.

"Pass the order: continue applying pressure; don't give them a chance to breathe."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, at temporary camp number 39.

Xiao Ke stared intently at the projection disc, her expression growing increasingly grim.

"The situation is not good."

She whispered to her companion beside her.

"We've lost two more men, now we only have thirteen left."

His companion clenched his fist.

"Those bastards at Camp 40 are always ganging up on the few!"

Xiao Ke nodded.

"Ningmeng, Shiyu, and Liqiu are all besieged; the situation is critical."

On the projection disc, it can be clearly seen that Ning Meng is being besieged by three students from Camp 40.

He leaned against a large tree, wielding his long sword with impenetrable skill, but was clearly at a disadvantage.

"Qi Can, Wen Mingxiu, and Mu Lengxin have joined forces."

Xiao Ke's companion pointed to another scene.

"But there are only three of them. Facing the wolf pack tactics of Camp 40, I'm afraid..."

Xiao Ke bit her lip.

"We must find a way to break this deadlock, otherwise we will be gradually devoured by them."

How do we break it?

His companion gave a wry smile.

"They have the numerical advantage and are employing a strategy of encirclement without attack; they clearly intend to wear us down."

Xiao Ke's eyes flashed with a cold light as she slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"That despicable scoundrel, Canlang! He didn't train any students, but a bunch of hyenas who only know how to bully the weak! This completely defeats the true purpose of the assessment!"

Just then, the door to the training room was pushed open, and a fat middle-aged man slowly walked in.

He squinted at the projection disk, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Xiao Ke, what you said is not right."

The obese middle-aged man rubbed his thick palms together.

"The trainees trained by the Crippled Wolf are qualified soldiers. What fairness is there on the battlefield? Only those who survive are the winners."

Xiao Ke suddenly turned around, her long hair drawing a sharp arc in the air.

"Warriors? No, they're just a bunch of soulless killing machines! True power should be..."

What makes a true strong person?

An obese middle-aged man interrupted her, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

"Training your students to fight one-on-one like this? Letting them be surrounded and killed on the battlefield?"

Xiao Ke's chest heaved violently, but she was speechless for a moment. (End of this chapter)