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

"Instructor Xu said he can grant you one request. What do you want? Cultivation techniques? Resources? Or..."

"I don't want anything."

Jiang Xuan interrupted him.

"As long as Instructor Xu remembers, he owes me a favor."

Old Mo's eyes widened.

"Are you crazy? Instructor Xu's favors are worth more than any cultivation techniques or resources!"

"I want it precisely because it's valuable."

Jiang Xuan's eyes held a sly glint.

"Tell him I won't ask for this favor for now; I'll ask for it when I need it."

Old Mo shook his head and sighed.

"Suit yourself, I'll pass it on."

When Lao Mo told Xu Sanqi about Jiang Xuan's request, the usually serious instructor actually smiled, which was quite rare.

"The interesting kid told me that as long as it doesn't violate my principles, I'll agree."

The training at Camp 39 had just ended the following morning.

Jiang Xuan was wiping the sweat from his forehead when he suddenly heard noisy footsteps and commotion outside the camp.

"Where's Jiang Xuan? Tell him to come out!"

A gruff voice roared.

"Exactly! What kind of skill is it to hide? First place in the quarterly assessment? I bet he used some underhanded methods!"

Another shrill voice echoed.

Jiang Xuan frowned and looked over. A group of students dressed in different camp uniforms stormed in aggressively. The leader was a burly young man with a disdainful sneer on his face.

The trainees from Camp 39 quickly gathered around Jiang Xuan, forming a standoff.

"What do you want?"

Jiang Xuan asked calmly.

The burly young man stepped forward, looking down at Jiang Xuan.

"I'm Shi Meng from Camp 7. I heard you got first place in the quarterly assessment, so I came to congratulate you."

He deliberately emphasized the word "congratulations," the provocative tone of which was self-evident.

Thank you.

Jiang Xuan remained unmoved.

"If there's nothing else, we're going to eat."

"No hurries?"

Shi Meng blocked their way.

"We're all eager to see the skill of the top-ranked student. How about a friendly spar?"

The crowd behind him immediately erupted in laughter and applause.

"Yes, let's broaden our horizons!"

"Could it be that you're scared?"

"Maybe there's something fishy about those results."

Jiang Xuan looked around and found that all the people who came were the best from their respective camps, and they had obviously come prepared.

He understood that this was a questioning of his first-place finish.

"Not interested."

Jiang Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"ha!"

Shi Meng let out an exaggerated laugh.

"Did everyone hear that? Our number one player doesn't even dare to spar!"

Ning Meng stood behind Jiang Xuan, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"Jiang Xuan, these bastards!"

Jiang Xuan raised his hand to stop Ning Meng from speaking, and looked calmly at Shi Meng.

"The assessment results speak for themselves; I don't need to waste my time."

"A waste of time?"

Shi Meng's face darkened.

Are you looking down on us?

The crowd stirred, and voices of discontent rose and fell.

Jiang Xuan's refusal was seen as a sign of his guilt by them.

"Jiang Xuan, you're being shameful."

Ning Meng lowered his voice, his eyes burning with anger.

"At least teach them a lesson!"

Jiang Xuan shook his head.

"If a dog bites you, are you going to bite it back?"

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone around to hear.

Shi Meng's face flushed red instantly, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Who are you calling a dog?

"Whoever answers first, that's who."

Jiang Xuan remained calm, as if discussing today's weather.

"you!"

Shi Meng was furious and had already raised his fist, but was stopped by a cold voice behind him.

"Shi Meng, step back."

The crowd parted automatically, and a young man dressed in a dark blue outfit walked slowly towards them.

He had a handsome face and a hint of arrogance between his brows. He was Xiao Kun from Camp 7, the third-ranked expert in the previous quarter.

"Senior Brother Xiao!"

Shi Meng quickly bowed, a look of awe flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Kun didn't even glance at Shi Meng, his gaze fixed on Jiang Xuan.

"Jiang Xuan, right? I'm very curious how someone who has never even made it into the top ten suddenly took first place."

Jiang Xuan and Xiao Kun looked at each other, neither humble nor arrogant.

"The true test will be revealed in the assessment. If Senior Brother Xiao has any questions, he can consult the assessment records."

"Records can be falsified."

Xiao Kun sneered.

"I only believe what I see with my own eyes."

The trainees at Camp 39 gradually gathered around.

Shi Yu stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

"What's Jiang Xuan up to?"

Li Qiu seemed to be deep in thought.

"He definitely has a plan."

Gong Ming leaned against a tree trunk, watching coldly; Lei Xinyue and Ye Xiaoqi stood together, their eyes filled with worry; Qi Can and Mu Lengxin looked displeased, clearly feeling that Jiang Xuan had disgraced the camp.

"If you're going to fight, then fight! Why all the nonsense?"

Ning Meng couldn't help but roar.

Xiao Kun's eyes were filled with contempt.

"Since your companions have said so, Jiang Xuan, do you dare accept my challenge?"

The crowd erupted in cheers, everyone eager to see what would happen.

Jiang Xuan remained unmoved.

"A friendly spar is fine, but I have one condition."

"oh?"

Xiao Kun raised an eyebrow.

"What conditions?"

"One thousand Cold Condensation Pills."

Jiang Xuan said calmly.

"As a wager."

The whole place fell silent for a moment.

"A thousand?"

Someone gasped.

"That's twenty thousand Imperial Silver Coins!"

"That's equivalent to three thousand points!"

Another student exclaimed.

Xiao Kun's expression changed slightly, clearly not expecting Jiang Xuan to propose such a high stake. The Cold Condensation Pill is an essential resource for cultivation; a thousand pills would be enough for an ordinary student for more than half a year.

"What? Senior Brother Xiao doesn't dare?"

Jiang Xuan countered with a calm tone, leaving Xiao Kun in a difficult position.

"Jiang Xuan! Don't go too far!"

Wang Wenyuan squeezed out of the crowd, glaring angrily.

"It's an honor that Senior Brother Xiao is willing to guide you, yet you dare to make demands?"

Jiang Xuan didn't even glance at Wang Wenyuan.

"No bets, no discussion. I have no interest in playing house with kids."

"you!"

Wang Wenyuan was so angry that his face turned pale.

Xiao Kun raised his hand to stop Wang Wenyuan, his eyes filled with coldness.

"Alright, I'll take the thousand Cold Condensing Pills."

There was an exclamation from the crowd.

Several students from Camp 7 immediately stepped forward and began collecting Cold Cooling Pills. Before long, a heavy bag was handed to Xiao Kun.

"There are a thousand here."

Xiao Kun threw the bag on the ground, making a dull thud.

"Now, can we begin?"

Jiang Xuan shook his head.

"Wait." "What now?"

Xiao Kun asked impatiently.

"I just remembered."

Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

"Since Senior Brother Xiao is personally making the move, the bet should be increased by another thousand."

The whole place was in an uproar again.

Two thousand Cold-Resistant Pills? Are you crazy?!

"Is Jiang Xuan deliberately making things difficult for me?"

Xiao Kun's face was ashen.

"Are you kidding me?"

Jiang Xuan shrugged.

"If you don't dare to answer, then forget it."

“Good! Very good!”

Xiao Kun laughed in his extreme anger.

"Add another thousand!"

The trainees in Camp 7 looked at each other in bewilderment, but quickly managed to gather another bag of Cold Cooling Pills.

Xiao Kun placed the two bags side by side on the ground and said coldly.

Are you satisfied now?

Jiang Xuan nodded.

"Can."

"I also have a condition."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Kun's eyes.

"If you lose, you must voluntarily relinquish your position as the top performer in the quarterly evaluation."

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Jiang Xuan's answer.

Jiang Xuan remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Can."

“Let’s get started!”

Xiao Kun couldn't wait to get into position, and his spiritual energy began to surge, forming a visible vortex.

Jiang Xuan stood still, his smile gradually fading, his facial features becoming resolute and sharp.

His spiritual energy began to circulate quietly, and it was as if a blue dragon was awakening in his meridians, with an invisible aura beginning to spread.

In the open space in the center of the camp, Jiang Xuan and Xiao Kun stood facing each other, while the surrounding students consciously stepped back, forming a circular area with a diameter of more than ten zhang.

"Jiang Xuan, it's not too late for you to admit defeat."

Xiao Kun's gray hair flew wildly, and his eyes gleamed with disdain.

"So that I won't beat you so badly you can't get up and make a fool of yourself."

Jiang Xuan did not answer, but simply raised his right hand and made a "please" gesture.

This simple action made Xiao Kun's face darken; it was blatant contempt!

“Good! Very good!”

Xiao Kun laughed in anger, and his spiritual power suddenly erupted, forming a visible cyan vortex.

"Since you're courting death, then I'll grant your wish!"

The cyclone howled, stirring up dust from the ground, and Xiao Kun's robes fluttered in the wind.

The pressure of the peak of the ninth level of True Martial Realm was released without reservation, causing several students with lower cultivation levels around him to unconsciously take a few steps back.

"Senior Brother Xiao has already mastered the Wind Howling Killing Fist to the third level!"

"The sheer force of their presence is enough to take your breath away."

"Jiang Xuan is finished. How could he possibly stop him?"

Whispers rippled through the crowd; almost no one had a good chance of winning over Jiang Xuan.

After all, one is a genius from an ancient and powerful clan, while the other is just an ordinary student from a humble background; one is at the peak of the ninth level of True Martial Arts, while the other is only at the eighth level; one has mastered ancestral secret techniques, while the other only knows basic marching fist.
It was a match that seemed to have no suspense whatsoever.

"Jiang Xuan, you make the first move."

Xiao Kun stood with his hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised.

"So that others won't say I'm bullying the weak."

Jiang Xuan's lips curled up.

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Xuan's figure had already vanished from the spot. The next instant, he appeared in front of Xiao Kun and unleashed a simple, unadorned punch.

"The first move of the Marching Boxing style: Straight to the heart of the enemy!"

What appeared to be a simple punch, in the instant it was thrown, drew upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming a visible torrent of spiritual power. The air in front of the fist was compressed to its limit, emitting a piercing explosion.

Xiao Kun's pupils contracted slightly, and he hurriedly crossed his arms to block his chest.

"boom!"

With a dull thud, Xiao Kun was forced back three steps by the punch, leaving deep footprints on the ground.

His arms were numb, and his eyes were filled with astonishment.

"The perfected version of the Marching Fist?"

Xiao Kun shook his arm and sneered.

"No wonder they were able to cheat during the assessment. These little tricks are meaningless in the face of absolute strength!"

Jiang Xuan ignored the other party's taunts, turned around, and threw another punch.

"The second move of the Marching Fist: Sweeping Across a Thousand Armies!"

This punch swept out horizontally, the wind from the punch like waves, actually forming a crescent-shaped blade of air in the air.

Xiao Kun dared not be careless any longer, and gathered spiritual power in his right fist to meet the attack.

"Wind Howling Killing Fist, First Form: Storm Strike!"

Countless tiny wind blades suddenly appeared around Xiao Kun's fist, spinning to form a miniature storm.

The two fists collided, producing a deafening explosion.

"boom!"

The shockwave spread outwards from the two people, stirring up dust on the ground.

Jiang Xuan was forced back three steps, while Xiao Kun merely swayed.

"See that? That's the difference!"

Xiao Kun laughed triumphantly.

"No matter how perfect your Marching Fist technique is, it doesn't change the fact that you're only at the eighth level of True Martial!"

On the sidelines, Ning Meng clenched his fists nervously.

"Senior Brother Jiang is clearly very strong, why is he hiding his cultivation level? He'll suffer if he continues like this."

Shi Yu frowned.

"Xiao Kun's Wind Howling Killing Fist is indeed powerful, but Jiang Xuan's Marching Fist seems somewhat different."

On the other side, Qi Can and Mu Lengxin stood together, their expressions complicated.

"Do you think Jiang Xuan really cheated?"

Mu Lengxin asked in a low voice.

Qi Can shook his head.

"I don't know. But if he loses, our Camp 39 will lose face big time."

In the arena, Jiang Xuan steadied himself, his face remaining calm.

The spiritual energy within his body began to circulate along a special path. Within his meridians, it was as if a sleeping azure dragon was awakening.

"The third move of the Marching Fist: Splitting Mount Hua!"

Jiang Xuan leaped up, raised his right fist high above his head, and then cleaved down like a giant axe.

This punch, though seemingly simple, contained astonishing power, as if it could truly split a mountain in two.

Xiao Kun snorted coldly and threw out both fists at once.

"Wind Howling Killing Fist, Second Form: Sky-Splitting Strike!"

In front of his fists, the air was torn apart, forming two intersecting wind blades.

The two forces collided again, producing an even more violent explosion than before.

"Boom!"

This time, Jiang Xuan was forced back five steps, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Kun also took two steps back, his expression turning serious.

“How is it possible?”

Xiao Kun was shocked.

"He's only at the eighth level of True Martial Realm, so how could he withstand my Sky-Splitting Strike?"

The murmurs from the sidelines grew louder.

"Jiang Xuan actually withstood two moves from Senior Brother Xiao without falling?"

"How can his marching fist technique be so powerful?"

"Could the test results be real?"

Xiao Kun's expression turned even uglier upon hearing these comments.

He originally intended to easily defeat Jiang Xuan and prove that the other party was cheating, but unexpectedly, Jiang Xuan showed his extraordinary strength instead.

"Jiang Xuan, I admit I underestimated you."

Xiao Kun's face was gloomy.

"But next, I'll show you what true despair is!"

After speaking, Xiao Kun's spiritual power surged wildly, and a dazzling bolt of lightning condensed around his right fist.

The electric sparks spun, forming a miniature vortex that emitted a chilling "sizzling" sound.

"Wind Howling Killing Fist, Third Form: Lightning Strike!"

This is Xiao Kun's strongest killing move to date, and he has used it to defeat several opponents of the same level.

He was confident that Jiang Xuan would be unable to withstand this punch.

Faced with this fatal blow, Jiang Xuan remained surprisingly calm.

He spread his legs apart, striking a strange pose, his right fist tucked into his waist, and then thrust it out.

"The Seventh Form of Marching Fist: Cangling Zhenyue!"

As Jiang Xuan unleashed this punch, a faint blue light suddenly appeared around his body.

The fist techniques were as steady as a mountain, yet as serene as moonlight. Though clearly basic techniques, they conveyed a sense of profound mystery. (End of Chapter)