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

"Yes, he broke through at the critical moment of life and death. What a pity."

Both of them understood that, according to the rules of Demon Cloud Ridge, once they broke through to the Spirit Realm, they had to immediately withdraw from the trial.

Hu Long's choice meant giving up the opportunity to continue competing for military merit.

You shouldn't have.

Jiang Xuan was about to say something when Hu Long interrupted him.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Hu Long stepped forward and helped Jiang Xuan up.

"You saved my life, and now I'm simply returning it to you."

He took a cloth bag from his bosom and stuffed it into Jiang Xuan's hand.

"These are the military achievements and spoils of war I've collected these past few days, and I'm giving them all to you now."

Jiang Xuan tried to refuse, but Hu Long forcefully tied the cloth bag around his waist.

"Stop being so wishy-washy. In your current state, how can you survive without something to protect yourself?"

As he spoke, Hu Long squatted down and carried Jiang Xuan on his back.

"I'll take you to a safe place to heal your wounds first."

Clinging to Hu Long's back, Jiang Xuan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

Is it worth it?

Hu Long kept walking, but his voice remained calm.

"What's the point of whether it's worth it or not? The path of cultivation is long; this is just a trial. But you, don't let me down."

Jiang Xuan clenched his fist.

"I will give all your military achievements to the instructor."

Hu Long smiled.

"Suit yourself. But I'd much rather you hold out until you see for yourself what that legendary Demon Cloud Treasure is really like."

Under the cover of night, Hu Long carried Jiang Xuan through the dense forest and arrived at a hidden cave.

He carefully put Jiang Xuan down and then took out several bottles of pills from his pocket.

"This should be enough for your recovery."

Hu Long checked the area around the cave and, after confirming it was safe, turned to look at Jiang Xuan.

"I have to go now."

Jiang Xuan struggled to stand up.

"I send you."

Hu Long waved his hand.

"Save your breath, you can't even beat a rabbit now."

He said seriously.

"Remember, get back alive."

Jiang Xuan nodded solemnly.

"must."

Hu Long smiled with relief and turned to walk towards the cave entrance.

As he was about to disappear into the night, he waved to Jiang Xuan with his back turned, without looking back.

The cave fell silent again, save for the occasional crackling of the fire.

Jiang Xuan leaned against the stone wall and exhaled a breath of stale air.

He looked down at his hands, where traces of blood from his battle with the barbarians still lingered at the base of his thumbs.

The three barbarians who suddenly appeared were far stronger than ordinary witch barbarians, especially the one who escaped last, who was probably close to the peak of the Spirit Realm.

"Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl."

Jiang Xuan took out the azure bead from his pocket. In the firelight, it shone with a strange luster, as if water was flowing and swirling within it.

He obtained this by chance while carrying out a reconnaissance mission. At the time, he thought it was just a nice trophy, but he never expected it to attract such a crazy pursuit from the Wuman tribe.

The firelight cast flickering shadows on the cave walls. Jiang Xuan put the Sacred Pearl back into his pocket and began to examine the supplies left behind by Hu Long.

Three bottles of healing pills, two packets of hemostatic powder, and a small bag of spirit crystals.

He poured out a blue pill and swallowed it. Instantly, a warm current flowed from his throat to his limbs and bones.

"call."

Sitting cross-legged, Jiang Xuan began to circulate the remaining spiritual energy within his body. The stinging pain in his meridians made him feel uneasy, but the scenes of fighting the barbarians terrified him even more.

The three men worked together seamlessly, each move deadly; they were clearly targeting him. If Hu Long hadn't arrived in time...
Thinking of this, Jiang Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

No, the Wuman tribe and the empire have a long-standing agreement that barbarian warriors are not allowed to act rashly.

The fact that they were willing to break the agreement to seize the Holy Pearl shows that this item is far from being an ordinary sacred artifact.

The hooting of an owl echoed from outside the cave. Jiang Xuan composed himself and returned to a meditative state. The power of the elixir was repairing his damaged meridians, but it would take at least three days for him to fully recover.

A lot can happen in three days.

At the same time, in the Black Wind Army camp.

Hu Long, weary from his journey, crossed the camp and headed straight for the Song Mausoleum's tent. Night had fallen, but the tent was still lit.

"Report!"

Hu Long stood at attention outside the tent.

"Come in."

A calm and steady voice came from inside.

Lifting the curtain, Hu Long saw Song Ling bent over studying a map.

When the middle-aged general looked up, the weariness in his eyes was replaced by sharpness.

“How’s it going?”

"Three barbarian warriors ambushed Jiang Xuan; two were killed, and one escaped."

Hu Long's words were concise and to the point.

"Jiang Xuan is seriously injured, and I have placed him in a safe location."

Song Ling tapped his finger on the map.

"Barbarian level? Are you sure?"

"Absolutely true."

Hu Long nodded.

"One of them was close to the peak of the Spirit Realm; if I hadn't arrived in time..."

Song Ling's expression turned serious.

"The Wuman tribe is trying to break the agreement."

He stood up and paced around inside the tent.

"How is Jiang Xuan doing now?"

"His injuries are serious but not fatal; I've left him enough medicinal pills."

Hu Long hesitated for a moment.

"Commander, those three were clearly after Jiang Xuan. I suspect so."

"The Celestial Water Sacred Pearl?"

Song Ling suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Hu Long looked up in surprise.

“You know?”

Song Ling did not answer directly, but went outside the tent and gave a few instructions to the guards before returning to sit down.

"This matter is of utmost importance; I must report to General Wu immediately. You go and rest, and remain on standby."

After Hu Long saluted and left, Song Ling immediately took out a communication jade slip, infused it with spiritual power, and the jade slip emitted a faint light.
Three days later, deep within Demon Cloud Ridge.

Jiang Xuan awoke from his meditation, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

He stretched his muscles and bones, and his spiritual energy flowed smoothly within his body; his injuries had already healed.

Moreover, after escaping the brink of death, his cultivation level actually improved.

Is this what they call "destruction before construction"?

Jiang Xuan muttered to himself.

He took out the remaining two pills and swallowed them, then began to check his equipment.

The longsword hummed softly in its sheath, seemingly yearning for a new battle.

Jiang Xuan gently stroked the sword, and suddenly felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows.

"This is."

Upon introspection, he discovered a dazzling spot of light in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Jiang Xuan's heart skipped a beat. Soul Star! The legendary power of the soul that can only be activated by undergoing a life-or-death trial!
Surprised, Jiang Xuan quickly calmed down.

He tried to activate that bit of starlight, and immediately felt that the world around him became clearer. He could even hear the sound of an ant crawling ten feet away from the cave.

"No wonder everyone says that real combat is the best form of training."

Jiang Xuan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

Compared to his near-death state three days ago, he is now a completely different person.

After packing his simple belongings, Jiang Xuan checked the cave one last time to make sure he hadn't left any traces that might reveal his identity before quietly disappearing into the misty forest.

The terrain of Demon Cloud Ridge is complex, with towering ancient trees blocking out the sun. Jiang Xuan easily avoided several patrols of the Wu Barbarians by using his newly acquired soul perception.

Along the way, he hunted down seven lone witch warriors, but never encountered any barbarian-level enemies.

It's too quiet.

Jiang Xuan squatted on an ancient tree, feeling that something was wrong.

Logically, the barbarian who escaped should have returned with his men to search for him, but three days have passed and the enemy seems to have vanished into thin air.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

Jiang Xuan touched the Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl in his arms; its icy temperature seeped through his clothes.

He suddenly realized a possibility: could the enemy be planning something bigger?
More than ten days later, deep in the Demon Cloud Ridge.

Jiang Xuan sheathed his blood-stained longsword, with the corpses of five powerful witch warriors lying at his feet.

He was panting, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; the continuous fighting had taken a toll on him.

"We should find a place to rest."

Jiang Xuan looked around. This area was safe for the time being, but he dared not let his guard down. Ever since the Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl merged into his body, the Water Barbarians had been relentlessly pursuing him like sharks that had smelled blood.

Just as he was about to leave, an unfamiliar presence rapidly approached.

Jiang Xuan tensed up instantly, his right hand pressing on the hilt of his sword.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not the enemy."

A man clad in black armor emerged from behind a tree, his chest embroidered with a ferocious wind beast pattern—the insignia of the Imperial Black Wind Army.

"Spirit Realm?"

Jiang Xuan's pupils contracted slightly; the other party's aura was clearly stronger than his own.

"Song Ran, captain of the third squad of the Black Wind Army."

The man clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice low and deep.

"I brought news of Hu Long."

Jiang Xuan did not let his guard down.

"Hu Long?"

"The barbarian who escaped has been killed by us."

Song Ran was straightforward.

"The Black Wind Army will not interfere in the battle at Demon Cloud Ridge, but if the Witch Barbarian Clan sends out any more barbarian warriors, we will eliminate them immediately."

Jiang Xuan nodded.

Thank you.

Song Ran's sharp gaze swept over Jiang Xuan.

"I'm curious, why are the Water Barbarian experts so targeting you? As far as I know, they rarely show such obsession with one person."

Jiang Xuan sighed softly.

"Perhaps it's because I killed too many Wuman tribesmen."

He wasn't telling the truth.

The secret of the Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl must never be revealed; it is a treasure that even experts at the Spirit Realm would covet.

Song Ran seemed to realize that Jiang Xuan was hiding something, but she did not press him for details.

"Be careful, the Water Barbarians are the most vengeful."

After saying that, he turned and left, disappearing into the dense forest in a few leaps.

Jiang Xuan watched him leave.

Although Song Ran brought good news, his unease grew stronger.

The feeling of being secretly watched lingered.

"There's someone watching me."

Jiang Xuan muttered to himself.

In the days that followed, Jiang Xuan hunted down the Wuman tribe while remaining vigilant against possible attacks.

Under the pressure of life and death, his soul power broke through once again.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the second soul star was lit up, its dazzling light complementing that of the first.

Jiang Xuan was pleasantly surprised to find that the cultivation of the Lesser Netherworld Divine Art progressed faster in dangerous environments.

"It seems that a comfortable environment is actually detrimental to spiritual cultivation."

Jiang Xuan seemed to be deep in thought.

But the joy brought by the breakthrough was quickly overshadowed by reality.

The feeling of being watched became more and more obvious, as if a pair of eyes in the dark were watching his every move.

"We can't continue to be so passive."

Jiang Xuan's eyes were filled with determination.

He changed his strategy, no longer hunting everywhere, but instead went deep into the most dangerous area of ​​Demon Cloud Ridge, where he built a simple thatched hut in the depths of a jungle infested with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts.

Jiang Xuan secretly arranged several spirit runes around the thatched hut.

These spirit patterns were carefully crafted from precious spiritual materials and ores he had collected over the past few days, forming a trapping array called the "Minor Five Elements Purgatory Spirit Array".

"Since I can't find you, then I'll make you come looking for me."

Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.

After the thatched hut was built, Jiang Xuan never left the house, seemingly engrossed in his cultivation. Strangely, the originally dangerous jungle environment suddenly became unusually quiet, and the poisonous insects and ferocious beasts around avoided the area, as if they were intimidated by some kind of force.

Seven days passed, and there was still no movement inside the thatched hut.

That day, a figure that blended almost seamlessly into the night quietly approached the thatched hut.

Shui Ying, the only survivor among the four Water Barbarian assassins, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"What's this kid up to?"

Shui Ying was puzzled. As the most outstanding assassin of the Shui Man lineage, he was skilled in stealth and had taken the lives of his enemies countless times without their knowledge.

But facing Jiang Xuan, he felt an unprecedented sense of difficulty.

Seven days ago, when Jiang Xuan suddenly changed his behavior and hid in a thatched hut, Shui Ying's first reaction was that it was a trap.

He waited patiently and tried various methods to investigate, but he was still unable to determine the situation inside the thatched hut.

"We can't delay any longer."

Shui Ying's eyes flashed with ruthlessness.

He moved like a wisp of smoke, silently approaching the thatched hut, the poisoned dagger in his hand gleaming with a ghostly blue light under the moonlight.

A faint light shone through the crack in the thatched hut's door, suggesting that someone was cultivating inside.

Water Eagle held his breath, heightened his senses to the limit, and after confirming that there was nothing amiss, he burst through the door!

"Die!"

The water eagle's short blade pierced straight at the figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the thatched hut.

The blade pierced only a hanging robe.

Shuiying's expression changed drastically. He immediately realized that he had fallen into a trap and turned to retreat.

"Want to leave now? Too late."

A cold voice came from all directions.

Suddenly, complex spiritual patterns lit up the walls and roof of the thatched hut, with five different types of spiritual energy intertwining into a net that firmly trapped the water eagle within.

Jiang Xuan stood outside the thatched hut, his eyes gleaming with a calm light.

He formed a hand seal, his fingertips shimmering with a faint spiritual light that echoed the spiritual patterns within the thatched hut.

"They took the bait, just as expected."

Jiang Xuan said softly, a barely perceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Despite being only at the ninth level of the True Martial Realm, he successfully crafted this trapping formation thanks to his talent for spirit patterns.

Although it's only a beginner-level spirit array, it's enough to deal with a barbarian who underestimates his opponent.

Intense fluctuations of spiritual energy emanated from inside the thatched hut, with the light of the spiritual runes flickering on and off.

Jiang Xuan could feel the water eagle struggling frantically within the formation; its power far exceeded his expectations.

"Strength approaching the Spirit Realm?"

Jiang Xuan was startled.

"This water eagle is no ordinary barbarian!"

With a deafening roar, the thatched hut shattered into pieces, and amidst the flying wood chips, a figure soared into the sky.

Shui Ying was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and he had many wounds on his body that were oozing blood, but his eyes were still cold as ice, revealing his murderous intent.

"You little brat, you're asking for it!"

After landing, the water eagle stared intently at Jiang Xuan, its voice as cold as the depths of hell.

Jiang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was in turmoil.

He hadn't expected that the Water Eagle could forcefully break through the formation; its strength far exceeded his expectations.

But the more critical the moment, the calmer he became.

"You barbarian lackeys, do you dare bark at me?"

Jiang Xuan sneered, deliberately provoking the other party.

The water eagle's anger intensified, but it quickly turned to surprise and doubt. (End of Chapter)