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

"Go back and take a medicinal bath. Same time tomorrow."

Jiang Xuan struggled to his feet and dragged his exhausted body back to his quarters. The medicinal bath provided by the Bloodthirsty Camp emitted a pungent odor, but its effects were astonishing. After soaking for an hour, his injuries had healed by more than half.

The training intensity increased again on the second day.

Xiao Ke added soul power training to the original training, requiring Jiang Xuan to maintain a high level of mental concentration while enduring physical pain.

"A true strong person must be able to remain calm under any circumstances."

As Xiao Ke spoke, the whip in her hand fell mercilessly.

Day after day, the training content changed constantly, but the level of brutality remained the same.

Jiang Xuan was pushed to his limit every day, then recovered with the help of medicinal baths and elixirs, and continued the next day.

A month later, in the secret room, the spirit-testing stone emitted a faint blue light, reflecting Jiang Xuan's resolute face.

His spiritual energy surged like a river, converging on his right fist.

"drink!"

With a low shout, his fist slammed heavily onto the surface of the spirit-testing stone.

In an instant, the patterns on the stone surface rapidly spread upwards from the bottom, and the light rose higher and higher.

"Eight thousand jin!"

Standing to the side, Xiao Ke's pupils contracted slightly; this number had already surpassed the limit of most True Martial Realm cultivators.

However, the speed at which the light rose did not slow down, and the nine thousand jin passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Ke's breathing became rapid involuntarily, and her slender fingers gripped the notebook tightly until her knuckles turned white.

"Nine thousand nine hundred...nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine jin!"

When the light reached its limit, the spirit-testing stone suddenly emitted a crisp sound, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on its surface, causing the light to dissipate.

"More than ten thousand jin"

Xiao Ke muttered to herself, her voice filled with disbelief.

"How can this be?"

Jiang Xuan withdrew his fist and looked at his palm.

"The spirit-testing stone is broken?"

"No, it's that it can't withstand your power."

Xiao Ke quickly stepped forward to check the condition of the spirit-testing stone.

"According to imperial standards, 10,000 jun is the threshold set for cultivators at the Spirit罡 Realm. The Blood Slaughter Camp's spirit-testing stones can only measure up to 9,999 jun."

She looked up at Jiang Xuan, her eyes filled with a complex light.

"Your spiritual power is already at the level of the Spiritual罡 Realm."

Jiang Xuan remained silent for a moment, then asked.

"Is this rare?"

"rare?"

Xiao Ke gave a wry smile.

"In the history of the empire, no more than ten cultivators have ever broken through to the Ten Thousand Jun realm in the True Martial Realm. Moreover..."

"Judging from the speed at which the light is rising, your limits are far from over."

That evening, Xiao Ke hurried through the stone corridors of the Bloodthirsty Camp and arrived at Xu Sanqi's residence. Pushing open the door, she saw Xu Sanqi bent over his desk reviewing documents, the candlelight casting varying shadows on his resolute face.

"Instructor, Jiang Xuan's test results are in."

Xiao Ke got straight to the point.

Xu Sanqi didn't even look up.

"It's broken through ten thousand jin?"

"You knew all along?"

Xiao Ke exclaimed in surprise.

"This can be inferred from his performance in the last training session."

Xu Sanqi put down his pen and finally looked up.

"Specific figures?"

"The spirit-testing stone collapsed at 9,999 jin, but according to the curve of the rising light..."

Xiao Ke unfolded her notebook.

"He showed almost no signs of slowing down before reaching 9,800 jin, so I estimate his true spiritual power is around 12,000 jin."

Xu Sanqi's eyes gleamed.

"Higher than expected."

The problem is…

Xiao Ke closed her notebook, her voice lowered.

"The Bloodthirsty Camp's spirit-testing stones can't detect such a high value. We need spirit-testing stones at the Spirit罡 Realm level."

Xu Sanqi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night sky.

"No need. The Blood Slaughter Camp's spirit-testing stones are specifically for True Martial Realm cultivators; tests exceeding ten thousand jun are meaningless."

"But this is a record-breaking achievement!"

Xiao Ke couldn't help but say.

"Record?"

Xu Sanqi sneered.

"The Empire's standards can no longer keep up with the growth rate of these children. In this year's Bloodthirsty Camp, at least five students can break through the eight thousand jin mark, and three of them can exceed nine thousand jin."

Jiang Xuan was just the most outstanding one among them.

Xiao Ke bit her lower lip.

"Instructor, helping trainees conceal their true strength is tantamount to defying the Empire's will. If the higher-ups investigate..."

"The will of the empire?"

Xu Sanqi suddenly turned around.

"Xiao Ke, you've followed me for so many years, don't you understand? I obey the true will of the empire, not the will of those high-ranking figures!"

His voice echoed in the stone chamber.

"The Bloodthirsty Camp exists to cultivate true pillars of the empire, not to train obedient tools for those important figures!"

Xiao Ke was stunned by this sudden outburst. After a moment of silence, she whispered.

"If I am blamed"

"Then let's shut down the Bloodthirsty Camp again."

Xu Sanqi calmed down and sat back down at the table.

"They did this three years ago, didn't they?"

The flickering candlelight illuminated the weariness on his face.

The incident three years ago almost ruined the future of the Bloodthirsty Camp.

"Are you taking this risk for Jiang Xuan alone?"

Xiao Ke asked cautiously.

Xu Sanqi shook his head.

"Of the forty-two trainees in this cohort, only a handful truly need our protection. Jiang Xuan and Li Duxing, for example, have no family backing, yet their talent is the most outstanding."

He picked up the teacup, then put it down again.

"Especially Jiang Xuan, who not only possesses abundant spiritual power but also masters unique spirit rune techniques. If those important figures were to find out..."

"Will they use him?"

Xiao Ke chimed in.

"use?"

Xu Sanqi sneered.

"They'll tear him to pieces and study every drop of his blood! Those powerful figures only care about profit; have they ever truly cared about the future of the empire?"

Xiao Ke remained silent.

She knew that Xu Sanqi had long harbored resentment towards the empire's high command, but this was the first time he had expressed it so bluntly.

"So what do we need to do?"

Finally, she asked.

"Maintain the status quo."

Xu Sanqi said in a deep voice.

"Jiang Xuan's test record is reported as 9,999 jun. As for his true strength, it will naturally be revealed after he enters the Lake of Transformation."

"Lake of Transformation."

Xiao Ke seemed to be deep in thought.

"After the final round of assessments, only thirty people will qualify."

Xu Sanqi nodded.

"Jiang Xuan will be fine. My concern is what will happen later."

"Are you worried he'll be targeted by powerful figures?"

"It's not fear, it's inevitability."

Xu Sanqi sighed deeply.

"Such talent cannot be hidden. All we can do is try to buy time, allowing him to grow stronger, strong enough that no one can manipulate him at will."

Meanwhile, Jiang Xuan was completely unaware of the conversation about him.

He sat cross-legged in his cramped stone chamber, eyes closed, regulating his breathing. The spiritual energy within his body surged like the tides, each cycle strengthening his meridians. "Perfected True Martial Ninth Level"

He opened his eyes, feeling the surging power within his body.

"Just one last step."

The next morning, the remaining trainees lined up neatly on the training ground.

A year of brutal training has eliminated most of the participants, leaving only the elite of the elite.

Xiao Ke stood on the high platform, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"The final round of assessments will be announced today."

The room immediately fell silent, and everyone held their breath.

"At dawn tomorrow, you will enter the Illusionary Killing Array."

Xiao Ke's voice was clear and strong.

"The thirty who persevere to the end will be qualified to enter the Lake of Transformation for cultivation."

A commotion spread among the students. The Lake of Transformation was a legendary, mysterious place that could help True Martial Realm cultivators break through to the Spiritual Realm.

"The Illusionary Killing Array will generate illusions of varying strengths based on each person's power."

Xiao Ke continued to explain.

"Defeat the illusions; the longer you persist, the higher your ranking. The top three will receive training slots in the heart of the lake."

Jiang Xuan stood in the line, somewhat dazed. Had a year already passed?

At night, the dim yellow light inside the warehouse flickered, illuminating Jiang Xuan's sharply defined profile.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at Xiaoman, who seemed distracted, across from him.

"Didn't you like today's broth?"

Jiang Xuan tapped the rim of the bowl with his chopsticks, and the crisp sound brought Xiaoman back to her senses.

Xiaoman raised her head, her expression flustered, but then she quickly regained her nonchalant demeanor.

Who wants to drink your soup?

Her voice lowered a few notches.

"As for you, the assessment is in three days. Don't let it get you so far that you can't even get into the Lake of Transformation."

Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

"So you were worried about me?"

"fart!"

Xiaoman suddenly stood up, the wooden stool scraping against the ground with a screeching sound.

"I'm afraid you'll hold me back!"

She turned to leave, but then stopped, turning her back to Jiang Xuandao.

"This assessment is different."

Jiang Xuan suppressed his smile, stood up, and walked behind Xiao Man.

"Are you in trouble?"

The warehouse fell silent for a moment, with only the clanging of Old Mo organizing equipment in the distance.

Xiaoman's shoulders trembled, but in the end she only let out a sneer.

"You? Mind your own business."

After saying that, he strode away, leaving Jiang Xuan standing there alone.

Moonlight seeped in through the cracks in the warehouse, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Jiang Xuan watched Xiao Man's departing figure, lost in thought.

The following morning, 42 trainees stood in neat rows at the edge of the vast field. In the center of the field, thirty ancient stone pillars were arranged in a circle, each covered with obscure and difficult-to-understand runes, which gleamed with a faint bluish light in the morning glow.

"Is that the passage to the Lake of Transformation?"

Some of the trainees were whispering among themselves.

"I've heard that there's an ancient essence of qi at the bottom of the lake; absorbing it can directly break through bottlenecks."

The discussion stopped abruptly when Xu Sanqi appeared.

The instructor, known for his strictness, surveyed the entire room with a gaze as sharp as a knife.

"The rules are simple."

Xu Sanqi's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Thirty stone pillars, thirty spots. The person who occupies a pillar within one hour wins. Those who fail to grab a pillar can challenge the one already occupied; the winner takes their place."

A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Remember, the Lake of Transformation only recognizes the last one standing on the stone pillar."

Jiang Xuan could feel the students around him breathing rapidly and their muscles tensing.

"start!"

At Xu Sanqi's command, 42 figures shot towards the center of the field like arrows.

Jiang Xuan did not rush to sprint, but instead observed the situation on the field.

Bai Lingxi, dressed in white, moved gracefully and landed on the central stone pillar almost instantly; Zhao Yin and Li Duxing occupied the stone pillars on the left and right sides respectively; Changsun Hen chose one near the edge.

"As expected, no one dared to compete with the top few."

Jiang Xuan understood, and with a burst of speed, he leaped toward a neglected stone pillar.

His choice was wise.

Just as he stepped onto the stone pillar, a loud shout came from behind him.

"Get out of here!"

A burly young man swung his iron fist at Jiang Xuan's back.

Jiang Xuan didn't turn his head. He slightly turned his body, and his right hand, as nimble as a snake, reached out and precisely grabbed the other's wrist, using the force to fling him away.
"boom!"

The burly boy crashed heavily to the ground five meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust.

He struggled to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.

"you!"

Jiang Xuan stood on the stone pillar, looking down at him.

"Want to try again?"

The boy's expression shifted, but he finally gritted his teeth and backed away.

Jiang Xuan looked around and noticed that many students who were originally eager to participate now hesitated after seeing this scene.

"Looks like I'm somewhat well-known in the camp."

Jiang Xuan chuckled to himself.

He noticed that Bai Lingxi was sitting cross-legged on a stone pillar with her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around her; Zhao Yin stood by with his arms crossed, watching coldly; while Li Duxing was like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed.

As time ticked by, the competition on the field gradually subsided.

Most of the thirty stone pillars had already been occupied, and the remaining twelve trainees began to carefully select their targets.

Jiang Xuan saw Ning Meng standing at the edge of the field with an excited smile on her face, showing no intention of taking over the empty stone pillar.

"This guy"

Jiang Xuan shook his head helplessly.

Ning Meng is a well-known battle maniac, and he obviously wouldn't let go of this opportunity to challenge a strong opponent.

As expected, Ning Meng's gaze swept over the top students and finally settled on Changsun Hen.

"Changsun Hen!"

Ning Meng's voice resounded throughout the venue like a thunderclap.

"I challenge you!"

There was an uproar in the field.

Changsun Hen is recognized as one of the four geniuses in the camp, on par with Bai Lingxi, Zhao Yin, and Li Duxing. No one dares to provoke him on ordinary days.

In the center of the field, Changsun Hen turned around.

He had a handsome face and an innate arrogance between his brows.

Upon hearing the challenge, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"The Ning family's trash dares to challenge me?"

Changsun Hen's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"It seems your grandfather never taught you what self-awareness is."

Ning Meng's smile didn't fade; instead, it became even brighter.

"What? The genius of the prestigious Changsun family is afraid?"

"Afraid?"

A cold glint flashed in Changsun Hen's eyes.

"I just don't want to waste time. But since you're determined to die, I'll grant your wish."

Before he finished speaking, Changsun Hen flashed and appeared three zhang in front of Ning Meng.

The air between the two seemed to freeze, and the invisible clash of their auras caused the surrounding students to involuntarily take several steps back.

"let's start."

The instructor, acting as referee, announced the decision with a blank expression.

Almost at the same moment, the two attacked simultaneously!
The fists and palms collided, unleashing a deafening roar.

The shockwave spread outwards from the two people, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Ning Meng retreated three steps, while Changsun Hen only swayed slightly. (End of Chapter)