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

"The sun shines brightly in the north, and purple clouds rise from the east!"

Someone gasped in surprise.

"It's a deadly move from the Imperial Family's ultimate martial art, the 'Northern Dipper Purple Star Scripture'!"

"Zhao Yin actually mastered this move? He's only at the ninth level of the True Martial Realm!"

Instructor Xu Sanqi suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with shock.

Even among the royal family, few can master this move at the True Martial Realm.

Zhao Yin's talent was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

The sky seemed to be torn apart, and the phantom image of the Big Dipper guarded a purple sun as it pressed down.

Endless purple energy, carrying the power to destroy the world, crushed towards Jiang Xuan.

The sheer power of that aura caused many trainees on the sidelines to turn pale and their legs to go weak.

"It's over, Jiang Xuan is doomed."

"After this move, there probably won't even be any ashes left."

Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided, Jiang Xuan made his move.

A faint, ethereal sound, like the sigh of the starry sky, quietly rose from the air.

The sound was very soft, yet it strangely pierced through the roar of the purple mist, clearly reaching everyone's ears. Immediately afterward, the light and shadow before their eyes shifted dramatically.
Stars fell to earth like comets, tearing through the void with destructive fire.

That wasn't ordinary starlight, but a black blade of light carrying an aura of annihilation!
"This is."

Bai Lingxi's pupils suddenly contracted.

The seven illusory Big Dipper stars in front of Zhao Yin shattered one by one under the black blade light.

The billowing purple aura was swallowed up, as if it had encountered its natural enemy.

Wherever the black blade of light passed, space seemed to be torn apart, leaving behind tiny black marks.

"impossible!"

Zhao Yin's expression changed drastically, and he frantically activated the spiritual power within his body.

But it was too late.
A cold glint tore through the darkness, like the Grim Reaper's scythe in the night sky, mercilessly slashing towards Zhao Yin.

"puff!"

Zhao Yin was struck as if by lightning, and the purple light around him instantly dimmed.

He staggered back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The illusory image, resembling a purple sun, was completely extinguished by this strike.

The whole place was dead silent.

No one could believe what they were seeing.

"Picking stars."

Jiang Xuan sheathed his sword and uttered two words softly.

On the sidelines, instructors Xu Sanqi and others had different expressions.

Xu Sanqi's eyes were solemn; the dark-faced instructor beside him looked at the arena with surprise and uncertainty; the only female instructor's red lips were slightly parted, clearly also shocked by this strike.

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?"

The dark-faced instructor asked in a low voice.

Xu Sanqi shook his head.

"Never seen it before."

Bai Lingxi stood not far away, staring blankly at the center of the battlefield, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, filled with confusion.

Li Duxing, standing beside her, took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, but his grip on the sword tightened unconsciously.

"Zhao Yin...defeated?"

One of the students finally couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The audience erupted in uproar, with murmurs and discussions rising and falling.

"Am I seeing things? Zhao Yin was defeated in a single move?"

"What kind of swordsmanship was that? I didn't even see it clearly!"

"Jiang Xuan, when did you become so strong?"

Shi Yu stood on his stone pillar, his gaze towards Jiang Xuan filled with complex emotions.

He had thought he had overestimated his opponent enough, but now it seemed he still hadn't.

"Hahaha! That's great!"

Ning Meng's loud laughter was particularly loud amidst the noisy discussions.

"That arrogant kid Zhao Yin has finally met his match today!"

Bai Lingxi came to her senses and murmured to herself.

"Picking Stars... is that the name of that move?"

Li Duxing's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a low voice.

"Junior Sister Bai recognizes this sword technique?"

Bai Lingxi shook her head.

"Never seen it before."

"But this strike has already touched the edge of the Dao."

Li Duxing's pupils contracted slightly as he looked again at the tall figure in the arena, his eyes filled with apprehension.

In the center of the battlefield, Zhao Yin lay unconscious on the ground, his body contorted in shock, bewilderment, and resentment still lingering on his face, a stark contrast to his imposing presence before the battle, which had been like a purple sun.

Jiang Xuan remained standing on the stone pillar, his face pale, yet exuding an awe-inspiring majesty.

"Zhao Yin has been defeated!"

Another exclamation rang out, this time even more certain.

After confirming that Zhao Yin was out of danger, Xu Sanqi announced loudly.

"The assessment continues!"

With this order.

Zhao Yin's defeat made the stone pillar he originally occupied the target of everyone's struggle, and the battle became increasingly fierce.

Jiang Xuan became famous after that battle, and no one dared to provoke him easily.

He sat down cross-legged and began to perceive his own condition.

"The costs of star-collecting are greater than imagined."

Jiang Xuan examined his own body and found that almost all of his true essence had been drained.

But this battle also gave him a clearer understanding of his own abilities.

During his cultivation behind Demon Cloud Ridge, his strength advanced by leaps and bounds, and his cultivation level reached the perfect ninth level of True Martial Realm, with eight Soul Stars lit up in his Sea of ​​Consciousness.

Even though he had not fully mastered the essence of the Star Gathering Style, he still defeated Zhao Yin with this move, which made him look forward to the last two moves of the Heavenly Origin Blade Technique, the Moon Embracing Style and the Sun Burning Style.

"The Heavenly Secret Realm six months later"

Jiang Xuan kept this goal in mind.

The battle on the field was fierce, with the trainees fighting with all their might to seize the stone pillar, and one after another, they suffered crushing defeats and were eliminated.

Jiang Xuan noticed that the students from Camp 39 made up the largest proportion of the participants.

Of the seven, Jiang Xuan, Ning Meng, Shi Yu, and Li Duxing have already occupied the stone pillar, while Gong Ming, Qi Can, and Ye Xiaoqi are still vying for it.

Soon after, Ye Xiaoqi smiled nonchalantly and took the initiative to leave.

"So be it, this stone pillar is not meant for me."

Qi Can was not so lucky. He was knocked unconscious by a heavy punch from his opponent. This man who once hated Jiang Xuan ultimately failed to make it to the end.

"One minute left!"

Xu Sanqi's voice resounded throughout the entire venue.

Feng Lin was the only one left on the field who hadn't managed to grab the stone pillar.

His face was gloomy, and his gaze wandered between several stone pillars before finally settling on Ning Meng.

"Ning Meng is seriously injured, and time is of the essence. Even with Jiang Xuan's help, it will be difficult to change the situation."

Feng Lin pondered in his heart, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

“Now!”

Feng Lin suddenly sprang into action, drawing his long sword and aiming straight for Ning Meng.

Ning Meng appeared completely unprepared, but a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Just as Feng Lin unleashed his full power in a slash, he suddenly moved!
"boom!"

The halberd, crackling with lightning, slammed down. Caught off guard, Feng Lin was sent flying several feet away, screaming as he fell off the field.

"You think you can get a bargain?"

Ning Meng's face was full of disdain.

"I've been faking my injury for so long, just waiting for someone as blind as you!"

Everyone was stunned, only then realizing that Ning Meng had been hiding his strength all along.

Beneath his rugged exterior lies a cunning and ruthless heart.

"Time's up!"

As Xu Sanqi's voice rang, the bell signaled the end of the assessment.

This unexpected and shocking assessment has finally come to an end.

After a year of brutal training at the Bloodthirsty Camp, thirty disciples passed the assessment and gained the qualification to enter the Lake of Transformation.

As the sun set, thirty ancient stone pillars stood in the center of the camp, each with a student atop it. Jiang Xuan stood on his assigned pillar, feeling the cool touch beneath his feet.

A year of grueling training and countless brushes with death have finally paid off at this moment.

"Lake of Transformation."

Jiang Xuan murmured softly, his gaze unconsciously drifting into the distance.

There, the old man of the Obsidian Sanctuary promised that if he could enter the Lake of Transformation, he would tell him about the summer solstice.

Hey, Jiang Xuan!

Ning Meng, standing on a nearby stone pillar, waved at him, his face beaming with undisguised smugness.

"Did you see Changsun Hen's expression? It was more interesting than if he'd swallowed a fly!"

Jiang Xuan smiled.

"You really acted convincingly; even I thought your left arm was genuinely injured."

"Of course!"

Ning Meng patted his chest proudly.

"To fool that guy, I actually had Shi Yu cut my arm, but the wound was very shallow."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yu on the other side curled his lip.

"Don't ask me to do this kind of thing again. If the instructors find out, we're all doomed."

“What are you afraid of?”

Ning Meng waved his hand dismissively.

"Anyway, the assessment is over. Next up is the Lake of Transformation Qi. I've heard that the primordial Qi there can transform a person completely. I'm determined to break through to the Spiritual Qi Realm this time!"

Shi Yu didn't reply, but instead looked into the distance with anticipation in his eyes.

"Once I emerge from the Lake of Transformation, I can go home. That girl Zhao Zijing promised to go to the hot springs together when I get back."

"You idiot, all you ever think about is that!"

Ning Meng laughed and scolded.

Jiang Xuan listened to their conversation, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

A year of training had almost made him forget the outside world. Now that he was about to leave, he suddenly realized that he hadn't thought about his past life for a long time.

Just then, Xu Sanqi led a group of instructors into the field.

All the trainees immediately fell silent, their eyes turning to the head instructor whom they both respected and feared.

First of all, congratulations on making it to the end.

Xu Sanqi's voice was still hoarse, but unusually warm.

"These thirty stone pillars are the passageway leading to the Lake of Transformation."

The trainees looked down at the stone pillars beneath their feet, their eyes shining with excitement.

"The passage will be opened in three days."

Xu Sanqi continued.

"But before that, you need to do one thing."

As he finished speaking, the instructors began to award each trainee a blood-red badge.

When Jiang Xuan received his badge, he examined it carefully. The front of the badge depicted a sword and an ancient character, while the back was engraved with the number "nineteen".

"This badge is proof that you persevered to the very end."

Xu Sanqi looked around at everyone, his voice becoming serious.

"It represents the honor of the Bloodthirsty Camp and will be your support after you leave. Wherever you go in the future, as long as you show this badge, you will receive the support of the Bloodthirsty Camp."

Jiang Xuan gripped the badge tightly, feeling the cool touch of the metal.

This small object carries the weight of a year's blood and sweat, and also symbolizes the hope for the future.

"Now, Cao Shiliu will explain the precautions for entering the Lake of Transformation."

After Xu Sanqi finished speaking, he stepped aside.

Cao Shiliu stepped forward, his expression unusually serious. This instructor, who was always smiling, was now unusually serious.

"The Lake of Transformation only produces pure primordial energy every ten years. This is the purest energy in the world, and it is crucial for your breakthrough to the Spiritual Qi Realm."

His gaze swept over each student.

"Remember, you only have one chance. After entering the Lake of Transformation, you can only stay for a maximum of seven days. Within seven days, you must complete the condensation of the spiritual energy pool, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what will happen?"

One student couldn't help but ask.

Cao Shiliu's eyes became deep.

"Otherwise, they will be left there forever, becoming part of the Lake of Transformation."

This statement sent a chill down the spines of all the trainees.

Jiang Xuan clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He had to succeed, not only for himself, but also to get news of Xia Zhi.

"Alright, dismissed!"

Xu Sanqi's voice broke the heavy atmosphere.

"Meet here at the same time three days from now."

The trainees left the stone pillar one after another, heading towards their respective residences in twos and threes.

Jiang Xuan was about to leave when Ning Meng grabbed him.

"Hey, Jiang Xuan, do you think we can succeed?"

Ning Meng rarely showed a serious expression.

Jiang Xuan looked at his usually carefree companion and said softly.

"We definitely can."

Ning Meng grinned and patted Jiang Xuan's shoulder hard.

"Well said! Let's see who breaks through first!"

Shi Yu walked over and shook his head helplessly.

"You two, starting to compete now? Save your energy, the real test is yet to come."

The three exchanged a smile and left the training ground together.

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

When the trainees stood on the stone pillar again, everyone's expression was extremely solemn.

Jiang Xuan calmed his racing heartbeat.

He barely slept for the past three days, constantly adjusting his state to prepare for the upcoming breakthrough.

"Are you ready?"

Xu Sanqi stood in the center of the field, his gaze sweeping over each student.

The thirty trainees responded in unison.

“Ready!”

Xu Sanqi nodded and retreated to the sidelines.

At the same time, the instructors dispersed and stood in specific positions, beginning to form hand seals.

"Buzz."

With a strange buzzing sound, the black rocks on the field suddenly emitted a faint glow.

These rays of light flowed along the ground and eventually converged on the thirty stone pillars.

Jiang Xuan felt the stone pillar beneath his feet begin to tremble. Then, a beam of light rose from the top of the pillar, enveloping him completely.

The situation was similar for the other trainees; thirty beams of light formed a strange spectacle on the training ground.

"here we go!"

Jiang Xuan heard Ning Meng's excited shouts.

The next second, a powerful spiritual energy storm suddenly emerged in the center of the arena. The wind howled, sand and stones flew, and the thirty pillars of light twisted and deformed in the storm.

Jiang Xuan felt a powerful suction force coming from beneath his feet, as if it were about to pull him into the stone pillar.

"Remember, you only have seven days!"

Xu Sanqi's voice pierced through the storm and reached the ears of every student.

Jiang Xuan took one last look at the outside world, then closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself caught in a massive vortex of spiritual energy, and the surrounding scenery began to blur and distort.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the training field, the instructors watched the trainees gradually disappear.

"How many of you think will be able to condense a Grade One Spiritual Energy Pool this time?"

"A drill instructor asked."

Cao Shiliu stroked his chin.

"Bai Lingxi, Li Duxing, and Jiang Xuan should be fine."

Xu Sanqi shook his head.

"Jiang Xuan's foundation is slightly weaker, which may affect his breakthrough."

“I disagree.”

Xiao Ke interjected.

"Jiang Xuan's foundation is very solid. Although his background is not as deep as others, his stability is excellent."

Xiaoman nodded in agreement. (End of Chapter)