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

"Is my payment ready?"

Stepping into the familiar hall of the Spirit Pattern Master Commune, Jiang Xuan went straight to the quiet room where Chu Feng was.

Chu Feng seemed to have anticipated this and was already waiting inside.

"Manager Chu."

Jiang Xuan clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression solemn.

"Young Master Jiang!"

Chu Feng quickly stood up to return the greeting, his face still showing a hint of surprise and respect.

"Is your injury any better?"

"It's no longer serious."

Jiang Xuan nodded, looking directly at Chu Feng with sincere gratitude.

"The first thing I wanted to do today was to thank the steward. Three days ago, on that rainy night, if it weren't for the steward's righteous help, the intelligence, pills, equipment, and information on several places to stay that he provided, I probably wouldn't have been able to hold out until Senior Xue Jin arrived. I will always remember this timely help."

Upon hearing this, Chu Feng quickly waved his hand, a look of shame on his face.

"Young master, you flatter me! You flatter me! I only offered some meager assistance and convenience. What truly resolves the crisis is your own strength and... the support you have behind you. My help is truly insignificant and does not deserve such a generous gift from you!"

He knew in his heart that his little bit of help, under that level of encirclement and attack, could at most allow Jiang Xuan to hold on for a little longer. What would truly turn the tide was the terrifying combat power displayed by the young man in front of him, as well as the unfathomable "Senior Xue Jin" and the "Cangshan Muxue" that he represented.

The fact that Jiang Xuan was able to remain unscathed in this storm and even silence all his opponents shows that his power has far exceeded his expectations.

"The manager is too modest."

Jiang Xuan insisted.

“Even the smallest act of help during times of crisis is a kindness. I will remember this kindness.”

Seeing Jiang Xuan's resolute attitude, Chu Feng was also impressed and felt even more favorably disposed towards him.

He no longer declined, but simply sighed.

“Young master, your righteousness is truly admirable. I am ashamed of my own shortcomings. In the future, if you ever need my help, the entire Spirit Pattern Master Society will do our utmost to fulfill it.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Jiang Xuan got up to take his leave.

"With the provincial examination approaching, Jiang still needs to make some preparations. Once his injuries have fully recovered, he will come back to the commune to take on tasks, and he also hopes to be able to help the person in charge with some things."

"You're too kind, young master! The commune welcomes your visit at any time!"

Chu Feng quickly replied, secretly delighted.

Having this incredibly promising "Master Seeker" willing to continue the collaboration is definitely a huge boon for the commune.

Before leaving, Jiang Xuan took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Chu Feng.

"Oh, right, manager, I need to trouble you with something. There are some spiritual materials here. Could you please help me collect them? Price is not a problem."

He needs to prepare to forge a stronger battle blade of his own, one that can withstand his current power and new insights.

Chu Feng took the list, glanced at the several rare metals and auxiliary materials listed, understood immediately, and patted his chest to guarantee it.

"Don't worry, young master! Leave it to me! I'll let you know as soon as I have any news!"

"Good work."

Jiang Xuan nodded, then turned and left the Spirit Pattern Master Commune without lingering.

After leaving the commune, Jiang Xuan did not immediately return to Xue Jin's courtyard, but instead strolled along the bustling main street of Yanxia City.

The tension from the life-or-death struggle three days ago seemed to gradually dissipate in the bustling atmosphere of the city.

The sun was shining brightly, and the streets were lined with shops and teeming with people, making it ten or even a hundred times more bustling than Donglin City. All sorts of novel things came into view.

The Beast Tamer's Inn, which bears the sign "Yulingzhai," has a huge iron cage at its entrance containing ferocious-looking and fierce-looking beasts, attracting many cultivators to stop and watch or negotiate transactions.

The flower shop, named "Bai Cao Tian Xiang Ge" (Pavilion of a Hundred Herbs and Heavenly Fragrance), is managed by a spiritual plant master. The display windows are filled with dazzling spiritual flowers and herbs that exude a unique fragrance that is refreshing and delightful.

The enticing aroma wafted from "Zhenxiulou," the delicacy meticulously prepared by the spiritual chefs using ingredients imbued with spiritual energy. It is said that long-term consumption of such food is beneficial to cultivation.

There are also shops selling all kinds of spiritual materials, elixirs, talismans, and books, a dazzling array that is hard to resist.

"The Purple Obsidian Empire... is indeed powerful."

Jiang Xuan sighed inwardly.

Such a prosperous scene, gathering resources from all directions, is a testament to the empire's profound heritage.

Here, it seems that as long as you have the ability and the money, you can get everything you want.

However, he quickly withdrew his gaze. Prosperity, though desirable, is not the essence of cultivation.

He knew that in this dog-eat-dog world, all the glamour was just an illusion, and only one's own strength was the eternal foundation for survival!
"The mid-stage of the Human Realm... It's too difficult to break through to the late stage or even the perfect stage in a short time, and to break through to the Earth Realm. Forcing a breakthrough will only make the foundation unstable."

Jiang Xuan silently considered his current situation.

“Mastery levels are difficult to achieve quickly, but combat strength is not impossible to improve.”

He has a clear mind.

1. Improvement of weaponry and equipment. This is the most urgent task. He needs a new, more powerful sword that better suits his current swordsmanship and strength! This is also the reason he gave Chu Feng the list of spiritual materials.

2. The honing of martial arts skills. He had mastered the form of the Six-Character Saber Technique, but there was still a distance to go before achieving perfection in its "intention." Especially the final move, the "Annihilation" technique; he felt there was still immense potential to be explored. Before the provincial examination, he must thoroughly understand it and integrate it into his instincts!

3. Continued Soul Cultivation. The strengthening of his soul brought about by the Lesser Netherworld Divine Art not only enhanced his perception, reaction, and spirit pattern inscription abilities, but was also one of his trump cards for turning the tide in desperate situations.

The cultivation of the soul should not be neglected either!
"The provincial examination brings together the top talents of the province, and it is bound to be a fierce and unpredictable battle."

"The third trial on the Path of Azure Cloud, 'Hundred Battles,' offers only three chances; defeat means a thousand-year slumber..."

"Time is of the essence. We must bring ourselves to peak condition and hone our combat skills to the limit within this timeframe! Any improvement could be the key to life or death!"

Jiang Xuan's gaze was focused, his goal clear.

As he walked slowly forward, he mentally deduced the various changes of the "Six-Character Sword Technique" and pondered the spiritual pattern configuration of the new battle sword. His entire mind was immersed in thinking about enhancing his power.

"Help! Let go of me! I don't know you! Help!"

A shrill, desperate cry for help from a woman pierced the noise of the street like a sharp awl, interrupting Jiang Xuan's thoughts.

Jiang Xuan paused, looking in the direction of the sound.

A short distance ahead, a large crowd had gathered at a crossroads. In the center of the crowd, a burly man with a fierce face, dressed in a coarse cloth jacket, was roughly dragging a young woman.
Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was loose, and her delicate face was covered with tears and fear. She struggled desperately, trying to break free from the strong man's iron-like grip.

"You bitch! You dare run away? You cheated on me and you still think you're right? I'll beat you to death today!"

The burly man spat and cursed loudly, deliberately making sure everyone around him could hear.

"Neighbors, be the judge! This slut is my wife, whom I bought for twenty gold coins! I've fed and clothed her, and she's gone and hooked up with some other man while I'm out working! Today I'm taking her back and teaching her a lesson!"

The burly man's words were highly inflammatory, and the uninformed passersby immediately began to discuss among themselves, their gazes towards the woman filled with contempt and disgust.

"Tsk tsk, so you were cheating on someone! Serves you right!"

"He looks quite handsome, I never expected him to be this kind of person!"

"Men, this kind of woman deserves a beating! Take her home and discipline her properly!"

"That's right! It's his own wife, he deserves to be beaten to death!" Hearing the accusations around her, the woman's face turned pale, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness. She cried out, her voice hoarse.

"No! No! I don't know him! I really don't know him! I was kidnapped! Please, please save me! Help me!"

However, her explanations seemed so weak and powerless in the face of the burly man's "righteous words" and the preconceived notions of the passersby.

A barely perceptible sneer flashed across the burly man's face. He tightened his grip and roughly dragged the woman toward an inconspicuous, dilapidated carriage parked by the roadside.

The woman's desperate cries pierced Jiang Xuan's heart like needles.

Having experienced the darkest depths of society, he has an instinctive aversion to such acts of abducting women and distorting the truth.

Moreover, the pure fear and despair in the woman's eyes did not seem feigned.

"stop!"

A cold shout, not loud, but with a penetrating power, clearly echoed at the noisy street corner.

The crowd fell silent instantly, all eyes turning to the source of the voice: a young man in an ordinary blue robe with a stern face—Jiang Xuan.

The burly man paused, turning to look at Jiang Xuan with a fierce gaze that carried both impatience at being interrupted and a hint of wariness.

"Hey kid! Who do you think you are? Mind your own business! I'm disciplining my unfaithful wife, what's it to you?"

She said she doesn't know you.

Jiang Xuan walked out of the crowd step by step, his expressionless face showing his sharp gaze as he swept over the burly man's hand that was holding the woman.

"Hey!
You believe her just because she says so?

The burly man chuckled and looked around.

"Everyone, tell me, can we believe this bitch's words? She's running off with some random guy, of course she'll say she doesn't know me! What do you know, you brat? Get out of my way! Don't delay my business!"

He tried to overwhelm Jiang Xuan with public opinion.

"Yes, young man, don't meddle in other people's business!"

"Exactly, this woman isn't even self-disciplined, why are you helping her?"

"Let's go, don't get into trouble!"

Passersby also echoed the burly man's sentiments, urging Jiang Xuan to leave.

Seeing someone step forward, the woman grasped at a last straw, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Xuan and shook her head desperately.

"Young master! I really don't know him! Please save me! I was kidnapped by them!"

"You bitch! How dare you spout nonsense!"

Enraged, the burly man raised his large, fan-like hand to slap the woman's face, while simultaneously shoving Jiang Xuan, who was blocking his way, with his other hand.

"Get out of my way, kid!"

However, his hand had not yet touched Jiang Xuan's clothes.

Jiang Xuan made a move!

Their movements were as fast as a ghost!

His left hand shot out with lightning speed, like a serpent emerging from its hole, and precisely seized the wrist of the burly man who was pushing it towards him! A fierce and cunning hidden force instantly penetrated it!

"Ugh!"

The burly man felt a numbness in his arm, and half of his body instantly lost its strength, bringing his pushing motion to an abrupt halt.

This is not over yet!

Jiang Xuan's eyes were icy cold. He silently raised his right foot, like a scorpion's tail, and with a sharp gust of wind, his toes struck the outside of the strong man's supporting leg's knee in an instant!
Click!

A faint, teeth-grinding cracking sound!

"what!"

The burly man screamed in agony as his left leg instantly lost its support, and the excruciating pain caused him to involuntarily kneel on the ground!
Jiang Xuan didn't stop moving. He twisted and shook the other person's wrist with his left hand!
Click!Click!
Two more crisp cracks, accompanied by an even more agonizing scream, and the strong man's right shoulder and right elbow joints were cleanly and neatly dislocated!

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye!
The burly man who was so aggressive just a second ago is now curled up on the ground like a mangy dog ​​whose bones have been removed, his limbs twisted, tears streaming down his face from the pain, and all he can do is howl like a pig being slaughtered.

"Ah! My hands! My legs! Broken! Broken! Spare me! Spare me!"

The woman was terrified and instinctively took a step back, but when she saw the burly man's miserable state, a hint of pleasure and relief flashed in her eyes.

This bloody and ruthless scene instantly shocked everyone present!

The passersby who were just criticizing the woman and urging Jiang Xuan to leave suddenly fell silent, as if someone had grabbed their throats! They stared wide-eyed in horror at the calm-faced young man in the blue robe in the center of the scene.

No one expected that this seemingly slender young man would be so ruthless and decisive, instantly crippling a burly man into this state!

Jiang Xuan didn't even glance at the burly man groaning on the ground. His gaze swept over the silent crowd and finally landed on the still-shaken woman. His voice was calm.

"You can leave now."

The woman seemed to awaken from a dream, and bowed deeply to Jiang Xuan with tears of gratitude.

"Thank you so much for saving my life! Thank you so much, sir!"

After saying that, she didn't dare to look at the people on the ground anymore, hurriedly pushed through the crowd, and staggered away.

Jiang Xuan ignored the various gazes around him and turned to leave this place of trouble.

In a private room of a three-story restaurant not far from the street corner, the carved window facing the street view was pushed open a crack.

Qi Yunxiao, the young master of Biguang Pavilion, was leaning against the window. On his fair face, one could still vaguely see the fingerprints that had not completely faded. These were left by his father, Qi Liancheng, in a fit of rage three days ago.

He watched the commotion at the street corner below with a sinister look, his gaze fixed on the ruthless young man in blue robes who was about to leave. Jiang Xuan!

"It's him!"

Qi Yunxiao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

The humiliation of the street fight three days ago, and the resounding slap from his father, made him hate Jiang Xuan to the core!
"Young Master, it's Jiang Xuan!"

One of his attendants recognized him and whispered.

"Should we..."

"Shut up!"

Qi Yunxiao interrupted the servant with a low, irritated shout.

He recalled his father's cold, stern warning: "Don't mess with this person again! Or I'll break your legs!"

That was definitely not just intimidation.

But the resentment and unwillingness in his heart were like the bites of a venomous snake.

He stared intently at Jiang Xuan's retreating figure, a twisted, cold smile creeping onto his lips.

"Father forbids me from provoking him? Humph! Fine, I won't provoke him! But... watching the show is acceptable, right?"

He abruptly straightened up, a malicious glint in his eyes. (End of Chapter)