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

The little guy seemed to have just taken a long nap; it was still round and plump, and its scales seemed to have a brighter sheen, but there were no other obvious changes on its surface.

After it woke up, it nuzzled Jiang Xuan affectionately, and then... stared at Jiang Xuan longingly, sniffing with its little nose as if searching for something delicious.

Clearly, the energy from the top-grade Azure Spirit Crystal has been almost completely absorbed.

Jiang Xuan smiled helplessly at its greedy look, but he was filled with confidence in this mysterious little guy.

Chiu Chiu's talent is absolutely unfathomable, and her future is limitless!
All the necessary materials are ready, the design is complete, and he is at his peak.

All is ready except for the opportunity!
Jiang Xuan took out a specially made spirit inkstone and prepared to grind, mix, and refine the spirit ink. This was an essential step before carving spirit patterns.

However, just as he poured the several kinds of ground spiritual powder into the inkstone.

Benedict! Benedict! Benedict!
There was a rapid knocking at the gate, accompanied by Chu Feng's familiar yet clearly anxious voice.

"Young Master Jiang! Is Young Master Jiang here? I am Chu Feng, and I have urgent business to discuss with you!"

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly, put down what he was holding, and got up to open the door.

Chu Feng stood outside the door, his face no longer as composed as before. His brows were furrowed, his expression was solemn, and there was even a fine bead of sweat on his forehead.

"Manager Chu? What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"

Jiang Xuan stepped aside to let him in.

Chu Feng strode into the courtyard, not even having time to greet Xue Jin under the eaves, and hurriedly spoke to Jiang Xuan.

"Young master! Something's happened! Someone... specifically requested to go to 'Master Xun'!"

"You specifically asked for me?"

Jiang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

"It's...an old woman!"

Chu Feng took a deep breath, trying to calm his tone, but the shock still lingered in his eyes.

"An old woman... frail and elderly, leaning on a broken wooden cane! But... but young master, that old woman... is unfathomable!"
She barged into the commune, demanding to see Master Xun by name! Her aura… it was… it was even more terrifying than facing a Heavenly Realm expert! In her presence, this old man felt even breathing was difficult!

"Old woman?"

Jiang Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately thought of the mysterious old woman beside the young man in blue robes he had encountered on the street a few days ago! Was it her? What was she looking for "Master Xun" for? To repair the ancient musical instrument?

Chu Feng continued, his tone tinged with lingering fear.

"Her attitude was extremely arrogant! She wouldn't listen to reason at all! She said something like, 'Make that Master Xun come with me right now, or he'll have to suffer the consequences!' I... I really couldn't withstand that pressure, and I didn't dare reveal your identity, so I could only bite the bullet and say that Master Xun was in seclusion refining an important spiritual weapon and wouldn't be out for three days... I pleaded and begged, and barely managed to buy her three days! After three days, she... she'll come again! Young master, if you don't agree... I'm afraid... I'm afraid she'll do something to you!"

Chu Feng's face was full of worry.

The old woman exerted such a strong sense of pressure on him that he couldn't muster the slightest thought of resistance.

Jiang Xuan's heart sank.

His identity will be exposed? That's inevitable! Once he goes with that old woman, his identity as a "master seeker" will definitely come out.

Moreover, that old woman is unfathomable and her attitude is so tough. Whether this trip will bring good fortune or disaster is unpredictable! The risk is extremely high!

"Repairing a magical artifact?"

Chu Feng caught Jiang Xuan's whisper and quickly added.

"Yes, yes, yes! That old woman mentioned... that she wanted Master Xun to help restore an... antique? She didn't say what it was. But judging from her tone, it seems she really only came for Master Xun's expertise in spirit patterns?"

Restoring the ancient musical instrument, the Xun!

Jiang Xuan immediately made up his mind.

What could be the ancient musical instrument with the missing core component, the "Heavenly Sound Stone," that could make that refined young man in blue robes cherish it so much, and that would make this unfathomable old woman personally come to "seek the master"?
Danger... but it could also be... an opportunity?
Mr. Lu's praise of the ancient Xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument) still echoed in my ears; it was a magical artifact containing the very essence of the sounds of heaven and earth. If only I could come into contact with it…

Moreover, the young man in the blue robe and the old woman are definitely not ordinary people! If we can use this opportunity to forge a good relationship…

Jiang Xuan's eyes shifted, and his mind raced.

Refuse? That old woman will never let it go, and Chu Feng and even the Spirit Pattern Master Commune may be implicated.

If I agree, my identity will be exposed, and my future will be uncertain.

Weigh again and again.

Finally, Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Manager Chu," he said in a deep voice, looking at Chu Feng, who looked nervous.

“Three days from now, I’ll go with you to the Spirit Pattern Master Commune to meet that… old woman.”

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

Accompanied by Chu Feng with a worried expression, Jiang Xuan once again stepped into the magnificent buildings of the Spirit Pattern Master Commune.

This time, they did not linger in the front hall, but were led directly to a very secluded meeting room on the second floor.

"Young master... that person is inside."

Chu Feng lowered his voice, his face still showing undisguised tension and worry, and pointed to the tightly closed door.

"This old man... will be waiting outside."

Jiang Xuan nodded calmly and pushed open the door to enter.

The reception room was small and simply furnished.

A tea table and a few chairs.

At this moment, the only person sitting by the tea table was the old woman that Chu Feng had mentioned three days ago.

She was still wearing that faded coarse cloth dress, her body hunched over, her face deeply wrinkled like parched, cracked earth, leaning on an inconspicuous ordinary wooden cane, resting with her eyes closed.

She looked like an ordinary, frail old woman from the countryside.

However, the moment Jiang Xuan's gaze fell upon her!

An indescribable, terrifying sense of oppression, like a dormant volcano suddenly awakening, swept over him without warning! It felt as if the air in the entire room had been instantly sucked out, turning into heavy, molten lava! Jiang Xuan felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart gripped tightly by an invisible hand! A tremendous fear, stemming from his very survival instinct, instantly seized him, and his back was soaked with cold sweat!
This oppressive aura wasn't a deliberately released force, but rather a natural manifestation of the opponent's life level and the essence of their power! It was as if the person before him wasn't an old man, but the core of a furnace capable of incinerating everything at any moment! But only for a fleeting instant!
Just as Jiang Xuan was visibly shaken and almost couldn't help but retreat, the terrifying sense of oppression receded like a tide, disappearing without a trace.

The room returned to calm, with only an ordinary old woman resting with her eyes closed, as if the earth-shattering feeling just now was Jiang Xuan's illusion.

Jiang Xuan stood there, his back icy cold, a trace of horror lingering deep in his pupils.

"illusion?"

A warning sign was screaming in his heart!
No! It was absolutely not an illusion! The terrifying feeling of being instantly dragged into the abyss of death was incredibly real! This could only mean that the seemingly frail old woman before him possessed an unbelievable level of cultivation and exquisite control over her own power!
Her power far exceeded Jiang Xuan's previous estimates! It was unfathomable!
Just as Jiang Xuan was shaken, the old woman beside the tea table slowly opened her eyes.

Those were cloudy, bloodshot eyes, as if they had seen many hardships.

But at this moment, there was no trace of old age or senility in those eyes. Instead, they were like two bottomless ancient wells, calm and still, yet containing a profound insight into everything.

Her gaze fell on Jiang Xuan, scrutinizing him, with an undisguised suspicion and...disdain.
"You are 'Master Xun'?"

The old woman's voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper rubbing against the surface; her tone was flat, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Faced with this terrifying existence, Jiang Xuan instantly composed himself, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and fear.

His mind raced, under the other party's powerful aura and scrutiny.

You must never claim to be a "master"! Otherwise, the consequences will be dire!
He bowed slightly, offering a respectful greeting that was neither humble nor arrogant, his voice steady.

"Junior Jiang Xuan greets Senior. I am not my master 'Master Xun', but merely an incompetent disciple of my master, who has only acquired a few rudiments of the true teachings. I have come here on my master's orders to handle the items that Senior needs to repair."

"disciple?"

The old woman narrowed her cloudy eyes, looking Jiang Xuan's excessively young face up and down, a very subtle, clearly disdainful smile curving her lips.

"Hmph, your master's eye for taking on disciples is quite unique. At such a young age, he dares to claim he has received the true teachings? The things this old woman needs to repair are no ordinary toys."

Jiang Xuan displayed just the right amount of humility on his face, but his eyes remained calm, even carrying a hint of youthful vigor.

"What you say is absolutely right, senior. My master's acceptance of a disciple was indeed... somewhat hasty. However, my master once said that in the path of spirit runes, those who are skilled are valued first, and even more so, comprehension and character. Although I am dull-witted, I am grateful that my master did not abandon me and taught me everything he knew, so I can barely handle some tricky matters. As for whether I am falsely claiming to be a true disciple..." He paused, slightly raised his head, and met the old woman's scrutinizing gaze.

"Senior will know once you try. If I am not up to the task, it will not be too late to ask my master to come out of seclusion."

This response not only highlights that "Seeking a Master" is open to all kinds of disciples, but also implies that he truly has real talent and skills, and cleverly shifts the pressure back to the other party. It is a perfect example of being both soft and firm.

The old woman stared at Jiang Xuan for a few moments, a hint of extremely subtle surprise flashing across her cloudy eyes.

This kid, despite the deliberate pressure and mockery she exerted, remained so calm, spoke clearly and responded appropriately; he was quite interesting.

But that's all.

"Little kid, sharp-tongued and quick-witted."

The old woman snorted and slowly stood up, leaning on her wooden cane.

"I hope your skills are half as good as your tongue. Come with me. If you can't solve the problem, or if you have any improper thoughts... humph, I won't be polite to you, you little brat."

"Senior please."

Jiang Xuan remained expressionless, casually gesturing for the other party to proceed, and ignored their warning.

Remaining noncommittal actually suggests a sense of confidence and composure.

The old woman said no more, turned around, leaned on her wooden cane, and walked out with seemingly unsteady steps, but her speed was by no means slow.

Jiang Xuan followed closely behind.

Chu Feng, who was guarding outside the door, didn't dare to breathe when he saw the old woman come out. He just gave Jiang Xuan a very worried look.

Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, indicating that he could rest assured.

Located in the heart of Yanxia City, this is a prime piece of land.

A spacious, tranquil courtyard is nestled among lush ancient trees and meticulously manicured flowers and shrubs.

Above the vermilion gate hangs a simple and elegant plaque: Cui Ming Xuan.

This is one of Shidingzhai's most prestigious properties in Yanxia City. Only dignitaries and wealthy guests are allowed to enter. It is usually quiet and elegant, like a paradise.

However, today, the atmosphere in the spacious, bright, and luxuriously furnished hall of Cui Ming Xuan was somewhat unusual.

On one side of the hall, a dozen or so young people, dressed in fine clothes and exuding an extraordinary air, sat in the seats.

If any locals from Yanxia City were here, they would surely recognize that these are the scions of the city's top wealthy families.

Qi Yunxiao, the young master of Biguang Pavilion; Yuan Shu of the Yuan family; Wen Mingxiu, the pearl of the Wen family… and so on.

They, who used to be all-powerful and arrogant in Yanxia City, now seemed somewhat... reserved? Or even very humble.

Their gazes, every now and then, filled with barely concealed awe and a hint of obsequiousness, drifted toward the other side of the hall.

There, a dozen or so young people were also sitting.

Their clothing was even more magnificent, made of exquisite materials, and meticulously tailored, with intricate and unique family crests embroidered on the lapels and cuffs.

They had arrogant expressions, sharp eyes, and an innate sense of superiority and strong self-confidence in every gesture.

Even just sitting and chatting casually, they naturally created an invisible aura that completely overshadowed the so-called wealthy young men of Yanxia City.

The Forbidden City, the capital of the empire! The sons of powerful clans!

These dozen or so people were none other than the younger generation of the empire's core circle, truly top-tier noble families!
The forces behind them, any one of them, could easily crush the so-called elite families of Yanxia City! There is an insurmountable class divide between the two sides!
Qi Yunxiao, Yuan Shu, Wen Mingxiu, and others were filled with bitterness and pressure at this moment.

They were strictly ordered by their family elders that they were only "accompanying guests" today, and that they should put aside all airs and make sure to entertain these distinguished guests from the capital.

However, no matter how humble they were and how carefully they tried to strike up a conversation, the other party's attitude remained indifferent, even carrying a hint of disdain and neglect.

The feeling of being completely ignored, as if they were invisible, was the first time these scions of wealthy families, who were used to being the center of attention, had experienced being trampled underfoot.

Wen Mingxiu leaned closer to Qi Yunxiao, her voice low and filled with a mixture of fear and envy, as she explained to her companions who were also from Yanxia City.

"See that young man in the purple-gold python robe with the 'Autumn Water' sword hanging at his waist? That's Ouyang Lun, a direct descendant of the Ouyang family, a lower-ranking aristocratic clan in the Forbidden City! And that young master waving the 'Mountains and Rivers Fan' is Liu Hanjiang from the Liu family, a mid-ranking aristocratic clan! And... and that one too!"

Wen Mingxiu's gaze involuntarily drifted to a young man sitting in the most central position, resting with his eyes closed.

The young man was dressed in a simple, moon-white robe. He had a handsome face and a cold, icy demeanor. A sheathed longsword lay across his lap. (End of Chapter)