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

The sky over Yanxia City is truly about to change!
After leaving the Purple Bamboo Villa, Jiang Xuan did not return directly to the small courtyard in the west of the city.

He turned and headed towards the city center.

Before long, he arrived at the familiar building of the Spirit Pattern Master Commune in Yanxia City.

As you push open the door, a scent that blends spiritual ink, metal, and wood hits you.

"Jiang Xuan!"

Chu Feng, who was organizing files behind the counter, spotted him immediately and greeted him with delight and concern.

"Are you alright? Granny Feng sent someone looking for you... Did she give you any trouble? Has the matter been resolved?"

Seeing Chu Feng's genuinely worried expression, Jiang Xuan felt a warmth in his heart.

He nodded, looking relaxed.

"Yes, it's resolved."

It's just a small trouble; Granny Feng asked me to come over to help her."

"help?"

Chu Feng stared wide-eyed with curiosity.

"What favor does Granny Feng need from you? She's notoriously difficult to deal with! Do you think you're so important?"

Jiang Xuan smiled and said casually.

"It's nothing, just repairing a rather unique musical instrument."

"Musical instrument?"

Chu Feng was taken aback at first, then as if he had thought of something, he suddenly slapped his thigh, and his eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs.

"Wait! Repairing an instrument? An instrument that would make Granny Feng personally come forward to ask for help... Could it be... Could it be Lady Liu's?! Is it that legendary... Ancient Spirit Xun?!"

Seeing Chu Feng's excited expression, almost jumping up and down, Jiang Xuan felt a little helpless, but still nodded.

"Well, it's her."

"My God! It really is Master Liu! It really is the ancient Lingxun!"

Chu Feng was so excited that he became incoherent, grabbed Jiang Xuan's arm, and shook it violently.

"Jiang Xuan! Brother Jiang! Master Jiang! You've seen Master Liu in person?!"
Is she...is she really as beautiful as the legends say?! Is her voice really that lovely?!
she…"

Chu Feng, like a fanatical star-struck fan, bombarded him with a barrage of questions, his face filled with extreme envy and longing.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Jiang Xuan felt dizzy from being shaken and quickly broke free.

"I did see him, but we only exchanged a few words."

"A few words?! A few words are enough!"

Chu Feng was still so excited that his face was flushed and his eyes were sparkling.

"You have no idea! When Master Liu first performed at the 'Listening Pavilion' in the capital, her song 'The Phoenix Soars to the Nine Heavens' drew hundreds of birds to pay homage, and the sky was filled with rosy clouds! I happened to be traveling in the capital at that time and was fortunate enough to hear it from afar outside the pavilion... That voice... was simply heavenly! It struck straight to the soul! From then on, I became Master Liu's most loyal fan!"

He clasped his hands together, his face filled with piety and fervor.

"Brother Jiang! Master Jiang! I beg you! Next time... next time if you have the chance to see Master Liu... could you... could you find a way to take me to visit her too? Just a glimpse from afar will do! This is the only wish I have in my life! I beg you!"

Seeing Chu Feng's expression, as if he wanted to kneel down before him, Jiang Xuan felt a headache coming on.

He rolled his eyes helplessly, too lazy to pay any more attention to this guy who had fallen into a madness, and waved his hand dismissively.

"Let's talk about it later, let's talk about it later."

After saying that, he quickly turned around and fled from the Spirit Pattern Master Commune, leaving Chu Feng alone in the spot, still excited.

Having escaped Chu Feng's "fervent entanglement," Jiang Xuan finally returned to the secluded courtyard in the west of the city.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the old trees and stone tables and benches remain the same, and a faint aroma of wine permeates the air.

Xue Jin was lounging lazily on a deck chair under a tree, legs crossed, playing with an unknown mineral in her hand. She didn't even lift her eyelids when she saw Jiang Xuan return.

Jiang Xuan walked to the stone table and took out a sealed, large, rough pottery wine jar, about half a person's height, from his storage bag.

With a "thud," it was placed at Xuejin's feet. The rich and mellow aroma of the wine instantly filled the air, several times stronger than before.

"Here you go, the finest 'Soul-Burning Wine' that I promised you."

Jiang Xuan pointed to the wine vat.

Xue Jin twitched her nostrils twice, and a hint of satisfaction finally flashed in her eyes, but her mouth remained lazy.

"Well, leave it there."

Jiang Xuan looked at his lazy appearance and didn't say much, but said seriously.

"Thanks for today."

Xue Jin then glanced at him and said slowly.

"What are you thanking me for? This old man has been sunbathing in the yard all day and hasn't done anything."

Jiang Xuan smiled but didn't point it out.

He knew that although Xue Jin wouldn't admit it, when he crippled Huang Jianxiong at the Zizhu Villa today, Xue Jin's presence was definitely somewhere nearby.

If it weren't for this unfathomable old fellow backing him up, he wouldn't have acted so... "recklessly".

He sat down on the stone bench next to Xuejin, remained silent for a moment, and then asked.

"Old Xue, I crippled Huang Jianxiong's cultivation. How big of a storm will this cause?"

Xue Jin put down the ore in his hand, picked up the wine gourd next to him, took a sip, and glanced at Jiang Xuan with a look full of disdain.

"What? Now you're scared? Regretful? Where did that ruthlessness go when you were trying to cripple someone's cultivation?"

Jiang Xuan shook his head, his eyes calm.

"I wouldn't say I regret it. I just want to know the strength of our opponent so I can make my next move."

He paused and added.

"If I hadn't known you were there, I might have held back and chosen a safer approach."

But since you're here, we should naturally choose the most satisfying and deterrent way.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Xue Jin's eyes.

"Oh? So you're saying you only dared to use such force because I was there? Then why didn't you just kill him outright? With your ruthlessness, wouldn't it have been easier to just kill him?"

"kill him?"

Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.

"That would be too lenient on him. For a proud son of a powerful clan who values ​​power above all else and is used to being high and mighty, the greatest punishment would be to completely cripple his cultivation, to make him fall from grace and suffer humiliation, making him wish he were dead. Death would be a relief."

Xue Jin looked at the undisguised coldness and calculation in Jiang Xuan's eyes, remained silent for a few moments, and then slowly spoke.

"Boy, you're playing with fire. The Huang family is one of the top aristocratic families in the capital, with deep-rooted power and profound foundations. By crippling one of their direct descendants, you've created a deep-seated grudge. There will be no shortage of open and covert attacks."

"I know."

Jiang Xuan readily admitted. "But as long as I can survive, as long as I can become stronger, what does it matter if I play with fire? Shameless or despicable, I'll use any means necessary. Assessing the situation and utilizing all available power—isn't that what you taught me?"

He looked at Xue Jin with deep eyes.

Looking at the excessively young man before her, whose mind was as deep as an abyss, whose methods were ruthless and decisive, and who knew how to leverage power, Xue Jin couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions.

He had seen too many geniuses, some fierce and easily broken, some arrogant and conceited, some indecisive... Someone like Jiang Xuan, who possessed both the sharpness and ruthlessness of a young man and the forbearance, shrewdness, and ability to assess situations far beyond his years, was truly rare.

"Heh, you kid... you're definitely not like those other hotheads."

Xue Jin took a swig of wine, his tone carrying an indescribable undertone.

"You know how to use this old man's bones as a shield, and you do it so brazenly... Fine, you win."

Jiang Xuan smiled but didn't reply. Instead, he brought up the matter of repairing the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina.

"By the way, the matter of the ancient musical instrument has been settled."

As for Granny Feng, I also... took advantage of her.

"They ripped you off?"

Xue Jin became interested, his cloudy old eyes gleaming with gossip.

"How many times did you knock? Tell us quickly!"

Jiang Xuan gave a brief account of the list of exorbitantly priced spiritual materials and the reward of 10,000 gold coins.

"puff!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Jin spat out the mouthful of wine she had just drunk!
He coughed violently, pointed at Jiang Xuan, and laughed so hard he almost cried.

"Hahaha! Good lad! Well done! Hahaha! That stingy and protective old hag! You actually managed to make her suffer such a huge loss! That's satisfying! That's really satisfying! Hahaha!"

Xue Jin laughed without any restraint, as if he could see Granny Feng's old face, which was bleeding with heartache but had no choice but to endure it, which made him feel extremely comfortable.

After laughing for a while, Xue Jin finally stopped, catching her breath. She wiped away the tears she had shed from laughing and looked at Jiang Xuan with a playful expression in her eyes.

"But kid, aren't you afraid of going too far? That old hag isn't some kind soul; she's petty and holds grudges. If you keep blackmailing her like this, what will happen when she has a spare moment..."

Jiang Xuan shrugged.

"We have to do it, even if we're afraid. Repairing the spirit flute requires resources, so who else can we ask if not her? Besides, she won't dare to touch me until the spirit flute is repaired because of Liu Qingyan."

"Hmph, you're quite accurate in your calculations."

Xue Jin snorted, then, as if remembering something, asked casually.

"By the way, how was your experience dealing with that old hag? Do you think... she knows me?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan's heart stirred, and he keenly sensed the probing meaning in Xue Jin's words.

He looked at Xue Jin and asked in return.

"Old Xue, do you... know Granny Feng?"

Xue Jin didn't shy away and nodded readily.

"We know each other. We've known each other for many years."

A knowing glint flashed in Jiang Xuan's eyes.

Sure enough! There's definitely a story between these two old guys! No wonder Xue Jin's tone was so strange when she mentioned Granny Feng earlier.

“Then…” Jiang Xuan carefully considered his words.

"If she knew you were in Yanxia City, and were still with me..."

Xue Jin slowly took another sip of wine, his gaze drifting into the distance, carrying a sense of world-weariness and a hint of... barely perceptible schadenfreude.

"She'll find out sooner or later."

Xue Jin's voice was calm, but her words made Jiang Xuan's heart skip a beat.

"Kid, let me give you a heads-up. If in the future... I mean, just in case... that old hag wants to hurt you for some other reason, or maybe she just doesn't like you..."

He turned his head, his cloudy eyes looking at Jiang Xuan, and said, word by word.

"I might... choose to stand by and do nothing."

"what?!"

Jiang Xuan's expression changed slightly, and alarm bells rang in his mind instantly! What did Xue Jin mean by that? Did he and Granny Feng have some kind of agreement or... feud? Serious enough for him to abandon his protection?
A strong sense of unease welled up in Jiang Xuan's heart.

He felt as if he had been unwittingly drawn into a deep and unfathomable vortex belonging to the older generation.

Seeing Jiang Xuan's instantly serious expression, Xue Jin slowly added a sentence, her tone somewhat comforting, but more like a sarcastic remark.

"Of course, maybe I'm overthinking it."

That old hag may hold grudges, but given her status and position, she might not really hold a grudge against someone as junior as you… well, probably.

That's as good as saying nothing! Jiang Xuan looked at Xue Jin's nonchalant and carefree drinking, and felt a sudden toothache.

He had just taken advantage of Granny Feng's reluctance to harm the innocent and was secretly pleased with himself when Xue Jin poured cold water on him, instantly dampening his confidence in "playing with fire."

Offending an unfathomable old monster who may also have a grudge against Xue Jin... this feeling is really not pleasant.

Xue Jin's teasing gaze swept over Jiang Xuan, as if she could see through his skin and into his uneasy little thoughts.

Jiang Xuan felt uncomfortable under their gaze, and a slight chill ran down his spine.

"Alright, stop making that sour face."

Xue Jin finally withdrew that chilling gaze, took a swig of wine, and adopted a tone that suggested he was discussing serious matters.

"The fact that Old Lady Feng stood up for you today to shield you from those aristocratic brats shows that she knows what she's doing. The matter of crippling Huang Jianxiong is nothing to those real aristocratic families in the capital."

Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Xue Jin.

Xue Jin smacked her lips and explained.

"The Huang family of the capital is a top-tier aristocratic family, with numerous branches and offspring."

Who does Huang Jianxiong think he is? He's just a member of a collateral branch with some talent, far from being a true core member of the direct line! As long as someone steps in, pays a sufficient price, or demonstrates enough value, this 'minor matter' can be completely turned into a minor one and then forgotten.

For powerful families, profit always comes first.

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of reminder.

"However, don't be too optimistic, kid."

The old woman could suppress the wind for a while, but not forever, and she certainly couldn't suppress the selfishness of those powerful scions.

To them, crippling Huang Jianxiong was not only a slap in the face to the Huang family, but also a slap in the face to their entire circle! In their eyes, your status is nothing more than weeds in the mud. To dare to resist and even cripple someone's cultivation is itself a 'great act of rebellion'.

They won't let you off easily; if open attacks don't work, they'll definitely resort to underhanded tactics.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile, and his eyes flashed with a chilling light.

"They won't let me go? Ha... then let them come. I, Jiang Xuan, always act according to my conscience, regardless of right or wrong. If they insist on seeking death, I don't mind... sending a few more down to keep Huang Jianxiong company!"

The chilling killing intent in those words seemed to lower the temperature in the courtyard.

A barely perceptible hint of appreciation flashed across Xue Jin's cloudy old eyes.

This kid is ruthless! And incredibly bold! Facing a behemoth like the powerful clans of the capital, he not only showed no fear but dared to declare a counterattack? This ruthlessness and courage are exactly to his liking!
He had seen far too many so-called geniuses who, faced with the prestige of powerful clans, either groveled or cowered in fear. Those like Jiang Xuan, who dared to openly display their claws, were few and far between. (End of Chapter)