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

“However,” Jiang Xuan’s tone shifted, his icy killing intent instantly vanishing, replaced by a sly look on his face.

"Before the ancient law spirit flute is fully restored, Granny Feng will never allow me to be killed by those powerful clansmen."

that's enough. "

Upon hearing this, Xue Jin's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she stared at Jiang Xuan with great interest.

"Oh? From what you're saying... when are you planning to fix that ancient spirit flute?"

Jiang Xuan smiled slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, took a slow sip, his gaze drifted to the green bamboo in the corner of the courtyard, and his tone carried a profound and unfathomable meaning.

"Well... repairing a divine object like the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina requires the right timing, location, and people. It can't be rushed or rushed... the timeframe is uncertain."

"Pfft hahaha!"

Xue Jin was taken aback at first, then seemed to understand something, and suddenly burst into a loud laugh that made the old leaves rustle.

He pointed at Jiang Xuan, laughing so hard he almost fell over, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Good lad! You're really something! Hahaha! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Using Old Lady Feng's protection to control her, making her a shield for you against the revenge of those powerful brats? Hahaha! This is a brilliant move of using someone else's strength against them! If that old hag knew, she'd be furious! Hahaha!"

Jiang Xuan put down his teacup and spread his hands with an innocent expression.

"Old Xue, you've wronged me. I, Jiang Xuan, act with integrity and uprightness; how could I have such despicable thoughts? Repairing the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina does indeed take time; slow and steady wins the race. Granny Feng's concern clouded her judgment, and her offer of protection was a kind gesture from her; I couldn't possibly refuse, could I?"

"Pooh!"

Xue Jin laughed and scolded, bluntly exposing his lie.

"Stop pretending with this old man! I can tell what you're up to the moment you bend over! You think you can fool others but not me? I bet that before the provincial examination in Yanxia City, your ancient spirit flute... will be 'very difficult' to repair, won't it?"

Jiang Xuan picked up his teacup, concealing the faint smile at the corner of his mouth, neither admitting nor denying it, and simply said calmly.

"The provincial examination... well, it's not far off."

Seeing his expression, Xue Jin laughed so hard she slapped her thigh.

"Hahaha! Alright! You're quite the cunning one! This old man is just waiting to see the show! Let's see how long that old hag can put up with you!"

Jiang Xuan ignored Xue Jin's teasing, stood up, and patted his robes.

"Old Xue, keep laughing. I'm going back to my room now."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards his room.

Meanwhile, in the quiet courtyard of Cuimingxuan.

After listening to Granny Feng's account, filled with resentment and anger—how Jiang Xuan had demanded exorbitant prices for spiritual materials, how he had used his silver tongue to ask for a reward of ten thousand gold coins, and the "finishing touch" of saying "you least want me to get into trouble" before leaving—Liu Qingyan was initially slightly taken aback, but then she could no longer hold back.

"Pfft" he laughed.

The laughter was like a clear spring flowing, like pearls falling onto a plate, instantly dispelling the oppressive atmosphere brought by Granny Feng.

"Mother-in-law...you...you actually suffered a loss at his hands?"

Liu Qingyan's eyebrows curved, and her exquisitely beautiful face was full of a smile she couldn't help but smile.

"This young master Jiang Xuan... is truly a remarkable person! Very interesting indeed!"

Seeing her young mistress laughing so happily, Granny Feng's anger intensified, but she had nowhere to vent it, so she could only grit her teeth and say with a dark face.

"Miss! You're still laughing! That kid is a slippery little fox! Cunning! Sly! Shameless! I've lived this long and I've never been schemed against like this by a junior!"

Liu Qingyan finally managed to stop laughing, gently wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes with a handkerchief, and said softly.

“Mother-in-law, I think this young master Jiang, although his methods are… well… a bit unusual, is not a wicked person.”

His demand for those spiritual materials suggests he must have a real use for them. As for the payment, it also indicates he's not just feigning superiority; he has his own set of principles for acting.

"Hmph! I think he's only daring to extort you so brazenly because he knows you need the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina!"

Grandma Wind was still fuming.

"That kid is cunning and incredibly audacious! I'm sure he's planning to use me as a shield! He wants to stall for time and make me take the fall for him! Miss, if we don't teach him a lesson and show him what's what, he'll really drag this out indefinitely!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingyan frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"Grandma, what...what do you plan to do? Please don't make things too difficult for him. After all...he might be the only one who can repair the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina."

Granny Feng sighed as she looked at Liu Qingyan's worried expression, knowing that her young lady was ultimately kind-hearted.

She said in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, Miss, this old woman knows what she's doing. I won't let him lose his life, nor will I really delay the repair of the Xun."

But…” A cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"A necessary lesson is essential! He must understand that I, an old woman, am not so easily manipulated! If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll really think he can ride roughshod over me!"

Inside Jiang Xuan's room in the small courtyard west of the city.

Sitting cross-legged on the futon, Jiang Xuan did not immediately begin cultivating.

He needs to sort out his chaotic thoughts.

Today's trip to Zizhu Villa was full of ups and downs. Deposing Huang Jianxiong was satisfying, but it also ignited the anger of the capital's powerful clans.

Although Xue Jin analyzed that Huang Jianxiong was not a core member and there was room for maneuver, those arrogant and domineering scions of powerful families would never let the matter rest.

The gun is easy to hide, and the dark arrow is hard to prevent.

"Fortunately... we have Granny Feng as a shield."

A glint flashed in Jiang Xuan's eyes.

He didn't really want to delay the repairs indefinitely, but using this "safe period" to prepare for the provincial examination and improve his own abilities was part of his plan.

The wind goddess's warning, ironically, became his greatest protection.

As his thoughts drifted, another cold figure surfaced in his mind: Little Swordsman, Xie Yutang!
The sword pressed against his throat, the drop of blood that stung his eyes, the indifferent gaze that looked down on him like an ant... every detail was clearly imprinted deep in Jiang Xuan's memory.

“Xie Yutang…” Jiang Xuan murmured the name, a cold flame igniting deep within his calm eyes.

The life-saving grace from over a year ago stands in stark contrast to the humiliation of being stabbed in the back today.

That arrogant attitude, treating others like dirt, filled Jiang Xuan with unprecedented humiliation and anger. "Today you point your sword at my throat, one day..." Jiang Xuan slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, a sharp and unparalleled will gathering in his heart.

"I will make you... taste this flavor too!"

Just then, I felt a slight wriggling sensation in my palm.

A golden-red streak of light shot out with a "whoosh" and hovered in front of Jiang Xuan; it was Chiu Chiu.

The little guy seemed to sense his owner's emotional turmoil, letting out a few clear "cheep cheep" sounds, his little eyes blinking with concern and inquiry.

Looking at the little guy in front of him who could always be of great help at crucial moments, Jiang Xuan's coldness and hostility melted slightly.

He stretched out his finger and gently tapped the little head of the chick.

"Okay, let's not think about that anymore."

Jiang Xuan's gaze became firm and sharp again.

"The most urgent task is to improve our strength! With the provincial examination just around the corner, a good combat sword is indispensable!"

He took a deep breath and suppressed all his distracting thoughts.

With a flick of his wrist, several spiritual materials shimmering with different luster appeared on the ground in front of him.

A piece of 'Molten Gold', crimson red and containing violent fire elemental power; a piece of 'Mysterious Iron Heavy Crystal', pitch black and incredibly heavy; and several pieces of auxiliary 'Star Sand' and 'Flowing Cloud Silver'.

Then, he carefully took out a small, three-legged cauldron with an ancient design, about half a foot tall.

The cauldron was dark gold in color, and its surface was covered with mysterious and intricate natural cloud patterns. It faintly exuded a scorching aura and a heavy sense of suppressing all directions. It was the refining furnace he had purchased at great expense, the Nine Refining Furnace!

Finally, there were several bottles of carefully blended spirit ink, each shimmering with a different kind of radiance.

everything's ready!
Jiang Xuan's gaze fell on Qiu Qiu, and he said in a deep voice.

"Chirp chirp, get ready to work! Use your Shattered Starfire to smelt them! Remember, keep the heat steady and even!"

"Chirp!"

Upon hearing that there was work to be done, especially the ability to breathe fire, Chirp became excited and flew around Jiang Xuan twice, emitting a series of cheerful chirps.

It flew above the Nine Refining Furnace, its small body suddenly puffed out, and its little mouth opened...
"call!"

A dazzling golden flame, like a compressed beam of sunlight, erupted instantly and poured into the Nine Refinement Furnace! This flame was not ordinary crimson, but rather a noble gold. Within the flame, countless tiny, star-like points of light flickered and shone, radiating terrifyingly high temperatures capable of melting gold and iron and incinerating stars! It was its natal true fire, the Shattering Star Golden Fire!

The flames sizzled as they touched the spiritual materials in the furnace. Even the incredibly hard materials like Molten Refined Gold and Dark Iron Heavy Crystal began to soften and melt at a visible speed under the terrifying heat of the Shattered Star Golden Flame! Star Sand and Flowing Cloud Silver instantly turned into liquid!
"Control the heat! Don't go too far! Stay calm!"

Jiang Xuan's eyes were sharp as he watched the changes inside the furnace, constantly issuing commands.

"Chirp!"

Chirp chirp nods its little head, trying its best to control the output of the flames, keeping the terrifying golden flames in a relatively stable state.

The huge commotion and the terrifyingly high temperature that instantly spread out immediately startled Xue Jin, who was enjoying a drink in the courtyard.

"what?"

Xue Jin put down his wine gourd, a hint of surprise flashing in his cloudy old eyes. With a swift movement, he appeared at the door of Jiang Xuan's room.

He leaned against the door frame, looking at the Nine Refining Furnace blazing with golden flames inside the room, and the chirping chirp that was working hard to spew fire, a playful expression on his face.

"Oh? Kid, you're already forging your battle sword? You're pretty quick!"

Xue Jin marveled.

Jiang Xuan didn't turn his head, focusing entirely on sensing the melting state of the spiritual materials inside the furnace, and quickly said.

"Old Xue, keep an eye on Chirp's Fire Breathing for me, make sure the spiritual materials are fused evenly, don't ruin it! I'm going to prepare the spiritual ink!"

Hey! You've got some nerve, kid!

Xue Jin laughed and scolded, but did not refuse.

Although he is not skilled in weapon crafting, his level of expertise is profound and his perception is astonishing. He can certainly help monitor the heat and the condition of the materials.

He watched with great interest the fiery chirping creature, and then looked at the Nine Refining Furnace that exuded an extraordinary aura.

Jiang Xuan said no more and immediately walked to the desk next to him and laid out several bottles of spirit ink in a row.

He took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly became incredibly focused and sharp, as if they contained wisdom that could see through everything.

He picked up a specially made spirit-patterned pen, dipped the tip in a spirit ink that shimmered with a ghostly blue starlight, and with his wrist suspended in the air, his fingertips remained steady without the slightest tremor.

At this moment, Jiang Xuan seemed to have become a completely different person.

All his previous ruthlessness, scheming, and cynicism vanished, replaced by an aura of absolute authority, as if he were in control of everything!
His entire being was highly focused, as if he had merged with the spirit-patterned pen in his hand, the spirit ink on the table, and the invisible spirit-patterned laws of heaven and earth!
Xue Jin leaned against the door, watching Jiang Xuan enter this state, and for the first time, a genuine and undisguised look of amazement appeared in his cloudy old eyes!
He didn't understand spirit runes, but he could clearly feel that the focus, confidence, and control emanating from Jiang Xuan at this moment were far beyond what ordinary spirit rune masters could match!
"This kid... is indeed a prodigy in the path of spirit patterns..." Xue Jin sighed inwardly. The slight worry she had felt earlier because Jiang Xuan had extorted Granny Feng instantly vanished, replaced by even stronger confidence.

"It seems... there's really hope for my future set of spirit-patterned battle armor!"

The door to the room was tightly closed, isolating the inside from the outside.

Xue Jin leaned back on the recliner in the courtyard, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the tightly closed door.

The room was quiet, with only occasional, extremely subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from it, indicating that Jiang Xuan was performing some extremely mentally taxing activity.

Xue Jin knew very well that this forging of the battle blade was of extraordinary significance to Jiang Xuan.

Several days ago, this kid had specifically asked him about the structure, characteristics, and center of gravity distribution of various magical swords, and even the supernatural effects of some famous swords.

Having lived for countless years, Xue Jin had seen countless divine weapons and artifacts, so he naturally spoke freely about everything he knew.

But he had a lingering doubt in his mind at the time.

The kid asked such detailed and comprehensive questions, even showing interest in some seemingly obscure and rare characteristics of battle blades. This definitely doesn't seem like he was just asking for reference!
"This kid... is he trying to create something completely different from any existing battle sword?"

Xue Jin took a swig of wine, his cloudy old eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"He asked about every existing style and type of sword in the empire, yet he seemed to be subtly dissatisfied? Could it be... that the sword he envisioned was something completely new, something I, an old man, had never seen before?"

This thought startled even Xue Jin herself.

Creating a completely new school of spiritual artifacts—how easy is that? It requires profound knowledge of spiritual materials, spiritual patterns, structure, and even the laws of heaven and earth, as well as boundless imagination! Does Jiang Xuan really have that ability? (End of Chapter)