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

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events! The Lu family genius, who was full of vigor just a moment ago, had his ribs shattered and blood splattered everywhere the next! The one who made the move was none other than that inconspicuous gray-clad youth!
Huang Jianchen withdrew his gaze, as if he had merely swatted a fly.

He didn't even glance at Lu Guanxing, who lay on the ground, his life hanging in the balance, but uttered four cold words, like the clash of iron.

"All show and no substance."

Having said that, he walked straight through the stunned and bewildered crowd, and drifted away under the cold moonlight.

That solitary figure blended into the night, as if it had never existed.

Only the heavy stench of blood that permeated the hall, Lu Guanxing's miserable appearance, and the terrifying, chilling aura that Huang Jianchen unleashed in his last glance were deeply imprinted in Liu Qingyan's memory, keeping her awake all night.

And now...

"Xie Yutang actually brought this person out..." Liu Qingyan watched the noisy reports on the arena duel on the screen, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold strings of her zither, producing a low, trembling sound.
The news had caused an uproar in Yanxia City, but her heart was shrouded in gloom because of that memory.

Meanwhile, deep within a heavily guarded mansion in Yanxia City.

Huang Jianchen pushed open the heavy iron door and walked straight into the underground chamber.

The iron gate closed silently behind him, cutting off all light and sound from the outside world.

The secret room was not empty.

The enormous creature, bound by thick, dark iron chains, was letting out a deafening roar! A foul stench filled the air, and its malevolent aura almost materialized!

On the left, there is a giant wolf, pure white with ferocious bone spurs on its back, its fangs exposed, spitting out visible blue wind blades. Wind Blade Snow Wolf!

In the middle, there was a giant python as thick as a water bucket, covered with scales like ice crystals, with cold vertical pupils and a chilling aura emanating from its forked tongue!

On the right is a giant bear, as big as a small mountain, with muscles as bulging as rocks, pounding its chest with its fists, producing a dull, thunderous roar—the Giant Rock Bear!

These three ferocious beasts are terrifying beings that would make ordinary Earthly Realm cultivators flee in terror!
Huang Jianchen remained expressionless, as if what lay before him were not bloodthirsty beasts, but three pieces of dead flesh.

He took off his outer robe, revealing his lean upper body, and went bare-handed.

The next moment, he moved!
His figure vanished from the spot in an instant, like a ghost blending into the shadows!
When it reappeared, it was already above the head of the Windblade Snow Wolf!
There were no fancy moves, only the simplest and most direct punch! The fist pierced the air, bringing with it several solid, black chain-like phantoms that wrapped around his fist and arm!

"Pfft!"

The Windblade Snow Wolf's hard skull shattered like rotten wood! Its brains splattered out!
The giant python's massive tail swept across like a steel whip, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold! Huang Jianchen swayed slightly, narrowly dodging the attack, and struck the snake's vital spot with a backhand palm strike! Black chains coiled around it like maggots clinging to its bones!

"hiss!"

The giant serpent with its armored body let out a mournful cry. Its icy scales, harder than steel, shattered inch by inch. Its massive body writhed wildly, but it could not escape the corrosive influence of the black chains. In the blink of an eye, its life was extinguished!

The giant rock bear roared and pounced, its massive, fan-like paws slamming down with immense force! Huang Jianchen neither dodged nor evaded, but let out a low shout and met the attack with his own fist! Fist and palm collided!

"boom!!!"

A shockwave rippled through the air! The hard, sealed floor cracked!

The Giant Rock Bear's prized rock-like muscles and terrifying strength were like paper before Huang Jianchen's fist, which was entangled in black chain phantoms! The entire bear arm snapped off inch by inch! The violent power penetrated its body, instantly shattering the giant bear's heart! Its massive body crashed to the ground!

The whole process took no more than ten breaths!
All three ferocious beasts, comparable to those at the Earthly Realm, were killed! Blood stained the secret chamber, and the strong stench of blood was nauseating.

Huang Jianchen stood in the middle of the pool of blood, his bare upper body stained with bloodstains, and a few drops of scalding beast blood slowly rolled down his well-defined arms.

However, his aura was concealed as if he were an ordinary person, with not a trace of killing intent or power fluctuations leaking out. Only in the depths of his deep pupils could one vaguely see several slowly rotating "Chains of the Black Prison" phantoms that seemed capable of imprisoning all things, as if trying to lock up this void.

He pushed open the iron gate and went out. The servants waiting outside immediately lowered their heads and went in tremblingly to clean up the beast's carcass.

Huang Jianchen raised his eyes and looked at the narrow sky cut off by the high wall. The black chain deep in his pupils slowly disappeared.

Xie Yutang was already waiting in the hall.

He was dressed in a green robe and held a white jade folding fan. His temperament was gentle and refined, a stark contrast to Huang Jianchen, who had just emerged from the bloody secret chamber.

“Brother Jianchen,” Xie Yutang said gently.

"At three quarters past noon, at the Yanxia City arena, Jiang Xuan... is already there waiting for his battle."

Huang Jianchen's gaze fell on Xie Yutang, and he spoke only a single, cold word, sparingly.

"kill?"

Xie Yutang shook his head slightly and swayed his folding fan.

"inappropriate.

Miss Yan'er's ancient musical instrument still needs the help of her mysterious master to repair it.

"This child's life will be spared for now."

His tone was calm, as if he were deciding the life or death of an ant.

Huang Jianchen remained silent for a moment, then nodded, his voice still completely calm.

"I try my best."

Xie Yutang's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Try his best? Given Huang Jianchen's strength and ruthlessness in fighting ferocious beasts...

The consequences of "trying to hold back" are probably not something Jiang Xuan can easily bear.

But he didn't say much, only adding something else.

"Tomorrow, I will have someone send over a few more even stronger ferocious beasts."

"Ah."

Huang Jianchen responded, said no more, and turned to walk towards his room.

That solitary figure was like a peerless, deadly sword sheathed, its sharpness concealed, yet still exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

The three-day period arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early morning, a small courtyard in the west of the city.

Jiang Xuan got up, washed up, and ate as usual. His movements were steady and unhurried.

After the meal, he went to an open space in the courtyard and began practicing a set of basic boxing techniques, move by move.

His punches were steady and his footwork solid, as if what was about to happen was not a highly anticipated life-or-death duel, but just an ordinary morning exercise.

Xue Jin remained lazily reclining in the rattan chair, holding a wine jug, watching Jiang Xuan's meticulous movements, a complex emotion flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

He took a swig of wine, his voice a little hoarse.

"Kid, you really want to go and fight this?"

Jiang Xuan withdrew his fist, slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and a calm smile appeared on his face.

"The stage is all set up, and the drums are beating. If the main character doesn't make an appearance, wouldn't that be a waste of Young Master Xie's 'kind intentions'?"

"Humph!"

Xue Jin rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I knew you were a stubborn mule!"

He paused, his tone becoming somewhat serious.

"Don't blame me for not reminding you. That kid from the Huang family, at the age of thirteen, condensed the rudimentary form of the 'Black Prison Chain' in the Huang clan's 'Black Prison Secret Realm'! Even the 'Obsidian Sanctuary' was alarmed back then, sending an envoy to personally invite him, offering conditions that even I, the old man, envied. And guess what? He refused! He said the path of the Obsidian Sanctuary was not his path, and he wanted to walk his own path!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow, a genuine interest flashing in his eyes.

"Oh? Going your own way? That's an interesting person."

"interesting?"

Xue Jin scoffed.

"Once you meet his eyes and see the black chains on his fists, you'll know how 'interesting' it is! I'm telling you this now, if he really gets aggressive and fights desperately... I might not be able to save you in time!"

Jiang Xuan patted off non-existent dust from the hem of his clothes, his smile remaining calm.

"Okay, Lao Xue. I'm leaving."

He said no more, turned around, pushed open the courtyard gate, and strode out.

The golden morning sunlight shone on his shoulders, casting a long shadow.

His blue robe fluttered in the wind, and his steps were steady and firm as he walked step by step toward the gladiatorial arena in the city center, which was about to erupt in cheers.

The city of Yanxia was in complete turmoil!
From dawn onwards, all the main streets leading to the gladiatorial arena in the city center were packed with people, completely jammed! Commoners, merchants, cultivators of all kinds... like rivers flowing into the sea, surged in from every corner of the city.

Excited chatter, children's laughter, vendors' cries, gamblers' shouts... all blended together to form a massive wave of sound that impacted every corner of the city.

On the huge spiritual light screen in the center of the city, striking crimson characters scrolled.

"At noon! Arena! Jiang Xuan VS Huang Jianchen! A life-or-death duel! Stay tuned!"

The teahouses and taverns were already packed, with people talking animatedly and passionately.

"The betting market is open! How many moves can Jiang Xuan last? Ten to one!"

"I doubt it! That Huang Jianchen is a ruthless figure personally invited by Xie Yutang! It's said he has a fearsome reputation even in the capital!"

"Not necessarily! Jiang Xuan was able to cripple Huang Jianxiong, so his own strength is definitely not weak! I believe he can create a miracle!"

"This battle concerns the future of Yanxia City for the next ten years! The outcome of this battle is of extraordinary significance!"

Jiang Xuan's figure appeared in the crowded throng.

He was like a rock in a raging torrent, moving calmly and steadily through the rapids.

He heard various betting sounds about the outcome, doubts or expectations about him, and exaggerated descriptions of Huang Jianchen's infamous reputation... He just smiled slightly, as if he were listening to interesting anecdotes that had nothing to do with him.

The blue robe was not conspicuous in the surging crowd, but it had an indescribable calm temperament.

The sunlight outlined his sharply defined profile as he walked with a composed gait, as if he were not going to a life-or-death battle, but rather to an ordinary appointment.

He is like an ancient sword with its blade concealed in its sheath, its sharpness hidden, waiting only for the moment when it is drawn to astonish the world.

The arena is located in the eastern part of Yanxia City.

This building, covering hundreds of acres and resembling a crouching behemoth, is currently emitting an unprecedented clamor.

Although it was still some time before noon, the arena was already packed with people, and the roar of the crowd was soaring into the sky! Tens of thousands of eyes shone with excitement, anticipation, and curiosity, focusing on the central arena, which was shrouded in a huge spiritual light screen and paved with hard obsidian.

The air seemed to be ignited, filled with an almost frenzied restlessness.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for a grand showdown that had already spread throughout the city and even alarmed higher levels: Jiang Xuan versus Huang Jianchen!

This gladiatorial contest, personally arranged by "Little Swordsman" Xie Yutang, was no longer a simple personal grudge, but a grand event that captivated the hearts of countless people.

The seats in the arena were clearly divided.

Below were densely packed, honeycomb-like ordinary stands, teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder.

Above, there are concentric, luxuriously decorated private rooms, like jewels set on the neck of a giant beast, specially prepared for the city's dignitaries and important figures who have come from afar.

In one of the private rooms, Wen Mingxiu, Qi Yunxiao, Yuan Shu, and other local scions of wealthy families from Yanxia City gathered together.

The atmosphere carried a sense of suppressed excitement.

"Look at this spectacle...tsk tsk, it's even more exciting than the Prefect's military parade last year!"

Yuan Shu smacked his lips, his gaze sweeping over the surging crowd below, a hint of schadenfreude on his face.

Qi Yunxiao leaned back in the comfortable chair, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"How could it not be exciting? Little Sword Lord personally set up the stage, the whole city is watching! That brat Jiang Xuan... Hmph, let's see how he dies today! I can't wait to see him being trampled under Huang Jianchen's feet!"

He specifically emphasized the name "Jiang Xuan," as if to remind everyone of Jiang Xuan's humble origins.

Wen Mingxiu sat upright to the side, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The way Qi Yunxiao and Yuan Shu expressed their hope that others would defeat or even humiliate Jiang Xuan stirred up an indescribable disgust in her heart.

She spoke softly, her voice cool and detached.

"The outcome is still undecided, so it's best not to jump to conclusions. Jiang Xuan is... not as simple as he seems."

"Mingxiu, you overestimate him!"

Yuan Shu disagreed.

"Who is Xie Yutang? Would someone he personally arranged be a pushover? I think Huang Jianchen must be one of the top geniuses in the Forbidden City! Jiang Xuan? He's just a wild boy from a small border town who got lucky with some opportunities. What makes him think he can compete with someone like that?"

As they were talking, Yuan Shu glanced at a more spacious and luxurious private room diagonally opposite him, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of awe.

"Look, Miss Liu is here too!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. In the private room diagonally opposite, Liu Qingyan, dressed in an elegant long dress, sat quietly, like a solitary orchid in a secluded valley, completely out of place with the surrounding noise.

Her clear eyes gazed at the throng of people in the arena. Her delicate profile appeared somewhat hazy in the soft light, and a hint of...melancholy seemed to linger between her brows.

"Liu Qingyan?"

Qi Yunxiao also saw it and immediately sneered.

"What is she doing here? Is she here to see that kid off? Well, it's fine, let her watch how the person she 'values' is crushed, it must be quite a sight!"

Wen Mingxiu didn't reply, but looked at Liu Qingyan's slightly lonely profile, her heart stirred slightly.

The daughter of the Grand Commander's Mansion seemed to have a completely different attitude towards this duel than Qi Yunxiao and the others.

Inside another private room.

Liu Qingyan was indeed somewhat unsettled.

The roaring sound below seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, making her feel inexplicably irritated.

Granny Feng, who was standing behind her, whispered when she saw this.

“Miss, don’t overthink it. Although Young Master Xie’s actions are somewhat… well, they are ultimately matters within the family and clan, and it is not appropriate for us to interfere.”

Jiang Xuan must bear the consequences of his own actions.

Liu Qingyan sighed softly, her gaze falling on the empty arena, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry. (End of Chapter)