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

The pressure suddenly disappeared.

Pfft!
Jiang Xuan lost his support and collapsed heavily to the ground, panting heavily like a fish out of water.

Sweat mixed with blood seeping from the back of his neck instantly soaked through his clothes.

His body trembled violently, and in his bloodshot eyes, chaos and clarity fought like two torrents.

But he did not fall into complete madness again.

With difficulty, little by little, he supported his body and sat cross-legged.

His hands, covered in dust and blood, trembled as he formed a mysterious hand seal. The battle sword resting on his knees still hummed, but seemed to be slightly soothed by the power of the hand seal.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

Every breath was incredibly heavy, as if I were fighting against invisible shackles.

"Minor...Nether...God...Technique"

His hoarse voice, like a murmur, struggled to utter a few words.

Deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, the blurry phantom of the underworld god, under Jiang Xuan's all-out urging, suddenly shone with a faint, eerie light! A vast, ancient will, suppressing the soul, slowly spread out.

At the same time, the grand imagery of the universe and the ancient order of the stars' orbits began to painstakingly take shape in his chaotic mind.
Xue Jin held his breath and focused intently, like the most vigilant guardian beast, standing several feet away, his copper bell-like eyes fixed on Jiang Xuan, his muscles poised to unleash their power, and his spiritual energy surging and roaring within him.

He knew that Jiang Xuan was currently walking on the most dangerous edge of the abyss of inner demons.

All he could do was guard and wait for that slim chance of a miracle, or face the worst possible outcome.

Shidingzhai, main hall.

As the last note, like the last ray of sunset fading into the sky, drifted away among the carved beams and painted rafters, the entire hall fell into a strange, almost frozen silence.

There was no applause, no cheers, not even the sound of breathing.

Everyone, whether they were proud young geniuses or seasoned tycoons, seemed to have their souls ripped out, still immersed in the soul-stirring atmosphere of the music.

Liu Qingyan's final piece, "Flying Light Melody"!
That was no longer a mere display of skill, but a hymn of the soul, a manifestation of the Tao!
Her heavenly voice seemed to transform into an invisible hand, easily plucking the deepest strings of every listener's heart—strings about time, destiny, and the endless quest and loneliness on the path of spiritual practice.

The mood in the music is sometimes like a fleeting moment, making people realize how easily youth fades and how difficult it is to find the ultimate truth; sometimes like a flowing river of stars, vast and boundless, making people think about their own insignificance; and sometimes like a moth drawn to a flame, with a resolute and heroic determination to do the impossible, igniting long-dormant passion!

The young cultivator was deeply moved, as if he could see himself roaming the world with his sword, pursuing the Great Dao, and he also felt the urgency of the long road ahead and the passing of time.

The wealthy and powerful figures wore complex expressions. The song's lament about the passage of time and the vicissitudes of fate struck a chord deep within them, a sense of melancholy and awe that perhaps even they themselves were unaware of.

The song ended, but its lingering charm remained.

The lingering sound seemed to still echo between the beams and pillars, resonating deep within everyone's hearts, refusing to subside for a long time.

In the center of the stage, Liu Qingyan bowed slightly to the audience, her pure white figure appearing exceptionally aloof and elegant under the dazzling lights.

She turned around and, under the gaze of countless still infatuated, shocked, and lingering eyes, quietly left the stage, just as she had arrived.

Only long after her figure disappeared behind the curtain did the hall erupt in thunderous, almost frenzied applause and cheers, like a thawing ice river! The sound almost lifted the dome!
"Fairy Qingyan!"

"This music should only exist in heaven!"

"Having heard this song, I have no regrets in this life!"

However, this fervor and praise did not reach Liu Qingyan, who had already quietly left.

The ornately decorated palanquin, pulled by snow-horse steeds, moved smoothly along the quiet streets.

Inside the car, the soft light of the pearl illuminated Liu Qingyan's stunning profile.

She sat quietly, her long, pale purple hair falling over her shoulders, her eyes gazing at the night outside the car window, but without focus.

That face, as cold and aloof as snow, was now shrouded in a faint, lingering sense of melancholy.

He...didn't come after all.

A barely audible whisper dissipated within the imperial carriage.

She paid special attention to the VIP seats and saw Chu Feng, who represented Jiang Xuan, but she still couldn't find the handsome and mysterious young man.

She had intended to use the opportunity of performing the song to find a pretext to talk to him for a few minutes and express her apology for the trouble she had caused last time.

But now, he hasn't even had the chance to apologize in person.

A touch of disappointment, like a pebble thrown into a lake, ripples spread outwards.

She worried that Jiang Xuan might harbor resentment towards her because of what happened last time, and was therefore avoiding her.
"Mother-in-law."

Liu Qingyan suddenly spoke, her voice regaining its coolness, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible persistence.

Upon hearing the sound, the wind spirit guarding the car immediately approached the car window.

"Miss?"

"We're not going back to the villa."

Liu Qingyan turned her gaze from the window to Granny Feng's face, her tone calm yet unquestionable.

"Go to Young Master Jiang Xuan's residence."

A look of surprise and deep worry flashed across Granny Feng's wrinkled face.

She looked at the unwavering determination in Liu Qingyan's eyes and hesitated to speak.

As her guardian who watched Liu Qingyan grow up, she knew all too well the deep-seated obsession within this seemingly aloof jewel of the empire.

She also keenly noticed that Liu Qingyan seemed to have developed an unusual interest in the boy named Jiang Xuan.

“Miss…it is late, and a sudden visit might be inconvenient. Besides, what about Young Master Jiang Xuan?”

Grandma Wind carefully considered her words, trying to dissuade her tactfully.

It wasn't that she disliked Jiang Xuan, but rather that she was well aware of the infighting within powerful families and the special nature of Liu Qingyan's identity.

Love is the most tormenting thing, and it is also the easiest thing to cause trouble.

She didn't want to see her young mistress get involved in unnecessary trouble.

"It doesn't matter."

Liu Qingyan gently shook her head, interrupting Granny Feng's words, her purple eyes clear and firm.

"It's just a visit to apologize and put an end to this matter. It won't take long. Mother-in-law, please lead the way."

Looking into Liu Qingyan's clear yet resolute eyes, Granny Feng sighed inwardly, knowing that further persuasion would be useless.

Her thin, bony hands clenched slightly inside her sleeves, and her weathered eyes held a deeper worry. In the end, she could only nod helplessly.

"...Yes, Miss."

Granny Feng turned around and whispered an instruction to the expert from the Purple Bamboo Villa who was driving the carriage.

The imperial carriage shuddered slightly, smoothly changed direction, and rolled over the cold moonlight on the bluestone road, heading towards the secluded courtyard in the west of Yanxia City.

The wheels rolled on, crushing not only the moonlight, but also the heavy worries in the heart of the Wind Goddess.

In the courtyard, even the night breeze seemed to freeze.

The aura emanating from Jiang Xuan, who sat cross-legged, was chaotic and dangerous.

Sometimes sharp as a drawn blade, sometimes dark as dying ashes.

His brows were furrowed, and veins bulged on his forehead. Fine beads of sweat seeped out, sliding down his cheeks and splashing into the dust in front of him, leaving small, dark marks.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, everything was turned upside down.

The shadows of those forty-six deaths were frantically assaulting the star-like imagery conjured by the Lesser Netherworld Divine Art.

The trajectories of the stars were distorted, and the phantom of the God of the Underworld flickered and dimmed. Each impact made Jiang Xuan's consciousness buzz and almost collapse.

"No... If this continues, the Star Cycle Form will be broken sooner or later, and when that happens, my inner demons will erupt completely, and I will be doomed!"

Jiang Xuan struggled to maintain clarity of mind within his sea of ​​consciousness.

The chill of death, the corrosive force of despair, and the overwhelming, star-like aura of his opponent repeatedly eroded the walls of his will, and cracks had quietly spread.

He knew that relying solely on the Lesser Netherworld Divine Art for passive defense was merely a short-sighted solution.

We must take the initiative to dispel and even eradicate these shadows of death!

The root cause lies in the "star-collecting method"!
Only by surpassing those opponents in the secret realm in the understanding of the Star Gathering Method can one fundamentally destroy the foundation of one's inner demons!

His mind raced, and he first tried to recall the general outline of the "Heavenly Origin Blade Technique".

Hopefully, we can find a way to enlighten or suppress our inner demons from this.

The sword technique was vast and profound, and at this moment his mind was in turmoil, with many distracting thoughts.

All that could be seen in my mind were the shattered sword techniques and the terrifying images of my opponent crushing me, making it impossible for me to calmly comprehend the essence of the general principles.

Several attempts were unsuccessful, which only stirred up the inner demons and almost caused him to lose control.

"We can't count on the Heavenly Origin Blade Technique for now... Do we really have to take a risky gamble?"

An extremely bold, even insane, idea suddenly illuminated Jiang Xuan's mind.

“Take these shadows of death one by one, confront them directly, analyze them, and even… crack them!”

The moment this thought arose, a shiver from the depths of my soul swept through my entire body!
Did he actively seek out those death memories that represented his most painful failures and deepest fears?
This is tantamount to tearing open one's own bloody wounds again and actively inviting demons into one's body!

If one is not careful, one's consciousness will be assimilated by the shadow of death and completely fall into ruin, a fate a hundred times more miserable than failing to defend oneself!
dilemma!

Continuing to hold your ground is a slow death; taking the initiative could lead to instant annihilation!

The immense fear almost made Jiang Xuan abandon this dangerous idea.

But immediately, the resentment and frustration of being crushed and shattered forty-six times, the desire for great power, and the stubbornness of not wanting to succumb to this, surged and burned like subterranean fire!

"What's there to be afraid of! I've died forty-six times already, what's there to be afraid of dying again?! Inner demons are born from battle, so they should be stopped by battle! To be timid and hesitant is not the way of a martial artist!"

A fierce aura surged from the depths of Jiang Xuan's heart!

He gritted his teeth, his mind filled with a resolute light!
"Let's go all in! Let's do it!"

Just as Jiang Xuan gathered all his attention, preparing to guide his consciousness to actively explore the most violent shadow of death in his sea of ​​consciousness.

That was the instant of the power of the Azure Scale Clan's rock armor's claw, which could bear the stars and destroy all things!

A sudden change occurred!

A clear, ethereal, and indescribable power, like the tranquil glow of a moonlit night, seeped into his turbulent and chaotic sea of ​​consciousness without warning.

This power is not domineering, but it carries a subtle, pervasive force.

It did not directly attack the inner demons, nor did it strengthen the celestial cycle, but rather gently brushed past those restless shadows of death.

Miraculously, under the influence of this mysterious power...

Those death shadows that were originally charging wildly and roaring were suddenly frozen in place, as if they had been struck by a spell.

The momentum of the attack clearly slowed down. Although it still exuded a cold and deathly aura, it was less violent and more eerily "calm"!
"This is... an external force? Who is it?"

Jiang Xuan was deeply shaken.

But this sudden change undoubtedly gave him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

That brief moment of "calm" was the perfect window for him to take the initiative!
Not to be missed!
Jiang Xuan no longer hesitated, his consciousness already prepared.

Taking advantage of the brief moment when the shadow of death was soothed and calmed by a mysterious external force.

It darted out suddenly, precisely enveloping the initially selected target.

That heavy, mountain-like, star-shattering shadow of death belonging to the Canglin Clan's rock armor!

The moment their consciousness made contact, a terrifying atmosphere swept over them once again.

But perhaps it was due to the reassurance from external forces, or perhaps it was Jiang Xuan's own resolute will.

This time, he was not instantly crushed by that artistic conception, but forcibly stabilized this wisp of consciousness.

Let's delve into the "star-gathering" mystery hidden within this shadow!
……

In the courtyard, Xue Jin stood guard several feet away.

His entire body was tense, his spiritual energy surged, and his eyes were fixed on Jiang Xuan without blinking, not daring to relax for a moment.

He could sense that Jiang Xuan's aura was still extremely unstable.

He teetered wildly on the edge of inner demons, and the occasional glimpses of violent energy he emitted made his heart pound with fear.

Suddenly, Xue Jin's ears twitched, and she abruptly turned her head, her gaze shooting like lightning towards the tightly closed door of the courtyard!
He sensed two auras rapidly approaching, one of which was obscure and profound, clearly indicating extraordinary strength.

The other one is cool and pure, yet it carries an undeniable presence.

"Who is it? Get away!"

Xue Jin lowered his voice and let out a threatening growl.

Jiang Xuan is at a critical moment and cannot tolerate any outside interference!
Outside the gate, beside the magnificent carriage that had just come to a stop, Granny Feng frowned slightly.

She also sensed the chaotic and dangerous aura within the courtyard, as well as the gatekeeper's undisguised hostility and powerful energy.

"Miss, something's happened in the courtyard. There's a hint of danger. It's best not to get close."

Granny Feng turned to the side and whispered to Liu Qingyan, who was about to get off the carriage, her withered hand already quietly placed on her waist.

Liu Qingyan's white dress trailed on the ground, and her purple hair swayed slightly in the night breeze.

“Grandma, I sensed that the energy inside is very unstable. Perhaps something has happened to Young Master Jiang Xuan. Since we’re here, we can’t just ignore it.”

Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open with a tremendous force.

Xue Jin's massive body blocked the doorway, staring at the two people outside with an unfriendly expression.

Their gazes, in particular, were filled with vigilance as they fell upon Granny Feng.

"I told you, get out of here! Outsiders aren't welcome here!"

Granny Feng stepped forward and shielded Liu Qingyan behind her.

Faced with Xue Jin's imposing aura, she did not back down, but said in a deep voice.

"I am Feng, accompanying my young lady to visit Young Master Jiang Xuan. Who are you, and why are you obstructing us? The energy in the courtyard is chaotic; is Young Master Jiang Xuan unwell?"

Xue Jin's gaze swept over Granny Feng, then glanced at the elegant, refined, and extraordinary purple-haired girl behind her, her mind racing. (End of Chapter)