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

Stepping onto that cold, strange platform once again, Jiang Xuan's state of mind was completely different.

Having endured life-and-death trials and tribulations, he rose from the ashes, his will becoming even more resilient and serene.

The previous hesitation and fear were gone from his eyes, replaced only by a sharp fighting spirit!

"let's start!"

The battle begins again!

This time, the situation is completely different from the first time!

Jiang Xuan's mastery of the Star-Picking Technique is far beyond what it used to be!
He is a fusion of the essence of the artistic conception of various powerful figures from secret realms.

The swordsmanship is sometimes domineering and fierce like a falling star, sometimes eerie and desolate like the annihilation of all things, and sometimes profound and majestic like the support of mountains and rivers!

His use of power has truly touched the threshold of "precision," and may even surpass it!
Jiang Xuan swept through his opponents in the early stages with overwhelming force!
When the blade flashes, the opponent's weakness can often be seized within a few moves, and the opponent can be defeated with the superior "Star-Picking Style" artistic conception!

The battle became fluid and effortless, a far cry from the previous arduous struggle.

Even in the forty-eighth match, a strange and powerful stranger appeared who had never been seen before and used a bizarre hook blade.

Its methods are unpredictable and ruthless.

Jiang Xuan also relied on his own more solid and profound understanding.

After a fierce battle, I steadily brought him down with my sword!
As the opponents grew stronger, the battles became increasingly difficult.

In the ninetieth match, Jiang Xuan encountered an extremely powerful Rock Puppet Clan expert.

Both sides fought with all their might, ultimately suffering heavy losses. Jiang Xuan, at the cost of severe injuries, narrowly managed to shatter the opponent's core.

In the ninety-first match, he was defeated again due to his injury.

But this time, although the feeling of death was still cold, it could no longer stir up huge waves in his mind, nor could it deepen his inner demons.

His mindset has been tempered and he is now able to withstand this level of failure.

According to the rules of the secret realm, one must win every battle to obtain the final reward.

Jiang Xuan remembered that he had one last chance to enter the secret realm.

Therefore, when he fought his way up to his hundredth opponent, he made a calm decision.

After exchanging several blows with the last opponent, whose aura was as terrifying as an abyss, and roughly figuring out his background, Jiang Xuan took the initiative to withdraw and spoke in a deep voice.

"I am giving up on this attempt to clear customs."

A cold, impersonal notification tone then sounded...

Jiang Xuan's figure slowly solidified from the Tongtian Secret Realm and returned to the room in the secluded courtyard.

The murderous aura emanating from the continuous high-intensity battles within the secret realm.

And the eerie sense of crisis he felt when facing Wei Mingzi at the end had not yet completely subsided.

This unconsciously imbued him with a faint yet chilling killing intent.

Just as he sat down cross-legged, preparing to meditate and consolidate what he had gained from this secret realm—

"boom!"

The door was violently flung open by a burst of force, and Xue Jin's massive figure rushed in like a whirlwind.

With obvious anxiety and worry, his eyes instantly locked onto Jiang Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and he roared.

"Kid! You again..."

His roar abruptly stopped.

Because he saw that Jiang Xuan's eyes were closed and his brows were furrowed.

His facial expression shifted constantly, and his aura fluctuated wildly.

There was a hint of chaos and tyranny emanating from it, and the scene was quite similar to the last time the inner demons flared up.

Strangely, Jiang Xuan sat upright, his hands forming a steady hand seal, not appearing to be completely out of control.

Xue Jin was a little unsure for a moment.

She was worried that Jiang Xuan would be consumed by his inner demons again, but she was also afraid that her rash intervention would only make things worse.

He could only anxiously wait at the door, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, watching Jiang Xuan's every subtle change.

Just as Xue Jin hesitated whether to forcefully suppress it again.

Jiang Xuan's tightly closed lips suddenly moved slightly, uttering a hoarse yet exceptionally clear and resolute sound.

"Uncle Xuejin...I'm fine...This time...let me do it myself...I can kill it!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Jin was startled and carefully sensed the surroundings.

As expected, he found that the violent killing intent that had previously made him tremble was still present on Jiang Xuan's body.

But it is weakening at a slow but resolute pace, as if it is being gradually tamed and devoured by a more powerful inner force.

The ferocity and madness on his face seemed more like an outward manifestation of a fierce battle raging deep within his consciousness, rather than a complete loss of direction.

"Damn it... this kid..."

Xue Jin cursed under his breath, but his tense nerves relaxed.

He gave Jiang Xuan a deep look, then slowly left the room, gently closing the door behind him, and stood guard outside.

"What kind of damned secret technique is this? Cultivating it is like playing with your life, triggering inner demons every few days... But this kid always manages to pull through, and he's getting more and more energetic... He's a monster who doesn't play by the rules!"

Xue Jin leaned against the door frame, her heart filled with confusion and emotion.

A day later, the unsettling atmosphere of chaos in the room completely subsided and dissipated.

Jiang Xuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and deep, without the slightest impurity.

He exhaled a long breath, a look of relief appearing on his face.

The number of remnants of inner demons brought back from the secret realm this time was not small.

Having survived the life-or-death ordeal and undergone a mental transformation, he was now handling the situation with ease.

These inner demons could no longer shake the foundation of his mind.

On the contrary, in the process of being driven away and destroyed one by one, he gained a deeper understanding of the various "star-gathering" mysteries contained in the shadow of death.

My mindset has also become more resilient and stronger.

"Misfortune and fortune are intertwined... This inner demon trial has become a rare opportunity for me."

Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a faint smile.

……

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye during peaceful cultivation.

Jiang Xuan felt that he had reached his peak and his understanding of the Star-Picking Style had reached a new bottleneck. He urgently needed a stronger opponent to hone his skills.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the Hundred Battles Secret Realm for the third time!

The cold platform, the familiar notification sound.

The battle has begun again!
This time, Jiang Xuan's strength showed a qualitative leap compared to his second attempt!
His mastery of the star-picking technique has reached an extremely high level.

His swordsmanship was effortless, yet contained unfathomable mysteries.

The various star-like imagery transitions are seamless and free, and the application of power is incredibly precise!
From the first battle to the ninety-ninth battle, Jiang Xuan was unstoppable and never suffered a defeat!
Regardless of the opponent's race or how bizarre and powerful the Star Gathering Technique may be.

He always manages to defeat his opponent in the heat of battle with his superior swordsmanship and combat wisdom!

His fighting posture was calm and confident, as if he were not going through a life-or-death test, but rather a series of exhilarating sharpening journeys!

Finally, the notification sound for the 100th battle rang out.

[Battle One Hundred Begins! Opponent: Human Race - Wei Mingzi!] On the opposite platform, light coalesced, revealing a figure—a human cultivator!
This person appeared to be around thirty years old last year, with a simple and honest face, and his eyes seemed to sparkle like a river of stars when they opened and closed.

He was dressed in a shimmering, iridescent blue robe, barefoot, with his long hair flowing freely.

He held in his hand an ancient-looking curved sword with an unusually curved blade.

She exuded an aura of ethereal elegance, yet also carried the marks of time.

This opponent, so different from any of his previous races, made Jiang Xuan's gaze sharpen and his vigilance rise sharply.

The human powerhouse named Wei Mingzi did not immediately launch an attack like his previous opponents.

Instead, she looked at Jiang Xuan with a complex and unfathomable gaze, and suddenly spoke.

"Young friend, hold your hand."

Jiang Xuan stood with his knife in hand, remaining vigilant, and said in a deep voice.

"Oh? What can I do for you?"

Wei Mingzi's face showed a mixture of bitterness and pleading, and his voice had a strange, infectious quality.

"Young friend, my name is Wei Mingzi, a descendant of the ancient Taiyi Immortal Sect. Due to a great calamity, a wisp of my soul was sealed here for endless years, becoming a puppet guarding this secret realm, unable to escape... Young friend, you are a hero of our human race, with extraordinary talent, able to pass through ninety-nine levels to reach this place, truly a rare feat throughout the ages!"

"I earnestly beg you, young friend, to consider our kinship and help me escape this prison! If you are willing to help, I, Wei, am willing to bestow upon you all my life's learning and the supreme opportunity of the Taiyi Immortal Sect! I swear on my Dao heart that I will never lie!"

His words were earnest, and he even swore an oath on his moral principles.

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have been moved by the "inheritance of an ancient immortal sect" and the "unparalleled opportunity".

Having experienced too many strange occurrences, Jiang Xuan's will had become as firm as a rock.

His expression remained calm and unmoved; he simply said...

"Help you get out of this predicament? How can I help you? Let me get through this last hurdle first."

Upon hearing this, Wei Mingzi's face showed urgency, and he quickly tried to stop her.

"No! Young friend, you must not attempt this! Do you know that this Hundred Battles Secret Realm is nothing short of a colossal trap!"

His tone became agitated.

"The so-called victory in a hundred battles and the rewards are all illusions! The true purpose of this secret realm is to select the most outstanding cultivators, and when they achieve a hundred victories, their bodies and souls will be used as nourishment to sustain the core of the secret realm."

Ultimately, their consciousness was erased, and they were refined into battle puppets like me, forever trapped in this world! I believed this nonsense back then, and this is how I ended up! Young friend, you must never repeat my mistake!

Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. A trap? A puppet? He did indeed have some doubts about the origin and purpose of this secret realm.

However, he did not completely believe Wei Mingzi's words.

he said coldly.

"I was able to embark on the path of cultivation because of the Heavenly Secret Realm. Even if I was used, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. As for whether what you said is true or false, I have my own judgment."

Besides, why should I trust a mere remnant soul sealed here?

Seeing Jiang Xuan so calm, even with a hint of mockery.

The pleading and excitement on Wei Mingzi's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a gloomy and twisted expression.

The world-weariness and detachment in his eyes faded, revealing the resentment and greed hidden beneath.

“Hehe…hahahaha…”

Wei Mingzi let out a low, eerie laugh.

"What a cautious lad! Since good advice can't persuade this damned devil, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

His aura suddenly turned violent and cold as he stared intently at Jiang Xuan, as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"Your physical body is brimming with vital energy and blood, your soul is refined, and you have cultivated the Star Gathering Technique to such a level! It is simply a perfect dwelling! As long as I devour your soul and occupy your body, I will be able to see the light of day again and return to the world! Boy, it is your honor to become the cornerstone of my rebirth!"

Before he finished speaking, Wei Mingzi suddenly raised the ancient curved knife in his hand.

A starry aura, far more terrifying than any of its previous opponents, carrying decay, death, yet strange and domineering power, suddenly erupted!

It was the same Star Gathering Technique, but he performed it in an incredibly sinister way.

The blade trailed a path that devoured everything, slashing straight at Jiang Xuan!
"They've finally shown their true colors!"

Jiang Xuan was not surprised at all.

His spiritual energy surged like a river, and the battle blade in his hand emitted a clear and melodious sound. A blade light, which incorporated all his insights and was dazzling and extremely precise, fiercely met the attack!

Wei Mingzi was left with only a remnant of his soul.

However, the "star-gathering" technique it employs is unpredictable and mysterious.

The blade's gleam not only contained the domineering power of a falling star, but also a decaying, deathly aura that eroded the soul.

It seems to come from the dark side of the starry sky.

The blade moves unpredictably, often striking from unbelievable angles, with power far exceeding that of any previous opponent.

Having experienced ninety-nine bloody battles, Jiang Xuan's understanding and application of the Star-Gathering Technique had reached a state of perfection, and his will was as firm as a rock.

He quickly realized that Wei Mingzi's swordsmanship was indeed strange and unorthodox.

However, its core foundation still cannot escape the category of "star-gathering," it has just gone to one extreme.

"No matter how things change, the principle remains the same! No matter how many variations you employ, I will shatter them with a single strike!"

Jiang Xuan held nothing back, channeling all the immense fighting spirit he had accumulated since his third attempt at the challenge, along with all his insights into the Star Gathering Style, into the blade in his hand!

The blade flashed, but its brilliance faded.

Instead, it is extremely restrained, as if holding a condensed starry sky in one's hand.

The trajectory was mysterious and perfectly formed, precisely slashing at the most crucial and vulnerable point in Wei Mingzi's sword light!
"Hey!"

Wei Mingzi's eerie and domineering sword light was actually cleaved in two by Jiang Xuan's simple and unadorned sword strike!

Before the sword's momentum had subsided, an incomparably sharp sword intent swept over, enveloping Wei Mingzi's remnant soul!

"No! This is impossible! How could you break my Taiyi Star-Slaying Blade?!"

Wei Mingzi screamed, her face contorted with rage and resentment.

"broken!"

Jiang Xuan let out a cold shout, and his sword intent erupted completely!
"Ah—! Boy! I curse you! You will die a horrible death! This secret realm will not let you go! You will be condemned to eternal damnation, just like me!"

Amidst Wei Mingzi's frenzied roars filled with resentment and malice.

His figure flickered violently a few times, and finally exploded completely with a "bang".

It transformed into a shower of light, slowly dissipating onto the platform.

With his formidable foe vanquished, Jiang Xuan stood with his sword in hand, slightly panting, adjusting the surging blood and qi within his body.

Right where Wei Mingzi disappeared, a glimmer of white light caught his attention.

He stared intently and saw a feather the size of a baby's palm, pure white and without a single other color.

It was quietly suspended there, exuding a pure, ethereal, and incredibly mysterious aura.

"This is?"

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly, his heart filled with vigilance.

The appearance of this feather at the place where Wei Mingzi disappeared seemed extremely abrupt and eerie.

He carefully stepped forward, enveloped his palm with spiritual energy, and pulled it in.

The feathers felt cool to the touch, light as a feather, and their pure scent seemed genuine.

Just as he was carefully examining the feather, a sudden change occurred! (End of Chapter)