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

Then, he turned his pen eastward, tracing a path close to the coastline.

"This is the eastern route, which is adjacent to the Annihilation Sea. This route is relatively flat. However, the greatest danger comes from the sea. The Annihilation Sea is in the midst of frequent storms and tides this season, with rough sea conditions. Not only may there be attacks from sea monsters, but the weather is also unpredictable, posing considerable risks."

Finally, his pen drew a relatively straight line between Yanhua City and the Forbidden City.

"This last route is the central one, the shortest and most frequently chosen official road. Along the way are imperial post stations, and you can even travel by spirit-patterned shuttle or on military patrol warships, making it the fastest route. But—"

Xue Jin's voice became serious.

"This road is also the most conspicuous, almost completely exposed to all sides. If... if someone really doesn't want you to reach the Forbidden City smoothly, then setting up heavy guards and intercepting you at every turn along this road would be the easiest thing to do!"

He put down his seal script brush, looked at Jiang Xuan, and spoke with a tone of admonition.

"Kid, listen to your uncle. To be on the safe side, take the western route! It's longer and more troublesome, but it's safer!"

Jiang Xuan's gaze was fixed on the straight middle lane on the map, his eyes sharp as knives.

He slowly shook his head, his tone resolute.

"No, I'm going for the middle lane."

"What?! Are you crazy?!"

Xue Jin's eyes widened.

"Knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into the tiger's den? This is not courage, it's foolishness!"

Jiang Xuan raised his head, his eyes filled with a calm, analytical light.

"Uncle Xuejin, precisely because this road is the most conspicuous, it is difficult for the enemy to achieve comprehensive and thorough control. If they really want to intercept me, they will have to disperse their forces to three routes."

While the central route is treacherous, it also has its rules. Since the other side has promised not to send experts exceeding the Spirit Realm, they dare not openly use extraordinary forces on this imperial road. In comparison, the unknown risks of the western and eastern routes are perhaps more unpredictable.

He paused and continued.

"Moreover, riding the spirit pattern shuttle is the fastest way, which can minimize the time spent on the road and reduce variables."

Xue Jin opened her mouth, but seeing Jiang Xuan's unquestionable expression, she knew that further persuasion would be useless, so she could only sigh heavily.

"You're too stubborn! Fine, whatever!"

Seeing that Xue Jin no longer objected, Jiang Xuan revealed his plan.

"I've decided to travel by spirit-patterned shuttle. Uncle Xuejin, the final certificate for the provincial examination should be issued in about two days. Please go to the prefectural governor's office to collect it for me then."

Xue Jin nodded.

"That's no problem. So what are you planning to do these next couple of days?"

Jiang Xuan said calmly.

"I need to prepare some... small killing gadgets."

Upon hearing this, Xue Jin's pupils contracted slightly.

He recalled that a few days ago, Jiang Xuan had spent almost all his savings to buy a large amount of rare spiritual materials and highly poisonous elixirs.

He was still somewhat puzzled at the time.

Now he understood that Jiang Xuan wanted to personally craft some powerful items that could save lives or even turn the tide of battle in critical moments.

He guessed that, given Jiang Xuan's mastery of spirit patterns, he was likely trying to refine some kind of powerful crossbow bolt that was easy to conceal, or a one-time explosive device.

"Do you need my help?"

Xue Jin asked.

"No, I can do it myself."

Jiang Xuan shook his head, his gaze returning to the middle lane on the map, as if he could already vaguely see the glint of swords and shadows ahead.

……

The distant Forbidden City.

Deep within an ancient mansion that has stood for countless years, in a study that is elegantly decorated yet exudes a solemn atmosphere.

A young woman dressed in fine clothes, with a cold and arrogant demeanor, named Chi Cangmei, was standing next to a huge rosewood table.

On the table lay an imperial map similar to the one in Jiang Xuan's hand.

Around her stood several young men and women dressed in fine clothes and with extraordinary bearing, clearly noblemen from the Forbidden City.

Chi Cangmei pointed at the map with a slender jade ruler, her voice clear and cold.

"There are three main routes from Yanxia City to the Forbidden City: the western route, the eastern route, and the central route."

She marked several special symbols at key points on the three routes.

"What I mean is, we need to deploy our personnel along all three routes. Make sure everything is foolproof."

Upon hearing this, a handsome young man with a hint of arrogance in his eyes couldn't help but chuckle.

"Sister Zangmei, is it really necessary to make such a big fuss and deploy defenses on all three routes just to deal with a country bumpkin from the southwestern province? Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?"

The others nodded in agreement, feeling that Chi Cangmei was being overly cautious.

Chi Cangmei glanced coldly at the young man without saying a word.

Instead, he took out a scroll of animal hide that exuded an ancient aura from his sleeve and gently spread it out on the table.

On the scroll, information was clearly recorded in cinnabar.

"See for yourselves."

Chi Cangmei's voice was flat and emotionless.

The noblemen gathered around curiously, their eyes fixed on the scroll.

When they read the records about Jiang Xuan's various deeds in Yanxia City, they were amazed.

In particular, there is a detailed description of how, during the provincial examination, he single-handedly crushed four Earthly Realm experts with his bare hands and sent the Heavenly Realm expert Yue Zhiyou flying with a single punch.

And the final label reads "suspected graduate of the Blood Killing Camp".

The ease and arrogance on his face vanished instantly, replaced by deep shock!

"This...how is this possible? A Human Realm cultivator defeating a Heaven Realm cultivator?"

"The Bloodthirsty Camp?!"

People from that godforsaken place are all monsters!

"No wonder...no wonder Sister Cangmei values ​​this so much..."

The group exchanged glances, no longer daring to underestimate each other.

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open, and a young man dressed in a blue robe, with an ordinary face but unusually deep and calm eyes, walked in.

His steps were composed, his aura restrained, yet he gave the impression of having everything under control.

Upon seeing this person, even the usually aloof Chi Cangmei showed a hint of seriousness on his face and nodded slightly.

"Qianjing, you've arrived."

The newcomer was Xu Qianjing, a renowned tactical mastermind from the Shence Branch of Qinglu Academy, though his cultivation level was not top-notch.

However, his strategies and insight are highly regarded.

Xu Qianjing nodded to Chi Cangmei, his gaze sweeping over the map and the animal hide scroll on the table, as if he already knew everything about it.

He spoke in a calm voice.

"I just received the latest news from the Southwest Province. Jiang Xuan has been confirmed as the first place winner in this provincial examination. Furthermore, in the third round of the 'Six Top Contests,' in his group, apart from him, the other five people are four Earthly Realm cultivators and one Heavenly Realm cultivator."

The result… he swept them all away by himself. And according to multiple verifications, his current cultivation level is indeed still at the Human Gang Realm.” Xu Qianjing’s words were calm.

Chi Cangmei looked at Xu Qianjing, who had a calm expression, and said in a deep voice.

"For this operation, the family has deployed two thousand elite cultivators, all with cultivation levels ranging from the late Human Realm to the peak Earth Realm. In addition, there are six 'Purple Elite' spirit-patterned warships, capable of sealing off the airspace."

In addition, there are sixteen batches of newly forged 'Severing Force Short Crossbows' and various elixirs and defensive magical artifacts worth fifty thousand gold coins, available for allocation. These resources should be enough, right?

The number she announced made the several noblemen next to her secretly gasp in astonishment.

Using this lineup to besiege a provincial-level genius seems a bit of an exaggeration.

After listening, Xu Qianjing shook his head slightly, his tone remaining calm and indifferent.

"not enough."

Chi Cangmei's brows furrowed slightly.

"Oh? What's not enough?"

Xu Qianjing walked to the map and gently tapped the three routes with his finger.

"Our manpower and resources seem plentiful, but they are spread across three routes, leaving us vulnerable at every turn. More importantly, we need intelligence. We need to deploy 'Wind Shadow Hawk' spies in advance along the three routes, especially at key nodes along the central route, to establish a rapid-response intelligence network. Any movement, especially the target's specific route, speed, and status, must be known immediately."

He paused and continued.

"Furthermore, I need detailed information on all two thousand cultivators involved in this operation, including their cultivation level, preferred techniques, characteristics of their spiritual weapons, past battle records, and even their personality weaknesses. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. When dealing with a target who can graduate from the Blood Slaughtering Camp and can defy the Heavenly Gang at the Human Gang Realm, any negligence could lead to total defeat."

Upon hearing this, Chi Cangmei pondered for a moment, then nodded decisively.

"Okay! I will arrange for the Wind Shadow Harrier and detailed information to be delivered to you immediately, no later than noon tomorrow."

Xu Qianjing nodded slightly, which was considered as approval.

He raised his eyes, looked calmly at Chi Cangmei, and said something that made everyone present jump.

"With resources in place and intelligence readily available, I will do my best to complete the mission. However, if we ultimately fail, I will not take responsibility."

Upon hearing this, several noblemen nearby immediately showed their displeasure.

They felt that Xu Qianjing was too arrogant and conceited, shirking responsibility before even starting.

Chi Cangmei seemed to have expected this. She gave Xu Qianjing a deep look and nodded.

"Okay. I just want the result."

Xu Qianjing said no more, gave a slight bow, and then turned and left the study, his back view composed.

After he left, a nobleman couldn't help but complain.

"Sister Cangmei, isn't Xu Qianjing too arrogant? Why is he so..."

"Shut up!"

Chi Cangmei coldly interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with an unquestionable air of authority.

"Remember this: in this operation, all command and control will be based on Xu Qianjing's orders! Anyone who dares to disobey or delay this important matter will be punished according to clan rules!"

She glanced at the disgruntled expressions on everyone's faces and snorted coldly.

"Why do you think I needed to ask him? It's because he's the most outstanding tactical mastermind in the past hundred years at the Qinglu Academy's Divine Strategy Branch! His battle simulations have a 97% success rate! Your abilities are child's play in front of him! If you want to successfully intercept Jiang Xuan, you must listen to him!"

The crowd was intimidated by Chi Cangmei's sharp words and stern expression. Although they were still dissatisfied, they dared not say anything more.

……

Two days later, in Yanxia City.

The entire city was still immersed in the afterglow of the provincial examination.

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, the focus of people's conversations almost always revolves around that name—Jiang Xuan!
"Have you heard? The provincial examination results were announced today! Young Master Jiang Xuan was ranked first in the provincial examination!"

"Really?! That's wonderful! You truly deserve it!"

"Tsk tsk, Human Realm cultivation, first place in the provincial examination, surpassing even the Heaven Realm... This is simply legendary!"

"I heard that the Prefect will personally issue the certificates!"

The area in front of the city lord's mansion was packed with people, who had come to watch the announcement of the results and witness the moment of glory.

The noise and chatter blended together.

As agreed, Xue Jin arrived at the city lord's mansion.

Looking at the dense crowd in front of him, he frowned slightly and didn't bother to say anything more.

An invisible aura rippled slightly around him.

The crowd in front involuntarily parted to make way for each other.

Xue Jin swaggered confidently to the front of the mansion, under the watchful eyes of countless astonished and disapproving gazes.

Just as he was about to step into the mansion, a figure blocked his way.

This man had a fair complexion, three long wisps of beard, wore a brocade robe, and had an arrogant and sinister look in his eyes.

He was one of the confidants of Prefect Liu Wujun, and also a guest minister of the Chu clan in the Forbidden City—Ruan Lingdu.

Ruan Lingdu clearly recognized Xue Jin. He gave a forced smile and cupped his hands in greeting, but his tone was clearly condescending.

"So it's Lord Xuejin. The provincial examination certificate awarding ceremony is being held in the manor today, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter."

Xue Jin patiently said in a deep voice.

"I am not just anyone. I am here on behalf of Jiang Xuan to collect his provincial examination certificate."

Ruan Lingdu said slowly and deliberately.

"Oh? Collect it on behalf of someone else? That's against the rules. The provincial examination certificate is extremely important; the person must come in person to verify their identity before they can collect it. Please leave and let Jiang Xuan come himself."

Xue Jin's face darkened; he knew this Ruan Lingdu.

Back at the celebration at Shidingzhai, this old fellow had been publicly reprimanded by Liu Wujun because of Jiang Xuan and Chu Feng's affair, causing him to lose face. Now, he's clearly taking this opportunity to retaliate and deliberately make things difficult for them.

"Ruan Lingdu, don't push your luck!"

Xuejin's patience ran out.

"Jiang Xuan is busy and entrusted me to collect it! Hurry up and bring the voucher, don't waste time!"

Ruan Lingdu was so intimidated by Xue Jin's imposing presence that he took a half-step back.

But then he became enraged and shrieked.

"Xue Jin! How dare you act so insolently in front of the Prefect's residence?! Rules are rules! No one can receive a decree on behalf of the Prefect without the Prefect's own handwriting! If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for being impolite! Guards!"

At his shout, several guards from the city lord's mansion who were standing outside the gate immediately surrounded him, their swords half-drawn, staring menacingly at Xue Jin.

Looking at Ruan Lingdu's smug face and then at the guards who had surrounded him, Xue Jin could no longer suppress his anger!

"Screw your rules!"

He cursed angrily, and his huge, fan-like hand shot out with lightning speed!
Ruan Lingdu had no time to react. He only felt his collar tighten and Xue Jin easily lifted him up!

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Without saying a word, Xue Jin swung his other large hand.

He slapped Ruan Lingdu's fair face several times, one on the front and one on the back!

The sound was crisp and clear, standing out starkly against the noisy entrance to the mansion! (End of Chapter)