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

Ruan Lingdu was so dizzy from the beating that he saw stars, his cheeks swelled up instantly, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth!

"Ah! Rebellion! Rebellion! Help me!"

Upon seeing this, the guards drew their swords and rushed forward!

Xue Jin simply snorted, and a powerful, invisible aura suddenly erupted from his body!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The guards who rushed forward screamed and flew backward, falling to the ground and unable to get up for a moment!

Xue Jin tossed Ruan Lingdu, who had been beaten to a pulp and was unconscious, onto the ground as if he were trash.

Without even glancing around, he strode straight into the city lord's mansion!
All that remained was a deathly silence in front of the mansion gate, and countless horrified gazes!
After a long while, the crowd suddenly erupted!

"Oh My God!

Who was that burly man? How dare he assault Prefect Liu's trusted confidant in front of the Prefect's residence?!

"He seems to be Young Master Jiang Xuan's bodyguard..."

"They're so fierce! They just stormed right in!"

“It’s over!
This is a huge disaster! How could Prefect Liu let this go so easily?

"Is it still possible to obtain Young Master Jiang Xuan's provincial examination certificate?"

Inside the council hall of the city lord's mansion, the lights were on, and the atmosphere was both solemn and enthusiastic.

Prefect Liu Wujun sat in the main seat, with top figures from Yanxia County, such as Wei Lingzhen and Du Dongtu, seated on either side.

Below, nearly a hundred young cultivators, including Xue Shaolin, Li Hao, and Liu Yu, who had successfully passed the provincial examination, gathered together, their faces filled with excitement and pride.

Today will be the glorious moment for them to receive their provincial examination certificates and officially gain the qualification to participate in higher-level selection.

The ceremony was about to begin, but the most important person—Jiang Xuan, the undisputed first place winner in this provincial examination—had yet to appear.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually became somewhat subtle, and the waiting cultivators began to whisper among themselves, their faces showing dissatisfaction.

"Isn't Jiang Xuan far too arrogant? How dare he be late for such an important occasion?"

"Does it mean that by winning first place, you no longer respect the Prefect and all the senior officials?"

"Hmph, no matter how talented someone is, without manners, they'll never amount to anything!"

Even Xue Shaolin, Li Hao, and the others frowned slightly, feeling that Jiang Xuan's actions were indeed somewhat impolite.

On the high platform, Dean Wei Lingzhen and General Du Dongtu exchanged a glance, both seeing the displeasure in each other's eyes.

Prefect Liu Wujun remained calm.

But the rhythm of his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest revealed that he was not entirely unmoved.

In the oppressive silence, a guard stumbled and crawled into the council chamber, reporting in a panic.

"Report! Your Excellency the Prefect! Someone has broken into the manor and injured Guest Minister Ruan Lingdu and several guards!"

That person…that person claimed to be there to collect the voucher on behalf of Jiang Xuan!

"what?!"

"Forced into the prefect's residence? Collected the credentials on behalf of someone else? This Jiang Xuan... is too arrogant!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

The hall erupted in an uproar!
All the cultivators wore angry expressions, and even the important figures on the high platform had their faces darken completely.

Liu Wujun stood up abruptly, an invisible aura of authority spreading out as he spoke in a deep voice.

"I'd like to see who dares to be so audacious!"

Before the words were even finished, the heavy doors of the council chamber were suddenly pushed open from the outside!

"Hahaha! Liu Wujun, it's been years, and your entourage has certainly grown bigger and bigger!"

A loud, boisterous laugh rang out, followed by a towering, imposing figure striding into the hall!

It's Xuejin!

His appearance instantly swept through the entire council hall with his undisguised powerful aura and the fierce killing intent that came with years of battlefield experience!

All the young cultivators felt their breath catch in their throats, unable to speak, their faces filled with horror!
Xue Shaolin, Li Hao, and other top geniuses also had their pupils shrink as they felt unprecedented pressure!
When Liu Wujun saw Xue Jin, he was surprised, solemn, and even... enlightened.

He waved his hand, signaling the restless guards to step back, then looked directly at Xue Jin and slowly began to speak.

"I wondered who dared to cause trouble in my prefectural governor's mansion. It turns out to be you, you barbarian bear. What are you doing here in my Yanxia City instead of staying in your western frontier?"

Xue Jin strode confidently to the center of the hall, ignoring the fearful or angry stares around him, and grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

"I can go wherever I want, it's none of your business. Stop talking nonsense, I'm here to get the voucher for that kid Jiang Xuan, hurry up and give it to me, don't waste my time."

Everyone was shocked once again upon hearing this!
This ruthless man really did come for Jiang Xuan!

Moreover, judging from the prefect's tone, the two seemed to have known each other for a long time, and might even have fought each other.
Liu Wujun looked at Xue Jin and remained silent for a moment.

The atmosphere inside the hall was so heavy it was almost palpable.

In the end, Liu Wujun seemed to have weighed something and sighed softly.

He took out a token engraved with intricate spiritual patterns and emitting a faint golden light from the jade plate beside him; it was the proof of his first place in the provincial examination.

"Here's the voucher. Take it."

Liu Wujun tossed the token to Xue Jin from a distance.

Xue Jin casually took it, put it in his pocket without even looking at it, and chuckled.

"You're smart to know what's good for you. That old bastard at the door had a really foul mouth, so I taught him a lesson for you. No objections?"

Liu Wujun's lips twitched slightly, but he ultimately waved his hand.

"...Get out of here."

Xue Jin laughed heartily, turned around and left. When she reached the door, she seemed to remember something, turned back and clasped her hands in a fist salute to Liu Wujun, her tone unusually serious.

"Old Liu, thanks! I owe you a favor this time!"

After saying that, he strode away without looking back. His imposing figure disappeared outside the door, and the suffocating pressure in the hall suddenly vanished.

Even long after Xue Jin left, the council chamber remained deathly silent. Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

At this moment, several important figures, including Wei Lingzhen and Du Dongtu, simultaneously heard Liu Wujun's voice transmission, which was solemn and admonishing.

"This person... is named Xue Jin, and is connected to the most mysterious place in the empire... Today's matter ends here, and must not be spread outside, nor should it be pursued further."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several important figures changed slightly, and their gazes toward the door were filled with shock and complexity.

They finally understood why Liu Wujun was so tolerant of Xue Jin, and they also vaguely guessed the astonishing background that Jiang Xuan might be involved in.

Just then, Ruan Lingdu, his face still swollen and his clothes disheveled, stumbled into the council hall. He pointed in the direction Xue Jin had left and shouted angrily.

"Your Excellency! Why did you let that thug go? He..."

"enough!"

Liu Wujun coldly interrupted him.

"This matter is over, don't mention it again! Ruan Lingdu, watch your mouth, or don't blame me for not showing any mercy!"

Ruan Lingdu trembled at Liu Wujun's icy gaze, and the rest of his words stuck in his throat.

His face turned pale and then red, and he felt the strange looks from the people around him. He was so ashamed and angry that he almost vomited blood!

He transferred all his resentment onto Jiang Xuan, who had never shown up!
"Jiang Xuan...it's all because of you! I, Ruan Lingdu, swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"

……

The next day, at dawn, Jiang Xuan emerged from his quiet room after two days of seclusion.

His eyes shone with a restrained light, and his aura was calm, clearly indicating that he had adjusted himself to his best state.

He packed his luggage simply; there wasn't much stuff, mainly some pills, spiritual materials, and the imperial map.

When he stepped out of the courtyard, Xue Jin was already waiting at the door, tossing him the gleaming provincial examination certificate.

"Kid, got the stuff. Ready to leave?"

Jiang Xuan took the voucher and nodded.

"Ah."

The two said nothing more and walked side by side toward the city gate. The streets were still deserted in the early morning, with only a few birds chirping.

Arriving outside the city gate, the official road winds its way into the distance, leading to the unknown north.

Xue Jin stopped, took out his wine gourd, took a swig, and then handed it to Jiang Xuan, saying in a gruff voice.

"Here, have a farewell drink! The Forbidden City is a place where all sorts of people mingle, and the waters run deep! Don't just show off, kid. You have to know when to back down. Preserving your life is the most important thing! If you can't make it here, come back. I... uh, your uncle is still here in Yanxia City waiting for you to drink!"

His words remained rough and sarcastic.

But Jiang Xuan could hear the deep concern contained within it.

He took the gourd of wine, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. The spicy liquid rolled down his throat, bringing a warm sensation.

"Understood, Uncle Xuejin. Take care too."

Jiang Xuan handed the wine gourd back, his gaze resolute.

"wait me back."

Xue Jin took the gourd of wine, looked at Jiang Xuan's young yet resolute face, and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"Go!"

Jiang Xuan glanced at Xue Jin one last time, then looked back at the gradually clearer outline of Yanxia City in the morning light.

Then he turned around, took a step forward, and resolutely walked north along the official road until his figure gradually disappeared at the end of the road.

Xue Jin stood there, watching Jiang Xuan's figure disappear completely before slowly withdrawing her gaze.

He tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the gourd in one gulp. The nonchalant expression on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by the vicissitudes and determination of a veteran general.

"Young man, the road ahead is fraught with peril, take care..."

He muttered something under his breath, then turned around and strode away in the opposite direction from Jiang Xuan.

As dusk settled, the wind across the wilderness carried the roughness of the desolate land, stirring up fine dust.

Jiang Xuan walked alone on the winding ancient road, the [Flowing Light Battle Blade] and [Boundless Spirit Bow] crossed on his back gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Two days after leaving Yanxia City, he deliberately avoided some of the post stations on the official road and chose a more remote route that would save him several days of travel time.

They had now ventured deep into the desolate territory known as "Blood Wolf Plains".

This area has a wide open terrain with occasional rolling hills and weathered boulders, offering relatively good views.

But it also means that it is easier to expose one's whereabouts.

Jiang Xuan's steps maintained a unique rhythm, seemingly at a steady pace.

In reality, every step was precisely taken to utilize the terrain to minimize physical exertion.

At the same time, he was highly focused, listening attentively to everything around him, and not daring to relax in the slightest.

The fleeting black dot high in the sky earlier convinced him that he had been targeted.

As the last ray of sunlight was swallowed by darkness, and the increasingly chilly night completely enveloped Blood Wolf Plains.

Jiang Xuan chose a depression with a relatively open view in front of him, backed by a huge wind-eroded rock, as a temporary resting place.

He did not light a fire, and in the darkness, he seemed to blend into the shadow of the rock.

He quickly took out the meticulously crafted "Awakening of Insects Instrument" and activated it by injecting spiritual energy.

The spiritual patterns on the surface of the compass-shaped object flickered slightly before returning to calm, and an invisible warning wave quietly spread to a radius of a hundred feet.

After setting up the cordon, he sat down cross-legged and adjusted his breathing.

They try to maintain their peak condition in order to deal with any possible attack.

The passage of time is magnified in the silent wilderness.

Less than an hour later, just as Jiang Xuan closed his eyes and concentrated, the Jingzhe Instrument placed beside him emitted an extremely subtle yet clear vibration warning!
Jiang Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in them like a star in the dark night.

Without the slightest hesitation, he silently lowered his body, his right hand already retrieving the Jingzhe Instrument into his storage ring.

His left hand rested on the cold [Boundless Spirit Bow].

Its powerful perception spread outwards like a spider web, instantly locking onto the thirty sinister auras that were quietly closing in from all directions.

These masked men in black moved nimbly and worked in perfect unison, silently tightening their encirclement.

"coming…"

Jiang Xuan sneered inwardly. The enemy had indeed appeared as expected, and the timing was so precise.

Just as the enemy was about to complete their encirclement, Jiang Xuan made his move!

He was like a cheetah that had been lying in wait, suddenly unleashing his power.

With a few quick movements in the shadows of the rocks, it occupied a slightly higher spot on the edge of the depression.

[Boundless Spirit Bow] Instantly, the moon was full, and fingers touched the bowstring. A nearly transparent arrow, formed entirely from pure spiritual energy, silently took shape.

At this moment, Jiang Xuan's mind entered a state of absolute calmness, almost a void.

All external interference was blocked out, leaving only the bow, the arrow, and the locked target.

His perception reached its peak the moment the bowstring was taut.

Even the faint breathing and heartbeat of an enemy a hundred feet away could be clearly heard.

"call out!"

A barely audible whooshing sound rang out!

The spirit arrows tore through the night, shooting out at a speed beyond the reach of the naked eye!

The black-clad assassin who charged at the forefront, exuding the most ferocious aura, was clearly the leader.

Just as he was about to make the gesture to surround her, a tiny red dot suddenly appeared between his eyebrows.

His eyes immediately dimmed, and his body went limp as he collapsed forward, lifeless.

One arrow, and he was dead; without a sound!

The sudden death caused the other assassins to pause, and their formation momentarily fell into disarray.

"Boo! Hah! Hah!"

Jiang Xuan flicked his fingers, the bowstring vibrated slightly, and three more invisible arrows accurately pierced the throats or vital organs of three assassins who were trying to flank him!

Those three, too, passed away without anyone noticing.

In the blink of an eye, four elite assassins perished! The terrifying power of long-range sniping was on full display!
"Enemy attack! Watch out for stray arrows! Spread out and charge!"

One of the quickest-reacting assassins let out a hoarse growl.

The remaining men in black quickly recovered from their brief shock, stopped concealing their presence, and unleashed their powerful auras.

They charged towards the high ground where Jiang Xuan was located from all directions, the cold glint of drawn swords creating a continuous blur in the night. (End of Chapter)