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

This confidence did not go to his head.

He clearly remembered how powerless he felt when facing Xie Yutang's terrifying pressure from his Spirit Sea Realm cultivation in Qingyang Town;

I also remember the deadly sword energy that Chi Cangfeng casually unleashed. The Earthly Fiend Realm at its peak is indeed powerful.

But in front of a true Spirit Sea Realm expert, they are still no match!
"The road ahead is still long..."

Jiang Xuan clenched his fists, his eyes becoming even more resolute and profound.

He knew he had to become stronger much faster!
Just as he was about to get up and leave the secret room, his gaze inadvertently swept across the top of the room.

In the center of the originally smooth stone roof, a hazy and mysterious black light had appeared.

The light flowed slowly, as if it were alive, exuding an ancient and profound aura.

"This is?"

Jiang Xuan's heart stirred. This secret room was exclusively for the direct descendants of the Jiang family. Could there be some hidden secret?
He stood up and tentatively reached out a finger to gently touch the black light.

The moment the fingertip touched the halo, the light rippled out like water, then quickly receded and dissipated.

A ring that is entirely black, with a simple and unadorned design and no patterns or decorations.

It fell silently from where the light had dissipated, and was caught steadily in Jiang Xuan's hands.

The ring felt cool to the touch; it was neither gold nor jade, and it was very light, seemingly without any special features.

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly, carefully examining the suddenly appearing ring, his doubts growing even stronger.

He put it on his finger, but there was no reaction.

Filled with doubt, Jiang Xuan stepped out of the cultivation chamber. His old servant, Jiang Zhong, who was guarding the door, immediately came to greet him.

"Young Master, you've emerged from seclusion? Hmm? And that ring on your hand is…"

Jiang Zhong's gaze fell on the black ring on Jiang Xuan's finger. He was puzzled at first, then seemed to remember something.

He was jolted awake, and his face showed unprecedented excitement!
"This...this is...the Chaos Ring!!"

Jiang Zhong's voice trembled with excitement. He pointed at the ring, and tears even welled up in his old eyes.

"It's the Primordial Lord's Chaos Ring! It...it actually appeared!"

"The Chaotic Void Ring? The Progenitor?"

Jiang Xuan was startled to see Jiang Zhong in such a state of disarray.

Jiang Zhong took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his agitated emotions.

But the voice still trembled.

"Young Master! This ring is a heirloom left by our Jiang family's ancestor, 'Hunxu Daozun'! Only a direct descendant recognized by Xixin Peak and of pure bloodline can activate the secret chamber's restrictions and bring it to the world after reaching a certain level of cultivation! It is the true foundation of our Jiang family!"

He stared intently at the ring, as if it were a sacred relic.

"With this ring, you can open the most core forbidden area of ​​Xixin Peak and obtain the clan's treasure left by the ancestor - the Hunxu Dao Jing!"
Moreover, it is said that this ring itself contains a shocking secret, but... one needs at least the cultivation level of the Spirit Sea Realm to even begin to unlock its mysteries!

Jiang Xuan was shocked upon hearing this!
He looked down at the seemingly ordinary black ring on his finger, never expecting it to have such an amazing origin and significance!

The heirloom of the Jiang family's founding ancestor! The key to the family's treasured manual!
This...this is simply a stroke of luck!

He carefully gripped the ring, feeling its cool touch, and a heavy sense of responsibility and strong anticipation welled up in his heart.

Spirit Sea Realm!
He must break through as soon as possible!
Suppressing his excitement, Jiang Xuan solemnly addressed Jiang Zhong.

"Uncle Zhong, this matter is of great importance, so please do not disclose it to outsiders."

"This old servant understands! This old servant understands!"

Jiang Zhong nodded repeatedly, his excitement evident in his words.

Jiang Xuan's ability to gain the ancestor's approval and obtain the Hunxu Ring gave him true hope for the revival of the Jiang family!
At this moment, Jiang Zhong seemed to remember the important matter, and quickly composed himself to report respectfully.

"Young Master, this old servant was just about to report to you. I just received news that the four collateral branches of the Jiang family have agreed to each send a representative to Xixin Peak at noon today to pay their respects to you."

Jiang Zhong handed a gold-embossed visiting card to Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan unfolded it and saw that it listed the names of the representatives who had come to pay their respects.

The guest minister sent by the Jiang family of Xixi was Xiao Fengru.

The guest minister sent by the Yunheng Jiang clan was Chang Ziheng.

The guest advisor sent by the Jiang family of Feifeng was Shi Zhan.

Only the Beiguang Jiang clan sent a clansman named Jiang Dahong, who, according to seniority, was Jiang Xuan's uncle.

Jiang Xuan's gaze swept across the list, his eyes turning slightly cold. All three families had sent outsiders as guest elders, except for the Beiguang Jiang family, who had sent a member of their own clan.

The implication is self-evident—those three collateral branches didn't take him, the "direct descendant heir," seriously at all.

He couldn't even be bothered to personally intervene, only sending his subordinates to deal with it, displaying extreme arrogance.

"It seems they think I'm young and easy to bully."

Jiang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.

He pondered for a moment, then gave instructions to Jiang Zhong.

"Uncle Zhong, go and invite Mr. Zhu over here."

"Yes, young master."

Jiang Zhong accepted the order and left.

Before long, Zhu Laosan, dressed in coarse linen clothes and with a restrained demeanor, quietly entered the hall.

"Young Master Jiang."

Zhu Laosan nodded slightly.

Jiang Xuan looked at him and said directly.

"Mr. Zhu, a few 'guests' will be visiting around noon, and they might be a little unruly. I'll need to trouble you to keep an eye on them at that time."

Zhu Laosan remained calm, as if he had expected this, and simply responded indifferently.

"It's your job."

After saying that, he silently walked to the shadows on one side of the hall and stood there like an inconspicuous statue, his aura completely concealed.

Jiang Xuan did this for two reasons: first, he genuinely needed Zhu Laosan to keep things under control; second, he wanted to take this opportunity to see firsthand how this unfathomable protector would handle the situation.

……

At noon, footsteps could be heard outside the Hall of Cleansing Hearts.

The first to enter was a middle-aged man dressed in a simple blue robe, with a kind face and a somewhat apprehensive look in his eyes. He was Jiang Dahong, the representative of the Beiguang Jiang family.

Jiang Dahong entered the main hall and saw Jiang Xuan sitting in the main seat. He quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Jiang Dahong of the Beiguang Jiang Clan pays respects to the young master."

His attitude was quite sincere, even carrying a subtle sense of awe.

Jiang Xuan slightly raised his hand.

"Uncle, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

After Jiang Dahong thanked him, he carefully sat down on a chair nearby, then looked apologetic and said in a low voice.

"Young Master, representatives from the Xixi, Yunheng, and Feifeng families... say they have urgent business to attend to and will be there shortly. Please... wait a moment." Jiang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly. Urgent business to attend to? It was nothing more than a deliberate display of power, a way to intimidate him.

He said lightly.

"It doesn't matter."

Sure enough, after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a noisy and arrogant chatter came from outside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, three figures swaggered in.

Leading the group was a middle-aged woman dressed in a bright red dress, with exquisite makeup, but with a fierce look in her eyes. She was none other than Xiao Fengru, a guest steward of the Xixi Jiang Clan.

Beside her, on her left, was a pale-faced scholar with an arrogant expression, holding a folding fan; he was Chang Ziheng of the Yunheng Jiang Clan.
On the right is a burly, bald man with a fierce face; he is Shi Zhan of the Feifeng Jiang clan.

The three entered the main hall, their gazes sweeping casually over the surroundings.

When they saw Jiang Xuan in the main seat, their eyes revealed undisguised contempt and scrutiny, as if they were appraising a product.

They merely nodded slightly at Jiang Dahong, who had arrived early, as a perfunctory greeting.

"Oh, so this is the young master left behind by Brother Wenjing? Tsk tsk, he is indeed a handsome young man."

Xiao Fengru spoke in an exaggerated tone, but there was not a trace of respect in her voice.

Instead, it gives off a condescending and judgmental vibe.

Chang Ziheng opened his folding fan with a "whoosh," shook it gently, and a faint sneer appeared on his lips.

"At such a young age, to be able to take charge of Xinxin Peak is truly... a formidable young talent."

This sounds like a compliment, but it's actually full of sarcasm.

Shi Zhan let out a cold snort, his voice booming like a bell.

"Enough with the nonsense! Let's get down to business!"

The three of them sat down in the empty seats on the side without paying any attention to Jiang Xuan, the host, as if they were the ones in charge.

Seeing this, Jiang Dahong's face turned somewhat ugly. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but was glared at by Xiao Fengru and could only lower his head helplessly.

After Xiao Fengru sat down, she crossed her legs, her gaze falling directly on Jiang Xuan, and her tone became harsh.

"Jiang Xuan, is it? I heard you're a wild kid who's always been out there. You suddenly come back and want to be the master of this Cleansing Heart Peak? Do you know how much influence Cleansing Heart Peak has? Can a little kid like you handle that?"

Without waiting for Jiang Xuan's reply, she continued talking to herself.

"The four of us have already discussed it. This Cleansing Heart Peak can't continue to be abandoned like this. Starting tomorrow, members of our four families will gradually move back to manage the affairs of the peak. As for you..."

She paused, then spoke in a condescending tone.

"Considering that you have the Jiang family blood flowing through your veins, we can allow you to remain on the peak. We will arrange a quiet place for you to live, and you will also receive a generous allowance every month to ensure you have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life. How about that? Haven't we done more than enough for you, our 'young master'?"

These words were full of domineering, threatening, and humiliating remarks! They directly labeled Jiang Xuan as a useless person who needed to be "raised" and stripped him of all power and dignity!
"You...you've gone too far!"

Jiang Zhong, standing to the side, was so angry that he trembled all over, his old face turning red.

Jiang Xuan remained seated in the main seat, his expression eerily calm, as if Xiao Fengru wasn't talking about him at all.

His gaze didn't even look at Xiao Fengru and the other two, but slowly turned to Jiang Dahong, who was sitting to the side with an uneasy expression.

"Uncle Jiang,"

Jiang Xuan's voice was calm and unwavering.

"What Deacon Xiao said was a decision made jointly by the four families... Does your Beiguang Jiang Clan also believe this?"

Upon being suddenly called out, Jiang Dahong's body trembled violently, and his face instantly turned deathly pale!

Jiang Xuan saw Jiang Dahong's struggle and hesitation for a moment and understood what was going on.

The attitude of the Kita-kwang Jiang family was at least not as blatantly hostile and contemptuous as that of the other three families. Perhaps they were still observing, or perhaps they had other plans.

He stopped pressuring Jiang Dahong and temporarily shifted his attention away from him.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan remained silent, Xiao Fengru, Shi Zhan, and Chang Ziheng asked Jiang Dahong for his opinion.

Thinking he was being cowardly and trying to back down, they became even more arrogant.

"Hey kid, stop dawdling! Our time is precious, we don't have time to waste with you here!"

Shi Zhan roared impatiently, his voice shaking the roof tiles.

Chang Ziheng chuckled, took out a scroll of silk that had been prepared beforehand from his sleeve, and flicked his wrist.

He actually threw the scroll at Jiang Xuan's feet, an action filled with extreme humiliation.

"This is the draft contract. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and put your fingerprint on it! Otherwise, it'll be awkward for everyone!"

Xiao Fengru then turned her attention to the enraged Jiang Zhong, and mocked him in a sarcastic tone.

"Old man, what are you glaring at me for? Who gave you the right to speak here, you watchdog? If you dare to bare your teeth again, believe me, I'll take care of you too!"

Jiang Zhong was so angry that he trembled all over, his face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists tightly.

But looking at Jiang Xuan, who sat motionless with an eerily calm expression, it was unsettling.

He forcibly suppressed the urge to rush forward and fight desperately, but his hunched body made him appear even more forlorn and indignant.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan remained silent, Xiao Fengru finally ran out of patience.

She suddenly stood up, placed her hands on the table, leaned forward, stared intently at Jiang Xuan, and shouted sharply.

Jiang Xuan! Give me a straight answer!
So, are you going to agree to these conditions or not?!

The moment she finished speaking—

Zhu Laosan, who had been standing silently like a statue in the shadowy corner of the main hall, suddenly opened his eyes!
There was no earth-shattering burst of energy, no surging fluctuations of spiritual energy.

A terrifying killing intent, pure to the extreme and chilling to the bone, instantly filled the entire hall!
This killing intent was so condensed as to be almost tangible, carrying a tragic aura like mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and it enveloped Xiao Fengru, Shi Zhan, and Chang Ziheng with absolute precision!

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

The three of them felt an indescribable terror suddenly descend upon them, and their souls trembled!

As if crushed by an invisible mountain, their legs went weak, and they all knelt down on the ground uncontrollably!
The sound of the knee hitting the ground was clearly audible!
The arrogant and contemptuous expressions on their faces froze instantly, replaced by extreme fear and disbelief!
They tried to struggle, only to find that they couldn't even move a finger.

The spiritual energy of his spiritual sea realm was frozen, and he could not mobilize it at all!

With just a single killing intent, he forced three Spirit Sea Realm cultivators to their knees?!
Jiang Dahong, who was standing to the side, was so shocked by what he saw that he gasped in horror, his face turned ashen, and his gaze toward Zhu Laosan was filled with boundless awe and fear!

Only then did he realize just how terrifying this seemingly insignificant, withered old man beside Jiang Xuan was!

Even Jiang Xuan looked surprised.

He knew Zhu Laosan was strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong!

Can killing intent alone suppress a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator?

This strength probably far exceeds his expectations!
At the same time, he keenly noticed that the moment Zhu Laosan released his murderous intent, Jiang Zhong's body also tensed up for a moment, although he quickly relaxed.

But that instantaneous reaction was something no ordinary old servant could have!

Xiao Fengru and the other two knelt on the ground, their bodies suppressed.

But they remained defiant, especially Xiao Fengru, who screamed in shock and anger. (End of Chapter)