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

Holding the stack of blueprints that seemed to weigh a ton, Gu Liang trembled with excitement. It took him a long time to take a few deep breaths and barely suppress the overwhelming joy that was about to spill over.

He looked up at Jiang Xuan, his eyes slightly red and his voice trembling with emotion.

"Jiang Xuan... I... I really don't know how to thank you enough! You've really helped me a lot this time!"

He was emotional, and his words poured out like a flood.

“When those bastards from Biguang Pavilion came looking for trouble, you stepped in to resolve it; later, without saying a word, you gave me rare spiritual materials worth more than 100,000 gold coins as capital; and this time, you didn’t hesitate to damage your own reputation in such a high-profile event as the provincial examination in order to help our Jinyutang make a name for itself.”

Now…now you've given me these…these unique magical artifact blueprints, enough to drive any merchant horde mad! This favor is far too heavy! I, Gu Liang…my life is yours from now on! Just say the word, and I'll brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without hesitation!

Jiang Xuan chuckled as he looked at Gu Liang's somewhat over-excited and out-of-control appearance. He stepped forward, patted Gu Liang on the shoulder, and jokingly scolded him.

"Stop with the mushy talk! Don't forget, I have a share in Jin Yutang. Helping Jin Yutang is helping myself. If you really want to thank me, then hurry up and fulfill that boast you made back then—expand Jin Yutang beyond the empire! Let me see the day when our Jin Yutang becomes famous throughout the world!"

Gu Liang was stirred by Jiang Xuan's words and his heroic spirit surged. He wiped the corner of his eye hard, and his eyes flashed with an unprecedented sharp light as he said fiercely.

"Alright! Rest assured! I, Gu Liang, hereby swear that I will do everything in my power to make the name of Jin Yutang resound throughout this land and be known to all under heaven!"

After the initial excitement, Gu Liang quickly calmed down. Looking at the blueprints in his hand, a hint of worry arose again.

"Jiang Xuan, these seven spiritual artifacts are so ingeniously designed, they can be considered a unique secret recipe. What if... what if someone else discovers and imitates them during the forging process or when they are sold..."

Jiang Xuan seemed to have expected this, and smiled calmly.

You can rest assured about that.

On these diagrams, I have made some unique 'imprints' and treatments on the key spirit pattern framework and energy circuits.

Unless the refiner receives my personal guidance and understands the key techniques, even if an outsider obtains the finished product or even the blueprints, they will be unable to decipher its core secrets. Forcibly imitating it will only result in a pile of scrap metal.

He paused, his tone filled with absolute confidence.

"If they want the crafting methods for these seven spiritual artifacts, they'll have to kneel down and beg me to tell them."

Upon hearing this, Gu Liang was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what he meant and burst into laughter, finally feeling relieved.

"Good! Excellent! With your assurance, I can finally relax! Tomorrow—no! Tonight—I'll send a message to my father and have him begin preparations immediately! With these seven trump cards, let's see who can stop Jin Yutang's rise!"

……

After resolving Jin Yutang's immediate crisis, Jiang Xuan quietly left.

When he returned to the secluded courtyard in the south of the city, it was already past midnight.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the cool night breeze. Xue Jin was still leaning against his usual corner, holding a wine jar, seemingly fast asleep.

Jiang Xuan tiptoed, not wanting to disturb anyone, and was preparing to quietly return to his room.

However, just as he reached out to push open the door, he heard Xue Jin's voice behind him, which sounded somewhat sleepy but was unusually clear.

"Wait, kid."

Jiang Xuan paused, turned around, and looked at Xue Jin, who had opened her eyes at some point.

Xue Jin let out a hiccup, his cloudy old eyes gleaming in the night. He looked Jiang Xuan up and down, his tone inquisitive.

"I heard about what happened to you in the assessment today."

This isn't like you at all. To help promote a business, you're willing to damage your own reputation in that kind of setting, attracting countless criticisms… Have you considered the consequences of doing this?

Jiang Xuan paused for a moment, then did not answer immediately.

Xue Jin sat up straight, her tone becoming more serious.

"Your fame is growing, and more and more people are watching you. Openly and secretly, friends and enemies alike. The deeper your connection with Jin Yutang, the easier it is for them to use it as a weakness to attack you."

"If they can't deal with you, can't they at least deal with a trading company? They'll use every means to attack and destroy Jin Yutang, making you lose face and put you in a passive position—I've seen far too many of these underhanded tricks! There are plenty of examples in the past of brilliant individuals who, because their associates or businesses were targeted, ended up in dire straits, even suffering setbacks in their resolve!"

He stared into Jiang Xuan's eyes.

Have you considered the consequences of all this?

Jiang Xuan met Xue Jin's gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable firmness.

"Senior, there is never anything in this world without risk. If Jin Yutang wants to grow and expand, it will inevitably face attacks from various rivals sooner or later."

My existence might accelerate this process, or it might bring an even more violent storm, but... there's nothing I can do about it.

He paused, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Some things, even knowing they are risky, must be done. If one is always hesitant and timid, lacking any sense of responsibility and courage, what is the point of living?"

Looking at Jiang Xuan's calm yet resolute expression and listening to his powerful words that seemed out of place for his age, Xue Jin couldn't help but show a complex expression on her face.

He suddenly felt that he might really be getting old, thinking too much and losing his edge.

Looking at Xue Jin's expression, Jiang Xuan added another sentence, his tone calm but carrying a chilling undertone.

"Moreover, if anyone really thinks that by attacking Jin Yutang they can make me compromise, make me suffer, or even take revenge on me... then they had better pray that I don't catch them red-handed. Otherwise, I will make them, and the forces behind them, pay a price they absolutely cannot bear."

Xue Jin sensed a ruthless and resolute intent, as if amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, in Jiang Xuan's calm words.

He understood that this kid wasn't reckless; rather, he had already figured out the key to the situation and had prepared for the worst, as well as... the most ferocious counterattack!
He paused for a long time, then finally shook his head, laughed self-deprecatingly, picked up the wine jar again, took a swig, and waved his hand.

"Forget it, I was overthinking it. You little brat, you're bolder and more ruthless than I imagined. Since you've thought it through, then go ahead and do whatever you want! As long as you have the ability, even if you tear a hole in the sky, I won't care!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan smiled, said nothing more, turned around, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Xue Jin watched his retreating figure disappear behind the door, her eyes growing increasingly deep and unfathomable.

This boy is becoming increasingly unfathomable to him.

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The first round of the highly anticipated provincial examination in the Southwest Province has finally come to a complete end.

Of the 5,436 participants, only less than 2,600 successfully advanced after a brutal selection process! The reason the number was slightly less than half of the expected number was that in some matches, the two sides were unable to determine a winner within the allotted time of one incense stick's burning, and according to the rules, both were eliminated, demonstrating the intensity of the competition.

Those who advanced were all outstanding members of the younger generation.

Among them, the most dazzling are naturally those top figures who have long been famous, such as Xue Shaolin and Yu Wenjing from Yanxia Academy. Most of them have already reached the Earthly Realm or even higher, and their strength is unfathomable.

Jiang Xuan was undoubtedly the most unique among all those who advanced.

His specialness lies not only in his powerful advancement with the cultivation level of the Human Gang Realm, but also in his shocking "arena advertisement" behavior in the first round of assessment, which made him a controversial figure and the most talked-about person.

Of course, his domineering and terrifying strength, which allowed him to send his opponent flying with a single strike, left an extremely deep and chilling impression on everyone who witnessed that battle.

……

The second round of assessments was still held at Yanxia College.

On this day, the area around the even more magnificent "Martial Arts Arena" within the academy, specifically designed for large-scale competitions, was already packed with people! The seating, which could accommodate even more spectators, was even more sought after than in the first round, with tickets being almost impossible to obtain.

Because everyone knows that the later the assessments go, the more intense the battles will be, and the more clashes will occur between geniuses, naturally attracting more attention.

When Jiang Xuan appeared at the entrance of the martial arts arena, it instantly caused quite a stir!

"Look! It's Jiang Xuan! He's here!"

"I wonder if he'll continue promoting that Jin Yutang today?"

"Hmph! What a show-off! This is a solemn place for the provincial examination; how can he treat it so lightly!"

"You can't say that. He did win that battle beautifully, and his strength is undeniable."

Moreover, after his outburst, Jin Yutang is now famous throughout the city. The publicity effect is... wow..."

"No matter what, he's definitely the most talked-about person in this assessment right now, although this popularity... is a mixed bag. But this kind of 'fame' isn't something everyone wants."

A flood of opinions arose, some curious, some disdainful, some admiring, and some contemptuous.

However, no one can deny that the name Jiang Xuan, and the "Jin Yu Tang" he represents, have been deeply imprinted on the process of this provincial examination in an extremely domineering way.

Even on the more magnificent white jade viewing platform suspended above the martial arts arena, the expressions of important figures such as Liu Wujun and Wei Lingzhen became somewhat subtle and complex when they saw Jiang Xuan appear.

Liu Wujun remained expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Wei Lingzhen stroked his beard, chuckled, and shook his head.

Du Dongtu grinned, revealing a smile that was hard to decipher.

The same thought simultaneously arose in their minds.

This child is truly an anomaly that defies common sense.

His actions are always so unexpected, yet he possesses the absolute strength to support his "mischief".

This second round of assessment is destined to become even more unpredictable and...interesting because of his presence.

Feeling the various ambiguous gazes coming from all directions, Jiang Xuan felt somewhat uncomfortable all over.

He shook his head with a wry smile and muttered to himself.

"This feeling of being famous... it's really troublesome."

Fortunately, the melodious and clear bell rang out at just the right time, echoing once again in the sky above the huge martial arts arena, instantly attracting everyone's attention and slightly easing Jiang Xuan's embarrassment.

The second round of assessments has officially begun!

The rules are similar to the first round, but more stringent. The remaining 2,600 cultivators will need to draw lots to determine their opponents and order of appearance, and then compete on one hundred arenas.

The time limit for the assessment has been shortened from one incense stick in the first round to half an hour! If no winner is determined after the time limit, both will be eliminated! The cruelty of the competition has been further escalated.

Jiang Xuan followed the flow of people to complete the lottery and glanced at the information displayed on the jade plate.

"Round 4, Ring 49, Opponent."

Yue Zhongtian.

This means he will appear in the fourth batch, on arena number 49, facing a cultivator named Yue Zhongtian.

Soon, the first round of matches began. Two hundred elite cultivators stepped onto one hundred arenas. In an instant, the booming sounds of colliding spiritual energy, the crisp sounds of weapons clashing, and the thunderous cheers of the spectators in the stands merged into one, making the atmosphere in the entire martial arts arena incredibly intense and exciting!
Jiang Xuan remained in the assessment area, not relaxing despite not yet being the one to be tested. His gaze calmly swept over the arenas where fierce battles were taking place. Those who had emerged from over five thousand people to advance to this second round were all true elites, their strength far surpassing that of the first round. The excitement and danger of the battles had also noticeably increased.

However, although these battles were intense, not many of them aroused Jiang Xuan's strong interest.

He viewed the techniques with a mindset of learning and reference, observing the unique characteristics of the different martial arts, the distinctive fighting styles, and the on-the-spot adaptability skills, extracting their essence and silently verifying what he had learned.

Just as he was engrossed in watching, a voice filled with obvious disdain and coldness came from not far away.

"Hmph! So what if it's Jiang Xuan? Others may be wary of him, but I, Yue Zhongtian, am not!"

The voice was quite loud, carrying an undisguised arrogance, clearly meant for certain people to hear.

Jiang Xuan turned his gaze slightly and looked in the direction of the sound.

The speaker was a young man dressed in a royal blue robe. He was slender and tall, and his face was not particularly handsome, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, and his gaze carried a fierce air.

He slightly raised his chin, his expression arrogant, and every gesture exuded a strong sense of superiority.

At this moment, the blue-robed youth Yue Zhongtian was sneering at the several cultivators beside him who seemed to be trying to persuade him, expressing his disdain for Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan's gaze swept over the people beside Yue Zhongtian and he noticed familiar faces such as Wen Mingxiu, Qi Yunxiao, and Yuan Shu.

When Wen Mingxiu and the others noticed Jiang Xuan's gaze, their expressions changed, and they instinctively avoided his eyes. They even unconsciously distanced themselves from Yue Zhongtian, as if afraid of being implicated. (End of Chapter)