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

The view from here is expansive, allowing a perfect view of the hovering Ziying warship.

Jiang Xuan gently untied Luo Luo from his back and carefully placed her behind a sheltered rock.

Then, he took down the dark gold [Boundless Spirit Bow].

He knelt on the ground, adjusting his breathing, trying to calm his turbulent blood and qi.

His gaze, through the crosshairs of the bow, was fixed on the Ziying warship a thousand feet away.

His mind returned to that state of absolute calm, everything around him became blurred, and only that huge target remained in his eyes.

He slowly pulled the bowstring.

This time, the arrows were not condensed using spiritual energy.

Instead, he compressed and poured all the remaining spiritual energy in his body, along with the suppressed anger and killing intent, into the bowstring!

The bowed body emitted a faint hum, as if it could no longer bear the weight.

Just then, the Purple Ying warship seemed to have sensed something.

With slight adjustments to the hull, the most robust cannon on the bow, engraved with the spiritual pattern of the two characters "Break the City," was revealed.

A chilling light began to slowly gather, and the cannon muzzle was vaguely aimed at the mountain peak where Jiang Xuan was located!

They seem to have spotted this slip-up and are preparing to finish him off!

"It's now!"

Jiang Xuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light!

He was very familiar with the structure of the Ziying warship, which he helped design.

They knew that the core spirit pattern conversion node of this main cannon was most vulnerable in the instant before it charged up and fired!
Just as the light of the "City-Breaking Spirit Cannon" reached its peak and was about to erupt—Jiang Xuan released his fingers from the bowstring!

"collapse!"

A soft, yet soul-stirring, string-like note resounded!

A completely invisible and intangible spiritual arrow, yet imbued with all of Jiang Xuan's current essence, energy, spirit, and terrifying killing intent, pierced through the air at a speed that transcended the concept of time and space!

A distance of a thousand feet can be covered in an instant!
The ethereal arrow pierced with unparalleled precision into the depths of the muzzle of the "City-Breaking Spirit Cannon," just before it was about to detonate.

It hit an extremely subtle yet crucial spirit rune node!
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

Immediately afterwards——

"Boom! B ...

An explosion ten times more terrifying than the one that destroyed the spirit pattern shuttle suddenly erupted from the bow of the Zi Ying warship!
A massive fireball shot into the sky, its violent energy instantly tearing apart the turret and a large portion of the ship's structure around it!

Countless metal fragments scattered and flew everywhere like fireworks!

The massive Ziying warship shook violently, tilted, and lost its balance.

billowing thick smoke and emitting a sickening metallic hiss, it tumbled precariously from the air for a short distance before finally managing to stabilize itself.

But it has clearly suffered heavy damage and lost most of its fighting capacity!

At the summit, Jiang Xuan knelt on one knee.

Watching the Ziying warship, which he had severely damaged, trailing thick smoke, swaying and rocking, yet ultimately not completely crashing.

Instead, he fled into the distance in a disheveled manner, which didn't surprise him much.

The defensive array and structure of the Ziying warship are extremely robust, especially the area protecting the core spirit furnace, which is of paramount importance.

His arrow just now accurately hit the weak point of the turret, causing huge damage.

But it's still far from completely destroying the warship. Being able to severely damage it and force it to retreat is already the limit.

"pity…"

Jiang Xuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with regret.

But it was quickly replaced by more pressing realities. Now is not the time for regret.

"Mother...Mother...Waaah..."

A faint, sorrowful sob came from behind, pulling Jiang Xuan back to reality from his chilling killing intent.

Luo Luo woke up. The little girl looked around at her unfamiliar surroundings with a blank expression.

Not seeing her mother, she was overwhelmed with fear and grief and burst into tears.

Hearing the cries, Jiang Xuan's heart trembled, and the blood that had been boiling with the passion of killing gradually cooled down.

He forced himself to suppress his injuries and anger, and turned to walk to Luo Luo's side.

Looking at the little girl's red eyes and tear-streaked face.

"Don't cry, Luo Luo..."

Jiang Xuan spoke in the gentlest voice possible, awkwardly reaching out to wipe away her tears.

But seeing the dried blood on his hands, he pulled back.

He tried to keep his tone calm.

"Your mother... went to a very far place. From now on... your big brother will take care of you, okay?"

Luo Luo sobbed, looking at Jiang Xuan with her big, teary eyes. She seemed to sense the kindness in his words, and her crying gradually subsided.

But I was still filled with helplessness.

Jiang Xuan knew this place was not safe to linger. The Ziying warship had already retreated.

But the other side will definitely send more people to search.

He must leave as soon as possible.

He picked Luo Luo up again, carefully secured her with bandages, and then checked the direction.

They chose the most secluded path, leading deeper into the mountains, and staggered down the mountain.

The most urgent task is to find a completely safe place to heal her injuries as soon as possible, and then find a way to settle Luo Luo in.

……

Inside the study of the Chi family residence in the Forbidden City.

The previous celebratory atmosphere had vanished, replaced by a deathly silence and oppression.

The deputies were still imagining the rewards and celebrations after the mission was completed, their faces beaming with relaxed smiles.

Just then, the study door was suddenly kicked open, and a guard, pale-faced and scrambling in, shouted in a trembling voice.

"No...something's wrong! My lord! An urgent message has been sent from the front...that...that Jiang Xuan...he's not dead!"

He showed up in the Maple Leaves Mountains and... he even killed dozens of our cultivators who were searching for him!

"what?!"

"This is impossible!"

"How could he possibly have survived the bombardment from the Ziying warship?!"

The smiles on the faces of the deputies froze instantly, replaced by utter astonishment and disbelief, and they all gasped in shock.

Before they could recover from the shocking news, another guard rushed in, almost on his hands and feet, his voice trembling with tears.

"Report! Sir! Urgent message from the No. 3... No. 3 Ziying warship! The warship... the warship encountered an unknown attack over the Fengwan Mountains. The main gun turret at the bow was destroyed, and the hull was severely damaged. It has... has lost most of its combat capability and is urgently returning to port!"

This news struck like a bolt from the blue, hitting everyone in the study hard!
"The Ziying warship...is severely damaged?!"

"Who is it? Who dares to attack an Imperial warship?!"

"Could it be that a powerful figure is secretly helping Jiang Xuan?"

The deputies were completely thrown into disarray, their faces filled with terror and confusion.

"Shut up!"

Chi Cangmei slammed her hand on the table, her beautiful face now so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said sternly.

"Retrieve the last footage recorded by the Hawkeye!"

Soon, the light screen lit up again, clearly showing how Jiang Xuan appeared from the canyon, how he fought against overwhelming odds and ruthlessly killed dozens of cultivators, and finally, at the mountain peak, how he blasted the Ziying warship's gun turret with a single arrow. Upon seeing Jiang Xuan's cold yet youthful face and the flames of the exploding warship, the study fell into a deathly silence.

All doubts and wishful thinking were completely shattered.

The news... is true!

"Human Realm...severely damaged the Purple Ying Warship..."

One of the lieutenants muttered in a daze, "This is completely beyond their comprehension."

Chi Cangmei stared intently at Jiang Xuan's figure in the light screen, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

Her icy gaze swept over the silent crowd.

"Now, does anyone still think Xu Qianjing is making a mountain out of a molehill? Does anyone still think the target is insignificant?"

No one dared to answer.

Chi Cangmei continued.

"Immediately issue my order! Everyone, drop everything that is not currently in your possession! Gather all intelligence about Jiang Xuan! I need to know all his trump cards, weaknesses in his techniques, and habits!"
At the same time, revise the encirclement and suppression tactics, sparing no expense! During this period, without my order, no one is allowed to leave the residence, let alone act rashly!

"Yes Yes!"

The deputies immediately bowed and accepted the order, daring not to be negligent in the slightest.

……

Deep in the Fengwan Mountains, Jiang Xuan, carrying Luo Luo on his back, finally found an extremely secluded natural cave.

The cave entrance was hidden by vines, and the cave was dry and well-ventilated, making it an ideal hiding place.

He put Luo Luo down, and the little girl started crying again, wanting her mother.

Jiang Xuan felt a pang of sadness, but didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only awkwardly pat her back.

He lit a small campfire and roasted a wild rabbit he had hunted earlier. The enticing aroma finally calmed Luo Luo down from her sobbing.

Jiang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief as he watched her eat the barbecue in small bites, and finally fall into a deep sleep next to him, exhausted.

Looking at Luo Luo's sleeping, innocent face, Jiang Xuan felt a headache coming on.

Taking her along would undoubtedly make his journey ahead more difficult and dangerous.

But to abandon her? He couldn't do it.

The images of the innocent passengers who died because of him seemed to be right before his eyes; he could not betray the last entrustment of Luo Luo's mother.

How to settle her down became a thorny issue.

Putting his worries aside for the time being, Jiang Xuan set up the Awakening of Insects ritual at the cave entrance.

He then took out several array flags and set up a simple spirit array for concealment and early warning.

Then, he sat down cross-legged and began to focus all his efforts on healing his injuries.

He took out various precious elixirs obtained from the secret realm and those seized, and used them both internally and externally.

Simultaneously, he activated the "Minor Underworld Divine Art" and the "Ten Thousand Paths Devouring Heaven Technique," guiding the medicinal power to repair the damaged meridians and internal organs.

Time passes day by day.

For the next seven days, Jiang Xuan spent most of his time taking care of Luo Luo, in addition to healing his injuries.

He released the furry treasure-hunting rat named "Chirp" from the spirit beast pouch.

The little guy's appearance immediately attracted Luo Luo's attention.

Watching Luo Luo and Qiu Qiu chase and play at the cave entrance, their laughter like silver bells, Jiang Xuan's tense nerves relaxed a little.

With the company of barbecue, playing rattan ball, and storytelling, Luo Luo gradually emerged from the shadow of losing her mother and became more cheerful.

With the aid of numerous miraculous pills and powerful cultivation techniques, Jiang Xuan's injuries healed at an astonishing speed.

Seven days later, not only did he fully recover from his injuries, but his cultivation level even subtly improved due to this life-or-death test.

On this day, the sun rose.

Jiang Xuan took Luo Luo and left the cave where they had stayed for seven days.

He held Luo Luo's little hand and gave her some instructions.

"Luo Luo, remember what your brother said. If you encounter bad people or hear a loud noise, immediately close your eyes and hold on tight to your brother, okay?"

Luo Luo nodded obediently.

"Okay! Luo Luo will remember!"

The two walked along the mountain path.

As they walked, Luo Luo suddenly looked up at herself and asked curiously.

"Big brother, do you have a home? Where is your home?"

Family?
Jiang Xuan was slightly taken aback. The simple yet warm courtyard in Qingyang Town instantly appeared in his mind, as well as... Xia Zhi's face, which was puffed up with anger but also showed concern.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me—longing and worry.

He gently patted Luo Luo's head, looked north, and whispered.

"Brother... is on his way home."

Jiang Xuan, carrying a specially made bamboo basket containing Luo Luo, stepped into Qingliu Town.

This small town, located on the edge of the Maple Mountain Range, is an important stop on the way to the northern plains and is much more prosperous than the previous stops.

Instead of choosing those noisy inns, he went into a rather elegant restaurant called "Fengwan".

The restaurant was bustling with noise, and the first floor was filled with diners from all over the country.

Jiang Xuan chose a relatively quiet spot by the window, carefully put down the basket, and carried Luo Luo out to place her on the bench.

He ordered several of the restaurant's signature dishes and a pot of local specialty "Yunzheng Fengniang" (a type of steamed maple wine).

Then release the fluffy treasure-hunting mouse, Chiu Chiu, from the spirit beast pouch and let it play with Luo Luo.

Luo Luo was quickly drawn to Chirp, giggling and temporarily forgetting her anxiety about being away from home.

While waiting for the food to be served, Jiang Xuan listened quietly to the discussions of the diners around him.

The conversation mostly revolved around the recent "spirit shuttle crash incident" that shocked the empire.

"Have you heard? Over at the Maple Sunset Mountains, a spirit-patterned shuttle was attacked by a ferocious bird and crashed! Many people died!"

"Really? What kind of ferocious bird is that powerful?"

"Who knows? The authorities say it was an encounter with a rare horde of flying monsters... Alas, what a bolt from the blue!"

"Those people on the bus must have felt so sorry for them..."

Listening to these deliberately distorted "truths," Jiang Xuan's hand holding the teacup tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

He knew perfectly well that it was not a ferocious bird at all, but a cold-blooded and ruthless massacre!

It was the innocent lives lost in the process of killing him!

A surge of pent-up anger welled up in his chest.

But he couldn't refute it, and could only bury it deep in his heart.

Just then, footsteps were heard at the stairs.

A young man dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, with a jade pendant at his waist and an arrogant expression, walked up with a heavily made-up woman with a seductive figure in his arms.

The young master's gaze swept across the first floor and finally landed on Luo Luo, who was playing with Qiu Qiu.

More accurately, it landed on the incredibly intelligent treasure-hunting mouse, Chiu Chiu, whose fur was unusually colored.

The woman in his arms, Ajiao, also saw Qiujiu. Her eyes lit up, and she shook the young master's arm, saying sweetly.

"Brother Ruiqing, look how cute that little mouse is! I want it!"

Upon hearing this, the young man in brocade robes, known as Rui Qing, curled his lips into a frivolous smile and patted the woman's hand.

"Sure, since Ah Jiao likes it, I'll buy it for you."

He walked straight to Jiang Xuan's table, his gaze sweeping down over the plainly dressed Jiang Xuan and the young Luo Luo. (End of Chapter)