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

“I’m not killing you because I’m afraid of the Chi family. I’m sparing your life so you can go back and tell the Chi family a message, and also so you can see with your own eyes… how much value do you have left in the Chi family after losing both your hands and becoming a cripple?”

After he finished bandaging her, he stood up, looked down at Chi Ze, whose face was ashen, and said calmly.

"If you want revenge, you can come to Xixin Peak to find me anytime. I, Jiang Xuan, will be waiting for you there."

What fate awaits a disabled person in the dog-eat-dog world of the Chi family?
He simply couldn't believe it!
After dealing with Chize, Jiang Xuan turned to look at Xiao Ke.

Xiao Ke's cool face was filled with deep worry as she spoke softly.

“Jiang Xuan, you’ve completely broken ties with the Chi family this time. Chi Ze may be a spoiled brat, but his sister holds some position in the Chi family… I’m afraid we can’t stay at Lingjiu Residence any longer. I… I plan to take Lingjiu away from the Forbidden City to lay low for a while.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan shook his head, his gaze fixed resolutely on Xiao Ke.

"Sister Xiao Ke, you can't leave. This isn't your fault, why should you be forced to leave? Besides, where can you go? The Chi family's power is far beyond your imagination."

He paused for a moment, then decided to tell the truth.

"Sister Xiao Ke, my real name is Jiang Xuan. My father is Jiang Wenjing, and my mother is Luo Qingxun."

"Jiang Wenjing... Luo Qingxun... You are... You are their son?!"

Jiang Xuan nodded heavily.

"Yes. I've returned this time to reclaim everything that belongs to me and to rebuild the Jiang family! The Forbidden City may be vast, but there's no way out for me. The Chi family and I are already locked in a life-or-death struggle. So, you don't need to leave because of me."

He looked at Xiao Ke, his tone sincere and firm.

"Sister Xiao Ke, if you're willing, come back to Xixin Peak with me. Although it's dilapidated, it's still the foundation of the Jiang family. With the rules recognized by the imperial family, the Chi family won't dare to go too far openly. It's much safer there than in this chaotic commoner's area."

Looking into Jiang Xuan's resolute and sincere eyes, Xiao Ke felt a surge of emotions.

She remained silent for a moment, neither agreeing nor refusing immediately, but simply said softly.

“This matter…I need to ask Lingjiu’s opinion. Come with me.”

With that, she turned and walked deeper into the courtyard.

Jiang Xuan followed closely behind.

Xiao Ke led Jiang Xuan through several secluded corridors to a quieter courtyard in the backyard of Lingjiu Residence.

The courtyard is small, with a few ancient trees planted in it, their branches and leaves lush and casting dappled light and shadow.

In the center of the courtyard, under a huge sycamore tree, there is a bamboo wheelchair.

A middle-aged man was sitting in a wheelchair.

He had a gaunt face, a sickly pale complexion, and a thin frame.

Wrapped in a faded gray robe, a pure white raccoon cat lay lazily yawning on his lap.

The man had his eyes closed, seemingly dozing, and looked serene.

But between his brows, there was a faint air of composure that came with experience and... an indescribable serene radiance, as if he could see through the ways of the world.

He seemed to hear footsteps and slowly opened his eyes.

Those were exceptionally clear and calm eyes, yet they seemed to be able to see right through people's hearts.

His gaze first fell on Xiao Ke, and he nodded slightly. Then, he naturally turned to Jiang Xuan, who was following behind Xiao Ke.

When his gaze swept over Jiang Xuan, even though Jiang Xuan had already concealed most of his aura.

But the middle-aged man's eyes still flickered slightly.

He seemed to instantly catch something from the faint, lingering scent of blood and the subtle, sharp killing intent emanating from Jiang Xuan.

He glanced at Xiao Ke's slightly solemn expression, then at Jiang Xuan.

A look of understanding crossed his pale face, and he sighed softly.

"Xiao Ke, you brought this young man here... so you've already completely broken ties with that young master from the Chi family, haven't you?"

Jiang Xuan's heart skipped a beat! What keen insight!
This person was able to deduce almost everything that had just happened based on just a few clues and the expressions of the two people!
This frail middle-aged man in a wheelchair is probably the "Lingjiu" that Xiao Ke mentioned!

This person is definitely not simple!
Xiao Ke walked to the wheelchair and spoke softly to the middle-aged man.

“Lingjiu, this is Jiang Xuan.”

She paused and added.

"It is... Jiang Wenjing and Luo Qingxun's son."

Lingjiu's gaze fell on Jiang Xuan again, this time with a subtle scrutiny and...understanding in his eyes.

He didn't show much surprise at Jiang Xuan's background. Instead, his gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the silver hairpin that Jiang Xuan had casually clipped to his lapel, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"This hairpin... the spirit patterns on it... it has Xu Sanqi's style. You're from Qingyang Town?"

Jiang Xuan felt a chill run down his spine; the spirit vulture's eyesight was indeed sharp!
He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Yes, I was trained in the Bloodthirsty Camp in Qingyang Town."

Lingjiu nodded slightly, then her gaze returned to Jiang Xuan's face with a solemn expression.

"The son of Jiang Wenjing and Luo Qingxun...a direct descendant of the ancestor Jiang Daochen."

This identity carries considerable weight in the Forbidden City today, yet it is also fraught with peril. "I, Lingjiu, greet Young Master Jiang Xuan."

He sat in his wheelchair, bowed slightly as a gesture of respect, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, but showing respect for Jiang Xuan's bloodline identity.

Jiang Xuan quickly stepped aside to avoid it.

"Senior, there's no need for such formalities."

Lingjiu straightened up, looked at Jiang Xuan, and spoke in a calm tone that carried a hint of testing.

"Young Master Jiang Xuan, now that you have taken charge of Xixin Peak, what are your plans for the future? You should know that the Jiang family is currently facing internal and external troubles, and there are many problems to deal with."

Jiang Xuan met Lingjiu's gaze, which seemed to see right through people, without flinching, and answered in a deep voice.

"What you say is absolutely right, senior. The current situation may seem complicated, but in the final analysis, it stems from insufficient strength. To quell external threats, we must first secure internal stability. My plan is very simple."

The first step is to purge internally and solidify the foundation of Xixin Peak; the second step is to accumulate strength, improve one's own cultivation, and recruit capable individuals; the third step is, once fully developed, to plot the recapture of lost territory and revitalize the Jiang family!

He paused.

"As for how the outside world views me... I don't need their immediate approval. I only need to show them with my actions that I, Jiang Xuan, am back! Moreover, I dare say that within a month, I will ensure that everyone in the Forbidden City knows the name of Jiang Xuan!"

Lingjiu listened quietly and then slowly spoke.

"Clear thinking, well-defined goals, and a sharp edge... Excellent. It seems that Xu Sanqi has indeed brought me a worthy lord."

"My lord?"

Jiang Xuan was taken aback.

Lingjiu wore a faint, somewhat melancholic smile.

“Indeed. I am Lingjiu. I was once a member of the Bloodthirsty Camp of the Empire. At my peak, I had the cultivation of the Upper Realm of the Cave Heaven and was in charge of tactical deduction and planning. It is a pity that I contracted a strange disease many years ago, and all my cultivation was lost, leaving me as a cripple.”

Xiao Ke, who was standing nearby, added at the opportune moment.

“Uncle Lingjiu was once one of the Empire’s top tactical masters. Even the former dean of Qinglu Academy personally invited him to teach there, but he declined.”

A master of strategists! Invited by the Dean of Qinglu Academy!
These words deeply shocked Jiang Xuan! He never imagined that this seemingly frail, wheelchair-bound middle-aged man would have such a glorious past!

Lingjiu continued.

"Although I have lost all my cultivation and am now unable to move easily, my mind is still clear, and I can still see the situation in the Forbidden City quite clearly. If Young Master Jiang Xuan does not mind, I am willing to stay at Xixin Peak to handle some trivial matters for you and make overall plans, so as to contribute my remaining energy."

Jiang Xuan was overjoyed upon hearing this!
This is exactly the kind of talent he urgently needs right now!
He immediately bowed in respect.

"To receive your assistance, senior, is Jiang Xuan's good fortune! And even more so, the Jiang family's good fortune!"

……

As noon approached, Jiang Xuan hired a spacious and comfortable imperial carriage.

They carried Xiao Ke and Lingjiu in her wheelchair back to Xixin Peak.

During the journey, Jiang Xuan learned from Xiao Ke.

The reason she stayed in the Forbidden City, a place teeming with all sorts of people, to run Lingjiu Residence was not for the sake of making a living.

The main reason was to take care of Lingjiu, who had saved her life years ago but was now seriously ill.

Upon returning to Xixin Peak, the old servant Jiang Zhong had been waiting for a long time. Jiang Xuan introduced Xiao Ke and Lingjiu to Jiang Zhong and solemnly instructed them.

"Uncle Zhong, these two are my distinguished guests, and from now on, they will be our own people at Xixin Peak. Please make sure to arrange their accommodations and provide for their needs without any neglect."

Jiang Zhong quickly bowed and agreed.

"Young master, rest assured, this old servant will make all the arrangements."

When he looked up at Lingjiu in the wheelchair, his gaze paused slightly, as if he thought it looked somewhat familiar.

But he didn't say much.

When Lingjiu's gaze fell on Jiang Zhong, it paused slightly. He carefully examined Jiang Zhong for a moment, then suddenly spoke in an uncertain tone.

“Brother…forgive my poor eyesight, but you…you are Shen Jinglun, who won third place in the Imperial Examination sixty years ago, the title of ‘Tanhua’ (third-place scholar), and was known as ‘White Horse Tanhua’ (third-place scholar)?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhong's body trembled violently, and his face instantly displayed extremely complex emotions, including shock and reminiscence.

But more than anything, it's a profound pain and a desire to escape.

He quickly lowered his head and denied it in a hoarse voice.

"Senior, you've mistaken me for someone else... This old servant... This old servant is just an ordinary servant of the Jiang family, named Jiang Zhong, not Shen Jinglun..."

Seeing this, Lingjiu understood and stopped asking questions, simply smiling faintly.

"Oh, perhaps I've misremembered."

……

After settling Xiao Ke and Ling Jiu in, Jiang Xuan, Xiao Ke, and Ling Jiu went to a relatively well-preserved study next to the Xixin Hall to discuss their next plan.

Inside the study, Lingjiu sat in her wheelchair and spoke first, her tone calm yet measured.

“Young Master Jiang Xuan, since you have decided to stay, there are some things that need to be said beforehand. Here, you are the master, and Xiao Ke and I are your assistants. All final decisions must be made by you. I am only responsible for providing advice based on your decisions, handling specific miscellaneous tasks, and coordinating all parties.”

Xiao Ke nodded and said in a cool tone.

"I'm only responsible for carrying out the mission."

On the second floor of the Hall of Cleansing Hearts, in a study that had been simply cleaned, the atmosphere was solemn.

Jiang Xuan sat in the main seat, Lingjiu sat in a wheelchair, and Xiao Ke stood quietly to the side.

Jiang Xuan had quickly adapted to the change in his identity. He glanced at the two of them and spoke in a deep voice.

"Right now, we have two things we must do immediately. First, we need to recruit people. Xixin Peak is in dire need of rebuilding, and the three of us alone are far from enough. We need loyal, reliable, and capable individuals."

Second, intelligence! I need to obtain detailed information on the four branches of the Jiang family as soon as possible, including their current sphere of influence, key members, strengths and weaknesses, and relationships between them.

Upon hearing this, Lingjiu nodded slightly, his eyes filled with approval.

"Your thinking is clear. Intelligence matters are intricate and complex, and cannot be accomplished in a day. Xiao Ke is meticulous and skilled, so it is most suitable for her to conduct the investigation in secret."

Xiao Ke looked at Jiang Xuan, and seeing that Jiang Xuan nodded, she replied simply.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Jiang Xuan continued.

"As for recruiting soldiers and buying horses, a lot of money is needed. Pills, magical weapons, cultivation techniques, and even the support of manpower, all of these require money."

Lingjiu chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of reminder.

"What you say is absolutely right, my lord. Living in the Forbidden City is no easy feat. If we want to recruit some truly capable people, our initial estimate is that we will need at least 50,000 gold coins as start-up capital. Where will this money come from?"

"Fifty thousand gold coins..."

Jiang Xuan was not intimidated by the number; instead, he smiled confidently.

"I'll handle the money. I'll head to Shidingzhai in the Forbidden City right now." Shidingzhai, one of the largest merchant guilds in the empire, is located all over the country and has an excellent reputation. It is the best choice to deal with the "spoils of war" he has from the Chi family cultivators and the Annihilation Soul Sea ruins.

Lingjiu's eyes flickered slightly when he heard the words "Shidingzhai".

But I didn't ask any further questions, I just gave a reminder.

"Shi Ding Zhai has a powerful background and many rules, so please be careful, my lord."

"I see."

Jiang Xuan stood up.

"There's no time to lose, I'll set off right now."

Leaving the study, on his way down the mountain, Jiang Xuan encountered his old servant Jiang Zhong, who was waiting there.

Jiang Zhong looked worried and said in a low voice.

"Young Master, when I heard Mr. Lingjiu cough just now, his breathing seemed unusual. I secretly observed him, and it seems he has been poisoned, and it's an extremely insidious and rare forbidden poison!"

Jiang Xuan paused, his brows furrowing.

"What poison?"

Jiang Zhong lowered his voice even further, his voice filled with fear.

"It's like... the 'Demon Calamity Powder' made by the Dark Court! This poison is extremely potent. Those poisoned will gradually lose their cultivation, their meridians will wither, and they will eventually die in extreme pain... Moreover, it is extremely difficult to cure. It is a miracle that Mr. Lingjiu has been able to hold on until now."

The Dark Court? The Demonic Calamity Dissipates?

Lingjiu's injuries appear to be much more serious than they seem.

He looked at Jiang Zhong and suddenly asked.

"Uncle Zhong, the 'White Horse Scholar' Shen Jinglun that Senior Lingjiu mentioned earlier... is he related to you, isn't he?"

Jiang Zhong's body trembled violently, and his face was instantly filled with complex and indescribable emotions, including reminiscence, pain, and deep guilt.

He opened his mouth, but it turned into a long sigh. His cloudy old eyes reddened, and he whispered.

"Young Master... the past is too painful to recall... This old servant... this old servant is now only Jiang Zhong, and only wants to guard Xixin Peak and you... In the future... when the time is right, this old servant will... will tell you everything again..." (End of Chapter)