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

He intends to use this rare and precious medicine to push his strength to a new peak within a month!
……

Inside the main hall of the Jiang clan in Xixi, the lights were bright, but the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Besides the elders of the main family, two other powerful figures whose auras were in no way inferior to Jiang Tianlong's were also present.

One of them was Jiang Nianshan, the head of the Yunheng Jiang Clan. He wore a white robe with cloud patterns, had a thin face, but sharp eyes.

The other was Jiang Pingdu, the head of the Feifeng Jiang clan. He was tall and strong, with a dark complexion, and exuded an imposing presence.

These three are all powerful individuals who have entered the Cave Heaven Realm, and they are the true leaders of the three strongest branches among the four collateral branches of the Jiang family!

At this moment, the three listened to Xiao Fengru, Shi Zhan, and Chang Ziheng below, who were crying and exaggerating their stories.

Their faces were so gloomy they looked like they could drip water.

Especially when they heard Jiang Xuan not only resolutely reject their "good intentions".

He even brazenly ordered the dismantling of the cultivation levels of three guest ministers.

When they uttered the arrogant statement that "if they do not submit within three years, we will clean up their ranks," a terrifying cold light flashed in the eyes of the three of them!
"Excellent! Excellent Jiang Xuan! Excellent direct descendant!"

Jiang Tianlong slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, instantly turning the hard spirit wood armrest into dust! "Absolutely outrageous!"

Jiang Nianshan snorted coldly, his voice as icy as ice.

"A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger? I think he doesn't even know the word 'death'!"

Jiang Pingdu, who had the most fiery temper, growled.

"What else is there to say! Gather our forces, raze Xinxin Peak to the ground! Drag that little bastard out and tear him to pieces!"

After their outburst of rage, the three experts at the Cave Heaven Realm fell into a brief silence.

Those who can lead a clan are certainly not just reckless brutes who only know how to shout for war.

Jiang Tianlong forcibly suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice.

"There are two tricky aspects to this matter. First, that little bastard holds the Jade Seal of Cleansing Hearts, making him the rightful heir to Cleansing Hearts Peak and protected by the imperial laws. If we openly kill him, Cleansing Hearts Peak will immediately be taken back by the imperial family, and we will gain nothing but trouble!"

Jiang Nianshan replied, his eyes sinister.

"Secondly, the mysterious old man beside him... Xiao Fengru and the other two were all at the Spirit Sea Realm, but they were suppressed by him with just killing intent, and their cultivation was casually crippled... This person's strength is probably no less than ours, or even... possibly stronger! With him protecting us, a strong attack on Xixin Peak would come at too high a price, and the outcome would be uncertain."

Jiang Pingdu scratched his hair in frustration.

"What are we going to do? Are we just going to let that little beast shit and piss on our heads? I can't swallow this!"

Jiang Tianlong's eyes gleamed with cunning and ruthlessness as he lowered his voice.

"It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark! If a direct attack doesn't work, we'll resort to underhanded tactics!"

Jiang Nianshan and Jiang Pingdu both looked at him at the same time.

Jiang Tianlong said in a sinister tone.

"Jiang Xuan can't stay holed up in Xixin Peak forever! As long as he dares to leave the area of ​​Xixin Peak... we have plenty of ways to deal with him! Poisoning, kidnapping, ambushes... as long as we do it cleanly and efficiently, who can trace it back to us?"

He paused, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"At that time, we won't need to kill him. We'll just control him, use a secret technique to erase his mind, and turn him into a puppet that obeys our every command! We'll make him sign the contract to transfer ownership of Xixin Peak! In this way, Xixin Peak will fall into our hands naturally, and the royal family will have nothing to say!"
And Jiang Xuan will be unable to live, unable to die, and will forever be our dog!

This plan is absolutely vicious!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nianshan and Jiang Pingdu were taken aback at first, but then their eyes revealed a mixture of excitement and ruthlessness.

"This is a great plan!"

Jiang Nianshan nodded.

"However, we must ensure absolute safety! No word must leak out when we take action!"

Jiang Pingdu also grinned maliciously.

"Alright! That's the plan! I'm going to personally deal with that little bastard!"

Jiang Tianlong looked around at the two of them and said solemnly.

"This matter is to be known only to the three of us! It must not be heard by a fourth person! As for the Jiang family of Beiguang... that old fox Jiang Beiguang's attitude is ambiguous, so we don't need to pay them any attention for now! Once we control Xixin Peak and Jiang Xuan, we won't be afraid that they won't bow down!"

……

The Forbidden City under the cover of night is not silent because of the darkness, but rather even more lively.

Colorful lanterns illuminated the streets as bright as day, and the streets were bustling with traffic and crowds.

In the most bustling square in the city center, a huge light screen, tens of feet high and constructed of pure spiritual crystals, stands tall.

The screen was displaying news from all over the empire, wanted posters, and information about important figures.

This is the "spirit transmission light screen" unique to the Forbidden City.

At that moment, a preview of the upcoming Imperial Examination appeared on the screen, along with an introduction to several highly anticipated genius candidates.

When the camera switched to an image of a young man in a blue robe with a stern face and resolute eyes, the announcer's clear voice echoed throughout the square.

"The next person I'm going to introduce, although he didn't participate in this national examination, his talent is still astonishing. Jiang Xuan, only seventeen years old, comes from the direct line of the Jiang clan in the Forbidden City and is the current master of Xixin Peak."

It is said that this person, with his cultivation at the Human Realm, overwhelmed all others and won first place in the provincial examination of the Southwest Province! His talent and comprehension are evident! However, due to worldly affairs, Jiang Xuan has voluntarily given up his qualification for this Imperial National Examination, which is truly a great regret for this year's examination..."

On the screen, there were also blurry video clips of Jiang Xuan fighting in the provincial examination, although his face was not clearly visible.

But his sharp skills and powerful aura still attracted attention.

The news caused an uproar in the square!
"A seventeen-year-old who ranked first in the provincial examination for the Human Realm? This talent is simply too heaven-defying!"

"The Jiang family... is that the Jiang family of the Forbidden City that was almost wiped out more than a decade ago? How come there are still direct descendants who have returned alive?"

"Xixin Peak!"

That's one of the seventy-two powerful clans!
He actually became the master?!

"What a pity he gave up the national examination; otherwise, I really wanted to see where he would rank among the empire's geniuses..."

"Troubled by worldly affairs? I think you're just scared. The national exam is not comparable to the provincial exam. There are many experts there. Maybe you know you can't compete and are just looking for an excuse to avoid the battle!"

A cacophony of speculations, exclamations, regrets, and doubts made the square unusually noisy.

At the edge of the crowd, Lingjiu sat in a wheelchair, her dim eyes calmly watching the information scrolling on the screen.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

Pushing the wheelchair, Xiao Ke's usually cool face showed a thoughtful expression.

"Xiao Ke,"

Lingjiu suddenly spoke, his voice deep yet clear.

"The timing of this news is too coincidental."

Xiao Ke lowered her head slightly.

"What do you mean?" Lingjiu's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"My lord told me yesterday that he wanted everyone in the Forbidden City to know his name within a month. Today, this news about his identity and 'glorious' past has appeared openly on this spirit transmission screen... Tell me, whose handiwork is this?"

Xiao Ke's eyes held a knowing look.

"Is it the lord himself... or is it Young Master Shi Yu who is pushing him forward?"

"good."

Lingjiu nodded, his gaze deep.

"Our lord is creating momentum. He is using his past reputation as a 'genius' and his current identity as the 'Master of Xinxin Peak' to make a preemptive move and break the silence. This move may seem flamboyant, but it is actually a desperate measure to break the deadlock."

His background is complicated, and the forces behind him are deeply intertwined. Although he seems to have a foothold at Xixin Peak, he is actually surrounded by dangers and walking on thin ice.

Once this news gets out, who knows how many open and covert attacks it will attract, and how many people's nerves it will touch...

He paused, his tone grave.

“We need to be prepared. The storm is probably coming soon. Push me back; there are some things that need to be arranged in advance.”

Xiao Ke nodded, said no more, and quietly left the noisy square, pushing her wheelchair.

……

Not far from the headquarters of the Spirit Transmission Bureau, a magnificent yet understated imperial carriage was quietly parked at a street corner.

Shi Yu leaned back in the carriage, looking out the window at the huge light screen in the distant square, a satisfied smile on his face.

The broadcast about Jiang Xuan on the screen had just ended.

A beautiful woman dressed in the standard palace attire of the Spirit Transmission Bureau hurriedly walked out of the side door of the building.

He quickly approached the imperial carriage and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Third Young Master, the matter you instructed has been completed. The message has been broadcast with the highest priority, covering all major light screen nodes in the city."

Shi Yu tossed her a small brocade pouch and smiled.

"Thank you for your hard work, Yunniang. Here's a small token of my appreciation; please take it with you for tea."

The woman named Yunniang took the brocade bag. It felt heavy in her hand, and she knew that it contained valuable spirit crystals. Her smile became even sweeter.

"Thank you for your kindness, Third Young Master! It is my honor to serve you."

Shi Yu waved his hand.

"Alright, go ahead. I might need your help again in the future."

"I am at your service, Third Young Master!"

Yunniang bowed again and then quickly left.

……

Inside the Chi family's study, a room with a somber atmosphere.

Chi Cangmei looked at the message in her hand, a copy of her autobiography sent by her confidant, and a layer of frost covered her beautiful face.

Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a crisp sound.

"First place in the provincial examination of the Human Realm...abandoning the national examination...Master of the Cleansing Heart Peak..."

"So that's how it is... No wonder the family used so much power to besiege him before, but was restricted at every turn, as if there was an invisible hand interfering... It seems that it's not just because someone in the royal family spoke up, but more likely because of his identity... Jiang Daochen's direct great-grandson! Imperial laws, after all, have to consider some face."

She hesitated for a moment, then her eyes suddenly flashed with ruthlessness as she coldly addressed her trusted maidservant standing to the side.

"Pass on my orders. That good-for-nothing Chi Ze has failed in his duties and disgraced the family. He shall be executed immediately! His body shall be thrown into a mass grave! Furthermore, pass on the message that no one in the family is to provoke Jiang Xuan again in the near future! Anyone who disobeys shall be punished according to family law!"

Upon hearing this, the maid trembled and quickly bowed in response.

"Yes! Miss!"

Chi Cangmei waved his hand, and the maid bowed and withdrew.

She sat alone in the study, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

Executing Chi Ze was a way of showing the family a certain attitude, and also a way of cutting her losses to survive. Her father, Chi Lingxiao, told her to wait and see for the time being, and she did so.

But her intuition told her that behind Jiang Xuan, this variable, was far more than just a declining Jiang family.

Who exactly is that powerful royal figure secretly supporting him?
What is the purpose? She needs to see it more clearly.

……

The ancient castle in the dark is eternally shrouded in the hazy moonlight and shadows.

Inside a luxurious yet eerie palace, the Queen of the Night reclines languidly on her throne, listening to a report from a subordinate shrouded in a black robe.

"Your Majesty, at the Observatory, the old priest remains silent, offering no opinion on Jiang Xuan's matter, seemingly intending for all parties to observe on their own. Indeed, there are powerful figures within the Imperial Family secretly providing Jiang Xuan with favors."

However, his identity is extremely well-hidden, and we have not yet been able to ascertain it. Currently, although Jiang Xuan is in charge of the Cleansing Heart Peak, his own strength is weak, and he is surrounded by powerful enemies, making his situation far from optimistic. Furthermore, the exact relationship between Lu Boyai and the Jiang family is still under investigation, and there are no clear leads yet.

The Queen of the Night's slender fingers gently traced the gemstones embedded in the throne armrest, producing a soft friction sound. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice carried a magnetic languor and an undeniable majesty.

"The old folks at the Star Gazing Platform always love to create an air of mystery. As for the royal family... it's better if things stay a bit muddy. As for Jiang Xuan's situation... ha, jade needs to be carved to become a useful object. Taking charge of the Cleansing Heart Peak is a crisis for him, but also the best test. If he can't even get past this hurdle, he's not worthy of being that 'key'."

She paused, then gave the order.

"Keep a close eye on them, especially the four collateral branches of the Jiang family and the Chi family. Don't let your guard down on the leads on Lu Boyai either. I want to see how this game will end up."

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

Overnight, Jiang Xuan's name swept through the entire Forbidden City.

The broadcast through the spirit screen, coupled with Shi Yu's intentional or unintentional behind-the-scenes manipulation, contributed to the situation.

This made the seventeen-year-old "direct descendant of the Jiang family" and "master of Xixin Peak," who was "first in the provincial examination of the Human Realm" but "gave up the national examination due to worldly affairs," the focus of heated discussion on the streets.

While people marvel at his talent, more attention is focused on his awkward and difficult situation.

"Tsk tsk, a seventeen-year-old head of a powerful clan? Sounds impressive, but Xinxi Peak is just an empty shell now, surrounded by enemies on all sides!"

"That's right! The other branches of the Jiang family are eyeing us covetously, and there are enemies like the Chi family outside... This is no longer the head of a powerful clan, he's clearly sitting on a volcano!"

"In my opinion, this young master Jiang Xuan can be called the 'youngest head of a powerful clan' in the history of our Forbidden City, and also the 'loneliest head of a powerful clan'!"

"Heh heh, youthful vigor is a good thing, but in the Forbidden City, talent alone isn't enough; you also need strength and shrewdness. Let's see how long he can hold out..."

Various opinions, jokes, sympathy, and even gloating voices intertwined, placing Jiang Xuan in the eye of the storm even before his official appearance.

……

Inside the secret cultivation chamber on Xixin Peak.

Jiang Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a subtle glint of light seemingly hidden deep within his pupils, his aura becoming harmonious and serene. (End of Chapter)