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

"Nephew, remember, you bear the future of the entire Jiang family on your shoulders. In everything you do, prioritize the greater good. I am old now, and my greatest wish is to see you avenge Wenjing and the others, and to see the Jiang family rise again in the Forbidden City under your leadership!"

Jiang Xuan met Jiang Beiguang's expectant gaze and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute.

"Jiang Xuan will certainly live up to the expectations of Fifth Uncle!"

……

After leaving the Jiang family mansion in Beiguang, Jiang Xuan rode in a royal carriage and, under the protection of Jiang Zhong and Zhu Laosan, returned to Xixin Peak.

Upon returning to the Cleansing Heart Hall at the summit, Jiang Xuan immediately summoned Lingjiu and recounted in detail the events of his trip to the Jiang Clan of Beiguang.

After listening, Lingjiu smiled knowingly on his pale face.

"My lord, you have gained a great deal from this trip."

Jiang Beiguang is a shrewd and calculating man. His move is both a gesture of goodwill and a way of observing the situation.

He saw his lord's potential.

But we are also waiting for our lord to demonstrate even greater strength and skill. As long as our lord steadily improves and continuously strengthens Xixin Peak, the complete submission of the Beiguang Jiang clan is only a matter of time.

Jiang Xuan nodded; he understood this principle as well. Strength is always the foundation for earning respect and loyalty.

"What's the situation inside the peak?"

Jiang Xuan asked.

Lingjiu replied.

"The three gentlemen, Ci Xue, Yang Ling, and Lao Diao, have already begun to repair and prepare their respective workshops. Mr. Ci Xue needs a large number of spiritual herb seeds and seedlings, as well as pill formulas and pill furnaces; Mr. Yang Ling needs refining materials and the repair of the earth fire furnace."
Mr. Diao, on the other hand, needs a list of materials to repair the mountain-protecting array and the internal spirit array. This old servant has already compiled a preliminary procurement list based on their requirements; the necessary funds are considerable. Fortunately, Master brought back the profits from the mine, which can alleviate our immediate crisis.

Jiang Xuan handed the jade talisman from the Juque Mountain mine to Lingjiu.

"The funding issue has been temporarily resolved. We will now entrust the procurement and workshop preparations entirely to you, senior."

"Old slave, take orders."

Lingjiu took the jade talisman and said again.

"There is another matter. According to the intelligence gathered and analyzed from various sources, the three collateral branches of Xixi, Yunheng, and Feifeng not only took advantage of the disaster at Xixin Peak to plunder and divide up resources, but also seem to have colluded with external forces, which is despicable."

They have absolutely no chance of genuinely submitting to Xixin Peak; my lord must prepare for this as soon as possible.

Jiang Xuan said coldly.

“I understand. I have a three-year agreement with them. If they behave themselves within three years, I may give them a dignified ending.”

But if they dare to cause trouble in secret again, or if they are involved in what happened back then... I will show no mercy! Blood debts must be repaid in blood!

Lingjiu nodded, said no more, and took his leave to attend to his business.

……

Late at night, the study in the Xixin Hall was brightly lit.

Jiang Xuan sat alone behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the surface as he analyzed the current situation.

On Xixin Peak, wise men like Lingjiu are overseeing the overall situation, while professionals like Cixue, Yangling, and Laodiao are beginning to play their roles.

They also have powerful guards like Jiang Zhong and Zhu Laosan.

With the stable income from the Juque Mountain mine, internal affairs have begun to get on track.

It has acquired the ability to generate its own revenue and achieve sustainable development.

There's no need to rush to resolve the issues of those three collateral branches in Xixi in the short term.

However, external threats still exist.

Those three collateral branches are still up to no good; the fact that they sent Qu Laoxie to ambush them last time is proof of that. We must always be on guard against their schemes.

The Chi family is a mortal enemy, and they will never let this go.

Furthermore, the various factions within the Forbidden City are a mixed bag, and countless eyes are eyeing this lucrative prize, Xixin Peak.

Ultimately, everything comes down to my own strength and prestige.

Jiang Xuan understood perfectly.

Only by being strong enough can we deter the villains, win over hesitant forces like the Beiguang Jiang clan, and prepare for future storms.

He remembered something.

After advancing to the Spirit Sea Realm, he gained the qualification to enter a place in the empire called the "Heavenly Secret Realm".

That secret realm is a place where opportunities and dangers coexist, making it an excellent place to quickly improve one's strength.

However, he has just broken through, his realm is not yet stable, and his control over the power of the Spirit Sea Realm is far from proficient. Entering the secret realm now would be too risky.

"No rush. Let's take some time to thoroughly familiarize ourselves with the power of the Spirit Sea Realm and perfect our foundation first."

Jiang Xuan made a decision.

Finally, his gaze fell on the seemingly ordinary black ring on his finger—the Chaos Ring.

This ring, passed down from the Jiang family's ancestor, is the key to obtaining the family's treasured manual, the "Hunxu Dao Jing"!

The "Hunxu Dao Jing" is said to be a supreme classic that directly points to the origin of the Great Dao, and it is the true foundation of the Jiang family!

"The Spirit Sea Realm... I should have already met the minimum requirements to initially unlock the mysteries of this ring, right?"

After leaving the study, Jiang Xuan went straight to the meditation room on the third floor of the Cleansing Heart Hall.

He closed the heavy bronze door behind him and sat cross-legged on the peculiar futon.

With a calm mind, he slowly circulated his internal energy, and the spiritual energy of the Spirit Sea Realm flowed gently through his meridians.

When he focused his mind on the Chaos Ring on his finger, something strange happened!
The ring, which was originally cold and antique, suddenly felt a faint warmth, as if it had created some kind of wonderful resonance with the blood in his body!
Immediately afterwards, a series of seemingly faint yet profound voices, as if from the ancient primordial era or like the chanting of gods, resounded directly in the depths of his mind!

This sound wasn't a specific language; it was more like the rhythm of the Great Dao, a manifestation of a rule! Jiang Xuan couldn't understand its meaning at all.

But surrounded by this "Taoist sound," his mind was involuntarily immersed in it, as if he had returned to the womb, all thoughts vanished, and he entered a mysterious state of forgetting himself and the world.

He forgot about time, forgot about space, and even forgot his own existence.

He simply followed the rhythm of the "Daoist sound" instinctively, breathing and circulating his energy.

After an unknown amount of time, when Jiang Xuan regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes, it was already broad daylight outside the window.

He sensed himself briefly, and his eyes immediately lit up with surprise!

After just one night of meditation, he felt that the spiritual energy within his body had become even purer and more refined than before.

The Linghai Sea is surging with waves, full of vitality!

The effects of his cultivation far exceeded what he could achieve in several days of arduous practice!

"This Chaotic Void Ring... and that 'Dao Sound'..."

Jiang Xuan stroked the ring on his finger, deeply shocked.

He was almost certain that the "Dao Sound" in his mind, even if it wasn't the complete "Hunxu Dao Jing," must be closely related to it!

This ring truly lives up to its reputation as a treasured heirloom of the Jiang family's founding ancestor!

"I will need to rely on this precept for my future cultivation!"

Jiang Xuan made up his mind.

……

After washing up and tidying himself up, Jiang Xuan arrived at the summit of Xixin Peak. Xiao Ke was already waiting there, still with that aloof demeanor.

"Sister Xiao Ke, spar with me for a bit and get familiar with the power of the Spirit Sea Realm."

Jiang Xuan said.

Xiao Ke nodded, and without saying anything more, she took action!

With a swift movement, she instantly soared into the air at an astonishing speed!

Between punches and kicks, a fierce gale howled; the moves were simple yet ruthless, aimed directly at vital points!
She clearly wasn't holding back, treating Jiang Xuan as a true opponent. Jiang Xuan dared not be careless and immediately unleashed the "Nine Shaking Heavens Dao" to meet the challenge.

The fist was powerful and domineering, with a destructive intent running rampant!
Xiao Ke's movements were too unpredictable and agile, often finding an opening to launch an attack when his old strength had just dissipated and his new strength had not yet been generated.

Moreover, her control over power is exquisite; with each collision, she can skillfully deflect or deflect the force.

For a time, Jiang Xuan was beaten quite badly and could only rely on his powerful spiritual energy and strong physique to withstand the attack. Soon, several bruises appeared on his body.

"stop!"

Jiang Xuan suddenly retreated, calling a halt to the sparring match.

He gasped for breath and gave a wry smile.

"Sister Xiao Ke, you went too far."

Xiao Ke landed gracefully, her breathing steady, and looked at Jiang Xuan with her cool eyes, saying calmly.

"You've only just entered the Spirit Sea realm, yet you've already shown remarkable talent. Even ordinary mid-stage Spirit Sea cultivators might not be your match."

She wasn't just being polite.

Jiang Xuan appeared disheveled.

But that's because she had the advantage in agility and experience.

In terms of the grandeur and domineering power of his spiritual energy, Jiang Xuan has indeed rivaled or even surpassed some mid-stage Spirit Sea cultivators!
This speed of progress secretly shocked her.

Jiang Xuan rubbed his aching shoulder and humbly asked for advice.

"Sister Xiaoke, what do you think is my biggest problem right now?"

After a moment's thought, Xiao Ke spoke frankly.

"There are three points. First, your aerial movement technique is too poor. In battles at the Spirit Sea Realm, the air is a crucial area, and you have almost given up control of the air."

Secondly, they are not yet skilled enough in controlling their own strength; they are too forceful and lack versatility, making them easy targets.

Thirdly, your mastery of the power of heaven and earth is still at a very rudimentary stage, failing to perfectly integrate it with your own strength. Furthermore… your combat experience, especially your experience in life-or-death battles against opponents of similar level, is still far too limited.”

Jiang Xuan listened carefully, memorizing every detail.

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Sister Xiaoke."

……

For the next two weeks, Jiang Xuan entered a frenzied training mode.

Every night, he would enter the meditation room and use the mysterious "Dao Sound" of the Hunxu Ring to aid his cultivation, refine his spiritual energy, and temper his soul, with remarkable results.

During the day, he spent almost all his time sparring with Xiao Ke.

He stopped recklessly charging forward and began to deliberately practice the art of escaping into the air.

Try to control your own power more precisely, and strive to understand how to draw upon the power of heaven and earth to bless yourself.

Jiang Xuan possesses exceptional comprehension and an astonishing learning ability.

Often, Xiao Ke only needs to demonstrate once, or point out the key points, and he can quickly understand and apply it to actual combat.

His progress is so rapid it's visible to the naked eye!
From being completely suppressed at the beginning, he gradually managed to keep up with Xiao Ke's pace and even occasionally managed to launch a few counterattacks.

His control over the power of the Spirit Sea Realm became increasingly proficient at an astonishing speed.

Two weeks later, the two finished their sparring session again.

Jiang Xuan was still at a disadvantage.

But he was no longer as disheveled as before; his movements were much more agile, and his use of power was much more refined.

After the sparring session ended, Xiao Ke looked at Jiang Xuan, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke.

"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to spar with me anymore."

Jiang Xuan was taken aback.

"Why? Sister Xiaoke, I feel that I still have a lot to improve."

Xiao Ke turned around, her back to him, her voice still cold, yet carrying an unreadable complex emotion.

"You've already mastered the basic combat skills and methods for using the Spirit Sea Realm. The rest you need to hone and comprehend in real battles. There's not much point in me fighting alongside you any longer."

After saying that, she left the summit without waiting for Jiang Xuan's response.

Jiang Xuan watched Xiao Ke's departing figure and scratched his head in confusion.

He felt that Sister Xiao Ke seemed a little...different today?
He didn't know that Xiao Ke's heart was far from as calm as it appeared.

In the past two weeks, she has witnessed Jiang Xuan's terrifyingly rapid growth, almost monstrous!

That quick understanding and ability to apply knowledge to new situations, that almost instinctive and keen intuition for combat, even made her, a former instructor of the Bloodthirsty Camp, feel terrified!

The reason she stopped sparring with him was partly because Jiang Xuan had already mastered the basics.

On the other hand, it was also because she had a vague feeling that if things continued like this, it wouldn't be long before she really couldn't control this guy anymore!

Back at the Cleansing Heart Hall, Jiang Xuan bathed and changed into a clean blue robe.

He stood by the window, feeling the surging, perfectly controlled power of the Spirit Sea Realm within his body, and was quite satisfied.

After half a month of arduous training and constant practice with Xiao Ke.

He has completely mastered the fighting style of cultivators in the Spirit Sea Realm, although his cultivation level is unlikely to leap forward again in the short term.

However, thanks to the domineering power of the "Dongxuan Tunhuang Jing" and the assistance of the "Dao Yin" of the Hunxu Ring, his cultivation speed still far exceeded that of ordinary people.

He has recently focused his training on comprehending the Dao of martial arts.

He has mastered the "Moon-Embracing Style" of the Jiang family's ultimate martial art, the "Heavenly Origin Blade Technique," to the point of "perfect understanding."

The sword light was perfectly rounded, with profound artistic conception, and its power far exceeded the level of the previous "Star Gathering" perfected form.

The application of "Shaking the Heavens and Collapsing the Dao" has also reached the level of "precision".

Every bit of power can be unleashed at just the right moment, but there is still a long way to go before the Nine Styles of Collapse Dao can be fully integrated and transformed into the ultimate "Heaven-Shaking Strike".

"Tuk-tuk-tuk."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Jiang Zhong pushed open the door and entered, holding a gold-embossed invitation in his hands, and said respectfully.

"Young Master, Young Master Shi Yu has sent an invitation to you tonight at the 'Thousand Gold Laughing Pavilion,' saying that he wants to get together with you and some of your old comrades from the Bloodthirsty Camp."

Jiang Xuan took the invitation, opened it, and saw that it was indeed Shi Yu's handwriting, with earnest words.

He smiled slightly and said.

“Alright, tell the messenger that I will be on time. Uncle Zhong, Mr. Zhu, you will come with me tonight.”

"Yes, young master."

Jiang Zhong bowed and agreed.

……

As evening fell, the setting sun cast a golden glow on Xixin Peak.

Jiang Xuan led Jiang Zhong and Zhu Laosan down the mountain, preparing to head to the Forbidden City.

As Jiang Xuan traveled along, he noticed that the scenery inside the peak was quite different from what it had been half a month ago.

Under Lingjiu's overall planning, the alchemy room that Cixue was in charge of has been renovated and is now filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs.

The sounds of clanging and hammering, along with the aroma of fire, emanated from Yang Ling's weapon-refining workshop. (End of Chapter)