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

She spoke in a deep voice.

"Miss, the person has been brought. However... this young man does not seem to be just an ordinary successor of a spirit pattern master. He caused quite a bit of trouble outside just now."

And… does Miss recognize him?

Suspicion arose in her heart. Her young mistress was of noble status and rarely went out. How could she know such a complicated and ruthless young man from Yanxia City? Could there be some hidden story behind this?
Upon hearing this, the woman in the green robe raised her clear eyes and looked at Jiang Xuan. A faint and elegant smile appeared on her face, and her voice was clear and melodious, no longer pretending, and returned to its original pleasant female voice.

"Grandma Feng, there's no need to worry. A few days ago, Ying'er and I secretly went out for a stroll and had a brief encounter with this young master in front of the Spirit Transmission Screen."

It was he who suggested that if they wanted to restore the ancient Xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), they might try to find a master.

That's why I asked you, Mother-in-law, to invite 'Master Xun' over for a try."

After she finished explaining, her gaze fell on Jiang Xuan with a hint of curiosity and scrutiny. She smiled slightly and spoke.

"I didn't expect to meet you again so soon. May I ask your name, young master? You... are you the mysterious Master Xun?"

Jiang Xuan suppressed the slight turmoil in his heart, cupped his hands in greeting, and continued with his previous statement.

"My name is Jiang Xuan. Master Xun is my master, and I am merely his incompetent disciple."

A knowing glint flashed in the woman's eyes, and she spoke with composure and grace.

"My name is Liu Qingyan. If you don't mind, you can call me Yan'er."

She paused, looked at Jiang Xuan, and her tone carried a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

"Young Master Jiang, how confident are you in restoring the ancient musical instrument?"

Liu Qingyan!
Upon hearing this name, Jiang Xuan's heart skipped a beat! Although he had guessed it before, he was still somewhat surprised to be confirmed.

The woman in front of me, dressed as a man, with an exceptionally beautiful appearance, is none other than Liu Qingyan, the renowned artist who is famous throughout the empire and is known as one of the "Five Great Beauties of Aoxingzhou." She has captivated countless people with her "Dance of the Rainbow Skirt" and her ethereal singing voice!

Unexpectedly, he and she would meet again under such circumstances and in such a way.

Jiang Xuan noticed the wary look in Granny Feng's eyes and couldn't help but find it a little amusing; this old woman was being far too tense. However, he remained outwardly calm and composed.

Liu Qingyan was clearly interested in Jiang Xuan because of his earlier mention of "seeking a master" and his ability to recognize the ancient musical instrument, the Xun. Now, seeing Jiang Xuan facing her, a renowned master of arts and cultivation who was famous throughout the empire, with his gaze still clear and calm, without the slightest trace of the usual admiration, fanaticism, or restraint, she couldn't help but admire him even more.

She smiled, her face as radiant as melting snow, and pointed to the stone bench opposite her, her voice gentle and sweet.

"Young Master Jiang, please have a seat."

After Jiang Xuan sat down, she personally picked up the white jade teapot on the stone table and poured him a cup of fragrant spiritual tea with elegant and natural movements.

If her fervent fans outside were to witness this scene, they would be utterly astonished and driven mad with jealousy.

"Young Master Jiang," Liu Qingyan gently pushed the teacup in front of Jiang Xuan, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation.

"I wonder how confident your esteemed master, 'Master Xun,' is in restoring this ancient musical instrument?"

Jiang Xuan didn't look at the expensive spiritual tea; instead, he met Liu Qingyan's gaze with a calm and objective tone.

“My master once said that the restoration of spiritual artifacts, especially ancient ones, requires one to examine them with one’s own eyes and feel their spiritual essence and the root cause of their damage before one can make a judgment. Words alone are not enough, and I dare not make a rash judgment.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingyan was not disappointed at all. On the contrary, she felt that Jiang Xuan was meticulous in his actions, which gave her even more confidence.

She nodded and carefully took out a dark purple wooden box with an antique style from her storage ring. The surface of the box was smooth and gleamed with a faint light, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary item.

She gently opened the box, revealing a soft, silver velvet lining. On the velvet lay an object.

It was about the size of a palm, shaped like a teardrop or a closed lotus seed, with an overall sense of antiquity that had been accumulated over the years, and a warm, restrained luster of jade on its surface. There were nine holes of different sizes and in mysterious positions on the object.

It lay there quietly, yet it naturally exuded an ancient, vast, and pure aura, as if it carried countless stories of time.

It is a rare and nearly extinct ancient Xun!
This item is so rare that ordinary cultivators have probably never even heard of it, let alone recognized it.

However, the moment Jiang Xuan saw the spirit flute, his eyes narrowed slightly, and an indescribable sense of familiarity and warmth welled up in his heart.

There was no other reason than that, when he was young, Mr. Lu would often take out an ancient xun that was almost identical to this one and play it alone on the mountaintop, under the moon, or by the stream.

Seeing these familiar objects, Jiang Xuan felt as if he were seeing Mr. Lu again, who always carried a hint of loneliness and mystery, and a sense of sadness and nostalgia welled up in his heart.

He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and extended his right hand, his fingers long and steady.

He did not immediately take the ocarina, but instead used his knuckles to gently tap the edges of the nine holes one by one with a unique rhythm and force.

"Boom..."

"Buzz..."

"Waaah..."

,"call out…"

“Sa…”

“Zheng…”

“Cold…”

,"lonely…"

A series of syllables, some deep and resonant, some high-pitched and ethereal, some sobbing and clear, some cold and desolate, flowed from the small xun as he struck it. Although brief, each syllable had its own unique charm, as if it contained the universe within.

Liu Qingyan's beautiful eyes lit up immediately! A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

Jiang Xuan's seemingly casual tapping, in terms of technique, force, and precise control over the hole's position, was something no amateur could achieve! He clearly had a deep understanding of the ancient musical instrument, the Xun!

Granny Feng's eyes also flashed with surprise, and her suspicions lessened slightly. It seemed that this young man might have truly learned some of the true teachings of that "Master Xun." Master Xun himself was probably even more accomplished in the restoration of spirit patterns and ancient artifacts than she had imagined.

Jiang Xuan closed his eyes, his fingertips gently brushing across the smooth, icy surface of the spirit flute, as if listening to its silent story.

A scene from many years ago involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

It was a snowy night. As a child, I was wrapped in a thick fur coat and watched Mr. Deer sit alone on a blue stone by the cliff, facing a lonely, cold moon, playing the ancient xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument). The sound of the xun was desolate, lonely, and forlorn, seemingly blending into the entire icy world, yet also out of place.

That was when he was seven years old, and it was the first time he truly experienced what profound loneliness was.

When the music ended, Mr. Lu put away his xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), took a sip of strong liquor, and looked at the snow falling all around him. He sighed softly.

"This melody... is one of the few traces your mother left in this world." Those words, that snowy night, that lonely sound of the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), were deeply imprinted on his soul, never to be forgotten.

Pulling himself out of his memories, Jiang Xuan opened his eyes, only to meet Liu Qingyan's clear, autumn-water-like eyes.

She was gazing at him with a smile, her gaze gentle and focused, and between her brows, there seemed to be a hint of...pity?

Jiang Xuan felt a chill run down his spine and immediately became alert.

Liu Qingyan is hailed as a master of art cultivation; her intelligence and keen perception must far surpass those of ordinary people, making her an absolute standout among the elite. My momentary lapse in concentration and sadness likely did not completely escape her notice.

"Young Master Jiang seems... to be feeling something?"

Liu Qingyan asked softly, her voice gentle and without any coercion, yet it struck right at the heart.

Jiang Xuan quickly composed himself, his face regaining its composure, and steered the conversation back on track.

"Seeing this object reminds me of someone; I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Master Liu. Let's get back to the spirit flute."

He picked up the ancient Xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), examined it carefully, and gently stroked it with his fingers, feeling the subtle textures and inner spirituality, and slowly analyzed it.

"The ancient Xun is unique in that it can play nine notes, corresponding to the nine basic rhythms of the universe, with endless variations and profound mysteries."

As for the piece in Master Liu's possession, if my perception is correct, its incompleteness lies in the absence of the ninth tone—the 'xu' tone.

He paused and continued to explain.

"The 'Xu' sound, its quality is like the wind whispering in an empty valley, elusive and hard to find. It is the core and soul of the nine tones. Once this sound is lost, the entire 'Ling Xun' music loses its most crucial 'spirit' and 'variation,' like a body without a soul. Although it can still make sounds, it can no longer perform the truly moving ancient melodies."

This precise and insightful analysis made Liu Qingyan's expression extremely serious and devout. She stared intently at Jiang Xuan, as if listening to the divine pronouncements of the Great Dao.

The image of Mr. Lu flashed through Jiang Xuan's mind again.

Back then, Mr. Lu also tried to refine a new Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina in order to repair the incompleteness of its inheritance. Although in the end, due to the lack of some key materials and the loss of the refining techniques, the products he made were all defective and were eventually destroyed by Mr. Lu himself. However, during this process, the young Jiang Xuan learned a lot of valuable knowledge about the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina, as well as spirit patterns and weapon refining.

The piece in Liu Qingyan's hand is a truly perfect work that has been passed down through the ages. Its "imperfections" are different in nature from the "imperfections" that Mr. Lu encountered when he tried to "create" it. They are more due to the loss of spirituality and the sealing of the core rhythm caused by the passage of time or accidental damage. On the contrary, there is a possibility of repair!

"Does Young Master Jiang mean... this xun can be repaired?"

Liu Qingyan's voice trembled slightly, and she clutched the hem of her clothes tightly. Her clear, beautiful eyes were filled with unprecedented anticipation and nervousness, as if she was afraid of hearing a negative answer from Jiang Xuan.

Even Granny Feng, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, couldn't help but hold her breath and look at Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan nodded, then shook his head.

"It can be repaired, but... it is extremely difficult and complex. It is not a simple matter of repairing the spirit patterns or filling in the material, but requires special soul power and spirit pattern techniques to reawaken and complete its core 'virtual' sound rhythm."

This requires a significant amount of time and effort, as well as a deep understanding of ancient legal principles. It cannot be completed in the short term.

Upon hearing the words "can be repaired," Liu Qingyan's eyes instantly shone with an astonishing light, and her fingers, which were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, turned slightly white from the force.

She seemed oblivious to the difficulties that followed, and spoke urgently.

"Time doesn't matter! No matter how long it takes, I'm willing to wait! As long as there's a glimmer of hope!"

Granny Feng looked at Liu Qingyan's bright and cheerful expression, which she hadn't seen in many years, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. Her gaze towards Jiang Xuan also became more complicated.

Unexpectedly, this troublemaker actually brought hope to the young lady.

"it is good."

Jiang Xuan agreed.

"Since Master Liu is so determined, I will do my best to try."

"Great!"

Liu Qingyan's joy was palpable. She stood up and bowed solemnly to Jiang Xuan.

"Young Master Jiang, whether we succeed or not, Qingyan will be eternally grateful! What reward do you require? Please just say the word, and Qingyan will do her utmost to satisfy you!"

Granny Feng, listening from the side, frowned inwardly. The young lady had spoken too confidently; what if this boy went too far and demanded an exorbitant amount…

She quickly took over the conversation, her tone urging and scrutinizing as she addressed Jiang Xuan.

"Young man, now that the young lady has spoken, you can name your requirements for materials and payment now."

Jiang Xuan waved his hand and said.

"I still need to go back and carefully consider the method of repair, and discuss it with my master. As for the specific materials needed, I will explain them to you, Granny Feng, after the plan is finalized."

Upon hearing this, Granny Feng breathed a sigh of relief. This was for the best, lest the young lady impulsively make any promises that were difficult to keep.

Liu Qingyan didn't care about any of that. She felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders and was overjoyed. She bowed gracefully to Jiang Xuan once again.

"Then I'll leave everything to Young Master Jiang!"

Once the matter was settled, Jiang Xuan got up to take his leave.

However, just as he turned to leave, Liu Qingyan suddenly spoke, her voice filled with curiosity and anticipation.

“Young Master Jiang, I wonder… if Qingyan could observe the restoration process from the side? I have long yearned for the Ancient Law Spirit Ocarina and would love to witness the moment it regains its glory.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan and Granny Feng almost simultaneously refused.

"No!"

"Miss, you mustn't!"

Jiang Xuan was startled. If Liu Qingyan were to observe from the side, his identity as a "disciple of Master Xun" would likely be exposed immediately! His level of spiritual rune skills might fool laymen, but in front of a true expert like him, he would be completely exposed.

Granny Feng, however, was concerned for Liu Qingyan's safety. Why should such a noble young lady be alone with this unknown and ruthless boy for an extended period? If anything went wrong, she would be held responsible to the death!
The two men's refusal was so decisive and straightforward that it slightly surprised Liu Qingyan.

She glanced at Granny Feng, whose expression was serious, and then at Jiang Xuan, whose face was as still as water. As intelligent as she was, she immediately understood that there must be some hidden story and concerns involved.

A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, and she sighed softly. Her lowered eyes and downcast gaze conveyed a pitiful fragility and melancholy that would soften any man's heart.

But Jiang Xuan and Granny Feng, one with reservations and the other bound by duty, both hardened their hearts and refused to budge.

After bidding farewell to Liu Qingyan and leaving the tranquil courtyard, Jiang Xuan followed Granny Feng through the winding corridors of Cui Ming Xuan. (End of Chapter)