It's All Over

Gu Zhongtian was completely caught off guard by the Deputy Hall Master's actions and immediately became anxious.

"You fool! Are you trying to exchange your life for mine?!" he thought frantically. "Don't you know who this person is? And you dared to snatch the token and throw it on the ground?!"

Gu Zhongtian's face was full of apology as he looked at Chen Ping'an, bowing repeatedly. "Esteemed sir, I'm terribly sorry. This man is always like this!"

Saying this, he hurriedly bent down to pick up the token, then handed it to Chen Ping'an with his head lowered.

All he could do now was try to appear blameless. He feared that the Deputy Hall Master's behavior might bring trouble upon himself, especially since he had just been forgiven by Chen Ping'an not long ago.

Chen Ping'an wasn't sure if the token was genuine or fake, nor did he know the identity of this pot-bellied middle-aged man. However, seeing how he mocked Gu Zhongtian, who didn't dare say a word in return, he figured the man must hold a significant position in the Treasure Gathering Hall.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ping'an decided that regardless of whether the token was real or not, he might as well take it. After all, he had spirit stones now. He could just use those to buy the martial technique.

However, just as he was about to reach for it, the pot-bellied middle-aged man snatched the token again and forcefully smashed it on the ground.

Witnessing this, Chen Ping'an furrowed his brow.

"What on earth are you trying to do?!" he thought, exasperated.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's frown, Gu Zhongtian's heart skipped a beat.

He then turned to the Deputy Hall Master, Qian Mingyuan, with a look of murderous hatred.

"Qian Mingyuan, are you courting death?!" Gu Zhongtian shouted angrily.

All he could do now was distance himself from Qian Mingyuan, preferably appearing as enemies in front of Chen Ping'an. Of course, he didn't need to pretend, as they were already adversaries.

Seeing Gu Zhongtian's anger, Qian Mingyuan chuckled.

"Gu Zhongtian, you think I don't know what you're up to? That fool from earlier was sent by you, wasn't he? Coming here with a fake token, saying he could take anything from our hall. Tsk tsk, it's laughable."

"And you're just as ridiculous, thinking you could get away with offering a mere 10% discount? Yes, the Grand Hall Master does have a token that allows purchases at 10% of the price, but do you really expect me to believe this nobody obtained such a token from him?"

Listening to Qian Mingyuan's words, Gu Zhongtian was both angry and amused.

"What are you even thinking?! You're imagining too much! How could you possibly think I have any connection to that fool from earlier?!"

"Qian Mingyuan, for heaven's sake, use those dog eyes of yours to look at the token!" Gu Zhongtian was so angry he wanted to laugh. Anyone who took a single glance at the token on the ground would know it wasn't fake.

Moreover, why would someone of Chen Ping'an's status try to deceive them?!

Qian Mingyuan sneered, "Still pretending, are we? Listen, boy, I'll give you one chance to save your life. Tell me your plan. But if you dare to keep up this charade, I'll tell you this: even if I kill you right now, no one will speak up for you!"

Hearing this threat, Chen Ping'an was utterly bewildered.

"A plan with this steward? Brother, I have no plan!"

Gu Zhongtian, hearing Qian Mingyuan's words, turned pale with fright.

"You bastard," he thought, "it's fine if you want to die, but why drag me into this?!"

"Damn you, Qian Mingyuan! I've had enough of you for a long time! Today, I'll settle this once and for all!" Gu Zhongtian couldn't hold back anymore. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed his cultivation power and attacked Qian Mingyuan directly.

Qian Mingyuan hadn't expected Gu Zhongtian to strike, but fortunately, his cultivation level matched Gu Zhongtian's. He reacted quickly, and the two began to fight.

The commotion had attracted the attention of others in the Treasure Gathering Hall. Guards came out as well, but seeing it was their own people fighting, they wore awkward expressions.

It put them in a difficult position. They didn't know whose side to take. Although the Deputy Hall Master held a high position, they didn't dare offend Gu Zhongtian either. Among the stewards, Gu Zhongtian was prominent and had even competed with Qian Mingyuan for the position of Deputy Hall Master before!

And so, the two men continued to fight. People around them quickly retreated, making space. Both were at the Transcendent Realm in cultivation, evenly matched.

Other stewards had come out by now, but their strength was somewhat inferior to these two. They could only shout from the sidelines, urging them to stop, not daring to intervene directly. One or two, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, hurriedly took out communication jade slips to inform the Hall Master.

Chen Ping'an watched from the side, his expression extremely peculiar.

"What... What should I do?" he thought.

He hadn't expected things to escalate to this point either.

Chen Ping'an glanced at the token on the ground, then furtively looked around. Seeing that no one was watching him, he quickly bent down to pick up the token.

Then, his eyes darted around as he made a decision to sneak away quietly.

"Damn it," he thought, "this situation is completely out of control. I don't want to end up being the scapegoat. Better to leave while I can!"

However, just as he was about to turn and slip away...

At that moment, someone suddenly pointed at him and shouted, "That guy is trying to escape!"

This exclamation instantly drew everyone's attention.

Chen Ping'an, who was just about to turn and leave, froze in place.

"Damn it!" he thought. "Why did you have to open your big mouth?! Would it kill you to mind your own business?!"

Chen Ping'an blushed as he found himself under the scrutiny of the crowd.

Qian Mingyuan, still locked in combat with Gu Zhongtian, managed to glance at Chen Ping'an and sneered, "Gu Zhongtian! Stop pretending! You're just angry because I exposed your plan. Look, that kid was trying to run away!"

Gu Zhongtian had also heard someone say Chen Ping'an was trying to leave, but he didn't believe it.

"How could someone of his status try to run away?" he thought. "He must be angry now! You're as good as dead!"

He didn't hold back anymore, unleashing his full power against Qian Mingyuan. This way, he appeared to be on the same side as Chen Ping'an. If Chen Ping'an was angry, at least it wouldn't be directed at him.

Chen Ping'an was extremely embarrassed at this point, but he felt innocent.

Everyone around seemed to think they had figured everything out, believing Qian Mingyuan's interpretation was correct.

"Now it's clear, this guy must be in cahoots with the steward."

"Exactly. I thought something was off from the start. And how convenient that right after that fool with the token was exposed, this guy shows up with another token. It's too much of a coincidence."

"This was clearly a well-planned scheme. The fact that he tried to run away just proves it."

"..."

The crowd analyzed the situation with cold smiles, each thinking they were brilliant detectives.

Chen Ping'an, hearing their words, felt utterly wronged.

"Damn it, I really didn't conspire with this steward!"

Just as Chen Ping'an was at a loss for how to resolve the situation, suddenly, a figure appeared from thin air.

It was an old man.

This was none other than the Master of the Treasure Gathering Hall.

He had just been with Tang Siyuan and the others, discussing Chen Ping'an's formidable power. When he suddenly received news that Gu Zhongtian and Qian Mingyuan were fighting in the hall over a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, he was dumbfounded.

He had been extremely attentive to the words "Foundation Establishment realm." He had even considered having a portrait of Chen Ping'an drawn so that anyone in the hall who saw this person in the future would treat him like royalty.

After all, maintaining a good relationship with such a powerful figure could potentially lead to a promotion to Imperial Association President, just like what happened with Tang Siyuan.

But he never imagined that while he was contemplating this, such news would suddenly arrive.

Now, he had rushed back at full speed. Upon appearing in the main hall, he didn't immediately try to stop the two men still fighting. Instead, with a heart pounding in panic, he scanned the surroundings.

When he suddenly spotted Chen Ping'an standing in the middle of it all, his legs went weak.

"It's all over!" he thought. "I've never done anything to offend the heavens! Why is fate trying to destroy me?!"