Northwestern Shanxi Descended into Chaos

Meanwhile, having achieved his goal, Jin Pang walked back with a smile. Seeing him so happy, Qin Chuan's curiosity was piqued. "Brother Jin, what did you do that made you so happy?"

"Hahaha, Brother Qin, I just gave Pei Xuan and those other two a good fleecing. But I borrowed your name, Brother Qin, so please don't take offense." Jin Pang laughed wildly.

"Oh? How did you fleece them?" Jin Pang's words made Qin Chuan even more curious, and he couldn't help asking.

Jin Pang leaned close to Qin Chuan and said softly, "I told you a while ago that an elder from the sect master's faction had opened a betting pool on the inner sect martial competition. Pei Xuan and the other two put spirit stones into it as well, so the four of them are partners."

"I gathered a group of direct disciples of sect elders who had spirit stones, then got them to bet on you to win. You must be wondering why they'd believe you could win. Naturally, it's because I told them you came from Supreme Mystery Peak. They want to befriend you, so of course they'd bet a large number of spirit stones on your victory."

"At ten-to-one odds, as long as you win, Brother Qin, I guarantee Pei Xuan and the other two won't even have their underpants left after paying out."

All Pure Void Sect disciples received a fixed allotment of resources, and the sect master's disciples were no exception. At most, they could abuse their authority to issue themselves a little extra. With the grand elder watching, they definitely wouldn't dare go too far.

Xie An, who came from the Xiao Family, might be a little wealthier, but this time Jin Pang had brought in Gu Hao of the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild. Heh, that was someone who had no shortage of spirit stones. With Gu Hao taking the lead, the others couldn't possibly bet too little. Ten to one! The payout would ruin Pei Xuan and the others.

"Then I'll give this martial competition my all. I certainly won't let you break your word in front of the others, Brother Jin."

Qin Chuan recalled that an auction would take place in the upcoming plot, where Gu Xiran obtained a great opportunity. If Jin Pang drained Pei Xuan and the others of their spirit stones, would Gu Xiran miss out on that great opportunity too? Did this count as a chain reaction?

"Then let me wish you first place in the martial competition in advance, Brother Qin. I've also made arrangements with those direct disciples who admire you. Once you've won a resounding victory, they'll come celebrate with Martial Uncle Qin."

Then he sent Qin Chuan a secret voice transmission. "Brother Qin, those direct disciples have a tangled web of connections. One is the direct grandson of a chief manager of the Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild, some are direct disciples of the elders of the various peaks, and others are disciples of cultivation families affiliated with the Pure Void Sect. They'll all come in handy sooner or later. One more connection means one more road."

"They value you because you're the Glazed Glass Immortal Venerable's disciple. You can also make use of their families' power and influence. As long as you use them properly, you won't lose out, Brother Qin."

"Thank you, Brother Jin." Qin Chuan naturally understood the principle, but he hadn't expected to gain so much from an ally he had found on a whim.

Before Jin Pang and Qin Chuan could continue their conversation, the elder presiding over the martial competition had already stepped onto the arena and called out Qin Chuan's and Pei Xuan's names.

"Number twenty-three, Qin Chuan."

"Number twenty-five, Pei Xuan."

"Come up to the arena at once."

"Brother Jin, wait for me to return victorious." Qin Chuan flew onto the arena.

Pei Xuan had landed on the arena a step ahead of Qin Chuan. He was as arrogant and defiant as ever, looking at Qin Chuan as though he were trash.

"Qin Chuan, Pei Xuan, you may begin. You're fellow disciples, so a touch is enough. Don't take a life." After this reminder, the elder left the arena to the protagonists of the match, Qin Chuan and Pei Xuan.

"Martial Uncle Qin, there's still time to admit defeat. Swords and sabers have no eyes, and I wouldn't want your life to be cut short."

Pei Xuan's words sounded concerned, but killing intent seeped through them at every turn. Qin Chuan naturally heard it. Without another word, he flashed to Pei Xuan's side.

Pei Xuan reacted extremely quickly and had long been on guard against Qin Chuan. He immediately held his longsword across his body and caught Qin Chuan's strike.

"How could he sneak-attack Eldest Senior Brother?! How shameless!" The injuries on Gu Xiran's face had already healed. Seeing Qin Chuan sneak-attack Pei Xuan, she immediately spoke up for him.

"Elder Sister, the elder already said to begin. Martial Uncle Qin's attack wasn't a sneak attack."

"Ah, Elder Sister, didn't you just call Martial Uncle Qin by his full name again? Doesn't that count as disrespecting him?" Gu Xiwan began her green-tea act again, but using it against her own enemy felt pretty good.

She hated Pei Xuan and Gu Xiran to the bone. Her injuries hadn't healed yet, but she had come to watch the martial competition, hoping only that Qin Chuan would defeat Pei Xuan.

Jin Pang immediately stepped forward and loudly berated Gu Xiran. "You've disrespected Martial Uncle Qin again. Is it because he defeated you just now, so you're harboring resentment?"

"Are you trying to kill Martial Uncle Qin? Are you also planning to betray the sect?!!!"

Jin Pang slapped a grave accusation onto Gu Xiran. Although reputation wasn't important, one couldn't simply disregard it either. Who in this world didn't care about saving face? And the charge of betraying the sect was more than she could bear.

On the arena, Qin Chuan and Pei Xuan were only probing each other, so everyone else's attention was temporarily drawn to Gu Xiran and Jin Pang.

The others looked at Gu Xiran as if to say, So this is the kind of person you are. She grew anxious and hurriedly explained, "I didn't disrespect Martial Uncle Qin, and I never wanted to betray the sect. Don't slander me!"

"But... but Elder Sister just called Martial Uncle Qin by his full name. I... I'm not saying Elder Sister disrespects Martial Uncle Qin, and I didn't say she wants to betray the sect... boo-hoo-hoo, I don't want to say these things." Gu Xiwan's green-tea skills were now at full marks. As she sobbed, she did her utmost to pin accusations on Gu Xiran.

"So that's how it is, Gu Xiran! Quick, seize this sect traitor, Gu Xiran!" Jin Pang shouted.

On the arena, Pei Xuan heard Jin Pang's words and was distracted by his concern for Gu Xiran. Qin Chuan stabbed him with his sword.

"Eldest Senior Brother, focus on the match! With me here, they won't be able to frame Junior Sister!" Jiang Lin called out to Pei Xuan.

"Good. I'll leave Junior Sister to you, Second Junior Brother." A cold light flashed in Pei Xuan's eyes, and powerful spiritual energy surged out of him, forcing Qin Chuan back.

"I was only testing you just now. Now I'll show you my true strength and let you see just how wide the gap between us is."

The instant he finished speaking, Pei Xuan's aura surged, fully revealing his Late Golden Core Stage cultivation. He slashed at Qin Chuan with all his strength.

"Come at me!" Qin Chuan no longer held back either. Sword in hand, he met Pei Xuan's strike.

Their sword qi split the arena cleanly into four pieces. Pei Xuan stepped back once, while Qin Chuan took three steps back.

In that exchange, Pei Xuan had a slight advantage.

Seeing this, Jin Pang began loudly berating Gu Xiran again, hoping to distract Pei Xuan. "Everyone, hurry and seize this person who betrayed the sect!"

The green tea Gu Xiwan added fuel to the fire. She deliberately walked up to Gu Xiran and shouted, "Elder Sister, run! As long as you reach Sect Master Yun, no one will dare arrest you over this!"

"Ah, Elder Sister, why did you push me?"

Somehow, Gu Xiwan fell to the ground. Fang Xiang and Lu Xiu immediately came forward and helped her up. Fang Xiang angrily rebuked Gu Xiran. "Junior Sister was kind enough to show concern for you, her elder sister, yet you treated her like this. You're truly a snake-and-scorpion-hearted woman."

"I didn't! Gu Xiwan, you're framing me!!!" Gu Xiran replied coldly.

Jiang Lin stood protectively in front of Gu Xiran, and Xie An, who could barely stand, also stood in front of her.

"I'm going to avenge Junior Sister!" Fang Xiang attacked Jiang Lin, with Lu Xiu following close behind. Jiang Lin struggled to fight them both alone, and within a few moves, wounds had appeared on his body.

Amid the chaos, Jin Pang seized the chance to kick Xie An, then stomped on him several times. On the raised platform, Xuanyang and Yun Yao started fighting again.

The situation could only be described in one sentence: "Northwestern Shanxi had descended into a pot of boiling porridge."