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

"puff!"

Before Black Snake could even scream, he was sent flying like a stray rhinoceros, even further than before! Blood mixed with more broken teeth gushed out, crashing heavily onto the shop counter and crushing a corner of it!
He lay limp on the ground like a dead dog, his eyes rolled back, only exhaling and not inhaling, completely unconscious!
"hiss!"

All the thugs who had followed, and the passersby who had been watching the commotion at the door, gasped in shock, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets! What... what's going on?! Wasn't Old Qian supposed to be here to help? Why did he cripple his own men first?!
"You're blind as a bat!!"

Old Qian was so angry that he trembled all over, his old face turned ashen, and he pointed at the unconscious Black Snake Brother on the ground, his voice sharp and distorted with fear and rage.

"You...you...you idiot! Useless trash! Do you even know who you've messed with?! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you! Don't drag the Azure Light Pavilion down with you!!"

He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke. Looking at the muddy mess on the ground, he felt a surge of anger with nowhere to vent it. He rushed over and kicked the unconscious Black Snake Brother several more times, cursing as he kicked.

"You idiot! You piece of trash! You blind fool! I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death!"

The thugs nearby were all terrified, silent and afraid to even breathe. Watching the usually arrogant Old Qian beat his own men like a madman, they all felt a chill run down their spines, and an ominous premonition enveloped their entire bodies.

Gu Liang was completely dumbfounded.

He had already clenched his fists, ready to go all out and cause a huge scene with Jiang Xuan, even if it meant bloodshed.

But to everyone's surprise, things took such a dramatic and absurd turn! Looking at Old Qian's terrified and distraught state as he vented his anger on his subordinates, and recalling the momentary blankness and fear he had when he looked at Jiang Xuan earlier... Gu Liang couldn't help but turn to look at Jiang Xuan beside him.

Jiang Xuan remained standing in the same spot, a half-smile on his face, arms crossed, watching the dog-eat-dog show with great interest, as if he had everything under control.

A storm raged in Gu Liang's heart! A clear thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Has Brother Jiang Xuan's power become so terrifying?! Even a respected figure from the Azure Light Pavilion was so frightened by recognizing him that he went so far as to slap himself in public and beat up his subordinates to distance himself from the situation?!
Old Qian was panting heavily from the kicking, and the fear and frustration in his heart were somewhat relieved.

He abruptly stopped, turned around, and dared not look Jiang Xuan in the eye. Instead, he roared at the group of thugs who were already pale with fright.

"You bunch of blind fools! What are you all standing there for?! Kneel down! Kowtow to Young Master Jiang Xuan and apologize! Beg him to spare your lives! Now!!!"

This roar was like a thunderclap in the ears of those thugs!

They were already terrified by Qian Lao's abnormal and violent behavior, so when they heard the order, they dared not hesitate for a moment.

"Splash! Splash! Splash..."

The remaining seven or eight thugs, like felled wheat, knelt down in unison! Facing Jiang Xuan's direction, they kowtowed repeatedly, their voices filled with sobs and extreme fear.

"Young Master Jiang Xuan, spare my life!"

"We were blind to your greatness! We have offended you, young master!"

"We'll never dare to do it again! Please, young master, spare us!"

"It was all that bastard Black Snake's doing! It has nothing to do with us, young master!"

Gu Liang looked at the thugs kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, and then at Old Qian, who was pale with fright and trembling all over. He felt a chill run up from the soles of his feet and couldn't help but gasp.
Jiang Xuan's power... has actually reached this level?!

However, Jiang Xuan's gaze did not linger on those terrified thugs for even a moment.

His calm, slightly amused gaze fell on Old Qian from the Biguang Pavilion.

Old Qian was already like a frightened bird. When Jiang Xuan swept his gaze over him, he felt an invisible pressure pressing down on him like a mountain, almost suffocating him!
His legs went weak, and he didn't even wait for Jiang Xuan to open his mouth to question him.

With a "thump," he knelt down straight down! His movements were swift and his posture humbled, surpassing even those of the local thugs!

"Young Master Jiang... Young Master Jiang Xuan! I know my crime! I was blind and ignorant! I offended you! I beg you to have mercy! Spare my life! Spare the Azure Light Pavilion!"

Old Qian's voice was choked with sobs, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

He adopted an extremely humble posture, taking all the responsibility and blame upon himself, only hoping that Jiang Xuan would show leniency.

Gu Liang was completely stunned by what he saw! Old Qian! This was a revered figure of the Azure Light Pavilion! A prominent figure in Yanxia City! And now… he was actually kneeling before Jiang Xuan, begging for mercy?! This was completely beyond his comprehension! It was unbelievable!
Little did he know that ever since that rainy night battle and the pinnacle duel in the arena, Jiang Xuan's name had become one of the most feared figures among the dozen or so powerful families in Yanxia City! Even a true core member of a powerful family like Young Master Qi Yunxiao had suffered and lost face at his hands, let alone someone like Elder Qian, who was at most a mid-level manager in the Biguang Pavilion. In front of Jiang Xuan, Elder Qian's status and position were simply insignificant!
He knew that if Jiang Xuan really wanted to pursue the matter, the Biguang Pavilion would definitely push him out as a scapegoat without hesitation in order to quell the anger of this evil star!

Jiang Xuan looked at Old Qian, who was kneeling on the ground in an extremely humble posture, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

That old fellow is quite clever; he knows to adopt the lowest possible stance and take all the responsibility, which makes it harder for him to continue his attack.

He casually walked to a chair next to him, sat down, picked up the cup of tea that had gone slightly cold, took a small sip, and then slowly began to speak.

"Tell me, Mr. Qian, what exactly... happened?"

When Old Qian heard Jiang Xuan speak, he trembled violently, thinking that Jiang Xuan still did not intend to let him go. In his fear, he raised his hand to slap him.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!" He slapped his own face hard! He hit himself so hard that blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and his cheeks were swollen and red in just a few blows!
"Young master, spare my life! I was bewitched! I deserve to die! I beg you, young master, to show mercy! If you spare me this time, I will serve you like a slave to repay your kindness! Biguang Pavilion... Biguang Pavilion will also reward you handsomely!"

He wailed as he hit himself, his voice mournful and filled with despair.

He knew all too well that if he didn't get Jiang Xuan's forgiveness in person, he would never let him off easily when he returned to Biguang Pavilion! He was well aware of Young Master Qi Yunxiao's hatred for Jiang Xuan!

Gu Liang was dumbfounded.

Those thugs kneeling on the ground looked dazed, like wooden or clay sculptures.

Is this still the same Qian Lao they knew, the one who was so imposing and domineering in front of them at Biguang Pavilion? Why does he seem... even more pathetic than them?

Jiang Xuan frowned, glanced at Elder Qian, and said in a slightly cold voice.

"Alright, stop hitting me. I'm going to ask you some questions. Explain the whole story clearly, and then you can leave with your people. If you keep making a fuss, you're really not leaving."

That sentence is like heavenly music!
Old Qian abruptly stopped slapping himself, and his face, swollen like a pig's head, instantly erupted with wild joy at having escaped a desperate situation, and he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Yes! Yes! I'll tell you! I'll tell you right now! I wouldn't dare to hide a single word!"

He dared not get up and remained kneeling, quickly recounting the whole story as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

"Young master, please understand! This...this is actually a complete misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! I...I was not acting on orders from the higher-ups of the Azure Light Pavilion, it was purely...it was my own selfish motives that led me to this!"

He took a breath, pointed at Jin Yutang's shop, and looked regretful and embarrassed.

"This old man...this old man also had his eye on this shop's location, thinking it was an excellent spot, and wanted to buy it to open a small shop for his retirement. Unfortunately, he was a step too late, and this young man, Gu Liang, beat him to it. This old man was unwilling to accept this, and then he found out that young man Gu Liang was from out of town and had no connections or background in Yanxia City... For a moment, he was blinded by greed, and...he instructed those fools in the Black Snake Gang to...to use some shady methods to force young man Gu Liang out, so...so that he could get this shop at a low price..."

By this point, Old Qian was drenched in sweat. He stole a glance at Jiang Xuan, and seeing that he looked calm, he dared to continue.

"This old man never...never expected that Brother Gu Liang would actually...actually know you, young master! This...this is truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple! This old man deserves to die! This old man was blind! I have offended Brother Gu Liang, and even more so, I have offended you, young master! Please punish me, young master! Please forgive me, Brother Gu Liang!" So that's how it is!

Jiang Xuan and Gu Liang were both stunned after hearing this.

Jiang Xuan was at a loss for words, both laughing and crying.

He thought it was some complicated business rivalry or power struggle, but it turns out this old guy just wanted to take advantage and bully others, only to kick a hornet's nest? This reason... is really simple and crude enough.

Gu Liang also breathed a long sigh of relief, finally putting his mind at ease.

As long as it's not the entire Biguang Pavilion targeting him, but merely the personal actions of a worshipper, then things will be much easier to handle.

Given the power and influence that Brother Jiang Xuan is currently displaying, I doubt that Elder Qian would dare to try anything funny again.

"get out."

Jiang Xuan waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly, his tone tinged with impatience.

"Take your men and that piece of trash on the ground and disappear immediately. From now on, you are absolutely forbidden from setting foot in Jin Yu Tang again, and you are absolutely forbidden from causing Gu Liang any trouble. Otherwise…"

"I wouldn't dare! I absolutely wouldn't dare!"

Mr. Qian was overjoyed, almost bursting into tears, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, young master! Thank you for sparing my life! I swear I will never do it again! Brother Gu Liang, I'm so sorry! I'm truly so sorry!"

He apologized as he scrambled to his feet and beckoned to the thugs who were still kneeling on the ground.

"Quickly! Lift that piece of trash up! Get out of here! Don't offend the young master's eyes!"

The group of thugs, as if waking from a dream, scrambled to carry the unconscious Black Snake Brother, and followed the scrambling Old Qian, fleeing Jin Yutang in a disheveled state. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace, as if a demon were chasing them.

Looking at the shop that had suddenly become empty and left only with a mess, Gu Liang felt as if he had been in another world, and everything that had just happened seemed unreal.

Jiang Xuan stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from his robes.

"Alright, the problem is solved. I should head back now."

"Wait! Brother Jiang Xuan!"

Gu Liang suddenly called out to him, his face showing a hint of hesitation, but his eyes were unusually firm.

Jiang Xuan stopped and turned to look at him.

"Anything else?"

Gu Liang took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and walked up to Jiang Xuan, looking at him intently.

"Brother Jiang Xuan, this time... we really owe you a great debt! Without you, Jin Yu Tang would probably be unable to continue operating. I... I would like to invite you to join Jin Yu Tang!"

"Join Jin Yutang?"

Jiang Xuan was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"It's...it's about becoming a shareholder!"

Gu Liang spoke very quickly, as if afraid he might change his mind.

"From now on, whatever income Jin Yutang earns, you'll get a share! As for the share... we can discuss that! In short, you'll never be taken advantage of!"

Jiang Xuan looked at Gu Liang's serious yet slightly nervous eyes and couldn't help but laugh.

"Gu Liang, what are you doing? Helping you was just a small favor, and besides, Uncle Gu took good care of me back then. What's with talking about taking a stake?"

"I do not care!"

Gu Liang suddenly waved his hand irritably, with the stubbornness of a young man.

"There's no reason why! I just want to do it! Just tell me if you agree or not! Give me a straight answer!"

He actually resorted to reverse psychology.

Jiang Xuan looked at Gu Liang's "I won't let you leave until you agree" attitude and rubbed his temples helplessly.

This kid... is still the same as before, stubborn and loyal.

"Fine, fine, I give up."

Jiang Xuan sighed helplessly, took out a bulging bag from his storage bag, and casually tossed it to Gu Liang.

"Take it."

Consider it my 'principal' for investing.

Gu Liang instinctively took the bag. It felt heavy in his hand. He subconsciously scanned it with his spiritual sense, and his expression instantly changed! This wasn't gold coins at all! It was clearly a batch of rare spiritual materials of various kinds, brimming with spiritual energy and of excellent quality! Several of them were things he had only seen in catalogs before, their value immeasurable! This so-called "capital" was probably worth far more than his Jin Yu Tang flagship store!

"Brother Jiang Xuan! This...this is too precious! I can't..." Gu Liang said anxiously, trying to refuse.

"Cut the nonsense."

Jiang Xuan interrupted him, giving him a disgruntled glare.

“Take it. Just leave it here with you. I can ask you for it again if I need it later. As for how Jin Yutang will develop…” He patted Gu Liang on the shoulder, a mischievous smile on his face.

"It's all up to you, Manager Gu! I'll just be a figurehead manager and not bother you unless it's absolutely necessary."

After saying that, without waiting for Gu Liang to say anything more, Jiang Xuan turned around and strode out of Jin Yutang, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd on the street.

Gu Liang stood amidst the wrecked shop, holding the heavy, incredibly valuable storage bag, gazing in the direction Jiang Xuan had disappeared, his heart filled with mixed emotions. (End of Chapter)