Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 134

“Forget it. I, Jiang Taichu, can take your family assets as easily as plucking fruit. Let them stay under your names for now,” Jiang Tian said with a dismissive wave, his tone utterly indifferent.

The combined wealth of these families amounted to at least two or three hundred billion. Even half would be over a hundred billion. But Jiang Tian didn’t need any property transfer agreements or gifts. If he wanted to take it, he could do so effortlessly. This was the power of a cultivator—his word was law, granting and taking as he pleased.

“Alright, that’s enough for now. Hongye, if you have any formation array materials, send them to my hotel,” Jiang Tian said. With a nod to Cao Shixiong and Tang Guozhu, he left with Gui Jiaoti, departing as lightly as he had come.

The next day, news of the upheaval within the Wei family swept through southern China like an eighteenth-level typhoon, shocking the entire nation.

Suddenly, the upper echelons of Yangcheng and the entire Lingnan region were abuzz with this earth-shattering news. The Wei family had been the foremost power in Jiangnan, standing strong for a century. Their sudden collapse in a single strike was utterly staggering.

“Wei Shuofeng battled a mysterious expert and was slain atop Tingchao Mountain!”
“Young Master Tang had his legs broken! The Tang family surrendered over half their assets just to save his life!”
“The Jiangbei heroes and the five major families of Lingnan have jointly declared their support for Master Jiang, recognizing him as the leader of Lingnan!”
“The Wei conglomerate has been taken over by a mysterious creditor. All Wei family members have been expelled.”

Rumors said official channels were suppressing the news. No mainstream media reported it; the information spread only through whispers.

Who was this mysterious expert? How old was he? What did he look like? He had defeated the revered Elder Wei and taken control of the massive Wei family in a single night. Did that mean he would instantly rise to become a new tycoon on the rich list? Many speculated and debated.

But among the upper class, a chill ran through everyone. They were all on edge.

It was said even the military had stepped in to mediate, yet they couldn’t stop this Jiang Taichu. The mighty Wei family had crumbled overnight. This Master Jiang truly could not be provoked! He was simply untouchable!

Many even began contacting each other, preparing lavish gifts to pay homage to Master Jiang, hoping to avoid being crushed by a casual wave of his hand.

Not only that, but China’s martial world was also in an uproar. Practitioners everywhere were sharing the news.

“Master of both martial and arcane arts, single-handedly crushing the Wei family, eliminating Mo Haoxiong… It seems a dragon has emerged in Lingnan!”
“Dominant as a dragon, truly dominant as a dragon! Practicing martial arts without knowing Jiang Taichu is futile, even if one masters ten thousand techniques!” exclaimed martial artists who admired strength, their minds filled with awe.
“The rise of Master Jiang from Jiangbei over the past half-year has been anything but quiet. Killing the great circle magnate Xing Shanhu on a cruise ship in international waters, slaying martial arts grandmaster Hong Tianzhao on Mount Jialuo, overwhelming the Shennong Sect at Hundred Herb Valley, and now Mo Haoxiong and Wei Shuofeng… This Jiang Taichu is as dominant as a dragon, stirring up storms wherever he goes!”
“How long does Jiang Taichu intend to keep killing? Is no one going to rein him in?” Many martial artists were horrified and trembling, each fearing for their own safety.
“Just what is the background of Master Jiang from Jiangbei? Which family does he come from? Who is his master? Could it be Ye Zhanian?”
“Unlikely. Ye Zhanian’s disciples are almost all in the Dragon Group, maintaining martial order. They wouldn’t kill so recklessly and dominate so forcefully.”

Many martial artists were also investigating Jiang Tian’s identity, trying to uncover clues.

“Jiang Taichu is too strong, too terrifying. It seems only the Martial Arts Federation Conference can suppress him! There’s no hope for us to seek revenge individually!”
“Yes, perhaps we can only rely on the Martial Arts Federation Conference, or those veteran martial arts grandmasters, to uphold justice!”

As for the martial arts families and sects Jiang Tian had crushed—the Hong family of Gan Province, the Jin Dao Wang family of Luoyang, the Tang Sect of Shu, the Mo family of Lingnan, and others—they were all trembling with fear, shaking their heads and sighing. They abandoned any hope of personal revenge, placing their hopes instead on super-powered individuals or martial arts organizations.

…

Two days later, at noon, a stretched Bugatti Veyron glided smoothly to a stop in front of a hotel like a fish through water.

A valet stepped forward to open the door. A rather ordinary-looking, clean-cut young man emerged from the back seat.

The valet was inwardly astonished, thinking, He must be a scion of some influential family from Beijing, here for experience.

“Mr. Jiang, shall I escort you upstairs?” Behind the young man stood two others: one with a long beard reaching his chest, exuding a steady aura, and another wearing round brass-rimmed glasses. They were none other than Hongye Zhenren and Xu Wenjie.

Although Jiang Tian had expelled the Wei family members, the massive Wei empire still needed management. Veterans like Hongye and Xu Wenjie, who had served the Weis, were spared Jiang Tian’s purge.

These people held no personal grudge against Jiang Tian; they were simply hired hands doing a job. Hongye, Xu Wenjie, and the others were naturally happy to serve under him. Working under Master Jiang, if they could gain even a sliver of his knowledge, wouldn’t their own arcane arts improve tremendously?

“No need. You may leave,” Jiang Tian waved them off.

“Yes! Then we shall take our leave! We will deliver the formation materials this afternoon!” Hongye Zhenren and Xu Wenjie bowed deeply with clasped fists, then retreated with utmost respect.

“Brother-in-law, where have you been?” As soon as Jiang Tian entered the room, Zhao Qianru grabbed his arm, fuming. “You were gone all night! There was thunder and heavy rain the night before last. We went to your room and you weren’t there! You scared us to death!”

“Did you climb through some Yangcheng socialite’s window?” Zhao Xueqing teased.

“Really, I didn’t…” Jiang Tian raised his hands in surrender, apologetically saying, “My mistake, forgive me. Starting today, I’ll focus entirely on accompanying you!”

If Hongye and the others had been present, their eyes would have popped out of their heads. The formidable Master Jiang, a master of both martial and arcane arts, a grandmaster on the divine leaderboard, who had defeated Wei Shuofeng with a single strike—was actually raising his hands in surrender to two ordinary girls?

Little did they know that after ten thousand years drifting among the stars, Jiang Tian’s heart had long been tempered hard as steel and cold as ice. Only when facing his beloved wife and family would he let his guard down and reveal a hint of his youthful nature.

In truth, Jiang Tian had kept his conflict with Wei Shuofeng hidden from the two women. His assault on the Wei family the previous night was also kept secret to avoid worrying them. Now, seeing they were even more worried, he felt a pang of guilt.

“You said you’d take us to the Feast of Bliss, but then you left without a word! Today’s the last day; we almost missed it!” Zhao Qianru complained angrily.

Without Jiang Tian present, Shen Mange had also been very cautious, advising them to stay in the hotel and not cause trouble.

“Wanting to go to the Feast of Bliss is simple. We can go right now…” Jiang Tian said with a faint smile, immediately calling Tang Zhenye, the head of the Tang family.

He issued an order: “I want to go to the Feast of Bliss for some fun. Clear the venue; don’t let any unrelated people in. And don’t follow me. My wife prefers quiet.”

“What? Clear the venue? Brother-in-law, are you joking?” Zhao Qianru couldn’t believe it.

The Feast of Bliss was attended by several major families of Yangcheng. With such formidable influence, who could possibly challenge it?

“Jiang Tian, don’t listen to Qianru’s nonsense. You caused a scene there last time and offended so many people. Going now is too dangerous!” Zhao Xueqing quickly tried to dissuade him.

Although she knew Jiang Tian was capable and dominated in Jiangbei, this was Yangcheng. Those young masters might not be able to beat Jiang Tian directly, but they could use their political connections against him.

“Don’t worry, your husband isn’t who he used to be. The entire Lingnan region is now my domain,” Jiang Tian said softly, stroking her soft cheek, touched by her concern.

Even knowing Jiang Tian’s extraordinary abilities, Zhao Xueqing and her sister found it hard to believe he could conquer the Jiangnan region in such a short time.

Zhao Xueqing smiled without comment. Suddenly, Zhao Qianru had an idea and clapped her hands. “Then let Shen Mange go with us! She can handle those people from Jiangnan!”

“Alright…” Jiang Tian felt a wave of helplessness. It seemed he had risen too quickly; even his closest family needed time to accept it.

…

Outside a ward in Yangcheng First People’s Hospital, the seemingly well-matched couple, Zhou Xianya and Lü Fan, waited anxiously.

Lü Fan carried two large bags of expensive nutritional supplements and tonics. Hearing early that morning that the formidable idol he had long admired had been beaten and hospitalized, he immediately called Zhou Xianya. Despite his own concussion, he rushed over to visit, hoping to show support and strengthen their relationship.

He felt uneasy and deeply puzzled. Who would dare break Tang Shaoze’s legs? It was utterly ruthless.

Zhou Xianya, wearing light makeup, appeared calm on the surface but was inwardly somewhat excited. Since her teens, she had dreamed of being a clever Cinderella who could snag a prince, live in a magnificent castle, mingle with nobles, and become a phoenix perched on a high branch. Today, she finally had the chance to get close to the circle she had long yearned for, greatly satisfying her feminine vanity.

Top-tier young masters, wealthy socialites, luxurious mansions, sports cars, and expensive clothes and jewelry—once, these things had seemed so distant to Zhou Xianya. Now, they felt within reach.

After the doctors and nurses finished their routine check-up, Lü Fan and Zhou Xianya entered the ward.

On the bed in the VIP single room, Tang Shaoze was wrapped up tightly like a mummy, with only his eyes, nose, and mouth visible.

Zhou Xianya, being a woman, shuddered at the sight, thinking privately that in such a state, his legs were probably crippled.

Lü Fan set down the two large bags of supplements, greeted Tang Shaoze’s mother and girlfriend first, then half-knelt by the bed, anxiously inquiring about his injuries with feigned concern. He acted grief-stricken and indignant, as if he would gladly take a knife for his brother, willing to brave any danger.

Tang Shaoze waved his hand impatiently, glancing at Lü Fan, who usually went out of his way to curry favor. His eyes were despairing, and he spoke with weak resignation, “Enough, stop wasting your breath. This kind of person is simply beyond what you or I can afford to provoke! You have no idea—even the second-in-command of the Military Commission intervened on our behalf, and even he couldn’t stop it! I’m lucky to be alive…”

Lü Fan was speechless, forcing a smile and nodding. inwardly, he was horrified. Who on earth could make someone as noble as Tang Shaoze feel so helpless that he wouldn’t even consider revenge?

Zhou Xianya, who had been silent, pondered the sensitive terms like “Military Commission second-in-command,” her heart once again surging with shock.

The level these Yangcheng young masters operated at was truly extraordinary. Just a slight move on their part involved such high levels. If things escalated further, what kind of storm could these youths, barely older than her, stir up? She couldn’t help but feel a wave of envy. At the same time, her curiosity about the fierce individual who had injured Tang Shaoze grew even stronger.

Zhou Xianya considered herself a fortunate woman. Forced out of Linzhou by Jiang Tian, she had come to Yangcheng and instead thrived, which she believed decided her future glorious and magnificent life.