The moment Ling Tian's gaunt and emaciated figure appeared at the private room's entrance, an invisible yet terrifying aura, as if capable of freezing one's soul, instantly enveloped the entire room!
The patriarchs of the Wang, Sun, and Zhao families, three old foxes who had been scrambling in the Imperial City's business world for half their lives and thought they had seen all sorts of storms,
when they felt this terrifying pressure, far beyond their comprehension,
their hearts, already hanging by a thread due to Yan Che's appearance, trembled even more violently at this moment!
They even felt that their breathing had become incredibly difficult!
It was as if this unassuming young man, with just a thought, could make their souls scatter and their forms disintegrate on the spot!
This... this was no longer the power that so-called 'martial arts masters' in the mortal world could possess!
This was simply... those legendary 'Land Immortals' who only existed in myths and fantasy novels?!
However, not everyone present felt this way.
Outside the room, the burly bodyguard captain who accompanied the Zhao family patriarch couldn't help but let out a low growl: "Playing tricks!"
Confident in his superior martial prowess, he took a sudden step forward, attempting to counter Ling Tian's pressure with his own aura.
As for Ling Tian?
Having recovered some of his soul power with the heavenly treasures provided by Yan Che, he was no longer the same... He didn't even spare a glance, merely letting out a disdainful snort from his nostrils.
"Noisy."
Before his words finished, he casually flicked his finger.
A barely visible stream of energy, like a bullet fired, instantly shot through the air!
The bodyguard leader didn't even have time to change his expression before he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the wall!
The room fell into a deathly silence!
At this moment, Yan Che, standing to the side, took in the terrified and horrified expressions of the three patriarchs.
He knew that his most crucial trump card had played a decisive role!
That's right, Ling Tian was the "ultimate weapon" he had found during this period!
It should be noted that after Lu Cheng arrived in the Imperial City, the Fu Family's intelligence network had been monitoring his every move.
Naturally, this also included Lu Cheng's "abnormal" trip to the abandoned imperial mausoleum a few days ago!
"Following a university student into the imperial mausoleum, then leaving alone."
It was this strange behavior that made Yan Che sniff out an unusual scent!
He immediately mobilized resources to conduct a thorough investigation into that mysterious university student!
Soon, Ling Tian, this mysterious "ancient martial arts master," entered his sight.
Based on everything that had happened with Ling Tian in Demon City... Yan Che keenly realized that there seemed to be an irreconcilable deep-seated hatred between him and Lu Cheng!
So, he took the initiative!
On the condition of "providing everything Ling Tian desired - money, power, even women"!
He reached a cooperation agreement, each with their own ulterior motives, with this "master" who was also at the end of his rope and desperately needed external support!
Ling Tian needed the resources and intelligence in Yan Che's hands to help him recover his strength and seek revenge on Lu Cheng!
And Yan Che needed Ling Tian, this "martial arts master," to act as his enforcer to intimidate the three great families and counter Lu Cheng!
The two hit it off immediately!
...Yan Che looked at the three old foxes in front of him, who had been completely subdued by Ling Tian, and the smile on his face became increasingly confident and composed.
He knew that now, he had completely taken control of the entire negotiation!
"Three uncles."
His voice rang out again.
"Now, do you still think that we... don't have the capital to fight the Lu Family?"
Under the dual pressure of military might and the allure of profit!
The three patriarchs' wavering hearts finally sided with Yan Che!
They knew they had no retreat!
Only two paths lay before them!
Either follow Yan Che and take a gamble!
If they won, their families could return to their peak, or even rise higher!
If they lost, it would just be like now, barely surviving, waiting to be slowly devoured by the Lu Family!
As for the other path... that was to refuse Yan Che now, and then be dealt with on the spot by this "ancient martial arts master."
This was not a choice at all!
It was a... mandatory question!
The Wang family patriarch was the first to stand up from his seat!
With a look of determined resolve, he raised the full glass of strong liquor in front of him and said to Yan Che in a deep voice:
"Mr. Yan!"
"My Wang Family is in!"
"From now on, my entire Wang Family will follow your lead! No questions asked!"
With that, he drained the spicy liquor in the glass!
With the first one to lead, the patriarchs of the Sun and Zhao families also immediately made up their minds!
They likewise raised their glasses, almost as if taking an oath, expressing their determination to join the "Anti-Lu Alliance"!
A secret alliance, full of conspiracies and calculations, was thus formed!
Yan Che looked at the three old foxes in front of him, finally completely subdued by him, and at last, a triumphant smile appeared on his face!
He felt that he had reached the first... small peak of his life!
He had taken the first step from being a pawn to a player... However!
Just as they were raising their glasses in celebration, imagining how they would trample Lu Cheng underfoot and divide him up in the future,
on another side they couldn't see... the Lu Family's villa.
Lu Cheng was leaning back on a soft sofa.
On the tablet in front of him,
the complete scene of this "Hongmen Banquet" was being broadcast live, clearly and in real-time!
He could even zoom in and out of the screen at will by controlling it!
He could see every subtle change in their facial expressions with perfect clarity!
Ye Shuying stood respectfully beside him, reporting in a steady voice.
"Young Master Lu."
"Patriarch Wang, as per your instructions, successfully brought the miniature surveillance device into the private room, and the meeting has been recorded in full..."
Lu Cheng simply nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.
His slender finger swiped lightly across the screen, and the image instantly magnified, finally locking onto Patriarch Wang's face, which was filled with "resolve."
Watching his superb performance, as if he was about to bravely sacrifice himself for his family's honor the next second,
Lu Cheng couldn't help but chuckle... "He's truly an old actor."
"Such acting skills are wasted."
"Tell him he performed well."
"Next month, his company's real estate project in the south of the city."
"I've approved it."