The wedding was livestreamed by the sister, revealing his identity as a Taoist priest.

Jiangcheng, Genting Hotel.

The corridor outside the penthouse presidential suite was lined with bodyguards in black.

The atmosphere inside the suite was oppressive.

The twelve core members of the Song family sat on sofas and armchairs.

Some people were wearing suits, while others were still in performance costumes.

Song Changlin rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice tinged with anger.

"Changfeng, what on earth happened? I had to turn down more than a dozen dignitaries at the centennial symphony concert in Paris, chartered a plane overnight to rush back to China, and had to pay a penalty of 30 million yuan for breach of contract."

Song Qingping, sitting opposite her, snorted coldly.

"What's that? I was just one last judge in the Central Conservatory of Music's tenure assessment, and now it's all ruined. Aren't you going to try and stop me?"

Song Changfeng stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window without turning around.

"Shut up."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the high-ranking members of these aristocratic families who were used to being surrounded by entourages.

"Anyone who says another word will be removed from the family register."

As soon as he finished speaking, the rosewood door to the suite opened.

Butler Fu helped Zhou Xiuqing out.

The old lady changed into a navy blue formal suit, and her full head of silver hair was combed meticulously.

The Song family members, who had been discussing amongst themselves, all stood up straight.

No one dared to utter a sound.

Zhou Xiuqing walked to the center of the living room, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the group of Song family elites.

"Do you feel wronged?"

Zhou Xiuqing's cane thudded onto the carpet.

"Do you think the Song family, who are so powerful in Suzhou, will also be a powerful force in Jiangcheng?"

No one answered.

Song Qingping lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.

Zhou Xiuqing turned to look at Song Changfeng.

"Long Wind".

"Mother, I'm here."

Song Changfeng stepped forward.

"Prepare the visiting card."

Zhou Xiuqing speaks very fast and enunciates very heavily.

"Take the Song family's highest-ranking visiting card, open the storeroom, and bring the set of Ming Dynasty Hetian jade carvings that we stored in the Suzhou bank."

Song Changlin looked up, his face full of astonishment.

"Mother, Ming Dynasty jade carving is one of the core treasures of our Song family! Whom do you wish to pay homage to?"

"The Shen family, Shen Nianqing."

The entire audience was stunned.

Song Changfeng frowned.

"Mother, the Shen family is indeed the richest family in Jiangcheng, but they have focused on business in recent years. Our Song family has its own lineage in the classical Chinese music world. Are we going to pay respects to a merchant? And with the highest level of protocol?"

Zhou Xiuqing looked at her eldest son with cold eyes.

"The Shen family is not worthy."

She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently.

"But the man behind her is worthy, and the successor of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion sitting in her courtyard is worthy!"

Zhou Xiuqing pushed away Uncle Fu's hand and took two steps forward on her own.

"Remember this: tomorrow you're coming with me to the Shen family. Everyone, put away your spoiled young masters and ladies from Suzhou. When you see people, bow your heads and bend your knees."

Song Changlin gritted his teeth and spoke.

"Mother! The Song family has maintained a century-long reputation; why should we bow down to an outsider!"

"Bang!"

Zhou Xiuqing struck Song Changlin on the shin with her cane.

Song Changlin cried out in pain and knelt down on one knee on the carpet.

"The Song family's century-long tradition of eating well is all thanks to charity!"

Zhou Xiuqing's eyes were red as she pointed at her second son on the ground.

"Tomorrow we're going to the Shen family's place. Anyone who dares to put on airs, I'll break their legs!"

……

The study of the Qi family's old residence in Beijing.

Qi Zhen sat behind his desk.

The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts.

Two men were sitting on the leather sofa opposite them.

On the left is Wang Jianye, the third son of the Wang family, a logistics tycoon in Beijing.

On the right is Lin Peisheng, the second master of the Lin family, a leading figure in Beijing's medical device industry.

The study door was tightly closed.

"President Qi."

Wang Jianye picked up the teacup in front of him and blew away the foam.

"The Shen family has deep roots in Jiangcheng. It's quite risky for us to get involved and stir up this mess now."

Lin Peisheng leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs.

"Qi Zhen, let's not beat around the bush. Last night, the Shen family won over the Lu, He, and Zhou families in Jiangcheng. All three of your foreign trade lines have been cut off. You're not trying to take down the Shen family now; you're trying to save your life."

Qi Zhen stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

He looked up, his eyes bloodshot.

"What do you want?"

Wang Jianye and Lin Peisheng exchanged a glance.

"The Qi family owns thirty shipping ports overseas."

Wang Jianye held up three fingers.

"I want 30% of the shares."

"The twelve biopharmaceutical laboratories controlled by the Qi family."

Lin Peisheng took out a lighter and lit his cigar.

"I want to be thirty too."

Qi Zhen's fingers clenched tightly.

My fingernails dug into my palm, drawing blood.

With the sale of these 60% of the shares, the Qi family has fallen out of the ranks of top-tier families in the capital.

But he had no choice.

If the Shen family isn't killed, the He, Lu, and Zhou families will take all of his existing resources.

"it is good."

Qi Zhen uttered a single word.

Wang Jianye smiled.

Put down the teacup.

"Mr. Qi is very agreeable."

Lin Peisheng exhaled a smoke ring and stood up.

"Within half an hour, the funds and connections were all in place. He Hong, Lu Zhenting, and Zhou Deming, these three local bullies in Jiangcheng, won't survive past noon today."

Qi Zhen stood up and placed his hands on the desk.

"I want the Shen family bankrupt, and I want Shen Xingzhou to kneel before me."

"As you wish."

Jiangcheng, the top floor of the annex building of the Shen Group.

Inside the CEO's office.

Shen Xingzhou rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, and loosened his tie, which hung around his neck.

The red lights on the three landline phones on the table were flashing wildly.

He grabbed the leftmost one.

"Uncle Lu, I'm going to row."

On the phone, Lu Zhenting's voice no longer carried the composure of the previous night, but instead betrayed an unconcealable anxiety.

"Sail! The Wang family of the capital has made their move! I just received news that the Wang family has intercepted all my cargo ships at sea."

Shen Xingzhou's expression changed drastically.

"The Wang family? The Wang family from the logistics industry in Beijing?"

Before he could comfort Lu Zhenting, the landline in the middle was connected and put on speakerphone.

He Hong's voice boomed from the loudspeaker.

"Young Master Shen! Lin Peisheng has gone mad! The Lin family of Beijing is directly using cash flow to dump shares, causing my three listed companies to plummet to their daily limit at the opening! My pledged shares have been liquidated!"

Shen Xingzhou was breathing heavily, his back slumped against the leather chair.

Zhou Deming's call came through on his personal cell phone shortly afterward.

"Xingzhou, the Zhou family's overseas procurement channels have been cut off. The penalty for breach of contract amounts to 30 million a day. They can't hold on any longer."

Shen Xingzhou hung up all the phone calls.

He rubbed his cheeks vigorously with both hands.

"Qi Zhen sought outside help."

Assistant Xiao Zhou stood in front of the desk, holding a tablet computer, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

"President Shen, we just found out that Qi Zhen has transferred 60% of his core assets to the Wang and Lin families in Beijing. He's dragging them into a war of attrition that will destroy us all."

Shen Xingzhou grabbed the porcelain cup on the table and smashed it heavily on the ground.

Debris flew everywhere.

"Qi Zhen is a madman!"

Shen Xingzhou stood up and paced back and forth in his office.

Two major Beijing tycoons have joined the fray.

Their sheer size instantly overwhelmed the local forces in Jiangcheng.

This isn't about money; it's a dimensional downgrade attack.

The Lu, He, and Zhou families could hold out for no more than three days.

Once they fall, the Shen family will be lambs to the slaughter.

"Find someone! Find someone right now!"

Shen Xingzhou pointed at Xiao Zhou.

Xiao Zhou took a half step back repeatedly.

"President Shen, who should we contact? We've used all the connections we can in Jiangcheng last night, and now we're facing the Wang and Lin families in Beijing. Who in the country dares to take on this hot potato?"

P.S.: To celebrate reaching number one on the new book chart, I'm adding two extra chapters. Thank you all for your support! Please give me some small gifts and leave positive reviews. Thank you everyone! You can also click on the adaptation comments below. I'm looking forward to the manga adaptation!