Chapter 96: Chu Tian's Purpose Has Been Achieved

"Master, ever since you saved the Wei family before, the Wei elder has ordered the entire clan to heed your every command at all times."

"The Wei family submitting to you is exactly what the Wei elder desires!"

Wang Jiulong’s gaze was firm, his tone growing grave.

Chu Tian nodded. He finally understood why Wang Jiulong had dared to promise this on behalf of Wei Yuansheng.

Yet this was not the reason he had deliberately raised the demand for the Wei family to submit in public earlier. He had already known that whether he asked or not, the Wei family would submit.

"Good. In the future, if the Wei family faces any trouble, I can handle it for them."

Chu Tian chuckled softly. Whether it was for Wei Qingqiu’s sake or because the Wei family had submitted, he would certainly take action to protect them.

Upon hearing this, the assembled tycoons exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes gleaming with fervent longing.

They wished to curry favor with Chu Tian for protection, but they did not know how.

Now Chu Tian had offered it freely: submit and obey, and they would immediately gain his protection.

Securing the safeguard of a Martial Venerable was like adding another Martial Venerable benefactor to their families—something countless houses could scarcely dare to dream of!

With Chu Tian’s protection, they would no longer need to fear coercion from others, and their businesses would surely climb to greater heights.

"Mr. Chu, the Li family from Suzhou and Hangzhou is willing to submit to you. I hope Mr. Chu will protect the Li family in the future!"

At that moment, among the dozen or so business magnates, one stepped forward and knelt directly before Chu Tian.

Su Dingguo was startled. He recognized the man as the richest tycoon of Suzhou and Hangzhou—Li Jiahang.

Before Chu Tian could reply, the other tycoons quickly understood.

Since the Li family head had submitted to Chu Tian, why should they not?

"Mr. Chu, the Zhou family from Yangzhou is likewise willing to submit to you. I hope Mr. Chu will protect the Zhou family in the future!"

Zhou Rengui bowed low, without the slightest trace of the richest man in the city’s arrogance.

"Mr. Chu, the Deng family from Songjiang is also willing to submit to you. I hope Mr. Chu will protect the Deng family in the future!"

Deng Yuan hai did the same; hearing no answer from Chu Tian, he did not even dare to rise.

In an instant, more than a dozen tycoons spoke up, each swearing loyalty to Chu Tian.

Although Chu Tian was only an eighteen-year-old youth, he was a Martial Venerable. His future accomplishments in martial dao were boundless, and he might even have the chance to challenge the legendary Martial Saint realm.

By submitting to Chu Tian now, their families would gain enormous benefits later on!

"Good, I accept your loyalty!"

"But since you have submitted to me, you must never waver again. If anyone dares to do anything detrimental behind my back, I will not show mercy."

Chu Tian swept his gaze across the crowd, resting on every face.

The forces of the Dark God Hall were vast, yet they had always remained hidden in shadow. In the open world, Chu Tian had not yet built his own power base.

Now the submission of the richest men from every city in Jiangnan gave him precisely the opening he sought.

The reason he had deliberately proposed the Wei family submit in public and then offer protection for them was exactly this.

"Mr. Chu, we would never dare betray you!"

"If anyone dares betray you, even without your personal intervention, we will eliminate the traitors for you!"

The crowd swore loyalty one after another. Having witnessed Chu Tian’s martial dao strength, how could they possibly harbor betrayal?

Chu Tian gave no reply.

He would not easily trust outsiders, yet he also knew that after seeing his power, these men would never dare betray him lightly.

At this moment, Li Jiahang opened his mouth, hesitating as if he wished to speak but could not.

"Say what you wish."

Chu Tian sensed Li Jiahang’s intention and asked directly.

"Mr. Chu, to be frank, I do not know whether you have heard of the North-South rivalry."

Li Jiahang chose his words carefully, a solemn look crossing his face.

North-South rivalry?

Chu Tian frowned. He had heard of this dispute between north and south from his previous life, but had never witnessed it.

In truth, the so-called North-South rivalry was nothing but the struggle between Jiangnan and Jiangbei!

The tycoons present at today’s auction were all wealthy men from Jiangnan, forming tight circles among themselves.

Similarly, Jiangbei possessed its own circles of commercial overlords.

Separated only by one river, Jiangnan and Jiangbei had long been divided into two distinct spheres of influence.

Between these two forces, commercial conflicts were inevitable.

Many could not be resolved in the marketplace and could only be settled by force.

Thus Jiangnan and Jiangbei waged endless war. They dispatched their guards into battle and spent enormous sums to hire expert fighters.

Thirty years ago, Jiangbei had invited a Martial Venerable to intervene, ultimately overpowering the Jiangnan families and forcing them to cede vast interests.

Tracing the timeline, that conflict was the enmity of an entire previous generation—the grudges left by the elders of those present!

Since then, Jiangnan and Jiangbei had established a pact: they would wage war every decade.

The victor would become the new overlord, with the right to arbitrate disputes between the two regions.

Ten years later they would fight again, choose a new overlord, and repeat the cycle.

Yet Jiangnan had always been weak and refined. Even in the martial dao world of Jiangnan, it was suppressed by Jiangbei.

Over the years, Jiangnan had lost more than it won.

But that was the past.

"Mr. Chu, I truly wish to invite you to intervene and fight for us against Jiangbei."

Chu Tian pondered for a moment, understanding Li Jiahang’s meaning.

"Mr. Chu, that is my intention. What do you think?"

Li Jiahang’s gaze burned, leaving no doubt.

Everyone present turned toward Chu Tian.

Though they spoke no words, the meaning in their eyes was unmistakable.

They shared Li Jiahang’s wish: they hoped Chu Tian would take action to assist.

They had witnessed Chu Tian’s strength with their own eyes. Inviting him to fight would surely bring glory to Jiangnan and secure many interests for their families.

Moreover, Chu Tian was from Jiangnan himself, a native of the province. Emotionally and reasonably, he should contribute.

Chu Tian grasped their intent but hesitated to reply, drawing fresh impatience from the crowd.

"Mr. Chu, if you are willing to step in, we will never lose to Jiangbei again."

"This matter concerns not only our interests but also the face of Jiangnan. Mr. Chu, you cannot turn a blind eye."

"Jiangbei has grown increasingly arrogant in recent years, repeatedly crossing into Jiangnan. If we do not teach them a lesson, sooner or later the entire province will be swallowed by them."

"We, the wealthy men of Jiangnan, kneel before you, Mr. Chu."

All the Jiangnan tycoons present knelt before the young man before them.