Chapter 394: Chapter 393: Celebrity List
Korea, Seoul.
Overnight, a tragic and severe change occurred within the Li Family, the top chaebol family in Korea.
The bodies of brothers Li Zhongze and Li Zhongkai, who had long held the major lifelines of the Li Family, were found exposed on the street.
Besides them, all the family members and loyal subordinates within the Li Family’s Financial Group who supported them were either killed or mysteriously disappeared.
Ultimately, by the end of that night, the only surviving members of the direct lineage of the Li Family’s aristocracy were the paralyzed and bedridden Clan Leader Li Hancheng, who was kept alive by high-tech means, and his youngest daughter, Li Xuanyu.
Inside the grand villa where Li Hancheng was convalescing and clinging to life, Li Xuanyu sat by her father’s side, her clothes stained with blood.
"Clearing them out met with significant resistance. Whether Li Zhongze or Li Zhongkai, they were merely pawns at the mercy of others. The entire Li Family’s Financial Group, from the inside out, from the top to the bottom, had been infiltrated by spies and secret agents. Our control over the financial group was practically in name only."
Li Xuanyu, looking at her father who had regained consciousness, began to recount the events of the day.
Li Hancheng, an influential magnate of his generation, had retreated to this villa to recuperate and extend his life due to old age, thus gradually losing control over the vast family conglomerate. However, in his heart, as long as his children and grandchildren inherited the great family business, he had no regrets.
At this moment, upon hearing his daughter’s recount, his lips trembled, and he managed to utter a weak and indistinct voice through the technological device: "What about... their children?"
Li Xuanyu replied, "Alive. I will give them a sum of money and send them overseas. As long as they live their lives honestly, they will enjoy eternal peace."
Li Hancheng looked at his youngest daughter before him, with a trace of relief appearing on his aged face.
He had long known that the issue of succession within the family would provoke infighting once he fell.
Just a month ago the mother of this youngest daughter had died, and she herself had been ousted from the family by several older brothers and sisters, her whereabouts unknown. Back then, he felt somewhat sad.
He hadn’t expected his daughter to return so quickly, and with thunderous and bloody methods, she had cleared away all obstacles and suddenly seized control over the entire family conglomerate.
With such temperament and capability, she indeed qualified to inherit the vast empire he had built.
"Although you have inherited this vast wealth... But to many, our Li Family’s Financial Group is a piece of succulent meat. It will be very... very hard for you to hold on to this legacy..." Li Hancheng did not grieve or struggle over the deaths of his sons and daughters; he could not change anything now. His only concerns were for his youngest daughter before him or whether she could protect the empire he had established.
He was well aware that the family had long been penetrated by external powers, but he was powerless to stop it. Now that his youngest daughter had taken control of the family with an iron hand, perhaps she could change the family’s destiny of being devoured.
"I will do my best to protect everything of the Li Family, and I assure you, the person who inherits the family in the future can only be your direct descendant," Li Xuanyu said with determination.
A smile appeared on Li Hancheng’s face, even his eyes gleaming with mirth and contentment. He struggled to say, "The Jin Family is also a major threat."
A cold light flashed in Li Xuanyu’s eyes: "Soon, Korea will only have one chaebol family, and that will be our Li Family’s Financial Group."
"Ha... Haha... Good... Good... Good..."
Li Hancheng watched Li Xuanyu and laughed heartily. As he laughed, the sound ceased, and the various medical devices beside his bed began to emit alarm sounds.
The influential magnate of Korea thus fell.
...
Within a mere few days, two sensational events shocked the international stage.
The news of the Korean chaebol family was the talk of the town, becoming a hot search topic globally.
However, in contrast to the tremendous internal upheaval of the Li Family’s Financial Group, for the true elites around the world, the bloody incident faced by the Overseas Sun Family was of far greater concern.
The Underworld Forum worldwide put up a tag.
The Overseas Sun Family was powerful, with heritage tracing back to the old Divine Continent Country. Clan Leader Sun Luting was repeatedly listed among the most famous names overseas and had stayed in the seventh position on the Divine List for ten years.
Such a formidable family was attacked overnight, with Clan Leader Sun Luting decapitated, multiple masters within the family killed, and a total of thirty-one people dead. There were no survivors from the Sun Family who witnessed the assailant that day.
No one knew which force was behind the attack on the Sun Family, but as people speculated about the identity of the perpetrator, a post appeared on the Underworld Forum.
"The Sun Family willingly became Sky Net’s hound, participating in the encirclement and suppression of ’International Madman’ two years ago. Today, ’International Madman’ has come to collect the blood debt. This is only the beginning. The surviving members of ’International Madman’ will be relentless against the Sky Net Organization!"
Upon this announcement, the global underworld was abuzz.
The topic of ’International Madman,’ who had burst onto the scene only to vanish two years prior, was once again dredged up in heated online discussions.
"It was the work of the International Madman!"
"Ever since they kidnapped Zhang Yunlong in Divine Continent Country last time, the International Madman has finally made a move again."
"Is this a return to the Martial Arts World?"
"@Boss Tang, have you already returned to the Martial Arts World?"
"Boss Tang is mighty, waiting for the International Madman to create more glories!"
"Brothers, the Celebrity Ranking has been refreshed; Sun Luting is out, and Boss Tang has entered the top three."
"Damn, it really got refreshed, Boss Tang is so fierce. In less than ten years since his debut, he has leaped into the top ten of the Divine List with his outstanding record, and now he’s listed in the top three; I can only say awesome!"
"Awesome +1"
"Awesome +2"
"Awesome +10086"
"It’s rumored that Boss Tang is very young, not even thirty years old; in his lifetime, can he step into the legendary Divine List?"
Since its inception, there has always been a Celebrity Ranking on the global Underworld Forum.
No one knows who created this Celebrity Ranking; it has existed since the Forum appeared, and over the years, the Ranking’s credibility has proven to be very strong and reliable.
The Celebrity Ranking is divided into the Divine List, the Sky List, and the Earth List.
The Earth List has three hundred names, the Sky List a hundred, and the Divine List ten.
Those who are on the Celebrity Ranking have extraordinary achievements and records in their respective fields in the Underworld.
The celebrities on the Earth List may include major drug lords, arms dealers, and various leaders among both lawful and unlawful societies. Their personal combat powers might not be the strongest, but they all wield substantial power.
The figures on the Sky List are those whose combat power is recognized as formidable. Especially the top ten on the Sky List, who are all world-renowned powerhouses.
Five years ago, the International Madman burst onto the scene, and in just three years, all its members entered the Sky List.
Boss Tang was even ranked eleventh on the Sky List.
Two years ago, the International Madman faced an encirclement. Although they disappeared after that battle, the performance of Madman King Tang in that fight shocked the Underworld, propelling his ranking to eighth on the Sky List.
Now, due to Sun Luting’s death, his ranking has directly squeezed into the top three.
Sun Luting was a strong figure in the top ten of the Sky List, and the Sun Family’s power was not weak. With the Sun Family suffering such a catastrophe, everyone believed it was Madman King Tang’s return to the Martial Arts World and his personal action that led to Sun Luting’s death. As a result, the Sky List was refreshed, and Boss Tang entered the top three ranks.
On a plane flying to Divine Continent Country, in a luxurious cabin, Yang Fei and Wang Lei each sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation.
The two were utterly unaware of the storm on the Underworld Forum, and even if they knew, they wouldn’t care.
Thirteen hours later, the plane landed successfully at Binhai International Airport.
"Brother Lei, I’ll leave the next steps to you."
Yang Fei hopped off the plane and spoke to Wang Lei, who was still sitting on the plane.
Wang Lei didn’t even lift his eyelids but waved his hand.
Yang Fei laughed, turned, and walked away.
No sooner had he stepped out of the airport than Qin Yanyang’s call came through.
"Husband, you’re back, aren’t you?" Qin Yanyang’s voice entered his ears.
Yang Fei heard her tone and smiled bitterly.
He couldn’t hide it after all.