Chapter 44: Taking Control of the Ma Family

Ma Tian regarded Chen Xian with extraordinary reverence, as if he were a deity. To him, a Grandmaster was nothing short of divine. Faced with Chen Xian’s questioning, he dared not hide a single detail, pouring out everything about the Ma family—the number of people in the clan, the tally of experts in the bright and dark force categories, their industries, and more.

Chen Xian listened, gaining a general understanding of the Ma family’s situation. There were one hundred and twenty bright force martial artists, and twenty dark force experts, among whom three had reached the pinnacle, with the rest at intermediate or advanced levels.

The Ma family’s income stemmed primarily from four sectors: casinos, real estate, entertainment, and manufacturing. The casino business was the largest, accounting for fifty percent of their revenue; real estate brought in thirty-five percent; entertainment five percent; and factories ten percent. Their annual expenditures for salaries, insurance, and benefits neared one billion, while their bank deposits totaled two billion. Investments in stocks and bonds amounted to three billion, with other assets tied up in property and equipment.

Having assimilated this information, Chen Xian looked at the trembling Ma Tian and thought to himself: This is a man who fears death and clings to life! Yet, such people have their merits—they are easy to control.

Chen Xian had originally intended to kill Ma Tian, but now, seeing his value, he changed his mind.

He said plainly, “I wish to take control of the Ma family. Are you willing to submit and serve me?”

Ma Tian, without a moment’s hesitation, dropped to his knees and declared, “I am willing to submit to Master Chen! I will serve you faithfully, to the best of my ability!”

“Very good. Stand up,” Chen Xian nodded, then swept his gaze over the dozen or so people standing dazed nearby. “Who are they?” he asked.

Ma Tian replied respectfully, “Master Chen, they are all direct descendants of the Ma family. Each holds shares and a position within the clan. They are important figures.”

“Who holds the largest share in the Ma family?” Chen Xian continued.

“Master Chen, it was the family’s matriarch. She held eighty percent of the shares. Her word was law in the family. But she has just passed away.”

Hearing this, Chen Xian said, “Then, now, I will take over those eighty percent shares.”

“It is only right!” Ma Tian hastily replied.

Chen Xian cast an indifferent glance at the rest of the Ma family members, then turned to the enchanting cat, “Little Mei, lift the spell from them.”

The cat’s big eyes flickered as she opened her pink mouth and let out a soft meow.

Instantly, the vacant expressions disappeared from the faces of the Ma family members, and they regained control over themselves.

“Are you willing to submit and serve me?” Chen Xian asked. Though his tone was calm, an overwhelming aura pressed down like Mount Tai.

The group trembled, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.

“You should thank Master Chen for sparing your lives!” Ma Tian quickly reminded them, raising his voice, “Serving Master Chen is a blessing earned over generations—what is there to hesitate about?”

Confronted with absolute power, the dozen direct descendants felt utterly powerless. They were martial artists, well aware of the terror that Grandmasters inspired. Such figures were treated with utmost respect even by the president of the Hualong Federation; there were only a few dozen Grandmasters in the entire federation. If a Grandmaster wished to destroy a small Ma family, not even the authorities could intervene—special treatment for extraordinary individuals.

They also understood that with Master Chen in charge, the Ma family would rapidly expand. On Blue Star, any family with a Grandmaster at its helm became a super clan, with assets reaching tens or even hundreds of billions.

One by one, they knelt and declared with utmost respect, “We are willing to serve Master Chen and obey your commands!”

“Those who know how to adapt are truly wise—very good,” Chen Xian smiled with satisfaction. Turning to Ma Tian, he said, “Call all other shareholders and have them come to the Ma Tower for a meeting by four o’clock this afternoon.”

“Yes, Master Chen!” Ma Tian responded respectfully.

“And have your lawyers come as well, to sign the share transfer documents,” Chen Xian added.

“Yes!” Ma Tian dared not utter a single complaint.

Afterward, Chen Xian retreated to an intact room, sitting cross-legged to quietly ponder the ‘Array Canon, Mortal Edition.’

By three-thirty in the afternoon, Ma Tian respectfully called from outside the door, “Master Chen, all shareholders are gathered and waiting for you in the conference room.”

Chen Xian opened his eyes, stood up, lifted the cat carved from black jade, and walked outside.

After hours of contemplation, he had mastered all the array formations detailed in the ‘Array Canon, Mortal Edition,’ including the methods for setting up small spirit-gathering arrays. Next, he needed only the materials and a suitable location to arrange the arrays.

Guided by Ma Tian, Chen Xian soon arrived at a luxurious, imposing office.

Inside, both sides of a long conference table were filled with people—old and young alike. Some had hair white as snow, while others were barely in their twenties. Only the head seat and the one immediately to its left remained vacant.

As Chen Xian entered, every eye turned to him, and the entire gathering rose to their feet. They were already aware that the matriarch had been devoured by a deity, that the deity had been slain by Master Chen, and that he was now taking charge of the Ma family.

Accompanied by Ma Tian, Chen Xian sat at the head of the table.

Ma Tian stood at the first seat to the left, his face bearing a faint smile. “Master Chen, may we begin the meeting?” he asked respectfully.

Chen Xian nodded.

Half an hour later, Chen Xian left the office. With Ma Tian accompanying him, he entered a black Rolls-Royce and drove through the rain toward the outskirts of M City.

Sitting in the back seat, Chen Xian cradled the cat, gently stroking its silky fur, his star-like eyes gazing out the window into the white haze beyond the rain. In just half an hour, he had obtained share transfer documents for eighty percent of the Ma family’s assets, signed by every core family member.

Chen Xian was now chairman and actual master of the Ma family. Of course, he would not personally handle its management. He immediately appointed Ma Tian and Ma He as managers—Ma He had previously overseen the real estate business.

Chen Xian had no fear of rebellion. Faced with absolute power, any traitor would meet their doom. If they dared defy him, he would crush them.

“Power truly is a wondrous thing,” Chen Xian sighed, reflecting on his recent experiences since obtaining the mysterious tree. Without its gift of strength, he would still be a humble ant, struggling at the bottom, laboring every day just to survive.

Now, he yearned for even greater power. He recalled a phrase he’d once seen: Power is a man’s lifelong pursuit!

This would become Chen Xian’s motto.

He was also gradually learning how to wield such power—by suppression, intimidation, or other means.

A slumbering dragon had awakened. If it did not soar, it would remain still; but once it took flight, it would astonish the world!

Several dozen minutes later, the Rolls-Royce reached the outskirts of M City, stopping atop a verdant hill before a traditional courtyard.

This courtyard had been the residence of the Ma family matriarch. Chen Xian had come because Ma Tian had told him that she had stored many treasures here.