The downfall of Jin Chunfeng created a significant market gap for Le City.
Although his enterprises were largely underground, making direct annexation by the Han family impossible, Han Kang, with his business acumen, would not easily let such a prime opportunity for expansion slip away.
To this end, he had already discussed a plan with Cao Xuerong and Wang Fang, intending to seize this chance to greatly expand the Han family's ventures.
After several days of diligent work, the Han, Cao, and Tang families completely carved up most of Jin Chunfeng's assets.
The Han family, in particular, used this opportunity to soar to new heights, becoming the fifth true major power in Le City!
With newfound wealth, Han Lang naturally showed no restraint.
He immediately increased investment, sparing no effort to compete with the Wang family's real estate industry.
The market turmoil sent Wang Shan into a panic.
Jin Chunfeng's arrest had already made him deeply worried; now, coupled with the Han family's competition, he felt overwhelmed by internal and external threats.
One day,
He secretly went to his base and anxiously sought out Dr. Sim.
"Doctor! Your research progress might need to be accelerated. Jin Chunfeng has fallen, and my Wang family may be in peril from now on!"
Dr. Sim looked perplexed.
"Hmm? What is it? Has the Special Investigation Bureau started suspecting you? Or have you been exposed?"
"Not at all!" Wang Shan quickly explained. "It's just that the market impact makes me feel like I'm struggling alone! Moreover, with Jin Chunfeng's arrest, I have no idea if the Special Investigation Bureau might find any clues from him!"
Upon hearing this, Dr. Sim fell into deep thought.
"The research and modification of psychics are currently in the most critical stage. At this juncture, any misstep is unacceptable!"
Then, he changed the subject and asked,
"Mr. Wang, do you think Mr. Jin can still be trusted now?"
Wang Shan was taken aback.
This was a question he truly hadn't considered.
Jin Chunfeng was not Gou Feng; in a sense, he was indeed more reliable than Gou Feng.
But in their current predicament, he had, after all, become a prisoner!
What if he couldn't withstand severe interrogation and let something slip? It wasn't entirely impossible.
Thinking this, he quickly replied with a frown,
"It's hard to say. I have no idea about Jin Chunfeng's current condition!"
Dr. Sim nodded and replied with a hint of meaning,
"In that case, Mr. Wang, there is only one type of person in this world who will not leak secrets!"
Seeing Dr. Sim's resolute gaze, Wang Shan instantly understood his meaning.
"Alright. Doctor, I understand. I will have the butler keep an eye on Jin Chunfeng. If there's an opportunity, we can have Mr. Sasu make a trip then. However, no matter what, we must also prepare ourselves. That Han kid's strength has improved greatly; if he's not eliminated, he will always be a threat!"
Dr. Sim could only sigh deeply at this.
"Alas! Even if I find a way to create a few mutated D-class psychics now, they wouldn't be able to deal with them, would they? Mr. Wang, please be patient. Once my data makes a breakthrough, I will find a way to eliminate this major threat for you, even at the risk of exposure!"
Wang Shan nodded helplessly. "We can only do so!"
After leaving the base,
Wang Shan worriedly took out an old mobile phone from his pocket, turned it on, found the single phone number in his contacts, and dialed it.
"Hello!" A deep male voice answered from the other end.
"Hey, boss. I'm facing some threats here. Can you spare some time to assist me?"
The person on the other end sounded surprised.
"Threats? Aren't you already one of Le City's four major families? How could you still be threatened? Has the Tang family discovered something?"
Wang Shan quickly shook his head.
"No, no, it's not the Tang family! A dark horse has emerged in Le City recently. In less than a year, they've risen from a second-tier family to the fifth major power. And they have a grudge against me. They are now targeting me with all their might! Moreover, they are cultivators!"
"Hmm?" The voice on the other end sounded puzzled.
"Besides the Tang family, Le City shouldn't have any other notable cultivators, right? Could it be rogue cultivators?"
Wang Shan nodded. "It should be. At least I can confirm it's not someone from the Tang family. However, he's also quite close to Tang Haoran. I just don't know if he knows the inside story."
"Hmph!" The voice on the other end let out a cold laugh upon hearing this.
"This is interesting! In a small city like Le City, there are rogue cultivators who have managed to develop to this extent between my Zhao family and the Tang family! Didn't you have Jin Chunfeng send Liu Jian to deal with them?"
Wang Shan hesitated, then said.
"I did! Jin Chunfeng... has been taken down by the Le City police."
Wang Shan did not mention anything about Jin Chunfeng's psychic base.
The voice on the other end exclaimed in surprise, "Taken down? How did that happen so suddenly?"
"I don't know!" Wang Shan said, shaking his head, though the other party couldn't see him. "The Le City police have been watching him, so they probably gathered enough evidence!"
The voice on the other end then asked, "What about Liu Jian? Why haven't I heard him report to me?"
"Mr. Liu Jian..." Wang Shan paused, then said, "has perished! It was done by that newly rising family!"
"Damn it!" The voice on the other end immediately swore. "A mere rogue cultivator dares to touch someone from my Zhao family! What is his cultivation level? How could he be stronger than Liu Jian? Is it because the Tang family interfered?"
Wang Shan shook his head again. "The Tang family was not involved. And as far as I know, that person is a cultivator whose strength has already broken through the Foundation Establishment stage!"
"Foundation Establishment stage?" The voice on the other end was stunned. "Are you kidding me? A mere rogue cultivator can reach Foundation Establishment?"
Wang Shan repeatedly affirmed, "Yes! Although I don't know how he managed it. But Mr. Liu Jian had already broken through to the middle stage of the martial artist realm a while ago, yet... he still couldn't defeat him."
Silence!
A long period of silence!
After a long while, a faint sentence came from the other end of the line.
"Is there any possibility of recruiting him?"
Wang Shan gave a self-deprecating smile. "I certainly can't. He has a grudge against me! As for if you were to personally intervene, that's another matter. After all, he might not be able to resist the temptation of an immortal cultivation family, right?"
The voice on the other end pondered for a moment, then said.
"Forget it! A mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator is nothing to my Zhao family! Besides, didn't you say he's already close to the Tang family? It's likely the Tang family has already made their move."
Wang Shan did not answer directly but asked again, "Then what should I do next?"
The voice on the other end thought for a moment. "I can't help you for now. The Tang family in the provincial capital has been making some moves, and we can't spare our hands. However, as long as you have a way, go ahead boldly! If anything happens, my Zhao family will cover for you!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Shan should have been delighted, but he hesitated.
Just as he was about to say something, the voice on the phone spoke again.
"Don't worry! I'll send you another person at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. When the opportunity arises, remember to cut the grass and remove the roots!"
Hearing this, Wang Shan finally beamed with joy.
"Okay, okay! Thank you, boss!"