Chapter 573 - 573: From Deception to Open Robbery

"Young Master Jiang."

He walked over, shaking his head. "The entire island is just the Cao Family's recreational facility," he sent via voice transmission. "There's nothing strange here."

Jiang Xinghai nodded and handed over the five Gathering Essence Pills in his palm. "Old Sun, take five more as a backup."

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang." Sun Zhen took the Gathering Essence Pills with trembling hands, struggling to contain his excitement.

He had thought that becoming Jiang Xinghai's servant would mean just being a hired thug.

Yet in less than half a day, he had already received ten Gathering Essence Pills!

Cao Shan and Zheng Wuji were once again dumbfounded.

To give ten of such precious pills—Gathering Essence Pills—to a mere servant!

Moreover, Sun Zhen's aura made both Cao Shan and Zheng Wuji feel immense pressure.

"General Zheng, you're not being sincere. I see no point in making friends with you."

Suddenly, Jiang Xinghai stood up, took Nightingale's arm, and turned to leave.

Sun Zhen silently guarded them on their flanks as they walked toward the shore.

"Father-in-law, are we just going to let them leave like this?"

Zheng Wuji shot to his feet as he watched the backs of Jiang Xinghai's trio fade into the distance.

"You think I don't want to keep them here?"

Cao Shan took a deep breath. "Someone who can casually produce so many Gathering Essence Pills must have an extraordinary background. Besides, he wants to learn the secret of Mirror Lake Manor from you. Search your heart—do you dare leak a top-secret order that came from above?"

"I..." In truth, Zheng Wuji didn't dare.

Revealing the secret of Mirror Lake Manor would be tantamount to ending his career.

"Actually, it wouldn't hurt to tell them. We can get our hands on the Gathering Essence Pills first, and then..." Zheng Wuji glanced sinisterly toward the shore. 'There's still time to make a move!'

Cao Shan stood up and said indifferently, "Putting the woman aside, can the two of us be certain of victory against Jiang Xinghai and his servant? If we can't, and they find their way to Mirror Lake Manor, you'll still be the one bearing the consequences."

After a moment of silence, Zheng Wuji said, "Then we'll just tell them false information."

"Wuji, you're usually so clever, but you're being foolish now."

Cao Shan walked toward the shore with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Whether the information you give him is true or false, you'll have already broken the War Department's top-secret protocol, wouldn't you?"

Zheng Wuji was once again speechless.

"Follow me."

Cao Shan suddenly rushed towards the shore with great speed. "My Cui Mountain Island isn't a place people can come and go as they please. Since they're here, they should at least leave something behind."

"Understood!"

Zheng Wuji quickly chased after him.

He couldn't cross the line, but his father-in-law could!

Even if they couldn't keep the three of them, they could at least rob them of something!

「On the shore of Cui Mountain Island.」

"Master, if we joined forces, we could have won completely. Why did we leave?" Sun Zhen finally voiced the doubt in his heart.

Jiang Xinghai just smiled and said nothing.

Nightingale chuckled. "Elder Sun, Xinghai was just following my advice. Zheng Wuji is the General of the Eastern Territory, after all. It's not convenient for Xinghai to take action against him. It would have been difficult for you alone. Besides, things will be much easier once Sister Man gets here tomorrow."

"This old servant understands." Sun Zhen nodded, his doubts resolved.

"However, you can have a go at that Cao Shan first."

Jiang Xinghai stepped onto the yacht with Nightingale and looked toward Cui Mountain Island. Cao Shan and Zheng Wuji were rushing over.

Sun Zhen turned to look, steeling himself for battle.

"Master, if that Zheng Wuji attacks you, this old servant should..." Sun Zhen asked again.

"If he attacks me first, then things will be simple. Cripple one of his arms, at least." Jiang Xinghai gave a cold smile.

He'd thought he would get the location of Mirror Lake Manor today. The outcome was deeply disappointing.

Still, he had already waited five years. He didn't mind waiting one more day.

"Young Master Jiang, why not leave a Gathering Essence Pill behind for this old man to appraise?"

Cao Shan's movements were as smooth as flowing clouds and water. He left a trail of afterimages, appearing in an instant.

"Your opponent is me!"

Sun Zhen leaped forward. "When trickery fails, you resort to open robbery. I never thought the Cao Family of Shanghai would be a bunch of cowardly rats!"

"You're exactly who I was looking for!" Cao Shan didn't deny it. This was the very reason he had pursued them.

At the very least, he had to gauge the strength of the expert at Jiang Xinghai's side.

"Fist Shadow Splitting the Sky!"

In mid-air, Sun Zhen's fists crackled. A barrage of fist shadows, wreathed in black energy, shot toward Cao Shan like phantoms.

Seeing this, Cao Shan's eyes revealed an uncontrollable killing intent. He raised his fist and roared, "Vibration Wave!"

A massive surge of energy gathered within him, instantly transforming into a howling energy wave that blasted violently toward Sun Zhen.

The two immense energies collided in the air.

A violent shockwave carrying a ferocious torrent of air swept across the entire beach, kicking up clouds of dust.

When the dust settled, the two faced each other again.

The sheer power of their confrontation was a testament to their martial pride and indomitable wills.

Suddenly, both men retreated rapidly. They had fought to a stalemate!

A corner of Cao Shan's mouth curled into a sneer. "You're at the Great Perfection of the late-stage Celestial Destiny Realm, same as me, yet you've become someone else's servant. How disgraceful!"