**: Stealing Arrays and Pilfering Power**

Author: Gu Zhenren

A great fire raged fiercely before Sun Lingtong, thick smoke billowing into the sky.

The sounds of battle cries also rose.

The man with slanted eyes and the man with a hooked nose found themselves under siege.

These were the many subordinates of Sun Lingtong that Ning Zhuo had contacted and rallied before launching his move.

"Lord Qi Bai!"

"He's a genuine Golden Core cultivator; how could an explosion like this kill him? We should worry more about ourselves."

"Where has Han Ming gone?"

"Not long ago, the traps we left in the underground prison were triggered. She went to investigate covertly."

"Damn it! The timing can't be this coincidental. This is the enemy turning our own plan against us, successfully dividing our forces!"

The man with slanted eyes and the man with a hooked nose communicated via sound transmission, seeing through Ning Zhuo's method, but it was already too late.

They were heavily surrounded, locked in a bitter struggle.

"Interesting, very interesting." Qi Bai walked out leisurely from the roaring flames.

The violent explosion moments ago hadn't harmed him in the slightest.

A faint golden glow constantly enveloped him, ensuring his safety.

Qi Bai's face was dark, his gaze fixed tightly on the Childlike Guest: "You actually dared to come and rescue him?"

"At your age, shouldn't you know the gap between Golden Core and Foundation Establishment?"

"Hmph, a mere peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. Are you here to save someone? Or are you here to die?"

At this point, Qi Bai's gaze fell upon the unconscious Sun Lingtong, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"However, I can somewhat understand you now."

Qi Bai revealed a cruel smile, like a venomous snake in the shadows flicking its tongue: "This also makes me anticipate even more the wonderful moment when I destroy both of you."

"I will dismember you piece by piece right before his eyes, hehehe, hahaha!"

Qi Bai laughed heartily, his laughter wildly arrogant.

Amid the laughter, the surrounding crimson flames suddenly shifted, transforming into a ghastly, cold, emerald-green flame.

Ghost fire!

He pointed a finger.

The ghost fire condensed into a pack of wolves, charging towards the Childlike Guest.

Several strands of the Childlike Guest's black, rope-like hair separated, binding Sun Lingtong as he swiftly retreated with him.

While retreating, mechanical Thunder-Silent Birds continuously flew out from beneath the Childlike Guest's cloak.

The Thunder-Silent Birds crashed into the pack of ghostly wolves, occasionally exploding with thunder, shattering the spectral wolves.

Qi Bai's figure soared, shooting towards the Childlike Guest.

But the next moment, the Immortal City's grand array activated, countless array patterns condensing in mid-air like a cage, blocking Qi Bai's attack path.

"Golden Core from the Soul-Devouring Sect, deal with the grand array first before coming for me." The Childlike Guest sneered, disappearing with Sun Lingtong into the shadows of the alleyways.

"Interesting!" Qi Bai looked at the array patterns surrounding him, which showed a tendency to constrict, but he remained composed and calm, not a trace of nervousness on his face.

The Childlike Guest, carrying Sun Lingtong, leaped a few times, crossing two or three streets, then ducked into a sewer.

A teleportation array activated, and they soon arrived at an underground base.

Of course, this wasn't the base where Han Ming had been held before.

After some emergency treatment, Sun Lingtong still hadn't woken up.

Not only that, but the flame of his life was gradually fading.

His injuries were too severe!

A pill was placed into Sun Lingtong's mouth, quickly dissolving with the help of spiritual power.

Late Autumn Life-Preserving Pill!

This pill was originally given by Zhu Xuanji to Yuan Er, intended to save Yuan Dasheng's life.

After passing through several hands, it ultimately ended up with Ning Zhuo.

As expected of something produced by a member of the royal family, the efficacy was excellent.

With the use of the Late Autumn Life-Preserving Pill, Sun Lingtong's life force was stabilized for the time being.

But before Ning Zhuo could breathe a sigh of relief, an immense pressure bore down.

Then the earth trembled, and a figure pierced through nearly ten zhang of ground, killing its way into this underground base.

Blind Judge Qi Bai's spiritual sense quickly swept over the area.

"Where do you think you're escaping to?"

"I planted a unique mark on Sun Lingtong's body…"

"Hehehe, Childlike Guest, unless you abandon him, you might live. Otherwise, you will undoubtedly die!"

The Childlike Guest's voice was hoarse, filled with hatred and anger: "You certainly have a lot of nonsense to say!"

The next moment, the grand array's patterns rose again, tightly encircling Qi Bai.

"This trick again?" Qi Bai snorted coldly, his expression disdainful.

But then, the array patterns blazed with brilliant light, pressing down on Qi Bai until blood flowed from his nose, ears, and eyes.

The Childlike Guest sneered: "At the stronghold above ground, to prevent exposure and implicating Boss Sun, we deliberately held back."

"But here, deep underground, even if discovered, it can't be linked back to Boss Sun, so we can go all out."

"Enjoy it, Qi Bai!"

The array patterns blazed with light, fiercely eroding the defenses around Qi Bai.

"Damn it!" Qi Bai clenched his lips, sweeping aside his previous arrogance, focusing all his strength to resist the Immortal City's grand array.

***Time rewinds to several years earlier.***

In the underground base.

"Xiao Zhuo, your mother was quite impressive as a mechanical cultivator," Sun Lingtong remarked, looking around the underground base.

While practicing his mechanical arts, Ning Zhuo had accidentally uncovered a map hidden within an underground workshop.

Following the map, they traversed a section of sewer and finally arrived at the underground base.

"Your mother was very thoughtful."

"She specifically hid this mechanical map, ensuring it could only be opened when your mechanical arts reached a certain standard."

"This place really isn't very secure!" Sun Lingtong evaluated.

"I understand," Ning Zhuo nodded. "Inside and outside Huoshi Mountain, there's the Immortal City's grand array. Creating a secret space underground in the city is very difficult."

"If you touch any of the array's patterns, you'll be discovered."

"I'm actually quite surprised this base has remained hidden for so many years."

Sun Lingtong chuckled: "I get it now."

Ning Zhuo: "What?"

Sun Lingtong: "Normally, the Immortal City's grand array is redesigned and redeployed periodically. Although the cost is high, it ensures the array's reliability, preventing enemies with ill intentions from probing its secrets over time and paralyzing it at a critical moment."

"The situation in Huoshi Immortal City might be special, perhaps related to the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, which has prevented the grand array from being adjusted."

"Or perhaps, a certain city lord was corrupt and didn't properly carry out the task of modifying the grand array."

"Then again, Huoshi Immortal City is located deep within the Southern Bean Immortal Kingdom. Even if a war between kingdoms breaks out, it wouldn't reach here immediately."

"Maybe successive city lords thought: by the time the flames of war reach here, there would be plenty of time to adjust the array."

Ning Zhuo's eyes suddenly lit up: "So that means we can definitely set up several more underground bases like this."

"We've just established our gang; we need to do business to cover expenses."

"We can use the underground bases as transfer points for smuggling operations. They can also serve as warehouses for our goods."

Sun Lingtong clapped his hands in admiration: "Brilliant! This way, only we can raid other factions' warehouses; they can't find ours!"

"However, if this place is found, it can't hold out for long. The defenses are too weak."

They couldn't add defensive formations to the underground base.

Because the operation of any formation would interfere with the Immortal City's grand array. The City Lord's estate would get clues from that and eventually track their way here.

Sun Lingtong stroked his chin: "Later, I'll set up some Empty Gate talismans to minimize the presence of this place as much as possible."

"Once I reach peak Foundation Establishment, I can barely use the magic treasure my master left me to set up some array patterns here."

"These patterns can form a weak connection with the Immortal City's grand array. In the future, even if the grand array detects it, it will mistake it for part of itself."

Ning Zhuo stared, very surprised: "That powerful?"

Sun Lingtong smiled proudly: "Our Empty Gate's research into formations runs deep. Because in this world, the most valuable treasures are almost always protected by layers of formations."

"My method is called 'Stealing Arrays and Pilfering Power'."

"In the future, when we have our own gang headquarters, I'll use this method there. We can siphon a lot of spiritual power from the Immortal City's grand array while paying very little in fees."

***During the process of taking control of the black market and eliminating opposition.***

The two, leading their subordinates, heavily surrounded the enemy gang's headquarters.

"Xiao Zhuo, confident?" Sun Lingtong transmitted.

"Boss Sun, just watch," Ning Zhuo was very confident.

He waved his hand, and mechanical carts charged forward. Each cart was loaded with explosives.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The enemy gang activated their defensive formation. The explosion didn't kill a single person.

The enemy gang members laughed mockingly.

But Ning Zhuo just stood watching, arms crossed, counting down clearly: "Three... two... one!"

As he reached "one", the enemy's defensive formation suddenly collapsed. The gang leaders maintaining the formation all suffered backlash, either severely injured or dead.

Sun Lingtong cheered loudly, transmitting curiously: "Xiao Zhuo, how did you do that?"

Ning Zhuo said: "It's simple. Boss Sun, didn't you teach me the method of 'Stealing Arrays and Pilfering Power'?"

Sun Lingtong grew even more curious: "But, restricted by my sect's rules, I never taught you the related spells or talismans."

Ning Zhuo shrugged: "It's simple. You told me the underlying principles, and I used other means to achieve the same effect."

"How's the practical result?"

Ning Zhuo looked inquiringly at Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong's expression was calm, nodding slightly: "Hmm, passable."

***Finally, they became the rulers of the black market.***

Sun Lingtong looked pale: "Xiao Zhuo, was it really necessary to secretly bury so many explosives under my residence?"

But Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Boss, it's very necessary. We must be cautious, humble, and prepare for any possible adverse situation."

"For example, if a cultivator far superior to us comes causing trouble."

"We won't even consider Core Formation or higher experts; the gap is too vast."

"But for Golden Core cultivators, we can make an effort."

"That Fei Si is sinister and ruthless, not a good person. Maybe one day he'll personally take action to wipe out our black market势力?"

"We need to be fully prepared!"

Sun Lingtong could only nod helplessly: "If a Golden Core comes, can't we just run?"

"Ah, whatever."

"Making more preparations is always good."

(End of )