A great fire zed before Sun Lingtong, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.


    The sound of killing and shouting also erupted.


    Triangr Eyes and Hooked Nose were under siege.


    These were the many subordinates of Sun Lingtong that Ning Zhuo had contacted beforeunching his attack.


    "Lord Qi Bai!"


    "He''s a dignified Golden Core; how could such an explosion kill him? We should worry more about ourselves."


    "Where did Han Ming go?"


    "Not long ago, the arrangements we made in the underground prison were triggered, and she went to investigate secretly."


    "Damn it! The timing couldn''t be more coincidental. The enemy used our setup to divide our forces!"Triangr Eyes and Hooked Nosemunicated telepathically, seeing through Ning Zhuo''s method, but it was already toote.


    They were heavily surrounded, trapped in a bitter battle.


    "Interesting, very interesting."


    From the zing mes, Qi Bai calmly walked out.


    The violent explosion just now hadn''t harmed him in the slightest.


    A faint golden light always shrouded him, protecting himpletely.


    Qi Bai''s face was gloomy, his gaze locking tightly onto the young puppet master.


    "You actually came to save him?"


    "You''re so old; you should understand the gap between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stage."


    "Heh, just a mere Foundation Establishment peak. Are you here to save him, or to send yourself to death?"


    As he spoke, Qi Bai''s gaze fell on the unconscious Sun Lingtong, and his eyes showed aplicated emotion.


    "However, I can somewhat understand you."


    Qi Bai revealed a cruel smile, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue in the shadows.


    "This makes me even more eager to destroy your beautiful moment."


    "I''ll dismember you right in front of him, hahaha!"


    Qi Baiughed wildly, hisughter utterly rampant.


    Amid hisughter, the surrounding scarlet mes suddenly shifted, turning into a ghastly green cold me.


    Ghost fire!


    He pointed with a finger.


    The ghost fire condensed into a pack of wolves, charging toward the young puppet master.


    Several strands of the puppet master''s ck rope-like hair extended, binding Sun Lingtong and swiftly retreating with him.


    While retreating, Mechanical Thunder Silent Birds continuously flew out from beneath the puppet master''s cloak.


    The Thunder Silent Birds struck the ghost fire wolf pack, asionally erupting with thunderbolts, shattering the ghostly wolves.


    Qi Bai''s figure soared, shooting toward the puppet master.


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


    "The Golden Core of the Soul-Devouring Sect, you should deal with the formation first beforeing after me."


    The young puppet master sneered, carrying Sun Lingtong into the shadows of the alleyways.


    "Interesting!"


    Qi Bai looked at the formation patterns around him, which blocked and seemed to be tightening, yet his demeanor remained leisurely, calm, andposed without a hint of tension.


    The puppet master leaped several times with Sun Lingtong, crossing two or three streets, then diving into the sewers.


    The teleportation array activated, and they immediately entered an underground base.


    Of course, this was not the base where Han Ming had been imprisoned earlier.


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


    Not only that, but his life force was gradually fading.


    His injuries were too severe!


    A pill was fed into Sun Lingtong''s mouth and quickly digested with the help of mana.


    It was the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill!


    This pill had originally been given to Yuan Er by Zhu Xuanji to save Yuan Dasheng''s life.


    In the end, after various twists and turns, it ended up in Ning Zhuo''s hands.


    Indeed, a royal family''s offering, its efficacy was excellent.


    With the use of the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill, Sun Lingtong''s life fire finally stabilized.


    But before Ning Zhuo could rx, an overwhelming pressure bore down.


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


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


    "Where do you think you can escape to?"


    "I''ve nted my exclusive mark on Sun Lingtong…"


    "Hehehe, young puppet master, unless you abandon him, you have no chance of surviving. Otherwise, you''re doomed!"


    The puppet master''s voice was hoarse, filled with anger and hatred.


    "You''re really full of crap!"


    In the next instant, the formation patterns surged again, trapping Qi Bai.


    "This trick again?"


    Qi Bai snorted coldly, his expression disdainful.


    But in the next moment, the formation patterns red brightly, pressing Qi Bai so hard that blood began to flow from his nose, ears, and eyes.


    The puppet master sneered.


    "The base above ground was deliberately restrained to avoid implicating Big Brother Sun."


    "But down here, deep underground, even if we’re discovered, they can''t trace it back to Big Brother Sun, so we can go all out."


    "Enjoy yourself, Qi Bai!"


    The formation patterns shone brightly, madly eroding Qi Bai''s defenses.


    "Damn it!"


    Qi Bai clenched his lips, sweeping away his previous arrogance, and fully resisted the Immortal City''s grand formation.


    The timeline rewinds several years.


    In the underground base.


    "Xiao Zhuo, your mother was quite skilled as a mechanical cultivator," Sun Lingtong remarked, ncing around the underground base in admiration.


    While practicing mechanical techniques, Ning Zhuo had identally discovered a map hidden in the underground workspace.


    Following the map, they passed through a section of the sewers and eventually arrived at the underground base.


    "Your mother was very thoughtful."


    "She hid this mechanical map on purpose, only revealing it once your mechanical skills reached a certain level."


    "This ce isn''t very safe!" Sun Lingtongmented.


    "I understand."


    Ning Zhuo nodded.


    "Inside and outside Mount Huoshi, there is the Immortal City''s grand formation. It''s extremely difficult to open up a secret space underground within the city."


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


    "I''m actually quite surprised this underground base has remained hidden for so many years without being found."


    Sun Lingtong chuckled.


    "I get it now."


    Ning Zhuo asked, "What?"


    Sun Lingtong said, "Normally, the Immortal City''s formation needs to be restructured and re-nned periodically.


    Although it costs a lot, it ensures the formation''s reliability, preventing enemies with ulterior motives from probing it over time and disabling it at a critical moment."


    "The situation with Huoshi Immortal City might be special, maybe rted to the Lava Immortal Pce, causing the Immortal Formation to remain unchanged."


    "Or perhaps one of the previous City Lords was corrupt and never truly restructured the formation."


    "Then again, Huoshi Immortal City is located in the heart of the Southern Dou Immortal Country. Even if a war breaks out, it wouldn''t reach here for some time."


    "Perhaps the City Lords thought they''d have enough time to adjust the formation when the mes of war finally reached them."


    Suddenly, Ning Zhuo''s eyes lit up.


    "In that case, we can set up more underground bases like this."


    "We''ve just established our gang, and we need funds to maintain it. We have to do business!"


    "We can use underground bases as transit points for smuggling operations. This ce can also serve as our warehouse."


    Sun Lingtong pped his hands in admiration.


    "Brilliant! That way, we can raid other forces'' warehouses, but they won’t be able to find ours!"


    "But once this ce is discovered, it won''t hold for long. Its defenses are too weak."


    The underground base couldn''t have defensive formations.


    Any formation''s operation would interfere with the Immortal City''s grand formation, leading the City Lord''s mansion to investigate and eventually trace it back to this location.


    Sun Lingtong stroked his chin.


    "I''ll set up some talismans from the No-Void Sectter to minimize this ce''s presence."


    "When I reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, I''ll be able to barely use the magical treasure my master gave me to set up some formation patterns here."


    "These patterns can connect faintly with the Immortal City''s grand formation. Even if it’s discovered, the grand formation will mistake it as part of itself."


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "That powerful?"


    Sun Lingtong smiled proudly.


    "Our No-Void Sect has deep research in formations. Because in this world, the most valuable treasures are almost always protected byyers of formations."


    "My method is called stealing formation and absorbing power."


    "When we have our own gang’s headquarters, I’ll use this method to steal a lot of spiritual power from the Immortal City''s grand formation while paying very little."


    …


    During the operation to control the ck market and eliminate opposition.


    The two led their subordinates to surround the enemy gang''s base.


    "Xiao Zhuo, are you confident?"


    Sun Lingtong sent a voice transmission.


    "Big Brother Sun, just watch."


    Ning Zhuo was full of confidence.


    He waved his hand, and mechanical vehicles charged forward, each loaded with explosives.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The enemy gang raised their defensive formation, and the explosions didn''t harm a single person.


    The enemy gang membersughed mockingly.


    Ning Zhuo, however, stood by with arms crossed, calmly counting down aloud.


    "Three, two, one!"


    At the count of one, the enemy''s defensive formation suddenly copsed.


    The gang''s top members were all struck by bacsh, either severely injured or dead.


    Sun Lingtong cheered loudly and curiously sent a voice transmission.


    "Xiao Zhuo, how did you do it?"


    Ning Zhuo replied, "It was simple. Big Brother Sun, didn’t you teach me the technique of stealing formation and absorbing power?"


    Sun Lingtong was even more curious.


    "But I’m restricted by the sect''s rules, I never taught you the rted spells or talismans."


    Ning Zhuo shrugged.


    "That’s simple. You taught me the principle, and I used other methods to achieve the same result."


    "After some practice, it works, right?"


    Ning Zhuo looked at Sun Lingtong, seeking approval.


    Sun Lingtong kept a calm expression and nodded slightly.


    "Mm, not bad."


    …


    Finally, they became the rulers of the ck market.


    Sun Lingtong looked pale.


    "Xiao Zhuo, was it really necessary to secretly bury so many explosives around my residence?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head.


    "Boss, it was very necessary. We must be cautious, humble, and prepared for every possible worst-case scenario."


    "For instance, if a cultivator far stronger than both of uses looking for trouble."


    "Let''s not worry about Nascent Soul-level cultivators or higher; the gap is too big."


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


    "That Fei Si is treacherous and sinister, not a good person at all. Maybe one day, he''ll personallye to wipe out our ck market forces."


    "We have to be fully prepared!"


    Sun Lingtong could only nod helplessly.


    "If a Golden Corees, can''t we just run?"


    "Oh well."


    "Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared."