A great fire blazed before Sun Lingtong, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.
The sound of killing and shouting also erupted.
Triangular Eyes and Hooked Nose were under siege.
These were the many subordinates of Sun Lingtong that Ning Zhuo had contacted before launching 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!"
Triangular Eyes and Hooked Nose communicated telepathically, seeing through Ning Zhuo's method, but it was already too late.
They were heavily surrounded, trapped in a bitter battle.
"Interesting, very interesting."
From the blazing flames, 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 him completely.
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 a complicated 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 Bai laughed wildly, his laughter utterly rampant.
Amid his laughter, the surrounding scarlet flames suddenly shifted, turning into a ghastly green cold flame.
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 black 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, occasionally 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 before coming 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, and composed 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 relax, an overwhelming pressure bore down.
"I'll set up some talismans from the No-Void Sect later to minimize this place'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 by layers 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 black 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 members laughed 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 collapsed.
The gang's top members were all struck by backlash, 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 related 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 black 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 us comes 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 personally come to wipe out our black market forces."
"We have to be fully prepared!"
Sun Lingtong could only nod helplessly.
"If a Golden Core comes, can't we just run?"
"Oh well."
"Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared."