Immortality Through Array Formations

"Old Yu, what do you say?"

Wang Lai spoke to the elderly, dark-skinned, and gaunt old cultivator.

Old Yu was startled, waving his hands repeatedly:

"No, no, I dare not steal from the Lu Family's mine..."

Wang Lai let out a scoff, "What's there to be afraid of? The bold thrive, and the timid starve. The Lu Family rides on our backs, making us suffer and slave away for them. They, on the other hand, enjoy their riches and luxuries while we can't even afford to eat. What does it matter if we steal a little ore from them?"

Wang Lai appeared to be considering Old Yu's interests.

Old Yu's gaze turned wary, and he shook his head again.

Wang Lai's eyes showed displeasure as he continued patiently, "Don't worry, the Lu Family won't find out."

"How do you know?" Old Yu cautiously asked.

"We'll go at midnight, unseen and unheard," Wang Lai whispered. "And besides, I've bribed the Lu Family's cultivators to turn a blind eye..."

"But that's a secret mine, the Lu Family's treasure trove, who knows how many good things are there."

"We won't take much, just one or two pieces. Once sold, they could be exchanged for a large amount of Spirit Stones..."

Wang Lai enticed him bit by bit.

Old Yu was visibly tempted, but after glancing at Wang Lai, he still shook his head.

He did not trust Wang Lai's character.

As for who Wang Lai was, Old Yu was all too aware.

Wang Lai tried to persuade him again, "Aren't you lacking Spirit Stones?"

Old Yu nodded, "In this mine, who isn't short on Spirit Stones?"

"But you're different," Wang Lai said, "Your grandson has an excellent Spiritual Root, but what a waste it is without Spirit Stones to cultivate..."

"Just think, if he succeeds in his cultivation, he could leave the mines behind for a promising future in Tao Cultivation."

"But you're so poor that without Spirit Stones for cultivation, no matter how talented he is, he'll end up just like you, unable to leave the mines for life, forever buried in these rotten stones, living a bitter existence until one day, dying in the pits..."

Wang Lai sighed, "If his Spiritual Root were poor, that'd be another story. We'd all share the same miserable fate, rotting in the mountains, left with nothing to say."

"But your grandson is different, isn't it a waste of his talent if he doesn't cultivate and gamble on his future?"

"Spiritual Roots are innate. Your grandson being born with such a Spiritual Root is a rare blessing that comes once in a hundred years, not every family has the chance to have a child with such a good Spiritual Root..."

Wang Lai's expression was sincere, and his tone was filled with regret.

Old Yu listened, somewhat dazed.

Seeing his chance, Wang Lai's eyes flickered as he whispered temptingly:

"Don't you want to earn a batch of Spirit Stones, to give your grandson, to give your Yu Family a chance to rise above?"

These words struck a chord in Old Yu's heart.

He looked guilty, his heart ached, and his skinny old hands clenched tightly. His hunched body trembled slightly.

He lived a hard life, but he didn't want his grandson to suffer the same fate.

They, as mining cultivators, truly rotted away in the mountains, never lifting their heads for a lifetime.

But as for stealing the ore, Old Yu had reservations and dared not agree too hastily.

Seeing this, Wang Lai wore a mocking smile:

"The older you get, the less courage you have. Half in the grave and still so timid."

"Forget it." Wang Lai sighed, "I only gave you this opportunity because your grandson is talented. If he becomes successful in cultivation one day, I could share in the glory too."

"But with you being such a disappointment as a grandfather, it can't be helped."

"Wang Er and Tang Wu will be enough."

Wang Er and Tang Wu were other mining cultivators from nearby, with multiple siblings in their families. They didn't have proper names and were called by their birth order.

Old Yu's heart skipped a beat, "They're going too?"

Wang Lai said, "Of course, it's all been agreed upon. Otherwise, relying just on an old man like you, how much could we possibly steal?"

After finishing his piece, Wang Lai got up and said, "If you're not coming, then forget it. But don't speak of this to anyone, or there will be consequences."

Wang Lai made a show of leaving.

Old Yu panicked inside and quickly grabbed his sleeve, "I... I'll go!"

Wang Lai looked none too pleased.

Old Yu softened his tone, "Master Wang, you're giving me this opportunity. I'm willing to accept fewer Spirit Stones. If my grandson makes something of his cultivation someday, he will surely remember your great kindness."

Only then did Wang Lai break into a smile:

"That's the answer I was waiting for!"

He patted Old Yu on the shoulder, "Don't blame me for being opportunistic. In a world without true kinship, one certainly doesn't get up early without prospect of profit. I'm also looking for a glimmer of hope..."

Old Yu laughed and echoed him, "Of course."

Wang Lai nodded, whispered a few more instructions, then left Old Yu's house. Turning the corner and seeing that no one was around, he spat scornfully:

"Old fool, still daydreaming, believing anything you tell him..."

"Success in cultivation? Go dream on."

"Born in the mines, you're destined for a lowly life, no matter how good your Spiritual Root is, it's still a lowly life you lead!"

...

Wang Lai snorted coldly and walked away.

On a nearby rooftop, three little cultivators dressed in cloaks, their figures hidden, lay in secret, their little heads huddled together.

"This guy is a bastard," Bai Zisheng declared.

Bai Zixi nodded in agreement.

Mo Hua also nodded.

"Should we take care of him first?" Bai Zisheng was eager to try.

Bai Zixi looked at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua shook his head, "Not yet, let's see what they're up to."

Bai Zisheng thought for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, you're the junior brother, we'll follow your lead."

The three of them moved stealthily, following Wang Lai.

Walking proudly on the main road, Wang Lai, oblivious to the events behind him, was unaware that every move he made was being watched by the three little cultivators.

Wang Lai left Old Yu's house and met with a few other mining cultivators.

That is, the ones he mentioned, Wang Er and Tang Wu.

"Old Yu has agreed, will you go or not?"

Wang Er frowned, "He actually agreed?"

"Fortune comes with danger, how could he not understand that?" Wang Lai snorted coldly, looking at Wang Er and the others with slight contempt.

"An old man like him has more guts than you two, young and yet so timid?"

Tang Wu was somewhat unconvinced and wanted to agree on the spot.

But Wang Er pulled him and signaled him not to rush.

Wang Lai's eyes darted around and he asked, "You haven't got yourself wives, have you?"

The two men looked a bit bashful.

Wang Lai lowered his voice, "The old lady Li who sells pastries in the city, her family has two or three young daughters, young and with tender, dewy faces..."

"Come with me to steal from the mine, earn some Spirit Stones, and I'll be the matchmaker for you."

Wang Er and the others were somewhat moved, their faces turning slightly red, "But..."

"But what?" Wang Lai scorned, "How can you start a family and marry without earning some Spirit Stones while you're young? Do you want to bring someone into suffering?"

Tang Wu immediately said, "I'll go with you!"

Wang Er was still hesitating, "You could steal by yourselves, why involve us?"

Wang Lai sighed, "Old Yu is getting on in years and isn't strong enough, and my few men, although they have mined before, are inconsistent as they come. They're not familiar with the workings of a mine, hence I turned to you..."

After finishing, Wang Lai turned serious and warned in a low voice:

"You must not let this matter out, otherwise the Lu Family won't let us off..."

Wang Er and Tang Wu both turned solemn and nodded:

"Brother Wang, rest assured."

Wang Lai nodded, "Then it's settled..."

"Tomorrow at 1 p.m., at the eastern end of the mine near the half-cut willow tree, I'll wait for you there."

After giving his instructions, Wang Lai left.

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After Wang Lai left, he didn't go out for his usual drinking and gambling but went straight home to sleep, seemingly to prepare and conserve his energy.

Mo Hua and his two companions then returned to their cave dwelling.

Back in the dwelling, entering the courtyard, the three removed their cloaks, revealing their figures.

Bai Zisheng, still excited, said, "Eavesdropping is so much fun!"

Mo Hua glanced at him, "This isn't for fun."

"Okay..." Bai Zisheng paused, then asked,

"What exactly do you think that Wang Lai is planning to do?"

"Murder?" Bai Zixi said.

Mo Hua nodded, "I guess he wants to deceive the mining cultivators into the mine, then kill them and go to the Lu Family for compensation..."

"They deceive people, then kill them, and then profit from the dead..."

Mo Hua's voice was chillingly cold.

Bai Zisheng frowned, "That's evil!"

He clenched his fists, "Should we just take them out now? Scum like them don't deserve to live."

But Mo Hua appeared to be lost in thought.

"What is it?" Bai Zixi asked.

"Something doesn't feel right."

"What's not right?"

After pondering for a moment, Mo Hua slowly said:

"Logically speaking, if they kill mining cultivators and fake their disappearance, then claim compensation from the Lu Family, they earn compensation in Spirit Stones..."

"But the Lu Family also has a rule, without a corpse, there's no compensation in Spirit Stones."

"So to say, just killing the mining cultivators wouldn't be enough to claim any compensation."

"Even if they could get some, it would be quite troublesome."

"It's unlikely that Wang Lai would kill for such uncertain gains in Spirit Stones..."

"There must be something more to this affair..."

Bai Zisheng, propping his chin, stared at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua blinked, "What is it?"

"How come there are so many twists and turns in your little head?" Bai Zisheng said.

Bai Zixi also nodded slightly.

Mo Hua raised his little finger, declaring righteously:

"Master said, to plan ahead is the key to success, not to plan is to fail. Think deeply about matters, and prepare in advance..."

"Alright, alright..." Bai Zisheng said somewhat helplessly, "I can't argue with you."

"What do we do next?" Bai Zixi asked.

Mo Hua shook his head, "I don't know yet, let's play it by ear tomorrow."

...

The next day, at dusk.

The sunset sank behind the mountains, and twilight thickened.

Dressed in their cloaks and hiding their figures, Mo Hua and his two companions arrived early near the mine. They found a little mound to lie on, peeking out, waiting for Wang Lai and the others to arrive.

As night deepened, Wang Lai and his people were the first to arrive.

There were four of them, all local ruffians from South Yue City. After meeting, they nodded at each other, their mouths curving into ambiguous smiles, but they hardly spoke.

Approaching 1 p.m., Old Yu, Wang Er, and Tang Wu finally arrived together.

In the desolate mine, beneath the sinister and twisted half-cut willow tree.

The two groups of cultivators met.

In the darkness, a cold light flickered in Wang Lai's eyes:

"Tonight, I'll lead you to fortune!"

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