I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The backyard of Tingfeng Pavilion.

Zheng Yifei is putting pen to paper to refine the logistics and transportation plan.

A sudden ripple, like waves on water, appeared in the air.

Xu Zhengkun, dressed in a white robe, appeared before the desk without warning.

The escape techniques of Golden Core cultivators have already reached the point where the earth shrinks to an inch, allowing them to come and go without a trace.

"Brother Kun."

Zheng Yifei put down his pen, stood up and bowed, then picked up the purple clay teapot from the small red clay stove, poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it over.

Xu Zhengkun did not sit down. He looked at Zheng Yifei and said in a calm tone, "I just came back from Zizhu Peak. Li Zhan has agreed to invest five million spirit stones to become a shareholder in the Logistics Company."

"As expected."

Zheng Yifei smiled.

"But he firmly opposes giving you a 10% permanent share."

Xu Zhengkun stared into Zheng Yifei's eyes, seemingly trying to find a trace of anger or disappointment on the young face.

Zheng Yifei's smile remained unchanged. He picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and took a sip.

"Brother Kun, if the Seventh Elder agrees to give me a share of the profits, I won't dare to sleep tonight."

Zheng Yifei put down his teacup, his tone relaxed.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Zhengkun's eyes: "You're not angry?"

"In the cultivation world, strength is paramount; those whose virtue does not match their position will surely suffer calamity."

Zheng Yifei pulled out a chair and sat down, tapping his fingers on the table: "The Logistics Department will generate at least hundreds of millions of spirit stones in revenue every year. A 10% stake would be ten million."

"I'm just an outer disciple at the ninth level of Qi Refining, running around the streets with a stable income of ten million spirit stones in my pocket. That's not getting rich, that's courting death."

Xu Zhengkun pulled out a chair, sat down opposite Zheng Yifei, and took a sip of tea.

"If Li Zhan disagrees, the First Elder and the Fifth Elder probably won't agree either. Even those elders who didn't invest will definitely see me as a thorn in their side once they find out that I've taken such a large piece of the pie."

Zheng Yifei analyzed clearly: "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. I don't want to be on guard against someone poisoning my water every day, or being robbed and killed when I go out."

Not participating in the distribution of these shares is the safest option for me.

Xu Zhengkun looked at Zheng Yifei, his admiration growing even stronger.

Many cultivators would kill and rob for a few spirit stones, but to maintain such a clear mind when faced with a permanent dividend of tens of millions, this mental fortitude is stronger than that of many Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"You see things very clearly."

Xu Zhengkun put down his teacup. "But the logistics company was your idea. The Xu family can't let you work for nothing. If Li Zhan won't pay, my Xu family can take a portion of our share to compensate you."

"Tell me, what do you want?"

Zheng Yifei was waiting for these words.

"I don't want spirit stones, and I don't lack magical artifacts."

Zheng Yifei leaned forward, his eyes burning: "I have five spiritual roots, so the resources I need for cultivation are several times or even dozens of times more than others. Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is even more difficult, so I need top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills. The sect leader gave me one before, but it's not enough. I need at least four more."

Xu Zhengkun raised an eyebrow.

Foundation Establishment Pills are divided into four grades: low, medium, high, and top grade. Ordinary disciples mostly use medium or high grade pills, which can increase the chance of foundation establishment by 30% to 50%.

The top-grade Foundation Building Pill not only increases the success rate by 80%, but also widens the meridians and cleanses the marrow, making it the core guarantee for perfect foundation building.

However, top-grade Foundation Building Pills are available but not for sale.

The refining conditions are extremely demanding. In the entire Qingyun Sect, only the Danfeng Peak Master can occasionally refine one or two batches, and it is estimated that only three to five pills can be refined per year. As soon as they are produced, they are divided up by the core direct descendants of various families.

"You have quite an appetite."

Xu Zhengkun tapped the table: "We don't have any top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills in the sect's treasury right now."

"I'll pay with spirit stones."

Zheng Yifei said firmly, "As long as the young sect leader can help me get a spot and a channel, I will pay any amount of spirit stones."

Xu Zhengkun pondered for a moment.

Zheng Yifei has made such a great contribution, so although this request is difficult, it is not impossible.

"Okay, I promise you, I'll go find Peak Master Wan of Danfeng and get you two."

Xu Zhengkun made a promise.

"Thank you, Young Sect Master!"

Zheng Yifei cupped his hands in greeting.

"You have to buy the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill yourself. I'm just helping you make the connection, so it's not a reward."

Xu Zhengkun looked at him and said, "You helped the sect break the monopoly of the nine major families by establishing the logistics company. This is a great achievement."

You can make one more request, as long as it's not excessive, I'll grant it today.

A slight smile appeared on Zheng Yifei's lips; the true intentions were revealed.

"Young Sect Master, I want to open a gambling den in Qingyun Market."

Xu Zhengkun was stunned for a moment.

He had assumed that Zheng Yifei would ask for a position as an inner sect steward or to obtain a high-level cultivation technique.

I never expected that this kid would end up wanting to open a gambling den.

"A gambling den?"

Xu Zhengkun frowned: "Those shady places only make a pittance from lowly cultivators. You're now in charge of the Information Department, and you're about to oversee the preliminary preparations for the Logistics Department. What are you doing setting up a gambling den?"

"Young Sect Master, you only saw the small pieces of silver, but you didn't see the terrifying power of those small pieces of silver forming a river."

Zheng Yifei had already prepared his answer and spoke eloquently: "The Information Department and the Logistics Department are both affiliated with the sect. I am only responsible for their operation and have never thought of making any profits from them. Running the gambling den is my own business."

Zheng Yifei certainly knew what the more lucrative things were.

Slot machines? Those things require a whole refining industry chain to work with, and also need to be arranged with complex array patterns. They simply cannot be mass-produced within two or three years.

Lottery? Lottery requires extremely strong public credibility and a sales network covering the entire jurisdiction. Currently, the Information Department's foundation is not stable, and issuing lottery tickets could easily lead to a collapse.

Most importantly, my own strength is small. Once I reveal this idea, it will be like the current logistics industry, where I will have nothing to do with it and will only benefit others.

Traditional gambling dens, with their betting odds, dice games, and animal fighting, are the simplest, most direct, and fastest way to make money.

"Why choose this time to open?"

Xu Zhengkun asked.

"Because the time is right."

Zheng Yifei analyzed: "As soon as the Logistics Department's plan was announced, the most powerful forces in the Qingyun Sect all had their eyes drawn to this huge pie."

As you eat meat, the power structure of the nine major families is facing a reshuffle.

At this point, if I were to open a gambling den in Qingyun Market, it would be nothing more than a small-time operation in your eyes, and no one would bother me over a gambling den.

More importantly, the sect leader and several elders support me.

It's good to rest in the shade under a big tree.

With a new balance of interests reached among the high-level forces, Zheng Yifei took advantage of this opportunity to quietly extend his reach into the most lucrative gray market in Qingyunfang City, minimizing resistance.

Xu Zhengkun thought about it and realized that this made sense.

"The security of Qingyun Market is under the jurisdiction of the Enforcement Hall, but the shops and franchise rights in the market are allocated by the General Affairs Hall."

Xu Zhengkun nodded: "You're from the General Affairs Department, Jin Zhengyuan will give you a pass. If anyone tries to cause trouble, just mention my name."

How much start-up capital do you need? I'll have the Xu family's accountant allocate it to you.

I'll raise the start-up capital myself.

Zheng Yifei refused Xu Zhengkun's money, but instead offered a tempting offer: "However, I'd like to give the young sect leader 10% of the shares in this gambling den. Consider it a free share."

Xu Zhengkun smiled.

This kid just now refused to accept the shares in the logistics company, but now that he's opened a gambling den, he's forcing a 10% share on him.

This is both paying protection money and binding interests together.

Once Xu Zhengkun takes this 10% stake, the gambling den will be labeled as belonging to the Xu family.

Who among the local bullies, gangs, and even the criminal forces under the nine major families in Qingyun Market would dare to cause trouble at the Xu family's territory?

"You're quite the schemer."

Xu Zhengkun stood up and waved his sleeve: "I'll take this share. After the sect competition, go to the General Affairs Hall to choose a shop."

Before he finished speaking, Xu Zhengkun's figure had already turned into specks of light and disappeared into the room.

Zheng Yifei looked at the empty chair and let out a long sigh.

It became.

The top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill has been secured, and the gambling license for Qingyun Market has also been obtained.

Giving up a stake in the logistics company in exchange for these two things is an incredibly worthwhile deal.