I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The annual sect competition of Qingyun Sect kicked off amidst great anticipation.

As the grandest and most brutal test for the entire Qingyun Sect, the Outer Sect Competition is of an immense scale.

The Qingyun Sect has a vast territory and tens of thousands of outer disciples. In order to ensure relative fairness in the competition, the sect has set strict rules: all participating disciples are divided according to their cultivation level, with Qi Refining level 7 against level 7, level 8 against level 8, and level 9 against level 9.

Disciples at these three levels will fight each other in their respective groups until the top ten are determined.

Finally, these thirty outstanding elite disciples will break through the barriers between realms and engage in a free-for-all battle and ranking competition.

The rewards for the competition are so generous that they are the envy of many. The top ten will not only receive a large number of spirit stones and high-level magic artifacts, but will also have the opportunity to be chosen as personal disciples by the inner sect elders.

What's most exciting is that the top three in the final ranking will be directly bestowed a Foundation Establishment Pill by their sect!

For those independent cultivators who have no family background and are struggling at the bottom, this Foundation Establishment Pill is the only bridge for them to defy fate and cross the gap between immortals and mortals.

The days leading up to the grand competition were for disciples at the seventh and eighth levels of Qi Refining.

On the white jade plaza in front of the sect's main peak, which could accommodate 100,000 people, hundreds of blue stone arenas reinforced by formations were raised.

From dawn till dusk, the arena resounded with the roar of magic and the flash of swords. For that elusive hope of Foundation Establishment, the outer disciples fought with almost every move drawing blood, risking their lives. Countless hands and feet were severed, and occasionally, tragic incidents occurred where someone lost control and perished on the spot.

But this bloody scene did not deter people; instead, it fueled the ferocity of even more disciples.

While the fighting raged outside, Zheng Yifei was peacefully hiding in the backyard of Tingfeng Pavilion, cultivating in seclusion.

With the support of a vast amount of spiritual power far exceeding that of his peers, coupled with his extremely rich experience in life-and-death combat from his previous life, he managed to master the two spells, "Dragon Step" and "Thick Earth Technique," to the minor completion level in just a few days.

Especially the "Dragon's Step," combined with his unpredictable close-range footwork, allows him to achieve the ultimate dodging ability within a small space.

Five days later, the competition between the seventh and eighth levels of Qi Refining finally came to an end, and the top ten in each level emerged with scars and glory.

Immediately following was the most crucial and eye-catching highlight of the entire outer sect competition—the Qi Refining Ninth Level Competition!

On the morning of the sixth day of the competition, the sun rose.

The main peak square of the Qingyun Sect was already packed with people, with tens of thousands of outer disciples surrounding the largest main arena in the center.

Not only the outer disciples, but even the inner disciples who are usually aloof and rarely appear in the square came in groups on their swords today. Even some stewards and elders took their seats on the viewing platform early in the morning.

The reason it attracted so many people was because, with the deliberate promotion of those with ulterior motives, the names of the two opposing sides in the first key battle of the ninth level of Qi Refining had already spread throughout the entire sect.

Zheng Yifei, Director of the Information Department, is facing off against Zhao Kuang, the top body cultivator in the outer sect!

The name "Zheng Yifei" has been widely known and acclaimed over the past year, his prominence surpassing that of all the inner disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

From cracking down on tax evasion and seizing assets from debtors, to establishing the "Qingyun Daily" to expose the dark side of pricing, and most recently, the widely discussed "SF Express" logistics...

With his meager cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he carved out a bloody path in the power struggles of the Qingyun Sect's upper echelons, causing chaos and unrest among the nine major families.

Many people admired his courage and intelligence, but many more, especially traditional cultivators who revered martial prowess, scorned him, believing him to be nothing more than an opportunist who rose to power through glib talk and the protection of his sect leader.

Now, this "opportunist" is finally forced to step into the ring and face Zhao Kuang, the most ferocious beast in the outer sect. Everyone wants to see with their own eyes how miserable Director Zheng, who can manipulate the business world, will be in the face of absolute violence.

At this moment, in a prominent location on the east side of the square, a spectacle unprecedented in the thousands of years since the founding of the Qingyun Sect was unfolding.

A huge red banner with black characters, standing three zhang tall, fluttered in the wind. It read in a flamboyant style: "Sect Grand Tournament Betting - Zheng Yifei vs. Zhao Kuang".

Below the brocade banner, there was a long row of rosewood wooden tables.

The sect leader's youngest daughter, Xu Muyao, was dressed in a smart, fiery red outfit today. Her face was flushed with excitement as she stood on the table and shouted loudly, "Don't miss it if you're passing by!"

I, the bookmaker, guarantee fair dealings and no cheating! If Zhao Kuang wins, payouts are 1:1! If Zheng Yifei wins, payouts are 10:1! Place your bets now and get your money back immediately after the match!

Cultivators are often prone to gambling, and they frequently place bets in the market arena.

The sight of the sect leader's daughter openly opening betting odds during the sect's grand competition caused a huge sensation.

"Zhao Kuang is a Qi Refining Ninth Level Great Perfection cultivator, a half-step Foundation Establishment body cultivator! When his 'Raging Bull Strength' is unleashed, he can even tear apart a second-tier demonic beast with his bare hands! Zheng Yifei, with only five spiritual roots, how is he supposed to fight him?"

"Exactly! The odds are huge, but betting on Zheng Yifei is like throwing spirit stones into the water! I'm betting on Zhao Kuang, five low-grade spirit stones!"

"I'll bet ten! Free spirit stones are free money, why not take advantage of it!"

The rogue cultivators and outer disciples went crazy and rushed to the betting area.

The betting situation is extremely one-sided.

Zhao Kuang had accumulated too much prestige in the outer sect, and his combat power was recognized as the best. No one believed that Zheng Yifei, who sat at his desk writing newspapers every day, could win.

In just half an hour, the spirit stones betting on Zhao Kuang to win had already piled up into a small mountain.

On Zheng Yifei's side, the jade slip recording the bets was completely empty, with not even a single spirit stone earned.

Xu Muyao looked at the mountain of spirit stones and couldn't help but feel a little scared. If Zheng Yifei lost, she wouldn't be able to afford to pay for it even if she pawned her underwear!

Just then, a commotion arose on the outskirts of the crowd.

"Make way! The Inspectorate and the Information Department are handling this!"

Su Tong, sweating profusely, squeezed into the crowd, followed by Jin Biao and Xu Jian from the Inspectorate.

The three walked to the table. Su Tong gritted his teeth, took out five hundred low-grade spirit stones from his storage bag, slammed them on the table, and roared, "I bet on our Director to win! Five hundred spirit stones!"

Jin Biao and Xu Jian exchanged a glance. They had both followed Zheng Yifei all the way and knew how strange this young boss was.

Although I wasn't sure I was going to win, I couldn't lose face.

"Jin Biao from the printing factory, escort Director Zheng, five hundred spirit stones!"

"Xu Jian of Qifeng, escort Director Zheng, five hundred spirit stones!"

The throwing of 1,500 spirit stones finally broke Zheng Yifei's embarrassing situation of zero bets, and the surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

"Oh, aren't these the big shots from the Information Department and the Inspectorate? What, are you here to see your director off on his deathbed, on your own salary?"

"That's hilarious! 1,500 spirit stones! That's several years' worth of your savings, isn't it? Don't cry out loud when Zheng Yifei gets beaten to a pulp!"

Faced with the ridicule and sarcasm of the crowd, Su Tong blushed and was about to retort when a clear, melodious voice, yet carrying an undeniable authority, suddenly rang in everyone's ears.

"I'm betting on Zheng Yifei, two thousand low-grade spirit stones."

The bustling square fell silent for a moment. Everyone turned to look, and saw Su Wanqing, dressed in snow-white robes, slowly walking towards them.

Her face was aloof and peerless, her temperament otherworldly, like a fairy descended from the moon.

As the eldest daughter of the Su family, the Fifth Elder, and a universally acknowledged beauty and prodigy of the Qingyun Sect, her appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Su Wanqing walked to the table, waved her jade hand, and two thousand low-grade spirit stones, shimmering with crystal luster, were neatly stacked in the area where Zheng Yifei was being held.

"Hiss, the young lady actually bet on Zheng Yifei?"

"Two thousand spirit stones! That's no small sum! Could Zheng Yifei really have some hidden trump card?"