I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The main hall was deathly silent.

The sandalwood was crushed by the remaining pressure, and the air was filled with a pungent, burnt spiritual smell.

"Click."

The top-grade Snow Mist Spirit Teacup in Xu Tianyang's hand turned into dust, and the tea was instantly evaporated by his protective true energy.

One billion low-grade spirit stones, in one month.

Xu Tianyang's face was ashen as his mind raced, calculating every possible scenario. This wasn't simple extortion; it was a deadly attack aimed at his position as sect leader.

The nine major families of the Qingyun Sect each control their own mines, medicinal gardens, and weapon-refining workshops, making them deeply entrenched and incredibly wealthy.

Only the Xu family branch is small in number, relying on overall planning and collecting taxes within its jurisdiction to maintain operations.

If he can't hand over these ten billion spirit stones, and the Xuan Tian Sect unleashes its fury, who will be sacrificed? Only him, the sect leader who has failed in his duties.

With a different sect leader, the nine major families will still be ancient clans with a history of thousands of years, and they might even be able to take the opportunity to divide up the Xu family's resources.

"Hu Lie..."

Xu Tianyang's gaze pierced through the main hall, looking towards the direction of the Fourth Elder's dojo.

Only the Hu family could have such power, directly bypassing him to get the Xuan Tian Sect's higher-ups to issue a decree.

All nine major families have intricate connections with the upper sect. His second son, Xu Zhenghai, is a disciple of a Nascent Soul ancestor in the Xuantian Sect, but he is just an ordinary inner disciple with little say.

As for the Hu family, it is said that their ancestor was a genius who was taken in as a personal disciple by a powerful elder of the Xuantian Sect.

This is a calculated, albeit blatant, strategy.

"Sect Master, we can't just sit here and wait to die!"

Seventh Elder Li Zhan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and spoke urgently, "There are over a billion low-level rogue cultivators within our Qingyun Sect's territory. If all else fails, issue an emergency conscription order, charging each person an extra low-grade spirit stone, and this billion-dollar hole will be filled!"

"No!"

Xu Tianyang sternly rebuked: "Zheng Yifei finally managed to set up the Tax Bureau's Inspection Department, used newspapers to appease the lower classes, and established rules."

"If you forcibly increase taxes now, it's tantamount to forcing them to rebel! If the lower classes become chaotic, the foundation of the sects will surely be destroyed. At that point, the Qingyun Sect will disintegrate on its own without the Xuantian Sect even needing to intervene!"

The Grand Elder coughed twice and slowly said, "Raising taxes is not advisable, so we can only borrow. We will borrow from the nine major families, promising high interest rates, and after we get through this difficult time, we can repay the debt in installments using the revenue from the Logistics Department and the Tax Department."

"Sect Leader, preserving your position is the top priority."

Xu Tianyang sneered.

Borrowing money? Once this loan agreement is signed, the Xu family will become a puppet of the nine major families.

If all tax revenue is used to pay off debts, how will the Xu family train their disciples? How will they maintain the prestige of the main peak? This is exactly what Hu Lie wants.

"This won't do, that won't do, are we just going to stand by and watch our ancestors punish us?"

Li Zhan was so anxious he was pacing back and forth.

Fifth Elder Su Chenyuan pondered for a moment, then raised his head: "Sect Master, if conventional methods don't work, why not ask Zheng Yifei? This kid acts unpredictably and never plays by the rules; perhaps he can find a way to break the deadlock."

Xu Tianyang's eyes flashed, and he immediately made the decision: "Summon Zheng Yifei!"

After an incense stick has burned.

Zheng Yifei stepped into the main hall of the peak.

Gone was the usual harmonious atmosphere; the atmosphere inside the hall was oppressive and suffocating. The three Golden Core elders frowned deeply, while Xu Tianyang sat wearily on the purple-gold dragon throne.

"Disciple Zheng Yifei greets Sect Master."

No need for formalities.

Xu Tianyang went straight to the point, without any preamble, revealing the contents of the Xuantian Sect's decree and the current predicament facing the sect.

One billion low-grade spirit stones? In one month?

Zheng Yifei thought to himself, "Damn it!" The higher-ups in the cultivation world are much more ruthless than capitalists when it comes to harvesting profits; they start by asking for ten small goals.

"Do you think that the Qingyun Sect is the undisputed ruler of this area, spanning thousands of miles?"

Seeing Zheng Yifei's slightly changed expression, Xu Tianyang suddenly stood up and waved his sleeve.

The Water Moon Illusion Mirror in the center of the main hall suddenly shone brightly.

The map of the Qingyun Sect's territory that was originally displayed shrank rapidly, turning into an insignificant black dot.

Immediately afterwards, a vast and awe-inspiring grand map unfolded.

"Look closely, this is the world we live in."

Xu Tianyang's voice was low, carrying a hint of longing and helplessness.

"Our Qingyun Sect is just one of the most ordinary sects among the dozens of Golden Core sects in the Southern Wilderness Region. Above us is the Xuantian Sect, which has a Nascent Soul Ancestor in charge."

Xu Tianyang's finger traced a huge chasm on the map: "In the entire Southern Wilderness, there are only two overlords. One is the Xuantian Sect, and the other is the Tianmo Sect, which is separated from us by the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

The two major sects have been locked in a power struggle for thousands of years. This increased tribute payment is ostensibly for the purpose of establishing a demon-suppressing formation in the northern border to defend against the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Zheng Yifei stared at the huge map, his breathing gradually slowing down.

This was the first time since he transmigrated that he had truly come into contact with the macro-structure of this world.

"Is the Nascent Soul stage the limit?"

Zheng Yifei suddenly asked.

Xu Tianyang glanced at him, a strange light flashing in his eyes, then smiled bitterly: "The Southern Wilderness is the wasteland with the thinnest spiritual energy in the entire Tianlan Continent. The laws of heaven and earth are incomplete, and resources are scarce."

Here, the Nascent Soul stage is the end; lifespan is no more than three thousand years, ultimately returning to a handful of dust.

The image in the Water Moon Illusion Mirror changes once again.

The map of the Southern Wilderness recedes to the edge, revealing a vast and boundless sea of ​​stars in the center of the image.

In the sea of ​​stars, the skeleton of a huge ferocious beast can be vaguely seen lying across the sky, and the sword energy of ten thousand feet is tearing through the void, with the immortal mountain floating above the nine heavens.

"The Tianlan Continent is divided into five regions: East, South, West, North, and Central. The true cultivation world is located in the Central Region, which spans the endless Sea of ​​Death."

Xu Tianyang's voice tinged with fervor: "There, spiritual energy rains down, and rare treasures abound. Nascent Soul cultivators and Void Refinement Venerables are as numerous as carp crossing a river. There, cultivators can comprehend the Great Dao, shatter the void, and ascend to the true Heavenly Realm!"

"Central Territory..."

Zheng Yifei muttered to himself.

The hall fell silent.

Zheng Yifei stood still, his blood beginning to flow faster and faster uncontrollably.

Before this, his goal was clear: to stay in the Qingyun Sect, make money through gambling, buy resources, accumulate cultivation, become a Golden Core Elder, and live comfortably for several hundred years.

But now, Xu Tianyang showed him this vast painting.

Is the Nascent Soul stage just the starting point? The Deity Transformation stage? The Void Refinement stage? Ascension?

He possessed five spiritual roots, and in a barren place like the Southern Wilderness, even establishing a foundation required an enormous amount of resources, making subsequent cultivation even more difficult.

But what if we go to the Eastern Regions?

The area is rich in resources and the laws of nature are perfectly balanced.

In the Southern Wilderness, those with five spiritual roots are considered useless, but in the Eastern Region, they might be unparalleled geniuses who cultivate all five elements simultaneously!

"I'm going to the Eastern Regions."

A crazy idea took root in Zheng Yifei's mind and quickly grew into a towering tree.

He didn't want to play house with these country bumpkins in this small Qingyun Sect anymore. He wanted to see the magnificent sword energy tearing through the void and witness true immortality!

"Zheng Yifei".

Xu Tianyang interrupted his thoughts, staring intently at him: "I'm telling you all this to tell you that the Qingyun Sect is just a stepping stone."

If you can help the sect overcome this calamity that costs ten billion spirit stones, I swear by my inner demons that I will protect you on your path to Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, and I will even use all the resources of the Xu family to send you to the Xuantian Sect for further study!

Only after you reach the Xuan Tian Sect will you have the opportunity to access the inter-domain teleportation array leading to the Central Region!

This is a deal.

Xu Tianyang revealed his hand.

The First Elder, the Fifth Elder, and the Seventh Elder all stared intently at Zheng Yifei.

What can a Qi Refining stage disciple do when faced with such an astronomical number that is enough to crush a Golden Core cultivator?

Zheng Yifei took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the fervor in his mind regarding the Eastern Region, and his eyes regained the extreme calmness and sharpness unique to the gambling king.

One billion low-grade spirit stones.

Raising taxes is a dead end, and borrowing money is a dead end.

In the traditional understanding of the cultivation world, money can only be accumulated little by little through mining, growing herbs, and collecting taxes.

But in Zheng Yifei's eyes, the former gambling king, ten billion spirit stones was nothing more than a small matter, given enough power.

In his past life, he could win a billion dollars in one night at the gambling table.