I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Ten high-end flying boats carrying "dream-making machines" pierced the night sky and headed to various markets.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yifei, who remained at the Qingyun Sect's headquarters, immediately activated what could be described as a terrifying propaganda machine.

Over the next three days, the Qingyun Daily went completely mad.

For three consecutive days, the front page headlines were dominated by blood-red, bowl-sized print: "Defying Fate! A Celestial Bond Through Two Spirit Stones! Qingyun Welfare Lottery Launches with a Bang!"

Shocking! The secret to skipping sixty years of arduous cultivation only requires two low-grade spirit stones?!

"Sect is giving away benefits! The grand prize, a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, is waiting for you!"

Not only newspapers, but also newsboys and outer disciples under the News Department were all dispatched by Zheng Yifei.

They carried cloth bags stuffed with leaflets and frantically distributed them in various markets, restaurants, and settlements of independent cultivators within the Qingyun Sect's territory.

Those flyers, printed on cheap yellow paper, featured huge images of Foundation Building Pills and glittering spirit stones, creating a striking visual impact.

The entire Qingyun Sect's territory, encompassing 1.5 billion low-level cultivators, whether in seclusion or setting up stalls, was bombarded with this overwhelming propaganda, leaving them dizzy and disoriented. The only topic of conversation during their leisure time was this unheard-of "lottery."

Sect Master Xu Tianyang attached great importance to this matter, as it concerned the ten billion tribute and the life and death of the Xu family, and could not afford the slightest mistake.

To prevent anyone from causing trouble in secret, and especially to guard against the Hu family resorting to desperate measures, Xu Tianyang directly ordered the young sect leader Xu Zhengkun to lead dozens of Foundation Establishment stage assassins trained within the Xu family to form a patrol team to patrol the lottery sales points in various markets day and night.

Those undisguised, chilling sword intents warned all those with ulterior motives: anyone who dares to cause trouble during the lottery sales period will be killed without mercy!

As the mastermind behind this shocking scam... no, this shocking extravaganza, Zheng Yifei acted with extreme caution.

He knew all too well that he was now a thorn in the side of the nine major families, especially the Hu family, who probably dreamed of tearing him apart.

Therefore, Zheng Yifei would never dare to step out of the protective formation of the main peak of Qingyun Sect, even if his life depended on it.

He set up his command post directly at the most bustling and safest place at the foot of the main peak, Qingyun Square.

Here, Xu Tianyang's divine sense could scan at any time. Even if Hu Lie had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to kill someone under the sect leader's nose.

Zheng Yifei personally oversaw the construction, directing hundreds of craftsmen to spend two full days erecting a massive redwood platform, three zhang high and over ten zhang wide, in the very center of Qingyun Square.

The high platform was surrounded by festive red silk ribbons, which fluttered in the wind.

The most ingenious part was that Zheng Yifei had Xu Jian set up a huge Water Moon Illusion Array light screen behind the stage, on which the phantom of the grand prize "Low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill" was continuously played.

The image of the round and full pill, combined with the alluring aroma of the pill simulated by the array, constantly stimulated the nerves of passing cultivators.

On the morning of the third day, as the sun rose, the day when Qingyun Welfare Lottery officially went on sale finally arrived.

Zheng Yifei went to great lengths to create the perfect atmosphere.

He spent a fortune to hire twelve top dancers with alluring figures and beautiful faces from "Yichun Pavilion," the largest brothel in the city.

Early in the morning, the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air from the high platform. Twelve dancers dressed in light, sheer veils danced gracefully on the stage, their flowing sleeves billowing in the breeze, releasing a fragrant scent. This "opening ceremony" format, extremely rare in the cultivation world, instantly attracted the attention of countless passing cultivators.

Even the most old-fashioned person, who usually only knows how to meditate and cultivate himself, couldn't help but stop and take a second look.

Around the square, Zheng Yifei also set up more than a dozen "free spiritual tea supply points".

Several large iron pots were simmering with low-grade spiritual tea that could calm the mind and spirit, and the tea was being distributed by female cultivators in uniform.

This is the essence that Zheng Yifei learned in the casino in his previous life: when gamblers don't win, they are prone to getting carried away and harboring resentment.

Offering them a free cup of calming tea at this time can not only soothe their agitated emotions, but also give them the illusion that "even if they don't win the prize, drinking a few cups of spiritual tea is enough to break even," which greatly reduces the probability of causing trouble on the spot and generating collective resentment.

As the sun rose higher, Qingyun Square was already packed with people, a sea of ​​heads stretching as far as the eye could see.

Some people were curious about this new thing that involved singing and dancing, but the vast majority of people were clutching flyers tightly in their hands, their eyes red with desire for the Foundation Establishment Pill and the high-grade magic weapon.

The cultivation world is too cruel. It is extremely difficult for low-level cultivators to rise to the top. Now, with just two spirit stones, one can have a chance to defy fate. Everyone thinks that they are the lucky ones favored by the heavens.

On several tall buildings surrounding the crowd, spies and stewards from the nine major families watched coldly.

One of the Hu family's stewards sneered repeatedly: "Bringing brothel girls to make a scene and gain attention, Zheng Yifei has truly disgraced a respectable family."

I want to see how he'll manage to swindle a billion dollars from these worthless pieces of paper!

At 3:45 AM, the auspicious time has arrived.

"when--!"

A deafening gong boomed out of the room, drowning out all the other music.

Zheng Yifei stood behind the platform, a cold smile playing on his lips, and gave a wink to several people below the stage.

The lottery tickets officially went on sale, but the independent cultivators in the audience, though envious, all clutched their storage bags, none of them willing to be the first to try it out.

After all, two spirit stones could buy them several days' worth of fasting pills.

Just as the situation was at a stalemate, a refined-looking cultivator suddenly emerged from the crowd. He was none other than Zhao Wenyuan, the envoy arranged by Zheng Yifei.

"Make way! What are you all dawdling about! Two spirit stones can't buy a top-grade magic weapon, but they can buy you a bright future!"

Zhao Wenyuan slammed twenty low-grade spirit stones on the ticket table with an air of grandeur and roared, "Give me ten!"

The Foundation Establishment disciple in charge of selling tickets immediately handed over ten lottery tickets sealed with an array coating.

In front of hundreds of pairs of eyes, Zhao Wenyuan quickly scraped off the coating of the first sheet with his fingernail.

"Didn't win...bad luck!"

He cursed, then scratched off the second and third cards.

When he scratched the fifth ticket, Zhao Wenyuan suddenly gasped, holding up the lottery ticket and shouting excitedly, "Holy crap! I won! I won the fourth prize! Ten low-grade spirit stones!"

The Foundation Establishment disciples on the high platform, with their sharp eyes, immediately banged on the large gong and announced loudly in a voice brimming with spiritual energy: "Congratulations to this fellow Daoist! He generously spent twenty spirit stones and won the fourth prize on his fifth try! He'll receive ten low-grade spirit stones on the spot! What a windfall!"

Immediately, a disciple carrying a tray handed Zhao Wenyuan ten glittering low-grade spirit stones.

This scene was like throwing a spark into dry tinder. The eyes of the surrounding rogue cultivators lit up instantly.

They're really giving money?!

Before they could react, Zhang Biao, a burly man with a fierce face, squeezed through the crowd from the other side and roared in a gruff voice, "I'll take five too!"

A moment later, Zhang Biao held up a lottery ticket and laughed wildly: "Hahaha! Third prize! A low-grade magic weapon! My broken sword can finally be replaced!"

"Clang! Clang!"

The gong rang out again, deafeningly announcing: "Congratulations to this brave warrior! You've won the third prize—a low-grade magic weapon, the 'Mysterious Iron Refined Steel Blade'!"

A magical artifact radiating a chilling spiritual light was handed to Zhang Biao on the spot.

Zhang Biao deliberately raised the magic weapon high and waved it in the sunlight. The sharp blade made the surrounding rogue cultivators swallow hard.

Immediately afterward, Zhao Ling'er, with her pure and lovely appearance, skipped forward and said in a soft voice, "I...I'll just buy one to try my luck."

As soon as the coating was scratched off, Zhao Ling'er let out an incredulous scream: "Wow! It's the first prize! Ten bottles of top-grade Spirit Gathering Pills!"

The cultivator on the high platform personally descended and handed ten exquisite jade bottles to Zhao Ling'er, loudly announcing, "Congratulations to this fairy! Two spirit stones, and you've won the first prize!"

Zhao Wenyuan, Zhang Biao, Zhao Ling'er, and dozens of undercover agents from the Inspectorate and the Information Department, who were mixed in with the crowd, took turns appearing, not only heating up the atmosphere but also completely shattering the last trace of doubt in the hearts of the independent cultivators with real prizes.

"Damn it! I'll give it my all! Give me five!"

"Me too! Don't push me, I'll buy ten!"

"God help me, just let me win the second prize!"