I run a casino in the immortal realm.

"Hiding in an underground chamber?"

Zheng Yifei looked at Xu Zhengkun, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

He slowly turned around, the night wind making his robes flutter loudly: "Young Sect Master, do you really think the Xuan Tian Sect's envoy is blind? Or have you overestimated the Sect Master's determination to protect me?"

Xu Zhengkun was taken aback by Zheng Yifei's merciless words, and his expression changed slightly: "Yifei, since my father agreed to give you 50% of the shares, it means that he values ​​you."

"As long as you don't show yourself, the Xuantian Sect's envoy will accept the tribute and leave. They can't possibly turn the Qingyun Sect upside down, can they?"

"Young Sect Master, you still don't understand."

Zheng Yifei leaned on the white jade railing, his eyes terrifyingly deep. In his previous life, when he frequented casinos in the mortal realm, he learned a lesson learned through blood and tears, bought with countless lives—never entrust your life to the kindness or luck of others.

Zheng Yifei turned his head and stared intently into Xu Zhengkun's eyes: "If the envoy from Xuantian Sect is Hu Xiaotian's man, then besides collecting 1.5 billion in tribute, their other purpose this time is definitely to find out the truth behind the destruction of the Hu family."

Do you think that, given the resources of a Nascent Soul sect, they wouldn't be able to find out that I, Zheng Yifei, was responsible for these 1.8 billion spirit stones?

Once they find out, they can easily send any Golden Core cultivator to scan the entire main peak with their divine sense and find out which secret room on the main peak could hide me.

When the time comes, if the envoy makes a scene in the main hall and demands my head by name, will the sect leader dare to say no?

Would he dare to endure the wrath of a Nascent Soul cultivator for the sake of a mere Qi Refining disciple like me?

Xu Zhengkun opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He knew very well that his father, Xu Tianyang, was an absolute opportunist.

Between preserving the Qingyun Sect and sacrificing Zheng Yifei, Xu Tianyang would absolutely choose the latter without hesitation.

"I can't withstand it by brute force. Any Golden Core or even Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily turn me into mincemeat with a single slap."

Zheng Yifei spoke calmly, as if discussing someone else's life or death: "In this cultivation world where there is no reason and only the size of one's fist matters, the only way to break the deadlock is to step out of the game."

"Jump out of the chessboard?"

Xu Zhengkun frowned: "What exactly do you want?"

"Dead people won't be hunted down."

Zheng Yifei uttered these words, a glint of a crazed gambler flashing in his eyes: "I want to 'die' in everyone's sight before the Xuan Tian Sect envoy arrives."

Xu Zhengkun's pupils constricted sharply, and he gasped, "You're trying to fake your death to escape?"

"This play requires the young sect leader's cooperation."

Zheng Yifei explained his plan in detail.

Xu Zhengkun felt a chill run down his spine.

Looking at the young man in front of him who was only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he felt a chill run down his spine.

How ruthless and decisive must one be, how keenly one senses danger, to sever all honors without hesitation and choose to feign death and flee at the very peak of glory and splendor?

"Okay! I'll cooperate!"

Xu Zhengkun took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Thank you, Young Sect Master."

Zheng Yifei cupped his hands in greeting: "Once things have calmed down, I will change my identity and secretly return to oversee the construction of the Never-Sleeping City."

Under the cover of night, the two finalized all the details of their faked death plan before quickly parting ways.

Zheng Yifei didn't rest for a moment and rushed back to Tingfeng Pavilion overnight.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The dull sound of the drums of the gathering generals echoed in the backyard of Tingfeng Pavilion.

In less than half an incense stick's time, more than a dozen senior executives from the Information Department, including Su Tong, rushed into the meeting hall with sleepy eyes and disheveled clothes.

"Director, what serious incident has occurred?"

While fastening his belt, Su Tong asked nervously.

Zheng Yifei sat upright in the main seat, his face deliberately radiating an uncontrollable joy and arrogance like that of a nouveau riche.

"Great news!" Zheng Yifei slammed his hand on the table and announced loudly, "Just now, the sect leader personally summoned me and rewarded me with one hundred million low-grade spirit stones, plus two hundred acres of auspicious land on the outskirts of Qingyun Market!"

The hall fell into a deathly silence for a moment, followed by a deafening scream.

"One...one hundred million spirit stones?!"

Su Tong's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he even stopped breathing.

"The Director is awesome! He's practically a god of wealth descended to earth!"

The other key members quickly realized what was happening and began frantically flattering him with obsequious expressions.

Zheng Yifei raised his hand to silence the commotion, feigning impatience: "I, Zheng Yifei, come from Heishan Market, the son of a tenant farmer. Now that I've risen to prominence, I naturally can't forget my roots!"

I've decided that tomorrow morning I'll take a superior flying boat back to Black Mountain City to bring all the men of my family here. We'll build a super estate on those two hundred acres of land so they can also enjoy a life of luxury with me!

"The Director is a man of great loyalty and integrity, truly a role model for us all!"

Su Tong immediately chimed in, though he felt this was a bit too ostentatious, but who could blame him when the other man was now a favorite of the sect leader?

"My trip, including the round trip and settling the tribespeople, will probably take ten to fifteen days."

Zheng Yifei's expression turned serious, and his gaze swept across the room like a knife: "During my absence, Su Tong will be in full charge of all affairs of the Information Department!"

The publication of the Qingyun Daily must continue, and the stories of subsequent lottery winners must also be published to maintain its popularity.

"Also, Su Tong, tomorrow you take a few quick-thinking men to fence off those two hundred acres of land for me. First, find a formation master to survey the terrain. Once I return, construction on the manor will begin immediately!"

Upon hearing that he had been entrusted with such an important task, Su Tong trembled with excitement: "Rest assured, Director! I will do my utmost, even at the cost of my life, to ensure that the Information Department suffers the slightest mishap! I wish you a triumphant return home and a safe journey!"

After making arrangements for the Information Department.

Zheng Yifei left Tingfeng Pavilion without stopping and headed straight for the Tax Bureau Inspection Department.

After summoning the main management personnel of the Inspection Department, Zheng Yifei repeated the same remarks he made at the Information Department the previous night.

When they heard that Zheng Yifei was going back to his hometown, Heishanfang City, to pick up his family members, the stewards below looked at each other, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

Su Qingwan frowned slightly, her clear, cold eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, staring at Zheng Yifei, and said coldly: "Director Zheng, you are now a prominent figure in the entire Qingyun Sect. I don't know how many eyes are secretly watching you."

Although the Hu family has been wiped out, there's no guarantee that no one has escaped. Isn't it too risky for you to leave the sect's territory in such a high-profile manner at this time, just to return home and fetch someone?

Zheng Yifei inwardly praised Su Qingwan's keen insight, but on his face he revealed an arrogant and dismissive expression: "Deputy Director Su is overthinking it. I, Zheng Yifei, am now a favorite of the sect leader. Who would dare to touch me?"

Besides, this time when I went back, I was using a high-grade flying boat specially made by the Weapon Peak, with all the defensive formations activated. Even a Golden Core cultivator in the early stage would have to put in a lot of effort to break through it.

My mind is made up; there's no need for further explanation.

Seeing his stubbornness, Su Qingwan's eyes flashed with disappointment, so she stopped trying to dissuade him.

"During my absence, Su Qingwan was in charge of all decision-making in the Inspectorate."

Zheng Yifei stood up, placed his hands on the table, and said in a cold tone: "Remember, although the Hu family has fallen, the other eight families have also made a fortune in this carnival."

"Keep a close eye on their books. Anyone who dares to evade taxes at this critical juncture will be investigated and their accounts confiscated when I return! Meeting adjourned!"

The group acknowledged the order and withdrew. Zheng Yifei gave Su Qingwan a deep look, said nothing more, and strode away.

The next and most important step is to report to the inner sect elders.

According to the rules of the Qingyun Sect, if the head of the outer sect's powerful department wants to leave the sect's main peak jurisdiction or go away for an extended period of time, he must submit a jade slip to the inner sect elders to report his whereabouts and return date, in order to prevent the sect's secrets from being leaked or uncontrollable changes from occurring.

Zheng Yifei arrived at the Inner Sect Hall and handed over a jade slip engraved with his schedule.

At this moment, in the inner sect elders' council hall, the First Elder, Fifth Elder Su Chenyuan, and Seventh Elder Li Zhan were drinking tea.

"Oh? Zheng Yifei is going back to his hometown?"

The Grand Elder took the jade slip handed over by the steward, scanned it with his divine sense, and couldn't help but let out a sneer: "This kid, he just received a reward of one hundred million spirit stones, and he can't wait to go back to Black Mountain Market to pick up his poor relatives."

Seventh Elder Li Zhan curled his lip, his eyes full of disdain: "A rotten mud is still a rotten mud. I told you before that his foundation was too shallow and he was not good enough for anything. He has a little bit of cleverness, and he made some money for the sect, so he got all high and mighty."

Those who cultivate immortality but neglect seclusion to build their foundation, instead indulging in worldly family vanity, will only be able to remain at the Qi Refining stage for life.

Although Fifth Elder Su Chenyuan greatly admired Zheng Yifei, upon seeing this jade slip, he could only shake his head helplessly: "Young people, after suddenly becoming rich, it's only natural that they want to return home in glory and show off."

"Let him go. Once he brings his people over and settles them in, he'll naturally focus on serving the sect."

The Grand Elder picked up a vermilion pen, casually drew a circle on the jade slip, and cast a spell: "Approved. Have the Weapon Peak arrange a better flying boat for him. Don't say that our inner sect has mistreated a meritorious official."

No one doubted Zheng Yifei's purpose in coming; in their eyes, it was just a show-off by a poor man who had suddenly become rich.