I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The third day, at noon.

Before the echoes of the death knell from the main peak of Qingyun had faded, the clouds in the sky were suddenly torn apart by a violent force.

A superb flying boat, hundreds of feet long and covered with dark gold wind and thunder patterns, shattered the sea of ​​clouds and hovered above the main peak square with a suffocating sense of oppression.

A huge shadow enveloped the entire square.

On the side of the flying boat, a large black flag with gold lettering reading "Xuantian" fluttered in the wind.

Xu Tianyang, along with all the inner sect elders and powerful deacons of the Qingyun Sect, had been waiting in the square for a long time.

"Welcome, Your Excellency!"

Xu Tianyang clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply. The dignified sect leader at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage had lowered his posture to the lowest possible level.

The crowd behind him bowed in unison.

The flying boat formation was activated, and fifteen figures descended from the sky.

They were all dressed in the uniform of the Xuantian Sect's inner disciples, and their minimum age was mid-Foundation Establishment.

The leader, with a sinister face, a hooked nose, and a goatee on his chin, was Zeng Feng, the tribute envoy and an inner sect steward of the Xuantian Sect.

Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation.

Zeng Feng landed on his feet, not even glancing at Xu Tianyang. His gaze swept around the plaza, and he coldly snorted, "Sect Leader Xu, why is the Qingyun Sect plastered with white banners everywhere? I'm here to collect tribute, and you're showing me these unlucky things?"

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty."

Xu Tianyang straightened up, his face displaying just the right amount of respect: "Our sect has just suffered a calamity, and an important figure has perished. We are currently holding a funeral."

"A cultivator who has been robbed?"

Zeng Feng's lips curled into a mocking smile: "In your main peak's territory, you think you can let Tribulation Cultivators run rampant? It seems that Sect Master Xu's cultivation hasn't improved in recent years, and his methods of governing have also regressed. Let's go to the main hall to talk."

With a wave of his sleeve, Zeng Feng took the initiative and strode towards the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Zeng Feng unceremoniously sat on the sect leader's throne that originally belonged to Xu Tianyang.

Xu Tianyang could only stand at the lower end, and the other elders didn't even have the right to sit.

"Sect Leader Xu, you know the rules. Fifteen billion low-grade spirit stones, let's settle the deal."

Zeng Feng picked up the spirit tea from the table next to him, took a sip, and spat it out on the ground with a "pfft." "What kind of tattered leaves are these to serve me?"

Xu Tianyang remained expressionless and handed over three specially made, extra-large capacity storage rings.

Zeng Feng casually accepted the tea, then probed it with his divine sense. The next moment, his hand holding the teacup suddenly paused, and a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It's overflowing, a full 1.5 billion, not a single penny less.

Before setting off, Junior Brother Hu Xiaotian confidently declared that the Qingyun Sect absolutely could not raise the money.

If Xu Tianyang fails to pay the dues, he can report to the Xuan Tian Sect Master and strip Xu Tianyang of his position as sect master.

Now, the money is all there.

Zeng Feng put away his storage ring, his face darkening. "Money is no problem, but I am acting on the Sect Master's orders to inquire about Elder Hu Lie's affairs. Sect Master Xu, don't you intend to provide an explanation?"

The air pressure inside the main hall suddenly dropped.

"Hu Lie colluded with the three demonic blood demons to rob the sect's transport ship and kill inner disciples. After being discovered, he resisted arrest and escaped by detonating his natal magic weapon, Blood Escape."

Xu Tianyang spoke calmly, handing over a jade slip. "This contains the recording array of the Enforcement Hall, as well as the testimonies from the on-site investigation. The evidence is irrefutable."

Zeng Feng did not accept the jade slip, but tapped the table lightly with his fingers: "Sect Master Xu, Elder Hu Lie's son, Hu Xiaotian, is now a favorite of the Grand Elder."

You're saying Hu Lie is colluding with the demonic path? Senior Brother Hu is furious; he thinks you're eliminating dissidents.

"Qingyun Sect is an affiliate of Xuantian Sect. Everything I do is for the benefit of the superior sect."

Xu Tianyang tucked his hands into his sleeves: "What Hu Lie stole were tribute spirit stones that were intended to be handed over to the Xuantian Sect. If I do not punish him severely, the envoy standing here today will only have an empty storage ring."

This statement was both soft and hard. "You've taken the money, so don't try to talk to me about eliminating dissidents."

Zeng Feng squinted and stared at Xu Tianyang for a long time.

He knew he couldn't control this Golden Core cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, and Xu Tianyang's youngest son, Xu Zhenghai, had also become a disciple of a Nascent Soul elder in the Xuan Tian Sect. If things really came to a head, he wouldn't come out unscathed either.

"I will report this matter truthfully."

Zeng Feng changed the subject: "However, I am very interested in your 'Qingyun Welfare Lottery'. In just ten days, you amassed over a billion in wealth. This method has even alarmed several elders of the Xuantian Sect."

"I heard that this lottery was invented by a disciple named Zheng Yifei. Call him out. The Grand Elder said that this person is a genius at making money. It's a waste to keep him in your poor, remote place. Let him come back to Xuantian Sect with me."

Xu Zhengkun stood behind, his palms instantly sweating.

coming.

This was the dead end that Zheng Yifei had predicted.

If Zheng Yifei were still alive, and had been taken away by Zeng Feng to the Xuantian Sect, he would have fallen into Hu Xiaotian's hands and his soul would have been extracted and refined, leaving not even a trace of his bones.

"The Emperor's Envoy."

Xu Tianyang sighed, a look of deep sorrow appearing on his face at the opportune moment: "You're too late. Zheng Yifei is dead."

Zeng Feng suddenly stood up, and his mid-stage Golden Core spiritual power erupted, causing the tables and chairs in the hall to shake violently.

"Xu Tianyang! You dare to play me?!"

Zeng Feng shouted angrily, "Why did he have to die so suddenly? Why did he have to die now that I've come to demand his release? Do you think I'm a three-year-old who can be dismissed with some made-up excuse?!"

"I am absolutely not lying."

Facing Zeng Feng's oppressive aura, Xu Tianyang did not back down an inch: "Just yesterday, Zheng Yifei brought 100 million spirit stones back to his hometown to visit relatives, and was ambushed and killed by a Golden Core cultivator in Falling Star Valley."

The airship crashed, the people inside were burned alive, and all the spirit stones were looted. Those white banners in the plaza were hung in his memory.

"A Golden Core cultivator undergoing Tribulation? Where would a Golden Core cultivator from your Qingyun territory come from!"

Zeng Feng didn't believe it at all; he was convinced that this was a smokescreen deliberately released by Xu Tianyang to protect this money-making machine.

"I want to see him alive or dead!"

Zeng Feng strode down the steps: "Lead the way! I will personally examine the body! If I find out you've been deceiving the sect, Xu Tianyang, you can forget about being the sect leader!"

After an incense stick has burned.

The Xuanbing Cave on the back mountain of the main peak.

A bone-chilling cold permeated the air. On a white jade platform in the center of the cave lay a charred, curled-up corpse.

Zeng Feng stood before the jade platform, his face grim. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Xuan Tian Sect behind him had already dispersed, their divine senses scanning the entire cave like radar to confirm that there was no ambush.

"This is Zheng Yifei?"

Zeng Feng sneered, "Burned to the point that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him, Sect Leader Xu's method of finding a substitute is far too clumsy."

Xu Tianyang stood aside, expressionless: "The envoy will know once he examines it."

Zeng Feng snorted coldly, and his massive divine sense probed into the charred corpse without any hesitation.

The bones were largely carbonized, but the remaining bone age characteristics clearly indicated that the deceased was around eighteen years old.

Although the meridians were broken and atrophied, the faint spiritual energy fluctuations remaining in the dantian area were indeed at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The fatal wound was to the heart meridian, which was instantly shattered by an extremely domineering and pure external force, before being burned by raging fire.

Zeng Feng frowned. Bone age, cultivation level, cause of death—everything matched.

He reached out and grabbed a broken jade pendant from the charred corpse's waist. Although the pendant was covered in cracks, the words "Director of Information Zheng" were still clearly legible.

"Go check."

Zeng Feng tossed the jade pendant to his subordinate.

Half an hour later, the Xuan Tian Sect disciples who had been sent out to investigate returned to Xuanbing Cave.

"Reporting to the steward, the matter has been investigated thoroughly."

A disciple whispered a report: "The entire Qingyun Market is talking about this. The rogue cultivators are outraged. We went to see Zheng Yifei's family. His parents fainted three times from crying. It's definitely not an exaggeration."

Another disciple added, "I went to the ambush site in Falling Star Valley. The area within a five-mile radius was burned to the ground, and the remaining fire-type spiritual energy was extremely pure, definitely the work of a Golden Core cultivator."

Moreover, their methods were sophisticated, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Zeng Feng's expression kept changing.

All the evidence points to one fact—Zheng Yifei is really dead.

He died in a robbery of a Golden Elixir cultivator driven by greed.

This made him feel frustrated, like punching cotton.

Hu Xiaotian's task was to bring Zheng Yifei back or kill him directly.

Now that he's dead and his money has been stolen, how is he going to explain himself when he gets back?

"The Emperor's Envoy."

Xu Tianyang spoke at the opportune moment, his tone carrying just the right amount of weariness: "Zheng Yifei was a prodigy of our sect, and his death pains me more than anyone else. Now the sect is beset by internal and external troubles, and I hope that you, envoy, will put in a good word for me before the Grand Elder."

My rebellious son, Zheng Hai, who is cultivating at the Xuan Tian Sect, sent a message a few days ago saying that his master is paying close attention to this tribute payment.

Zeng Feng's eye twitched slightly.

Xu Tianyang was targeting him.

The tribute has already been paid, so you have no reason to cause trouble. Xu Zhenghai's Nascent Soul Master is also watching. If you continue to make trouble, you will be deliberately provoking a conflict between the two factions' elders.

Zeng Feng took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart.

"Since the person is dead, it's because he was unlucky."

Zeng Feng flicked his sleeves: "Sect Leader Xu, you'd better keep an eye on the security of the Qingyun Sect. I have important business to attend to, farewell!"