I run a casino in the immortal realm.

High above, the gale-force winds were like knives.

A top-grade flying ship, hundreds of feet long and covered with dark gold wind and thunder patterns, crushed the sea of ​​clouds and sped toward the Xuan Tian Sect in the north.

This was the carriage of Zeng Feng, the tribute envoy.

However, the flying boat had barely flown two thousand miles out of the Qingyun Sect's main peak territory when Zeng Feng suddenly raised his hand and coldly uttered two words: "Land."

Although the steward in charge of controlling the flying boat was full of doubts, he dared not disobey the Golden Core Elder's order and immediately began to perform a magic incantation.

The enormous airship emitted a deep rumble, like a massive steel beast, and slowly descended into a hidden deep mountain canyon below.

As soon as the flying boat came to a stop, Zeng Feng strode to the edge of the deck, put his hands behind his back, and looked in the direction of the Qingyun Sect with a gloomy gaze.

The mountain wind ruffled the goatee on his chin, and his sharp, hawk-like eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

"Sir, the tribute has been collected, and we have verified Zheng Yifei's identity. Why have you suddenly stopped in this desolate place?"

A trusted disciple stepped forward and asked cautiously.

"Verify identity?"

Zeng Feng let out an extremely grating laugh and abruptly turned his head: "You really think that charred corpse lying in the Xuanbing Cave is Zheng Yifei?"

The trusted disciple was stunned: "But... his bone age, cultivation level, fatal wound, and even the jade pendant he always wore all match up."

Moreover, the rogue cultivators in Qingyun Market were outraged, and his parents fainted on the spot from crying. How could this be fake?

"It's precisely because it's so realistic, so flawless, that it becomes its biggest flaw!"

Zeng Feng slapped the hard, spirit wood on the ship's side, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

He gritted his teeth, a hint of anger at being tricked flashing in his eyes: "That old fox Xu Tianyang, does he really think I'm a three-year-old child? One hundred million low-grade spirit stones is indeed a huge sum of money for a Golden Core cultivator."

But it was precisely the day before the envoy was about to arrive at the Qingyun Sect that he was abducted.

Why, after killing him with a single blow, to set the body on fire and disfigure him? What a coincidence!

Zeng Feng paced back and forth on the deck, his mind racing: "Zheng Yifei is such a shrewd and unconventional money-making scheme as 'lottery,' managing to rake in 1.8 billion spirit stones in just ten days. His intelligence and cunning are absolutely monstrous."

How could someone like that be so stupid as to return to their hometown to visit relatives with 100 million spirit stones in such a high-profile manner during a time of great controversy?

Is he fishing for attention, or is he courting death? The only explanation is that he's faking his death!

"Xu Tianyang was definitely playing along! They knew the Hu family wouldn't let Zheng Yifei go, so they used a flawless double to silence the real Zheng Yifei, and then secretly hid him away!"

Zeng Feng became increasingly convinced that his deduction was absolutely correct, and his eyes turned unusually fierce.

"Your Excellency is wise! Let's launch a surprise attack now and force Xu Tianyang to hand over the person!"

The trusted disciple immediately drew his long sword from his waist.

"madness!"

Zeng Feng glared at him fiercely: "Xu Tianyang is at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage. If pushed too far, he can simply die without any evidence."

We lack conclusive evidence, and the Xuantian Sect would never wage war against a subordinate sect that paid its 1.5 billion tribute on time for the sake of a mere Qi Refining stage disciple.

Zeng Feng pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the disciples accompanying him on the deck, then pointed to five of them: "You, you, and the other three, step forward!"

Five elite disciples in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage immediately knelt on one knee: "Please give your orders, Deacon!"

Zeng Feng took out five black jade bottles and five jade slips from his storage ring and threw them in front of them: "The jade bottles contain 'Concealing Breath Pills' and 'Disguise Powder,' which can change your appearance and spiritual energy fluctuations. Even a Golden Core cultivator in the early stage cannot see through them. The jade slips are top-grade communication talismans that I am giving you."

"I hereby give you a death order! Immediately disguise yourselves and sneak back into the Qingyun Sect, infiltrate the lower-level rogue cultivators, the market shops, and even the outer sect of the Qingyun Sect! Keep a close watch on Xu Tianyang and his son Xu Zhengkun, as well as Zheng Yifei's family!"

As long as Zheng Yifei is alive, he will meet with his family, and his astonishing methods of accumulating wealth will never stop. If the Qingyun Sect makes any unusual moves involving the flow of spirit stones, report to me immediately!

"yes!"

The five disciples responded in unison, quickly swallowed the pills, changed into tattered robes of rogue cultivators, and transformed into five inconspicuous streaks of light, disappearing into the vast forest.

Watching their departing figures, Zeng Feng curled his lips into a cruel sneer: "Zheng Yifei, you'd better pray that you really turn to ashes."

Upon my return, I will immediately distribute your portrait to all affiliated sects under the Xuan Tian Sect under the pretext of "hunting down accomplices of Golden Core cultivators"! If you dare to show your face in the Southern Wilderness, I will ensure your demise!

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away in the sea of ​​clouds high in the sky, far from the territory of the Qingyun Sect.

A high-grade flying ship, stripped of all sect insignia and with an extremely ordinary appearance, moved like a ghost through the thick clouds.

The airship's defensive formation was activated to its maximum, not only isolating it from the gale but also suppressing the airship's spiritual energy fluctuations to a minimum.

Inside the sealed compartment of the airship's lower deck, a luminous pearl emitting a soft glow is embedded in the ceiling.

Zheng Yifei sat cross-legged on the futon.

At this point, his appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation.

His once handsome features have become ordinary and unremarkable, his complexion is dull and slightly yellow, and there is even a small scar at the corner of his eye.

This is the "Thousand Illusion Mask," a top-grade Xuan-level magic treasure that Xu Zhengkun found in the sect's treasury. It can not only change bone structure and flesh, but also simulate different auras, enough to deceive the divine sense detection of most Golden Core cultivators.

Around Zheng Yifei, three cold-faced sword cultivators sat cross-legged in a triangular formation.

They were all at the late Foundation Establishment stage, exuding a strong aura of iron-blooded killing intent.

These three were absolutely loyal men secretly trained by the Xu family, responsible for protecting Zheng Yifei.

"Director Zheng, have some spiritual tea."

The guard Tie Feng handed over a water pouch, his tone filled with undisguised reverence.

Zheng Yifei took the water pouch, took a sip, but his gaze was fixed on the direction of the Qingyun Sect through the array light screen on the cabin wall.

The cruelty of the cultivation world far surpasses that of the mortal realm.

Although the Hu family was uprooted by Xu Tianyang with swift and decisive measures, how could a local tyrant that had thrived for thousands of years not have a few loyal vassal families and spies lurking in the dark corners of the Qingyun Sect?

Those people are now like hungry wolves, keeping a close eye on the Zheng family's every move.

If he were to secretly contact his parents, even if he only revealed the slightest flaw, he would absolutely not be able to remain calm under the probing of those Foundation Establishment experts.

Once the news that he is still alive is exposed, he will be met with a relentless and frenzied pursuit from Hu Xiaotian of the Xuantian Sect. At that time, not only will he die, but his parents, brothers and sisters will also have their souls extracted and their bodies refined, leaving them without a complete corpse.

"Only if I really 'die' can they be the safest, as the martyrs of the sect, and be used by Xu Tianyang as a figurehead to appease people."

Zheng Yifei silently told himself to completely cut off that weakness, and his eyes became cold and hard again.

"Director, we have completely broken free from the Qingyun Sect's sphere of influence."

Tie Feng looked at the astrolabe in his hand and reported in a deep voice, "Where should we go next? Should we go to the islands of the East China Sea to live in seclusion, or go to the Western Desert to lay low? Just give the word, and the brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

The other two guards nodded in agreement.

In their view, Zheng Yifei is now the most dangerous wanted criminal in the entire Southern Wilderness. Hu Xiaotian and Zeng Feng will definitely not swallow this insult easily, and they will escape as far and as remotely as possible.

Zheng Yifei put down the water pouch, slowly raised his head, and the dim light shone on his ordinary face after his disguise, but it could not hide the crazy ambition burning in his eyes.

"We will not go to the East China Sea, nor to the Western Desert."

Zheng Yifei spoke clearly, his voice echoing in the secret chamber: "Change course, full speed ahead, our destination—Xuantian Sect."