I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Xuantian Sect, Qingfeng Cliff.

This is the Daoist temple of the Great Elder Qin Cang. The cliff top is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, and the spiritual energy is so rich that it turns into wisps of white mist that flows down the bluestone slabs.

Inside the main hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Qin Cang sat cross-legged on the white jade futon in the main seat.

He wore a gray robe, his beard and hair were all white, and his face was ancient and simple. Although he did not make any movements, a terrifying pressure belonging to a late-stage Nascent Soul expert naturally filled the entire space.

At the bottom of the steps, Zeng Feng knelt on one knee, raising three storage rings high with both hands.

"Master, this is the tribute of 1.5 billion low-grade spirit stones from the Qingyun Sect."

Zeng Feng lowered his head, his voice tinged with trepidation.

On the left side of the main hall stood a young man dressed in a purple and gold robe.

With his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and an undisguised fierceness between his brows, he was none other than Hu Lie's youngest son, Hu Xiaotian.

Qin Cang did not reach out; the three storage rings flew up on their own and landed in his sleeve.

"Is it all complete?"

Qin Cang slowly opened his eyes, his voice completely flat.

"Not a single piece missing."

Zeng Feng replied.

Hu Xiaotian clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking. He strode forward, staring intently at Zeng Feng: "Where is my father? The Qingyun Sect has paid the 1.5 billion, but what about the Hu family's legacy within the Qingyun Sect?"

Zeng Feng swallowed hard, not daring to hide anything: "Senior Brother Hu, the Hu family... is gone. Xu Tianyang uprooted the Hu family on charges of colluding with the demonic path and robbing tribute flying boats."

Elder Hu Lie has revealed his natal magic weapon, Blood Escape, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Your son, Hu Jinpeng, has also fled and his whereabouts are unknown.

The entire Hu family, numbering 300,000, was executed.

"Bang!"

Hu Xiaotian smashed the rosewood table next to him with a single palm strike.

"Xu Tianyang! How dare he!"

Hu Xiaotian's eyes were bloodshot, and his violent half-step Golden Core spiritual power surged through his body, causing the defensive array in the main hall to vibrate loudly.

He turned to Qin Cang and knelt heavily on both knees: "Master! The Xu family has gone too far! They are slapping you in the face! We beg you, Master, to take action, wipe out Qingyun Peak, and avenge our Hu family!"

Qin Cang looked at Hu Xiaotian quietly, his eyes as calm as still water.

The air inside the hall suddenly froze.

An overwhelming pressure descended from the sky, pressing directly on Hu Xiaotian's back.

Hu Xiaotian groaned as he was pinned to the bluestone floor, unable to move even a finger.

"idiot."

Qin Cang uttered two words.

Hu Xiaotian gritted his teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with resentment.

"You think the Xuantian Sect belongs to me, Qin Cang, alone?"

Qin Cang withdrew his oppressive aura, his tone cold and stern: "Xu Tianyang is the head of a sect. The Xu family has been operating in the Qingyun Sect for a thousand years and is deeply rooted."

Moreover, Xu Tianyang paid the 1.5 billion tribute on time, leaving us with no leverage over him.

"If I were to destroy a subordinate sect without cause, what would the sect leader think? What would those old fogies on the elders' council think?"

Hu Xiaotian, panting heavily, got up: "But Master, my Hu family..."

"Your Hu family failed because you were simply outmatched!"

Qin Cang interrupted him mercilessly: "Xu Tianyang was able to raise 1.5 billion, which means he wasn't meant to die. The cultivation world only cares about the results. If you have the ability, go and wipe out the Xu family yourself. I will not stop you."

"But you're not up to the task of making me turn against the sect leader and the entire council of elders for your sake."

Hu Xiaotian's face turned deathly pale, and he bit his lip tightly.

Qin Cang turned to Zeng Feng: "Did you bring back Zheng Yifei, the one who rigged the lottery and got 1.8 billion spirit stones?"

Cold sweat beaded on Zeng Feng's forehead as he lowered his head even further: "Reporting to Master, Zheng Yifei... is dead."

"Dead?"

Qin Cang raised an eyebrow.

Zeng Feng quickly recounted the details of the ambush and murder at Falling Star Valley and the autopsy at Xuanbing Cave, then added, "Master, I suspect this is a smokescreen by Xu Tianyang. Zheng Yifei is a cunning man; he is very likely to have faked his death to escape."

"Whether the person is really dead or not, failing to bring them back is your dereliction of duty."

Qin Cang snorted coldly.

Zeng Feng trembled and quickly stated, "This disciple has already issued a top-secret arrest warrant to all sects under the jurisdiction of the Southern Wilderness Region. At the same time, I have dispatched five elite spies to infiltrate the Qingyun Sect. As long as Zheng Yifei dares to show his face, or if a large amount of spirit stones flows out of the Qingyun Sect, this disciple will receive the news immediately."

He's just a Qi Refining stage cultivator; he absolutely can't escape his master's grasp!

Qin Cang remained noncommittal, his gaze returning to Hu Xiaotian.

"Xiaotian, you are my most valued disciple."

Qin Cang's tone softened slightly: "There are many ways to take revenge. Going straight to their door is the worst approach. Since the Xu family wants to protect the Qingyun Sect, we'll cut off their hopes at the root."

Hu Xiaotian raised his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Three months from now, it will be the Xuantian Sect's triennial selection of disciples for its affiliated sects."

Qin Cang tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair: "I will preside over this selection. Go and tell the Hall of Affairs that the number of recommended candidates for the Qingyun Sect this year will be reduced by 70%, and the difficulty of the assessment for all those of the Xu family bloodline will be increased by three times. I want to completely cut off the fresh blood of the Qingyun Sect."

Hu Xiaotian took a deep breath and kowtowed heavily: "Master is wise!"

"As for you."

Qin Cang looked at him and said, "You've stayed at the half-step Golden Core stage long enough. Go to the Sword Washing Pool in the back mountain for seclusion. Don't come out until you've formed your Golden Core."

"Once you reach the Golden Core stage and have a voice in the sect, you can do whatever you want with the Xu family, and I will naturally cover for you."

"Disciple understands!"

Hu Xiaotian stood up, his eyes burning with a crazed killing intent: "Xu Tianyang, Xu Zhengkun, and that Zheng Yifei whose fate is unknown! The day I emerge from seclusion after completing my Core Formation will be the day you all perish!"

Hu Xiaotian turned around and strode out of the main hall.

Zeng Feng watched Hu Xiaotian's retreating figure, a chill running through his heart.

He knew that this senior brother Hu was truly driven to the brink of despair, and once he broke free from his cocoon, he would inevitably unleash a bloody storm.

Xuantianfang Market, Liushu Hutong.

The night was deep, but the underground chamber of the courtyard house was brightly lit.

Zheng Yifei looked at the mountain of cultivation resources in front of him and nodded in satisfaction.

Tie Feng was indeed efficient. 110,000 low-grade spirit stones bought them ten bottles of top-grade Qi Gathering Pills, five bottles of Qi Consolidation Pills, and three large barrels of Marrow Cleansing Liquid. These resources were enough for the four of them to squander for a month or two.

"Director, all the resources have been purchased."

Tie Feng stood aside and reported, "However, when I was purchasing array plates at the Array Pavilion, I found your wanted poster."

"explain."

Zheng Yifei picked up a bottle of top-grade Qi Gathering Pills, uncorked it, and smelled it.

"A new batch of wanted posters has been posted on the bulletin board in the market."

Tie Feng lowered his voice, "There's a picture of you on the wanted poster. It also says you know the art of accumulating wealth through unorthodox methods, have a Qi Refining level of nine, and the bounty is as high as 100,000 low-grade spirit stones. The poster was issued by the Inner Sect Affairs Hall of the Xuan Tian Sect."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shan and Lin Bao's expressions both changed.

The arrest warrant has been sent to Xuantian Market, so their situation is very dangerous.

Zheng Yifei placed the bottle of pills on the table, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"That old fox Zeng Feng is not so easy to fool."

A dangerous glint flashed in Zheng Yifei's eyes: "A bounty of 100,000 spirit stones on a Qi Refining stage cultivator, they really think highly of me."

"Director, what do we do now?"

Lin Bao was a little nervous. "This Xuantian Market is full of Xuantian Sect spies. What if we get recognized..."

"Recognize it? How?"

Zheng Yifei pointed to his ordinary face: "The Thousand Illusions Mask can even deceive the divine sense of a Golden Core cultivator. As long as we keep a low profile and don't actively reveal our identities, who will know that I am Zheng Yifei?"

Zheng Yifei stood up and glanced at the three of them.

"Don't worry about the arrest warrant. I'll take care of it if the sky falls."

Zheng Yifei said in a resolute tone, "From today onwards, we will all go into seclusion and make money at the gambling den once a month. I will establish my foundation within two years, and you will all reach the peak of foundation establishment."

"yes!"

The three of them accepted the order in unison.