I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The Xuantian Sect's triennial recruitment conference arrived as scheduled.

At the main peak square of Qingyun Mountain, a superior flying boat took off into the air.

Young Sect Master Xu Zhengkun stood on the deck, followed by twenty carefully selected inner disciples.

In the quiet room at the bottom of the airship, Xu Zhengkun took out a dark gold communication talisman and infused it with spiritual power.

"Yifei, I'm leading the team to set off, arriving in Xuantian City ten days ahead of schedule."

Xu Zhengkun transmitted his voice: "I've done what you asked me to do. I managed to get a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill from the old man, but my identity is sensitive, and Hu Xiaotian's men will definitely be watching me in Xuantian City. How can I give you the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Are there any disciples I know who are participating in the assessment?"

"Yes, there is my sister Mu Yao, your fiancée Su Wanqing, and your fellow villager Zhao Ling."

A moment later, Zheng Yifei's reply came: "Xu Muyao is the sect leader's daughter, and Su Qingwan is my nominal fiancée. These two are too conspicuous. The Hu family's spies are definitely watching them. Have Zhao Ling come to see me."

Xu Zhengkun looked at the names on the list and raised an eyebrow: "Zhao Ling? This girl is usually quiet and reserved, can she handle it?"

"She is the most suitable candidate. She has a low profile and is absolutely loyal to me. All the resources she has in the Qingyun Sect are provided by me."

Once you arrive in Xuantian City, do nothing. Let them have their own fun. Female cultivators strolling around the streets is the best cover.

Ten days later, the Qingyun Sect's flying boat landed at the anchorage outside Xuantian City.

As soon as Xu Zhengkun stepped off the flying boat, his keen senses detected several subtle gazes sweeping over him from the crowd.

He remained calm and led his disciples to stay at the inn arranged by the Xuantian Sect.

"There are still ten days until the assessment. You are free to move around and familiarize yourselves with the city."

Xu Zhengkun threw down a sentence, then turned and went back to his room, closing the door behind him.

Over the next seven days, the spies sent by the Hu family endured the most agonizing ordeal of their careers.

They were ordered to keep a close eye on the Qingyun Sect's group, especially Xu Zhengkun, Xu Muyao, and Su Qingwan.

As a result, Xu Zhengkun rarely left his home, while Xu Muyao and Su Qingwan dragged Zhao Ling along and went out shopping every day without fail.

They strolled from the Spirit Medicine Pavilion in the east of the city to the Clothing Shop in the west, and then to the Rouge Shop in the south. The three female cultivators enjoyed themselves immensely, haggling, trying on clothes, and chatting.

"Boss, these three women spent another four hours shopping today, buying three sets of robes and more than a dozen boxes of spirit fat ointment."

An undercover agent rubbed his aching legs and reported to his leader.

The lead spy gritted his teeth: "Keep a close eye on them! Senior Brother Hu said that even if it's just a fly flying out of the inn, we have to make sure it's male or female!"

On the morning of the eighth day.

Xu Zhengkun handed Zhao Ling a wooden box with a spirit-sealing talisman attached.

"Go to Fengming Teahouse, room number nine. Come back after the handover, don't ask any questions."

Xu Zhengkun gave his instructions.

Zhao Ling stuffed the wooden box into her storage bag and nodded obediently.

Half an hour later, the three female cultivators went out again.

The spies followed skillfully. However, as they passed through a crowded main street of the market, Xu Muyao and Su Qingwan suddenly walked into a large clothing store that was rumored to have just received a batch of East Sea silk.

Zhao Ling stood at the door and said to the two of them, "I'm going to buy a cup of spiritual tea next door. I'll come find you later."

The spies' attention was completely drawn to the two people in the robes pavilion, and no one paid any attention to the little girl who ran errands to buy tea.

Fengming Tea House is just two streets away from Fayige.

Following Xu Zhengkun's instructions, Zhao Ling pushed open the door to VIP room number nine on the second floor.

The private room was elegantly furnished, with a faint, calming incense burning. A male cultivator of average appearance and slightly yellowish complexion sat at the table, slowly and methodically brewing tea.

Zhao Ling gripped the defensive talisman in her sleeve warily: "Fellow Daoist, the young sect leader asked me to deliver something."

The male cultivator raised his head and glanced at her.

The next moment, the male cultivator reached out and wiped his face, and his ordinary face rippled like water, revealing his originally handsome features.

Zhao Ling's pupils contracted sharply, and she froze on the spot. She opened her mouth, wanting to scream, but the male cultivator swiftly cast a soundproof barrier, sealing the sound out of the private room.

"Brother Zheng...?!"

Zhao Ling's eyes instantly reddened, and her voice trembled violently.

The entire Qingyun Sect believed that Zheng Yifei was dead.

She cried secretly several times, and even built a cenotaph for him on the back mountain of the sect.

"sit."

Zheng Yifei pointed to the chair opposite him, poured a cup of spiritual tea, and pushed it over.

Zhao Ling slumped into a chair, tears streaming down her face: "Brother Yifei, you're not dead... That's wonderful, that's really wonderful."

"Why are you crying? I'm tough as nails."

Zheng Yifei smiled and reached out to take the wooden box that Zhao Ling had placed on the table.

Tearing off the sealing talisman and opening the wooden box, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside the box lay a round, plump pill covered with three lines of pill patterns.

Top-grade Foundation Building Pill.

Zheng Yifei put the wooden box into his storage bag. With the two pills given to him by the sect leader earlier, he now has three top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills.

Two more are needed.

Tell me about yourself.

Zheng Yifei looked at Zhao Ling: "The Xuantian Sect's recruitment threshold is the Foundation Establishment Realm, but you're only at the ninth level of Qi Refining. How did you get a spot in the assessment?"

Zhao Ling wiped away her tears and calmed herself down: "It was personally recommended by the sect leader. Three months ago, during the Dan Hall assessment, I used ordinary Qi Gathering Grass to refine a second-grade top-quality Qi Gathering Pill."

The elder of the Pill Hall said that I was born with top-grade spiritual roots in both wood and fire elements, and I am extremely sensitive to the essence of plants and trees. I am a born alchemist, and the Xuan Tian Sect can lower its entry requirements for special talents.

She paused, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes: "The sect leader said that with my talent in alchemy, I'm almost certain to enter the Xuan Tian Sect's Pill Pavilion."

"Brother Yifei, once I join the Xuantian Sect, I'll be able to visit you more often!"

Zheng Yifei looked at Zhao Ling's expectant face and shook his head.

"No, once you've entered the Xuan Tian Sect, pretend you've never seen me."

Zheng Yifei's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Zhao Ling was stunned: "Why?"

"Because my name is currently listed on the bounty board of the Xuantian Sect's Enforcement Hall."

Zheng Yifei picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam: "Hu Xiaotian is currently at the half-step Golden Core stage, and the Grand Elder behind him, Qin Cang, is at the late Nascent Soul stage. If you get close to me, you're just hastening your own demise."

Zhao Ling's face turned pale, and she subconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

"What I want you to do is to devote yourself to alchemy."

The Xuan Tian Sect's Pill Pavilion is the most profound place in the entire Southern Wilderness. You must establish yourself there and devote yourself to the study of alchemy.

If you lack spirit stones, I'll give them to you; if you lack spirit herbs, I'll buy them for you. Even those ancient pill formulas that have disappeared, as long as they appear on the market, I'll sell everything I own to get them for you.

"Because I'm currently a rogue cultivator, I'll need top-grade Breakthrough Pills to break through to the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages in the future. These pills are impossible to buy even with money, so you'll have to refine them for me."

Zheng Yifei's words were very clear: he was investing in Zhao Ling to lay the foundation for acquiring top-grade pills in the future.

"Don't worry, Brother Yifei!"

Zhao Ling suddenly stood up, her eyes resolute. "I will definitely work my hardest to refine pills and I will never let you down."

Zheng Yifei nodded in satisfaction. He took out a heavy storage bag and tossed it to Zhao Ling.

"There are 100,000 low-grade spirit stones in here."

Zheng Yifei said, "Once you're in the Xuantian Sect, don't be stingy with money. Building connections, bribing stewards, and buying private furnaces all require spirit stones. If you run out of money, contact me via the communication talisman, and I'll arrange for someone to get in touch with you."

Zhao Ling hugged the storage bag, feeling as if she were hugging a mountain.

One hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones is an unimaginable sum of money for a Qi Refining disciple.

"Alright, let's go back."

Zheng Yifei put the Thousand Illusions Mask back on, his appearance once again becoming ordinary: "Remember, what happened today must remain a secret. You must not utter a single word about it, not even to Su Qingwan or Xu Muyao."

"Ling'er understands."

Zhao Ling gave Zheng Yifei a deep look, then turned and left.

When Zhao Ling returned to the Dharma Robe Pavilion, Xu Muyao and Su Qingwan were still selecting silk.

"Where did you go to buy tea? It's been so long."

Xu Muyao asked casually.

"There were too many people in line, I waited for quite a while."

Zhao Ling raised the spirit tea in her hand, her expression natural.

The spies, who had been watching outside the door until their eyes ached, all breathed a sigh of relief when the three female cultivators finally came out.