I run a casino in the immortal realm.

In the underground chamber, Zheng Yifei stared at the dark gold talisman, his lips twitching.

Top-grade Barrier-Breaking Pill?

Kun really thinks I'm some kind of turtle in a wishing well.

Where could a Qi Refining cultivator possibly get something that could cause even a Golden Core cultivator to fight tooth and nail?

However, Zheng Yifei didn't rule out the possibility entirely. He picked up the talisman and infused it with spiritual power.

"Brother Kun, I can't get my hands on the Breakthrough Pill right now. You couldn't afford it even if you sold me."

Zheng Yifei replied telepathically: "Tell Zheng Hai to suppress his cultivation level as much as possible, and don't force it. Zhao Ling has already entered the Pill Pavilion. Once she has a foothold there and comes into contact with high-level pill formulas and materials, this matter may not be without a chance."

The desolate mountains outside the city.

Xu Zhengkun received the reply and sighed deeply. He knew he was grasping at straws in his desperation.

He returned to the city, found Xu Zhenghai, and relayed Zheng Yifei's words.

"wait?"

Xu Zhenghai gave a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with despair: "The spiritual energy in my meridians is almost uncontrollable. Forcibly suppressing it will only lead to qi deviation."

"Even if we can't suppress it, we must suppress it!"

Xu Zhengkun grabbed his younger brother's shoulder, the pressure of his Golden Core stage cultivation locking Xu Zhenghai's trembling body in place: "Go take on the sect's toughest and most tiring mission, hunt demonic beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and use combat to consume your excess spiritual energy! As long as you don't die, there's always hope!"

Xu Zhenghai remained silent for a long time before nodding emphatically.

Xu Zhengkun did not linger and took advantage of the night to board a flying boat and return to the Qingyun Sect.

He would repay the humiliation inflicted by the Xuantian Sect many times over with the massive resources he had earned from the "Mirage".

Cultivating immortality knows no time.

Two years passed quickly in monotonous seclusion and monthly "casino restocking".

Xuantianfang Market, Liushu Hutong.

Inside the underground chamber, the spiritual energy was so dense that it materialized into a white mist, slowly flowing along the patterns of the spirit-gathering array.

Zheng Yifei sat cross-legged, circulating the Azure Cloud Technique within his body to its maximum.

Within the dantian, the five-colored spiritual energy vortex had expanded to its limit, becoming as viscous as mercury, constantly impacting the barriers of the meridians.

The Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

He opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

Outside the secret room, Tie Feng and his two companions sensed the commotion and immediately went to greet them.

"Director!"

The three men clasped their hands in unison, their voices booming like bells.

Over the past two years, thanks to the massive amount of spirit stones that Zheng Yifei won from various gambling dens, the cultivation levels of these three individuals have skyrocketed.

They drink top-grade Qi Gathering Pills and Marrow Cleansing Liquid like water, and have now steadily reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, only one step away from the Golden Core stage. What they need are Breakthrough Pills and Golden Core Formation Pills.

"Thank you for your hard work these past two years."

Zheng Yifei stood up and stretched his limbs.

In the past two years, in order to avoid attracting the attention of the major forces in Xuantian City, Zheng Yifei has strictly controlled the frequency of his visits to gambling dens.

I only go once a month, each time to a different casino, and leave once I've won enough spirit stones (tens of thousands).

Over the past two years, besides what he had spent, he had accumulated nearly three million low-grade spirit stones.

But this is far from enough.

He wants to establish his foundation. With the aptitude of five spiritual roots, he is a gold-devouring behemoth. Without five top-grade foundation-establishment pills, forcibly breaking through will only result in his annihilation.

He has three in his hand now.

Zheng Yifei took out a top-grade communication talisman and contacted Xu Zhengkun.

"Brother Kun, I've reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. I'm still missing two top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills."

A moment later, Xu Zhengkun's reply came: "Yifei, I can only get one. I'll have someone send it over tomorrow."

Thanks.

Zheng Yifei cut off the communication.

Four now.

One more is needed.

Zheng Yifei took out another ordinary communication jade slip and contacted Zhao Ling.

"Ling'er, how are things at the Pill Pavilion?"

The main peak of the Xuantian Sect's Pill Pavilion.

The rich aroma of medicinal herbs permeates this massive mountain peak year-round.

Zhao Ling, dressed in the blue robe of an inner disciple, stood in front of a pill-refining furnace as tall as a person.

Upon hearing the message, she immediately went to a corner, her voice filled with excitement: "Brother Yifei! I've reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining! Master has accepted me as his last disciple."

Over the past two years, Zhao Ling has demonstrated an extremely terrifying talent for alchemy.

Her dual top-grade spiritual roots, coupled with her natural affinity for plants, allowed her to thrive in the Pill Pavilion. Pavilion Master Mu Chen even took her in as his last disciple, personally guiding her and bestowing upon her countless resources.

If she hadn't focused on alchemy, she would have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm long ago.

"it is good."

Zheng Yifei went straight to the point: "You need Foundation Establishment Pills, can you refine them yourself?"

"I'm not good enough yet, my cultivation level is too low."

Zhao Ling said with some annoyance, "The Supreme Foundation Establishment Pill is a high-grade second-rank pill, and I can only refine a mid-grade second-rank one right now."

However, Master said that since I need to establish my foundation, he will have my eldest brother open the furnace for me and refine a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Find a way to get your senior brother to refine a couple more pills. I'll cover any cost."

Zheng Yifei said.

"Okay, I'll go find my senior brother right now."

The Pill Pavilion, the Heavenly Fire Hall.

This is the training ground of Zhou Mingxuan, the eldest disciple of Mu Chen and a fourth-grade alchemist.

Zhao Ling stood outside the hall and bowed respectfully: "Zhao Ling requests an audience with Senior Brother."

The palace doors slowly opened.

Zhou Mingxuan, dressed in white, sat upright on a futon, toying with a ball of crimson elixir fire in his hand.

He was handsome, but his brows carried an air of arrogance that came with years of holding a high position.

"Junior Sister Zhao, what is it?"

Zhou Mingxuan spoke gently, but his eyes revealed a hint of coldness.

He was extremely jealous of this junior sister who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Mu Chen's favoritism towards Zhao Ling was obvious to everyone in the Pill Pavilion. There were even rumors that Mu Chen planned to pass on his mantle to this young girl who hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage, instead of him, the eldest disciple who had been stuck at the fourth-level alchemist for many years.

"Senior Brother."

Zhao Ling stepped forward, her attitude humble: "My master asked you to refine top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills for me. I would like to ask if... you could refine a couple more?"

The fire in Zhou Mingxuan's hand suddenly leaped.

Should we refine a couple more?

Do you really think the Supreme Foundation Establishment Pill is just candy?

"Junior sister."

Zhou Mingxuan sighed, looking troubled. "It's not that I don't want to help you. The main ingredient of the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, the 'Millennium Jade Marrow Fungus,' is extremely rare."

The materials my master gave me are only enough to start one furnace, guaranteeing one top-grade stone. If you want two more, you'll need to prepare two more sets of materials.

"I'm usually too busy refining pills to find such a precious elixir."

"Then... how many spirit stones are needed for the materials? I can pay for it myself."

Zhao Ling asked cautiously.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of Zhou Mingxuan's lips.

What's with this poor girl from an affiliated sect pretending to be rich?

"not much."

Zhou Mingxuan held up one finger. "One set of materials costs four million low-grade spirit stones, so two sets would cost eight million. If Junior Sister can gather eight million, Senior Brother will start the furnace for you immediately."

Eight million!

Zhao Ling gasped.

Although she had earned some spirit stones from alchemy in the past two years, and Zheng Yifei had given her several hundred thousand, it was still a far cry from eight million.

"What? Can't you get it out?"

Zhou Mingxuan shook his head, his tone carrying the admonition of an elder: "On the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and land are all indispensable. Junior sister, you should be down-to-earth and use the foundation stone given to you by Master to build your foundation properly."

Aiming too high can easily breed inner demons.

Zhao Ling bit her lip, knowing that the other party was deliberately making things difficult for her, so she could only bow and turn to leave the Heavenly Fire Hall.

Willow Tree Alley.

Zheng Yifei couldn't help but laugh after hearing Zhao Ling's message.

"Eight million?"

Zheng Yifei leaned back in his armchair, tapping his fingers on the table with a soft, rhythmic sound: "I thought he wanted eighty million."

Zhao Ling was almost crying in the message: "Brother Yifei, Senior Brother is obviously making things difficult for me. Although the Thousand-Year Jade Marrow Mushroom is valuable, its market price is at most one million spirit stones per serving, and with the auxiliary medicine, it's at most one million five hundred thousand."

He asked for eight million, knowing full well we couldn't afford it, and wanted to force me to back down.

"Making things difficult?"

Zheng Yifei snorted coldly.

Problems that can be solved with money are not problems to him.

Consider the difference of several million as a reward for this senior apprentice's hard work.

"Ling'er, don't panic."

Zheng Yifei's tone was calm, carrying a reassuring quality: "Go back and find him now."

"Why do you want to see him?"

"Tell him you've paid eight million."

"But we don't have that many spirit stones!"

Zhao Ling exclaimed in surprise.

"I have."

Zheng Yifei stood up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He does indeed only have three million in liquid funds, but don't forget what he's best at.

"Tell him that in three days, eight million low-grade spirit stones will be delivered to him in full."

Zheng Yifei said, enunciating each word clearly, "Have him clean the alchemy furnace and prepare it for alchemy."

Cut off communication.