I run a casino in the immortal realm.

On the other end of the communication jade slip, Zhao Ling remained silent for a long time.

Inside the secret chamber of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, the fiery array patterns emitted intense heat, reflecting off her beautiful and refined face.

She held the jade slip in her hand, her eyes slightly reddening.

Zheng Yifei's words echoed in her mind.

Yes, without Zheng Yifei's support, she might still be struggling for a few low-grade spirit stones in the outer sect of Qingyun Sect, let alone becoming the closed-door disciple of the head of the Pill Pavilion of Xuantian Sect.

Her elder brother, Zhao Wenyuan, is now helping Zheng Yifei and the young sect leader manage the Tianyuan Gambling House in Qingyun Market, and he is doing very well.

The Zhao family rose rapidly from being a scattered cultivator family in Heishan Market to now have a firm foothold in Qingyun Market. The family members now have ample resources for cultivation, and more and more family members are entering the Qingyun Sect.

All of this is thanks to Zheng Yifei.

"Brother Yifei..."

Zhao Ling took a deep breath, her eyes becoming more determined than ever before.

She is a grateful person. Zheng Yifei's kindness to her and the Zhao family is as heavy as Mount Tai, and she can only repay it with all her might.

"I see."

Zhao Ling spoke into the communication jade slip, her voice clear and resolute, revealing a do-or-die determination: "Brother Yifei, don't worry, I will definitely strive to become a fourth-level alchemist as quickly as possible!"

Whether it's the Breakthrough Pill or the Golden Core Pill, as long as I can get my hands on the formula, I will refine it for you even if it takes all my sleep!

I will help you break through to the Golden Core stage, and even assist you in the future on the path to the Nascent Soul stage!

Hearing Zhao Ling's assurance, Zheng Yifei smiled with relief: "Okay, you don't need to worry about the materials. Just focus on refining them and wait for my good news."

Cutting off the communication, Zheng Yifei pushed open the heavy stone door of the secret room and walked into the main hall of the courtyard.

Tie Feng, Chen Shan, and Lin Bao, who had been waiting outside, immediately came forward and stood respectfully to the side.

"Please sit down."

Zheng Yifei pointed to the armchairs on both sides, then sat down in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over his three loyal and capable lieutenants with profound intensity.

"I have successfully established my foundation. From now on, our focus in cultivation will undergo a complete shift."

Zheng Yifei said in a deep voice, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "For Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, the spiritual energy contained in low-grade spirit stones is no longer pure enough. We must use mid-grade spirit stones as the main source, supplemented by third-tier pills."

According to the market exchange rate, one mid-grade spirit stone is equal to one thousand low-grade spirit stones. The cost in this exchange is more than a hundred times that of a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

He picked up his teacup, gently skimmed off the foam, and continued, "I've done the math. The spiritual energy that the five of us absorb and exhale each day is enormous."

In addition, I have to support Zhao Ling's alchemy practice at the Xuantian Sect. She needs to spend at least one million low-grade spirit stones every month on materials to practice.

Adding all of these together, we need at least three million low-grade spirit stones in expenses each month.

Upon hearing this, the three of them gasped in shock.

100,000 a day!

This is an astronomical figure that ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would never even dare to dream of.

Even if you went deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains to hunt third-tier monsters and risked your life, you couldn't possibly have such a stable and high income every day.

"Director, are we really going to win this huge sum of money entirely through gambling?"

Tie Feng swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"That's right."

Zheng Yifei put down his teacup, his eyes sharp as knives: "But we need to change our strategy. Although Xuantian Market is large, it is the largest money pit in the entire Southern Wilderness, with dozens of large gambling dens and a daily turnover of over 100 million."

Even if we win 100,000 or 200,000 every day, it's really not enough to make a ripple.

But if you hang around here year after year, sooner or later you'll attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Suddenly, a memory of that cold night in Las Vegas from his past life flashed through Zheng Yifei's mind.

Back then, he was too arrogant, won money he shouldn't have won, and didn't have enough power to protect himself. In the end, he was filled with cement and sank into the deep sea.

In this life, he will never repeat the same mistakes.

Zheng Yifei's voice was icy as he glanced at the three of them: "Although we are now Foundation Establishment cultivators and are high and mighty immortals in the eyes of mortals, in the eyes of those real big shots, we are nothing more than slightly larger ants."

A Golden Core cultivator could turn us into mincemeat with a single slap, and a Nascent Soul expert like Elder Qin Cang could probably obliterate us with a single breath.

Therefore, one must be discreet, quietly accumulate spirit stones, and continuously break through cultivation barriers – that is the key!

"From today onwards, we will divide the work and cooperate."

Zheng Yifei looked at Tie Feng: "Tie Feng, you are the most reliable in your actions. From now on, you will be in charge of purchasing the spiritual materials that Zhao Ling needs for alchemy in the market."

Remember, do not buy large quantities from the same shop; spread them out, even if it's just a matter of going to the black market. Make sure no one can trace the final destination of these spiritual materials.

"Yes, sir!"

Tie Feng clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, his expression solemn.

Zheng Yifei then looked at Chen Shan: "Chen Shan, you have the best movement skills and are good at concealment and gathering information."

Your task is to leave Xuantian Market and visit other markets and gambling dens within a radius of 10,000 miles, to find out their backgrounds, rules of gameplay, and scale of turnover, and to scout them out in advance.

We can't keep taking advantage of Xuantian Market; we have to find a new place to operate.

"Your subordinate understands and will certainly not fail in your mission!"

A hint of excitement flashed in Chen Shan's eyes; he had been wanting to get out and stretch his muscles for a long time.

Finally, Zheng Yifei's gaze fell on Lin Bao: "Lin Bao, you're quick-witted and good at acting. From now on, you'll follow me, going from one gambling den to another to win spirit stones. The two of us will work together to make the act convincing."

"Hehe, don't worry, Director. When it comes to acting, I, Lin Bao, have never been inferior to anyone!"

Lin Bao grinned and rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.

With deployment complete, the frenzy of earning spirit stones has officially begun.

Our first stop, naturally, is to make some profits in Xuantian Market. It's the deepest water and the biggest fish there. As long as we control the scale, it's the perfect ATM.

The following night, in the eastern district of Xuantianfang City, at the "Tianxing Pavilion" gambling den.

This place is second only to Chang Le Fang in terms of quality, and it mainly features Pai Gow and dominoes.

Zheng Yifei used the Thousand Illusion Mask to transform into a destitute scholar with a withered face and fanatical eyes.

He was wearing a faded blue robe and clutching a shrunken storage bag tightly in his hand.

Lin Bao, disguised as a burly, cursing creditor, followed behind Zheng Yifei.

"Let me tell you, if you don't win back your losses today, I'll sell you to a black market mine to dig for spirit stones for the rest of your life!"

Lin Bao kicked Zheng Yifei in the buttocks and cursed viciously.

"Brother Leopard, calm down! Brother Leopard, calm down! I feel great today, I'm sure I can turn things around!"

Zheng Yifei bowed and scraped, looking every bit like a gambling addict who had lost everything, and scrambled into a Pai Gow table.

The dealer at Tianxing Pavilion was an old man with a goatee. His methods were extremely subtle, and he could even use his spiritual power to subtly adjust the cards the instant they were dealt.

But in the face of Zheng Yifei's abnormal eyesight and memory, these little movements were like slow-motion replays.

Zheng Yifei began his performance.

He deliberately lost a few rounds, getting so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks. Lin Bao cursed loudly behind him, attracting the attention of the surrounding gamblers who secretly laughed at him.

But as time went on, Zheng Yifei seemed to have truly "turned his luck around".

He sometimes bet very small amounts, and sometimes went all in. In the back-and-forth battle of wins and losses, the chips in front of him began to accumulate without him realizing it.

One hour later.

"A complete sweep!"

Zheng Yifei slammed his cards on the table, his eyes bloodshot, and burst into maniacal laughter: "Hahaha! I broke even! I broke even!"

He grabbed the 120,000 low-grade spirit stone chips he had won from the table and held them tightly in his arms.

"Consider yourself lucky, kid! Come on, let's go back and pay you back!"

Lin Bao grabbed Zheng Yifei by the collar and dragged him out of Tianxing Pavilion like a dead dog.

Throughout the entire process, the Tianxing Pavilion's sentries merely observed from the sidelines.

A gambling addict forced to gamble by his creditors occasionally wins tens of thousands of dollars by sheer luck. This kind of thing happens every day in casinos and is not worth reporting.

On the third night, in the South District, at the underground arena of "Wanbaolou".

Zheng Yifei transformed into a burly swordsman with a full beard and an aura of bloodlust. Lin Bao disguised himself as his henchman, and the two of them, reeking of alcohol, stormed into the arena.

Inside the enormous iron cage, a peak second-tier Crimson Flame Tiger was locked in a bloody battle with an Armored Rhinoceros.

Based on his accurate judgment of the monster's muscle exertion and aura fluctuations, Zheng Yifei placed three bets in a row.

His betting style was extremely brutal; he would laugh heartily when he won and smash cups and curse when he lost.

In the final, highly anticipated upset match, he decisively bet 100,000 spirit stones on a seemingly dying Shadow Leopard.

As a result, the Shadow Panther unleashed its power in a desperate situation, biting off its opponent's throat.

In this round, Zheng Yifei swindled 150,000 low-grade spirit stones, including principal and interest.

"That was fucking awesome! Let's go get some drinks!"