I run a casino in the immortal realm.

On the other end of the communication jade slip, Zhao Ling's voice was full of regret.

However, when Zheng Yifei, who was in the underground secret room of Liushu Hutong, heard the words "Old Ghost Mu was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time," his smiling face instantly turned somber.

"Ling'er, listen carefully."

Zheng Yifei's tone was more serious than ever before, even carrying a hint of coldness, "From today onwards, you must keep a low profile in the Pill Pavilion, and you absolutely cannot reveal your 100% pill-success rate and 30% top-grade rate to outsiders again!"

Zhao Ling was startled by Zheng Yifei's sudden stern tone and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Brother Yifei, what's wrong? Master appreciates me a lot, he even said..."

"The cultivation world isn't as warm and loving as you imagine, even if he's your nominal master!"

Zheng Yifei interrupted her without any politeness, and said in a deep voice, "The tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

You have demonstrated alchemy skills far exceeding those of others at the third level. This is what you call genius. Old Ghost Mu will train you as his closed-door disciple.

But if you display a monstrous talent that defies the norms of the cultivation world, even frightening him, a fifth-tier alchemist, then that's not called a genius, that's called a "rare treasure!"

Zheng Yifei took a deep breath and chewed up the most cruel underlying logic of the cultivation world, feeding it to Zhao Ling: "In the face of absolute interests, human nature cannot withstand the test."

Once Old Man Mu or the higher-ups of the Xuantian Sect feel that your talent is too uncontrollable, they may not continue to treat you as a disciple.

They might treat you like a golden goose, imprisoning you forever in the underground chamber of Qingfeng Cliff, making you refine pills for them day and night;

Even those Nascent Soul stage monsters nearing the end of their lifespan might attempt to search your soul, trying to forcibly strip you of your secrets! Do you understand?

A deathly silence fell on the other end of the jade slip.

A moment later, Zhao Ling's slightly trembling breath could be heard.

Although she was exceptionally intelligent, she had always been well protected under the wing of her master and Zheng Yifei. Upon hearing these words, she broke out in a cold sweat.

"Brother Yifei, I understand. In the future, when I refine pills, I will deliberately control the heat and keep the success rate at around 70%, and I will never reveal the rate of top-grade pills."

He also told his master that this successful pill-making was just an accident, and that the success rate wasn't usually this high.

Zhao Ling assured him, still shaken.

"very good."

Zheng Yifei's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, quickly adjusting his strategic plan in his mind: "Since your alchemy skills have already reached the threshold of the fourth level, but you're just stuck with your cultivation level, then let's change direction immediately!"

"From now on, aside from completing the monthly alchemy tasks assigned by the Xuan Tian Sect and refining the top-grade True Essence Pills needed for our daily cultivation, you will cease all additional alchemy practice!"

"Stop practicing? Then what about my alchemy..."

"Your talent in alchemy is already overflowing; what you lack now is cultivation!"

Zheng Yifei stared intently at the void in front of him, as if he could see the future: "Put all the time, energy and resources we save into improving our cultivation!"

"Use the top-grade pills you refine yourself as your staple food, and use the spirit stones I provide to set up arrays, then go all out to break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage and the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!"

Zheng Yifei paused for a moment, then threw out an extremely audacious plan: "Ling'er, you're only twenty-one this year, and I'm twenty-two. I want you to break through to the Golden Core Realm within five years and become a true fourth-tier alchemist!"

A 26-year-old Golden Core cultivator!

If this goal were to spread, the entire Southern Wilderness Region would consider it a huge joke.

In the Xuantian Sect, even those peerless geniuses with heavenly spiritual roots, who have been personally nurtured and protected by a Nascent Soul ancestor, can barely form their core at the age of around thirty.

But Zheng Yifei dared to set this goal anyway.

Because he controls the largest underground cash flow in the entire Southern Wilderness, he can use a massive amount of resources that others wouldn't even dare to dream of to force Zhao Ling onto the Golden Core path!

"As long as you can form your core within five years and become a fourth-tier alchemist."

Zheng Yifei's voice had a magical quality that made people's blood boil: "Breakthrough Pills and Golden Core Pills, these strategic resources that are tightly monopolized by the major sects are no longer an unattainable luxury for us."

By then, I'm absolutely confident I can break through the threshold of the Golden Core realm before I turn thirty!

Two golden pills before the age of thirty!

Once this idea is realized, Zheng Yifei will finally have his own chessboard and a sliver of self-protection ability in this cruel world of cultivation.

Zhao Ling, on the other end of the jade slip, was deeply impressed by the grand blueprint described by Zheng Yifei.

She clutched the jade slip tightly, her eyes welling up with tears, and her tone revealed a resolute determination: "Brother Yifei, don't worry! From today onwards, I will go into seclusion and never step out of my cave except for occasions where I must appear in public!"

"Within five years, even if it costs me my life, I will definitely break through to the Golden Core stage!"

"Alright, don't worry about the materials and spirit stones, just use them freely."

Zheng Yifei smiled and ended the communication.

After ending his call with Zhao Ling, Zheng Yifei stood up, stretched, and his bones cracked as his powerful spiritual energy, typical of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, surged through his meridians.

Back in Willow Alley, Chen Shan and Lin Bao had been waiting for a long time.

The two were wearing high-grade magic robes bought from Duobaoge, with high-grade flying swords hanging at their waists, looking eager to try.

"Director, which market are we going to this time to collect spirit stones?"

Lin Bao rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with excitement, and leaned closer: "I heard that a super-large gambling den recently opened in Tianshui Market in the north, and the turnover is huge. Shall we go and pull off a heist?"

In the past two years, following Zheng Yifei around to "beg for money," they have truly experienced what it means to spend money like water.

The thrill of sitting at the gambling table and winning spirit stones that others could never earn in a lifetime is more addictive than cultivation itself.

Just as Zheng Yifei was about to nod, the dark gold, top-grade communication talisman he kept close to his body suddenly began to vibrate violently.

There is only one person who can contact him using this talisman.

Zheng Yifei's expression shifted slightly. He immediately raised his hand to signal the two to be quiet, and then sent a wisp of his divine sense into the talisman.

"Take off!"

Xu Zhengkun's deep, resonant voice, brimming with barely concealed excitement, instantly exploded in Zheng Yifei's mind: "Our super casino is complete!"

Zheng Yifei's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart skipped a beat.

Four years have passed, and this real money-devouring behemoth is finally about to be unleashed!

Xu Zhengkun's voice continued: "Yifei, all the hardware facilities have been completed according to your design, and personnel recruitment is basically finished. Everything is ready except for the final push. You must return immediately to personally oversee the entire operation! Without you, this super-giant ship simply cannot operate!"

Hearing Xu Zhengkun's plea for help, Zheng Yifei's lips curled into an arrogant smile.

"The days of guerrilla warfare are over."

Zheng Yifei put away the talisman, glanced at Chen Shan and Lin Bao who were both looking puzzled, and announced in a deep voice, "We're not going to Tianshui Market. Pack your things, we're returning to Qingyun Sect immediately!"

"Back to Qingyun Sect?"

Lin Bao was taken aback: "Director, we're not dealing in spirit stones anymore?"

"Of course we should do it. But making money in other people's venues is ultimately small-scale, with a low ceiling and high risks."

Zheng Yifei strode towards the main hall, his voice ringing out: "From now on, we'll be the masters! I want all the cultivators in the Southern Wilderness to willingly empty their pockets of spirit stones and place them on my table!"

Half an hour later, Tie Feng was urgently summoned back to the courtyard house in Liushu Hutong.

Zheng Yifei lined up ten bulging storage bags and pushed them in front of Tie Feng.

"Here are ten million low-grade spirit stones. I need to return to the Qingyun Sect to oversee the overall situation. You will remain in Xuantian City. Your only task is to ensure that Zhao Ling's cultivation resources and alchemy materials are never interrupted, at all costs!"

"Yes, Director, I know what to do."

Tie Feng did not hesitate for a moment. Zhao Ling was the key figure for them to break through to the Golden Core stage, so they had to serve her well.

"This ten million should last for six months."

Zheng Yifei patted Tie Feng on the shoulder, his eyes filled with absolute trust: "Remember the rules I set before, the purchase of materials must be decentralized and kept secret, and we must not let anyone trace it back to Zhao Ling."

If we encounter danger, we can give up money, but we must save our lives!

"Don't worry, Director!"

Tie Feng suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and his eyes were slightly red: "Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will never let Miss Zhao Ling lose even a single spiritual herb!"