I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Xuantian Sect, Lingdan Pavilion.

Listening to Bamboo Pavilion.

The clay stove on the stone table was boiling, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Zhao Ling skillfully served the tea, pushing two cups of emerald green spiritual tea to the opposite side.

Su Wanqing picked up her teacup but didn't drink it; she just stared at the tea leaves floating on the surface of the water.

Xu Muyao drank it all in one gulp, showing no ladylike demeanor whatsoever.

"The tea here at Ling'er's place is still the best."

Xu Muyao put down her teacup and casually swept the two jade bottles on the table into her storage bag: "Top-grade True Essence Pills, you can't even get these in the Inner Sect Mission Hall, and you're giving them to us like candy."

Zhao Ling smiled and said, "Sister Yao Yao, Sister Wan Qing, you've both taken such good care of me. What are a few bottles of pills?"

For the past four years, the three of them have stayed together in the Xuantian Sect, supporting each other through thick and thin.

Zhao Ling provided high-quality pills, Su Wanqing used the Su family's wealth to bribe officials, and Xu Muyao relied on her status as the daughter of the Qingyun Sect's leader to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"I've called you here today to say goodbye."

Su Wanqing put down her teacup, her voice calm.

"You're leaving? Where are you going?"

Xu Muyao was taken aback.

"Return to Qingyun Sect."

Su Wanqing's gaze fell on the distant sea of ​​clouds. "Hu Jingpeng has come to Xuantian Sect. For the past half month, he has been loitering outside my cave every day. He has now joined his father and is backed by the Grand Elder. He is fearless and doesn't want to get entangled with him."

Xu Muyao sneered, "A stray dog ​​like him dares to lay a finger on you? Should I have my second brother teach him a lesson..."

"Need not."

Su Wanqing interrupted her: "Xuantian Sect is Qin Cang's territory. Hu Jingpeng has now sided with Qin Cang. Making trouble for him here will cause trouble. I'm going back to Qingyun Sect to avoid things and also to investigate some matters."

Xu Muyao's eyes lit up: "Perfect! I need to go back too. The 'Mirage' at Yingxian Lake will open in half a month. My dad is in seclusion right now, and my brother is so busy he can't even stand still. I need to go back and help out."

Ling'er, will you come with us?

Zhao Ling shook her head: "I'm not going. My master has assigned me homework."

Su Wanqing didn't reply. She gently traced the rim of her teacup with her fingers, her gaze sharply fixed on Zhao Ling.

"Ling'er, the amount of alchemy materials you consume every month is astronomical."

Su Wanqing suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but with a strong penetrating power: "Although Peak Master Mu is a fifth-level alchemist, he has to support the entire Spirit Pill Pavilion, and he can't possibly throw all his resources at you alone."

You must have other resources and channels privately, right?

Zhao Ling paused for a moment while serving the tea, then resumed her natural movements.

"What does Sister Wanqing want to say?"

Zhao Ling raised her head and met Su Wanqing's gaze.

Su Wanqing flipped her wrist, and a jade slip appeared in her palm.

"This is a summary of the Su family's 'turnaround time' over the past four years."

Su Wanqing pushed the jade slip to the center of the table: "Four years ago, the transfer machine was deployed in Qingyun Market and then swept through the entire Qingyun Sect."

This business deal was agreed upon by Zheng Yifei and me initially. The profits would be split: the Su family would take 40%, and Zheng Yifei personally would take 30%.

Xu Muyao was stunned. She only knew that the transfer machine was profitable, but she didn't know there was this layer of profit sharing involved.

Su Wanqing continued, "In these four years, the net profit of the transfer machine has been enormous. Zheng Yifei's 30% share of the profits amounts to tens of millions of low-grade spirit stones every year."

This money has always been collected by your brother, Zhao Wenyuan.

"Your brother is Zheng Yifei's henchman. I checked the accounts of Tianyuan Gambling House. This money was not deposited in a money exchange, nor was it used for the expansion of the gambling house, nor was it used in your Zhao family. Its whereabouts are unknown."

Su Wanqing leaned forward, her voice carrying a palpable sense of pressure: "Ling'er, did you give all those spirit stones to Zheng Yifei?"

The air inside the pavilion seemed to freeze instantly.

Xu Muyao looked at Su Wanqing, then at Zhao Ling, her face full of disbelief.

Zhao Ling's heart pounded. Su Wanqing's business acumen was terrifying; she actually suspected Zheng Yifei wasn't dead based on just one accounting clue.

But she couldn't admit it.

Zheng Yifei once said that there is no absolute trust in the cultivation world.

Even though Su Wanqing is Zheng Yifei's nominal fiancée, she could betray him at any time in the face of huge interests.

"Sister Wanqing, do you doubt that Brother Yifei is still alive?"

Zhao Ling spoke calmly, even with a hint of mockery.

"I don't believe that someone who can design a transfer machine and create the 'Qingyun Daily' would die so easily."

Su Wanqing said with certainty, "The scale and publicity of the mirage were all Zheng Yifei's doing back then! Xu Zhengkun has ambition, but he doesn't have this kind of business acumen."

Su Wanqing stared into Zhao Ling's eyes: "Tell me honestly, is he still alive? Where is he?"

"I have no idea."

Zhao Ling answered decisively.

"Ling'er, we are sisters. If he is still alive, I can use the power of the Su family to help him."

Su Wanqing tried to appeal to people's emotions.

"I really don't know."

Zhao Ling stood up, her eyes red-rimmed: "Sister Wanqing, Brother Yifei died in the back mountain. This has been confirmed by the Enforcement Hall. Now you come here with an account book and ask me if he's alive. Do you think I'm hiding something from you?"

These words were perfectly watertight.

Su Wanqing frowned slightly as she looked at Zhao Ling's red eyes.

She couldn't tell whether Zhao Ling was acting or genuinely unaware of the situation.

If Zhao Ling really didn't know, then where did the huge amount of resources in Zhao Wenyuan's hands go?

Could it be that Zheng Yifei is really dead, and Zhao Wenyuan is using this money to cultivate other forces?

"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous."

Su Wanqing put away the jade slip, her attitude softening.

That's enough of the probing.

If we push her any further, even this friendship will break down.

"fine."

Zhao Ling sat back down on the stone bench and bent down to arrange the tea set: "Be careful on your way back to Qingyun Sect. Since Hu Jingpeng has sided with Qin Cang, there's no guarantee he won't cause trouble along the way."

"He dares."

Xu Muyao sneered, "The entire route from Xuantian Sect to Qingyun Sect is the route of my Xu family's Qingyun Express. If he dares to make a move, I'll make sure he doesn't return."

Half an hour later.

Su Wanqing and Xu Muyao left Tingzhu Pavilion and headed to the sect's flying boat docking area.

Zhao Ling watched the two figures disappear into the distance, then let out a long sigh of relief; her back was already soaked with cold sweat.

That was too dangerous.

She immediately turned around and quickly walked back to her cave.

Activate the core defensive formation and seal the stone gate.

She took out a top-grade communication talisman and entered a message: "Su Wanqing has checked the transfer machine's accounts and suspects you are not dead. She has already set off back to the Qingyun Sect. Be careful in everything."

The talisman vanished in a flash of fire.

Zhao Ling walked to the alchemy furnace and sat down cross-legged.

She had no time to be afraid, no time to hesitate. Her only task was to reach the Golden Core stage as quickly as possible.

"Brother Yifei, I will never let you lose."

Zhao Ling closed her eyes, and her mid-Foundation Establishment spiritual power erupted, drawing the spiritual herbs in the cave into the alchemy furnace.

On the other side, at the Xuantian Sect's flying boat docking area.

Su Wanqing and Xu Muyao boarded a medium-sized airship bearing the Xu family emblem.

The flying boat slowly rose into the air and headed towards the Qingyun Sect.

On the deck, Su Wanqing stood against the wind, looking down at the mountains and rivers below.

"Wanqing, is everything you just said true?"

Xu Muyao walked over and asked in a low voice, "Is it really possible that Zheng Yifei is still alive?"

"I have no idea."

Su Wanqing's gaze was deep: "But I always feel that the scheme at Yingxian Lake is too big, too big for Xu Zhengkun to handle alone. If Zheng Yifei is really alive, then the opening ceremony of Qingyun Sect will definitely be a big show."

Less than an incense stick's time had passed since the Su family's flying boat left.

Deep within the berth, a massive black warship roared into the air.

The warship was made entirely of black wood, with a ferocious beast's head carved on its prow.

That was the exclusive vehicle of the Xuantian Sect's Enforcement Hall.

At the front of the deck, Zeng Feng, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, stood with his hands behind his back.

Hu Jingpeng stood beside him, looking in the direction where the Su family's flying boat had disappeared, a sinister sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Master, Su Wanqing and Xu Muyao just left."

Hu Jingpeng gave a report.

"Let them go first."

Zeng Feng's tone was icy: "The Grand Elder has ordered that this time when we go to Qingyun Sect, we should first be courteous and then resort to force. On the day of the opening of Mirage, all the prominent figures in the Southern Wilderness will be present. As long as Zheng Yifei shows up, we will take action to arrest him. The Xu family will not dare to interfere."

Zeng Feng turned to Hu Jingpeng: "Are you sure Zheng Yifei isn't dead?"

"I guarantee it with my life!"

Hu Jingpeng gritted his teeth: "That treacherous scum won't die easily. He must be hiding in a mirage!"

"it is good."

Zeng Feng sneered: "Pass down the order, warships, full speed ahead, target: Qingyun Sect's Yingxian Lake."

The black warship transformed into a streak of light, tearing through the clouds and carrying a chilling killing intent as it hurtled towards the Qingyun Sect, tens of thousands of miles away.