I run a casino in the immortal realm.

After testing the Concealing Breath Talisman, Zheng Yifei was very satisfied.

However, he doesn't plan to keep this on forever.

One concealment talisman lasts for three days, and ten talismans are enough for a month. I can save them for when I go back to the shantytown, so that my father or neighbors won't notice my abnormal cultivation at home.

There's no need to hide inside a gambling den.

He entered the gambling den wearing a mask, using a completely different identity. His cultivation level of the third level of Qi Refining was neither high nor low, placing him at a lower-middle level on the second-floor gambling table. He wouldn't attract attention, and his aura was even more natural than when he was at the first level of Qi Refining.

After all, it's rather conspicuous for a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining to come to the second floor to gamble on spirit stones.

The gamblers on the second floor are at least at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining; those with lower cultivation levels are more likely to attract attention.

Now it's all over. He's at the third level of Qi Refining, stuck in the middle, and you can't even find him in a crowd.

Back at his rented room in East Alley, Zheng Yifei closed the courtyard gate, carefully removed the concealment talisman and put it away, then took out the middle-aged man's magic-grade mask from a hidden compartment.

A cool sensation spreads along the facial skin, and the mask automatically conforms to the contours of the face.

He glanced at his reflection in the water vat and saw a merchant who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes.

She changed into a gray, loose-fitting monk's robe, tied her hair into a low ponytail with a leather cord, and wore a short knife at her waist as decoration.

Her entire demeanor was completely transformed.

Zheng Yifei pushed open the courtyard gate and strode into the street. His steps were steady, his gaze was straight, and he carried the vigilance and composure unique to a wandering cultivator who had been traveling for many years.

The aura of someone at the third level of Qi Refining naturally emanates outwards, without deliberately restraining it or intentionally flaunting it.

As he passed by the entrance of Zhao's gambling den, the two waiters who greeted him didn't even glance at him.

The mouse wasn't sitting by the door today; I don't know where it went.

Zheng Yifei went straight up to the second floor.

There weren't many people on the second floor of Zhao's Gambling House today; only about ten people were gathered around the gambling table where people guessed big or small.

Zheng Yifei squeezed in and stood in the middle section, slightly to the right.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he had obtained sixty-two spirit stones.

Zheng Yifei patted his clothes and walked away from the gambling table without expression.

I went downstairs, turned into the alley, and hurried toward the Wang Family Gambling House.

On the second floor of the Wang Family Gambling House, there are fifty-eight spirit stones.

On the second floor of Liu's gambling den, there are sixty spirit stones.

After visiting all three gambling dens, I earned a total of 180 low-grade spirit stones.

More than ever before.

Zheng Yifei had carefully considered why he won more this time.

The barrier between the third and fourth levels of Qi Refining is much thicker than that between the second and third levels, and the required spirit stones increase exponentially. Based on his consumption over the previous three months, he estimated that breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining would require at least two thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Furthermore, the rice in our fields is already turning golden yellow and will be fully ripe in the next couple of days.

Spirit rice must be harvested as soon as it ripens. This is not ordinary rice from Blue Star. If the spiritual rice is harvested past its optimal period, the spiritual energy in the rice ears will be rapidly lost, and the quality will be greatly reduced, directly affecting rent payments and the family's food supply.

Harvesting rice, threshing, milling, drying, and then turning the soil to plant the next season takes at least half a month.

He has to work at home for the next two weeks and can't go to the market every day, otherwise he won't be able to explain it to his parents.

So today, I'll win a few more times to accumulate enough cultivation resources for half a month. Then I can go back and cultivate while doing farm work, without wasting a single day.

One hundred and eighty spirit stones, if used sparingly, will be just enough to last until the next season of spirit rice is planted.

Zheng Yifei returned to his rented room, removed his mask, changed his clothes, and divided the spirit stones into several portions, hiding them in his inner pocket. He then took out a concealing talisman from under his pillow and affixed it to the inside of his left chest.

A cool sensation spread throughout his body, and the cultivation fluctuations of the third level of Qi Refining were suppressed back to the level of the first level of Qi Refining.

After leaving the alley, walk along the path between the fields towards the shantytown.

From afar, one could see the heavy ears of rice bowing low in their three mu of spiritual rice fields, gleaming with a pale golden light in the afternoon sun.

The father, Zheng Dashan, carrying a hoe, walked over from the other side of the field. When he saw his son, he called out from afar.

"Xiao Fei! You're back early!"

"Yes, we need to harvest the rice. Manager Zhao gave me half a month off."

Zheng Yifei quickened his pace, and could smell the aroma of food wafting from the courtyard from afar.

But before he even stepped into the courtyard, he saw someone who shouldn't be there.

Han Mei.

She was sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, holding a bowl of spirit rice porridge, chatting enthusiastically with her mother, Lin Wan.

"Auntie, our rice is growing exceptionally well this year, but we're short-handed. My dad's back is bad, he can't bend over..."

"It's your dad's old problem. Tell him not to push himself too hard. If it really comes down to it, have Xiaofei go over and help out."

Lin Wan responded with a smile as she busied herself by the stove.

In her eyes, Han Mei was her son's childhood sweetheart. Their families lived close by and grew up together, so it was only natural that they would get married in the future.

Although the girl hadn't visited Zheng Dashan when he was injured, Lin Wan was a soft-hearted person and thought that it was no big deal for the girl to be shy and introverted.

Zheng Yifei stood at the gate of the courtyard, his expression unchanged, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Han Mei turned around and saw him. She immediately stood up from the bench and put on a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Yifei! You're back!"

She hurried to meet him, grabbed Zheng Yifei's sleeve, and led him into the yard, chattering, "I came to ask for your help. My rice is almost ripe, but my dad's back hurts and he can't do heavy work. Could you help me harvest the rice for a few days? You've helped me every year."

Zheng Yifei flicked his sleeve, subtly pulling his hand away from hers, and walked to the water vat in the yard, scooping up a ladle of water and drinking it.

Han Mei didn't notice his actions and continued, "By the way, Yifei, about what happened by the river last time... that was just me saying things in anger, don't take it to heart."

She secretly glanced at Zheng Yifei's expression and, seeing that he was calm, added fuel to the fire: "Yifei, I've liked you since I was little, you know that."

"Let's finalize the wedding arrangements after this harvest season is over, shall we? I've already spoken to my dad, and he agrees."

Lin Wan heard everything clearly by the stove, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.

"Fei'er, say something!"

Zheng Yifei put down the water ladle and turned around.

He looked at Han Mei, his gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

Last time by the river, this woman said to herself, "I just tricked you into helping my family with chores," and also said, "I've been having an affair with Manager Zhao's son for a long time." She spat and ran away.

He remembered clearly the face of that man with his hands on his hips, cursing "trash" and "toad".

Here we go again?

Is this the same old face again?

In his previous life, Zheng Yifei had seen too many people like this in casinos on Blue Star.

When you win money, they'll swarm around you calling you brother or father, but when you lose money, they'll kick you and run away faster than anyone else.

Once you've turned your life around, they'll cry and beg to get back together with you.

He guessed right away why Han Mei came.

It wasn't because of "liking" him, but because Steward Zhao's son didn't get married.

Who is Steward Zhao's son? He is a prodigy disciple of the Zhao family at the fifth level of Qi Refining. He will have the opportunity to enter the Qingyun Sect in the future. His family owns houses, fields, and spirit stones. He is the golden son-in-law that all the girls in the shantytown want to marry.

If Han Mei says she's "engaged," then it's highly likely that she was the one who initiated the engagement, but the other person either didn't like her at all, or was just playing around and didn't take it seriously.

After being rebuffed, he turned around and saw that Zheng Yifei was still there.

Although the five spiritual roots were a bit useless, he was still a free laborer. He used to do whatever he was told, and he was very obedient and easy to work with.

The busy farming season has arrived, and there's so much work to be done in our own fields that I can't stop thinking about him.

As for the "engagement," just say something in anger and that'll smooth things over.

A clever plan.

He walked up to Han Mei, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, but every word was clear.

"Han Mei, my rice harvest is in a couple of days, and I'm too busy to help you."

Han Mei was stunned; she never expected Zheng Yifei to refuse.

In the past, Zheng Yifei never said "no" to her whenever she asked a question.

"But...but my family only has three acres of land. You only need to help for two days. In previous years, you also—"

"Previous years are past years; we can't help this year."

Zheng Yifei interrupted her in a calm tone and turned to walk towards his room.

Han Mei stood in the courtyard, her smile frozen, her eyes wide open, unsure of what to say.

Lin Wan frowned by the stove: "Fei'er, why are you like this—"

"daughter."

Zheng Yifei stopped at the doorway and glanced back at his mother: "She's getting along well with Manager Zhao's son. She even said she wants to get engaged. Tell her to ask Manager Zhao's son to help with the rice harvest."

Lin Wan was taken aback.

Han Mei's face turned pale instantly.

"Yifei, I said that was just something I said in anger! I didn't."

"roll."

Zheng Yifei didn't want to waste any more words with her, so he simply pushed her out the door.