I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Qin Cang's killing intent was so palpable that the temperature in the entire weapon pavilion hall plummeted to freezing.

He unleashed his late-stage Nascent Soul power without reservation, causing the bones of all the weapon refiners present to crack.

"Xu Zhengkun, the Xu family! How dare they!"

Qin Cang laughed in anger, and suddenly clenched his withered hand.

"Snap!"

The transport machine, which Ouyang Feng had dismantled into pieces, was instantly crushed into a lump of scrap metal by the violent spiritual power.

"I'm going to the Qingyun Sect right now to arrest Xu Zhengkun and search his soul! Let's see if he'll hand over the blueprints!"

Qin Cang strode out of the hall, his black robes billowing even without wind, clearly indicating that he was truly enraged.

"Elder, you mustn't!"

Zeng Feng, who had been kneeling in the corner without daring to make a sound, was terrified when he saw this. He scrambled over and clung tightly to Qin Cang's leg.

"Get out of here!"

Qin Cang kicked Zeng Feng aside, saying, "You dare to stop me?"

Ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, Zeng Feng rolled over and knelt down again, speaking rapidly, "Elder, please calm down! You absolutely cannot leave the sect now!"

Qin Cang paused, staring coldly at him: "Give me a reason. If you can't give me a coherent explanation, I'll chop you up first."

Zeng Feng swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine: "Elder, the sect leader has been in seclusion for ten years, and now the entire sect is relying on you alone."

But don't forget, the Second Elder and the Third Elder's group have been getting very close lately!

He raised his head and lowered his voice: "Those old guys on the elders' council have always been dissatisfied with your monopolization of power, and they've been secretly banding together for mutual support."

If you were in charge of the sect, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly even if they had ten times the courage.

"But if you leave Qingfeng Cliff for the sake of the mere Qingyun Sect and go to the edge of the Southern Wilderness, what if they take advantage of the situation and join forces to control the array's core and the sect's protective array..."

Zeng Feng didn't continue speaking, but the meaning behind his words was crystal clear.

In the game of power, once you leave the center of power, it means that power will fall into the wrong hands.

Although Qin Cang is a Nascent Soul cultivator, he is not the only Nascent Soul cultivator in the Xuantian Sect.

Qin Cang's eyes flickered, and his killing intent subsided slightly.

Seeing this, Zeng Feng pressed on: "Furthermore, the Heavenly Demon Sect has been making frequent moves at the northern border recently, sending demonic cultivators across the border to harass us every few days, and even a demonic general at the late Golden Core stage has appeared."

We're getting three border war reports a day; it's all thanks to your presence here that we have the power to deter them.

If you leave, the Heavenly Demon Sect will seize the opportunity to launch a large-scale invasion, and the elders will definitely pin the blame for the lost territory on you! Even if the sect leader emerges from seclusion, you will have no way to defend yourself then!

The hall fell silent.

Qin Cang stood with his hands behind his back, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Zeng Feng's words were piercing, hitting him right where it hurt.

In the world of cultivation, strength is certainly important, but the power struggles within major sects can also kill people invisibly.

Qin Cang's current status is due to his skill and control over the overall situation.

Losing actual control of the Xuantian Sect for a mere money-making tool of the Qingyun Sect is a terrible deal.

"call--"

Qin Cang exhaled a long breath, and the pressure from his Nascent Soul retreated like a tide.

The weapon refiners in the main hall were relieved and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

"You do have some brains at all."

Qin Cang glanced at Zeng Feng, then walked back to the grand chair in the center of the hall and sat down.

Zeng Feng wiped away a cold sweat, quickly got up, and stood to the side with his back bent.

"But I will absolutely not allow this lucrative opportunity of the mirage to fall into the hands of the Xu family."

Qin Cang tapped his fingers on the armrest, his eyes turning sinister and profound: "Since we can't openly rob, we'll steal secretly."

He looked at Zeng Feng: "Zeng Feng, immediately select a group of elites from the Enforcement Hall, preferably unfamiliar faces, and ideally from a background of independent cultivators. Place them in Yingxian Lake!"

"I want you to thoroughly understand the layout of every level of the mirage, every node of its formation, and even the patterns of personnel rotation!"

"Understood!"

Zeng Feng immediately responded.

Qin Cang sneered, "The Xu family wants to make money, doesn't they? Let them make money first. Once we've figured out their secrets and obtained the blueprints, I'll find a pretext that a spy from the Heavenly Demon Sect has infiltrated, and directly send the Enforcement Hall to seal off the mirage! Then, both the people and the money will be mine!"

"The Grand Elder is wise!"

Zeng Feng quickly flattered him.

Qin Cang turned his head and his gaze fell on Ouyang Feng, whose face was pale.

"Ouyang Feng".

"Your subordinate is here."

Ouyang Feng trembled and quickly knelt up straight.

"Since the Equipment Pavilion cannot replicate the Transfer Machine, I can give you another chance."

Qin Cang's voice was devoid of any emotion, "But you must get the blueprints for the printing press and the transport machine back for me."

Also, find the person who designed these machines! Whether it's a member of the Xu family or a retainer they secretly recruited, they must be found! We need to see them alive or dead!

Ouyang Feng looked troubled: "Elder, the Qingyun Sect has now secured the printing plant and the weapon-refining peak like an iron barrel; outsiders simply can't get in..."

Are you brain-dead?

Qin Cang retorted without holding back, "The Xuantian Sect has hundreds of affiliated sects under its jurisdiction, and every three years outstanding disciples are selected to join."

"Don't you have any disciples promoted from the Qingyun Sect in your Weapon Pavilion?"

Ouyang Feng slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes lighting up.

Yup!

As a superior sect, Xuantian Sect would select a group of talented disciples from its affiliated sects every three years to enrich its inner sect.

Inside the weapon pavilion, there happened to be several people who had been selected from the weapon-refining peak of the Qingyun Sect!

These people all have their own sects, relatives, and connections within the Qingyun Sect, places that outsiders cannot enter. When they go back to visit relatives and exchange information, who would suspect anything?

"Understood!"

Ouyang Feng kowtowed repeatedly: "Your subordinate will take care of it right away! I guarantee I'll dig up the blueprints and that person for you!"

"Six months."

Qin Cang stood up and coldly said, "Six months. I want to see the blueprints. Otherwise, your position as the head of the Artifact Pavilion can be given to someone else."

After saying that, Qin Cang transformed into a wisp of black mist and disappeared into the main hall.

Half an hour later.

Behind the Qige Pavilion, in a secluded cave.

Ouyang Feng sat in the main seat, his face gloomy.

Three young disciples dressed in inner sect attire stood below.

These three were disciples who were selected from the Refining Peak of the Qingyun Sect to join the Xuantian Sect six years ago.

The leader was named Zhou Ming, who was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. He was highly regarded by Ouyang Feng in the Weapon Pavilion. His grandfather was Zhou Tianming, the sixth elder of the Qingyun Sect.

"Master, you summoned me so late at night. What are your instructions?"

Zhou Ming bowed respectfully.

Ouyang Feng stared at the three of them and got straight to the point: "The three of you, get ready. Tomorrow morning, under the guise of exchanging and learning with the Xuantian Sect's Weapon Pavilion, you will return to the Qingyun Sect."

The three looked at each other, all somewhat surprised.

When disciples of a superior sect go to a subordinate sect for exchanges, it's a lucrative opportunity. Not only will they receive extremely high courtesy, but they can also take the chance to reap many benefits.

"Master, are you asking us to teach you some new weapon-refining techniques?"

Zhou Ming asked.

"Teach my ass!"

Ouyang Feng cursed and rubbed his temples in frustration: "You only have one mission when you go back this time: infiltrate the Qingyun Sect's printing factory and weapon-refining peak. No matter what means you use—steal, cheat, rob, buy—you must get your hands on the core blueprints for that printing press and transport machine!"

Zhou Ming and the other two's expressions changed drastically.

"Master, this...this is stealing sect secrets!"

Another disciple stammered, "The Enforcement Hall of the Qingyun Sect isn't to be trifled with either. If we get caught..."

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Ouyang Feng slammed his hand on the table. "You are now inner disciples of the Xuantian Sect! You are my personal disciples! Does Xu Zhengkun dare to lay a finger on a hair on your head?"

Besides, this is a decree personally issued by the Grand Elder! If you succeed, the Grand Elder will reward you handsomely, and I guarantee you will all reach the Core Formation stage within ten years! If you fail…”

Ouyang Feng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his killing intent overflowing: "No need for the Qingyun Sect to lift a finger, I'll personally chop you all to pieces!"

The three trembled and immediately knelt on the ground: "This disciple would gladly die for you!"

"There's one more thing."

Ouyang Feng lowered his voice, "Find out who designed these machines. I know the Xu family's background; they don't have the brains for it. There must be a mastermind behind them."

If you find this person, try to win him over; if not, report his identity and position back to you.

"Disciple understands!"

Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

For the resources needed to form a Golden Core, he would do anything, even dig up the ancestral graves of the Qingyun Sect, let alone steal blueprints.

"Go. Remember, this is a top secret. If even a whisper of it leaks out, you know the consequences."

Ouyang Feng waved his hand.

Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, Ouyang Feng sighed deeply and slumped into his chair.

"I hope these little brats can live up to my expectations; my life is entirely tied to their belts."