I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Xuantian Sect, Qingfeng Cliff.

Inside the grand hall of Elder Qin Cang, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it seemed to freeze.

Several fist-sized luminous pearls emitted a cold, eerie light, making Qin Cang's gloomy face appear even more sinister.

In the center of the main hall, Ouyang Feng, the Pavilion Master of the Xuantian Sect's Artifact Pavilion, was hunched over, his forehead covered in fine cold sweat, not daring to even breathe.

"What did you say?"

Qin Cang sat high on the grand master's chair, his voice as deep as a volcano about to erupt: "I went to great lengths, even using the sect's transfer order, to allow your people from the Weapon Pavilion to enter the Qingyun Sect legitimately."

And now you're telling me they've been assigned to do backbreaking labor, without even getting close to the blueprints?!

"Elder, please calm down!"

Ouyang Feng was so frightened that his knees buckled and he knelt directly on the cold jade floor. He explained in a trembling voice, "Xu Zhengkun of the Qingyun Sect is really cunning! Although Zhou Ming and the others successfully entered the printing factory, the rules in that factory are extremely strange."

They broke down the entire printing process into dozens of steps, euphemistically calling it an "assembly line".

Zhou Ming and his two companions were assigned to various tasks: one was tasked with applying lubricant to the gears, another with moving typefaces, and the third spent all his time cutting paper!

Ouyang Feng felt increasingly aggrieved as he spoke: "Xu Zhengkun even said that this is the core secret of the Qingyun Sect, and if you want to learn the technology, you have to start from the lowest level of the process and accumulate seniority."

Zhou Ming and his colleagues are now working six hours a day, exhausting themselves to the point that their spiritual energy is depleted. They can't even see the whole machine, let alone access the core blueprints!

"Elder, this... if we want to obtain the core blueprints, it will probably take a long time. Please grant us some more time..."

"waste!"

Qin Cang slammed his hand on the armrest, and a violent Nascent Soul stage aura swept out like a tsunami, directly knocking Ouyang Feng over several times.

"What I want is results, not your excuses! A mere affiliated sect has managed to outwit you all, completely disgracing the Xuan Tian Sect's Artifact Pavilion!"

Seeing that Qin Cang was truly enraged, Zeng Feng, who had been standing to the side with his hands at his sides, quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder, please calm down. I believe that although this matter is troublesome, it may not be entirely a bad thing for us."

"Oh?"

Qin Cang's gaze swept over Zeng Feng like a knife: "What brilliant idea do you have?"

Zeng Feng swallowed hard, gathered his thoughts, and said in a deep voice, "Elder, I once personally infiltrated that printing factory. The security there was so tight that it was practically an ironclad fortress."

The Xu family protected that machine like it was their lifeblood, and the fact that Zhou Ming and his group were able to sneak in legitimately was already a great victory in itself.

This is something that can't be rushed.

Seeing Qin Cang's slightly furrowed brows, Zeng Feng continued to analyze: "Elder, think about it, there are no profound formations inside that machine, it relies entirely on precise mechanical interlocking."

Even if we got the blueprints now, with the current understanding of the Artifact Pavilion, we might not be able to replicate it immediately.

Zhou Ming and his colleagues were working at the very bottom, seemingly doing manual labor, but in reality, they were figuring out the entire operating logic of the printing factory!

A glint of light flashed in Zeng Feng's eyes: "What's truly impressive about the Qingyun Sect isn't just that machine, but their 'assembly line' management system that pushes production efficiency to the extreme!"

The longer Zhou Ming and his team stay inside, the more they will not only gradually come into contact with the core technologies, but also thoroughly learn the entire management and operation system.

"Once they return, our Xuantian Sect can completely replicate their success. Not only can we build the machines, but we can also immediately assemble a skilled team. With the size of our sect, we can instantly crush and monopolize the Qingyun Sect's media and logistics! That's called swallowing them whole, skin and bones!"

These words struck a chord with Qin Cang.

What he wanted was not only the technology, but also the endless wealth of spirit stones.

The killing intent in Qin Cang's eyes gradually subsided, and the pressure from the Nascent Soul cultivator in the main hall also dissipated.

He gave Zeng Feng a deep look and sneered, "You're not so bad, you actually have some brains."

He turned to look at Ouyang Feng, who was lying on the ground, and issued his final ultimatum in a chilling tone: "Ouyang Feng, I will trust you one more time."

Send a message to Zhou Ming and the others, telling them to keep their tempers in check and study diligently for me inside! Two years! I'll give you a maximum of two years!

Within two years, I not only need to obtain the complete core blueprints, but I also need to thoroughly understand the rules of that so-called "assembly line"!

"If you still can't produce anything after two years, you, the Pavilion Master of the Artifact Pavilion, can go to the Hall of Punishments and face your death!"

"Yes! Thank you for sparing my life, Elder! I will do my utmost!"

Ouyang Feng felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away at Yingxian Lake, on the top floor of a mirage.

After a passionate and tumultuous encounter, a romantic atmosphere filled the luxurious lounge.

Zheng Yifei leaned back against the soft cloud-hidden beast skin cushion, holding Su Wanqing, who was as languid as a water snake, in his arms.

Su Wanqing's usually sharp and capable face had lost its usual sharpness and sternness, replaced by a delicate blush from being moisturized.

She closed her eyes, pressed her cheek against Zheng Yifei's strong chest, listened to his steady and powerful heartbeat, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

"You bastard, haven't you been ruining quite a few female cultivators these past few years?"

Su Wanqing suddenly opened her eyes, stretched out her slender white fingers, and drew circles on Zheng Yifei's chest, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness and probing.

Zheng Yifei grabbed her mischievous little hand, kissed it, and chuckled, "Heaven and earth bear witness, I've been dancing on the edge of a knife every day for the past few years, my mind is full of how to make money and survive, I have no time to look at other women."

Besides, with a shrewd and capable fiancée like you watching over me, would I dare to do that?

"You're smart to know what's good for you."

Su Wanqing gave a soft hum and snuggled closer to him.

That night's frank conversation completely broke down the barriers between them.

From then on, the top floor of this mirage became their haven of tenderness and a sacred place for cultivation.

The two entered a period of intense and passionate love, but they did not become so engrossed in their romance that they neglected their studies. On the contrary, this perfect harmony of soul and body became a catalyst for their fervent cultivation.

Su Wanqing took over 90% of the daily accounts and personnel allocation of Mirage. Her terrifying coordination ability made this money-devouring behemoth run more smoothly than ever before.

Zheng Yifei, on the other hand, was completely free to devote all his energy to cultivation, except for controlling the overall strategic direction.

The top of the mirage gathers the essence of the top-grade spiritual vein at the bottom of Yingxian Lake, where the spiritual energy is so rich it's almost liquefied.

The two practiced cultivation day and night, encouraging each other.

The vast lake of spiritual energy within Zheng Yifei's body was continuously refined and compressed, and his cultivation level was completely stabilized in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and began to steadily climb towards the late stage.

Su Wanqing, on the other hand, is making rapid progress. With her already excellent aptitude and the accumulation of massive resources, she has already faintly touched the threshold of the late Foundation Establishment stage.