I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Xuantian Sect, Qingfeng Cliff.

Inside the main hall, several fist-sized luminous pearls emitted a cold, eerie light, casting an unpredictable glow on Qin Cang's gloomy face.

In the center of the main hall, three cultivators were kneeling on the cold jade floor.

They were dressed in rags, with sunken eyes, and exuded a sense of weakness from the exhaustion of their spiritual energy.

These three were the pale-faced scholar and his group, who were ordered to infiltrate the mirage to investigate.

"Elder, the intelligence... we risked our lives to bring it back."

The pale-faced scholar held up a jade slip with both hands, his voice trembling.

He dared not say that the fox demon had drained his spirit stones and even sold his natal flying sword; he could only put on a tragic appearance of having survived nine deaths and one life.

Qin Cang sat high on the grand chair, his five fingers grasping at the air, and the jade slip instantly fell into his palm.

Divine sense probed in.

A massive and complex flow of information flooded my mind.

The intricate network of formations, the coded messages of personnel shift changes, the nodes of fund transfers... all of these are "information cocoons" meticulously crafted by Zheng Yifei. Logically, they appear to be a perfect closed loop, but in reality, they are a pile of useless data that cannot function at all.

But Qin Cang didn't understand any of that. He only saw the shocking string of numbers at the end.

"1.2 billion low-grade spirit stones? And it took four and a half years to build?"

Qin Cang suddenly opened his eyes, and a terrifying Nascent Soul stage aura swept through the hall like a storm.

The three people kneeling below coughed up blood at the same time, and were pressed to the ground, unable to even lift their heads.

Several figures stood on either side of the main hall.

On the left is Zeng Feng, the head of the Enforcement Hall of the Xuantian Sect.

On the right are three generations of the Hu family: Hu Xiaotian, Hu Jinpeng, and an elderly man with a burly build, a scarred face, and an aura of ferocity.

This old man was none other than Hu Lie, the patriarch of the Hu family!

Four years ago, he was severely injured by Xu Zhengkun at the Qingyun Sect and fled into the Ten Thousand Mountains.

During those four years, he ate raw meat and drank blood like a wild beast, barely managing to reconnect his broken meridians and regain his strength at the late stage of the Golden Core realm by swallowing the flesh and blood of demonic beasts and surviving countless brushes with death.

Just a few days ago, he secretly arrived at Xuantian Sect to reunite with his children and grandchildren.

At this moment, he stared intently at the spies, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty ferocity.

"Reporting to the Grand Elder, it is absolutely true!"

The pale-faced scholar, ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, hurriedly reported, "That place is a veritable gold-devouring beast! The Qingyun Sect's main peak has a third-tier spiritual vein channeled into a mirage, and the entire structure uses tens of thousands of kilograms of deep-sea silver and star iron. Just maintaining the array's operation consumes an astronomical number of spirit stones every day!"

"but!"

The pale-faced scholar abruptly changed the subject, his eyes gleaming with fervor: "The profits there are absolutely terrifying! 'Making a fortune every day' doesn't even begin to describe it; it's a veritable money pit!"

Qin Cang tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the armchair, making a muffled "thump, thump" sound.

He wanted to build a super gambling den in Xuantian Market, completely monopolizing the highly profitable industry in the Southern Wilderness. As the most powerful elder of the Xuantian Sect, he could naturally afford to pay 1.2 billion spirit stones.

"It's taking too long."

Qin Cang's brows furrowed into a tight knot: "Four and a half years? How can I possibly have that much time to wait for a building to be built?"

He glanced at his trusted confidants on either side: "What do you think?"

Zeng Feng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Master, this disciple believes that we must build it! We must build it even if we have to sell everything we own!"

Zeng Feng licked his lips, a hint of undisguised reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "I personally went to investigate the mirage a while ago."

That place... wow, it's practically paradise on earth! Half-demon maids from the fox and cat clans, priceless top-grade spirit wine, and unheard-of gambling and formation games.

Once you enter that place, no one can keep their storage bag closed.

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "If we can replicate one in Xuantian Market, with the size and prestige of our sect, we can recoup our investment in just one year! At that time, all the rogue cultivators and families in the Southern Wilderness will obediently send their spirit stones to you!"

Qin Cang remained silent, his fingers still tapping on the armrest. Wealth was tempting, and he admitted he was tempted.

"Xiaotian, what do you think?"

Qin Cang turned his head to look to his right.

Hu Xiaotian stepped forward. His expression was calm, lacking Zeng Feng's fanaticism, and his eyes were as deep as a stagnant pool.

"Master, this disciple objects."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

Zeng Feng frowned and sneered, "Junior Brother Hu, what do you mean by this? You're not going to make money with spirit stones? You're afraid to spend money, but the Grand Elder doesn't lack that kind of resources."

Hu Xiaotian ignored Zeng Feng's provocation and looked directly into Qin Cang's eyes: "Master, 1.2 billion spirit stones is not a small amount, but it is indeed something you can afford. The problem lies in the four and a half years of construction period, which is the biggest variable."

He paused, lowered his voice slightly, but it still carried clearly throughout the hall: "Don't forget, the sect leader is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm."

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze instantly.

Qin Cang's fingers, which were tapping the armrest, suddenly stopped, and the light of the luminous pearl seemed to dim slightly.

"The sect leader has been in seclusion for a long time and may emerge at any time."

Hu Xiaotian's voice was calm, yet every word was piercing: "If the breakthrough fails, then everything is fine, but if the sect leader successfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage..."

Hu Xiaotian surveyed his surroundings: "The power of the Nascent Soul Realm is enough to suppress all those who are disobedient. When the sect leader emerges from seclusion, the first thing he will do will be to reorganize the sect and suppress all uncontrollable forces."

He pointed at the pale-faced scholar on the ground: "If we were to build this super gambling den in Xuantian Market now, with a huge investment of 1.2 billion and more than four years of time, it would be a grand undertaking."

Once the sect leader successfully emerges from seclusion, this gambling den will likely be forcibly taken over by the sect under the pretext of "resource integration."

Master, you're doing all the work for someone else's benefit.

Qin Cang's eye twitched violently.

Hu Xiaotian's words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing his Achilles' heel.

Qin Cang wanted to seize power and control the entire Xuan Tian Sect. But as long as the Sect Master remained a formidable figure, he dared not completely overturn the table. The Nascent Soul Realm was a completely different level from the Nascent Soul Realm, a terrifying existence capable of influencing the laws of heaven and earth.

"Go on."

Qin Cang leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming serious.

My advice is: wait.

Hu Xiaotian's tone was firm, carrying a sense of strategic composure: "Remain calm and wait for the Sect Master's outcome upon emerging from seclusion."

"If the sect leader fails to break through, or even dies, you, Master, will naturally take over the position and become the true master of the Xuantian Sect. At that time, the mere subordinate Qingyun Sect will be nothing more than fish on a chopping board."

A chilling killing intent flashed in Hu Xiaotian's eyes: "Why should we spend 1.2 billion to build it ourselves? Once you become the sect leader, just issue a decree and seize the Mirage! Take it all, people and formations. If the Xu family dares to resist, they will be punished for treason and their entire clan will be exterminated!"

"yes!"

Zeng Feng slapped his thigh, his eyes lighting up. "Just grabbing what's readily available! That's so much easier! Junior Brother Hu is really smart!"

Qin Cang closed his eyes, leaned back in the armchair, and quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

The main hall was deathly silent, with only Hu Lie's heavy, bellows-like breathing echoing in the air.

A moment later, Qin Cang opened his eyes, the greed in his eyes suppressed by reason, and a cold, sharp smile appeared on his lips: "Xiaotian, your forbearance and scheming are very much to my liking."

Okay, we'll do as you say. We'll wait!

"The Grand Elder is wise!"

Everyone bowed in unison.

Qin Cang waved his hand and glanced at the three people on the ground: "Take these three good-for-nothings away and give them some healing pills."

"Also, send a message to Zhou Ming and his men who are lurking in the Qingyun Sect, instructing them to continue lingering at the printing factory and keeping a close eye on the Qingyun Sect to prevent them from causing any trouble."

"yes!"

The group acknowledged the order and withdrew.

As you step out of Qingfeng Cliff, a biting mountain wind hits you in the face.

Hu Lie walked beside Hu Xiaotian, lowering his voice, his tone filled with barely suppressed madness and murderous intent: "Xiaotian, are we really just going to wait like this? That scoundrel Xu Zhengkun crippled half my life, and I don't want to wait another day to settle this score! I want to go to Yingxian Lake right now and twist his head off!"

Hu Xiaotian stopped and looked back at the brightly lit Qingfeng Cliff Hall, which resembled a giant beast lurking on the mountaintop. A mocking sneer appeared on his lips.

"Father, why are you in such a hurry?"

Hu Xiaotian dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeve: "Qin Cang, that old fox, is suspicious by nature. He won't act until he sees the benefit."

I advised him to wait, ostensibly for his sake, but in reality, it was to buy time for the Hu family, and even more so, to use someone else to do my dirty work.

Hu Jinpeng, standing to the side, looked utterly bewildered: "Father, what if the Sect Master really succeeds in reaching the Nascent Soul stage after he emerges from seclusion? Wouldn't that mean we'll never be able to avenge ourselves?"

"Success? The Nascent Soul Tribulation is not so easy to overcome!"

Hu Xiaotian sneered: "Even if he succeeds, do you think Qin Cang will just sit and wait to die?"

Qin Cang knew perfectly well how much sect resources he had embezzled over the years, and that once the sect leader emerged from seclusion, he would be the first person to be killed.

At that time, the Xuantian Sect will inevitably be embroiled in a fierce internal conflict, a fight to the death.

Hu Xiaotian's gaze swept over the towering mountains, landing in the direction of Yingxian Lake at the Qingyun Sect. His eyes were filled with malice: "Our target has never been some super gambling den, but the Xu family! It's Xu Zhengkun!"

"If Qin Cang wants to seize the mirage, he must first remove the Xu family, this thorn in his side. As long as Qin Cang makes a move, the Xu family will surely be destroyed."

Our Hu family only needs to provide support from behind the scenes and preserve our strength.

"After the Grand Elder's blade shatters the Xu family's gate, you can go in yourself and twist Xu Zhengkun's head off. Wouldn't that be satisfying?"

Hu Lie suddenly realized what was going on, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. He patted his son's shoulder heavily: "What a brilliant plan! Using the Grand Elder's influence, we can kill our enemies without shedding a drop of blood!"

"Let's go."

Hu Xiaotian turned and disappeared into the night, his voice carried away by the wind: "Let the Xu family run wild for a few more days. The better the mirage is built, the more money they make, the more Qin Cang's greed will grow. In the end, the Xu family will suffer a more miserable death."