I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The meeting adjourned. The elders left the main hall one after another.

Qin Cang stood alone in the empty hall, a cold smile curving his lips.

Summoning Xu Tianyang to the Xuantian Sect as an elder? It's nothing more than luring someone into a trap.

As soon as Xu Tianyang accepts the decree and leaves Qingyun Sect, three Nascent Soul stage assassins from the Shadow Hall will lay a trap along the way. Even if Xu Tianyang is lucky enough to enter Xuantian Sect, the protective formation of Qingfeng Cliff will ensure his death without a trace.

With Xu Tianyang dead, the Qingyun Sect was leaderless. Those lucrative newspaper and logistics businesses, as well as that enormous mirage-like super casino, would all be Qin Cang's for the taking.

With this enormous resource, he could even bypass the sect leader who was in seclusion and completely control the righteous path of the entire Southern Wilderness.

"Xu Tianyang, do you think you can turn the world upside down just because you've formed a Nascent Soul? The grand gift I've prepared for you will ensure you never leave alive."

Qin Cang turned and walked into the back hall.

The main hall of Qingyun Sect.

Xu Tianyang, dressed in a loose gray robe, sat in the main seat. On the table in front of him, thick ledgers were piled up.

Xu Zhengkun, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, stood to the side, quickly flipping through a ledger with a gold cover.

"Father, this is the sect's total revenue last month."

Xu Zhengkun pointed to the last line of numbers: "The mirage revenue was 80 million low-grade spirit stones; the logistics department took a cut of 12 million; the newspaper's GG page bidding revenue was 5 million. After deducting all expenses and disciples' salaries, the sect's treasury had a net income of 93 million spirit stones."

Xu Tianyang's hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped, and he didn't even notice the tea spilling on the back of his hand.

More than 90 million spirit stones a month! This does not include other tax revenue.

This speed at which money is coming in is a hundred times faster than robbery.

"Zheng Yifei is a fucking genius."

Xu Tianyang put down his teacup and swore.

Xu Zhengkun smiled wryly: "It's a pity that he was taken away by Ye Tianqiong of the Heavenly Demon Sect. I don't know when he will be able to come back. He also set up a super gambling den in the Heavenly Demon Sect, which is three times larger than our Mirage. I wonder if he will steal our business."

"It's alright. We righteous cultivators don't go to the Demon Sect's territory. Their super gambling den won't affect our business."

Xu Tianyang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the pressure of the Nascent Soul stage flashed by: "With these spirit stones, I can eat high-level pills without restraint. Within ten years, I am confident that I can break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage and even glimpse the path to the Divine Transformation stage."

No one can touch the foundation of the Qingyun Sect!

A disciple's voice came from outside the hall: "Reporting to the Supreme Elder and Sect Master, Wan Tianxiang, the Tenth Elder of the Xuantian Sect, has arrived."

Xu Tianyang and Xu Zhengkun exchanged a glance.

"They came really fast."

Xu Tianyang straightened his gray robe: "Zhengkun, come with me to greet the guests."

At the entrance to the Qingyun Sect.

Wan Tianxiang did not ride the ostentatious heavy flying boat of the Xuantian Sect, but instead slowly descended on a huge golden abacus magic artifact. He wore a loose Taoist robe embroidered with array patterns, his face full of smiles, his flesh squeezed together, looking completely devoid of the dignity of a senior sect elder.

Wan Tianxiang was not only a grandmaster of formations in the Xuantian Sect, but also the master of Xu Zhenghai, the younger brother of Xu Zhengkun.

Back when the Qingyun Sect was building the mirage, they encountered a bottleneck in the array design. Xu Zhengkun, through his younger brother's connections, persuaded Wan Tianxiang to secretly descend the mountain.

Upon seeing the gambling den's business model, Wan Tianxiang immediately decided to set up a fourth-tier top-grade defensive array and a spirit-gathering array for free. In return, Zheng Yifei gave him a 20% stake in Mirage.

Currently, these two-tenths of the shares bring Wan Tianxiang nearly 20 million spirit stones in dividends every month.

"Brother Wan!"

Xu Tianyang strode forward to meet him.

"Brother Xu, congratulations!"

Wan Tianxiang laughed and stepped forward, grabbing Xu Tianyang's arm familiarly: "You've achieved the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage, and your lifespan has increased dramatically. I'm so envious, brother."

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone entered the main hall and took their seats.

Wan Tianxiang pulled out a golden imperial edict from his sleeve and cleared his throat: "Brother Xu, let's go through the motions according to the rules. The Grand Elder has ordered that Xu Tianyang of the Qingyun Sect be promoted to the Thirteenth Elder of the Xuantian Sect. He shall immediately depart for the main peak to receive his title, without fail."

After reading it aloud, Wan Tianxiang threw the imperial edict onto the table, picked up his teacup, and took a big gulp.

Xu Tianyang didn't even glance at the imperial edict, and sneered, "Go to the main peak to receive the title? That old dog Qin Cang must have prepared a killing formation for me."

Brother Wan, tell me the truth, what exactly is Qin Cang trying to do?

Wan Tianxiang put down his teacup and sighed, "What else can we do? We're just jealous. That newspaper from the Heavenly Demon Sect has nailed Qin Cang to the pillar of shame, and the Shadow Hall's silver-ranked assassin has been captured alive. He desperately needs to establish his authority now."

"Furthermore, your Qingyun Sect has earned so many spirit stones in recent years that people at Qingfeng Cliff have long been envious. Your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage has given them a convenient excuse."

Wan Tianxiang lowered his voice: "Nominally, we're summoning you to be an elder, but in reality, we're trying to control you within the Xuantian Sect and then send someone to take over the Qingyun Sect's assets."

Xu Zhengkun's face turned ashen: "Isn't the Grand Elder afraid of alienating all the affiliated sects in the Southern Wilderness?"

"He set the rules, what is he afraid of?"

Wan Tianxiang sneered, then looked at Xu Tianyang: "But Brother Xu, you're right not to go. If you go, you'll be like meat on a chopping board, your life and death won't be in your own hands."

Xu Tianyang stared at Wan Tianxiang: "If I don't go, it will be disobeying the imperial decree. What if Qin Cang leads troops to attack?"

"He wouldn't dare."

Wan Tianxiang waved his hand: "He's in a real bind right now. The Heavenly Demon Sect has intensified its offensive, and he can't spare the time to deal with everything."

Besides, with the sect leader still in seclusion, Qin Cang wouldn't dare to instigate a civil war.

Wan Tianxiang stood up, patted his stomach, and changed his tone: "Alright, business is done, it's time to talk about personal matters."

"Zhengkun, why is my 20% share dividend from last month a full million spirit stones less than the month before last?"

One second he's an imperial envoy reading out imperial decrees, the next he transforms into a shareholder auditing accounts.

Xu Zhengkun quickly stepped forward to explain: "Uncle Wan, last month Mirage held a 'Rewarding Old Gamblers' event, giving away a batch of chips for free. This was the initial marketing cost. On paper, it was a loss, but the retention rate increased by 20%."

"Marketing costs?"

Wan Tianxiang stroked his chin: "That trick Zheng Yifei left behind? Fine, as long as we can make it back. Come on, take me to see the mirage."

A hint of competitiveness flashed in Wan Tianxiang's eyes: "I heard from Zheng Hai that the Heavenly Demon Sect is building a super commercial complex, and they even hired a top master for the formation."

I personally set up this mirage formation; it absolutely cannot be outdone by the demonic path.

"Today I'll upgrade your Spirit Gathering Array by one level for free, guaranteeing that those gamblers will get carried away the moment they walk in and willingly empty their storage bags!"

Xu Tianyang laughed heartily, all his pent-up frustration vanishing: "Brother Wan, that's awesome! Zhengkun, go to the wine cellar and dig out that jar of thousand-year-old spirit wine. Tonight, Brother Wan and I will drink until we drop!"

"That's more like it!"

Wan Tianxiang hooked his arm around Xu Zhengkun's shoulder and led him out of the hall: "Let's check the accounts first, then reinforce the formation. That old codger Qin Cang is always scheming and plotting, nothing beats the peaceful way we earn spirit stones."

The majestic decree of the Xuantian Sect was left lying alone on the corner of the table, ignored by everyone.

Half an hour later.

The mirage has three underground floors, housing the core control room of the formation.

Wan Tianxiang stood in front of the huge array plate, his hands forming a seal. Intricate golden array patterns were injected into the array plate, and the surrounding spirit stones emitted a rich spiritual energy, which flowed through the array patterns into the entire gambling house.

Xu Zhengkun stood aside, watching the increasingly bright patterns on the array plate, a look of joy on his face.