I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The terrifying pressure of the late-stage Golden Core cultivator crashed down on Zeng Ming like a tangible, raging sea.

Zeng Ming's expression changed drastically. Caught off guard, he was forced back seven or eight steps by this massive spiritual power. His chest heaved violently, and he even tasted a metallic sweetness in his throat.

The two Foundation Establishment Perfection Law Enforcement disciples behind him fared even worse. They were pressed down so hard that their knees buckled and they collapsed onto the dark purple soil with a thud, their bones creaking under the weight.

"Su Chenyuan! How dare you lay a hand on me?!"

Zeng Ming steadied himself, pointing at Su Chenyuan with a mixture of shock and anger, and roared in a fierce but weak voice.

He never expected that the Qingyun Sect elder, who had always been subservient to the Xuantian Sect, would dare to openly defy him, the captain of the supervisory team, on the front lines.

Su Chenyuan looked at him coldly, as if he were looking at a clown. His imposing aura not only did not diminish, but intensified: "Captain Zeng, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

When did I lay a hand on you? I was merely reminding you to recognize your place and your responsibilities!

Su Chenyuan waved his sleeve and pointed towards the mine behind him, his voice booming: "The Grand Elder's decree is written clearly: the five thousand disciples of the Qingyun Sect are stationed at the front line of Blood Soul Valley, and their main task is to 'protect the safety of the Blood Soul Stone mine in the rear and prevent the demonic thieves from crossing the border to harass us!'"

Our mission is defense, not to fight for territory!

"As the captain of the supervisory team, your duty is to oversee whether we neglect our duties or desert our posts. However, you have no right to overstep your bounds and directly order the disciples of the Qingyun Sect to their deaths, bypassing me, the commander-in-chief!"

Su Chenyuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he approached Zeng Ming step by step: "If you're not satisfied, you can send a message back to the Xuantian Sect right now and ask the Grand Elder if he wants me to lead these five thousand men to fill the Blood Soul River and hand over the mines behind to the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

Zeng Ming was rendered speechless by Su Chenyuan's watertight words.

He originally intended to use the pretext of the supervisory team to give the Qingyun Sect a hard time and weaken their strength so that he could return and claim credit with Qin Cang.

But to his utter surprise, Su Chenyuan actually used the words of the Grand Elder's decree to pressure him.

What made him even more wary was Su Chenyuan's genuine late-stage Golden Core cultivation.

In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. Although Zeng Ming has the background of the Xuantian Sect, he is only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. If he really pushes Su Chenyuan too far, even if Su Chenyuan creates an "accidental attack by the Demonic Sect" to kill him in the Blood Soul Valley in the wilderness, the Xuantian Sect may not be able to find out the truth.

"Fine... fine, Su Chenyuan!"

Zeng Ming gritted his teeth, forcibly swallowing his anger, and glared fiercely at Su Chenyuan: "Trying to intimidate me with the Grand Elder's decree, huh? Fine! If your Qingyun Sect has the guts, then keep hiding in your turtle shell! This Blood Soul Valley garrison duty is for a full two years, we'll see! Let's see how long you can hide!"

"Two years is plenty of time; we'll give you Qingyun Sect every last drop of blood. Let's go!"

Three streaks of light shot into the sky, then slunk back to the mine behind them like stray dogs.

Watching Zeng Ming's departing figure, the anger on Su Chenyuan's face gradually subsided, replaced by a deep solemnity.

He knew that although he had temporarily forced Zeng Ming to retreat today by using his cultivation and the decree, this was undoubtedly a complete breakdown in relations.

Zeng Ming, this venomous snake, is lurking in the shadows and will surely keep a close eye on the front lines. Once Qingyun Sect has any leverage over him, it will face the most ruthless purge from Xuantian Sect.

"Everyone, continue to reinforce the formation. Without my order, no one is allowed to leave the camp even a step!"

Su Chenyuan gave the order in a deep voice, then turned and walked back to the commander's tent.

A moment later, a hidden transmission talisman fell into the hands of Zheng Yifei, who was in the fortified position at the very front.

Upon receiving the telepathic message, Zheng Yifei immediately used his stealth technique to silently arrive at the commander's tent.

As soon as he entered, Su Chenyuan immediately activated the large soundproof and spy-proof array inside the tent, completely isolating the entire tent from the outside world.

"Yifei, you've seen what happened today."

Su Chenyuan sighed, his brows furrowed: "Although I have temporarily suppressed that mad dog Zeng Ming, he will definitely not let this go."

The Xuantian Sect wants the 'battle casualty figures.' If we remain inactive, they will definitely report us to the sect for 'cowardice and fear of the enemy,' and then Qin Cang will have an excuse to send the Enforcement Hall to arrest us directly."

Zheng Yifei nodded, pulled up a chair and sat down, his expression calm: "What the Fifth Elder said is absolutely right. Since Zeng Ming wants to see dead people and rivers of blood, then we will put on a show for him."

However, it's not enough for us to be the only ones enthusiastic; we need to get the "actors" on the other side in place as soon as possible.

"What are you planning to do?"

Su Chenyuan's gaze sharpened.

"The sooner the better, I'll cross the river tonight."

Zheng Yifei pointed to the Blood Soul River that stretched between the righteous and demonic armies outside the tent: "Vice Sect Master Ye should have already given the Blood Fiend Camp a secret order, but I must go there in person to meet with their higher-ups and finalize the specific details of the fake battle, the rendezvous code, and the way the spirit stones are divided."

Only when both sides reach an absolute understanding can this charade be performed flawlessly.

Upon hearing this, Su Chenyuan gasped: "Going tonight? That's too risky! The air above the Blood Soul River is thick with resentment, making high-altitude flight impossible; we can only fly low over it."

Moreover, although Zeng Ming has left, it is hard to guarantee that he will not plant hidden sentries around the camp or use his divine sense to spy from a distance.

If the supervisory team discovers that you are colluding with the Demonic Sect, it's a capital offense that you can't clear your name even if you jump into the Blood Soul River!

"Therefore, I need the Fifth Elder to protect me."

Zheng Yifei smiled slightly, appearing confident: "At midnight tonight, I will depart from my independent fortress. I request that the Fifth Elder open your Golden Core Domain at that time to cover the area where I am, creating the illusion that you are personally inspecting the front lines."

Zeng Ming is only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm; his divine sense absolutely cannot penetrate your domain.

"As for the vacancy after my departure..."

Zheng Yifei took out a palm-sized paper doll from his storage bag, bit his fingertip, dripped a drop of his blood onto it, and then formed hand seals. The paper doll grew larger in the wind and instantly transformed into the appearance of "Xu Zhengyuan". Not only was the appearance exactly the same, but even the Foundation Establishment spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from his body were identical.

"This is the Substitution Technique from the Thousand Illusions. As long as it is not attacked, it can last for three days and three nights without any problem. With it in the fortress, even if Zeng Ming has the cultivation of the mid-stage Golden Core, he will not be able to detect that I am not in the camp."

Su Chenyuan looked at the lifelike stand-in, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This young man is meticulous in his work and his thoughtfulness is truly astonishing.

"Good! Now that you've made the arrangements, I'll cover for you tonight! Be extremely careful on your journey to the Demonic Sect's camp. Demonic cultivators are unpredictable; even with Ye Tianqiong's secret orders, it's hard to guarantee that their subordinates won't harbor any ill intentions."

"Fifth Elder, rest assured, no one in this world would go against spirit stones."

Zheng Yifei smiled confidently.