I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Xuantian Sect, behind the main peak, Qingfeng Cliff.

The eldest elder, Qin Cang, sat cross-legged on the edge of the cliff, closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

A streak of light sped from the sky, pierced through the outer array, and landed on Qingfeng Cliff.

The light faded, revealing Zeng Feng's figure. He quickly walked behind Qin Cang and knelt on one knee.

"Master, I'm back."

Zeng Feng's tone carried an undisguised excitement.

Qin Cang slowly opened his eyes, without turning around: "How's things at the Qingyun Sect? Is Xu Zhengkun trying to plead poverty to you?"

"no."

Zeng Feng took a deep breath, took out five high-grade storage rings from his pocket, and presented them with both hands: "This is two billion low-grade spirit stones. Xu Zhengkun has paid them all without missing a penny."

Qin Cang's gaze finally fell on the five storage rings. He raised his hand, grabbed them from a distance, and the five storage rings fell into his palm. He probed into them with his divine sense, and even with Qin Cang's centuries of self-control, the corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch slightly.

The spirit stones, neatly arranged and piled up like a mountain, exuded a rich spiritual energy.

How long were you gone?

Qin Cang asked.

"In less than half a day, after the decree was read out, Xu Zhengkun did not hesitate for a moment and directly asked the Second Elder in charge of finance to withdraw the money. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the 2 billion spirit stones were handed over to the disciple."

Zeng Feng reported the facts truthfully.

A deathly silence fell over Qingfeng Cliff, with only the mournful sound of the cold wind blowing through the rocks.

Qin Cang's fingers tightened around the storage ring, his knuckles turning white.

"Twenty billion in cash was produced in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Qin Cang's voice was deep and cold, carrying a chilling undertone: "Zeng Feng, do you know what this means?"

Zeng Feng lowered his head and said, "This means that the mirage and those industries of the Qingyun Sect are simply a treasure trove. Master, we still want too little."

"madness."

Qin Cang coldly uttered two words, stood up, and looked down at the sea of ​​clouds below: "Asking for less is secondary. Have you ever considered just how terrifying their true financial power is, that an affiliated sect can casually produce two billion in cash without suffering any serious damage?"

Zeng Feng was stunned, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Qin Cang turned around, his eyes sharp as knives: "As the overlord of the Southern Wilderness, the Xuantian Sect only has about 5 billion in cash reserves in its sect's war reserve treasury all year round."

The Qingyun Sect's current economic strength is showing signs of surpassing ours.

In the cultivation world, wealth, companions, techniques, and land are paramount, with wealth ranking first. With inexhaustible spirit stones, one can buy top-tier cultivation techniques, recruit countless rogue cultivators, and nurture a large number of high-level cultivators.

"Xu Zhengkun is a patient man. The fact that he readily handed over 2 billion today shows that he has great ambitions. If given time to convert all these spirit stones into military strength, in less than 50 years, no, perhaps only 20 years, the Qingyun Sect will have the confidence to resist the Xuantian Sect."

Qin Cang put the storage ring into his sleeve, his tone revealing murderous intent: "This is absolutely not allowed. How can I allow someone else to snore beside my bed?"

"What does Master mean?"

"We can't wait any longer. Originally, I wanted to take advantage of the battles on the front lines to slowly bleed the Qingyun Sect dry. But now it seems that things might change if we wait too long. I will destroy the Qingyun Sect and bring the Mirage, the Qingyun Daily, and all their assets directly under my control."

Zeng Feng swallowed hard: "But Master, Qingyun Sect has not done anything wrong. It just handed over 2 billion spirit stones. If we take action directly, the Tenth Elder Wan Tianxiang and his people will definitely fight to the death to stop us, and it may even alarm the sect master who is in seclusion."

"So, we can't let them know."

Qin Cang said expressionlessly, "Go to the Enforcement Hall now and select five hundred absolutely loyal assassins. Do not alert any other halls. Gather in the dense forest outside the mountain gate in half an hour. I will personally lead the team."

A bloodthirsty excitement flashed in Zeng Feng's eyes. The profits from wiping out a sect that was richer than a country were immeasurable.

"Your disciple obeys!"

Zeng Feng kowtowed deeply, then turned and vanished in a flash of light.

Night falls.

Three hundred miles outside the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate, a small, jet-black warship without any insignia floats silently in the clouds.

This warship is inscribed with top-tier stealth formations, specifically designed for nighttime raids.

On the deck of the warship, five hundred law enforcement guards dressed in black and wearing standard magical artifacts stood in neat rows, completely silent.

Qin Cang stood at the bow of the ship, hands behind his back, with Zeng Feng standing to his side and slightly behind him.

"Master, the Qingyun Sect's protective formation is a top-grade fourth-order formation. If we launch a direct attack, even if you personally take action, it will take half an hour to break through it. Half an hour is enough time for Xu Zhengkun to destroy the core ledgers and even transfer his valuables through the teleportation array."

Zeng Feng said in a low voice.

"A direct assault is the worst strategy."

Qin Cang's gaze was cold: "You just visited the Qingyun Sect, so Xu Zhengkun will still have some respect for you. Once you get there, you step forward and find some excuse to trick them into opening the formation. Once the formation is open, the rest will be out of his hands."

"clear."

Zeng Feng sneered.

The warships moved silently through the night, heading straight for the Qingyun Sect.

At this time, the Qingyun Sect was still brightly lit.

Inside the main hall of the main peak, Xu Zhengkun was checking the accounts of recruiting rogue cultivators with several elders.

The pressure exerted by the Xuantian Sect during the day made the entire Qingyun Sect leadership feel a strong sense of crisis, and all work was being accelerated.

"Sect Master, the recruitment notice has been sent out through the newspaper, and quite a few independent cultivators have signed up tonight. We expect to gather three thousand people within three days," the Second Elder reported, holding the ledger.

Xu Zhengkun nodded and rubbed his temples: "Give us enough spirit stones, don't be stingy. As long as we can plug the gap at the front and buy time for the children in the back mountains, it's all worth it."

Just then, a series of rapid whooshing sounds came from outside the main hall.

A deacon responsible for guarding the mountain gate rushed into the main hall: "Sect Master! Hall Master Zeng of the Xuantian Sect's Enforcement Hall is back! He's right outside the mountain gate!"

Xu Zhengkun frowned and exchanged glances with the elders.

"What's he doing here again? Haven't we already paid the spirit stones?"

The Second Elder said with dissatisfaction.

"Let's go take a look." Xu Zhengkun stood up, a faint unease rising in his heart. He led the group out of the main hall and to the edge of the main peak plaza.

Through the semi-transparent light screen of the sect's protective formation, Zeng Feng could be seen standing alone in mid-air, his face gloomy.

Xu Zhengkun channeled his spiritual power, and his voice pierced through the formation: "Hall Master Zeng, you've returned so late at night. What brings you here?"

Zeng Feng, standing outside the formation, snorted coldly and said loudly, "Xu Zhengkun, the Grand Elder has examined the spirit stones you handed over and found that some of them are of incorrect grade. In addition, regarding the recruitment of three thousand elite troops, the Grand Elder has a secret order that I must personally deliver to you."

Xu Zhengkun's heart sank.

The claim that the spirit stones were of incorrect grade was pure nonsense. The Qingyun Sect had sent out standard low-grade spirit stones, but the pretext of this secret order made it impossible for him to refuse.

"Master Zeng, since this is a secret order, could you transmit it through the array?"

Xu Zhengkun asked cautiously.

"presumptuous!"

Zeng Feng roared, "How can the Grand Elder's secret order be treated so lightly? Xu Zhengkun, you're making excuses and won't even let me in. Could it be that the Qingyun Sect is hiding something shady, plotting a rebellion?"

The charge of treason was something Xu Zhengkun simply couldn't accept.

He glanced back at the direction of the main hall. Deep underground, there were still three thousand orphans cultivating, who were the future hope of the Qingyun Sect.

We absolutely cannot afford to break ties with the Xuantian Sect now. If Zeng Feng makes a move and attracts the Xuantian Sect's army, everything will be over.

"Sect Master, we can't activate the formation! Zeng Feng came in the middle of the night; he definitely has ill intentions."

The second elder advised in a low voice.

Xu Zhengkun took a deep breath and shook his head: "He is the head of the Law Enforcement Hall and represents Qin Cang. If we don't open the formation, he can immediately mobilize troops for the crime of disobeying orders. Let's open the formation. I want to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve. As long as we comply, he can't find fault with us."

Xu Zhengkun took out the array control jade tablet from his pocket and infused it with a spell.

"Buzz—"

The enormous light curtain that enveloped the entire Qingyun Sect slowly cracked open, creating a gap several meters wide directly above the mountain gate.

"Master Zeng, please come in."

Xu Zhengkun put away the jade token and led several elders forward, adopting a very humble posture.

Zeng Feng's lips curled into a cruel smile. He flashed through the gap in the formation and landed on the plaza.

Xu Zhengkun was about to bow and say, "Zeng..."

Before the words were even finished, a sudden change occurred!

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, like a celestial river overflowing its banks, poured down from the night sky behind Zeng Feng without warning.

This pressure was too strong, far exceeding the comprehension of everyone in the Qingyun Sect.