I run a casino in the immortal realm.

They come, the security.

Although the bandit's den deep in the mountains was dilapidated, it was at least a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Ouyang Tian and Murong Hao had been operating here for half a year, and they had managed to bring this group of disorganized bandits under their control.

The stronghold's meeting hall was a spacious wooden house built with large logs. Although simple, it could barely accommodate dozens of people to hold meetings.

Zheng Yifei and the others did not sit idle. That afternoon, everyone took their seats in the Hall of Righteousness.

Ouyang Tian and Murong Hao naturally gave the main seat to Zheng Yifei. They knew very well that while they were experts in management and fighting, when it came to breaking through in unfamiliar environments and scheming, even ten of them combined couldn't compare to this young man in front of them.

Zheng Yifei sat on a large wooden chair covered with the skin of an unknown monster, his gaze sweeping across the room below.

Standing in the center of the hall was a burly, middle-aged man with a scar on his face.

This man was named Ma Biao, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and was originally the third leader of this mountain stronghold.

Six months ago, Murong Hao slapped the leader to death. The second leader tried to run away when he saw that things were not going well, but Ouyang Tian used a formation to turn him into a bloody mist. Ma Biao was a smart man. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed to acknowledge the new leader, which saved his life.

Ma Biao bowed slightly at this moment, his attitude extremely respectful.

Although he couldn't see through Zheng Yifei and the others' exact cultivation levels, the fact that two unfathomable Nascent Soul stage experts were willing to give up their positions meant that even a fool could tell these newcomers were definitely formidable characters who were not to be trifled with.

"Ma Biao, right?"

Zheng Yifei picked up the rough earthenware bowl beside him, took a sip of the fragrant spiritual tea, and said in a calm tone, "Sit down and talk."

"I can just stand and answer; there's no place for a lowly person in front of the chief."

Ma Biao quickly put on a smile and waved his hands repeatedly. He didn't know how to address Zheng Yifei, so he simply called him "Big Boss" as well.

Zheng Yifei didn't press the issue and went straight to the point: "We're new here and know nothing about the situation in this Eastern Divine Continent. You're a local, so tell me everything you know about the power structure, cultivation system, government rules, and how to obtain legal status. Be as detailed as possible. If there's even a single lie..."

"I wouldn't dare! I will absolutely tell you everything I know without reservation!"

Ma Biao was startled and quickly patted his chest to assure him. He swallowed hard, gathered his thoughts, and began to slowly recount his story.

"Gentlemen, the territory of the Eastern Divine Continent is so vast that mortals could not reach its end even after ten lifetimes. The land we are standing on now belongs to the 'Heavenly Dragon Dynasty'."

Ma Biao pointed to the ground: "The Tianlong Dynasty is a medium-sized country with a population of about 500 million, but above the Tianlong Dynasty, there is a behemoth called the 'Great Qin Dynasty'."

"The Qin Dynasty..."

Zheng Yifei tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the wooden chair: "Then how are cultivation realms divided above the Nascent Soul stage?"

In the Southern Wilderness, the Nascent Soul stage is already a legend. As for what comes after the Nascent Soul stage, even ancient books do not have a clear record.

Xu Tianyang, Li Jianfeng, and the others also pricked up their ears.

Ma Biao cleared his throat, a hint of awe in his eyes: "Gentlemen, the cultivation levels of us cultivators, from lowest to highest, are Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation."

After the Nascent Soul stage comes the Void Refining stage. Once you reach the Void Refining stage, you can begin to control the laws of heaven and earth, and moving mountains and filling seas will be a piece of cake.

Above the Refining Void Realm lies the Integration Realm, where the physical body and primordial spirit merge into one, making one nearly immortal.

Above the Integration Realm lies the Mahayana Realm, a state of being that truly stands at the pinnacle of the world.

As for the realm beyond Mahayana, legend has it that there is also the Tribulation Transcending Realm, which is the realm of old immortals who have one foot in the celestial realm. Once they have passed the heavenly tribulation, they can ascend to heaven in broad daylight.

A brief silence fell over the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

Su Wanqing tightened her grip on the sword hilt slightly, and Xu Tianyang and his son exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.

It turns out that the Nascent Soul Perfection they painstakingly cultivated to the point of near-death experience was not even halfway there in the Eastern Divine Continent's system.

"The ruler of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty is a powerful being at the peak of the Integration Realm."

Ma Biao continued, "And the emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty is said to be a top expert in the Mahayana realm. There are even rumors that in the ancestral land of the Great Qin royal family, an ancestor in the Tribulation Transcending realm is still sleeping and suppressing the fortune."

"A king in the Integration Realm, an emperor in the Mahayana Realm..."

Ouyang Tian gasped, shaking his head with a wry smile: "No wonder a county magistrate dares to be so arrogant. Ma Biao, tell me more about the government system. I want to see what kind of petty official that county magistrate who drove me out of the city gate is in this dynasty."

Although they had been here for half a year, Ouyang Tian and Murong Hao were busy building the teleportation array, so they didn't know much more about the situation here than Zheng Yifei.

Upon hearing Ouyang Tian mention the magistrate of Liuhua County, Ma Biao's expression changed slightly, clearly showing his deep fear of the government.

"Master Ouyang, you may not know this, but in our Eastern Divine Continent, the government is the law."

Ma Biao sighed and explained, "The Tianlong Dynasty's official system is divided into nine ranks and eighteen levels, from the first rank to the ninth rank. The hierarchy is very strict, and official positions are directly linked to cultivation levels."

"Take Liuhua County for example. The county magistrate is a seventh-rank official. According to the rules of the imperial court, a seventh-rank official must have the cultivation level of the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage."

Above the county magistrate is the prefect of Yuanyang Prefecture, a fourth-rank official with a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

Above that is the Prefect of Tanzhou Prefecture, a third-rank official, a powerful figure in the early stages of the Void Refinement realm, who commands the military and political power of the entire prefecture.

Ma Biao paused for a moment, then continued counting upwards: "Up to the central government, the vice ministers of the six ministries are generally of the third rank or the second rank, with a cultivation level of mid-stage Refinement Void."

The Minister of the Six Ministries, a second-rank official, with a cultivation level in the late stage of the Refinement of Emptiness.

The Prime Minister, who holds the highest position among officials, and the Grand Marshal, who commands the three armies, are first-rank officials who must possess exceptional cultivation at the early stage of the Integration Realm to hold these positions.

"Seventh Rank, Early Stage of Nascent Soul..."

Murong Hao, his face cold, gave a cold snort.

He was the sect leader of the Xuantian Sect in the Southern Wilderness, managing billions of people. But here, his Nascent Soul cultivation was only enough to make him a seventh-rank county magistrate.

"Since one can become an official once their cultivation level is high enough, and both of you seniors are at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm and are proficient in formations and weapon crafting, why don't you seek employment in the government instead of becoming bandits in these mountains?"

Xu Zhenghai couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Ma Biao gave a bitter smile: "Sir, you're oversimplifying things. The selection of court officials isn't based on your cultivation level at all."

The officialdom of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty has long been monopolized by those powerful and aristocratic families.

"monopoly?"

Zheng Yifei raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's a monopoly."

Ma Biao nodded. "The imperial court selects officials through a 'recommendation system.' If you want to become an official, you must be recommended by a prominent family."

Those powerful families held various important positions in the court, and they would only promote their own sons or their dependent retainers.

"For low-level cultivators like us with no background, even if you cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage, without the approval of a powerful family, the government won't recognize you. You can't even get a ninth-rank inspector."

"Is the upward mobility completely blocked?"

Zheng Yifei asked, "This kind of rigid social structure is even more despairing than the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak in the Southern Wilderness."