I run a casino in the immortal realm.

There might not be any news from Wang Bo for a while, but Zheng Yifei wasn't idle.

He knew very well that in a place like Dong Shenzhou, where social classes were rigid and rules were strict, money alone was not enough; one needed a continuous source of wealth, as well as the power and strength to protect that wealth.

The morning sunlight filtered through the enormous locust tree in Qingpingfang, casting dappled light and shadow on the bluestone slabs of the courtyard.

Zheng Yifei sat cross-legged under the tree, his eyes slightly closed, and the Five Elements Technique slowly circulated within his body. The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be drawn by something, turning into wisps of visible white mist that flowed into his limbs and bones through his mouth and nose.

After a series of bloody battles in the Southern Wilderness, his cultivation had been completely stabilized at the Nascent Soul stage, only a thin veil away from the Deity Transformation stage. However, this thin veil was not so easy to pierce in the Eastern Divine Continent.

The suppression of the laws of heaven and earth, coupled with his thirst for higher-level cultivation techniques, forced him to integrate into the upper echelons of this world as soon as possible.

"Hoo—" Zheng Yifei exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly opened his eyes.

Today she wore an elegant, moon-white long dress. To avoid drawing attention, she even half-covered her face with a silk scarf, but her aloof and otherworldly temperament was still impossible to ignore.

"I'm back."

Zheng Yifei stood up, went to greet her, and took the storage bag from her hand.

"Um."

Su Wanqing nodded gently, walked to the stone table, poured herself a cup of cool tea to moisten her throat, and then said, "As you instructed, I have visited more than a dozen pharmacies of all sizes in the city over the past three days. I did not go to Zhao's 'Jishetang', but instead purchased from some individual shops."

I bought five thousand portions of spiritual herbs for refining Zheng Yuan Dan and Ning Qi Dan, as well as some medicinal materials for preparing basic healing powder, spending a total of over twenty thousand silver coins.

Zheng Yifei probed the storage bag with his divine sense and nodded in satisfaction when he saw the mountain of spiritual herbs inside: "Thank you for your hard work. The price of spiritual herbs here is about 20% cheaper than in the Southern Wilderness Region. It seems that the Eastern Divine Continent is indeed rich in resources."

However, top-grade pills are almost extinct on the market, indicating that the art of alchemy is monopolized by powerful forces. This is our opportunity.

"I've already contacted Ouyang Tian using a communication talisman. He's already arranged for Zhao Ling to start refining pills. Zhao Ling has an extremely high talent for alchemy. As long as the materials are sufficient, the success rate of pills can reach an astonishing 80%, and the probability of producing top-grade pills far exceeds that of ordinary alchemists."

Once we've established ourselves in the city, we'll find a suitable shop and open 'Jubaoge'.

Zhao Ling's elixirs, Ouyang Tian's array plates, and Murong Laogui's magical artifacts are our tools for accumulating wealth.

Su Wanqing looked at his confident demeanor, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes, but then she frowned slightly: "However, without official backing, once our shop opens and business is booming, it will inevitably attract suppression from the three major families in the city, or even be directly seized by them."

So, we're waiting.

Zheng Yifei smirked coldly: "Once Wang Bo brings me that official suit, once I'm dressed in the county government uniform, the three major families will have to think twice before trying to touch us."

Just then, there was a rapid knocking at the gate.

"Master Zheng! Is Master Zheng here?"

A slightly obsequious voice came from outside the door.

Zheng Yifei gave Su Wanqing a wink, and Su Wanqing immediately turned and went into the inner courtyard.

Zheng Yifei walked over and opened the courtyard gate, where he saw a young man dressed in a dark-colored yamen runner's uniform standing outside.

Upon seeing Zheng Yifei, the yamen runner immediately bowed and scraped, his face beaming with smiles: "Master Zheng, I apologize for disturbing your peace and quiet. Registrar Wang sent me to deliver a message: the matter has been settled, and the magistrate is in a good mood today. The registrar requests that you quickly change into some more presentable clothes and come with me to the county office to meet the magistrate!"

"Thank you for making this trip, brother."

Without making a sound, Zheng Yifei took out a dozen or so silver coins from his sleeve and stuffed them into Zhang Ding's hand.

The yamen runner grinned as he stuffed the silver coins into his pocket and said in a low voice, "Master Zheng, the registrar instructed you to be quick-witted when you meet the magistrate later. The magistrate values ​​capable people the most, so you'd better make a good impression."

"Understood, please wait a moment while I change my clothes and come over."

Zheng Yifei returned to the house, changed into a well-tailored dark blue robe, and tied his hair up with a jade hairpin. He looked both noble and composed, like a wealthy young master.

He steadily suppressed his cultivation at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and prepared the "stepping stone" he would give out in his storage bag before following Zhang Ding out of Qingpingfang.

Zhang Ding led Zheng Yifei through a side gate of the county government office, winding their way through several moon gates until they arrived at a secluded courtyard in the back hall of the office. The courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Wang Bo was already waiting at the gate of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Zheng Yifei, he quickly approached, grabbed Zheng Yifei's arm, and whispered, "Brother, I went to great lengths to put in a good word for you with the magistrate."

The adults are currently reviewing official documents in the signing room. When you go in later, don't be nervous. Have you prepared the necessary gifts?

Zheng Yifei patted his sleeve and gave Wang Bo a reassuring look: "Don't worry, brother, I know what I'm doing. I'm very grateful for your help this time. I won't thank you enough, and I'll definitely repay you in the future."

Wang Bo stroked his mustache with satisfaction. This lad was sensible; it wasn't for nothing that he had risked his life to recommend him. He straightened his official robes, walked to the door of the signing room, and bowed respectfully: "My lord, this humble servant Wang Bo has brought the foreign cultivator Zheng Yifei to pay his respects."

"Enter."

A deep, resonant voice came from inside the door; it was just one word, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Wang Bo pushed open the door and led Zheng Yifei inside.

The room where the seal was signed was decorated in a simple and grand style. On the wall directly opposite the door hung a picture of a tiger descending a mountain. The tiger in the painting was so lifelike that it seemed as if it would pounce out at any moment to devour someone.

Behind a large rosewood desk sat a middle-aged man in his fifties. He was dressed in casual clothes, had a square face, a short beard, and his eyes, though not deliberately gleaming, were deep and unfathomable.

This person is none other than Liu Zhengyi, the magistrate of Liuhua County, a seventh-rank county magistrate, and a powerful expert in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

In the Eastern Divine Continent, possessing an official seal allows one to utilize the dynasty's fortune for cultivation.

Although Liu Zhengyi was only at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, in this small area of ​​Liuhua County, with the support of an official seal, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator might not be able to gain any advantage.

"This humble citizen, Zheng Yifei, pays his respects to Your Excellency, the County Magistrate."

Zheng Yifei stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply. He was neither arrogant nor humble, and his posture was very modest.

Liu Zhengyi put down his vermilion pen, raised his head, and his gaze swept over Zheng Yifei with piercing intensity.

The gaze seemed almost tangible, carrying the unique divine pressure of the Nascent Soul stage. Zheng Yifei felt a tightness all over his body, as if all his secrets were about to be seen through. However, he forcibly calmed his mind and let the other party scrutinize him without even making a fuss about his breathing.

"No need for formalities."

Liu Zhengyi withdrew his divine sense and asked in a calm tone, "I heard from Registrar Wang that you came from the overseas islands? Did you encounter a shipwreck and end up here?"

"Yes, sir."

Zheng Yifei then recounted his carefully prepared backstory: "I was originally a rogue cultivator from Xuanxing Island overseas, making a living by trading spiritual herbs. Half a month ago, I went out to sea and unfortunately encountered a fifth-tier peak Overturning Sea Dragon. My merchant ship was destroyed, and all my companions perished in its belly."

The commoner couple, having exhausted all their strength, managed to escape with their lives thanks to an ancestral teleportation talisman, and ended up in Guixian County.

"Having just arrived, I was fortunate to have the help of Clerk Wang, who allowed me to settle down in the city."

This argument is impeccable.

The overseas islands are 108,000 miles away from the Eastern Divine Continent. Storms and sea monsters roam freely, and countless rogue cultivators die in the sea every day, with no way to verify their deaths.

Liu Zhengyi nodded slightly, seemingly unconcerned about the story. His daily affairs were piling up, and the life or death of a rogue cultivator from another realm wasn't worth his time. What he cared about was whether this person could be of use to him.

"It's good that you've come to my Heavenly Dragon Dynasty for the first time, abided by the rules, and taken the initiative to settle down."

Liu Zhengyi picked up his teacup and gently skimmed off the foam. "Registrar Wang said you are a capable person and want to find a job in the county government. Do you know that being an official in my Tianlong Dynasty is not so easy?"

Without a prestigious family's recommendation, without outstanding skills, passion alone is not enough to get through this door.

Zheng Yifei knew that the show was about to begin.

He stepped forward, took out three exquisite jade bottles from his sleeve, and respectfully placed them on the edge of Liu Zhengyi's desk.

"My lord, you are wise. I am but a humble cultivator, without any support or family background. But I know that in Liuhua County, you are the most important person in the land. I ask for nothing more than to serve you faithfully and share your burdens."

These three bottles of elixirs are some local specialties I brought back from overseas. They are a small token of my respect, but I hope you will accept them with a smile.

Liu Zhengyi glanced at the three jade bottles and frowned slightly.

As a county magistrate at the Nascent Soul stage, what good things haven't he seen?

Ordinary elixirs are simply not good enough for him.