I run a casino in the immortal realm.

However, the news of these four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators appearing out of nowhere also caused a huge shock to the imperial court.

Just one day after the battle report was sent, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War in Kyoto sent a top-level consultation document to the Tanzhou Prefectural Government via express courier.

The official document sternly questioned Zhu Zhenbang about why an armed force of up to four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators had suddenly appeared in Tanzhou County, whether this force was registered, and whether it was suspected of treason.

Zhu Zhenbang was prepared.

He immediately had his staff draft a detailed memorial.

In his memorial, he detailed the origins of these four hundred people: they were all independent cultivators who came from the Southern Wilderness Region, drawn by its reputation, and who voluntarily pledged their allegiance to the imperial court in pursuit of the Great Dao.

Zheng Yifei, the deputy commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Department, had a keen eye for talent and recruited them into the anti-smuggling team. All procedures were legal and compliant, and the team was completely under the control of the prefectural government.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhenbang highlighted the tremendous results of this anti-smuggling operation in his memorial: 300,000 catties of top-grade spiritual salt were seized, and hundreds of armed fugitives who resisted arrest were killed, including more than 70 Nascent Soul stage thieves.

This weighty achievement is enough to shut up the mouths of those officials in the imperial court.

Noon on the third day.

Colorful flags fluttered and crowds thronged the Liuhua River wharf outside the city of Tanzhou.

To build momentum for Zheng Yifei and to demonstrate the imperial court's authority to the entire Tanzhou Prefecture, Zhu Zhenbang personally led the military and political officials of Tanzhou Prefecture to wait at the dock early in the morning.

On the river, five official boats flying the flag of the Judicial Commissioner slowly approached.

On both sides of the ship's side, four hundred anti-smuggling officers dressed in black stood with knives at their sides. Although they did not deliberately release their aura, the chilling atmosphere that rolled over from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood still made the officials on the dock feel a chill.

As soon as the ship docked, Zheng Yifei, dressed in a brand-new sixth-rank official robe, strode down the gangplank and knelt before Zhu Zhenbang on one knee: "Your humble servant Zheng Yifei has successfully completed his mission. The 300,000 catties of spirit salt, along with the entire group of criminals, have been escorted back to the prefectural city. Please inspect them, Your Excellency!"

"Please rise quickly!"

Zhu Zhenbang laughed and stepped forward, personally helping Zheng Yifei up and patting him hard on the shoulder: "Yifei, you have made a tremendous contribution this time! I have already submitted a memorial to the court to request commendation for you."

The task of combating smuggling in Tanzhou Prefecture will now depend entirely on you!

"I am willing to die for you, sir."

Zheng Yifei answered respectfully.

After handing over the supplies and prisoners, Zhu Zhenbang booked the largest restaurant in the county town, "Zui Xian Lou," and held a grand banquet to entertain the four hundred brothers of the anti-smuggling team.

During the banquet, Zhu Zhenbang not only personally toasted Li Jianfeng and others, but also announced on the spot that each of the participating team members would be rewarded with one hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

The welcoming banquet lasted until late at night. Meanwhile, the undercurrents of the entire Tanzhou Prefecture were completely stirred up that night.

Inside the county town, the heads of several powerful families held a secret meeting overnight.

"Has the investigation been completed? Are those four hundred people truly Nascent Soul cultivators?"

The head of the Wang family sat in the main seat and asked with a solemn expression.

"Absolutely true."

The elder in charge of intelligence wiped away cold sweat and replied, "Our informants at the docks have thoroughly investigated. Those four hundred people possess an aura as deep as the ocean; they are all genuine Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Moreover... they all carry an extremely heavy killing intent; they are definitely not the kind of people who are merely for show with pills."

A deathly silence fell over the hall.

Four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators! This number weighed on the hearts of all the aristocratic family heads like a mountain.

These families, which have been passed down for thousands of years, have profound heritages, with some even having ancestors at the Refinement Stage or Integration Stage.

However, beings of the ancestor's level are all in seclusion, comprehending the Dao of Heaven. Unless their family faces annihilation, they will not easily take action.

Those who truly maintain the family's daily operations and protect the industries in various regions are the core members at the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stages.

It's already quite remarkable for a large family to be able to produce dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators.

"This Zheng Yifei is someone we can't afford to mess with."

The head of the Li family sighed, breaking the silence: "He holds such a terrifying force in his hands, and he represents the imperial court. If we openly oppose him, it would be treason. Zhu Zhenbang is just looking for an excuse to deal with us."

Even doing it in secret is not an option.

Another family head shook his head: "I had someone investigate. Zheng Yifei and his men are all from the Southern Wilderness. These people have no family burdens, they have nothing to lose, and they stick together extremely well."

"If we can't kill them all at once, even if just ten or eight Nascent Soul cultivators escape, they'll retaliate like mad dogs. Today they'll burn down your mine, tomorrow they'll smash your trading post. Who can stand that?"

"Pass down the order."

The head of the Wang family took a deep breath and made a decision: "From today onwards, all smuggling businesses of the family will cease operations, and all accounts related to the Canal Gang will be destroyed immediately."

He warned the clan members that anyone who dared to provoke the officials of the Ministry of Justice at this critical juncture would be expelled from the family!

The same order was issued in succession to various powerful families in Tanzhou County.

Overnight, Zheng Yifei's name became the most unapproachable figure in Tanzhou County.

Meanwhile, in Jiangzhou, at the headquarters of the Canal Gang.

The entire headquarters estate was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

Inside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, Han Lie, the chief leader of the Canal Gang, sat on a large tiger-skin armchair, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Han Lie, a powerful expert at the peak of the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, has been in charge of the Canal Gang for nearly a century. He is the undisputed local emperor on the waterways of the entire Tianlong Dynasty.

But at this moment, the local tyrant's hands were trembling slightly.

In the center of the hall, Wang Hua stood there, looking disheveled, and gave a detailed report on the battle at Qingyuzui.

When he heard that more than a hundred elite Nascent Soul cultivators from the Dark Hall had been killed or wounded, that 300,000 catties of spirit salt had been confiscated, and that even Wang Hua himself had almost been detained by Zhu Biao, Han Lie slammed his palm down and smashed the tea table next to him.

"Four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators... Zhu Zhenbang has quite the grand scheme!"

Han Lie gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with apprehension.

It wasn't that he was afraid of these four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators; in front of a Void Refinement expert, even a large number of Nascent Soul cultivators were just ants.

But what he feared was the imperial court behind Zhu Zhenbang.

Zhu Biao's appearance indicates that Zhu Zhenbang is ready for a full-scale war.

If the canal gang dares to make any further moves, it will no longer be a matter of smuggling, but a direct confrontation with the state apparatus.

"Boss, what do we do now?"

Another deputy leader asked anxiously, "The Tanzhou branch has been raided, and the irrefutable evidence of 300,000 catties of spirit salt is in Zhu Zhenbang's hands. If he submits the report to the capital, and the imperial court investigates, our entire canal transport gang will be doomed!"

Han Lie closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, forced himself to calm down, and quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

"Sacrifice the pawn to save the king."

Han Lie suddenly opened his eyes, a ruthless glint in them: "Wang Hua, immediately send someone to Tanzhou to convey my order: Qian Baichuan, the leader of the Tanzhou branch, is blinded by greed and has colluded with overseas forces to smuggle spiritual salt. His crimes are heinous. Effective immediately, he is to be removed from his position in the Canal Gang and handed over to the imperial court for punishment."

All his actions in Tanzhou were for his own personal gain and had absolutely nothing to do with the headquarters of the Canal Gang!

Wang Hua was taken aback: "Chief, Qian Baichuan is your fellow disciple..."

"Shut up!"

Han Lie roared, "At this point, preserving the foundation of the Grand Canal Gang is the most important thing! Qian Baichuan has caused such a huge disaster, are we going to drag the entire Grand Canal Gang down with him?"

The elders in the hall looked at each other, none of them daring to say anything more.

They all knew that Qian Baichuan was doomed this time. He had been abandoned by headquarters and had no way out.

"in addition,"

Han Lie turned to a trusted elder beside him: "Prepare a generous gift immediately, along with my personal letter, and travel to the capital overnight via the teleportation array to meet His Highness the Third Prince."

The reason why the Canal Gang was able to grow so powerful in the Tianlong Dynasty was due to the support of powerful officials in the court. The Third Prince was the Canal Gang's biggest backer, and the tribute that the Canal Gang paid to the Third Prince every year was an astronomical figure.

"How should I write the letter?"

The trusted elder asked in a low voice.

Write truthfully.

Han Lie said in a deep voice: "Tell me that in Tanzhou there is a deputy commissioner of the Judicial Commission who is ignorant of his own limitations. He has formed a smuggling squad of four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, which seriously threatens the stability of the canal transport."

Your Highness, please intervene in court and pin the blame for smuggling entirely on Qian Baichuan, and absolutely do not implicate the Grand Canal Gang.

"If we can weather this crisis, the Canal Gang is willing to increase this year's tribute by another 30%!"

The trusted elder accepted the order and left.

Han Lie leaned back in his tiger-skin chair, gazing at the night sky outside the hall, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Zheng Yifei... what a sharp blade. However, the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind. You, an outsider with no connections, wield such great power. Do you really think the imperial court will tolerate you? We'll see..."