I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Tanzhou Prefecture, the rear residence of the Judicial Commissioner.

The night was deep, but the lights in the study were still on.

Zheng Yifei sat in the chair, listened to the news brought by the Ninth Prince Long Yuan, his brows furrowed, and remained silent for a long time.

Long Yuan paced back and forth in the room, looking somewhat agitated: "Yi Fei, this is my fault. If I had known that the third brother was so cunning, I shouldn't have taken all the credit back then. Now look what's happened. He's been granted the title of Prince, but he's also sent us brothers to that dead end in the Western Frontier."

"Your Highness, please don't panic."

Zheng Yifei picked up the tea that had gone cold from the table and took a sip, forcing himself to calm down.

He was indeed very frustrated.

He had just broken through to the Void Refining Realm, had just finished his wedding with Su Wanqing, and was preparing to hand over 30% of the profits from the Southern Wilderness Gambling House to go to the capital to seek a powerful position, and then go to the Royal Library to find the follow-up cultivation methods for the Five Elemental Roots.

But plans can't keep up with changes. The Third Prince pulled a decisive move, completely blocking his path to the capital.

Go to the western frontier to fight?

Zheng Yifei wasn't afraid of death. He had killed countless demonic beasts in the East Sea and used this to break through to the late stage and perfect stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Combat could temper his will and rapidly improve his cultivation. Going to the Western Frontier wasn't entirely a bad thing.

But he knew very well that fighting monsters and fighting an organized army were two completely different things.

The orcs of the Western Rong Kingdom were not only highly skilled in individual combat, but also fearless in the face of death, making the battles in the western frontier extremely fierce.

Most importantly, by going to the Western Frontier, he would be far removed from the power center of the capital, and the high-level cultivation techniques in the royal library would be even more distant.

Without further cultivation techniques, his cultivation will be completely stuck at the Refinement of Emptiness realm.

"Disobeying the imperial decree is impossible."

Zheng Yifei tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound, a habit he had when he was thinking.

He raised his head to look at Long Yuan, his eyes now calm: "Our current resources are not enough to confront the entire Tianlong Dynasty court. Since the imperial decree is hard to disobey, then let's take a trip to the Western Frontier."

"But what about the Western Frontier region..."

Long Yuan sighed: "I've heard that the orcs of the Western Rong Kingdom have physical strength comparable to those at the Foundation Establishment stage, while centurions and commanders of thousands are comparable to those at the Nascent Soul or Divine Transformation stages. They are body cultivators, and when they form battle formations on the battlefield, they are like meat grinders. Countless soldiers have died on the front lines over the years."

"War is not just about fighting for people, but also about fighting for money and resources."

Zheng Yifei sneered, "If the Third Prince wants us to go and die, then we'll make him bleed a little. Your Highness, since the Crown Prince has sent a message saying we can make demands, then we won't hold back."

Long Yuan's spirits lifted, and he pulled up a chair to sit down: "Tell me, how should we bring it up?"

Zheng Yifei held up one finger: "First, Tanzhou is our base, and we absolutely cannot lose it. Even if we go to the Western Frontier, the business of the Southern Wilderness Gambling House must continue to operate as usual, and we must even expand its scale."

Warfare is expensive. Without a steady stream of spirit stones and gold coins, we can hardly move an inch in the Western Frontier. The Third Prince's decision to send us to the Western Frontier will inevitably lead to a deduction of military pay and provisions. We cannot rely entirely on the imperial court's logistical support.

Therefore, Li Jianfeng had to stay and take over the position of Chief Justice of Tanzhou Prefecture.

Long Yuan nodded: "Li Jianfeng is the most reliable person under you. His cultivation has reached the Refining Void Realm. He can keep things in order. With him guarding Tanzhou, I feel at ease. It won't be so easy for the third brother to extend his reach into Tanzhou."

Zheng Yifei raised his second finger: "Secondly, I can't be a commander without troops. We don't know what kind of people the border guards in the Western Frontier are like. They're probably just a bunch of defeated soldiers who were scared by the orcs, or good-for-nothings stuffed in by various forces to get some patronage."

To gain a foothold in Western Xinjiang, I must bring my own people.

"Who are you bringing?"

"Night Owl, Ouyang Zhan, and Wang Changsheng, along with their three elite anti-smuggling squads, I must take them all with me."

Furthermore, Xu Qian is quick-witted and perfectly suited for coordinating logistics and handling military affairs; Wei Jun's execution is strong, so I also need to keep these two by my side.

Zheng Yifei's tone was resolute.

Long Yuan frowned, calculating for a moment: "You're taking three Void Refinement experts with you, plus several hundred Nascent Soul stage elites. That's no small sum. If the Ministry of War keeps blocking us..."

"That depends on His Highness's methods."

Zheng Yifei interrupted him, "We're going to risk our lives in the Western Frontier, so we can't be denied even the right to choose a few suitable weapons. If the Crown Prince can't even secure this much, then we can forget about any support from the court in the Western Frontier."

After a pause, Zheng Yifei looked at Long Yuan, his tone softening slightly: "Also, there is one more thing. Your Highness, you are going to the Western Frontier to guard the border, where you will be in charge of the military and political affairs of three prefectures. You will inevitably have to supervise the battles at the front. The Western Frontier is a dangerous place, and Zhao Ling cannot go with you."

Long Yuan's expression changed when Zhao Ling was mentioned.

He had just established a relationship with Zhao Ling, and they were deeply in love. Naturally, he was a hundred times unwilling to abandon Zhao Ling.

"Ling'er is a seventh-level alchemist. With her around, our casualties will be much smaller."

Longyuan tried to explain.

"Precisely because she is a seventh-level alchemist, she is even less able to risk going to the front lines."

Zheng Yifei remained unyielding. "The assassins of the half-orcs are impossible to guard against. If something happens to Ling'er, it will be too late for you to regret it. Moreover, we need an inside man in Kyoto."

Long Yuan was taken aback: "An inside man?"

"good."

Zheng Yifei lowered his voice, "Have the Crown Prince formally confer the title of Princess Consort of Pingxi upon Zhao Ling, and use this title to send her to the Imperial Academy of Crafts in the capital for further studies."

The Heavenly Craft Academy holds a supreme position; even the Third Prince wouldn't dare to run wild there. Ling'er is not only absolutely safe there, but she can also access the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's top alchemy techniques and resources.

The special elixirs we need at the front lines can be allocated from the Tiangong General Hospital through her.

More importantly, with her in Kyoto, we can know immediately about any developments in the court.

Long Yuan remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a heavy sigh: "You're right. I can't put Ling'er in danger because of personal feelings. Let's do as you say. I'll send a message to my elder brother immediately."

That night, a secret communication talisman shot into the sky from the Tanzhou Prefectural Governor's Mansion, heading straight for the capital.

For the next three days, Zheng Yifei did not concern himself with matters of the court, but instead focused all his energy on the internal handover of the Judicial Commission.

Li Jianfeng was summoned to the study.

"My lord, I will not stay."

Upon hearing Zheng Yifei's arrangement, Li Jianfeng's usually composed face showed an unusual look of impatience: "The brothers have followed you through thick and thin, so why should Wang Changsheng and Ouyang Zhan be able to go to the front line to kill the enemy, while I have to stay in Tanzhou to guard the home?"

This trip to the capital is unacceptable to me; I want to go to the Western Frontier with you!

Zheng Yifei looked at him, but didn't get angry. He simply pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Sit down and talk."

Li Jianfeng sat down with his neck stiff, gripping the embroidered spring knife tightly in his hand.

"Jianfeng, you've been with me since you were in the Southern Wilderness, so you should know my temper, Zheng Yifei."

Zheng Yifei poured him a cup of tea. "I'm going to the Western Frontier not for sightseeing, but to risk my life. If I don't have any money, how will I pay the soldiers? How will I buy elixirs and magic weapons?"

The Southern Wilderness Gambling House is our only trump card; this money bag is something I can only entrust to the person I trust most. If you don't stay, who will?

Is it Wang Changsheng with his fiery temper, or Ouyang Zhan, that martial arts fanatic?

Li Jianfeng opened his mouth, but was speechless.

"Staying in Tanzhou will mean a heavier burden for you than staying in the Western Frontier."

Zheng Yifei stared into his eyes, his tone becoming stern: "The Third Prince will never stand by and watch us grow powerful in Tanzhou. He will definitely send people to cause trouble. You will not only face the local powerful families of Tanzhou, but also the hidden attacks from the capital."

"Your mission is to protect the gambling den and deliver spirit stones and supplies to the front lines in Qizhou on time. If the front lines run out of food, you'll be the first one held accountable!"

Li Jianfeng took a deep breath, stood up, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your subordinate obeys. As long as I, Li Jianfeng, have a breath left, the world in Tanzhou will not be turned upside down, and not a single coin of supplies for the front lines will be missing!"

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the fourth day, the imperial envoy's entourage from Kyoto marched into the city of Tanzhou.

Leading the group was a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, who carried a bright yellow imperial edict and went directly to the Prefect's residence.

Long Yuan, Zhu Zhenbang, Zheng Yifei, and others were already waiting in the lobby.

"Imperial decree issued—"

The old eunuch drew out his high-pitched voice.

Everyone bowed in respect.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Ninth Prince, Longyuan, has rendered outstanding service in Tanzhou by repelling the invasion of sea monsters, pacifying disaster victims, and rebuilding the prefecture and county, which has greatly pleased the Emperor. Now that the western frontier is unstable and the Western Rong have invaded the border, the Emperor hereby bestows upon the Ninth Prince, Longyuan, the title of Prince of Pingxi, and grants him a python robe and a golden seal, appointing him to oversee the military and political affairs of the three prefectures in the western frontier, to tour the border on behalf of Heaven, and to guard the frontier."

Furthermore, Zhao Ling, a seventh-level alchemist from the Heavenly Crafts Academy, is hereby conferred the title of Princess Consort of Pingxi and is specially permitted to pursue further studies at the Heavenly Crafts Academy in the capital, in order to recognize her talents. So be it!

Long Yuan accepted the imperial edict with both hands and loudly replied, "Your subject accepts the edict and expresses his gratitude!"

The old eunuch smiled and helped Long Yuan up: "Your Highness, His Majesty has high hopes for you. Although the situation in the Western Frontier is tense, as long as you achieve military merit, your title of Prince will be firmly established."

"Thank you for your kind words, sir."

Without making a sound, Long Yuan slipped a storage bag full of spirit stones into his hand.

The old eunuch's smile widened, and he pulled out another imperial edict from his sleeve: "Vice Envoy Zheng, receive the edict."