I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Zheng Yifei sat in a private room on the second floor of Zhao Ji Restaurant, looking out at the flow of people on the main street.

Half a year.

The Qingyun Sect will be opening its gates to accept disciples in just six months.

A level six Qi Refining cultivator is considered someone of importance among independent cultivators, but to secure a spot in the outer sect of the Qingyun Sect, or even to come into contact with Foundation Establishment techniques, one must be at least at level seven Qi Refining, and ideally at level eight.

"Brother Zhang,"

Zheng Yifei turned to Zhang Biao, who was gnawing on a spirit beast's leg: "How long have you been stuck at the seventh level of Qi Refining?"

"It's been more than two years."

Zhang Biao spat out a bone. "From the seventh to the eighth level, the amount of spiritual energy required is three times that of before. I don't have money to buy pills, so I rely entirely on absorbing that meager spiritual energy myself. I'd be lucky to reach the eighth level in this lifetime."

"What if I supply you with unlimited quantities of pills?"

Zhang Biao paused, staring intently at Zheng Yifei: "Brother, don't make fun of your older brother."

"Go get yourself a decent outfit, made of good quality, so you look like a nouveau riche."

Zheng Yifei tossed over a bag containing ten spirit stones: "Buy me another set of clothes for a servant in blue."

Zhang Biao tossed the spirit stone bag around and grinned, "Got it. Looking for more money?"

"Yes, you're the boss, and I'll be the lackey."

Zheng Yifei tapped his fingers on the table: "In the next few days, we'll sweep through all the gambling dens in the market."

The Grand Casino, second floor.

Zhang Biao, dressed in a dark gold brocade robe with a fine jade pendant hanging from his waist, sat imposingly in front of the Pai Gow table.

He was already tall and burly, with a scar on his face. At this moment, he deliberately released the pressure of the seventh level of Qi Refining, and several rogue cultivators who wanted to come closer immediately shrank back.

Zheng Yifei, dressed in a light blue servant's uniform, stood obediently behind Zhang Biao, his hands hanging respectfully at his sides, but his eyes were fixed on the dominoes in the dealer's hand.

"Bet!"

Zhang Biao shouted in a deep voice, tapping his thick fingers on the table.

Zheng Yifei lightly tapped the back of Zhang Biao's chair with his left hand.

Zhang Biao understood immediately, grabbed a handful of low-grade spirit stones, and slammed them heavily onto the "Heavenly Gate".

Thirty spirit stones.

The bookmaker was a middle-aged man at the sixth level of Qi Refining, sweat beading on his forehead. This man had won five rounds in a row, and his bets were uncannyly accurate each time.

He wanted to cheat, but the opponent's aura at the seventh level of Qi Refining was locked onto him. If he dared to make any small move, this man would definitely dare to overturn the table on the spot.

The cards are revealed.

Tianmen is large.

"Give me the money!"

Zhang Biao laughed heartily and pulled the spirit stones he had won in front of him.

He was secretly trembling with fear. This was too damn exciting. He was just a hunter; he'd never seen so many spirit stones rolling around on a table before. But with Zheng Yifei standing behind him, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and keep up the act.

Half an hour later, Zhang Biao had three hundred chips piled up in front of him.

Zheng Yifei tapped his fingers three times on the back of the chair.

withdraw.

"This is boring, let's go to another one!"

Zhang Biao stood up and waved his hand. Zheng Yifei immediately stepped forward, deftly stuffed the spirit stones into a cloth bag, and followed Zhang Biao downstairs.

The casino manager stood at the corner on the second floor, his face gloomy, but looking at Zhang Biao's back as he reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, he ultimately didn't dare to stop him.

It's not worth fighting to the death with a ruthless person at the seventh level of Qi Refining for a few hundred spirit stones.

The next two days.

Wan Jin, Ju Bao, Chang Le.

The two men took turns visiting the four major gambling dens on the outskirts of Sujiafang City.

Zhang Biao, with his seventh-level Qi Refining cultivation and fierce appearance, became the best shield. Zheng Yifei, behind the scenes, controlled the situation, calculating probabilities, remembering cards, and seeing through the dealer's tactics.

In just two days, the account balance increased by 1,100 low-grade spirit stones.

On the morning of the third day, Wanbaolou had just opened its doors.

Zhang Biao swaggered in, with Zheng Yifei following behind.

"Shopkeeper, give me a top-grade Breakthrough Pill."

Zhang Biao slammed his hand heavily on the counter.

The shopkeeper's eyelids twitched: "Sir, a high-grade Breakthrough Pill, two hundred low-grade spirit stones."

Zhang Biao's eye twitched. Two hundred yuan! He subconsciously glanced back at Zheng Yifei.

Zheng Yifei stepped forward, took out two heavy cloth bags from his pocket, and placed them on the counter.

After the shopkeeper finished counting, he took out a jade bottle from the sandalwood box behind him and handed it to Zhang Biao.

After leaving Wanbaolou, we returned to Zhao's Restaurant.

Zhang Biao handed the jade bottle to Zheng Yifei: "Brother, this is too generous of you. Two hundred spirit stones for a single pill. Keep it for when you break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining."

"For you."

Zheng Yifei did not answer.

Zhang Biao was stunned: "What?"

"You're stuck at the seventh level of Qi Refining. This Breakthrough Pill can help you break through the barrier."

Zheng Yifei said calmly, "I'm only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. It's too early for me to reach the seventh level. Once you reach the eighth level, we can walk more steadily in this market."

Zhang Biao's hand holding the jade bottle was trembling.

Two hundred spirit stones.

Just give it to him like that?

In the world of cultivation, rogue cultivators would stab each other in the back for a few spirit stones, but Zheng Yifei didn't even blink an eye.

"brother."

Zhang Biao took a deep breath, his eyes reddening. "From today onwards, my life belongs to you. Anyone who wants to harm you will have to step over my dead body first."

"Go into seclusion, I will protect you."

Zheng Yifei patted him on the shoulder.

Zhang Biao turned and went into the side room, closing the door behind him.

Zheng Yifei sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, closing his eyes to rest.

Two hours later.

A muffled thud came from inside the room, followed by a violent surge of spiritual energy that pierced through the doors and windows and swept across the entire backyard.

The medicinal herbs in the yard were blown about by the strong wind.

The door opened.

Zhang Biao walked out, his bones cracking like popping beans.

His already imposing figure seemed to have grown even taller, and standing there, he resembled a lurking ferocious beast.

Qi Refining Level 8.

"It's done."

Zhang Biao clenched his fists, feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body. He trembled with excitement. "This top-grade Breakthrough Pill is incredibly potent! It directly cleared my meridians that had been blocked for three years!"

Zheng Yifei nodded.

With Zhang Biao, a Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator, as his bodyguard, his safety level in Sujiafang City rose sharply.

Even if Sun Liang from the Iron Fist Sect brings more men, Zhang Biao alone can take them all down.

As for Qian Hu, the leader of the Iron Fist Sect, unless it's a matter of life and death, he wouldn't easily fight to the death with a tough guy at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Having dealt with Zhang Biao, the next step is his own cultivation.

Reaching the sixth or seventh level of Qi Refining requires accumulating a massive amount of spiritual energy.

Zheng Yifei walked to the front hall.

Zhao Wenyuan was doing accounts behind the counter. The restaurant had been open for two days and business was slowly recovering. Zhao Ling'er was helping to wipe the tables.

"Miss Ling'er."

Zheng Yifei called out.

Zhao Ling'er straightened up, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Brother Zheng, is there something you need?"

Zheng Yifei walked over and handed her a heavy cloth bag.

"There are eight hundred low-grade spirit stones in here."

Zhao Ling'er was startled, her hand trembled, and she almost dropped it.

Eight hundred spirit stones was an unimaginable fortune for her.

"Brother Zheng, what's wrong...?"

"You said before that you have acquaintances in the Alchemy Pavilion who can buy pills."

Zheng Yifei looked at her and said, "Buy me some high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills. Buy as many as you can. I'll give you the five hundred spirit stones you asked for all at once."

Zhao Ling'er's eyes widened, and her breathing became rapid.

The cost of the 500 spirit stones for the second round of testing had been weighing heavily on her.

She knew Zheng Yifei was rich, but she didn't expect him to throw spirit stones at her so directly.

"Don't worry, my master is one of the heads of the Pill Pavilion. If I buy it from her, there will definitely be no problem."

Zhao Ling'er gripped the storage bag tightly, her eyes resolute: "I will definitely bring back the top-grade Spirit Gathering Pill!"

The next three days.

Zheng Yifei did not go out.

He stayed in his room, using the Spirit Gathering Array to stabilize his Qi Refining Level 6 cultivation.