I run a casino in the immortal realm.

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

In the council chamber on the second floor of the inspectorate, ten chairs were arranged in two rows, and spiritual tea and snacks were laid out on the table.

The ten group leaders arrived one after another.

Some came from the main Qingyunfang market, which was within walking distance; others rushed back overnight from their respective districts.

Su Qingwan sat in the first seat on the left, her expression as usual. She had just flown back from Su Family Market last night, and her spiritual energy had been greatly depleted, but there was no sign of fatigue on her face.

The gazes of the other nine group leaders swept over her before returning to Zheng Yifei.

The atmosphere in the council chamber was delicate.

Among these ten people, the lowest level is early Foundation Establishment and the highest level is peak mid-Foundation Establishment, while Zheng Yifei, who sits at the head of the table, is at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

When the General Affairs Department announced the appointments more than a month ago, many people had their own thoughts.

A Qi Refining Stage 8 Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Are you kidding me?

But no one dared to speak out. Who would dare to question the appointment of the Golden Core Hall Master to his face? Despite their dissatisfaction, they maintained appearances, calling him Chief Inspector when necessary and submitting reports as required.

As for whether they are convinced or not—that depends on their abilities.

Zheng Yifei stood up and spread the monthly summary report on the table.

"Thank you all for your hard work. I've summarized the results of the past month and I'll read them to you now."

He didn't use that bossy tone; his voice was flat, like he was reading a menu.

"Ten inspection teams covered 12,400 businesses. The invoice system coverage rate was 30%. The simplified accounting method was promoted in over 90% of the market."

He paused for a moment.

"This month's total tax revenue increased by 18 million spirit stones compared to last month, a 20% increase."

Someone gasped.

Eighteen million.

This only covers 30% of the results.

These team leaders are constantly on the front lines and know how difficult it is to promote the new tax law—business resistance, local families creating obstacles, and incredibly cumbersome account reconciliation.

Over the course of more than a month, I wore out several pairs of shoes and my lips were worn out from talking so much.

When the number 18 million was presented, all the hard work paid off.

"The hall master's approval arrived yesterday."

Zheng Yifei unfolded Kim Jong-won's handwritten approval document, facing it towards everyone.

"First, the entire Inspectorate will receive a commendation. Second, a reward fund of one million spirit stones will be allocated. Third—"

He pointed to the last line of the approval document.

"The sect leader personally bestowed upon him a superior flying boat for the chief inspector to patrol the entire sect's territory."

The council chamber fell completely silent.

Merit awards, bonuses, and flying boats.

Those present, all elders of the sect, knew perfectly well what these three things meant.

Merit is a mark of seniority, bonuses are tangible benefits, and the flying boat represents the sect leader's attitude—the sect leader acknowledges the value of this department.

For a new department that has only been established for a little over a month to receive a reward from the sect leader for its first monthly report is a rare occurrence in the thousands of years of history of the Qingyun Sect.

The third group leader on the left is Chen Feng, a peak mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. He has the highest cultivation level among the ten group leaders, is over forty years old, and always has an indifferent expression on his face. He never speaks up during meetings.

At that moment, his eyebrows twitched slightly.

"I've finalized the allocation plan for the one million spirit stones reward."

Zheng Yifei's voice wasn't loud, but there was no noise in the council chamber.

"Ten groups, 50,000 spirit stones per group. Each group leader can take the money back and distribute it as they see fit, but there is one bottom line—each team member's reward cannot be less than 100 spirit stones."

One hundred spirit stones is equivalent to ten months' salary for a Qi Refining stage team member.

"How to divide the remaining spirit stones is up to the team leader. You all know better than me who did the most work and who contributed the most effort. I won't interfere."

He paused for a moment.

"In addition, the spirit stones required for each group of flying magical artifacts will be reimbursed separately starting today and will not be included in the reward."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the group leaders clearly changed.

The consumption of spirit stones for flying magical artifacts is a major expense.

These team leaders travel back and forth between various markets and towns in their jurisdiction every day. Their flying swords and flying boats require burning spirit stones, and this expense alone costs several hundred yuan a month.

Previously, I had to pay this money myself. It hurt, but I was too embarrassed to mention it to anyone.

Now that Zheng Yifei has taken the initiative to open this door, it's like giving each team leader an extra subsidy.

Chen Feng picked up the teacup, took a sip, put it down, and nodded to Zheng Yifei.

This was the first time he had taken the initiative to express his opinion to Zheng Yifei at the meeting.

It's not just polite talk, it's not perfunctory; it's recognition.

The reactions of the other nine group leaders varied, but their underlying sentiment was the same—satisfaction.

In just over a month, the bonus was more than what they would normally earn in several months of completing tasks.

The sect's mission rewards are notoriously stingy; it's common to run yourself ragged for twenty or thirty spirit stones. Giving out fifty thousand at once like this is unheard of.

More importantly, Zheng Yifei's allocation method made them comfortable.

The 50,000 spirit stones were given to the group leader for distribution, which gave him both face and real power;

The minimum requirement of 100 spirit stones protects the grassroots team members, preventing them from being exploited by the team leader.

The separate reimbursement for flying artifacts addresses a real pain point.

The three rules were clear and concise, and each one hit the mark perfectly.

This is the work of someone who truly understands management.

After the meeting, the group leaders met in the corridor and exchanged a few words in hushed tones.

Zhao Mingyuan, the team leader of Zone One, spoke in a low voice, representing the sentiments of the majority—

"So what if he's at the eighth level of Qi Refining? I have to respect him for sitting in that position."

Chen Feng heard this as he walked past him, but didn't reply, though his lips twitched slightly.

The crowd dispersed.

Zheng Yifei returned to his office and took out two spirit tickets from his storage bag.

He opened the window and called out downstairs, "Uncle Gu."

A person emerged from the shadows downstairs.

Gu Jianhua, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was Jin Zhengyuan's personal bodyguard. He was in his early fifties, taciturn, and his face was expressionless, like a piece of withered wood.

This person has been in the room next door since Zheng Yifei took office, ready to follow Zheng Yifei's instructions at any time. However, since it is very safe in the sect, no tasks have been assigned to him in the past month or so.

Zheng Yifei went downstairs and handed over the spirit ticket.

"Uncle Gu, here are 20,000 spirit stones. Please use them first."

Han Shouzhen's gaze fell on the spirit pouch and paused for two breaths.

He didn't answer.

"Chief Inspector, this is too much, and it's not in accordance with regulations."

"What are the rules?"

"It is my duty to protect you as the leader of the hall, and I will not accept any extra compensation."

Zheng Yifei shoved the spirit pouch directly into his hand: "Uncle Gu, this is a personal donation from me, Zheng Yifei. It has nothing to do with the hall master or my duties."

Gu Jianhua looked down at the spirit ticket in his hand and remained silent for a long time.

He had worked as a guard for twenty years, and none of the people he protected had ever given him extra money.

In the eyes of those important figures, guards are just tools, no different from magical artifacts. They are used if they work well, and replaced if they don't.

"...Thank you, Inspector General."

Gu Jianhua put the spirit ticket into his storage bag. His tone remained unchanged, but his posture was straighter than before.

Zheng Yifei patted him on the shoulder, then turned and went upstairs.

Back in his office, he picked up the teleportation talisman and wrote a line of text—

"Ling'er, come to the Inspectorate this afternoon if you're free. I need to talk to you."

The talisman transformed into a stream of light and flew towards Danfeng.

Zhao Ling'er replied quickly.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a slender figure appeared at the entrance of the inspector's building.

She wore an apricot-colored long dress typical of Danfeng disciples, her hair was tied in a single bun, and her face still had a childish look, but her eyes were much more mature than they were two months ago. She had a small pill furnace-shaped waist tag hanging from her waist, with the words "Outer Sect of Danfeng" engraved on it.

Gu Jianhua glanced at her from downstairs, nodded, and let her pass.

Zhao Ling'er went up to the second floor and pushed open the door to come in.

"Brother Zheng!"

Her tone was still that of the little girl who used to run behind her brother in Sujiafang Market; she didn't become distant just because Zheng Yifei had become a high-ranking official.

"Sit down and have some tea."

Zheng Yifei poured her a bowl of spiritual tea and pushed it towards her: "How are things at Danfeng?"

Zhao Ling'er picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then poured out her experiences over the past month in a rapid-fire manner.

Life in Danfeng is not easy.

Outer disciples have to attend three hours of alchemy theory classes every day, memorizing prescriptions, identifying spiritual herbs, and learning how to control the heat. In the evening, they also have to practice in the communal alchemy room.

She was exceptionally talented; her master said she had keen spiritual insight and a higher sensitivity to the properties of medicine than her peers.

Zhao Ling'er made a hand gesture: "Master said that my spiritual foundation is not solid enough. When I reach the last step of alchemy, 'condensing the pill,' the timing is always a little off. I need to let it settle a bit more. Also, my cultivation level is too low. I can try to break through to the second-level alchemist in a year. If I succeed, I will be the youngest second-level alchemist in the Qingyun Sect."

Zheng Yifei nodded after listening.

He took out five spirit tickets from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

Zhao Ling'er's eyes widened.

"These five thousand spirit stones are for you personally."

Zheng Yifei's tone was calm: "Whether you buy pills or spiritual materials to practice, it's up to you. Don't try to save money. Let me know when you've spent it all."

Zhao Ling'er opened her mouth: "Brother Zheng, this is too much—"

"not much."

Zheng Yifei interrupted her, "Your current goal is to break through to the second-level alchemist as soon as possible. A second-level alchemist can refine twice as many types of pills, and the quality is completely different."

"I'll be using a lot of pills in the future. Buying them from outside is not as good as refining them myself. For every level you gain, you'll save me ten or a hundred times that amount of spirit stones."