Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
Zheng Cong finally came to his senses and said, "I, I am willing to offer Senior Spirit Stones!"
Thousand Poisons Qian chuckled heartily, "Hmm, not too stupid. Tell me, how many Spirit Stones will it take for me to spare your life? Remember, these Spirit Stones are your life; too few won’t do."
Zheng Cong shouted, "Ten thousand, I offer ten thousand Spirit Stones to Senior!"
Enraged, Thousand Poisons Qian struck him with punches and kicks, beating him brutally before saying, "You think you're worth ten thousand Spirit Stones? If I killed you and sold your Golden Elixir, it would fetch more than that. Are you treating me like a beggar?"
Yong Ji felt a chill in his heart. Ten thousand Spirit Stones to treat someone like a beggar?Thousand Poisons Qian sure had the audacity to say that.
Zheng Cong, with a bruised nose and swollen eyes, said, "No, no, it's ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones, please stop, they're medium-grade!"
Thousand Poisons Qian was taken aback. When people mentioned Spirit Stones, they usually meant the lower-grade ones. Medium and high-grade Spirit Stones were not commonly used. He was quite surprised and said, "Medium-grade Spirit Stones?"
Zheng Cong replied, "Yes, that's right."
Indeed, Zheng Cong's fortune included ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones. After many years in the Tianyuan Market, he had accumulated a significant amount of Spirit Stones. However, these ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones were his entire net worth, and he would still need to borrow some and sell some treasures to gather them.
This amount pleased Thousand Poisons Qian, who said, "Good, ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones, and I'll spare your life! Hand them over!"
Zheng Cong was dumbfounded and said, "I can't produce them right now, please give me a few days, I will definitely deliver!"
Thousand Poisons Qian thought about it and agreed, as it was unlikely for anyone to carry such a large sum on them. He said, "Fine, I'm not afraid you'll run away."
With a slap on Zheng Cong’s shoulder, a Spirit Script was imprinted there. Thousand Poisons Qian said, "Wherever you go, I can find you!"
Zheng Cong slumped to the ground, knowing he was going bankrupt.
Thousand Poisons Qian then turned his attention to the other two, smiling broadly. He hadn't expected to catch a wealthy man here, which was much better than attacking the Heart Sect.
The two mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also filled with despair. They had come because Zheng Cong promised them each a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones if they captured or killed Yong Ji. The loot on Yong Ji was to be split three ways, ensuring everyone profited. They hadn't anticipated an Elemental Infant stage powerhouse would appear out of nowhere, spelling disaster for them!
"You two, any objections like him?"
Neither was as wealthy as Zheng Cong, lacking so many Spirit Stones, especially medium-grade ones. Despair written on their faces, one of them said, "We're just Rogue Cultivators. If we had that many Spirit Stones, we wouldn't need to work as hired muscle."
Thousand Poisons Qian asked indifferently, "So, you don't have them?"
One, more astute, noticed the cruel madness in Thousand Poisons Qian' eyes and said, "I'll gather them, I'll gather them."
Thousand Poisons Qian stepped forward, slapping his shoulder and said, "Good, very good! And you, what do you say?" His gaze shifted to the one who had just spoken.
That man, head bowed, hadn't noticed the change in Thousand Poisons Qian' demeanor and said, "I, I really can't produce that many Spirit Stones."
"Then forget it, I don't want them!"
Overjoyed, the man looked up, "Ah, you don't want them?!" He saw the Poison Lotus descending on his head, enveloping him instantly. His flesh dissolved in moments as Thousand Poisons Qian' Poison Lotus silently devoured a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Whether it was Zheng Cong and his helpers or Yong Ji standing aside, all were profoundly shocked.
Thousand Poisons Qian killed without warning, discarding the need for Spirit Stones and taking lives instead!
Thousand Poisons Qian said coolly, "You think I covet your Spirit Stones? Truly clueless creatures!"
With a wave of his hand, he told Zheng Cong and the other, "Get lost, prepare the Spirit Stones, or else you've seen what happens. I don't care for them!"
Zheng Cong and the other man scrambled away towards the direction of Tianyuan Market, utterly terrified.
Yong Ji didn't run, knowing he couldn't escape.
Thousand Poisons stared at Yong Ji and said, "Come on, tell me, where is my dear disciple?"
Yong Ji was stunned and said, "What disciple?"
Thousand Poisons Qian kicked him, sending Yong Ji flying, and said, "Someone who can use my unique technique, who can unleash the Poison Lotus, who do you think?"
Shocked, Yong Ji's mind went blank, and he blurted out, "Mi Xiaojing?"
Thousand Poisons Qian thought to himself, "Mi Xiaojing? Who's that?" But outwardly, he nodded and said, "Right, he's my disciple. Where is he?"
Yong Ji, intimidated by Thousand Poisons Qian, couldn't fathom Mi Xiaojing being his disciple. Then it hit him; Mi Xiaojing was also an Evolutionary Immortal, so it was possible they were master and disciple!
Caught in his thoughts and feeling a chill, Yong Ji knew Mi Xiaojing's background; he was a young Evolutionary Immortal taken after annihilating a sect.
Eyes wide, Yong Ji muttered to himself, "Unbelievable, unbelievable."
Thousand Poisons Qian ordered, "Lead the way."
"Oh," Yong Ji mumbled, still in a daze, leading Thousand Poisons Qian back, muttering, "Could it be true?"
Thousand Poisons Qian couldn't help but laugh, keeping quiet to avoid arousing Yong Ji's suspicion. He was genuinely curious; after all, his Poison Lotus was a combination of Evolutionary Immortality and Cultivation techniques, incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with Evolutionary Immortality. He had to meet this person!
On their way, Yong Ji led Thousand Poisons Qian to the lakeside estate in a daze.
Suddenly, Yong Ji snapped out of it and said, "Wait, you're tricking me!"
Thousand Poisons Qian laughed uproariously, "Ha ha, I always thought sect people were the easiest to fool, and you're such an idiot. Ha ha, so amusing, every trick works on you. Stunned, aren't you!"
Thousand Poisons Qian made his move, instantly immobilizing Yong Ji, rendering him powerless.
Grabbing Yong Ji by the collar, he dragged him along, laughing heartily, "Speak up, idiot, where is he?"
Yong Ji closed his eyes, regretting everything. Being with such a cunning old fox, one could fall into a trap at any moment.
Thousand Poisons Qian sneered, "Dealing with someone like you, one word from me and you're defenseless."
Yong Ji opened his eyes, resentfully asking, "How am I defenseless?"
Thousand Poisons Qian grinned and said, "I'll kill everyone here, and I believe he will show up. What do you think? Ha ha."
Yong Ji was horrified, now realizing that Thousand Poisons Qian was not only ruthless but also reckless, caring for nothing.
"What do you want?"