Zi Linling's expression turned cold as she looked at Xiong Tai's tearful state.
"What? Is your life not worth a hundred million spirit stones, or are the lives of Long'er and her mother not worth it?"
Xiong Tai was flustered and panicked.
If he said his life wasn't worth a hundred million spirit stones, Zi Linling could very well kill him in an instant.
If he said Zi Linling and Hei Long's lives weren't worth it, Zi Linling would still kill him in an instant.
Therefore, no matter how he answered, it would be wrong.
Xiong Tai, being the Left Protector of a sect, was not a foolish person.
Thus, he forced a smile and said, "Miss, I genuinely don't have that many spirit stones at the moment. How about this, I'll give you an IOU, and I'll pay you back in full in three months. What do you say?"
A sharp glint flashed in Zi Linling's eyes, and she said coldly, "How much can you produce right now?"
Xiong Tai did not dare to delay. He quickly took out thirty million spirit stones from his spatial storage bag, and then took out some spirit herbs. He said, "Miss, this is all I have."
Zi Linling had never even seen three hundred taels of silver in her life, let alone spirit stones, which were a level above silver, and a whole thirty million of them!
Therefore, the moment Xiong Tai produced the spirit stones, her eyes sparkled.
"Fine! For the remainder, you'll write an IOU, but I can only give you one month. I will come to collect it personally after one month."
Seeing that she had relented, the heart that had been hanging in Xiong Tai's throat finally settled.
He took out paper and a pen from his spatial storage bag and quickly began to write the IOU.
But when he reached the amount owed, he looked pleadingly at Zi Linling and said, "Miss, can these spirit herbs be converted into spirit stones?"
Zi Linling smiled slyly and said, "Yes, but they can only be valued at a thousand spirit stones!"
A thousand spirit stones?
Why don't you just rob me!
These spirit herbs were at least of the Xuan-grade low tier, with many of them being Earth-grade mid-tier, and several were Earth-grade high-tier, on par with the Soul Nurturing Grass.
Zi Linling was only valuing them at a thousand spirit stones. Wasn't this blatant robbery?
But these were thoughts Xiong Tai only had in his heart; he didn't dare to speak them aloud.
If he dared to object, Zi Linling would probably not even give him a thousand.
He nodded helplessly and wrote six million nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand spirit stones in the amount owed, then handed the IOU to Zi Linling.
Zi Linling took it and examined it, confirming there were no issues, then said coldly, "Press your thumbprint!"
At this point, what else could Xiong Tai do? He could only resign himself to his fate and press his thumbprint.
"Good. Compared to these imbeciles, you are quite sensible. Since that is the case, here is the antidote for the Thousand Step Soul-Shattering Gu."
Zi Linling nodded with satisfaction, then tossed a black pill to Xiong Tai and said, "Take this, and you will be cured."
Xiong Tai caught the pill and brought it to his lips. He immediately smelled a foul odor, a smell that was both sour and pungent, worse than the stench of a latrine.
But he glanced at Fu Liuyun and Li Luo, who were scratching themselves bloody on the ground, and could only close his eyes, suppress the urge to vomit, and pop the pill into his mouth.
Strangely, the pill, which smelled so unbearable, inexplicably released a peculiar fragrance once it entered his mouth. It then flowed down his throat and spread through his limbs and bones.
Zi Linling smiled brilliantly and said, "You can leave now. You're welcome to be my enemy again next time!"
Xiong Tai's body stiffened, and he staggered.
Be an enemy?
He would rather die than be an enemy of a monster like Zi Linling.
She was clearly a cultivator at the peak of the Spirit Gathering realm, yet she had beaten the four of them, who were in the Yuan Transformation realm, without them being able to retaliate.
Who would dare to offend such a monster a second time after offending her once?
Therefore, Xiong Tai bowed respectfully and said, "You jest, Miss. I, Xiong Tai, swear that for the rest of my life, I will never be your enemy again. I will also never reveal any secrets concerning you, Miss."
A muffled thunderclap echoed in the sky, witnessing the spiritual oath.
If Xiong Tai were to break his oath in the future, he would be directly annihilated by the heavenly laws, without Zi Linling needing to lift a finger.
"Very sensible! Go back and tell your Hall Master that I will personally pay a visit to the Black Water Hall in one month!"
The fierceness in Zi Linling's eyes deepened.
Although she had let Xiong Tai go, she did not intend to let the Hall Master of the Black Water Hall off the hook.
If the Hall Master of the Black Water Hall hadn't sent Xiong Tai to capture Long'er, how could Long'er's mother have died tragically?
Therefore, this revenge must be exacted.
"Xiong Tai will certainly deliver your message! The green mountains will never change, and the clear waters will flow forever! Miss, we shall meet again!"
After saying that, Xiong Tai strode towards the exit of the Misty Forest.
At this moment, his steps were exceptionally light.
He had also decided that after he returned, he would resign from his position as the Left Protector of the Black Water Hall.
Of course, he would definitely repay the spirit stones he owed Zi Linling. As for hiding, he didn't dare to think about it.
Zi Linling paid no mind to what Xiong Tai was thinking.
Since she could let Xiong Tai go, she was not afraid of him coming back to trouble her.
Moreover, Xiong Tai had also sworn a heavenly oath.
Zi Linling put away Xiong Tai's IOU and collected the thirty million spirit stones placed on the ground. Then, she turned to Fu Liuyun and Li Luo and said, "Sirs, how did you find the taste of the Thousand Step Soul-Shattering Gu?"
"Ah... Miss Zi... Fu... I have always... always been unwilling... to be an enemy... of Miss!"
Fu Liuyun gasped for breath.
The Thousand Step Soul-Shattering Gu truly lived up to its name.
The torment that made one wish for death was unbearable.
Yet, under the effect of the Thousand Step Soul-Shattering Gu, they couldn't even die, truly trapped in a state of neither life nor death.
"Ah! Aaaah! Miss, Miss Zi, I will never dare... to be your enemy again... I am willing to... like Xiong Heizi... buy my life!"
Li Luo could no longer bear it.
Xiong Tai's actions had given him inspiration, so he compromised without hesitation.
"Li Guangming Envoy is indeed wise!"
Zi Linling said, her hand quickly pressing on several acupoints on Li Luo and injecting spiritual energy.
As for Fu Liuyun, Zi Linling completely ignored him.
This Fu Liuyun was still trying to make excuses for himself at this point. If he wasn't made to suffer a little more, he wouldn't know that the King of Hell has three eyes.
Li Luo felt several cold streams of spiritual energy land on him, and then the agony of being bitten by a thousand insects disappeared.
He struggled to get up, gasping for air.
At this moment, his clothes had already been torn by his own scratching, and there was not a single good piece of flesh exposed. Moreover, there were traces of blood at his seven orifices, making him look no different from a ghost.
"Li Guangming Envoy, how many spirit stones do you intend to use to buy your life?"
Zi Linling looked at him with a half-smile and said, "By the way, I have only temporarily suppressed the Thousand Step Soul-Shattering Gu for you. Without the antidote, it will relapse after an incense stick's worth of time!"