Qin Xiao was also confused. Why had this Clear Wind old ghost agreed so directly?
"Since you agreed, that makes things easier. First hand over the plundered supplies and people. Let me see your sincerity first."
Qin Xiao had to adapt on the fly, demanding that Clear Wind Ancestor hand over the captives and supplies before they could discuss compensation.
"The men are no longer something this old man can return to you, but the items can be given to you. However, if this old man gives them to you, what will you do if you refuse to release the prisoners?"
Clear Wind Ancestor was no fool; he did not dare step out of the Formation. If Qin Xiao went back on his word and refused to release the captives, he would have no recourse.
"What do you mean the men can no longer be returned? What about those transport disciples?"
Seeing that Clear Wind was only willing to return the supplies, Qin Xiao felt an immediate sense of foreboding.
"Naturally, they are all already dead. However, this old man can compensate you with one thousand Spirit Stones per head."
Clear Wind Ancestor had long since ordered those managers to clean up all the witnesses precisely to leave no evidence behind. Where would he find people to return to Qin Xiao now?
Although he had agreed to Chen Shunyi's arrangement, Clear Wind Ancestor still did not want to start a full-scale war with the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion too early. Otherwise, he-merely a hired helper-would end up bearing the brunt of the conflict as the main force. That would never do. He understood what scheme Chen Shunyi was playing, but he had never expected Qin Xiao to throw away the conventional script entirely, leading to this current impasse.
It was also his own fault for being careless. He had only sent the Second Elder alone to deal with the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion's Fifth Elder, assuming that the realm suppression would make for an easy kill, only for the target to slip away.
"All killed? One thousand Spirit Stones per head?"
Qin Xiao felt a genuine surge of anger, but he forced himself to remain calm. He could not deal with the Clear Wind old ghost by himself right now. If he could not lure the old fellow out, Master's wife would not be able to capture him.
"Fine. Since you brought up compensation, I estimate this convoy had at least one thousand people. Ten thousand Spirit Stones per head makes ten million, plus the cargo, which is worth around another ten million. Give me these twenty million first."
Qin Xiao spoke directly, figuring that the Clear Wind Sect should be capable of coughing up these Spirit Stones, so he was unconcerned that the other party would break off negotiations.
"How could there possibly be a thousand people? There were only a hundred or so, and that cargo is utterly worthless-not even worth one hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"
Before Clear Wind Ancestor could reply, one of the managers kneeling nearby blurted out in panic.
He had to explain himself. If the Ancestor suspected he had pocketed the difference, he would still be dead either way.
"So you are one of the executors, then?"
Qin Xiao looked coldly at the man who had just spoken.
"Kill him."
Without wasting words, Qin Xiao directly ordered Yun Man to execute the man.
Out of the fourteen managers, only ten now remained.
"Who else among you participated?"
Once the execution was done, Qin Xiao continued his questioning.
Under Qin Xiao's gaze, the remaining ten managers did not dare raise their heads. Two of them shifted shiftily in place.
"Kill those two as well."
One glance at their guilty demeanor told Qin Xiao all he needed to know, and he ordered their deaths without hesitation.
Yun Man did not hesitate in the slightest. With two casual sword strikes, two more lives were snuffed out.
Only eight managers were left now, and none of them dared utter a single sound. Even Duan Mingfei remained completely silent.
"Alright. Now that you have killed them, twenty million is truly excessive. Ten million! My Clear Wind Sect is willing to pay ten million to settle this matter. How about it?"
Clear Wind Ancestor was on the verge of losing his mind, but he still forced himself to swallow his fury.
"Fine. Hand over the Spirit Stones first."
Having executed several of the perpetrators, Qin Xiao felt much more vindicated, so he decided to swindle ten million first.
"You release the prisoners first. Naturally, this old man will keep his word."
Seeing that Qin Xiao had agreed to terms, Clear Wind Ancestor demanded the release of the captives first.
"There is no such logic here. Hand over the money quickly. If you don't pay, then there is nothing left to discuss."
Qin Xiao was not stupid. Release the prisoners first? What was the old man dreaming of?
"Fine. I can pay the Spirit Stones first, but if you dare deceive this old man, you shall know the consequences! Mingda, you go handle the transaction."
Clear Wind Ancestor knew that this brat Qin Xiao was just as unreasonable as Ye Qiuyue, leaving him with no choice but to agree to pay upfront. Besides, ten million to buy back a Soul Formation stage expert and eight Nascent Soul stage cultivators was not an outright loss.
"Understood, Ancestor."
Duan Mingda stepped forward and received a Storage Bag from Clear Wind Ancestor's hand.
Seeing that only one person was approaching, Qin Xiao remained unbothered. He would fleece them of ten million first; that old ghost could choke on his own rage later.
"This is ten million Spirit Stones. Release the prisoners immediately."
Reluctantly, Duan Mingda handed the Spirit Stones over to Qin Xiao, though the thought of what this cost him made his heart bleed, especially since it concerned his younger brother's life.
Qin Xiao showed no politeness, tossing the Spirit Stones straight into his System Space. Upon opening it, he confirmed that his balance had indeed increased by ten million.
"Alright, two conditions, and one is fulfilled. I will release half of the prisoners now. Once the second condition is agreed to as well, I will release the rest."
Qin Xiao stowed the Spirit Stones away and announced calmly.
"What do you mean? Do you dare toy with me?"
Duan Mingda had not expected Qin Xiao to go back on his word and only release half the captives.
"You five at the early Nascent Soul stage, scram right now."
Ignoring Duan Mingda entirely, Qin Xiao pointed at the five early Nascent Soul managers kneeling nearby.
The five named individuals scrambled to their feet and sprinted frantically toward the safety of the Clear Wind Sect.
"Are you leaving or not? If not, you can go kneel over there as well."
Seeing that Duan Mingda was still lingering, Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"Fine, fine, fine... I will remember this."
Duan Mingda dared not act presumptuously, knowing that Qin Xiao still had two mid-Soul Formation protectors by his side. If he tried anything, he would likely end up detained as well.
"Plenty of people remember me. What kind of rank do you think you hold?"
Qin Xiao dismissed Duan Mingda's threat with utter indifference.
"Qin Xiao! What is the meaning of this? This old man already paid the compensation in full, yet you only release this handful?"
Clear Wind Ancestor asked, his voice strained through clenched teeth.
"I already said-two conditions, and you only fulfilled one, so naturally I only released half. I even gave you an extra person: nine were held, and I let five go. Are you still unsatisfied?"
Qin Xiao put on a thoroughly shameless expression.
He had kept the Soul Formation stage Duan Mingfei, a mid-Nascent Soul manager, and two early Nascent Soul managers. There had originally been two mid-Nascent Soul managers, but one had served as an executor for the convoy raid and was already dead.
"Now, let us discuss the final condition. Your sect plundered my Heavenly Clothes Pavilion Fifth Elder's Storage Bag, which contained the business profits of various shops-estimated at one hundred million. Furthermore, you injured our Fifth Elder. Pay another one hundred million in compensation. That is hardly unreasonable, is it?"
Ignoring how utterly hideous Clear Wind Ancestor's expression had become, Qin Xiao calmly stated his second demand.
"Qin Xiao, do not push this old man too far! Do you truly believe my Clear Wind Sect does not dare go to war with your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion?"
Clear Wind Ancestor finally snapped.
Since this brat insisted on toying with him, then so be it-let war come!
"Oh? War? Then come ahead and start your war. I am shivering in my boots."
Qin Xiao rolled his eyes. If that old bastard had the courage, would he still be standing there barking empty threats for half a day?
If the Clear Wind Sect hunkered down inside their grand defensive Formation, they might prove a tough nut to crack, but the moment they dared step outside, he would show them what a true Body Integration stage mighty figure could do.
"Brat, you are ruthless! These fellows can rot; this old man wants them no longer. But I have marked down this grievance! You lot will not be strutting about for much longer anyway. When the time comes, this old man will exact repayment a hundredfold!"
In the very last second before total eruption, Clear Wind Ancestor managed to hold himself back-his restraint rivaled that of a meditating sage. Yet, as long as Ye Qiuyue refused to show her face, he refused to step outside the Formation.
Although Qin Xiao only brought four people with him, protected by a mere two mid-Soul Formation experts, the Ancestor could easily have sent his ten remaining Soul Formation subordinates out to capture Qin Xiao. But he was terrified-what if Ye Qiuyue suddenly intervened and captured all ten of them in one fell swoop? Then he truly would become a Commander Without Troops.
Since any action seemed fraught with risk, he decided to do nothing at all. He no longer trusted a single word out of Qin Xiao's mouth. Leaving aside the fact that he did not possess two hundred million Spirit Stones, even if he did, he would never trade with Qin Xiao again. Besides, those four captives were simply not worth that exorbitant price.
Once Qin Xiao tried to drag them away, he would simply return to activate the soul restrictions and slaughter them on the spot.