He extended his finger, dipped it into the liquid, and brought a few drops to his mouth to taste. He immediately nodded and said, "Yes, this is definitely Earth Spirit Stone Milk, and the quality is excellent."
"If Taoist Friend Zhou is satisfied, that's good."
Zhao Deyan smiled slightly and then turned his gaze to the corpse of the Mutant Gold-Devouring Rat King on the ground. "Would Taoist Friend Zhou like to keep this corpse of the Mutant Gold-Devouring Rat King? If not, I could offer a thousand Spirit Coins to purchase it."
"This beast is a Mutant Demon Beast, which holds some research value for my junior's family. I would like to take it back for study, so I must apologize to Senior Zhao."
Having said that, Zhou Chun immediately gave a cupped-hand salute to express his apologies.
Seeing this, Zhao Deyan shook his head and said, "No problem, I was just asking casually. Since Taoist Friend Zhou has a use for it, then take good care of it."
As he spoke, he turned his attention back to the entrance of the rat burrow and added, "Taoist Friend Zhou mentioned that there are many Gold-Eating Rat corpses that need to be collected below. Do you have an estimate of how many there might be?"
"Probably around three to four thousand," Zhou Chun replied softly, his voice low.
"What? How many did you say?"
Zhao Deyan's gaze firmed, and he stared intently at Zhou Chun.
Feeling the intensity of his gaze, Zhou Chun also felt somewhat sheepish and continued in a low voice, "According to my own tally, there should be over three thousand seven hundred. There will be more, not less."
"Three to four thousand Gold-Eating Rat corpses, Taoist Friend Zhou truly has great skill, great skill indeed!!"
A twitch appeared at the corner of Zhao Deyan's mouth, his eyes watching Zhou Chun with a strange gleam, while thoughts of murder flashed through his mind.
He had understood Zhou Chun's intentions when he had heard the words relayed from that Zhao Family cultivator.
But he hadn't expected that in addition to slaying the Mutant Gold-Devouring Rat King, Zhou Chun had also prepared such a "surprise" for him.
Basing the bounty on three Spirit Coins for each Gold-Eating Rat corpse, the total for over three thousand seven hundred bodies would amount to over eleven thousand Spirit Coins!
Of course, the Zhao Family could afford this sum.
However, to pay such an amount for a pile of Gold-Eating Rat corpses of little use was undoubtedly a huge loss!
Zhou Chun could certainly pick up on the meaning behind those words "great skill" from Zhao Deyan.
All he could do was to respond softly, "I am ashamed, truly ashamed. I had intended to eradicate the entire swarm, but due to my inadequate strength, several thousand still managed to escape!"
"Several thousand escaped?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Deyan was stunned as well.
Then the thoughts of murdering him dissipated.
He had come to understand what Zhou Chun meant.
Although the rat plague had been dealt with for now, the Gold-Eating Rats that had fled could potentially give rise to new infestations in the future.
When that time came, the Zhao Family, to eradicate the problem with minimal cost and maximum speed, would likely need to call upon Zhou Chun once again for extermination.
Considering this, it was not worth troubling Zhou Chun now for the sake of this sum of money.
Not to mention that Zhou Chun's family was not some small family either.
So he quickly applauded Zhou Chun, saying, "Well slain, very well slain! Do not worry, Taoist Friend Zhou. As long as there are corpses as proof, each Gold-Eating Rat corpse will earn a bounty of three Spirit Coins, as the Zhao Family promises."
Having said that, he turned to the three Qi Refinement Realm cultivators who had come with him and ordered, "Take the Storage Pouches and go down to collect the bodies now, bring out all the Gold-Eating Rat corpses."
Upon hearing his words, the three Qi Refinement Realm cultivators promptly answered in unison.
Zhou Chun also took the opportunity to say, "I will have my Spirit Pet lead the way and protect them."
He then had the three mimic how he had descended into the burrow, with the Silver Lightning Python Baibai dragging them down.