230: Night Talk

Situ Jun's eyes suddenly lit up, bursting with brilliant light!

The spiritual power around him surged uncontrollably, and the invisible wave of Qi pushed Hua Hanxiang and the Guard Captain beside him back repeatedly. Both of their faces were filled with shock and confusion—they had never seen Situ Jun lose his composure like this.

Tu Xiong, who had been missing for a long time, not only sent news but also brought such explosive information!

He had always yearned for a Spatial Treasure capable of carrying people, and for this, he had spared no effort, having a Nascent Soul Cultivator refine that Spatial Ring, hoping to forge it into a Spatial Secret Treasure.

But now, a ready-made, ownerless Spatial Secret Treasure, refined into a Small World, was right before his eyes. How could he not be excited?

Hua Hanxiang stood rooted to the spot, looking worriedly at Situ Jun, her fingertips still clutching her skirt hem, but she dared not step forward to disturb him—the spiritual power fluctuations around Situ Jun were too chaotic, clearly indicating his emotions were extremely agitated.

After a long while, Situ Jun finally took a deep breath, suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, moved his finger, and took out the sound transmission talismans of Bai Yu and the others again.

After his Divine Sense probed inside, the contents appeared one by one: the Restriction surrounding Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave, under continuous attack for several days by several Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivators, showed signs of insufficient spiritual power in its Energy Shield. The bluish-purple Spatial Rift that just appeared was precisely an Anomaly triggered by the instability of the Restriction.

Situ Jun quickly used spiritual power to carve a reply onto the sound transmission talisman, briefly explaining a few things, then turned his head to look at the two people beside him:

"The depths of Southern Border are merely experiencing a Restriction fluctuation, there is no need to worry."

The Guard Captain understood, cupped his fist, and turned to leave, deliberately giving the two of them space.

Hua Hanxiang opened her mouth, seemingly having something to say.

Situ Jun raised his hand to stop her, his voice lowered significantly:

"Let's return to the room first. There are too many eyes and ears here; it's not suitable for discussion."

With that, his dark robe swished, and he turned toward the staircase in the inn's main hall, his steps slightly faster than when he arrived, clearly eager to return and discuss the subsequent strategy.

Hua Hanxiang quickly followed. As she passed the inn's main hall, she glimpsed several tables of Cultivators huddled together, discussing in low voices.

Some asserted that an Ancient Magic Treasure had appeared, triggering a celestial Anomaly, while others speculated it was caused by an Evil Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation after achieving a Realm Breakthrough. Even those with impatient temperaments were already clutching their weapons, gritting their teeth in discussion, planning to rush toward the heartland of Southern Border overnight, afraid of missing the Opportunity by being one step late.

Back in the room, just as Situ Jun sat down, Hua Hanxiang brought over a freshly poured cup of hot tea, her voice soft as if steeped in warm water:

"Master, were you injured mentally when you got angry just now? Should your Servant Girl massage your temples?" As she spoke, she moved to go behind him.

Situ Jun raised his hand to stop her, his gaze falling upon her slightly reddened hand—the marks left by the splashed hot water were clearly visible on her fair skin.

"Does your hand hurt?"

His tone was flat, yet he reached out and grasped her wrist, condensing a strand of gentle spiritual power on his fingertip, slowly covering the reddened area on the back of her hand.

Warmth instantly spread, and the stinging pain from the burn quickly vanished.

Hua Hanxiang's heart stirred. She took the Opportunity to move closer to his side, a layer of moisture secretly gathering in her eyes, her voice laced with worry:

"Thank you, Master, for your concern. Your Servant Girl is no longer in pain. It's just that thinking about the commotion in the depths of Southern Border and those unpredictable Evil Cultivators, your Servant Girl can't help but worry about you..."

"Worrying about me? Or worrying that the Dual Cultivation matter will be delayed by this sudden situation?" Situ Jun looked up at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Hua Hanxiang's cheeks flushed red. She quickly lowered her head, her finger gently hooking his sleeve, her voice softening:

"Master is teasing your Servant Girl again. Your Servant Girl is naturally sincerely worried about Master's safety. As for Dual Cultivation... as long as I can stay by Master's side, a delay is fine."

After speaking, she secretly looked up to glance at Situ Jun's expression. Seeing no displeasure in his eyes, she quietly added, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness:

"However, if we truly encounter danger, your Servant Girl will protect Master, even if it costs my life."

Situ Jun did not speak. He merely withdrew his hand, his gaze returning to the window.

The night deepened, and the noise in the small town gradually subsided. However, in the distant depths of Southern Border, several sharp beast roars faintly traveled over, suggesting that traveling Cultivators had encountered Yao Beasts and fighting had already broken out.

He lightly tapped the desktop with his fingertips, his thoughts already drifting far away—that Bead-shaped Spatial Magic Treasure was the key to this trip.

Daoist Ming Ya was able to refine a Secret Manual into a Magic Treasure. Even if the Small World was opened by someone else, his own Cultivation would certainly not be low.

To comprehend the Space Law and use the power of refining reality and illusion to forge a piece of heaven and earth into a Magic Treasure, one must have at least the Cultivation of the Void Refining Stage, and possibly even be a Body Integration Cultivator.

Such an Opportunity must be properly planned for. Even if he cannot refine the treasure right now, he must first firmly secure it in his hands.

"Master, seeing your calm expression, do you already know what caused that sound just now?"

Hua Hanxiang handed him another cup of hot tea, her tone carrying a hint of flattery.

She paused, and a hint of suggestive probing flashed in her eyes:

"That sound makes people uneasy. Your Servant Girl is staying alone next door and will surely be scared at night. How about... your Servant Girl stays in Master's room tonight? I can serve you at all times, and if there is any danger, I can inform you immediately."

Situ Jun held the teacup, his fingertip rubbing the rim, his gaze resting on the anticipation in her eyes.

The night outside grew darker, and a few faint chirps of insects could be heard, making the suggestive atmosphere in the room even more palpable.

He remained silent for a moment, finally nodding slowly:

"Very well. But you must behave yourself and not delay the main business."

Hua Hanxiang immediately beamed with joy, nodding quickly in agreement. She moved closer to him again, her voice soft like she was coaxing:

"Thank you, Master! Your Servant Girl will definitely be obedient and will absolutely not delay your affairs! If you get cold tonight, your Servant Girl can even warm the bed for you..."

Hua Hanxiang could not hide the smile on her face. She turned and quickly tidied the Soft Couch in the corner of the room—it was originally a resting place for Maidservants, but now it would temporarily serve as her sleeping spot.

While tidying, she deliberately slowed her movements, allowing the hem of her pink gauze skirt to occasionally flutter up before Situ Jun, like a flower dancing in the wind.

As she arranged the bedding, she would "accidentally" tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her slender, fair neck, her skin glowing softly under the lamplight.

She made the Soft Couch especially plush and secretly sprinkled some Calming Incense she had brought, whose scent was so faint it was barely noticeable, yet it could subtly relax one's mind and spirit.

Situ Jun leaned back in his chair, watching her busy figure, his fingertips still unconsciously tapping the desktop, but his thoughts never left that Bead-shaped Magic Treasure.

Tu Xiong was trapped inside the Magic Treasure. Although he possessed the strength of a Half-step Nascent Soul, he could not refine it, showing how powerful the Restriction on this treasure was. He was currently at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, two major Realms away from the Void Refining Stage. If he tried to forcibly refine it, he would likely not only suffer backlash from the Magic Treasure but also attract the covetous gaze of other Cultivators.

A Spatial Magic Treasure belonging to a Void Refining Stage Cultivator—this temptation was enough to drive all the Cultivators in Southern Border mad.

He needed to rush to Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave as soon as possible, but Bai Yu and the others said the outer Restriction had not been completely broken. The Spatial Rift just now seemed more like an accident, perhaps a chain reaction triggered when Tu Xiong blasted open the barrier within the Small World.