255: The situation is not optimistic.

He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade, piercing straight toward Mo Chenggui.

"As for Elder Mo, instead of worrying about my reputation, you'd better manage those around you. If the words of that retainer just now were to reach the ears of the Lord of Tianqi, I wonder if he would think the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's reach is too long, interfering even in the affairs of a City Lord's jurisdiction?"

These words were like a subtle thorn, accurately pricking Mo Chenggui's concerns.

Although the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce was powerful, it ultimately relied on the laws of various countries to conduct business. If it were labeled as "interfering in local government affairs," it would not only draw suppression from the Tianqi Kingdom's imperial court but also make other nations wary of the chamber, inevitably hindering future business.

The smile on Mo Chenggui's face instantly faded a few degrees, and the gloom in the depths of his eyes almost overflowed.

Seeing this, the tall, thin old man beside him was about to speak up in rebuttal, but Mo Chenggui stopped him with a sharp glare. He knew well that they couldn't afford to cause more trouble at this moment; otherwise, they would only fall into Situ Jun's trap.

"City Lord Situ must be joking."

Mo Chenggui suppressed the displeasure in his heart, turned to pick up a teacup offered by a maid on the deck, took a light sip, and spoke with feigned ease.

"This Elder was merely offering some casual concern, nothing more. Since the City Lord insists on camping here, then please suit yourself. Just a reminder: the Restriction fluctuations around this Circular Valley are becoming more frequent. It's best to send more people to keep watch at night, lest some blind Loose Cultivators accidentally intrude and harm the City Lord's wife—that would be unfortunate."

For the last sentence, he deliberately turned to look at Hua Hanxiang beside Situ Jun, his tone flat but carrying an inexplicable provocation and threat.

Hearing this, Hua Hanxiang's expression changed slightly. She subconsciously gripped Situ Jun's sleeve but didn't dare say much, only silently retreating half a step behind him.

On the way there, Situ Jun had warned her to keep a low profile in the Secret Realm as much as possible and never cause trouble for him.

Although she came from the Poison Scorpion Cult and her Cultivation was not weak, she also knew that in such a situation, any slight movement could become an excuse for the other party to make trouble.

Situ Jun pulled Hua Hanxiang by the shoulder; the warmth from his palm made her feel a little more at ease.

He looked up at Mo Chenggui on the Flying Ship, his gaze instantly turning cold, like ice in the depth of winter.

"Thank you for the reminder, Elder Mo, but it's not for others to worry about my people."

With that, he ignored the crowd on the Flying Ship, turned, and said in a deep voice to the Guard Captain behind him:

"Set up camp right here and lay down a Grade 3 Alert Array. No one is allowed to approach within a hundred yards of the camp without permission. If there are provocateurs, execute them first and report later!"

"Yes!"

The Guard Captain responded in a deep voice and then turned to give orders to the hundred Guards behind him.

The Guards were all elites from East Lin City. They moved quickly, and in less than the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, three brown tents made of fireproof spiritual cloth were set up. Scented sachets to repel insects hung from the four corners of the tents, emitting a faint herbal fragrance.

Outside the largest tent in the middle, faint ripples of green spiritual power circulated, forming a semi-transparent protective shield.

That was the "Black Tortoise Defense Array" personally laid down by Situ Jun. This array's defensive power was extremely strong; ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it hard to even get within three feet, and even Golden Core Cultivators would have to expend considerable effort to force a Breakthrough.

Once the camp was settled, Hua Hanxiang followed Situ Jun into the main tent.

The furnishings inside the tent were simple: a low couch covered with animal skin, a wooden table with a map on it, and besides those, only two wooden crates for miscellaneous items.

She helped Situ Jun flatten the map on the table. Her fingertips lightly brushed over the "Nether Crow Cave Mansion" marked on the map, and she couldn't help but ask softly:

"Husband, regarding the matter of the refugees that Mo Chenggui mentioned just now, is it truly alright?"

Although she didn't understand court politics, she knew that a gathering of commoners outside the city was no small matter; any slight oversight could trigger a civil uprising.

Situ Jun's fingertip tapped the mark of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion on the map, and he replied without looking up:

"Don't worry, I've already had Yang Feng handle it. He has already dispatched grain from the granaries, set up temporary relief stations outside the city, and even invited physicians from the city to treat sick refugees. The situation has stabilized."

He paused, then turned to look at Hua Hanxiang, his tone instantly softening significantly as he reached out to brush away a stray lock of hair from her forehead.

"As for you, Mo Chenggui mentioned you on purpose just now; he has likely already discovered your identity as an Elder of the Poison Scorpion Cult. He deliberately provoked me with his words; perhaps before long, people from the Poison Scorpion Cult will come looking for you. But you needn't worry; I'm here."

Hua Hanxiang's heart warmed. Just as she was about to say something more, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent, followed by a Guard's slightly urgent voice:

"My Lord, Lord Bai Yu has arrived."

Situ Jun looked up, the softness in his eyes instantly fading, replaced by his usual composure:

"Let him in."

The tent flap was lifted, and an elderly figure walked in quickly; it was Bai Yu, who was in charge of intelligence under Situ Jun.

He was dressed like an old farmer in coarse cloth, with quite a bit of mud on his pant legs and the fatigue of travel on his face. Upon seeing Situ Jun, he immediately bowed:

"This subordinate greets the Lord."

"What's the situation?"

Situ Jun asked directly, without any pleasantries.

Bai Yu straightened up, his expression grave:

"Reporting to the Lord, I have investigated. There are no fewer than fifty forces, large and small, in this Circular Valley, with a total population exceeding three thousand. These people come from surrounding nations such as the Tianqi Kingdom, the Great Zhou Kingdom, and the Qin Dynasty, including medium-sized forces like the Poison Scorpion Cult and the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. If a chaotic battle breaks out for the treasures, it may not be easy to escape."

"Three thousand people?"

Situ Jun's brow furrowed, and the rhythm of his fingers tapping on the table accelerated slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes. Though he had expected many forces to come, he hadn't anticipated such a large number.

Bai Yu continued:

"Not only that, I have also discovered that Nascent Soul Cultivators have appeared among the forces that arrived. However, their movements are secretive, and I cannot yet determine the exact number or the depth of their Cultivation. I only sensed two fluctuations of Nascent Soul Stage spiritual power during an attack on the cave mansion's Restriction."

Hua Hanxiang was startled as she listened, subconsciously clutching the edge of her clothes.

With over three thousand Cultivators gathered and Nascent Soul Cultivators involved, this battle for treasure would surely be brutal; one wrong move could lead to death.

Situ Jun's fingers lightly tapped the table, making a "thud-thud" sound. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and his tone carried an unquestionable certainty:

"No matter how many people there are, they cannot stop the steps of High-level Cultivators. I am determined to obtain the 'Orb' in this Nether Crow Cave Mansion, and no one can stop me!"

He looked up at Bai Yu, his gaze sharp:

"Go and investigate further. You must find out exactly which Nascent Soul Cultivators have come, their respective forces, and whether their Cultivation is at the Early, Middle, or even Late Nascent Soul Stage. Report back immediately if there is any movement."

He didn't continue—if a Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator had come, then discussing strategy here would be meaningless, and they could only act as the situation dictated.

Bai Yu knew the importance of this matter and bowed in response:

"This subordinate understands; I will investigate right away."

With that, he turned and walked quickly out of the tent, his figure soon disappearing into the night.

Silence returned to the tent, save for the howling mountain wind outside and the sound of Situ Jun's fingers tapping on the table, which seemed particularly clear in the quiet.

Looking at Situ Jun's focused profile, although Hua Hanxiang felt worried, she also felt a bit more at ease. She knew that no matter how many dangers lay ahead, Situ Jun had the ability to handle them.