263: retreat

Before her words could fully land, dots of purple-black poisonous mist suddenly surged from around her body.

The mist gathered in the air, gradually forming the phantom of a giant scorpion—it stood about thirty feet tall, its pincers open and capable of easily crushing boulders. Its venomous tail curled high, the stinger at the tip glowing with an eerie green light and emitting a terrifying Aura that made one's heart tremble; the threat was self-evident.

Facing this overwhelming pressure and blatant threat, Situ Jun's expression remained calm, though the coldness in his deep eyes intensified, like a frozen pool that hadn't thawed in ten thousand years.

He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly overpowered the howling night wind, reaching Widow Ya's ears word by word:

"Otherwise, what?"

"Hanxiang is now my Dao Companion and has long ceased to be a member of your Poison Scorpion Cult. Her coming and going is not for you to dictate."

"Arrogant!"

Widow Ya laughed out of extreme rage, the poisonous mist around her churning violently. The giant scorpion phantom became increasingly solid, even the hairs on its legs becoming clearly visible. Its venomous tail, shimmering with an eerie purple light, suddenly lashed out, locking onto Situ Jun with deadly intent.

"You are nothing but a brat who happened upon some Opportunity, yet you dare to speak so grandiosely before me! I will ask you one last time: Hua Hanxiang—will you hand her over, or not?"

The moment her voice fell, the terrifying Spiritual Pressure of a Half-step Nascent Soul crashed down like a physical mountain upon Situ Jun and the camp behind him!

The protective light barrier at the camp's perimeter instantly let out a piercing 'creak,' like a wooden board buckling under too much weight. Its surface was rapidly covered in spiderweb-like cracks, appearing as if it would shatter completely at any moment!

The Guards were shaken by this pressure, their blood and Qi churning. Their chests felt as if they were being crushed by boulders, making even breathing difficult.

The Guards with lower Cultivation fell directly to their knees with a 'thud,' their faces showing pain as traces of blood seeped from the corners of their mouths. They couldn't even hold their swords, which fell to the ground with a 'clatter.'

Inside the tent, although Hua Hanxiang was separated by a silencing array, she could still clearly feel this terrifying pressure.

Her heart tightened. No longer caring about her fear, she tried to rush out regardless of the cost to help Situ Jun, but was pushed back by the Restriction on the tent walls—one that Situ Jun had previously set up specifically to ensure her safety.

However, at this critical juncture!

Situ Jun gave a cold snort. He didn't make any earth-shattering movements—he didn't form hand seals, nor did he summon a Magical Artifact—he simply let the Aura around him ripple slightly.

In the next second, a more majestic, deeper, and terrifying power that seemed to originate from the primordial era erupted from his body, like a giant Dragon that had been slumbering for billions of years suddenly awakening!

This Aura was not merely a pressure of spiritual power; it carried a sense of Law that stood above all living beings—grand, vast, and irresistible, as if heaven and earth themselves had to bow before this power!

Boom—!

Two invisible forces collided violently in mid-air!

There was no world-shaking explosion or deafening noise, only an extremely muffled hum that felt as if it could tear the Divine Soul apart!

Though the hum was low, it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer, causing Widow Ya's poisonous mist to shake violently.

Immediately after, a shocking scene occurred—Widow Ya's seemingly invincible Half-step Nascent Soul pressure and scorpion phantom, when faced with this grand and vast power, actually melted and crumbled like snow meeting a scorching sun!

The purple-black poisonous mist receded like a tide, leaving not a single trace behind.

More impressively, Situ Jun kept this power strictly controlled within a tiny range. He crushed the threat without causing widespread destruction or allowing the commotion to spread too far, avoiding the attention of other Cultivators.

"What?!"

Widow Ya suddenly took a half-step back, her feet leaving two shallow footprints in the ground.

The color drained from her beautiful face instantly, leaving it as pale as paper. Her eyes were filled with unbelievable horror, and even her lips were trembling slightly!

She clearly felt that the spiritual power within her body, and even her Primordial Spirit, were vibrating violently, as if they had encountered some sort of natural predator!

The opponent's Aura... was actually that of a Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivator as well, and his Cultivation was even higher than hers!

No, it was definitely not as simple as just being a Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivator!

The sense of Law within that Aura made her instinctively feel a trace of fear, as if the opponent could easily crush her to death with just a flick of his finger!

That could only prove the opponent was a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

But the Heavenly Dragon Imperial City clearly stipulated that only one Nascent Soul was allowed to exist within the kingdom; otherwise, they would be driven out or killed. What was going on with this Situ Jun? Could it be that he wasn't a person of the Tianqi Dynasty?

This discovery filled Widow Ya with suspicion.

Situ Jun remained standing where he was, his robes fluttering and his expression indifferent, as if he had just brushed away a speck of dust that had landed on his shoulder.

He quickly swept his Divine Sense across the surroundings and found several Spiritual Senses that didn't belong to the camp quietly probing, clearly attracted by the commotion just now.

His eyes turned cold, and his Divine Sense, like a sharp blade, instantly shattered those prying Spiritual Senses.

After doing all this, he redirected his gaze toward Widow Ya, his tone carrying a cold warning:

"Considering you were once Hanxiang's Sect Leader and showed her some care, I will not pursue this matter with you today. If you dare to intrude again, do not blame me for being merciless. Begone!"

The final word 'Begone' exploded like a thunderclap, containing supreme majesty and a Soul-shaking impact that slammed hard into the mind of the Poison Scorpion Cult Leader!

Widow Ya gave a muffled groan, her body swaying violently as she nearly collapsed to the ground.

She clutched her chest, feeling her blood and Qi churning. The horror in her eyes deepened, and a faint, almost imperceptible trace of fear even flashed through them.

She stared fixedly at Situ Jun, her gaze as if trying to carve his image into her bones, wanting to see through the depths of this man.

But no matter how she probed, she could only see a deep darkness; the opponent's Cultivation was like a bottomless abyss, with no end in sight.

She had originally thought that with her Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivation, capturing a traitorous Elder would be an easy task. She never expected that this Situ Jun who had suddenly appeared would possess such terrifying strength!

If she continued to fight, she would definitely gain no advantage and might even fall here, losing her very life!

Weighing the pros and cons, Widow Ya suppressed her churning blood and overwhelming rage, saying through gritted teeth:

"Fine! Well played, Situ Jun! I admit defeat today!"

Her venomous gaze bypassed Situ Jun and stabbed toward the main tent, her voice filled with thick resentment and threat:

"Hua Hanxiang! Do you think you can sleep soundly just because you've found a backer? Traitors never come to a good end! I'll wait to see the day you are abandoned!"

Leaving behind this harsh remark, she stayed no longer. Her figure blurred, transforming into a purple-black light that vanished miserably into the night like a stray dog, while the suffocating pressure receded like the tide.