265: choose

The Spiritual Energy within her body circulated frantically. Even though her Meridians were throbbing with pain, she forcibly raised her Cultivation to its Peak state, becoming extremely vigilant.

She truly could not understand how the opponent's tracking speed was so fast. Even more terrifying was that she had been rushing at full speed the entire way yet hadn't noticed anyone following her!

Situ Jun slowly took a step forward. This step seemed casual, yet it felt as if it landed precisely on Widow Ya's heartbeat, causing her breath to catch.

"Your Excellency, the Cult Master, came with great fanfare just now, and then left harsh words before departing. It seems you've forgotten something." Situ Jun's tone remained calm, yet it carried an undeniable meaning. "Regarding my Cultivation, I do not wish a single word about it to leave your mouth and attract unnecessary trouble."

Widow Ya narrowed her Phoenix eyes, rapidly weighing her options internally.

She did harbor malicious intentions—the strength Situ Jun displayed during their brief exchange far surpassed that of a Half-step Nascent Soul. If she revealed this matter to the other Nascent Soul Cultivators in the valley, especially the powerful Experts sent by the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, it would certainly draw their wariness and targeting toward Situ Jun, allowing her to reap the benefits later.

Now that her thoughts had been exposed by the opponent, she simply stopped hiding them and let out a cold laugh:

"Hmph, do you think you can hide from the senses of the Nascent Soul Cultivators in the valley? When our auras clashed just now, that Oppressive Pressure already surpassed the Half-step Nascent Soul stage. They must have sensed something!"

"What others sensed was merely a vague fluctuation and the sight of you leaving the mountain valley."

Situ Jun took another step forward. The distance between them instantly closed to two Zhang. The invisible sense of oppression intensified, almost solidifying the surrounding air:

"They won't know exactly what happened, nor will they know my true Cultivation. But if you go and tell them yourself, that will be a different matter entirely."

"Are you threatening This Seat?"

Widow Ya shouted, trying to appear fierce despite her inner fear, while secretly gathering a wisp of colorless and odorless Poisonous Qi on her fingertip.

This was her ultimate trump card, named "Soul Devouring Fiend." Even if a Nascent Soul Cultivator accidentally came into contact with it, the toxin would corrode their Nascent Soul.

But the moment she finished her action, she saw a hint of understanding flash in Situ Jun's eyes. That look seemed to have already seen through her scheme, causing a chill in her heart.

"It is a reminder, and also a choice."

As Situ Jun's voice fell, a faint golden light suddenly appeared in his eyes—he activated the Eye of Detection, and all of Widow Ya's information instantly surfaced before him:

[Name: Zhao Jingya (Widow Ya)]

[Age: 600 years old]

[Identity: Vice Cult Master of the Poison Scorpion Cult]

[Rating: 92 points]

[Cultivation: Early Stage Nascent Soul (Current Dantian suppressed to Half-step Nascent Soul Stage by a Restriction)]

[Physique (Spiritual Vein): Medium Grade Wood Spiritual Root, Hundred Nether Gu Physique]

[Affinity: Negative 100]

[heavenly luck value: 14,000]

[Recent Evaluation: Extremely furious about Hua Hanxiang's behavior of secretly colluding with outsiders. Filled with confusion and shock regarding Situ Jun's true Cultivation. Secretly planning to inform the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty of this matter and use the Imperial Dynasty's power to eliminate Situ Jun.]

"Hundred Nether Gu Physique, Early Stage Nascent Soul, and harboring the intention of killing with a borrowed knife."

Situ Jun's gaze flickered slightly.

He had long detected that Widow Ya's Cultivation was strange, and now he finally confirmed it—the opponent had actually suppressed her Cultivation.

Moreover, her heavenly luck value was as high as 14,000. She was clearly no ordinary Cultivator. If he could subdue her, it would be greatly beneficial for the subsequent struggle for the Legacy.

His gaze fell upon Widow Ya's well-maintained face—although this Vice Cult Master of the Poison Scorpion Cult was over six hundred years old, due to the special Cultivation Technique she practiced, her appearance remained that of a woman in her thirties. Her skin was fair as jade, and her eyes held the allure of a mature woman. However, due to nervousness and apprehension, her face was currently pale, lacking some of her usual sharpness.

"I will give you two choices."

Situ Jun slowly continued:

"First, you come back to the Camp with me, and I will temporarily 'invite' Your Excellency, the Cult Master, to be my guest for a few days. Once the matter of the Immortal Cave settles, I will restore your freedom. Of course, during this period, the Cult Master will inevitably suffer some grievance."

"Imprisonment?"

Widow Ya's expression abruptly changed, and a hint of humiliation flashed in her eyes.

As the Vice Cult Master of the Poison Scorpion Cult, when had she ever been treated this way?

What's more, if she were imprisoned, the Cult would be leaderless. When the time came to compete for the Legacy, they would certainly be at a disadvantage, and even if she regained her freedom, she wouldn't be able to clearly explain things to the Cult.

"What is the second choice?"

She asked through gritted teeth, already regretting her rash actions tonight—if she had known Situ Jun was this terrifying, she absolutely would not have provoked him.

Situ Jun took another step forward. The distance between them was now less than one Zhang.

He could even clearly smell the aura emanating from Widow Ya—a scent that mixed the Natural Fragrance of a mature woman with a strange, Poisonous Aroma, alluring yet dangerous.

His gaze swept over her body. The look was as pure as if he were evaluating an object, devoid of any disrespect, yet it made Widow Ya, who was accustomed to being revered or admired, feel extremely uncomfortable, even giving rise to a sense of humiliation.

"The second choice," Situ Jun slowly began, his voice gaining an inexplicable magnetism, "is for you and me to become Temporary Dao Companions."

"What?!"

Widow Ya almost thought she had misheard. Her Beautiful Eyes instantly widened, her face filled with absurdity and outrage.

For her to become Dao Companions with this man who had just defeated her and abducted an Elder from her Cult? This was an immense humiliation!

She shouted sternly:

"Situ Jun! How dare you humiliate This Seat like this! Believe it or not, This Seat..."

"It is not humiliation."

Situ Jun's tone remained unchanged, as if stating a fact:

"You are a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and your Primordial Yin Power is rich, which is slightly beneficial for stabilizing my Cultivation. I, however, Cultivate the Dao of Yin and Yang, and my Spiritual Energy is Vigorous Spiritual Energy, which can also help you Break through your current Bottleneck. This is a matter of mutual benefit. During this time, you will naturally be my person, guarding my secrets, which is perfectly reasonable. Once we leave Southern Xinjiang, if you wish to depart, I will absolutely not stop you."

His words were direct and cold, framing the matter of Dual Cultivation as a fair transaction.

Yet, he precisely struck Widow Ya's weakness—because she practiced the vicious Cultivation Technique of the Poison Scorpion Cult and was constantly accompanied by poisonous creatures, a large amount of yin poison had accumulated in her body. This yin poison had already invaded her Dantian, becoming the biggest obstacle preventing her from Breaking through to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul.

Over the years, she had searched everywhere for Heaven And Earth Treasure, but was unable to completely eliminate the yin poison. Situ Jun's Vigorous Spiritual Energy seemed to truly be her nemesis.

The outrage in Widow Ya's heart was gradually replaced by a trace of uncertainty and suspicion.

She stared intently at Situ Jun, trying to discern mockery or conspiracy in his eyes, but saw only profound calmness and absolute confidence.

She suddenly realized that the man before her was serious—he wasn't negotiating; he was announcing a decision.

After the intense feeling of humiliation subsided, a strange thought surprisingly began to grow in her heart: "If I could truly rely on such a powerful man... perhaps... it wouldn't be entirely a bad thing?"

At the very least, it was better than Perishing Completely.

In the Cultivation World, where the strong prey on the weak, relying on powerful Experts is the norm. She just never imagined she would be the one relying on others.

But the moment that thought surfaced, it was suppressed by her pride.

She was the Vice Cult Master of the Poison Scorpion Cult. When did she ever need to rely on a man to gain benefits?