268: Hua Hanxiang acted as matchmaker.

The candlelight flickered, reflecting Situ Jun's fingertips tapping lightly on the pearwood tabletop; every tap seemed to strike a chord in one's heart.

His brows furrowed slightly, his eyes flashing with sharp light. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of realization:

"So that's how it is. The Star Monitoring Bureau of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty... actually has such a foundation."

Before his voice had even faded, Widow Ya, who was by his side, appropriately took up the conversation.

She sat upright on a brocade stool, her purple palace dress making her figure appear even more elegant. At this moment, she raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her movements still carrying the grace of a former cult master:

"The Star Monitoring Bureau is said to have been established since the founding of the Imperial Dynasty, and in every generation, it has been governed by powerful Dragon Guards who are trusted confidants of the Imperial Family."

She looked up at Situ Jun, her tone becoming a bit more serious:

"Their specific Cultivation is at least at the Middle Stage Nascent Soul, and there are even Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators presiding over it. They are not only a symbol of the Imperial Dynasty's military might but also the sharp blade that extends imperial power. Their status is transcendent, and ordinary Sects simply dare not provoke them."

Pausing for a moment, she added:

"In addition to this, there might be some reclusive Nascent Soul old monsters hidden within the Dynasty's borders, or powerful Loose Cultivators who have received the Imperial Family's tacit approval. But on the surface, Nascent Soul Cultivators are already beings standing at the tip of the pyramid."

These words were like a stone thrown into still water, causing ripples to spread through Situ Jun's heart.

He lowered his eyes in thought, and the tapping of his fingertips gradually stopped—previously, he only knew that the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's power was immense, but he hadn't expected even their surface strength to be so terrifying.

An Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation was already a presence that could walk horizontally in this Southern Border, yet in the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, it didn't even meet the standard to enter the Star Monitoring Bureau.

What made him even more alert was that if his 'Late Nascent Soul Stage' Cultivation were exposed, it would inevitably attract the attention of the Star Monitoring Bureau.

Those Dragon Guard Cultivators took monitoring the powerful within the borders as their responsibility. Once they discovered an unknown Nascent Soul Cultivator like him, there would likely be no shortage of trouble.

Unlike Situ Jun's gravity, Hua Hanxiang's eyes lit up after listening.

She sat on a soft couch, the pink butterflies embroidered on her skirt seeming as if they were about to flap their wings and fly away. At this moment, she tilted her head to look at Widow Ya, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity:

"Sister Ya, so you mean your own Cultivation is at the Early Stage Nascent Soul?"

Seeing Widow Ya nod, she leaned in closer, her tone carrying a bit of joy:

"Then isn't your Primordial Yin energy much more mellow than that of an ordinary Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivator?"

Widow Ya was stunned upon hearing this, her hand holding the teacup pausing slightly, causing a few drops of warm tea to splash out.

She didn't understand why Hua Hanxiang suddenly brought up Primordial Yin energy, but she still nodded truthfully:

"A Nascent Soul Cultivator's Primordial Yin energy is naturally far beyond that of a Half-step Nascent Soul. Although I used a secret technique to suppress my Cultivation, my internal Origin has not been damaged, so my Primordial Yin energy is indeed much richer than that of an ordinary Cultivator."

As soon as she finished speaking, Hua Hanxiang acted as if she had discovered a treasure, immediately getting up to lean close to Situ Jun and gently pulling his sleeve.

The jasmine scent from her hair drifted into Situ Jun's nose, accompanied by her soft and sweet voice:

"Husband, didn't you say before that Primordial Yin energy could help you stabilize your Cultivation? Now that Sister Ya is a Nascent Soul Cultivator, wouldn't the effect be even better?"

Saying this, she turned her head to look at Widow Ya again, her smile much more sincere than before, her eyes full of expectation:

"Sister Ya, since you are already Husband's Dao Companion, there's something I must tell you—Husband Cultivates the Dao of Yin and Yang, which most requires the assistance of Primordial Yin energy. You are a Nascent Soul Cultivator with mellow Primordial Yin energy. If you can engage in Dual Cultivation with Husband, not only can you help him stabilize his Cultivation, but perhaps you can even dissolve the yin poison in your body and help you Breakthrough to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Widow Ya's cheeks instantly turned bright red, like the finest rouge spreading out, and even the tips of her ears were tinged with pink.

She abruptly pulled back her hand from the table, her fingertips trembling slightly, her eyes flickering as she didn't dare to look at Situ Jun.

Although she had already agreed to become Situ Jun's Dao Companion, she had never thought about discussing 'Dual Cultivation' so bluntly, let alone having it come from Hua Hanxiang's mouth.

In the past, she was the high and mighty Vice Cult Master of the Poison Scorpion Cult, with thousands of followers bowing to her. Who would dare to talk about such private matters with her so audaciously?

Now that Hua Hanxiang had laid it bare, she only felt her ears burning, and even her breathing became somewhat hurried.

Situ Jun was also a bit surprised. He turned his head to look at Hua Hanxiang beside him, his gaze carrying a hint of a smile.

He hadn't expected this little girl to take the initiative to play matchmaker for this matter.

Previously, he was still considering how to bring up the matter of Dual Cultivation with Widow Ya. After all, she had a proud personality and might find it difficult to accept. Now with Hua Hanxiang mediating, it saved a lot of effort.

Seeing Widow Ya's shyness, Hua Hanxiang refused to give up.

She took another step forward and lowered her voice, her tone full of sincerity:

"Sister, I'm not just saying this. A few days ago, when I engaged in Dual Cultivation with Husband, not only did my Cultivation improve a lot, but even the residual Poisonous Miasma in my body dissipated quite a bit. The yin poison in your body is heavier than mine. If you can engage in Dual Cultivation with Husband, the effect will definitely be better. Besides, we are both Husband's Dao Companions. It's only right that we support each other in the future!"

She spoke with more and more enthusiasm, completely failing to notice that Widow Ya's face was already red enough to drip blood, and her breathing had become even more hurried.

Watching this scene, Situ Jun felt a warm glow in his heart.

Hua Hanxiang was simple and kind, always thinking of him first; while Widow Ya, though proud, was not stubborn. Now with Hua Hanxiang mediating between them, the two would surely get along harmoniously in the future.

Widow Ya's mind was in a mess from Hua Hanxiang's words.

It wasn't that she didn't understand the benefits of Dual Cultivation. When Situ Jun first proposed for her to be his Dao Companion, her heart had already wavered, but hindered by her pride as a cult master, she had never been willing to relent.

Now that her inner thoughts were laid bare by Hua Hanxiang, she also thought of the difficult-to-dissolve yin poison in her body.

That yin poison was a hidden danger left from her early years of practicing Poison Arts. For many years, it had hindered her Breakthrough, and every night of the full moon, a piercing pain would come from her Dantian.

If it really could be dissolved through Dual Cultivation, then it would indeed be a wonderful thing.

She secretly looked up at Situ Jun, only to see him looking at her with a half-smile, those deep eyes seemingly able to see through all her thoughts.

Her heart rate suddenly accelerated, and she hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers tightly clutching her skirt, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:

"I... I understand."

Seeing her moved, Hua Hanxiang immediately struck while the iron was hot, taking her hand and shaking it gently, her tone full of expectation:

"Sister Ya, think about it. Now that you are already Husband's person, Dual Cultivation is a matter of time. Early Dual Cultivation can solve the yin poison in your body and help Husband stabilize his Cultivation. With the three of us working together, we can gain a greater advantage in this Southern Border Immortal Cave struggle. Isn't that killing several birds with one stone?"

She blinked and added:

"There were misunderstandings between us before, but now that they're resolved, we'll be sisters from now on. I hope Sister Ya can Breakthrough soon. That way, our Poison Scorpion Cult's strength can also reach a higher level, and Husband can have fewer worries. How wonderful!"