573: Chapter 573 Decision

After hearing the words of the two, the wild joy in Situ Jun's eyes was instantly extinguished, as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him, and his heart gradually sank.

The Ascension Realm was originally a special world existing between the Immortal and Mortal Realms. Over the past ten thousand years, countless powerful Cultivators had entered it, yet no records of its dangers or lethal traps had ever been passed down.

Even with his level of Cultivation, he could not guarantee his own safety upon going there, much less whether he could protect those by his side; that remained a complete unknown.

Furthermore, even if he spared no expense and used every means to make the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's Qintian Division make an exception to grant him a few meager slots for companions, he could at most bring only one or two people along.

But there were so many wives staying behind in the manor. If he only took a few, how unfair would that be to the rest?

They were all equally dear to him, and he truly could not bear to make a choice that showed such favoritism.

Situ Jun sighed deeply, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing the cold sound transmission talisman in his hand until his knuckles turned white, his heart filled with helplessness and a lingering reluctance to let go.

After pondering for a long time, he finally made up his mind: for this journey to the Ascension Realm, he would go alone.

It was a completely foreign world, and he was absolutely unwilling to let his wives and children face even the slightest danger.

As long as they could live peacefully and happily in the Northern Border, that was his greatest wish at this moment. Even if they were separated by thousands of miles and he had to face danger alone, he was willing.

A moment later, Situ Jun slowly set down the sound transmission jade talisman. The warmth around him faded completely, and his voice was faint but carried a bone-chilling coldness:

“Li Xuan.”

As his voice fell, a cold light flashed briefly in his eyes, and a faint pressure instantly radiated from his body, causing even the surrounding air to stagnate slightly.

He had always known that Li Xuan was narrow-minded and vindictive, but he had never imagined that this man would be so bold and reckless.

Taking advantage of the Mysterious Clarity Master's absence from the capital, he had unscrupulously used his imperial power to harm innocent women, even aiming this sinister calculation directly at Situ Jun himself.

As for the chosen Jiang Wanlian, he had never met her and had no previous interaction with her; he had only heard her name mentioned by the State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi.

He vaguely remembered that the Mysterious Clarity Master had said at the time: “This woman's fate is beyond noble; she shares a karmic bond with the Master. If she can be obtained, it will be of great benefit to the Master's Cultivation.”

At that time, his heart was set on bringing Xia Wei back to the Northern Border, so he had not taken this comment to heart, dismissing it as the State Preceptor's usual rhetoric.

But as fate would have it, Li Xuan had chosen her, intending to send this innocent woman into a dragon's pool and tiger's den like the Ascension Realm.

Without needing to think deeply, Situ Jun saw through Li Xuan's intentions. This was blatant revenge, deliberately aimed at him, intended to use Jiang Wanlian's fate to sting and humiliate him, thereby satiating the hatred in his heart.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked south toward the Tianqi Royal Capital.

A cold fury surged in his eyes, mixed with a bit of weighing and consideration, as the aura around him grew increasingly cold and heavy.

“Husband, has something important happened? Why is your expression so grave?”

Su Yunniang, carrying a cup of warm tea, stepped lightly into the study. Seeing him standing alone by the window with a cold aura, she hurried forward and asked softly.

Situ Jun snapped back to his senses, took the tea cup, and took a small sip to suppress the surging complex emotions and anger in his heart.

He casually handed the sound transmission talisman to Su Yunniang and, in a softened but calm and detailed tone, told her everything about Jiang Wanlian's background, the Mysterious Clarity Master's previous comments, and Li Xuan's act of revenge through this borrowed knife, hiding nothing.

Su Yunniang took the sound transmission talisman, her delicate fingers brushing it as her Divine Sense quickly probed inside. After a moment, her expression changed slightly, her brows furrowed, and a flash of anger appeared in her eyes:

“I didn't expect that the journey to the Ascension Realm would actually allow Mortals without Cultivation to go, and I certainly didn't expect this Li Xuan to be so narrow-minded and sinister. To think he would target an innocent woman just to get revenge on you, his methods are truly despicable. Husband, this matter involves many things; how do you plan to handle it?”

She looked up at Situ Jun, a very faint trace of expectation hidden in her eyes. Although it vanished in an instant, it was still noticed by Situ Jun.

Situ Jun understood her heart and gently took her slightly cool hand. Warmth spread from his palm as he spoke with a gentle yet patient tone, explaining carefully:

“I know what you are thinking. You want to go with me so that our family can stay together and never be separated.”

He gently patted the back of her hand, his tone becoming more solemn:

“But you must understand, the ability to bring Mortals along this time relies entirely on the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty exhausting their Top-Grade Spirit Stones to power the Spirit Boat. Slots are incredibly scarce, and the Ascension Realm is completely unknown. The Cultivators within possess unfathomable strength, and the dangers are extreme. Even if my Cultivation is decent, I cannot guarantee my own safety one hundred percent. I really cannot take you all to risk your lives; I cannot afford to gamble, and I do not dare to.”

Seeing the expectation in Su Yunniang's eyes gradually fade, replaced by understanding and reluctance, Situ Jun's heart softened, and he continued softly:

“Furthermore, even if I went to great lengths to secure one or two slots and took one or two of you with me, the rest of the sisters and children in the manor would have to stay in the Northern Border. We would be worlds apart, looking at each other from afar with no knowledge of whether the others were alive or dead. That would be too unfair to them. After much thought, I have decided to go alone. Once I have established a foothold in the Ascension Realm and thoroughly mapped out all the dangers, if there is even the slightest chance, I will find a way to reunite us early. Until then, your peaceful life here in the Northern Border guarding our home is my greatest wish.”

Su Yunniang looked into his firm and gentle eyes. Although her heart was filled with boundless reluctance and concern, she knew that every word he said was the truth and was for the sake of the family.

She nodded gently, her eyes reddening slightly and the tip of her nose feeling sour as she sighed softly:

“Husband, your considerations are thorough. I was being greedy. I understand your intentions. Rest assured, the sisters and I will live peacefully in the Northern Border, guard this family estate, and take good care of the children. While you are in the Ascension Realm, you must take care of yourself, be careful in everything, and do not push yourself too hard.”

Warmth flowed through Situ Jun's heart as he reached out and pulled her gently into his embrace. With her faint fragrance lingering around him, the previous hostility completely dissipated.

But at the thought of Li Xuan's sinister calculation and Jiang Wanlian, who was now in danger because of him, his brows furrowed tightly again, and a sharp look crossed his eyes.

Although he had no connection with Jiang Wanlian, this matter had started because of him. Li Xuan was clearly using her to get back at him. If he were to just sit by and watch an innocent woman become a sacrificial lamb, he would not be able to rest easy.

His mind raced as he calculated how to replace the person before the woman reached the Tianlong Imperial Capital, or how to ensure her safety after the Ascension Realm opened.

“Do not worry, I know what I'm doing.”

Situ Jun gently stroked her smooth hair, his voice low and certain, his eyes a mix of tenderness for his family and ruthlessness toward his enemy:

“Before I set off for the Tianlong Imperial Capital, I will personally make a trip to the Tianqi Royal Capital to meet this Li Xuan. If he remains obstinate, it wouldn't hurt to find someone else to be the State Ruler of Tianqi. As for Jiang Wanlian, she is an innocent person; I will never let her become a victim of this revenge for nothing.”

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