“You just don’t understand.”

Jun Changxiao said, “The more dangerous a place is, the safer it becomes.”

“Besides, I can disguise myself and infiltrate under a false name, while conveniently investigating the depths of Starry Sky Fortress.”

“Don’t go.”

The system tried to dissuade him. “If you’re discovered, you’ll be in deep trouble.”

“It’s in the bag!”

Jun Changxiao said, “After your jinx, I’m now a hundred times more confident!”

The Strongest Face-Slapping System!

Since it had jinxed him that going would lead to discovery, it would definitely mean the opposite—smooth sailing and complete safety.

“…”

The system was speechless.

My face-slapping function can actually be used by the host this way?

“Besides.”

Jun Changxiao said disdainfully, “I’ve fought over a hundred super battlefield ghosts on the battlefield. Even the Upper Realm couldn’t deal with me. Who in the mortal universe could manage it?”

The system asked, “Host, without your wives’ support and without the power of the stone statues, could you defeat the Black and White Dual Fiends?”

“This…”

Jun Changxiao fell silent.

Without relying on various trump cards, he really didn’t believe he could defeat powerful beings from the Upper Realm who had been suppressed in power.

The system said, “Those two should currently be at the strongest level in the mortal universe. Who’s to say Starry Sky Fortress doesn’t have beings of this caliber?”

“You mean.”

Jun Changxiao’s expression grew solemn. “Starry Sky Fortress might have powerful beings from the Upper Realm?”

“…”

The system went crazy.

My meaning was that there are heavens beyond heavens, people beyond people—you absolutely cannot underestimate martial artists of the mortal universe. How did he twist it to the Upper Realm!

“Fine.”

The system said, “What you say makes sense.”

“Since the Black and White Dual Fiends came down through special methods, there may indeed be stowaways in the mortal universe.”

“I understand now.”

Jun Changxiao said with sudden realization, “It’s precisely because people from the Upper Realm exist in Starry Sky Fortress that they blocked the system from stealing Fragment Five!”

“…”

The system greatly admired the host’s imagination.

However, it still roared loudly, “I solemnly declare again—it’s only a matter of whether I seriously try to steal or not. There’s nothing I can’t steal. If you don’t believe me, try buying it again!”

“What if you can’t steal it?”

“I’ll livestream eating fifty pounds of crap!”

“Good!”

Jun Changxiao said, “Even if I waste 20,000 contribution points, I’ll satisfy your twisted hobby for the readers!”

He said this, but actually knew the system wasn’t human and had no physical form, so it couldn’t actually do it. However, seeing it speak so confidently, he suddenly felt tempted.

Fragment Five was hidden in Starry Sky Fortress. Whether there were stronger beings inside or stowaways was still unknown. Even if he went there, he might not necessarily find it. Better to spend another 20,000 contribution points to buy it once more.

Furthermore.

With each additional fragment, the power of Seven Mystical Radiant Sundering would significantly increase. Buying it early and having disciples train in it early was tantamount to improving their hardcore strength!

“Swish!”

He opened the purchased items column.

…

Starry Sky Fortress.

Guan Jiu and the old man knelt trembling in the great hall.

“Master.”

A black-robed person standing behind them said coldly, “These two have damaged soul origins. Nothing they say can be trusted.”

The masked person sitting in the upper seat said in an icy voice, “I only sent you to gather intelligence. How did you lose your soul origins?”

“Mas… Master…”

The kneeling Guan Jiu and old man trembled in body and voice.

The masked person said indifferently, “With soul origins controlled by others, they probably won’t tell the truth. Take them away and lock them in the Nine Layers of Hell.”

Hearing the four words ‘Nine Layers of Hell,’ Guan Jiu and the old man turned deathly pale with fright, then collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

As people who had lived in the fortress for years, they naturally understood the Nine Layers of Hell. That place was truly hell as its name suggested—anyone locked inside never came out alive!

“Mas… Master…”

Guan Jiu and the old man called out in despair, but were still dragged away by several black-robed people.

One was the master who had cultivated them for many years, the other controlled their soul origins. They simply didn’t know what to do.

“Master.”

The black-robed person standing in the hall said, “In my opinion, this matter is connected to Xingyun Continent. Why not let this subordinate lead people there to investigate?”

The masked person said indifferently, “Don’t disappoint this seat.”

That very day.

From within the fortress resembling a solid castle, dozens of starry sky warships flew out, heading in the direction of Xingyun Continent.

“General.”

At the ship’s bow, an old man inquired, “Guan Jiu and the other were locked in the Nine Layers of Hell?”

“Correct.”

The leader said, “Still the second layer.”

“Hiss!”

The old man drew in a sharp breath. “The main criminals imprisoned on the second layer of hell are said to be cruel by nature and addicted to killing. Those two fellows locked in there probably have no chance of survival.”

The leader said, “Which of the main criminals imprisoned on each layer of hell isn’t a tough character?”

“This…”

The old man fell silent.

He had never been to the Nine Layers of Hell, but before becoming a member of Starry Sky Fortress, he had heard of this place. It was said that inside were nine different levels of hell prisons, each layer imprisoning main criminals who were permanently confined for various reasons.

There were even rumors that Starry Sky Fortress’s existence came from Upper Realm orders, its purpose being to imprison those guilty of great rebellion and great evil. The fortress master was equivalent to a warden.

Of course.

These were just rumors.

Because Starry Sky Fortress had existed for a very long time and had changed fortress masters many times during that period, the claim of coming from the Upper Realm was hard for people to believe.

One thing the world acknowledged—the Nine Layers of Hell imprisoned many terrifyingly powerful beings. They may have been captured because they offended the fortress master.

…

“Creak!”

The massive stone door was gently pushed open, a sliver of light streaming through the crack.

“Clank clank clank.”

“Clank clank clank.”

Guan Jiu and the old man, wearing prisoner uniforms and shackled at the feet, walked in step by step. Their legs and hands trembled violently, especially feeling the sinister aura inside—their scalps nearly exploded.

“Creak!”

The stone door closed again, the ray of light disappeared, the environment became extremely dim, and even more sinister.

Guan Jiu and the old man both possessed Martial Emperor cultivation. Looking across the entire mortal universe, they could be considered top-tier powerful beings, but standing here, they were frightened out of their wits.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a thread of red light flew from the distance, suspended in midair like ghost fire. One could see four large characters ‘Second Layer Hell’ gradually appearing, formed from the bones of some unknown creature.

“Woo woo woo.”

“Woo woo woo!”

Cold wind blew over, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves.

Guan Jiu and the old man felt chills run down their backs. They instinctively leaned toward each other, but suddenly felt they had touched something ice-cold, so they hurriedly retreated several steps and turned around together.

“You two.”

A disheveled person with chains binding both hands and feet stood in the area between them. With a clanking sound, they raised their skeletal hands, pushed aside their messy hair, revealed an extremely ferocious face, and smiled. “Did you wash your butts clean?”

The voice was sinister to the extreme, as if coming from the depths of hell!

“Thud thud thud!”

Guan Jiu and the old man retreated several more steps in fright. Only after struggling to make out the two characters ‘Main Criminal’ carved on the prisoner uniform did they turn pale with shock. “Huo… Huo Yanmo…”

—