Jun Changxiao rarely took the big picture into account and didn’t arrogantly clash with the Patrol Envoy.
This was the right thing to do, because during the low-speed sailing process, he successively discovered battleships coming from different directions. Judging from the situation, they were all heading to Starfall Fortress like himself.
“Good thing I held back.”
Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “If I had gotten into a fight with that guy on impulse, it would definitely have alerted many people, then caused the fortress to be on guard, making it hard for me to infiltrate.”
“Ah! Ah!”
“Still not strong enough!”
“The cheat isn’t powerful enough yet!”
Dog Sheng felt very irritated inside.
The system said, “The host has crossed over and hasn’t even been here ten years yet, but has already advanced from the very bottom to about to break through to Martial Emperor. What more could you ask for?”
Jun Changxiao calmed down and thought, “That’s also true.”
If those old monsters who had cultivated for thousands of years only to barely touch the threshold of Martial Saint heard this, they would definitely rush up and take turns slapping him.
On the road, there were more and more battleships coming from different directions.
It was just like going to a market.
Jun Changxiao continuously released his spiritual sense.
He quickly discovered that the warriors on each starship battleship wore different clothing, and there were even beings that seemed part human, part beast.
The Nine Layer Hell of Starfall Fortress was certainly terrifying.
But the underground black market that existed there was also the most longed-for holy land for warriors from various planes.
So warriors were attracted to come here every moment, hoping to find treasures there.
The sailing battleships were quite numerous, but everyone understood the rules. There were no malicious overtaking or cutting in line phenomena. After all, this was the fortress’s jurisdiction—unless someone had eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall, no one dared violate the regulations.
“Strange.”
Jun Changxiao looked around and said, “Why are so many people wearing disguises?”
On several battleships at the front, many warriors were gathered. Nearly half of them were disguised, and because the methods were rather crude, they could be seen through at a glance.
“Sect Master.”
Shang You Hen explained, “The underground black market in the fortress sells large quantities of weapons and equipment. Some planes will send warriors to purchase them, so they need to disguise themselves to avoid being discovered by enemies.”
“In that case.”
Jun Changxiao said, “This is still an underground arms depot.”
“Tsk tsk.”
He stroked his chin and added, “Doing business throughout the entire mortal universe—Starfall Fortress has quite the business acumen.”
He was envious.
If he could also develop his industry throughout the mortal universe and earn money from various planes, that would definitely be super satisfying.
For now, in cooperation with Young Master Tang Er, business had spread throughout Xingyun Continent, but they were just earning their own money. When could he go out and earn foreign exchange—that would be truly awesome.
Jun Changxiao didn’t understand business matters, so he didn’t think much about it. Instead, he thought that since he had conflicts with Starfall Fortress after all, why not disguise himself in advance and change his identity?
Thinking it, he did it.
Dog Sheng returned to his living cabin and applied an exquisite disguise mask.
Until he put on a brand new blue robe, tied on a belt, bound up a headband, and lightly opened a paper fan, he instantly transformed into an elegant scholar.
“Ah!”
Standing at the ship’s bow, looking toward the distant area where meteorites were gathering, Dog Sheng recited loudly, “Flying waters drop three thousand feet straight down, as if the Milky Way fell from the ninth heaven!”
The system said speechlessly, “Such refined interest.”
…
Where was Starfall Fortress located?
Jun Changxiao didn’t look at the map, because he just needed to follow the battleships ahead to find it.
As expected, after sailing for about half a day, at the end of what seemed like endless darkness, a building form gradually appeared. As they got closer and closer, it looked like a massive castle standing in the void!
“Sect Master!”
Shang You Hen transmitted his voice, “This is Starfall Fortress!”
“Doesn’t seem as big as Tianyu Royal City.”
The scene shifted, and Jun Changxiao took back what he had just said, because when the distance to the fortress was only a hundred zhang, he and his battleship were like a tiny ant compared to it!
“My heavens!”
Shang You Hen said in shock, “This is too big!”
Starfall Fortress was truly enormous—calling it a small plane wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Especially the castle’s surface, coated with a layer of black metal ore, looked very solid and durable at a glance.
“It must be quite interesting to blow this up from the inside.” Jun Changxiao thought to himself.
The system said speechlessly, “The host’s thoughts are becoming more and more dangerous, more and more extreme.”
…
Starfall Fortress’s western position had an entrance similar to a city gate, but it was currently closed. Many battleships were parked nearby, and the warriors they carried seemed to be anxiously waiting for it to open.
This was just the ordinary entrance.
Warriors from various planes coming to the underground black market needed to enter from here.
The south, north, and east positions also each had a city gate, corresponding respectively to third-class, second-class, and first-class status warriors entering.
Jun Changxiao could have entered from the north gate, but since the main purpose of this trip was still to come to the underground black market, he steered his battleship to queue up at the west gate entrance.
“Senior Brother.”
On the adjacent ship, a male disciple said with conviction, “We’ve been sent by the Sect Master to come to Starfall Fortress this time. We must buy the goods the sect needs!”
“Mm.”
The Senior Brother nodded earnestly.
On the battleships parked around them, warriors from various planes were also talking among themselves.
Jun Changxiao lay on a chair with his eyes closed, resting.
He also hoped to buy medicinal materials for refining Half-Step Martial Saint Pills in the underground black market, then mass-produce them for his disciples to use.
Of course, he still needed to enter the Nine Layer Hell to find the nine super unfortunate ones.
“Just from the exterior, Starfall Fortress is no different from an impregnable fortress. The prison system for holding prisoners must have even stronger defenses. How should I infiltrate it?” Jun Changxiao thought to himself.
He initially wanted to have Cuihua bite through, but doing so would easily cause the fortress to be on alert, which was very unfavorable for infiltrating.
“Actually, getting in is very simple.”
The system said, “The host just needs to commit some offense at the fortress, right?”
“Entering as a prisoner isn’t impossible.”
Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “But I need to first buy the medicinal materials for refining pills and have a comprehensive understanding of the fortress.”
“Creak!”
While he was thinking, the tightly closed west gate suddenly opened.
Dozens of soldiers wearing battle armor walked out. The leading general announced loudly, “To enter Starfall Fortress, you must pay ten thousand spirit stones that meet the standard!”
“Damn!”
Jun Changxiao cursed silently, “Even entering the city costs money—how utterly shameless!”
System: “…”
This guy seemed to have forgotten the scene of shamelessly charging money when Xingyun Continent warriors entered the stronghold. He even went so far as to sell school uniforms, and at ridiculously high prices too.
Charging money himself was justified; others charging money was shameless.
My host shouldn’t be called Dog Sheng—he should be called Dog Standard.
…
The dozens of soldiers standing at the entrance, just from their auras, were all no weaker than Martial Saint Great Perfection. Especially the leading general, who also had lower tier Void Breaking Realm strength.
Even the gatekeepers were this impressive—the fortress was really too strong.
“Sigh.”
Jun Changxiao stored his battleship in his space ring, then landed at the city gate entrance, following the flow and paying ten thousand spirit stones in order to enter.
However, before walking inside, he looked back and discovered that at least ten thousand people were queuing up. He immediately said enviously, “If my Xingyun Continent also had an underground black market of this scale, just collecting entrance fees alone would be a money-printing operation!”
“Fool!”
The burly man who came up behind him saw him suddenly stop and said irritably, “You damn well hurry up and move!”
“Who’s the fool cursing?”
“The fool is cursing you!”
“Alright then.”
The burly man was stunned for a moment before reacting. Just as he was about to raise his fist to strike, he noticed the soldiers on both sides staring at him, so he suppressed his anger and glared fiercely at Jun Changxiao who was walking ahead.
“Damn bastard!”
“This old man has you memorized!”
Walking ahead, Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “So even in this kind of place there are hot-tempered people. Once I buy the materials, won’t I be able to get in just by using a little scheme?”
Various planes talked about the Nine Layer Prison with extreme fear, but Dog Sheng was thinking about causing trouble to get in. He really was… a cheap bastard!
…
The tunnel at Starfall Fortress’s city gate entrance was very long, which showed that the exterior defenses were extremely strong. Attacking it would certainly be very difficult.
“Thud!”
After walking about a hundred steps, Jun Changxiao stood inside the brightly lit interior of the castle.
After sailing in the dark universe for so long, he hadn’t seen light in a long time, though judging from the color, it was artificially created.
“Wow!”
Shang You Hen exclaimed.
At this moment, the two stood on the street at the city gate entrance. Within their field of vision was a massive cluster of buildings, arranged row upon row, magnificent and imposing.
The most ostentatious thing was that overhead, a visible flowing light barrier created the illusion of blue skies and white clouds.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Ancient bell sounds came from the distance, adding a few points of solemn dignity to this castle-like city.
On the wide, spacious streets, people and beast-folk of all races wearing various colored clothing came and went in an endless stream, all coexisting peacefully—truly a picture of peaceful prosperity.
Jun Changxiao had experienced great storms after all. Although he was amazed by Starfall Fortress’s luxury and magnificence, his face maintained an indifferent expression throughout, continuously preserving that steadiness that came with his drastically changed style.
It might be because he appeared somewhat cowardly before the Patrol Envoy, causing him to truly start treating everything with a Sect Master’s attitude.
It just wasn’t clear how long he could maintain it.
…
The layout inside Starfall Fortress, like the city gates, also had four divisions. North City was the worst, while East City was the best.
“Sect Master.”
While searching for an inn along the road, Shang You Hen asked puzzledly, “You have second-class status. Why aren’t you going to the second-class district?”
“Keeping a low profile.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Has always been this seat’s consistent style.”
“I see!”
Shang You Hen was filled with admiration.
Clearly having a superior status but wanting to stay in the lowest city district—this transcendent realm made Shang You Hen utterly admire him.
“Sect Master, in North City it’s like having no status at all. I heard that just lodging at an inn is very expensive.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Jun Changxiao didn’t care at all, then found a fairly decent inn, came to the front counter, and said, “Innkeeper, give us two of your best rooms.”
The portly innkeeper glanced at the two of them and said indifferently, “One of the best rooms requires payment of fifty thousand first-grade spirit stones.”
“Fifty thousand?”
Jun Changxiao blurted out, “So expensive—are you robbing people!”
Even a super luxurious presidential suite, converted to silver taels on Xingyun Continent, would only be about a thousand taels.
Here it actually required fifty thousand spirit stones. Even if they were the lowest grade, even if the guest room plus bathroom were made of pure gold, it couldn’t be this expensive!
Jun Changxiao spoke quite loudly, startling the warriors from various planes who were successively entering. They all cast contemptuous glances his way.
Who coming to Starfall Fortress didn’t have enough money in their pockets? Yet someone was actually complaining about expensive room rates.
The next second, warriors from all walks cast away their contemptuous gazes.
Because Shang You Hen casually placed quite a few high-grade spirit stones on the counter and asked indifferently, “Is this enough?”
“Sir!”
The innkeeper immediately broke into a beaming smile, “Upstairs please, upstairs please!”
Just as he was about to collect the money, Jun Changxiao’s hand blocked it, “I still prefer your unruly appearance from just now.”
“I.”
He took back half the high-grade spirit stones, “Now only want one room.”
This was clearly a black market inn. Rather than give him fifty thousand spirit stones, he’d rather squeeze in with his disciple.
…
“Creak.”
The door to the superior room was pushed open.
After Shang You Hen entered, he exclaimed, “My heavens, this is too luxurious!”
“…”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
He was wrong. The superior room wasn’t built with pure gold, but with minerals even rarer than that. Even the floor beneath their feet was worth a thousand gold pieces—impossible to buy!
Extravagantly wealthy beyond reason!
“However…”
Shang You Hen walked to the bedroom and frowned, “The bed is just a bit small.”
“You Hen.”
Jun Changxiao said earnestly, “This seat knows you have money, but when traveling away from home, you must be frugal and not spend money extravagantly.”
“Yes!”
Shang You Hen replied.
Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder and instructed, “You sleep on the chair, this seat sleeps on the bed.”
“Huh?”
Shang You Hen looked dejected.
As for the portion of spirit stones taken out earlier, it had already fallen into Jun Changxiao’s pocket.
This absolutely wasn’t swindling his disciple’s money—it was safekeeping it for him first. Once he corrected his habit of spending money wastefully, he’d return it.
Being a Sect Master to this extent was truly moving.
…
Jun Changxiao and Shang You Hen temporarily stayed at the inn.
However, when they went downstairs to eat, they ran into that hot-tempered guy from when they entered the city.
Jun Changxiao found a spot and was about to sit down when the other party, like a mountain, blocked his way, his face showing a fierce and menacing expression.
“Move aside.”
“Are you blind? Can’t you go around?”
“…”
Jun Changxiao fell silent and walked around from the side.
“This guy is so pathetic.”
“Earlier when ordering a room, he complained about the price. One look and you can tell he’s a poor, powerless rookie.”
“How did he even get here?”
The diners in the first-floor restaurant all whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Jun Changxiao containing some contempt.
Undeniably, Starfall Fortress clearly prohibited fighting within the city, but as a dignified man, being deliberately provoked and not even having the courage to talk back—this was really too pathetic.
Shang You Hen, who had just sat down, couldn’t stand it anymore. He stood up with a whoosh and was about to engage in a verbal battle with the hot-tempered guy, but was stopped by Jun Changxiao pouring tea, who said, “Remember, Wangu Sect’s first principle—when traveling away from home, you must keep a low profile.”
“What of it?”
The hot-tempered guy glared with ox-like eyes, “You’re not satisfied?”
“…”
Shang You Hen clenched his fists but still sat down.
Jun Changxiao drank his tea nonchalantly, then released his spiritual sense. He quickly locked onto the route to the underground black market. After eating his fill, he said, “Let’s go, we’ll go out for a stroll.”
“Boy.”
The hot-tempered guy sitting in the distance deliberately stuck out one foot and said coldly, “Watch where you’re walking—don’t bump into this old man!”
The meaning was obvious—he wanted Dog Sheng to take a detour.
Many people looked over with great interest.
Being deliberately provoked for the second time—anyone with even a bit of backbone probably couldn’t stand it, right?
However, to their great disappointment, Jun Changxiao led Shang You Hen around from the corner, then walked out of the inn.
“Too cowardly!”
“Cultivating martial arts to this extent—there’s really no one else!”
The hot-tempered man smugly withdrew his foot, then shouted toward the door, “Boy, remember—whenever you encounter this old man, you have to take a detour!”
“Damn it!”
Shang You Hen was about to explode with anger.
Jun Changxiao comforted him, “Don’t stoop to the level of trash.”
The system was finding it somewhat hard to understand, “Is this still the host? This personality has really drastically changed!”