“Sect Master.”

Inside the great hall, after Li Qingyang finished reporting in detail the various resources tallied from the spatial rings of the Star Sky Four Tyrants’ subordinates, he asked weakly: “Were you listening?”

Jun Changxiao, who sat in the seat of honor seemingly lost in thought, snapped back to attention and said: “What did you say?”

“…”

Li Qingyang was speechless.

He had reported matters to the Sect Master many times before, and rarely saw him look so distracted.

Left with no choice, he could only report all the various resources again.

After listening, Jun Changxiao said: “Refine all the medicinal materials and ores into pills and equipment. Hand over the spirit stones and such to Old Yuan for him to distribute.”

“Yes.”

Li Qingyang received his orders and left.

The System said: “Aren’t you going to the Soul Clan Continent to save your wife?”

“…”

Jun Changxiao said: “Shi Shiyi’s mission is complete, which means the Star Sky Navigation King’s enemies are gone. How could she possibly be in trouble?”

“Perhaps there are others coveting the throne and causing chaos?”

“Impossible. The three hall masters I purified, I’ve already arranged them on the Soul Clan Continent. With them there, who would dare commit treason?”

“Since the Epic Quest includes protecting family members, something will happen sooner or later. Will it kill you to make a trip there, host?”

“Fine.”

Jun Changxiao compromised.

That very day, he took Cuihua and headed to Eternal City, then proceeded through the previous passage to the Soul Clan Continent.

Because the space-time tunnel could be mended and opened at any time, coming to this plane was as easy as strolling through a back garden.

It had been about several months since Jun Changxiao last left. The space that had been shattered during his battle with the handsome man was gradually healing.

Standing at the tunnel entrance, his spiritual sense enveloped a large city in the distance. Watching the Soul Clan martial artists living their normal lives as usual, he spread his hands and said: “No one has attacked at all.”

“This is strange.” The System was very puzzled.

Jun Changxiao didn’t go to the Empress’s City. After confirming the Soul Clan Continent was safe and sound, he returned to the Xingyun Continent.

“Since you came all this way, why not go take a look?”

“I still haven’t dealt with the Star Sky Four Tyrants. I’m not like you, cowering in some corner without eating or drinking, without shitting or pissing, doing nothing at all.”

If Jun Changxiao had walked a bit further toward the Soul Clan Continent’s central region, he would have seen the gate suspended in midair leading to the Plane Battlefield.

Of course, while not visiting the Empress’s City did have some suspicion of avoidance, he really did need to hurry and interrogate the Star Sky Four Tyrants, especially about how they found the Xingyun Continent and how they determined he was the killer.

Finding someone on a single continent was already like fishing a needle from the sea—he truly didn’t believe these guys could rely on intuition alone to find him in the vast universe.

Having mixed in the martial arts world for so long, Jun Changxiao roughly guessed they must have some method, such as tools or martial techniques. If he could obtain them, they would definitely be useful in the future.

……

Earth-level prison.

One of the Star Sky Navigation King’s six generals, the bald man, cowered in terror in the corner, repeatedly murmuring in his heart: “Why is my master’s enemy here!”

Years ago, he had followed the handsome man in campaigns across all directions and was once intercepted by the Star Sea Five Tyrants in the cosmic starry sky, where he was brutally beaten.

To save his life, his master told them a shocking secret he had obtained, and only thus managed to survive.

He thought he would never meet them again in this lifetime, yet here he was locked in the same prison.

Was the world too small, or was the universe too small!

“Boss.”

One of his subordinates came over and said in a low voice: “The Star Sky Four Tyrants were beaten terribly! They’re lying on the ground like mud!”

“…”

The terror in the bald man’s eyes grew even stronger.

That the four of them were here left no doubt they’d been captured by Jun Changxiao, and their severe injuries must certainly be connected to him!

“Master is going to encounter big trouble!” the bald man thought darkly.

The Star Sky Four Tyrants had been brutalized beyond recognition. He didn’t believe his master could escape unscathed if he encountered Jun Changxiao.

“Creak!”

Suddenly, the prison door opened.

Xiao Zueji entered first and set down a chair.

Jun Changxiao sat down gracefully, habitually clasping his ten fingers together, and said: “Gentlemen, I killed the Star Sky Navigation King on a desolate plane. How did you know about it, and how did you find the Xingyun Continent?”

These words were like a bolt from the blue, directly causing the bald man and all his subordinates to freeze with vacant stares.

Master…

Was killed by him?!

The bald man was dazed for a good while before a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Someone who could brutalize the Star Sky Four Tyrants to this degree—it seemed quite normal for his master to die at his hands.

The bald man should be thankful he was locked in prison; otherwise, his fate would be the same as the handsome man and the other five generals.

“Little… little brat…”

The burly middle-aged man said in a weak voice: “We… are people of the Star Sky Fortress. If you… know what’s good for you… you’ll quickly release us!”

“Star Sky Fortress?”

Jun Changxiao looked completely bewildered.

However, seeing the bald man cowering in the corner turn pale with terror, he inquired: “Have you heard of it?”

“I… I’ve heard of it!”

“Speak.”

The bald man, who had been trained by Er Ya, was very obedient and hurriedly told everything he knew.

In the starry sky of the mortal universe, there was an extremely sinister region. Inside there were no planes, only a massive suspended castle, which is why people called it the Star Sky Fortress.

The master controlling the fortress called himself the Fortress Lord. Martial artists from other planes could enter, provided they paid sufficient resources. And as long as one obtained status inside, they would enjoy protection of varying grades.

Fortress status was categorized into first, second, and third ranks.

The lowest third-rank status merely granted entry and exit rights. Second-rank status granted residency rights. The highest first-rank status was similar to nobility—not only did it grant residency rights, but one could also freely select slaves.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao said: “How feudal.”

The bald man continued: “As long as one obtains second-rank status at the Star Sky Fortress, not only can they permanently reside there, they’ll also receive the fortress’s protection.”

“In that case.” Jun Changxiao looked at the Star Sky Four Tyrants lying on the ground and said: “You’ve already obtained second-rank status at the Star Sky Fortress?”

“That’s… right…”

The burly middle-aged man’s tone carried some pride, clearly feeling honored about having second-rank fortress status.

Jun Changxiao said: “Is the Star Sky Fortress very powerful?”

“Very powerful!”

The bald man said solemnly: “My master once said the Fortress Lord’s strength is extremely terrifying. He also has connections with many major planes. Especially the Fortress Legion he’s cultivated—reportedly, just dispatching a hundred-man scale squad can easily annihilate an entire plane.”

“That impressive?”

Jun Changxiao looked astonished.

Honestly speaking, with the Star Sky Five Tyrants and his group of subordinates, if they attacked the Xingyun Continent which had nine great Wudi presiding over it, even if they could annihilate it, they would have to pay a price.

This so-called Fortress Legion could dispatch a hundred men and easily annihilate an entire plane—could they all be at the Wudi level in cultivation?

The bald man said: “I heard that inside the Star Sky Fortress there’s also a very large underground black market that sells many rare and bizarre treasures. Every year it attracts quite a few plane martial artists to make purchases.”

“Somewhat interesting.”

Jun Changxiao developed an interest in the Star Sky Fortress, mainly because of the rare and bizarre treasures.

“Little… little brat…” The burly middle-aged man said weakly: “We have second-rank status and are under the Star Sky Fortress’s comprehensive protection. As long as they find out, they definitely won’t let you off easily, and might even implicate your family and entire plane!”

Hearing this, Jun Changxiao’s gaze immediately turned cold and stern.

He had been considering the Shi Twelve mission all along. Now learning the opponent was telling him that if they encountered danger, someone would help them out, and would even implicate his family and plane—could this be related to it?

“Whoosh—”

“Splurt!”

The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade flashed with azure light. Scorching blood splattered on the prison wall, while the burly middle-aged man was already separated from his head.

Jun Changxiao’s gaze was cold as frost as he said: “This Seat most despises being threatened, especially with family!”

“Alas.”

The System said helplessly: “Wouldn’t it be better to stay alive? Why seek death?”

The deceased burly middle-aged man would never have imagined in his dreams that he was only trying to let this guy know they had the Star Sky Fortress backing them, deliberately making his words harsh, but in exchange received a song of immediate cooling!

What a pity.

A Wudi-level powerhouse.

“Fourth Brother!” The white-haired elder and the other two cried out in grief.

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, True Yang Sword, and Jade Dragon Heaven-Questioning Sword were respectively inserted at the edges of their necks.

Jun Changxiao’s gaze was cold as he said: “I don’t care if you’re protected by the Star Sky Fortress or protected by the universe’s Emperor Frieza. Quickly answer the question I just asked.”

The burly middle-aged man had touched his reverse scale.

At this moment, if the three didn’t cooperate, they could all be killed too.

When ruthless, Jun Changxiao wouldn’t care if the opponent was a Wudi, wouldn’t care that subduing them could provide powerful combat strength for the sect.

“I… I’ll speak!”

The white-haired elder chose to compromise.

Strictly speaking, if not for the incomplete scroll, they had no real enmity with Jun Changxiao.

Now that they’d been captured, why insist on being iron-boned and unyielding? Better to submit softly and exchange it for a chance to live.

The white-haired elder explained one by one how they confirmed Jun Changxiao was the killer and how they found the Xingyun Continent.

There was actually no mystery to it—everything was due to the Time Reversal Great Method.

“A secret manual?”

Jun Changxiao said indifferently: “Take it out.”

“…”

After brief consideration, the white-haired elder took out something resembling a candy bean.

This item was also a spatial storage device, but more advanced than a spatial ring, because its surface had some kind of isolating force. Even casually placed in a pocket, it wouldn’t be easily discovered.

“Still hiding private goods, huh.”

Jun Changxiao accepted it, pinching it between two fingers. His spiritual sense merged into the interior and discovered a soul imprint blocking him. He said indifferently: “Will you remove it yourself, or shall I do it?”

“This type of spatial device, once a soul imprint is merged, cannot be removed unless…”

The white-haired elder closed his mouth here, because beside Jun Changxiao appeared a creature resembling a caterpillar. His eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed: “Time… Space-Time Worm!”

“Whoosh—”

The summoned Cuihua pressed against that candy bean-like object.

She first sniffed it with her nose, then split off a strand of power to merge into it, forcibly devouring the obstructing soul imprint.

“Ptui!”

The white-haired elder spat out a mouthful of blood.

The soul imprint in the storage device was placed by him. Once forcibly broken by external force, it would naturally bring tremendous backlash.

The other two tyrants lying on the ground looked at that little worm, their eyes full of disbelief.

This type of Space-Time Worm that could break through deep-level space was an extremely rare commodity even in the Star Sky Fortress’s black market, yet one actually existed on this low-level plane!

“Master.”

Cuihua retracted her power and said: “The imprint inside has been broken.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Jun Changxiao rubbed her little head with his finger.

He was about to put it into his spatial ring when Cuihua said first: “Master, it’s really too boring inside.”

“True enough.”

With a thought, Jun Changxiao summoned Zhuzhi and said: “You can stay outside for now.”

Good heavens!

This guy actually has another Space-Time Worm!

Seeing Zhuzhi appear, the Star Sky Three Tyrants’ eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.