“I swear!”

The system said: “The Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower was absolutely not stolen from someone else!”

“What about the incomplete scroll?”

“That… is just a special existence!”

Jun Changxiao looked skeptical.

The system said: “Excluding the incomplete scroll, any merchandise purchased within the shop was obtained through legal channels. Host need not doubt this!”

“I believe you’re a ghost.”

Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes, then grabbed the youth and placed him in the ship’s cabin, then replaced the energy and continued on his way.

Taking people’s money, eliminating disasters for them.

Regarding this aspect, Gou Sheng was still very trustworthy.

However, he kept considering whether Tianyuan Continent and the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower were connected, or whether the latter was a treasure of the former stolen by the system.

Understanding this point was actually very simple.

Just wait for the youth to wake up and directly inquire.

…

“Cough cough.”

One day later, the youth woke from his coma. Thinking of the four experts’ self-detonation scene, he sat dejectedly with his head hung low, tears dropping one by one.

He had been fleeing through the universe for a very long time, always protected by four guards, and had long established feelings beyond master and servant.

Jun Changxiao expressed understanding and placed down a pile of tissues.

The youth struggled to calm his emotions, quite politely saying: “Thank you for saving me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Having received payment, this is as it should be.”

The youth was slightly stunned, then smiled bitterly: “Friend is very honest, unlike some people who are one way on the surface but another behind the scenes.”

“That’s right.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Hearts are separated by the belly—who knows who’s good or bad?”

The youth stopped speaking.

“You’re from Tianyuan Continent?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Mm.”

“Have you heard of the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower?”

At these words, the youth’s expression became pained: “This is our Tianyuan Continent’s divine artifact!”

“Damn!”

Jun Changxiao cursed in his heart: “You still say it wasn’t stolen!”

“It wasn’t stolen!”

The system insisted: “Absolutely not stolen!”

“Then it was robbed!”

“…”

The system was speechless.

The youth gnashed his teeth: “If not for the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower mysteriously disappearing thousands of years ago, our Tianyuan Continent wouldn’t have been destroyed!”

“Disappeared thousands of years ago?”

Jun Changxiao’s face showed astonishment.

The system finally seized the opportunity and roared furiously: “Host only bought it a few years ago—the timelines don’t match at all. Do you understand now!”

“Tch.”

Jun Changxiao said lightly: “Maybe the system can steal things across past and future.”

“…”

The system was so angry it couldn’t speak.

“Wait!”

The youth suddenly raised his head, eyes full of astonishment: “How do you know about the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower?”

“Uh… this…” Jun Changxiao considered briefly and said: “I often travel through various planes, so naturally I heard it from others.”

“I see.”

The youth didn’t take it to heart either.

Jun Changxiao asked curiously: “What does this divine artifact from your Tianyuan Continent look like?”

He still couldn’t be one hundred percent certain that the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower in his hands was Tianyuan Continent’s divine artifact. After all, duplicate names were common even in novels, let alone in the vast mortal planes.

“I haven’t seen it.”

The youth said: “I’ve only heard of it. The appearance is roughly…”

When Jun Changxiao finished listening to the description, his heart held absolute certainty—Tianyuan Continent’s divine artifact was his Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower.

Never mind how the system obtained it—encountering martial artists from the divine artifact’s place of origin while traveling through the vast universe, wasn’t this what legends call fate working in mysterious ways?

“What is your esteemed name, sir?” the youth inquired.

Jun Changxiao said: “Jun Chaoshuai.”

“he~tui!”

The youth’s facial expression showed slight brilliance, but he still bowed again in courtesy: “Although you received payment, Big Brother Jun still saved me and I must express gratitude.”

Jun Changxiao said: “What’s your name?”

“Shang Youhen.”

“What’s your identity in Tianyuan Continent?”

“…”

Shang Youhen fell silent.

Jun Changxiao shrugged: “I’m just asking casually.”

No matter whether the other party was a son of a plane or imperial nobility, it had nothing to do with him. He only needed to safely deliver him to the next plane to complete the mission.

Shang Youhen said: “My identity is that of a prince of the Great Shang Empire in Tianyuan Continent.”

“No wonder you have such an air about you.” Jun Changxiao wasn’t surprised.

“Air?”

Shang Youhen mocked himself: “What air can a wanderer with a destroyed nation and deceased family claim?”

Jun Changxiao didn’t inquire in detail, because from the earlier situation he could roughly guess—nothing more than the empire suffering upheaval, then under the protection of several experts killing his way out and beginning a life wandering the universe.

Very pitiful.

But similar events surely happened frequently.

“I’ll deliver you to the next plane.” Jun Changxiao said.

Shang Youhen said: “Big Brother Jun, those who pursued me will definitely not easily…”

Jun Changxiao interrupted: “I’m only responsible for helping you escape danger, not responsible for your future personal safety, so whether they come pursue you or not has nothing to do with me.”

These words were very realistic and cruel.

Shang Youhen could tell from the earlier conversation, so wasn’t surprised. Instead, he said seriously: “I will continue spending money to employ you.”

“Sorry.”

Jun Changxiao said: “I’m a sect master, not a mercenary king.”

“Moreover.”

“Do you still have money now?”

Gou Sheng had already thoroughly searched his entire body with spiritual sense when taking the rings, discovering no other spatial rings, so he didn’t believe the other party had the ability to afford hiring himself as this great handsome deity bodyguard.

“I do!”

Shang Youhen raised his hand. Space immediately rippled, then he reached in and took out a ring, saying: “Inside are five million spirit stones. I hope Big Brother Jun will protect my safety.”

As a former prince, he had long realized this warship was extraordinary. Since the other party possessed it, their strength was definitely formidable—perhaps they could help him truly escape his enemy’s pursuit.

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao sat beside him, one hand resting on Shang Youhen’s shoulder, saying: “Meeting in the universe is fate. From this moment on, your safety is my responsibility.”

At the same time, he reached out and took the ring.

“Thank you, Big Brother Jun!” Shang Youhen said.

After Jun Changxiao verified the goods, he said: “Of course, I can’t protect you all year round. Name a place and I’ll deliver you there.”

“I want to go to…”

Shang Youhen fell silent briefly, his gaze resolute: “The Starry Sky Fortress!”

“What a coincidence.”

Jun Changxiao said: “I’m going there too. I can give you a ride.”

Shang Youhen was rather surprised: “What is Big Brother Jun going to the Starry Sky Fortress for?”

“To see an old friend.” Jun Changxiao said perfunctorily.

Shang Youhen was even more surprised: “Big Brother Jun has a friend living at the Starry Sky Fortress—must be a formidable expert ranked in the mortal cosmos. Can you tell me their name?”

“…”

Jun Changxiao wanted to say he and the fortress master were friends, but felt this boast was a bit much, so he changed the subject: “What about you? What are you going to the fortress for?”

“To ransom someone.”

“Ransom someone?”

Jun Changxiao was astonished.

Shang Youhen’s face showed slight pain: “The forefather who founded the Great Shang Empire is imprisoned in the Nine Layers Hell for violating regulations. If I want to avenge the continental citizens and wash away this blood debt, I can only ransom out his venerable self.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Hell?”

“The Starry Sky Fortress was formerly called the Starry Sky Hell. This hell is actually a prison, mainly for imprisoning various major criminals.” Shang Youhen said.

Oh my goodness!

That place actually has a prison system like my Eternal Sect.

Jun Changxiao became interested: “Tell me in detail about this Nine Layers Hell.”

Shang Youhen muttered in his heart: “Doesn’t he have friends at the Starry Sky Fortress? How has he not heard of such commonly known matters?”

Gou Sheng had no friends whatsoever.

His understanding of the Starry Sky Fortress was also minimal.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have traveled all the way from the Xingyun Continent to investigate the situation.

Shang Youhen told him everything he knew about the Nine Layers Hell. After Jun Changxiao finished listening, he thought privately: “This damn thing must have plagiarized my Eternal Sect’s prison system!”

“Please!”

The system collapsed: “They’ve already existed for a long time! Who plagiarized whom?!”

“Slap!”

Jun Changxiao’s right fist struck his left hand, suddenly enlightened: “This Starry Sky Fortress must also be able to cross time and space, stealing from the future to the past!”

“Who would be bored enough to use heaven-defying divine powers just to plagiarize a crappy prison system!” the system roared.

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao crossed his hands, looking around vigilantly: “Maybe there’s already a big shot using divine powers to spy on the present me from the future!”

“…”

The system said weakly: “Everyone come quickly—there’s a big fool here!”

—