Both epic tasks were related to the Nine Great Martial Emperors, so Jun Changxiao had to infiltrate the Nine-Layer Hell.

Thus, he confessed to the crime extremely straightforwardly and decisively, with a feeling like: “Big brother, I’m begging you, hurry up and send me to prison!”

The adjudicator was dumbfounded.

Having served at the fortress for so long, he had encountered quite a few troublemakers. Those he was responsible for interrogating either denied everything or made all kinds of excuses. Yet this fellow confessed so readily.

He completely didn’t follow the usual procedures and protocols.

He praised: “In view of your excellent attitude in confessing, this official will consider reducing your punishment accordingly.”

Resistance leads to severity, confession leads to leniency.

Adjudicators most appreciated those who were forthright in their confession attitude, because it didn’t require wasting too much effort or time before they could wrap things up.

“???”

Jun Changxiao’s face was full of question marks.

This is bad, this is bad!

Did I act too cooperative, and instead it’ll reduce my punishment?

“…”

Gou Sheng’s facial expression immediately became quite spectacular.

If he’d known this would happen, he should have learned from the inn’s proprietor and put on a rebellious and unruly appearance!

“It’s not too late now!”

Jun Changxiao hurriedly prepared to display his arrogant and wild side, but then heard the adjudicator say: “According to this official’s investigation, that martial artist from Iron Eagle Continent repeatedly provoked you.”

Although Starry Sky Fortress handled cases, they still conducted investigations immediately, so the cause and effect of Jun Changxiao’s actions were basically already known.

“You returned to the inn and he blocked you at the door. Although you bear responsibility for attacking him, it was also because you couldn’t endure being provoked, so…” The adjudicator picked up his pen and wrote in the case file: “This official declares you will be imprisoned in the Reflection Room for seven days.”

“Wait, hold on…”

Jun Changxiao was about to speak when several soldiers lifted him up.

Damn it!

I need to be locked in the Nine-Layer Hell, how can I be locked in some Reflection Room!

No way!

This absolutely won’t do!

Jun Changxiao’s malice arose from his gall, and he was preparing to have an outburst to increase and deepen his crimes when an elder walked in and said: “Sir, a martial artist named Shang Youhen is outside requesting an audience.”

Shang Youhen?

Why is he here!

Just as Gou Sheng looked utterly confused, Shang Youhen was led in by soldiers.

He first glanced at the Sect Master, then very politely cupped his fists toward the adjudicator: “Greetings, Lord Ji.”

“What matter?” Lord Ji the Adjudicator asked.

Shang Youhen said: “To bail someone out.”

“Bail out who?”

“Bail out my Sect Master.”

As Shang Youhen spoke, he pointed toward Jun Changxiao.

“…”

Hearing these words, Gou Sheng nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

I’m doing everything I can to get into prison, yet you voluntarily come to bail me out—what a pig… I mean, disciple!

“Sigh.”

The system sighed: “Host’s grand plan to enter prison is completely ruined.”

First, his excellent confession attitude earned him lenient treatment, and now a disciple came to spend money and pull strings. It’s very difficult to get thrown in jail now.

Gou Sheng’s heart was bitter, but Gou Sheng wouldn’t say it.

“Lord Ji.”

Shang Youhen stepped forward and placed a spatial ring on the table, smiling: “Please be accommodating.”

Very street-smart!

“…”

Jun Changxiao nearly broke free from the soldiers’ restraint to kick him all the way to Mars with one big foot.

“Outrageous!”

Suddenly, Lord Ji the Adjudicator stood up, slapped the table, and angrily said: “Since taking office, this official has always conducted affairs according to the rules and never perverted the law for personal gain. You giving this official money is trampling on this official’s dignity!”

“Sigh…”

The elder standing behind shook his head.

He clearly told that fellow not to come find Lord Ji, but he just wouldn’t listen, and now he’s provoked his anger.

Lord Ji the Adjudicator was someone extremely upright in conducting affairs, and extremely resistant to backdoor dealings and using connections.

He had even repeatedly suggested to the Fortress Master to abolish the ‘bail’ rule, because those imprisoned in the Hell were all extremely vicious criminals. If they committed evil during their release period, it would only bring calamity to living beings.

No wonder when Shang Youhen mentioned bailing someone out, displeasure appeared between his brows.

And when he placed down a spatial ring, he finally couldn’t restrain himself and exploded on the spot!

“I…”

Shang Youhen was a bit dumbfounded.

“Slap!”

Lord Ji the Adjudicator slapped the table and declared: “The fortress has clear regulations that any bribery of officials must be severely punished. Lock them both in the First Layer of Hell!”

“Yes!”

“Click click click!”

The soldiers came forward, shackled the utterly confused Shang Youhen, then escorted him along with Jun Changxiao away.

“Sect Master, I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t speak.”

Shang Youhen fell silent.

The system also maintained complete silence, because… it had just been slapped in the face again!

…

Not far from the adjudication room was an entrance leading underground.

Jun Changxiao and Shang Youhen were brought in like criminals, then walked down the descending tunnel for about a hundred meters before stopping in front of a stone door made of special materials.

“Change into prison uniforms.”

“Open the door…”

“Click click click click—”

The heavy stone door slowly opened, and Jun Changxiao and Shang Youhen, now dressed in zebra-striped prison uniforms, gradually appeared on camera.

One was struggling to suppress laughter.

One had a sorrowful and distressed expression.

“Click click click!”

The two were sent inside, the stone door closed again, and the surrounding environment immediately became dark.

“Whoosh!”

A ghostfire-like glow flew past, displaying the words ‘First Layer of Hell.’

“Sect Master…”

Shang Youhen said with extreme guilt: “This disciple has wronged you, this disciple…”

“Hahaha!”

“Hahahaha!”

Jun Changxiao finally stopped holding it in and laughed freely and boldly.

He had thought this newly recruited disciple was a pig teammate, but it turned out that because of the bribery, things suddenly reversed, and he instantly became a gold-medal support!

“Youhen.”

Jun Changxiao placed his hand on his shoulder and praised: “This Seat being locked in Hell as wished is truly thanks to you.”

“…”

Shang Youhen was dumbfounded.

As wished? Locked in Hell? Did the Sect Master have a special hobby for squatting in prison?

“Slap!”

Jun Changxiao clapped his hands together, looked at the dark environment, the corners of his mouth curling up in the Sect Master’s signature devilish smile, and said: “Nine-Layer Hell, your emperor has arrived!”

“Slap!”

Suddenly, lights flashed from four directions, instantly driving away the darkness and making everything exceptionally bright.

Shang Youhen instinctively closed his eyes. When he adapted and opened them, his facial expression immediately froze.

Within his field of vision, prisoners dressed in prison uniforms surrounded them—at least several thousand in number. Some tilted their heads, some clenched their fists, their faces bearing ill-intentioned smiles.

“Sect Master…”

Shang Youhen unconsciously moved a step closer.

These suddenly appearing prisoners, judging from their realms, were obviously stronger than himself.

“Hey.”

A prisoner on the left wearing a single eyepatch looked at Jun Changxiao and Shang Youhen with his nostrils and said arrogantly: “Before coming in, did you inquire about the rules of Nine-Layer Hell?”

“What rules?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Although the surrounding prisoners were quite numerous, their overall strength was merely at the Martial Emperor and Half-Saint levels, which he didn’t take seriously at all.

The eyepatch man grinned and said: “Nine-Layer Hell is like the planes—it reveres martial prowess above all. If you’re strong enough, you’re the boss. If you’re weak, you’re the grandson.”

—