Jun Changxiao came down from the second level of hell, which surprised Iron-Clothed Marquis. Then he led his subordinates to surround him, only to have them all taken care of by an AOE indiscriminate ultimate attack from the opponent.

Of course.

The main criminal of the third level of hell had real ability—his physical body defense was incomparable to the previous two, so although withstanding ‘Pierce Through with One Glance’ was somewhat painful, at least he could still stand, at least retaining most of his combat ability.

However…

If it came again, even immortals couldn’t withstand it!

“Friend!”

Iron-Clothed Marquis released his clenched fists and submitted: “Let’s talk this out!”

This guy was actually pretty good—Diting and Huo Yaniao didn’t even have time to submit before being abused to the point of losing combat ability.

“I want to be the boss of the third level of hell.”

Jun Changxiao said indifferently: “Do you approve or oppose?”

“This…”

While Iron-Clothed Marquis was still considering, Point to Rivers and Mountains flashed with light.

He didn’t dare manfully say “I bet your gun has no bullets,” and could only hurriedly say: “Approve, approve!”

“Hand over your soul essence.”

“Friend, this is going a bit too far…”

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

Point to Rivers and Mountains glowed brightly. Iron-Clothed Marquis’s buttocks instantly transmitted a chill, and he hurriedly said: “Hand it over, hand it over!”

And so, the main criminal ruling the third level of hell surrendered without even half a chapter, giving no opportunity whatsoever to expand the plot.

“Wait here.”

After obtaining the soul essence, Jun Changxiao said indifferently: “I’m going to check out the next level.”

With that, he stepped toward the teleportation array.

Seeing this, Iron-Clothed Marquis thought in shock: “Could this guy have fought his way down from the first and second levels?”

…

Because Point to Rivers and Mountains’ two ultimate technique cooldowns were used up, after entering the next level of hell, it reverted to the Brush of Rivers and Mountains.

“Even with cooldowns, it might not necessarily work.” Jun Changxiao thought to himself.

Facing Iron-Clothed Marquis, ‘Pierce Through with One Glance’ clearly had some insufficient follow-through. The fourth level BOSS’s strength would definitely be even stronger.

However.

What surprised Jun Changxiao was this.

When he entered the brand new fourth level of hell and used the Shrinking Great Technique to deal with the martial artists inside, the main criminal who walked out was actually a white-robed elder with an immortal bearing.

He held an iron brush and said: “Young friend also enjoys wielding brush and ink?”

His voice was amiable and kind, without any hostility whatsoever.

Jun Changxiao could also see from his eyes that although the opponent’s strength was formidable, he definitely wasn’t that kind of utterly heinous villain. So he sneered inwardly: “It seems the Starry Sky Fortress judges others’ crimes according to its own laws.”

He’d guessed correctly.

When the Fortress judged and imprisoned criminals, it always followed its own laws. Even if you just casually spat in the universe, you might be convicted.

If they were authorized by the Upper Realm and had the power to judge martial artists’ crimes, that would be one thing. But they’d never produced valid proof, which made them seem like they’d appointed themselves as the universe’s peacekeeping police.

“Some understanding?”

“Poetry, songs, and rhapsodies?”

“Not bad.”

The white-haired elder smiled: “Young friend came down from above. Do you want to compete with this old one?”

“No.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head in denial: “I came to find someone.”

Such an elder with very cultured words and behavior—he definitely wouldn’t follow his previous domineering approach.

Moreover, besides wanting to find the refreshing feeling of dominating the prison, he really was looking for the nine great Martial Emperors. Unfortunately, after searching several levels of hell, he still hadn’t found them.

The system said: “According to traditional plot development, the people or things you need will often only appear at the very end after padding with a whole bunch of other stuff.”

“Aren’t you afraid of getting banned for complaining like that?”

“Bring it on. After being slapped in the face so many times, I’ve long since wanted to quit!”

…

“Does the fourth level have the person you’re looking for?”

“No.”

“In that case, young friend must want to go to the fifth level to search, so… you can only pass by defeating this old one.”

The white-haired elder maintained his smile throughout, continuously emanating a grandmaster’s bearing.

“Senior.”

Jun Changxiao said helplessly: “Must we really come to the point of drawing weapons and fighting?”

Through their brief exchange, he’d already confirmed that this white-haired elder definitely wasn’t the type of bad old man who would suddenly turn dark, so he hoped to use verbal persuasion to let himself pass.

“No, no, no.”

The white-haired elder said: “I, Xingyunzi, have rarely drawn weapons and fought with others in my life. If we must determine victory or defeat.”

Speaking to this point, he raised his iron brush: “I’ll use this.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s lips twitched.

This old man’s brush was similar to his own Point to Rivers and Mountains, but each hair was made from iron-like minerals. Could it be he fought entirely by stabbing?

“Swish!”

Just then, an object flew over.

Jun Changxiao immediately became alert, but upon careful inspection discovered what flew over was an extremely large sheet of rice paper, which then stood upright suspended before him.

“Since young friend also has a brush and is proficient in poetry, songs, and rhapsodies, let us determine victory or defeat with brush and ink today.”

Xingyunzi asked: “What do you think?”

This competition method was very interesting.

However, Jun Changxiao said: “Brush and ink aren’t competing in spiritual energy and strength—how can we determine victory or defeat?”

Xingyunzi said: “Every word a person writes has a different charm and a special soul. As long as we compare them, we can naturally determine victory or defeat.”

“Just writing characters?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Of course.”

Xingyunzi smiled: “If young friend has great research into your own poetry, you can also write it out. Characters and poetry are the same principle—they both have an inner soul.”

“Good!”

Jun Changxiao cupped his hands: “Then let’s use the brush as martial weapon!”

“Please!”

“You’re the elder, you go first.”

Xingyunzi didn’t decline. He lightly raised his iron brush, non-martial power flowing from his withered palm into the brush tip. Then he rose into the air and began writing on the rice paper.

Every stroke, every line.

All emanated an extraordinary, transcendent aura!

“This is a true master!”

Jun Changxiao, merely observing from the sidelines, was deeply shaken. He even seemed to sense from the other’s lifting, pressing, pausing, and strokes profound mysteries that, though not belonging to the martial way, shared the same destination.

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

Xingyunzi wrote with extreme grace. Not until he landed in his original position did the tip of his iron brush gradually dim. On the rice paper standing behind him were written two lines—

“With brush, paint the floating dust; with colors, depict the cosmos.”

“Senior is greatly talented!”

Although Jun Changxiao wasn’t any refined gentleman and had no research into poetry, he could still sense from these two lines a kind of world-swallowing momentum. Especially the characters—written superbly well, completely worthy of being mounted and collected!

“Young friend!”

Xingyunzi said: “Please!”

“I’ll make a fool of myself!” Jun Changxiao’s toes tapped, his entire person flying up. Point to Rivers and Mountains flashed with light, and he then began writing with grand strokes on the rice paper.

Although Gou Sheng’s personality was a bit cheap, he had quite a talent for calligraphy. Especially when he rose into the air, a power from the East surged around his entire body!

The great Huaxia Jun Changxiao—he inherited Huaxia’s fine traditions. Poetry Immortal Li Bai, Poetry Sage Du Fu, and Poetry Ghost Li He had their souls possess him at this moment. He wasn’t fighting alone—he wasn’t alone!

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

His brush descended like wind and thunder, ten thousand hairs working as one!

Xingyunzi first furrowed his brows, then his expression became slightly dazed, and finally turned wildly joyful.

“Step!”

After a moment, Jun Changxiao descended gracefully. If he didn’t lack hair, he definitely would have handsomely tossed his head before the camera like showing off thoughts.

As for what was written on the rice paper behind him—

“Ten thousand poems,

A thousand toasts of wine,

How many times have I ever looked at lords and kings!”

The system roared: “So in the end you’re still copying from your ancestors’ ancient poetry!”

“I.”

Jun Changxiao stood proudly with hands behind his back: “Am I proud?”