Jun Changxiao donned the Great Sage Set. Enhanced by the three equipment pieces, his soul, defense, and agility comprehensively improved—one could say his entire being seemed to achieve complete sublimation.

Most evident was that though Qin Linen was injured, he still possessed the power of one marshal, yet caught off guard was knocked unconscious by one stick to the forehead.

When he woke the second time and saw Jun Changxiao wearing gleaming golden equipment, his gaze immediately filled with terror.

“Bro…” Qin Linen struggled to stand, then knelt again, saying, “I… was wrong, I was truly wrong…”

Jun Changxiao grabbed him by the collar, coldly saying, “Tell me loudly—who’s the most handsome in the mortal universe!”

“It’s you, bro!”

“Bro is most handsome!”

Qin Linen shouted loudly.

Jun Changxiao released his collar, then gently helped straighten it, smiling, “I’m very satisfied with that answer. Come, hand over your soul origin.”

“This…”

“If you don’t, I’ll start singing!”

“I’ll give it! I’ll give it!”

Thinking of that terrifying singing voice, Qin Linen ultimately chose to compromise, obediently extracting his soul origin.

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao turned around, looking toward the several thousand prisoners shrinking in corners, calling out sternly, “Which of you comes from Xingyun Continent!”

“Xingyun Continent?”

“Seems like a very low-level plane.”

Everyone discussed in low voices.

Two weathered prisoners crouching in a corner showed surprised expressions.

This scene was captured by Jun Changxiao, who said, “You two come from Xingyun Continent?”

“The master is asking you two!”

Qin Linen said angrily, “Why don’t you roll out here!”

“…”

The two prisoners looked at each other, then helplessly walked out, hearts filled with anxiety and unease.

Being able to resolve the sixth floor’s main criminal and have him willingly offer his soul origin—this was definitely a fierce person they absolutely couldn’t provoke.

“Gentlemen.”

Jun Changxiao transmitted, “I am Jun Changxiao, sect master of a first-rate sect from Xingyun Continent. I came to the Nine-Layer Hell to rescue the imprisoned Nine Great Emperors. Have you seen them?”

“Ptui!”

The system spat.

Undeniably, the Eternal Sect was already very strong in Xingyun Continent, but its certification level was still second-rate—he actually had the nerve to claim first-rate sect.

Upon hearing this, both prisoners’ bodies trembled.

Jun Changxiao had been watching their every move. Seeing the subtle changes in their faces and eyes, his heart confirmed it, so he cupped his fists, “Senior predecessors, you’ve suffered!”

…

That’s right.

The two weathered prisoners who walked out from the corner were precisely the Nine Great Martial Emperors Jun Changxiao sought—one was Li Emperor Yan Feiyu, the other was Tong Emperor Ren Xinghe.

The two brothers were imprisoned together on the sixth floor, subjected to Qin Linen’s musical brainwashing, transforming into fanatical fans for thousands of years.

If Jun Changxiao hadn’t inquired, these two Martial Emperors would have even less presence than Du Yinqing from the upper floor.

Beings viewed as supreme existences on the continent, now reduced to such tragic circumstances—was this due to the distortion of human nature or the degradation of morality? Please look forward to this year’s grand presentation: “Approaching Star Fortress.”

…

“Alas.”

In the empty, dark area, Yan Feiyu sighed, the decadence emanating from his body growing even denser, completely lacking his former swift and decisive aura.

In an environment perpetually without light, living a life worse than death—anyone would gradually have their edges worn away, their sharpness erased.

The two once-supreme Martial Emperors were now nothing but down-and-out old men, forming stark contrast with Jun Changxiao wearing the Great Sage Set.

As the saying goes:

The Yangtze’s later waves push the earlier ones; the earlier waves die on the beach.

“Gentlemen.”

Jun Changxiao broke the sorrowful atmosphere, inquiring, “What crime exactly did you commit to be imprisoned in hell?”

This question Du Yinqing hadn’t answered, leaving him perpetually curious.

“An unforgivable crime,” Ren Xinghe said.

Yan Feiyu said, “Best not mentioned.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao collapsed.

The more you don’t say, the more curious I become!

“Gentlemen.”

Jun Changxiao’s expression grew solemn, “I need to know the truth to rescue you. Otherwise… you can only be imprisoned here forever, becoming puppets others can manipulate at will.”

These words stimulated Ren Xinghe and Yan Feiyu.

The two looked at each other, seeming to reach some tacit understanding, with the relatively eloquent Ren Xinghe saying, “Since you come from Xingyun Continent, have you heard of the Taixuan Elder?”

“I have,” Jun Changxiao said.

The system had once mentioned this was an absolutely peak expert who appeared in the ancient era tens of thousands of years ago, calling himself the Taixuan Elder, hailed as a legendary figure of his generation.

“The Taixuan predecessor once created two cultivation methods—one was the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula, the other was the Taixuan Scripture,” Ren Xinghe said.

“I’ve heard something about them.”

Jun Changxiao not only heard of them but also knew the first method’s incomplete scroll was obtained by someone who founded the long-enduring Taixuan Sacred Sect.

“The world only knows these two cultivation methods are regarded as surpassing divine grade, completely unaware they also contain a tremendous secret,” Ren Xinghe said.

“What secret?” Jun Changxiao asked urgently.

Ren Xinghe said, “The cultivation methods themselves, when cultivated to the extreme, can shatter the void and ascend to the upper realm. But they actually also record a formation called the Heaven-Seizing Creation Grand Array—once successfully activated, one can ignore realm and cultivation level to forcibly ascend!”

“Moreover!”

Yan Feiyu solemnly added, “Absolutely no failure!”

“Holy mother of—!”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes widened.

Reaching mid-tier Void-Breaking Realm allowed ascension, but success rates were extremely low—even upper-tier Void-Breaking Realm couldn’t guarantee one hundred percent success.

Now two Martial Emperors told him that by activating the Heaven-Seizing Creation Grand Array, one could ascend without failure—this was simply too shocking!

Most terrifying was that it could ignore realm and cultivation level!

In an instant.

Jun Changxiao thought of something, “You activated this Heaven-Seizing Creation Grand Array, then were discovered by Star Fortress, so you were imprisoned in the Nine-Layer Hell?”

“Correct.”

Ren Xinghe and Yan Feiyu said in unison.

Fortunately the three had been communicating through voice transmission throughout, otherwise, if their words were heard by Qin Linen and others, it would absolutely be earth-shattering!

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao completely understood.

Shang Youhen’s ancestor forcibly elevated to mid-tier Void-Breaking Realm through special means and was imprisoned for violating regulations. The Nine Great Martial Emperors relied on the grand array to forcibly ascend to the upper realm—ending up in such circumstances was also quite normal.

“You found the Taixuan Scripture?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Ren Xinghe shook his head, “We didn’t find it, but Night Emperor did.”

“Night Emperor?” Jun Changxiao said, “That emperor from thousands of years ago who was betrayed by his own woman, crowned with history’s most tragic title?”

“Correct.”

Ren Xinghe and Yan Feiyu both wore disdainful expressions, “That guy with terrible drinking conduct!”

Remembering how they’d kindly invited him to drink years ago, only for him to either flip tables or kick chairs when drunk, both felt their anger rising.

“Continue,” Jun Changxiao said.

Ren Xinghe clenched his fists, saying angrily, “The Taixuan Scripture was obtained by Ling Yao. She invited us to jointly arrange the Heaven-Seizing Creation Grand Array, saying we could all ascend to the upper realm together, but…”

The fury in his eyes grew even stronger as he gritted his teeth, “The array activated, she went first by herself, while we…”

“Pff!”

Anger attacked his heart, and he spewed blood.

Jun Changxiao spoke up, “You were left behind?”

—