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Chapter 849: Chapter 849: The Enchantress Nine Tails

Without a host to maintain the formations, they were bound to be broken eventually. The fact that they lasted over a day was already impressive.

As the formations fell, the Eighteenth Layer of Hell lay exposed before everyone. Sima Zongheng stepped inside. He had arranged for Zhong Shan to be confined here, only to find a disaster had unfolded within a day. Zhong Shan had become a major problem.

"Search everywhere. See if there are any survivors!" Sima Zongheng ordered coldly.

"Yes, sir!"

A large number of powerful individuals scoured Qingqiu Prison, quickly gathering all the survivors, most of whom were unconscious.

Four captains were dragged in front of Sima Zongheng and thrown to the ground, jolting them awake. As they looked around, memories of the previous day flooded back.

Sima Zongheng held the five keys to the Eighteenth Layer of Hell, glaring at the four captains.

"Five captains? Where is the fifth? Do you not realize you've committed a capital offense?" Sima Zongheng's eyes were icy.

"Spare us, sir! We were all deceived by that traitor Sima Sanliang. He tricked us into handing over our keys, causing this massive breach. Please, spare us!" the four captains pleaded in terror.

"You were entrusted with the keys. Letting them out of your hands is dereliction of duty. I don't care about your excuses. Tell me everything that happened that day, down to the smallest detail!" Sima Zongheng demanded.

"Yes, yes, sir!" The four captains, trembling with fear, began recounting the events of the previous day.

"That day, Sima Sanliang had Zhong Shan thrown into the Eighteenth Layer of Hell. Then he invited us to drink, and afterward..."

While Qingqiu Prison was investigating the culpability, Sima Sanliang had vanished.

Sima Sanliang did not disappear during the breach. He had fled as soon as he heard about the mass escape orchestrated by Zhong Shan. Knowing the situation was dire, he realized he had caused a major disaster.

Since the outer formations did not respond, it indicated that no one had attacked the Eighteenth Layer of Hell directly. This left only one possibility: the five keys. The thought sent chills through Sima Sanliang.

Regardless of the outcome, the five captains were in deep trouble. And he was the one who tricked them into giving up the keys.

Realizing this, Sima Sanliang didn't stay to help the wardens but immediately left Qingqiu Prison. He didn't attempt to escape the territory, knowing there was nowhere he could hide.

Instead, he headed to a private residence in Qingqiu and knelt outside a grand hall.

For a whole day, he knelt there, feeling the presence of powerful individuals moving about. His heart sank deeper and deeper.

On the second day, the doors to the grand hall finally opened.

"Madam, please save me!" Sima Sanliang pleaded in fear.

"Save you? Fool!" the noblewoman inside the hall said coldly.

"Madam, I only caused this mess because of you. I was avenging the Third Young Master when I sent people after Zhong Shan. Who could have known things would turn out this way? Madam!" Sima Sanliang cried out.

He had hoped to gain a promotion through this scheme, but now it seemed even keeping his life was uncertain.

"The trouble you've caused is far too great. If you had succeeded in disabling Zhong Shan, I might have been able to help you. But you didn't even manage to harm a single hair on his head. How can I help you now?" the noblewoman said sternly.

Sima Sanliang, who had been on the brink of despair, suddenly brightened at the noblewoman's words. "Madam, I will go and cripple Zhong Shan immediately. I will avenge the Third Young Master!"

"Do you think you can?" the noblewoman asked coldly.

"I can, I definitely can. I will cripple Zhong Shan for sure and avenge the Third Young Master!" Sima Sanliang swore with determination.

"Take this 'Immortal Protection Pill' for your protection. You might find it useful," the noblewoman said nonchalantly.

A golden pill flew out from the hall, and Sima Sanliang caught it with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"Thank you, madam, thank you!" Sima Sanliang expressed his gratitude fervently before quickly leaving the residence and disappearing into the crowd.

As soon as Sima Sanliang left, another voice emerged from within the hall.

"Madam, are you really going to help him?"

"Help him? Why would I help a mere servant?" the noblewoman replied disdainfully.

Two Chess Plaza

Just as Sima Qianjun was about to have his subordinates capture Zhong Shan, a large group of powerful individuals descended from the sky.

Nearly ten celestial beings from the Taichu Holy Court, along with tens of thousands of soldiers, landed in the plaza.

In an instant, the once-spacious plaza became crowded with a menacing presence. All eyes were on Zhong Shan in the center.

Sima Qianjun was stunned by the sudden appearance of the army.

Celestial beings, ten celestial officials descended from the sky? Or rather, from the top of Qingqiu Mountain? And they were all surrounding the man in black?

Was this a joke? He had called a hundred thugs, and in response, tens of thousands of soldiers and ten celestial beings had appeared? This was absurd. There was no way to fight now.

Leading the group was none other than Mr. Li, a close aide to the Taichu Holy King. He was here too?

Who was this person? Had his day and night of humiliation been for nothing?

The chess players were just as bewildered, watching Zhong Shan with incredulous eyes. What was happening?

The Ninth Princess stared at Zhong Shan, her eyes full of curiosity.

"The Holy King of Dazhuang seems to be quite relaxed, making it difficult for us to find him," Mr. Li said with a faint smile.

The Holy King of Dazhuang? The chess players almost dropped their jaws in shock. This was the infamous Death-Fated Holy King, Zhong Shan? What was he doing here?

Sima Qianjun's rage grew even more intense. It was him?

The Ninth Princess's eyes flickered as if she were hatching some mischievous plan.

"With the lax security at Qingqiu Prison, I decided to take a stroll. Finding this elegant spot at the foot of Qingqiu Mountain was quite a treat. I've been waiting for you," Zhong Shan replied with a calm smile.

"Indeed, there are few who can regard Qingqiu Prison so lightly as King Zhong. Our oversight has caused you inconvenience. As a vassal king of our court, you should stay in the Palace of Hostages. Shall I escort you there?" Mr. Li suggested, smiling.

Mr. Li always spoke with a gentle tone, but there was an undeniable firmness in his words.

"Very well. After playing a couple of games, I feel much better. Let's go," Zhong Shan said, standing up calmly.

"Please," Mr. Li gestured.

Zhong Shan nodded and followed Mr. Li and the celestial beings away, while the tens of thousands of soldiers dispersed at a wave of a celestial being's hand.

Sima Qianjun clenched his fists, watching Zhong Shan leave. He didn't have the courage to attack. Sima Qianjun might have been a privileged young master in Qingqiu, but he was nothing compared to the high-ranking officials of the court.

Having been humiliated by Zhong Shan for an entire day and night without being able to do anything, Sima Qianjun was filled with hatred. The chess players around him pointed and murmured among themselves.

"No wonder he's so formidable. A Holy King of Dazhuang is a genius no matter where he goes!"

"King Zhong of Dazhuang? Such high-level chess skills."

"No wonder I saw a trace of imperial purple aura on the chessboard. It all makes sense now!"

"Ha, you're just exaggerating!"

As the crowd continued to discuss the day's events, the Ninth Princess approached the chess table and took Zhong Shan's folded card, which displayed the number "three."

In a flash, the Ninth Princess, with her fox-like charm, disappeared.

She returned to her residence on a floating island. As she flew into the sky, she paused briefly upon seeing a chubby man flying with a pile of glowing treasures.

"Su Afo, stop right there!" the Ninth Princess called out, flying towards him.

Su Afo, who had bet with a group of young nobles on who would meet the ill-fated King Zhong Shan first, had bad luck. When Zhong Shan arrived in Qingqiu, Su Afo was thrown into the Eighteenth Layer of Hell by his grandfather. But fate is strange; Zhong Shan was also sent to the Eighteenth Layer of Hell that day.

Su Afo ended up being the first to see Zhong Shan, despite his initial misfortune.

He had gathered a collection of celestial treasures, including necklaces, bowls, large knives, and long swords. Su Afo had struck it rich this time.

Having just retrieved these treasures from the other young masters, Su Afo was in high spirits when he suddenly heard a voice that felt like a nightmare.

"Little demoness?" Su Afo's face instantly showed extreme fear.

In Qingqiu, the most notorious of the young nobles was the Ninth Princess.

In Su Afo's eyes, this Ninth Princess was 'evil incarnate' and 'tyrannical'. The young scions of Qingqiu had suffered at her hands many times but dared not offend her.

The Ninth Princess seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, with no known parents, but enjoyed the favor of the Taichu Holy King. She could even rudely demand positions from the Taichu Holy King, who granted them without hesitation.

Su Afo had inquired about the Ninth Princess from his family elder, but even he didn't know her origins. He was only told never to offend her or face severe punishment.

The Ninth Princess's background was too mysterious, but her backing was immense. With the Taichu Holy King supporting her, no one dared to cross her, so they had to endure her bullying.

"Oh, little ancestor, what brings you here?" Su Afo asked with a mournful expression.

"This is my doorstep, you fool. What's that you're carrying? Glowing treasures, huh? Oh, aren't those the celestial artifacts from that group of losers?" The Ninth Princess's eyes lit up.

Seeing the gleam in her eyes, Su Afo knew it was bad news. Oh no, the demoness had spotted his precious treasures. My poor treasures, he thought.