If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

The cave was a bit damp.

Zhou Yang leaned against the stone wall, watching Qin Shuang, who was meditating.

"Sir, there's something I don't understand."

Qin Shuang didn't even lift her eyelids.

"explain."

Zhou Yang shifted to a more comfortable position.

"At least Commander Chen is a commander of a thousand, and you are only a commander of a hundred."

"How dare he intercept and kill you outside the city?"

"If this gets back to the higher-ups, he'll lose his head."

Qin Shuang opened her eyes.

"Because something happened to the Qin family."

"My grandfather, the head of the Qin family, is critically ill."

Zhou Yang was stunned.

"Critically ill?"

"No wonder that old bastard dared to be so reckless."

Qin Shuang's tone was cold.

"The Qin family is considered a powerful force in the county."

"Before, with my grandfather keeping him in check, Commander Chen didn't dare to act recklessly."

"Now that my grandfather is dying, he naturally has no more scruples."

"Plus, at the auction..."

Qin Shuang paused for a moment, her expression somewhat unnatural.

Zhou Yang picked up the conversation.

"At the auction, you deliberately leaned against me and even spent 10,000 taels to buy me medicinal herbs."

"That old man's jealous, isn't he?"

Qin Shuang did not deny it.

"I originally wanted to use you to annoy him and make him back down."

"Who knew he would completely break off relations?"

Zhou Yang slapped his thigh.

"My lord, you're using me as a shield!"

"The price of being a kept man is too high."

"Ten thousand taels of silver to save my life? I've lost a fortune in this deal."

Qin Shuang glared at him.

"Stop acting innocent after getting the benefit."

"If I hadn't paid for it, would you have been able to get that purple Ganoderma lucidum?"

Zhou Yang chuckled.

He took out the century-old purple Ganoderma lucidum from his bosom, which was stored in a jade box.

Upon opening the box, a rich medicinal aroma wafted out.

"This is a good thing."

"Perfect for nourishing the body."

Qin Shuang looked at the purple Ganoderma in his hand.

"This herb has a strong medicinal effect."

"You're only at the early stage of the Hundred Battles Realm right now; consuming it directly will cause your body to explode and you to die."

"Once we get back to the city, we'll find an alchemist to refine it into a pill before we take it."

Zhou Yang shook his head.

"I can't wait."

"Those two guys outside are definitely searching the mountain."

"Chen Qianhu is at the True Yuan Realm, and Li Wei is at the mid-stage of the Hundred Battles Realm."

"In our current state, if we are found, we're doomed."

Qin Shuang frowned.

"So what do you plan to do?"

Zhou Yang took the purple Ganoderma lucidum directly out of the box.

"Of course, we should eat it now."

Qin Shuang grew anxious and stood up.

"You're insane!"

"This will kill you!"

Zhou Yang ignored her.

He opened his mouth and took a big bite of the purple Ganoderma lucidum.

Chew it and swallow it.

Qin Shuang stood there, stunned.

"you……"

Zhou Yang took another bite.

In no time at all, the entire century-old purple Ganoderma lucidum was gone.

A blush crept onto his cheeks.

A massive surge of heat coursed through my body.

The information in my mind is constantly being updated.

[The system detected that the host consumed a century-old purple Ganoderma lucidum, which contains immense vitality.]

[Life expectancy increased by twenty years!]

[Current remaining lifespan: 23 years]

Zhou Yang was overjoyed.

This money was well spent.

Not only did he get a free herb, but he also gained twenty years of lifespan.

"Continue the simulation!"

"Increase your cultivation level!"

[Sacrificing ten years of lifespan, I begin refining the medicinal power of the Purple Lingzhi.]

[In the first year, you endured the pain of the medicine tearing at your meridians, forcibly circulating the Innate Yang Technique.]

[In the fifth year, the medicinal effects were fully absorbed by you, and your internal energy became even purer.]

In your tenth year, you broke through the bottleneck with one final burst of energy.

[Current life expectancy: thirteen years]

Cultivation Level: Mid-stage of the Hundred Battles Realm

Zhou Yang's bones crackled like popping beans.

A layer of black impurities seeped from the skin.

The atmosphere grew stronger and stronger.

Qin Shuang took two steps back and looked at Zhou Yang.

"You broke through?"

She couldn't believe it.

A century-old purple Ganoderma lucidum was eaten raw, and not only did it not explode, it even broke through to a higher level on the spot.

Is this kid made of iron?

Zhou Yang stood up and stretched.

"My lord, thank you for the herbs."

"I feel much better now."

He flexed his wrists.

Mid-stage of the Hundred Battles Realm.

Combined with the perfected martial arts techniques he had deduced over the course of his life, and the fragments of divine weapons in his hands.

If I were to face Li Wei again, I could definitely beat the crap out of him.

A rustling sound came from outside the cave.

Someone is approaching.

"Search carefully!"

"They can't go far!"

"Lord Commander said, 'We want to see him alive or dead!'"

It was Li Wei's voice.

Qin Shuang gripped the longsword.

"They've found us."

Zhou Yang patted the dust off his clothes.

"You've come at the perfect time."

"I felt so frustrated running just now."

"Now it's our turn to fight back."

Qin Shuang looked at him.

"Don't do anything reckless."

"Commander Chen is at the True Yuan Realm; even if you break through, you still can't defeat him."

Zhou Yang pulled out the dragon's spine.

The dark gold blade gleamed coldly in the darkness.

"Who said I was going to beat up Commander Chen?"

"My target is Li Wei."

"That old lecher is yours. You hold him off for now."

"I'll help you after I kill Li Wei."

Qin Shuang gritted her teeth.

"Do you think I'm a god?"

"How can I, a mere half-step True Essence Realm cultivator, possibly hold him off?"

Zhou Yang leaned closer.

"My lord, you possess the Xuan Yin Physique."

"That old bastard wants you, he definitely won't be willing to kill you."

"Use this to your advantage and deal with him."

Qin Shuang was furious.

He raised his leg and kicked Zhou Yang.

"roll!"

"What kind of terrible idea is this!"

Zhou Yang dodged to the side.

"That's called tactics."

"Alright, let's get to work."

He carried the knife and walked to the entrance of the cave.

Through the crack, I could see the light of torches outside.

Li Wei, accompanied by several Imperial Guards, was walking towards them.

Commander Chen followed behind.

"Li Wei, hurry up!"

"It's almost dawn, let's not cause any unnecessary trouble."

Commander Chen urged.

Li Wei nodded and bowed.

"Don't worry, sir. That kid took one of my blows and won't get far."

Zhou Yang sneered.

I took a slap from you?

I'm too lazy to bother with you.

He turned and glanced at Qin Shuang.

"My lord, I'll go first."

"You wait for your opportunity to act."

After saying that, he kicked away the stone blocking the entrance to the hole.

He rushed out.

"Who goes there!"

Li Wei shouted loudly.

Zhou Yang didn't waste any words.

"Li Wei, you old dog, prepare to die!"

Chaotic Sky Step activated.

Three afterimages were left behind.

Zhou Yang's true form had already arrived in front of Li Wei.

Knife up and down.

Torrent Dragon Slash!

The violent blade energy slashed directly towards Li Wei's head.

Li Wei was greatly alarmed.

He raised his knife to parry.

"when!"

The two knives clashed.

The standard-issue embroidered spring knife in Li Wei's hand was snapped in two.

The dragon's spine continues its downward momentum.

A deep gash was cut into Li Wei's chest, revealing the bone.

"what!"

Li Wei screamed and flew backward.

It crashed into and broke a large tree.

The several Imperial Guards who followed were completely dumbfounded.

How come the kid who was just being chased like a dog suddenly became so fierce?

Commander Chen stared in disbelief.

"You broke through?"

Zhou Yang was carrying a knife.

"Old man, you have good taste."

"But you didn't check the almanac before you went out today."

"You've offended your grandpa."

Commander Chen was so angry that he laughed instead.

"How arrogant!"

"A mere mid-stage Battle Realm cultivator dares to be arrogant in front of me!"

He raised his hand and slapped Zhou Yang.

True essence is released outwards.

A gigantic palm print appeared out of thin air, carrying a terrifying pressure.

Zhou Yang did not take the hit head-on.

He used the Chaotic Void Step to dodge the attack.

The palm print slammed into the ground, creating a large crater.

"Qin Shuang, what are you waiting for?!"

Zhou Yang shouted.

A cold, sharp sword light pierced out from the cave.

It was aimed directly at Commander Chen's back.

Commander Chen grabbed it with his backhand.

He gripped the blade directly.

"Qin Shuang, you've finally come out."

Commander Chen stared at Qin Shuang, his face full of greed.

Qin Shuang tried to pull her sword out, but it wouldn't budge.

"Commander Chen, if you dare touch me, the Qin family will not let you get away with it!"

Commander Chen laughed loudly.

"The Qin family?"

"Your dead grandfather is about to die."

"Once I have absorbed your Yin essence and broken through to the peak of the True Essence Realm..."

"Even the Qin family has to treat me with respect."

He pulled hard.

Qin Shuang was pulled over.

Chen Qianhu reached out and grabbed Qin Shuang's shoulder.

"My lord, bow your head!"

Zhou Yang's voice came through.

Qin Shuang lowered her head subconsciously.

A sharp blade of energy flew past her scalp.

It was aimed directly at Commander Chen's arm.

Commander Chen had no choice but to release his grip and take a half step back.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin Shuang escaped and retreated to Zhou Yang's side.

Zhou Yang, carrying a knife, stood in front of Qin Shuang.

"You old fool, if you want to mess with my master, you'll have to ask me first."

Chen Qianhu pointed at Zhou Yang.

"You little brat, you're asking for it!"