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

A day later, Zhou Yang, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly felt a surge of energy within his body, flowing throughout his entire being and easing his pain considerably.

[You have learned the Innate Yang Technique (incomplete version).]

[It can consume one's own lifespan to deduce the complete cultivation technique.]

[When life expectancy is less than one year, it cannot be further estimated.]

[Innate Yang-Refining Technique (Fragment): Although cultivators can advance their cultivation by leaps and bounds daily, they ultimately refine themselves into a furnace, becoming mere material for others' cultivation.]

When Zhou Yang successfully completed a full cycle of the cultivation technique, the information that suddenly appeared in his mind startled him at first, and then his heart trembled violently.

Not only did his magic touch work, but he also discovered that Fang Tian was indeed up to no good.

Zhou Yang sneered inwardly; from the very beginning, he had not been seduced by the other party's enchanting voice.

He only set his sights on Fang Tian in order to get out of this death row.

Now it seems that the other party, who has managed to sit in the position of the leader of the Heavenly Principles Sect, is hardly an easy person to get along with.

Name: Zhou Yang

[Current life expectancy: 18 years]

[Cultivation Level: Copper Skin (Early Stage)]

[Technique: Innate Yang Clay Technique (Incomplete)]

Zhou Yang looked at his remaining eighteen years of lifespan. No wonder his body was so weak; he could only live to be forty.

Although he has just embarked on cultivation, he is only at the early stage of the Copper Skin realm among the five stages of Body Refinement: Copper Skin, Flesh Refinement, Tendon Strengthening, Bone Forging, and Marrow Cleansing. He is still far from completing the entire Body Refinement process, let alone reaching the Acquired Realm above Body Refinement.

But no matter what, he's no longer completely powerless.

Moreover, the first half of the Innate Yang Technique is known as a method that can achieve rapid progress, let alone the complete technique.

With this in mind, Zhou Yang steeled himself and began to deduce the cultivation technique by burning the rest of his lifespan.

[You are burning through your lifespan to begin cultivating the Innate Yang Technique.]

[On the first day, you successfully cultivated the first half of the Innate Yang Technique. This technique truly lives up to its reputation for rapid progress.]

However, in the following two years, you made no progress whatsoever, simply because your talent was mediocre and you were unable to deduce the complete Innate Yang Technique. You were stuck at the peak of the Body Refinement Realm.

[Cultivation knows no time; eight years have passed in a flash. You have finally found a glimmer of light in the fog, and your Innate Yang Technique has made progress.]

[In the tenth year, you deduced the complete Innate Yang Technique, a seventh-grade martial art, not a sixth-grade one, sufficient to cultivate to the peak of the Acquired Realm.]

[In the seventeenth year, you cultivated the Innate Yang Technique to a minor success, and even condensed a breath of innate true energy. You finally broke through the peak of Body Refinement and entered the Acquired Realm, becoming a master of the Hundred Battles Realm. However, your energy could not continue, and you had no choice but to end your cultivation.]

Current remaining lifespan: one year

In an instant, Zhou Yang felt that many of his injuries had been healed and repaired. His immense internal energy flowed through his meridians, and he had inexhaustible strength. In his dantian, he was also nurturing a powerful innate true energy.

After breaking through the five realms of body refinement—skin, flesh, tendons, bone marrow, and marrow—one officially enters the Acquired Hundred Battles Realm.

He survived countless battles unscathed, and developed internal energy, greatly enhancing both his attack and defense.

After the Hundred Battles Realm comes the True Essence Realm.

Its true energy is released outwards, possessing immense power with a mere wave of its hand, making it extremely lethal.

At this moment, Zhou Yang took a leap across domains in body tempering and officially entered the Hundred Battles Realm.

Name: Zhou Yang

[Current remaining lifespan: 51 years]

[Cultivation Level: Hundred Battles (Early Stage)]

[Technique: Innate Yang Clay Technique (Seventh Grade)]

Unexpectedly, completing the body refinement and breaking through to the Acquired Realm also significantly increased Zhou Yang's lifespan, which was an unexpected surprise.

"How is it? Although the Innate Yang Technique is said to allow one to advance in cultivation by leaps and bounds every day, it is still very slow for people without cultivation talent to get started. If you can complete the cultivation of the Copper Skin Realm in two days, that will already be remarkable."

When Fang Tian saw Zhou Yang open his eyes, he couldn't help but ask. His collarbone was locked and his meridians were sealed, so his strength was no different from that of an ordinary person, and his vision was naturally not as good as before.

"Reporting to Senior, Zhou Yang has already reached the peak of Body Refinement!"

"Peak of Body Refinement!!"

A glint of light flashed in Fang Tian's eyes.

"Okay~ I knew I wasn't mistaken!"

Seeing Zhou Yang get up and come to him, Fang Tian's smile widened. He had thought Zhou Yang was just a piece of cannon fodder he had casually taken in, but he hadn't expected him to be such a talent.

The more talented people he has, the faster his strength will improve, and the higher his status will rise in the sect.

In two days, they should be almost ready.

If we can wipe out those Jinyiwei lackeys this time, then my involvement in this matter will not have been in vain.

Thinking of this, Fang Tian was in a really good mood.

However, the next second, he saw Zhou Yang suddenly kneeling in front of him.

"I will never forget the kindness of my predecessors."

"Zhou Yang has been an orphan since childhood. If you, senior, do not abandon him, Yang is willing to become your godfather and take care of you in your old age, serving you faithfully!"

Upon hearing Zhou Yang's words, Fang Tian was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha~ Good~ Good!"

"My son, get up quickly!"

"Once you leave, whether it's the magistrate of Jianghuai City or Niu San of the Niu family, you will make them kneel before you and let them be judged by you personally."

"Get out? Wasn't my godfather arrested by those lackeys of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and temporarily imprisoned in Jianghuai City?"

"If those lackeys come back after they've finished their business, my godfather will probably be taken to Anyang County. That county is not like Jianghuai City. There are many experts in Daqian. It will be very difficult for my godfather to escape."

"My son, don't worry. Do you really think your godfather has been captured by them?"

"My son, let's watch a good show tomorrow!"

"However, my son, you have the cultivation of the peak of body refinement, but you have no martial arts to rely on, so it is really difficult for you to exert your own strength."

"Godfather, I'll help you remove this pipa lock."

Zhou Yang was about to make a move, but Fang Tian stopped him.

"Your strength is not yet up to par. If you were a True Yuan Realm expert, you could break this Pipa Lock. Besides, my godfather's hands and feet are bound. Even without the Pipa Lock, I am unable to move."

"Don't worry, my godfather won't die so easily. I'm going to become a hall master, and even a vice leader. A mere Jinyiwei, hmph~"

"My son, your godfather will now teach you two martial arts techniques. How much you can master depends on your own destiny!"

Upon hearing Fang Tian's words, Zhou Yang's eyes lit up.

"I am willing to be your godfather, and I will go through fire and water for you."

You have learned the incomplete version of the Mighty Bull Demon Fist.

[It can consume one's own lifespan to deduce the complete cultivation technique.]

【Mighty Bull Demon Fist (Fragment): A fifth-grade martial art, the Mighty Bull Demon Fist, once mastered, can unleash power comparable to a sixth-grade martial art. However, as it is a fragment, its power is only equivalent to the peak of the fifth grade, and there is a risk of qi deviation.】

You have learned the Chaotic Sky Step (incomplete version)

【Chaotic Void Step (Fragment): A sixth-grade movement technique, the Powerful Chaotic Void Step, when used at full power, can create three afterimages to confuse the enemy. However, since it is a fragment, only one afterimage can be created, and there are weaknesses to exploit.】