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

The members of the Tianli Church standing at the cell door were carrying knives.

The expression on their faces changed from shock to astonishment.

The sirens wailed, their piercing sound making one's eardrums ache. The torchlight flickered in the narrow passageway, casting flickering light on and off the faces.

The white-robed man's body was still lying on the ground, with a gaping hole in his chest, and blood was still flowing out.

And that guy, who should have been a lamb to the slaughter, had just absorbed all of Danmu's life.

He stood ramrod straight, like a javelin.

"The feast is about to begin."

Zhou Yang's voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

The next moment, he moved.

There were no fancy moves, just the simplest step. His figure left an afterimage in place, and he was already in front of the nearest follower.

The man raised his knife, but the blade hadn't yet come down.

Zhou Yang's palm was already pressed against his chest.

"Click."

The cracking sound of bones breaking was more piercing than the clash of swords.

The cult member was struck as if by a battering ram, flying backward and knocking over three or four people behind him, who then collapsed to the ground, unable to get up again.

A scream finally escaped from his throat.

Zhou Yang did not stop.

It was as if molten iron was flowing through his body. That enormous life energy was completely uncontrollable, rampaging through his limbs and bones.

Every inch of bone and every meridian is being torn apart and reshaped by this force.

excruciating pain.

Unbearable, excruciating pain.

But at the same time, an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and power also rose from the ruins.

His fist swung out, creating a whooshing sound as it flew through the air.

Another follower attempted to block, but his steel longsword shattered into pieces the instant it touched Zhou Yang's fist. Zhou Yang's punch, undiminished in force, slammed directly into his face.

Blood splattered.

The man didn't utter a sound and slumped down limply.

Zhou Yang's movements became increasingly rapid, so fast that it was dazzling. In the eyes of his followers, he was like a tireless killing machine, capable of taking a life with every punch, kick, and slap.

Blood flowed like a river in the tunnel.

Piles of corpses.

Zhou Yang himself was covered in blood, but the golden light on his body grew brighter and brighter.

That was not the true essence of a martial artist, but the pure, condensed essence of life.

This force was washing over his body while also dissipating outwards.

A faint, water vapor-like golden light seeped from his skin, slowly outlining a blurry silhouette behind him.

Its outline resembled a snake but wasn't; it had horns and claws.

It is a dragon.

【Ding! 】

A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his chaotic mind.

[Absorb the life essence of the "Danmu" and gain a lifespan of thirty years!]

[Previous expenditure: Five years.]

[Net Profit Lifespan: 25 Years!]

This short sentence seems to provide a footnote to this frenzied killing.

All the pain and all the adventures have paid off.

Zhou Yang grinned, his smile somewhat ferocious. He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth; the salty, metallic taste made him acutely aware of his surroundings.

"True Essence Realm...middle stage."

He could feel that the true energy vortex within his body, under the impact of that torrent of life, had completely broken through an invisible barrier. The vortex, originally the size of a fist, had now expanded to twice its original size, and its rotation speed had increased several times over.

Power is surging at an alarming rate.

He felt he could punch right through the dungeon.

He could even feel the bright moonlight in the sky above the ground.

Just then, a series of heavy, orderly footsteps came from deep within the passage.

That sound was completely different from the chaotic footsteps of the Heavenly Principle Cult members.

"Thump...thump...thump..."

Every step felt like stepping on someone's heart.

The few remaining members of the Heavenly Principle Cult turned deathly pale instantly, their eyes filled with terror.

"It's...it's the Golden Armor Guards!"

"How did they get here!"

"Run!"

Panic spread like a plague.

Zhou Yang also stopped what he was doing and turned to look in the direction from which the sound came.

At the end of the passage, a golden light appeared.

The light was formed by the reflection of torchlight from countless armor plates, so dazzling that it was almost blinding.

A group of figures slowly walked over.

They were all dressed in heavy golden armor, carrying standard halberds, and wearing helmets, revealing only pairs of indifferent eyes.

Their steps were perfectly synchronized, their halberds pointed diagonally at the ground, and a chilling aura swept over them, making even the air feel thick and sticky.

The imperial palace, guarded by golden-armored soldiers.

The emperor's personal guards.

They were the sharpest blades of this dynasty, obeying only the emperor's orders.

The lead golden-armored guard raised his head, his gaze piercing through the chaotic battlefield and landing precisely on Zhou Yang, who was covered in blood and had a faint dragon shadow behind him.

His voice was like metal scraping against metal, devoid of any emotion.

"Unauthorized trespassing and suspicious behavior. Take him down, or kill him on the spot."

The moment the words fell, all the golden-armored guards simultaneously raised their halberds.

The tip of the halberd gleamed with the same cold light in the firelight.

They did not give Zhou Yang any chance to explain, nor did they ask the Tianli Cult members why they were there.

In their world, there are only commands.

Zhou Yang smiled.

His smile was tinged with helplessness.

He had intended to come in and leave quietly, taking what was rightfully his. Now it seemed he had no choice but to keep a low profile.

The members of the Heavenly Principle Sect tried to escape, but were locked in place by the invisible aura of the Golden Armor Guards. One by one, they were so frightened that their legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Yang's gaze swept over the golden-armored guards, and then looked at the heavy stone dome above his head.

He took a deep breath.

He forcibly mobilized the surging life energy within his body.

"boom!"

A muffled thud exploded from his body.

The golden dragon shadow behind him solidified instantly! The previously blurry dragon scales became clearly visible, and the dragon's head was slightly raised, as if it were letting out a silent roar.

Zhou Yang's body sank slightly, then he suddenly pushed off the ground.

He did not charge at the Golden Armor Guard.

Instead, it rushed towards the side wall!

"Get out of the way!"

The leader of the Golden Armor Guards reacted extremely quickly and immediately shouted.

But it was too late.

Zhou Yang's fist, enveloped in a golden halo, slammed into the hard rock wall with simple brutality.

There was no earth-shattering noise.

There was only a dull "plop" sound.

The wall, made of huge bluestone, was like tofu bombarded by a catapult; spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread out from the center of Zhou Yang's fist.

The next moment, rubble flew everywhere!

A huge, human-shaped hole appeared in the wall.

Outside the cave, it was night, the moonlight was cool, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.

Without pausing, Zhou Yang took a step forward and rushed out through the hole.

He appeared in a deserted courtyard.

This appears to be part of a Tenrikyo stronghold, with collapsed houses and weeds everywhere.

And at the very moment he rushed out.

Behind him, the golden dragon shadow, now more solidified, suddenly detached from his body and transformed into a thick golden pillar of light that shot straight into the sky!

It tore through the night, carrying a majestic and supreme aura, and crashed headlong toward the palace!

That light was brighter than moonlight and more dazzling than lightning.

The golden dragon aura soaring into the sky could be seen throughout half of the capital.

The Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The emperor, well past fifty, sat cross-legged on a futon, breathing deeply with his eyes closed. As the ruler of a nation, he bore the destiny of the world, and his own cultivation had reached a state of perfection.

He was feeling the dragon energy within his body that belonged to the "Son of Heaven".

This aura is the foundation of his power and the guarantee of his longevity.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.

A feeling of being provoked and violated instantly seized his mind.

Before he could even open his eyes, an overwhelmingly powerful force descended from the sky and slammed into his dragon energy!

"puff!"

The emperor suddenly opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the brocade cushion in front of him red.

His face turned deathly pale instantly, and his eyes were filled with shock and anger.

He was all too familiar with that power.

It's dragon energy!

But it's not his!

It is another, purer, wilder, and more vibrant dragon energy!

It was like a ferocious beast that had been starving for a thousand years. As soon as it appeared, it wanted to devour this pampered "domestic dragon"!

The emperor suppressed his surging anger and blood, staggered to the window, and pushed it open.

In the night sky, a huge golden dragon-shaped aura snaked and coiled, its head facing the direction of the palace, radiating boundless pressure.

The entire sky above the imperial city changed color due to the appearance of this dragon aura.

"This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"

The emperor's face was contorted with rage as he pointed at the dragon's aura outside the window and roared in a hoarse voice.

"Someone come here!"

The guards outside the hall immediately rushed in.

"Seal off the palace! Close all city gates immediately!"

"By imperial decree, the Golden Armor Guard and the Capital Garrison Guard are to be mobilized!"

The emperor's chest heaved violently, each breath carrying the stench of blood.

"Dig three feet into the ground, find this person for me!"

"I want to see him alive or dead!"