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

Suddenly, the mechanical Qilin let out a low groan, a mournful cry shattering the silence.

Its scales shimmered with a purple light before bursting violently.

The fragments transformed into sparks, soaring into the sky and instantly condensing into a blazing white beam of light.

The beam of light shone directly on the Tianxuan position, like a sharp sword piercing through layers of mist.

The Tianxuan position was originally a groove on an ancient stele, engraved with a nine-star array diagram.

When the beam of light touched that spot, the array pattern flickered, as if blood was flowing within it.

A vast energy of life force surged forth from the center of the monument.

It doesn't spread into fog, but rather forms a vertical current.

The trendy color is pale yellow, layered on top of each other, like golden ripples.

A black jade ring lit up on Zhou Yang's chest.

The ring is engraved with ancient patterns and has a dark black stone set in the center.

The stone surface trembled slightly, as if sensing a breath from afar.

The current of life force rushed towards the ring, and a thin crack instantly appeared on the stone surface.

The tide rushed into the rift like a ferocious beast, devouring the void inside the ring.

Sparks flashed around the ring, and a faint smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Zhou Yang felt a powerful suction force on his chest.

He did not retreat, but instead closed his eyes tightly, letting the tide rush in.

A sharp pain spread throughout my body, like a thousand needles piercing my bone marrow at the same time.

The pain was quickly relieved by a warm sensation.

He felt as if he had drunk a glass of hot wine, his blood churning inside him.

A few seconds later, the pressure in my chest disappeared, replaced by a surge of power.

The system's halo flashed behind him, recording this equivalent exchange.

Aura display: Lifespan gain +200.

Their already meager lifespan was instantly replenished, even exceeding the threshold of three hundred.

He raised his hand to examine the black jade ring; the stone surface was now permeated with a blood-red light.

The light patterns spread along the ring to the fingertip, like an underground river flowing.

This force sharpened his gaze, and he raised an eyebrow.

At the same time, a piercing scream came from the entrance of the ancient tree cave outside the mountain.

The old man—the vengeful spirit lurking before the altar—suddenly withered away.

His skin tore like paper, and flesh was instantly pulled away.

Only a withered skeleton remained, its dust drifting in the wind.

Zhou Yang ignored the screams outside and focused on the currents within his body.

The current surged through the veins, washing away the remaining decay.

He felt his lifespan rising like the tide.

System notification: Your lifespan has exceeded 500 years.

The black jade ring shone even brighter, and fine cracks began to appear on the stone's surface.

A pale yellow liquid seeped from the crack, dripping onto the ground and condensing into small beads.

Each drop is like frozen time, emitting a faint fragrance.

The stone chamber before them began to tremble, and the illusionary patterns that had enveloped it crumbled.

Cracks spread to the walls, and the reliefs on the walls were torn off one by one.

Chunks of plaster fell away, revealing the original rock layers underneath.

The rock strata are covered with densely packed ancient symbols, the characters of which are archaic and simple.

The symbols are interspersed with traces of blood, like the sacrificial marks of our ancestors.

At the center of the symbol appears a huge stone slab.

The inscription on the stone slab is the "Prologue to the Fragments of the Dragon's Spine".

Beside the stone slab, there is an ancient well.

The wellhead was covered with moss, and the water surface rippled slightly.

Zhou Yang stepped forward and bent down to examine the well water.

His face was reflected in the water, but with an added layer of faint golden light.

His fingers tapped lightly on the stone slab, producing a dull echo.

The echoes were like an alarm bell, reminding him that this cemetery was no longer an illusion.

The real tomb chamber is revealed in an instant, with wide stone pillars supporting a towering dome.

The dragon pattern carved on the top of the pillar seems to be breathing and wriggling slightly.

A beam of light poured down from a crack in the ceiling, shining directly into the center of the tomb.

In the center of the tomb chamber stood an ancient altar, upon which rested a gleaming jade pendant.

There was a faint warmth around the jade pendant, like freshly melted metal.

Zhou Yang walked to the altar, bent down and placed the black jade ring next to the jade pendant.

The ring and the jade pendant resonated instantly, and beams of light intertwined to form a cross shape.

The cross beams of light converged above the altar, forming a rotating circle of symbols.

Countless starlight burst forth from the circle of symbols, resembling fragments of the universe.

Each star carries a rich aura of longevity, spreading outwards.

Zhou Yang felt his meridians ignite with starlight, and his blood boil.

He murmured, "Today, I am no longer a pawn."

The sound echoed in the tomb chamber, carrying an indomitable edge.

At that moment, a gust of wind came from the distant valley, stirring up dust.

The sound of wind mixed with the clanging of metal, like distant war drums.

Zhou Yang looked up at the valley, a faint smile in his eyes.

He knew that the real test had begun.

The black jade ring in his hand had become a blood-sucking demonic claw.

As long as equivalent exchanges continue, the torrent of lifespan will never run dry.

He gently pulled out the ring, and the blood on his fingertip instantly congealed into black crystals.

The crystal shimmered in the light, like a dim star.

Zhou Yang put the crystal into his sleeve, his smile deepening.

The lights in the tomb were turned on again, reflecting the ancient stele behind him.

The ancient stele is inscribed with six large characters: "Blood is gold".

Zhou Yang turned to look at the ancient stele, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Without further hesitation, he turned and strode into the depths of the stone chamber.

Each step landed on solid rock, producing a crisp echo.

The walls of the stone chamber seemed to remind him that every equivalent exchange is irreversible.

He only wanted to use every equivalent transaction to his own advantage.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the deep tomb passage, like a low drumbeat.

Amidst these drumbeats, the tide of lifespan continues to surge, devouring all creation.

The chessboard in front of me has shattered.

Instead of crumbling into pieces, it transformed into countless tiny specks of light. These specks floated upwards, like fireflies on a summer night. Zhou Yang felt his feet suddenly give way beneath him, and his body involuntarily staggered forward. He reached out to steady himself against the cold stone pillar beside him, its rough surface rubbing against his palm.

The illusion vanished.

The air no longer held that false warmth; instead, it was filled with a damp, chilly scent of earth. He took a deep breath, and the tightness in his chest vanished. The newly surging life force flowed like a rushing river, cleansing his entire body. Every meridian, every acupoint, felt as if it had been soaked in warm spring water, brimming with unprecedented power.

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking with a series of crisp pops. The feeling was real. Not an illusory power, but the strength to crush stone.

Zhou Yang steadied himself and began to look around.

He was in a magnificent underground palace. There were no windows; the only light came from the dome. The enormous dome was inlaid with countless fist-sized luminous pearls, emitting a soft yet bright light that illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime. The light cast long shadows on the massive stone pillars, making the space feel both spacious and solemn.

The floor was paved with single slabs of bluestone, polished smooth as a mirror, reflecting the star-studded dome. The main hall was extremely long, stretching as far as the eye could see. On both sides stood several life-size stone statues, some civil officials holding tablets, others military generals carrying bows and arrows. Their expressions were varied and lifelike, as if they were simply waiting silently there.

Zhou Yang's gaze finally settled on the very center of the main hall.

There stood a three-tiered altar. The entire altar was constructed of white marble, with intricate cloud patterns carved along the edges of each step. At the top of the altar, there was nothing but something slowly floating.

It was a scale.

A crystal-clear scale.

It was about the size of a palm, shaped like a willow leaf. Its scales were so thin they were almost transparent, yet inside, a shimmering light moved slowly, like solidified lava. It hung suspended in the air, radiating its own light.

An indescribable pressure emanated from the dragon scales.

This oppressive aura wasn't domineering or fierce, but it carried an absolute suppression originating from the depths of one's bloodline. Just looking at it made Zhou Yang feel his breathing become heavy and his throat dry. It wasn't a suppression based on true essence, but rather an instinctive awe at the level of life itself. Like a rabbit encountering a tiger in the forest.

"Dragon scales..."

Zhou Yang muttered to himself, a burning light shining in his eyes.

He knew what it was. In Fang Tianxiang Master's memory, there were incomplete records about the divine weapon "Dragon Spine." Dragon Spine, a legendary divine weapon forged from the spine of a true dragon, shattered into nine dragon scales that scattered throughout the world. Each dragon scale contained a portion of the true dragon's power and destiny.

Repairing a divine weapon requires consuming a massive amount of lifespan. However, obtaining it also brings immense benefits.

The illusionary chess game of the Old Man of Black Mist, and the original creation of the Old Man of Black Mist, ultimately point to this dragon scale.

This deal was absolutely worth it.

Zhou Yang strode towards the altar.

His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, each sound clearly audible. The bluestone slabs beneath his feet were cold, the chill seeping through his shoes. He ascended the steps step by step, feeling the increasingly powerful dragon's might. This pressure, like water, enveloped his body, making each step feel heavy.

But he doesn't care.

He has plenty of strength now.

The torrent of life force within the body is enough to overcome any obstacle.

Zhou Yang ascended to the top of the altar. He was only three feet away from the dragon scale. Closer still, he could even see the intricate patterns on its surface. They weren't carved, but naturally formed, like some kind of mysterious rune. Streams of light flowed through the patterns, like a miniature star.

He stretched out his hand.

His fingers were long and slender, calloused from years of sword practice. His hands were steady, without the slightest tremor. The allure of the dragon scales was immense, but he wasn't blinded by greed. He was a merchant, a merchant who only made profitable deals. At this moment, he was assessing the goods he was about to acquire.

The aura of true essence. Pure masculine power. And a faint, almost imperceptible... element of creation.

This thing can help him break through his current bottlenecks and even allow him to reach a higher level of understanding of the "Burning Heaven Scripture".

His fingertips were less than an inch away from the dragon scales.

He could even feel the slight warmth emanating from the scales, like a warm breath.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

hum-

A deep, resonant sound echoed from all directions of the main hall.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it seemed to resonate directly deep within one's soul. Zhou Yang's movements froze instantly. He abruptly turned his head, looking around the altar.

Suddenly, two crimson lights shone from the eyes of the four stone general statues surrounding the altar.

The light, like a red-hot branding iron, was particularly dazzling in the dimly lit hall.

Click!

Cracks appeared on the surface of the stone statue. The cracks spread rapidly, like a spider web. Gravel and dust fell in a flurry. Large patches of the stone skin covering the statue began to peel away, revealing something completely different underneath.

That's not a stone embryo.

Instead, it was heavy armor in a dark gold color.

The armor was engraved with ferocious beast-face patterns, and the shoulder guards with beast heads were lifelike. The bodies of the stone statues were no longer in a stiff posture, but slowly began to move. Their joints made a grating "creaking" sound, like ancient machines that had not been started for thousands of years.

The first to undergo the transformation was the one directly facing Zhou Yang.

It stood nine feet tall, a head taller than an average person. Its body was completely covered in dark gold armor, with not a trace of flesh visible. It raised its hand and grasped a massive broadsword stuck in the stone platform beside it. The sword was thick and also gleamed with a dark gold.

It drew its sword.

The blade rubbed against the scabbard, producing a piercing whistle.

An immense pressure, like a mountain, crashed down.

Late stage of True Essence Realm!

Zhou Yang's pupils suddenly contracted.

This is neither an illusion nor a mechanical construct. This is the aura emanating from a true martial arts master. Cold, deathly still, and filled with killing intent. They are not living beings, but their strength is genuine.

The remaining three stone statues also came to life. One held a pair of iron maces in both hands, another carried a giant shield on its back, and the last held a long spear. They took heavy steps and surrounded Zhou Yang and the altar from four directions.

The dark gold armor reflected a chilling light under the glow of the dome.

They had no facial features; the visor of their helmets was pitch black, with only two crimson lights burning, like will-o'-the-wisps from hell.

Zhou Yang finally understood.

The old man in the black mist's chess game was not a test. It was merely a key to open this door. The true guardian, however, has been standing here from the very beginning.

They are not there to test those who come, but to eliminate any creature that attempts to lay a finger on the dragon's scales.

He slowly withdrew his hand from the dragon scales.

His body tensed, his muscles bulging slightly. The newly acquired life force circulated rapidly within him, instantly revitalizing his true essence, which had been somewhat sluggish due to the dragon's might.

He stared at the four heavily armored generals before him, his face showing no sign of panic. Instead, he grinned, revealing a somewhat bloodthirsty smile.

"Four people in the late stage of True Essence Realm."

His voice was low, with a hint of excited tremor.

"The guards here are really something."

The old man in the black mist used his last bit of good fortune to pave the way for him to get here, but he also left him with a table full of the toughest bones.

Zhou Yang slowly drew the long sword from his waist. The blade was clear and bright, reflecting the flames in his eyes.

"Alright."

He said softly.

"Let me see how much of my lifespan you can exchange for your fortune."

The moment the words left his mouth, the general wielding the broadsword moved. Its massive body unleashed a speed completely disproportionate to its size, and the greatsword, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound as it tore through the air, slashed down at Zhou Yang.

Before the sword even arrived, the heavy pressure of the sword made the bluestone slabs beneath Zhou Yang's feet groan under the weight.

Zhou Yang advanced instead of retreating.

The torrent of life force within his body suddenly ignited. Wisps of barely perceptible blue smoke rose from the surface of his skin.