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

The ruins of the northern section of Blood River Canyon had long been eroded into rubble by the wind. Moss covered the crumbling walls, and rain dripped from the cracks in the stones. Zhou Yang walked through the wet mud, his insteps tickled by the small pebbles. Qin Shuang stood behind him, a sickle in her hand. Her gaze was fixed intently ahead, without the slightest relaxation.

The two entered the heart of the ruins. This had once been the sacrificial plaza of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and faint traces of blood still lingered on the ground. The bloodstains emitted a faint smell of gunpowder, mixed with the musty odor of rotting wood in the air. Zhou Yang held his breath, his ears catching the slight vibrations of the distant rock strata.

He pointed to a jarring boulder and said, "Look at that rock, its shape is wrong." Qin Shuang followed his gaze and turned her head, seeing a boulder embedded in the wall of the ruins. The surface of the boulder was covered with runes, which had been eroded by wind and rain, but a few lines of ancient text could still be discerned.

Zhou Yang stepped forward and gently traced the engraving with his fingers. His fingertips touched the cool rock surface, feeling a slight tremor. In the center of the carving, a faint golden light flickered in his vision. The text read: "At the summit of Lingfeng, the ultimate fragment lies hidden." The runes on the stone emitted dark red specks of light in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a reminder.

Qin Shuang approached, her brows furrowing slightly. She asked in a low voice, "Where is Lin Feng?" Her voice was carried away by the wind, leaving only an echo reverberating through the ruins.

At that moment, the stone roller standing not far away responded in a low voice. The stone roller was a huge rock beast with skin like rock and eyes that emitted a ghostly green light. Its body was pressed against the rock wall, with tiny cracks on its surface, as if it were sensing the earth's veins.

The stone roller's voice was deep: "Three miles north, where the rock strata vibrate at the highest frequency, lies the foundation of Linfeng Peak." Its tail tapped the ground lightly, producing a deep echo.

Zhou Yang nodded, secretly calculating in his mind. At that moment, the system notification screen flashed, displaying that 350 life points could be consumed to increase the detection range. Zhou Yang gently touched the system core on his chest, and with a thought, the life points flowed away in an instant, expanding the detection range.

He turned to Qin Shuang: "Lin Peak is in the north, not far away. But the rock strata are unstable, there might be an ambush." ​​His tone was calm, but he had already calculated the cost of every step in his mind.

Qin Shuang put away her sickle and shook the dust off her shoulders. She checked the straps of her backpack to make sure they weren't damaged. Then, she put a small fire lamp into the bag.

The two stepped out of the ruins and into the desolate valley. Towering cliffs lined both sides of the valley, where small birds occasionally flitted past, leaving fleeting shadows. The wind howled from the depths of the canyon, carrying away their breaths.

Along the way, the stone roller occasionally emitted a low hum, guiding the way. Zhou Yang used the system's perception function to detect faint fluctuations within the rock strata. Each fluctuation was like a heartbeat, reminding him of the risks ahead.

After walking for about an hour, a steep slope appeared ahead. The slope was covered with gravel, some of which had been weathered into natural steps. Qin Shuang took the lead, her steps steady. With each step, she gently crouched down to check the stability of her footing.

Zhou Yang followed, his steps slightly heavy. He knew that each step forward was consuming the last embers of his lifespan. The system showed that he had 1,500 lifespan points left, enough to sustain him for several more days of travel. At this moment, his eyes were fixed on his goal—the ultimate fragment.

At the end of the slope, a huge rock slab appeared, its surface marked with recessed grooves. A faint blue light seeped from the grooves, flickering on the rock surface, like a mark of some kind of mechanism.

The stone roller approached the rock slab and whispered, "This is the gate to Linfeng. An ancient mechanism needs to be activated." Its forepaw lightly touched the groove, and blue light immediately spread, causing the entire rock slab to emit a low creaking sound.

Zhou Yang pulled out a metal fragment he carried with him and struck it against the rock slab. The fragment produced a crisp clanging sound, and blue light rapidly spread, forming a beam that shot straight to the sky. The beam pierced through the clouds, illuminating the distant silhouette of the towering peak.

The beam of light was directed towards a high peak shrouded in clouds and mist year-round. Its summit, covered in snow, resembled a sharp thorn. The beam converged at the peak, forming a faint glimmer, as if waiting to be taken away.

Qin Shuang stood in the beam of light, her fingers lightly tracing the scabbard of her sword at her chest. She said softly, "It seems we've opened the entrance." Her voice held a hint of anticipation, but no other emotion.

Zhou Yang gazed at the distant Lin Peak, his brow furrowing slightly: "Where the fragment is hidden at the summit of Lin Peak remains a mystery. But once we reach the top, there will surely be clues." He aimed the system's display screen at the beam of light and recorded the coordinates.

Stone Roller nodded, its body trembling slightly. A fine crack appeared on its back scale, as if it were a premonition of the journey.

Just as the three were about to leave, a low roar echoed from the depths of the valley. Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow and lightly gripped the system activation button. A purple light screen flickered at his fingertips, and a detection wave covered the surroundings.

Soon, a wolf-like, stone-skinned beast burst from the pile of rocks. It was lean and wiry, with sharp teeth and a fierce glint in its eyes. Qin Shuang remained unmoved, her scythe twirling lightly in her hand, the blade whistling sharply as it sliced ​​through the air.

Zhou Yang's system notification read "Lifespan consumed: 200 points." He quickly ignited a blue flame bullet in his chest. The blue flame bullet exploded in front of the beast, engulfing its body in flames. The beast howled and retreated towards the rock wall.

The stone roller let out a low growl, its massive body lunging forward. It seized the beast's remaining remains with its rocky claws and crushed it into the rubble. The rubble groaned, and the beast's blood seeped into the cracks in the rocks.

The three stood beside the wreckage, their breathing slightly rapid. Qin Shuang wiped the sweat from her forehead and whispered, "This section of road isn't quiet; there might be an ambush." ​​Zhou Yang nodded, checking the system's health points again to confirm that it could last for several more days.

They regrouped and continued their ascent to Linfeng. Night had fallen, the starlight sparse, and the mountain wind howled. Zhou Yang placed the last fragment of the dragon's spine deep into his backpack, feeling its chill. The glint of a blade flickered slightly in the darkness, as if a reminder.

Qin Shuang hung the sickle at her waist, her gaze fixed on the direction of the mountain ridge. Her steps were steady, as if she was prepared for a long journey.

The stone roller hissed softly once, then turned and retreated, leaving them a path leading to the summit.

Their silhouettes grew longer in the dim lamplight, pointing towards the mist-shrouded, towering peak. The distant mountains remained silent, as if awaiting their arrival.

The mountain road is getting narrower and narrower.

The rock walls on both sides seemed to have been cleaved by a giant axe, stretching upwards and almost completely obscuring the night sky. The moonlight struggled to squeeze in, casting a pale, thin line on the ground. The wind changed direction here, no longer howling in the open, but weaving through the cracks in the rocks, making strange, mournful noises, as if something was weeping in the darkness.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

He raised his hand to signal Qin Shuang behind him.

Something was wrong with the air. It was too cold, carrying a damp, earthy smell, mixed with a barely perceptible fishy odor. This wasn't the smell of the mountains. He squeezed the hilt of his knife at his waist; the familiar touch calmed him slightly. The stone roller behind him pawed restlessly, its nostrils puffing out hot white puffs of air.

"There's an ambush." ​​Qin Shuang's voice was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the narrow canyon.

She had placed her hand on the hilt of the sword without her noticing, her body leaning slightly forward, her center of gravity lowered. The long sword gleamed in the darkness like a lurking beast.

Zhou Yang remained silent. His gaze swept across the smooth rock walls on either side, trying to find a flaw. These rocks were too regular, not like they were naturally formed. They looked more like a deliberately constructed defensive line. The Heavenly Principle Sect had actually laid a trap here.

Just as he was about to signal Qin Shuang to step back, a sudden change occurred.

On the rock face ahead, several shadows appeared without warning. They didn't walk out, nor did they jump down; rather, they seemed to "seep" directly from the rock. Their figures were elusive, their outlines blurred, as if the shadows of the rock had come to life. The glint of their short weapons flashed by so quickly that it seemed like an illusion.

The next moment, several dark figures swooped down from the rock walls on both sides simultaneously. They made no shouts of battle, only the hissing sound of their clothes cutting through the wind. The angles of their attacks were extremely tricky, completely blocking Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang's escape route.

"Dark Tide Messenger." Qin Shuang uttered three words, her tone devoid of surprise, only filled with icy killing intent.

She moved.

The longsword was drawn, its blade tracing a bright arc in the narrow space. With a crisp clang, several poisoned caltrops were knocked away, striking the rock wall and sending sparks flying. A shadow, like a ghost, approached her back, a dagger gleaming with an eerie blue light.

Without turning her head, Qin Shuang swung her sword backhand.

The blade's sharp wind forced the shadow to retreat. It swayed, half its body disappearing back into the shadow of the rock wall, vanishing instantly.

Zhou Yang didn't stand still. He drew his short sword, choosing not to fight head-on. His movements became even more unpredictable, weaving through the gaps between attacks. A shadow pounced from above, but instead of retreating, he advanced, crouching low and sliding, his short sword slashing upwards.

Shadow let out a muffled groan, a deep, bone-revealing wound appearing on his wrist. He seemed oblivious to the pain, his other hand forming a claw, aiming straight for Zhou Yang's throat.

These guys aren't human. A thought flashed through Zhou Yang's mind. Their movements were stiff and deadly, completely unresponsive to pain. They were more like some kind of manipulated puppets.

He held back, twisting the tip of his blade and stabbing it towards the shadow's temple. The shadow swayed, then fell straight down, its body turning into a pool of black water the moment it hit the ground, seeping into the sand and gravel, leaving only a tattered black garment.

But this is only the beginning.

More shadows emerged from the rock face, one after another. They disregarded strategy, focusing solely on encirclement and attrition. The clash of swords and the clang of metal echoed through the narrow canyon. Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang stood back to back, fending off the enemies surging in from all directions. The space was too confined; complete evasion was impossible.

Qin Shuang's swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, each strike heavy and forceful, but here it seemed somewhat constrained. She swung her blade, felling one shadow, only to have two or three more immediately rise from the shadows of the rock wall to take her place. Endless, an unquenchable frenzy.

"This can't go on," Zhou Yang said in a low voice. His breathing began to quicken. Although these Dark Tide Messengers were not strong, this kind of war of attrition was the most agonizing.

"I know," Qin Shuang replied. Her eyes, however, were unusually calm.

She stopped parrying and allowed a dagger to slice through her left arm. Blood instantly stained her sleeve. Seeing this, the shadow lunged forward, seemingly wanting to drain her blood.

At that moment, a resolute glint flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes.

She held the long sword horizontally in front of her chest, gripping the blade with her left hand and the hilt tightly with her right. Her inner energy surged wildly towards the blade, causing it to emit a deep hum. A pale blue halo swirled around the sword, and the air seemed to thicken.

"Zhou Yang, step back," she commanded in a deep voice.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yang tapped his toes and retreated several feet backward.

Qin Shuang slashed at the towering rock wall on her left.

She didn't use any fancy moves; it was just the simplest and most direct slashing.

This strike seemed to drain most of her strength. The air whistled as the blade tore through the air. There was no earth-shattering roar, only a sickening "crack." A clear crack appeared in the hard rock wall from top to bottom.

The cracks widened rapidly, spreading like a spider web.

The next moment, the entire rock wall, tens of meters high, collapsed as if pushed by an invisible force.

Huge rocks rolled down, and dust billowed into the sky.

The Dark Tide Messengers who were walking on the rock face didn't even have time to scream before they were smashed to pieces by the falling boulders and turned into pools of black water.

Qin Shuang's strike carved out a new passage on the side of the canyon!

Smoke and dust filled the air, and gravel fell in a flurry.

The original narrow valley was mostly blocked, and next to it was a dark cave entrance leading to the unknown interior of the mountain.

The surviving Dark Tide messengers seemed stunned by this devastating strike. They froze, their shadowy bodies trembling violently, as if they might vanish at any moment. They exchanged a glance, refrained from further attack, and retreated in unison, disappearing back into the shadows of the rock wall without a trace.

The canyon returned to silence, with only the smoke and dust lingering.

Zhou Yang walked to Qin Shuang's side, looking at her pale face and her left arm that was still bleeding.

Are you alright?

"A minor injury." Qin Shuang shook her head and sheathed her sword. Her voice was weak, but her eyes remained sharp. "They're gone."

"It's a temporary withdrawal." Zhou Yang's gaze swept across the ground and suddenly stopped.

Where Qin Shuang had just stood, at the entrance to the newly opened passage, there was a barely noticeable mark on the ground. It was a dark red rune, as if drawn with some kind of paint, or perhaps branded directly onto the stone. It was only the size of a palm, with a complex shape, and was currently emitting a faint red glow, flickering like breathing.

Zhou Yang crouched down and gently touched it with the tip of the knife.

A chilling sensation traveled up the tip of the blade, making his fingers tingle. The rune was strange, carrying both a life force and an aura of death.

"This is a tracking talisman." He stood up, his brow furrowed. "Something from the Heavenly Principle Sect. We've been marked."

Qin Shuang's expression darkened further. She had expended tremendous effort to carve out a path to survival, only to discover that the enemy had left behind such a contingency plan. This meant that no matter where they ran, the enemy could find them.

She walked up to the rune and raised her foot to crush it.

"Don't move," Zhou Yang stopped her. "This thing isn't so easy to destroy. Forcibly destroying it might attract stronger enemies or trigger other traps."

Qin Shuang withdrew her foot, looked at the runes on the ground, and remained silent.

The wind in the canyon blew again, stirring up the sand and dust and ruffling the hems of their clothes. From the other end of the blocked passage came the echo of tumbling rocks. Deep within the newly opened passage lay darkness, like the open mouth of a giant beast, waiting for them to enter.

Zhou Yang stared at the flickering runes, calculating in his mind. To decipher this, he would likely have to sacrifice another portion of his lifespan. But now was clearly not the time.

He looked up at Qin Shuang and said, "Let's go inside first. Until we find a solution, we can only take it one step at a time."

Qin Shuang nodded. She tore a strip of cloth from her bosom and quickly bandaged the wound on her arm. Her movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

She walked first towards the dark cave entrance, holding a long knife in her hand, the tip of which dragged a shallow scratch on the ground.

Zhou Yang took one last look at the eerie red rune, a chill flashing in his eyes. He turned and followed Qin Shuang, disappearing into the darkness of the passage.

Soon, their figures were completely swallowed by the darkness. In the canyon, only the dark red rune remained, still silently flashing on the ground, like an eye that never closes.