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

The rift valley's exit was shrouded in twilight, the blood-stained moss on the rock walls resembling dripping ink. Zhou Yang stood on a sunken stone platform, the dragon spine fragment in his backpack emitting a faint blue light, like ripples stirred by the wind. The air before him was denser than in the valley, as if tightly bound by an invisible net.

Qin Shuang lightly tapped the talisman on her chest with her fingers and murmured "Concealment." A faint light emanated from the talisman, and then a light gray mist rose from it, clinging tightly to the rock wall. Her figure seemed to be swallowed by the earth, with only the cold glint of the blade still flashing in the shadows.

"The Shadow Raven's ambush won't end so easily," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the rift. Several thin, long iron rods emerged from the cracks in the rocks, piercing the air like needles.

Soon, deep breathing echoed through the valley. Dozens of assassins clad in black feathers rushed out from the concealed slope, wielding slender, concealed bows. The bowstrings were drawn back, and silver light instantly coalesced, transforming into sharp arrows that pierced the night.

The first hidden arrow whistled through the air, aimed directly at Qin Shuang. Her concealment spell immediately took effect, and her figure faded into the light and shadow. The ray passed through the space where she had been standing, struck the rock wall, and stirred up a shower of tiny fragments of rock.

Zhou Yang raised his hand, and the blue light from the dragon spine fragments gathered in his palm, forming a thin beam of light. The beam pointed directly at the Dark Arrow, and light and darkness clashed in mid-air. The blue light instantly pierced through the Dark Arrow's edge, like a crack being drawn on the surface of water.

The beam of light reflected the energy of the dark arrow back, tearing the silver light of the arrow apart with the blue light, turning it into fine stardust. The stardust danced in the air, landing on the assassin's shoulder and instantly turning into black smoke.

"Don't panic, keep up." Qin Shuang's voice was barely audible in the hidden mist. She had already drawn her long sword, the tip of which gleamed coldly.

Zhou Yang's beam of light constantly shifted its angle, as if searching for the perfect moment to counterattack. Each time it was launched, the beam would capture its trajectory and then explode with intense light at the point of impact. The archers in the shadows panicked, frequently adjusting their postures, but they remained completely controlled by the beam.

The leader of the Dark Side—the Shadow Raven Chieftain—stood atop the highest point of the rift, his figure as slender as a raven, with a pair of black wings spread behind him. He raised his hand, chanting a spell, and the entire rock wall was covered in black mist, within which countless sharp, dark arrows could be vaguely seen.

"All troops, concentrate fire!" he roared, his voice echoing through the valley, causing several loose rocks to fall.

Dozens of hidden arrows rained down like a storm. Qin Shuang's concealment technique continued; her figure appeared and disappeared in the mist, her blade slicing through the air with streaks of purple light. The arrows struck the rock wall, sending up small fragments of rock, but the wall itself showed no obvious damage.

Zhou Yang's beam of light was now filled with the afterglow of fragments; it was no longer a single line, but a soft curtain of light, like a giant blue veil. The light curtain collided with the dark arrow, which instantly evaporated, turning into black smoke that dissipated with the wind.

A defiant glint flashed in the Shadow Raven leader's eyes. He abruptly drew a spear hidden on his back, its tip gleaming with a blood-red light. Ancient runes were engraved on the spearhead, seemingly capable of piercing through any barrier of light.

"Let you taste the true darkness."

The instant the spear tip pierced through, Zhou Yang felt a violent impact. The blue light was swallowed by the blood-red runes, instantly forming a purplish-black vortex. The vortex spread in front of Zhou Yang, as if it would engulf him entirely.

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth, his blood surging in his ears. He quickly recalled the lifespan consumption system from before. As long as he burned off the excess lifespan in his body, he could instantly increase the intensity of the beam.

He twitched his fingers slightly, and the lifespan bar on his back emitted a low hum. It was a thin blue flame spreading from his fingertips. Zhou Yang forcibly suppressed the pain and channeled that power into the light barrier.

The light barrier instantly became scorching hot, the blue light turning into a dazzling white light. The white light pierced through the purplish-black vortex, directly striking the Shadow Raven leader's spear. The spear tip was scorched by the white light, the runes instantly shattered, and a gash was torn in the black mist.

The Shadow Raven leader staggered back a few steps, its black wings trembling like feathers that had lost their support. The crimson runes on its chest burned away, leaving charred marks.

"Enough!" Qin Shuang's voice rang out clearly in the rift valley. The tip of her blade drew an arc in the air and slashed directly at the neck of the Shadow Raven leader.

The blade tore through his robes, splattering blood onto the rock face. The Shadow Raven leader let out a low, mournful cry before collapsing to the ground, his body slowly turning to ash in the glow.

Seeing their leader fall, the other assassins retreated. Qin Shuang's concealment technique slowly wore off, and she reappeared, her eyes gleaming with a cold light.

"Withdraw." She raised her knife and pointed it to the other side of the valley.

Zhou Yang withdrew the beam of light, the blue light gradually dimming amidst the fragments. His chest still ached terribly, but he understood that the depletion of his lifespan had made his breathing heavy.

"We can't stay here any longer." Zhou Yang patted his backpack, confirming that the fragments were still there. The sunlight outside the rift valley was already filtering in slightly, and the mountain wind blew the rock fragments, carrying a hint of chill.

Qin Shuang nodded and turned to leave. Her steps were light, yet carried an undeniable firmness. The remnants of the Dark Division had dispersed, with only a few black crows cawing in the distance, as if mourning their lost master.

Zhou Yang gazed at the steps atop the mountain, the afterglow of the beam of light shimmering in his hand. He took a deep breath, feeling the pain in his chest like a burnt-out wick.

"Let's finish this stretch of road first," he muttered to himself, taking steps upwards.

Each step of the stairs echoed with the clanging of metal, and the distant stone gate still trembled slightly, as if awaiting the next group of visitors. Qin Shuang's figure disappeared into the lamplight, light and shadow intertwining in the valley.

Zhou Yang's gaze was fixed on the stone gate ahead, silently reminding himself: the next shadow will surely be even darker. But as long as he had the light from the fragment in his hand, the ambush in the shadows would be clearly illuminated.

He took the final step, and the stone gate slowly opened, revealing a wide passage leading to the mountaintop. The wind whistled in through the cracks, bringing with it a faint scent of pine resin.

Zhou Yang glanced back at the now-closed rift valley, feeling no lingering attachment. Only the faint light flickering in his backpack and the unknown mountain path ahead remained.

He stepped into the passage where light and shadow met, his footsteps echoing on the rock face, as if announcing: the pursuit had ended, and a new surge of power was about to unfold on the mountaintop.

Behind the stone gate, flames blazed like brocade. Crimson patterns churned in the air, like boiling blood. Each fluctuation brought a searing crackle. Qin Shuang stood before the gate, her brows slightly furrowed. Her scythe gleamed coldly in the firelight, its tip trembling slightly.

Zhou Yang walked to the center of the fire array. His steps were light, yet they left faint heat marks on the stone slabs. His gaze locked onto the stone illuminated by the fragments. The fragments' faint light danced in his palm, like a breathing heart.

"The core of this array needs lifespan as fuel," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, without the slightest hesitation.

Qin Shuang remained silent, placing her hand on her chest. Her breathing was rapid, yet steady as a rock. Her gaze darted between the flames and the stone door. She knew that failure would reduce all her efforts to ashes.

Zhou Yang opened his palm and lightly touched the fragment with his fingertips. The light immediately expanded, like a lamp that had been lit. Then, his brows furrowed. A faint dark blue flashed in his eyes, a signal that his lifespan was dwindling.

He gently closed his eyes, his mind replaying the ticking of lifespan numbers. Five years, like scalding sand being kneaded into his blood. Zhou Yang's thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, feeling his time being fragmented. At that moment, pain surged through his veins, yet it was accompanied by an unprecedented clarity.

Qin Shuang's gaze followed closely. She saw fine cracks appear on Zhou Yang's palm, as if it had been sliced ​​open by an invisible knife. A pale red mist seeped from the cracks, then merged with the radiance of the fragments.

The flames of the fire array suddenly changed color. The originally fiery red mixed with blood-red light, forming a channel of blood and fire. The light barrier carved a narrow slit in front of the two, like a blood vessel being cut open.

"Quickly," Qin Shuang whispered. Her voice was drowned out by the fire, but it was still clear.

Zhou Yang nodded and took his first step. The stone slabs beneath his feet made a slight clattering sound, and the heat from the flames touched his back, but it didn't burn him. The temperature inside the Bloodfire Passage was extremely high, but it was neutralized by his life-giving fire.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind. Her scythe lightly touched the rock walls on either side of the passage, producing a soft metallic clang. With each step, the light walls of the passage tightened backward, a powerful suction trying to pull them back.

Zhou Yang quickened his pace, clutching the fragment tightly in his hand. The light from the fragment flickered continuously in the passage, like rhythmic drumbeats. The crackling of the flames faded, leaving only the sounds of breathing and heartbeats.

The two burst out of the passage almost simultaneously. The wall of fire closed behind them with a deafening roar, like that of a giant beast. The stone door then collapsed, rubble tumbling down and dust swirling in the wind.

They stood in an ancient cave. The entrance was silent, save for the embers dancing on the rock walls. A deep echo reverberated from the depths of the cave, like the lingering toll of an ancient bell.

Qin Shuang raised her hand to examine the scythe. Fine ash clung to the blade, but there was no blood. Her gaze shifted to Zhou Yang, and she asked softly, "How did you break this fire array?"

Zhou Yang retrieved the fragments and placed them deep inside his backpack. The leather of the backpack was slightly blackened by the fire, but it could still withstand the heat. "The lifespan system allows time to be bought and sold," he replied casually, with a hint of mockery in his tone.

Qin Shuang chuckled softly, but her eyes searched the shadows of the cave. Her intuition told her that there was greater danger ahead. She sheathed her scythe at her waist, her steps unhurried.

Ancient runes were carved into the cave walls. They flickered in the afterglow of the firelight, like an unfinished scroll. Zhou Yang walked over and gently stroked one of them. The rune warmed slightly and emitted a low hum.

"This could be the next clue," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, a long-lost excitement in his voice. Qin Shuang nodded, her eyes shining with the same light.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew in from the cave entrance. The wind carried the stench of rotting flesh, like the breath of ancient corpse poison. The wind scattered sparks, the flames tracing thin arcs in the air.

"Looks like there's an ambush." ​​Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow. She gripped the sickle tightly, the blade reflecting a cold light.

Zhou Yang stood in the center of the cave, feeling the remaining lifespan flowing through his body. Five years of sacrifice had made his breathing slightly heavy, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished. He took a deep breath, and the blood in his chest seemed to be flowing faster.

In the cold wind, several shadowy figures appeared vaguely. The shadows, like black mist, slowly condensed and took shape. Their forms were indistinct, yet a sense of oppression could be felt.

Qin Shuang struck first. She charged towards the nearest shadow, her scythe drawing a silver arc. The blade pierced through the black mist, producing a crisp clang. The shadow was sliced ​​open, turning into wisps of black smoke.

Zhou Yang followed closely behind, a short sword in his hand. The tip of the sword gleamed in the firelight, like a burning torch. He charged towards another shadowy figure, the blade slicing through the air, leaving a faint red mark.

The shadows were repelled by the two working together, and the cave returned to silence. The firelight flickered on the rock walls, casting their silhouettes.

Qin Shuang wiped the blood from the blade and said in a low voice, "We need to hurry. Once that Bloodfire Passage closes, we might never be able to get back in."

Zhou Yang nodded, then turned to inspect the stone door at the end of the passage. The stone door had been melted by the flames, leaving only fragments of rock. There was no turning back.

The two took a deep breath and embarked on a new journey. Deep within the cave lay unknown mechanisms and treasures, waiting to be uncovered.

They left the stone gate and walked down the stone steps to the left along the cave wall. The steps were slippery, and the dust under their feet was ignited by the firelight, making a faint crackling sound.

Qin Shuang moved with light steps, yet remained constantly vigilant. Her gaze swept around, searching for any unusual light. Zhou Yang's shadow stretched long in the firelight, like a burning silhouette.

At the end of the stone steps, a wider passage appeared. Ancient bronze inscriptions, engraved with dragon patterns, were inlaid on both sides of the passage. The dragon patterns trembled slightly in the dim light, like living guardians.

Zhou Yang stopped and carefully examined one of the inscriptions. There were tiny cracks along the edge of the inscription, from which a faint blue light seeped. The blue light resonated subtly with the light from the fragment in his hand.

"This blue light seems to be another kind of energy," Zhou Yang muttered to himself, his brows furrowed.

Qin Shuang stood beside him and gently patted his shoulder. Her movement was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "Investigate first before taking action," she said, her tone brief.

Zhou Yang nodded and gently took the fragment out of his backpack. The fragment's light shone even brighter under the blue light.

Just then, a faint hum came from the depths of the cave. The hum sounded like the starting of an ancient machine, or the growl of some kind of creature.

Qin Shuang frowned slightly, gripping her sickle, ready to fight at any moment. Zhou Yang's eyes sharpened, as if calculating the next cost.

The low rumbling gradually intensified, and the rock face began to tremble slightly. A faint mist seeped from the cracks in the rock strata, with tiny sparks floating within it.

"It seems there's more to this than just a fire array," Qin Shuang said softly, her voice tinged with alertness.

Zhou Yang raised his hand, projecting the light from the fragments into the mist. The beam pierced through the mist and struck the crack in the rock wall. The crack instantly emitted a piercing cracking sound, followed by a burst of scorching air.

The airflow swept away the fog, revealing a sealed passage. The entrance to the passage was covered by a thick stone slab, on which ancient prohibitive symbols were engraved.

"This might be an entrance to something deeper," Zhou Yang murmured, his fingers lightly tracing the restrictive symbol. The symbol shimmered slightly in the light, like a willful eye.

Qin Shuang stood in front of the stone slab and gently patted its surface. The slab emitted a deep echo, then slowly slid open to the sides, revealing a passageway leading deep underground.

The passage was pitch black, with only a faint blue light guiding their way. The two exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Zhou Yang put the fragments back into his backpack, then reached out to the stone wall at the entrance of the passage. The temperature of the stone wall plummeted, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

He took a deep breath, feeling the flame of life within him still burning faintly. Although five years had been consumed, he did not feel completely weak.

Qin Shuang stepped into the passage, her steps light yet steady. Her scythe traced subtle streaks of light in the darkness, like sparks flying everywhere.

The sound of dripping water echoed from deep within the passage, reflecting off the rock walls and creating layers of echoes. Each echo was like a reminder of the danger ahead.

Zhou Yang's footsteps echoed through the hollow, carrying with them a faint metallic clanging. The metallic sounds seemed to originate from a distant mechanism, perhaps another line of defense.

They walked for about half a mile, and at the end of the passage appeared a huge iron gate. The gate was covered in rust, but there was a concave circular groove that emitted a faint red light.

"This red light is very similar to the light from the Bloodfire Passage," Qin Shuang commented in a low voice, her gaze lingering on the groove.

Zhou Yang placed his hand on the edge of the groove and felt a warm pulse. The pulse felt like blood flowing, carrying a faint life force.

He gently placed the fragment into the groove. The fragment immediately merged with the red light, emitting a dazzling glow. The light pierced through the iron gate, instantly causing it to crack with a piercing sound.

The iron gate swung open with a roar, and a scorching stream of air rushed out, carrying the smell of fire and the stench of blood. The air swirled up dust, forming small vortices.

Qin Shuang took a step back, raising her scythe to block the first wave of the vortex's impact. The blade struck the flames, producing a metallic hum.

Zhou Yang followed closely behind, stepping into the newly opened space. The space was dimly lit, yet countless points of light floated in the air, like fragments of starlight.

Several ancient artifacts inlaid with gemstones could be vaguely seen within the points of light, emitting a faint, eerie glow. A flicker of greed crossed Zhou Yang's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it with reason.

Qin Shuang's eyes swept quickly across the specks of light, locking onto an ancient artifact shaped like a key. She reached out and grasped the key, feeling its slight pulse.

"This key might be able to unlock an even more important seal," Qin Shuang said softly, her voice echoing in the space.

Zhou Yang nodded and looked back at the cave entrance. The lingering warmth of the flames still remained on the stone walls, as if reminding them to leave in time.

The two stood side by side in the center of the light, the surrounding air filled with strange energy. The energy formed faint ripples around them, like gentle waves spreading across a spring.

Zhou Yang reached his hand to his chest, feeling the lingering warmth of his life force. Although he had lost five years, he still had enough reserves to support the next act.

Qin Shuang put the keys into the side pocket of her backpack. Her movements were light yet delicate.

At this moment, another low rumble came from the depths of the cave, as if an ancient mechanism had been activated again.

"Let's go, don't linger here too long," Zhou Yang said, his voice low and firm.

Qin Shuang nodded, drew her sickle, and stepped onto the stone steps. Their figures gradually disappeared into the distance amidst the interplay of firelight and blue light.

At the end of the stone steps lay another unknown valley. Faint lights flickered in the valley, like a campfire lit in the distance.

Their silhouettes were elongated by the lamplight and disappeared into the mist of the valley.