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

A cold wind swept across the back of Lingfeng Peak. Long shadows were cast by the rock walls in the twilight. Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang ascended the final steps, the stone steps already whitened by frost. Each step creaked slightly. Pebbles tumbled beneath their feet, echoing in the abyss. Qin Shuang's long robe fluttered in the wind, the dark patterns on her cuffs shimmering faintly in the light. At the center of the platform was a massive stone platform. A circular groove was recessed into the platform, its edges inscribed with ancient runes. The runes trembled slightly in the wind, as if breathing. Four large characters were engraved on the stone: "With a drop of blood as the key." Beside it was a smaller explanation: "Only then can it be synthesized." A faint silver light shone from the bottom of the groove, illuminating Qin Shuang's face. Qin Shuang gently raised her hand and took out a transparent gem hidden at her waist. The gem was crystal clear, with faint red light flowing within. She placed the gem on the edge of the groove, her movements steady. Zhou Yang stood beside her, his gaze shifting between the stone platform and the gem. His lifespan system flickered in the background. Each drop of blood consumed was timed. At this moment, he pondered. Was it worth exchanging ten years of his lifespan for the power of the fragment? Qin Shuang's fingertips lightly touched the gem's surface. A thin metal needle emerged from her sleeve. The needle tip touched the blood from her arm, and a drop of blood fell into the gem. The gem instantly lit up, casting dappled shadows of red light on the stone platform. With each drop of blood, the light in the groove contracted. Then, a deep hum rose from the bottom of the stone platform. The surrounding air seemed to be sucked away, leaving only the whistling wind echoing in their ears. The center of the stone platform slowly rose. The originally pale silver light transformed into a dense blue-purple pillar of light. Invisible patterns swirled within the pillar, like an interweaving of blood and power. Qin Shuang withdrew the needle, her brow furrowing slightly. She gently placed the gem back into the groove; the blood droplet had already seeped into the stone's texture. The pillar of light continued to extend upwards, soaring into the sky. A transparent spherical structure appeared at the top of the pillar of light, with the outline of fragments inside. The fragments emitted a faint heat, like molten metal. Zhou Yang reached out and touched the pillar of light; his fingertips felt as if an electric current was flowing through them. The current wasn't painful, only giving him a cool, tingling sensation. Then, his inner energy gently vibrated in his chest, and the numbers in his lifespan system briefly flickered. The power of the pillar of light was gradually seeping into his body. Zhou Yang's eyes deepened. He gently pressed his hand to his chest, as if sensing the flowing energy. Qin Shuang stood beside the pillar of light, her gaze focused. Her left hand gripped a short knife tightly, the blade gleaming coldly in the light. Her breathing was steady, as if waiting for a moment. Suddenly, a white spot of light appeared at the top of the pillar of light. The spot of light quickly fell, striking the fragments. The fragments instantly shattered, revealing their core. A black metal block, its surface engraved with ancient symbols. The metal block was enveloped by the energy of the pillar of light, emitting a deep resonance. Qin Shuang's dagger lightly tapped the metal block, producing a crisp sound. The sound echoed across the mountain peak, as if announcing the completion of the ritual. Zhou Yang withdrew his hand and whispered, "Ten years of lifespan have been cut." He was unhurried, his voice like a blade honed in the wind. Qin Shuang nodded, her eyes showing no fear. Working together, the two removed the metal block and placed it into their cloth bag. The inside of the bag was covered with a special silk pattern that could suppress the brilliance of the fragments. Qin Shuang held the gemstone back in her palm. Blood flowed within the crystal, like a flame being rekindled. She murmured to herself, "This blood, consider it an exchange." Zhou Yang looked up at the distant mountains. In the twilight, the outline of the towering peaks resembled a blood-red blade. The wind ruffled his hair, reminding him that there was still a way to go. He reached out to Qin Shuang and gently patted her shoulder. Their silhouettes cast long shadows in the afterglow of the pillar of light. The pillar of light slowly dissipated, and the sky returned to its starlight. Qin Shuang sheathed her dagger and returned to the stone platform. She opened her bag and placed the metal piece in the groove. The brilliance of the fragment instantly converged in the groove, forming a dazzling halo. The halo spread outwards, illuminating the entire mountain peak. The rocks, touched by the light, developed fine cracks on their surfaces, but showed no signs of collapse. A pale golden mark appeared at the center of the halo, radiating a warm heat. Zhou Yang looked down at the mark, his fingertips lightly touching it, feeling a faint rhythm. The mark was like a key, waiting for the next step to unlock it. Qin Shuang placed the gem in her hand into the notch of the mark. The gem and the mark merged, emitting soft waves of light. The waves of light flowed down the mountainside like a river of blood. The two stood on the mountain peak, their breaths momentarily held by the sight before them. The intertwining of blood and light made the entire Lingfeng Peak seem like a heart that had been rekindled. Zhou Yang withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. "The next fragment is in the abyss of the East Sea." Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow, a resolute glint in her eyes. She raised the tip of her knife, pointing it towards the distant coastline. "Ready?" Zhou Yang asked. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unwavering determination. Qin Shuang nodded, the tip of her knife lightly touching the stone platform, producing a crisp sound. The gleam of the metal danced at her fingertips, as if responding to her resolve. The wind howled across the mountaintop, carrying away their whispers. Their figures gradually faded in the light and shadow. Only the mark remained, still faintly shimmering. The halo slowly contracted, leaving its afterglow scattered on the stone walls of Lingfeng. The night deepened, and starlight twinkled in the distant valleys, like silent drumbeats. Their footsteps had already begun their descent down the mountain. Each step was on a firm rhythm. The lingering warmth of blood and light made their heartbeats resonate with the mountains. The mountain path sloped, pebbles rolling and crashing beneath their feet. Zhou Yang looked down and saw bloodstains glistening in the snow. Those were the traces of blood he had just given. He touched them lightly, feeling the warmth spreading. The heat reminded him that the price of his lifespan was being consumed. Qin Shuang leaned closer and whispered, "We need to hurry." Her voice cut through the wind like a blade slicing through metal. The two walked side by side, their footsteps leaving clear marks on the rock face. A low roar came from afar, as if a giant beast was lurking. Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, his hand gripping his short sword tightly. "Scout ahead first," he whispered, pointing to the narrow crevice on the left. Qin Shuang nodded, throwing her short sword, the tip lightly touching the stone wall. The tip drew out fragments of light, illuminating a hidden passage. The passage was narrow and winding, like a natural maze. The two entered, the chill of the stone wall piercing their lungs. Zhou Yang's lifespan system flashed, showing his remaining time rapidly decreasing. She gently stroked the gem at her waist in the shadows, feeling the lingering warmth of her blood. Suddenly, a dark shadow rushed out from the crevice, resembling a black mist wolf. The mist wolf growled, its claws dripping corrosive venom. Zhou Yang rushed forward, slicing through the mist wolf's body with his short sword. Blood splattered from the blade, and the mist wolf's form instantly disintegrated. It turned into black smoke, vanishing into the valley with the wind. Qin Shuang didn't stop, directly stabbing at the mist wolf's afterimage. Her blade, stained crimson with blood, cut through the oppressive air. A brief spark ignited at the tip of her blade from the remaining mist wolf. Back to back, the brief silence brought their heartbeats back to normal. They continued onward, the mountain path becoming even more winding in the twilight. The distant starlight was obscured by the afterglow of the mountain peaks. Only faint lights remained. Zhou Yang listened intently, hearing the subtle cracking of the rock beneath his feet. It was the sound of the mountain trembling gently in the night wind. Qin Shuang suddenly stopped. She whispered a warning: "There's an ancient trap ahead." She tapped the stone wall with her fingers, identifying the hidden mechanism. The two carefully circled around it, their footsteps making no sound.