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

Zhou Yang raised his hand, and a drop of blood traced an arc in the air.

The blood droplet struck the rune in the center of the altar, instantly emitting a dark red light.

The runes themselves resemble layered stone patterns, with chisel marks of varying depths.

Each chisel mark is like an ancient chain, tightly binding the power of the fragments.

Qin Shuang stood to the side, the blade of her sickle still gleaming coldly.

Her gaze never left the floating piece of debris.

"How many more cuts?" she asked in a low voice.

Zhou Yang's lips twitched slightly, his voice hoarse yet filled with defiance.

Only three remain.

Three cuts equal three lifespans.

Every cut can lead to an extreme simulation.

He did not hesitate.

Blood boiled at the fingertips, turning into fine red mist.

The crimson mist flowed from the fingertips toward the runes.

With each drop of blood seeping in, new marks appeared on the surface of the rune.

The engravings are not ordinary patterns.

They resemble sharp knife marks, carrying the scent of burning.

The collision of blood and runes produced a deep hum.

The buzzing gradually turned into a trembling sound, like the heartbeat of a giant beast.

A sharp pain shot through Zhou Yang's chest.

Each drop of blood consumed felt like a blade slicing across one's back.

Qin Shuang turned to the side and whispered a reminder: "Don't push yourself to the limit."

Zhou Yang nodded slightly, a hint of self-mockery in his voice.

"This is a business transaction; self-interest means not being afraid to pay the price."

The blood mist spread across the runes, forming a dark red ring.

A faint light began to appear inside the ring, like stars being ignited.

The points of light gradually converged, forming a complete spell seal.

At the center of the seal is an obsidian stone with ancient characters engraved on its surface.

The words slowly writhed in the heat of the blood mist.

The wriggling text transformed into a shockwave, spreading outwards.

The shockwave shattered the rune's chains.

The chain fragments scattered like raindrops and disappeared into the air.

A dazzling wave of light followed.

The wave of light pierced through the altar's shield, directly engulfing the fragments.

The surface of the fragment began to tremble violently.

It trembled and emitted a blood-red glow, like a burning heart.

The light pierced through space and shone directly towards Zhou Yang's brow.

The crimson light between his brows was instantly absorbed.

Zhou Yang felt the blood in his chest boil instantly.

He closed his eyes and felt an extremely strong power.

This power is like a continuous mountain tide, washing away all fatigue.

Blood circulated rapidly in his body, taking away the remaining years of his life.

All three blades have burned out.

His skin had fine cracks on its surface, as if it had been scorched by flames.

Qin Shuang stared intently at his retreating figure, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"Don't stand there for too long," she whispered a reminder.

Zhou Yang looked up, a long-lost determination in his eyes.

There's no turning back now.

The light condensed into a small sphere of light between his eyebrows.

The sphere of light was like a bottle filled with stars, enough to illuminate the entire valley.

The sphere of light shattered, and the light scattered in all directions.

The valley was instantly covered by a blood-red light curtain.

Every rock and every vine was set ablaze.

The fragment at the center of the light curtain was completely liberated.

Energy surged forth from within the fragments like a tidal wave, washing away all obstacles.

After being washed, clear patterns appeared on the surface of the fragments.

The patterns resemble those of an ancient sword, sharp yet orderly.

Zhou Yang gently touched it with his hand, and felt a warmth on the blade.

Warmth spread across his fingertips, like a spark burning.

He steadied his breathing and sensed the direction of this force.

The power rises along the veins, reaching the top of the head.

A transparent shield forms above the head, overlapping with the light curtain.

Faint ripples appeared on the outer layer of the shield, like ripples on the surface of the sea.

Qin Shuang stood outside the shield, her gaze becoming even sharper.

"Is this power enough for us to get out of here?" she asked.

Zhou Yang didn't smile, he just nodded.

"enough."

He waved his hand, and the light screen spread outwards.

The light curtain touched every rock wall in the valley and instantly turned into fragments.

The debris dissipated in the light, turning into a light mist.

The mist, carrying the lingering warmth of the fragments, slowly rose.

The fog rose high enough to obscure the waning moon atop the mountain.

The moonlight was blocked, making the night seem even deeper.

Zhou Yang felt the blood in his body begin to congeal.

The congealed blood, like steel, locked his breath.

He took a deep breath, his blood churning in his chest.

The churning blood carried away the remaining pain.

Qin Shuang saw the color gradually returning to his face.

She gently patted his shoulder.

"We should go."

Zhou Yang stood up, his steps steady.

He glanced back at the altar, which was now devoid of any light or shadow.

Only the remaining fog slowly dissipated.

He reached into his backpack and took out the blood-red shard of key.

The key hummed faintly in my hand.

"There will be even stronger seals in the future," he said in a low voice.

Qin Shuang simply nodded.

The two stepped onto the stone path leading into the depths of the valley.

The stone path was illuminated by the light curtain, making the pebbles underfoot clearly visible.

Every step is firm and powerful, as if leading to a solid future.

A gentle mountain breeze carried away some of the stench of blood.

Zhou Yang's brows relaxed slightly.

He secretly made a mental note that the strength he gained from the three strikes was enough to allow him to stand up again.

"From now on, every combustion must be calculated precisely," he muttered to himself.

Qin Shuang chuckled softly, her voice as sharp as a blade slicing through metal.

"As long as you're alive, why care about the cost?"

Zhou Yang responded with a faint smile.

The smile concealed countless calculations and exchanges.

The two figures stretched out in the light screen, gradually moving further and further away.

The light curtain slowly closed behind them, as if opening a new door for them.

Beyond the door lay an unknown wasteland, dotted with starlight.

Zhou Yang looked up at the starry sky.

The stars twinkled, like countless eyes.

He felt the blood pulsating slightly in his chest.

This pulsation is a reminder of the future.

Qin Shuang walked to his side and gently placed her fingers on his shoulder.

She whispered, "Don't forget, there are many more fragments waiting."

Zhou Yang nodded, his eyes resolute.

"I will make every burning of fuel more worthwhile."

The two quickened their pace and stepped into the starlight.

The beam of light flattened the dust beneath their feet, leaving clear footprints.

The distant mountains, reflected in the light, revealed blood-red outlines.

The edges of the light curtain gradually faded, leaving only a mixture of starlight and blood.

Zhou Yang's breathing was synchronized with the pulsation of the light curtain.

He felt that he was no longer simply a selfish person.

Rather, it is someone who gradually gains the initiative through equivalent exchange.

Qin Shuang's pace was in sync with his.

Her eyes revealed a rare tenderness.

The two passed through the light curtain and arrived at a wide plain.

There are ancient stone tablets on the plain, their surfaces covered with runes.

The runes emitted a dark red glow, as if echoing their crimson power.

Zhou Yang reached out and touched the surface of the monument, feeling a slight warmth at his fingertips.

He uttered the fragments of runes softly, his voice low and deep.

The monument responded, and light instantly spread out.

The light shone on every inch of the plain.

The land trembled in the light, like a sleeping behemoth being awakened.

Qin Shuang stood to the side, a look of joy flashing in her eyes.

She squinted and saw red dots beginning to flash on the distant mountain peaks.

That was a signal from another fragment.

Zhou Yang turned to Qin Shuang and said, "Keep moving forward."

Qin Shuang nodded and gripped the sickle tightly.

The two figures gradually disappeared in the light screen.

The light curtain faded, leaving behind a silent plain.

A crimson glow burned silently on the distant mountain peaks.