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

The opening needs to directly connect to the previous text, and the scene is a desperate situation where the three parties are surrounded.

I need to establish tension from the very beginning, using short sentences and a fast pace. Zhou Yang's fatal crisis—the encirclement by the Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry and the pincer attack by the Heavenly Principle Sect—must be shown at the outset, trapping him in a situation with no way to retreat. Tuoba Tao's pursuit and the Heavenly Principle Sect's covert watchful eye drastically compress his living space.

Qin Shuang's warning indicated that the pursuers were close at hand. Zhou Yang quickly assessed the situation: the iron cavalry behind them kicked up clouds of dust, numbering at least a hundred; disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect charged out from the forest on the flanks, forming a deadly pincer movement. He decisively ordered a retreat, but it was too late—the Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry had completed the encirclement, their gleaming armor trapping them in the center.

Tuoba Tao appeared on horseback ahead, holding his severed left arm, his eyes filled with even more intense killing intent. He presented a cruel choice: hand over the Blood Dragon Sword, but...

This was to give Qin Shuang a quick and painless death. Zhou Yang merely sneered at this, quickly weighing several possible escape plans in his mind. But Tuoba Tao seemed to have seen through his thoughts, pointing out that any attempt to use the Blood Dragon Sword was already too late—he had been poisoned by the Heavenly Principle Sect's "Pulse-Severing Powder," rendering his internal energy unable to circulate.

Zhou Yang's expression changed drastically. He immediately circulated his internal energy to check his meridians and found that Tuoba Tao's words were true. His internal energy was like a stagnant pool, completely unusable. A fatal threat was approaching, and he was truly in dire straits.

Tuoba Tao coldly gave the order, and the Northern Wilderness cavalry began to slowly tighten the encirclement. The sound of hooves was heavy and slow, each step like a countdown to death.

Faced with Qin Shuang's questioning, Zhou Yang admitted with a bitter smile that he had reached a dead end. Qin Shuang gripped her sickle tightly, preparing for a final stand. Zhou Yang suddenly remembered that Fang Tian had once passed on...

The ultimate forbidden technique mentioned in his Blood Dragon Heart Sutra—"Blood Bathing and Spirit Burning"—can unleash the full power of a divine weapon in a short time, but requires sacrificing ten years of lifespan as a price.

For someone who only has a few years left to live, this is undoubtedly a suicidal choice. But Zhou Yang just sneered; since there was no other way out, there was no need to worry about the consequences.

He gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, instantly burning away ten years of his lifespan. The Blood Dragon Divine Weapon fully awakened, and golden dragon energy spread outwards like a tidal wave.

A dragon's roar resounded through the heavens and earth, and golden dragon energy transformed into a raging wave of energy. The Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry within a thirty-zhang radius were the first to be hit, and men and horses were instantly pulverized, with blood and flesh scattering everywhere. Tuoba Tao only had time to hear the deafening dragon's roar before he saw his left arm turn into a bloody mist in the dragon energy.

The excruciating pain caused him to fall from his horse, and the rest of the cavalry, terrified by the terrifying force, retreated in droves.

Zhou Yang held the Blood Dragon Sword, its blade fully awakened, covered in golden dragon scales, its eyes burning with crimson light. He felt a surging power coursing through his body, as if it could destroy everything before him. The ten years of his lifespan consumed were absorbed by the divine weapon, directly converting into a two-year lifespan in return.

Two years!

Zhou Yang hadn't expected that this forbidden technique not only consumed energy but could also replenish it. New power surged within his body, and the injuries to his soul seemed to have been healed somewhat.

But he knew this was only a temporary victory. Disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect had attacked from the flank, numbering no fewer than twenty. Zhou Yang wanted to draw his sword to retaliate, but felt a wave of dizziness—his soul was beginning to backfire.

Qin Shuang's scythe slashed horizontally, a flash of cold light, and three Heavenly Principle Sect disciples instantly fell to the ground. She then pressed forward, her scythe dancing like a silver curtain of light, each strike precise and deadly. Her martial arts talent was fully displayed at this moment; she even had time to turn back and check on Zhou Yang's condition while attacking.

"Can we still fight?"

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. Three more disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect rushed at him, but Qin Shuang slashed them horizontally with her scythe, cleaving them in two. Seeing that they couldn't get around her, the enemies split into five to surround her, trying to eliminate this threat first. But Qin Shuang only sneered, and her scythe instantly pierced one of their throats, so fast that the opponent had no time to react.

Three more disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect joined the battle, greatly increasing Qin Shuang's pressure. Zhou Yang wanted to help but was powerless; the excruciating pain in his soul made it difficult for him to even stand. The battlefield reeked of blood. As he saw the fallen enemy corpses, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—the Blood Dragon Divine Weapon seemed to be absorbing some kind of power.

He tried to guide the absorbed heat and discovered that the divine weapon was drawing energy from the lifeblood of its enemies. With each kill, the energy returned to his body, and he felt the pain in his soul slightly ease. He understood! The Blood Dragon Divine Weapon could not only grow stronger by burning its lifespan, but it could also nourish itself by absorbing the lifeblood of its enemies. He had to find a way to survive.

Qin Shuang was surrounded and attacked by disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect, her situation critical. Zhou Yang rushed into the battle, his divine weapon sweeping across, golden dragon energy tearing three enemies to shreds. Their blood essence was absorbed by the divine weapon, transforming into his power. More enemies attacked, but he retaliated with a slash, dragon energy surging forth, killing all five enemies.

This insane method of killing is chilling.

"Walk!"

Zhou Yang grabbed Qin Shuang and broke out of the encirclement. The pursuers were still behind them, but the Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry had been routed, and the Heavenly Principle Sect disciples had suffered heavy casualties; no one could stop them anymore. The two weaved through the dense forest until they were sure there were no more pursuers before stopping.

Zhou Yang could no longer hold on. He knelt on one knee, using his knife as a support, and gasped for breath. Qin Shuang asked him how he was doing.

He looked up, a weary smile on his face—though the ordeal was close, he was still alive. Checking his divine weapon, he discovered that absorbing the essence blood had increased his lifespan by a full two years, a pleasant surprise. Qin Shuang told him that the Heavenly Principle Sect wouldn't let this go easily, and Zhou Yang expressed his understanding.

The two supported each other and continued their journey through the dense forest.

Zhou Yang turned back to look in the direction of the pursuers, his eyes resolute. The Blood Dragon Divine Weapon had fully awakened; this score would be settled sooner or later.

There's still a long road ahead, but at least for now they're alive.

"They're here."

Qin Shuang's voice was very soft, like a snowflake falling to the ground.

Zhou Yang turned around. In the distance, dust billowed and hooves thundered; the Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry was catching up.

How many people?

"At least a hundred cavalry." Qin Shuang narrowed her eyes. "And the Heavenly Principle Sect members will flank us from the side."

Zhou Yang cursed. They had just rushed out of the valley, but they hadn't expected to be caught up with so quickly.

"Splitting up?" Qin Shuang asked.

"You think we can escape?" Zhou Yang shook his head. "That mad dog Tuoba Tao is biting us so hard, it's a dead end no matter where we run."

Before he could finish speaking, the pursuers had already arrived.

Tuoba Tao stood on horseback at the front of the formation, with a dark mass of Northern Wilderness cavalry behind him. His left arm was severed, the wound hastily bandaged, blood seeping through the bandage, making it look particularly gruesome.

"Zhou Yang." Tuoba Tao stared at him. "Hand over the Blood Dragon Sword, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."

"What a coincidence." Zhou Yang smiled. "I also want to make a deal with you. Leave the Dragon Spine Fragment behind, and I'll let you die a quick death."

Tuoba Tao's eyes turned cold. He said no more, waved his hand, and the iron cavalry behind him began to slowly advance.

The clanging of armor echoed as a hundred riders moved in unison. The pounding of hooves on the ground sent shivers down one's spine.

Zhou Yang quickly scanned his surroundings. The Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry launched a frontal assault, while members of the Heavenly Principle Sect emerged from the forest on the flank, creating a pincer movement. Outnumbered and outgunned, there was no way to retreat.

"Looks like I'm really going to die here today." Qin Shuang gripped the sickle tightly.

"Not necessarily." Zhou Yang took a deep breath. "I'll hold them off for a bit, and you find a chance to leave."

"Leave?" Qin Shuang glanced at him. "How long can you hold out?"

"I don't know," Zhou Yang said honestly, "but it's better than dying together."

"If you die, how am I supposed to give you extra money?"

Qin Shuang spoke calmly, but Zhou Yang sensed something else in her words.

"In the Blood Dragon Heart Sutra that Old Fang passed down to me, there is a forbidden technique," Zhou Yang suddenly said, "called 'Blood Bathing Spirit Burning,' which can unleash the full power of a divine weapon for a short period of time. But the price is ten years of lifespan."

Qin Shuang remained silent.

Is that enough?

That's enough.

Zhou Yang gripped the knife handle.

The meaning of ten years of lifespan for someone who only has a few years left to live is self-evident.

But now is not the time to think about these things.

"here we go."

He said softly.

In the next instant, ten years of lifespan were instantly consumed.

Blood Dragon Divine Weapon fully awakened!

Golden dragon energy erupted from the sword, transforming into a roaring dragon that swept in all directions.

The dragon's roar shook the heavens and the earth!

Within a radius of thirty feet, the golden dragon energy was like a hurricane. Wherever it passed, the Northern Wilderness Iron Cavalry, men and horses alike, instantly shattered, turning into a rain of blood and flesh.

Tuoba Tao only had time to see the dazzling golden light before he heard the dragon's roar in his ear.

Then, he saw his left arm.

Blood mist gushed from the severed arm, then vanished into nothingness amidst the dragon's aura.

"ah--"

A heart-wrenching scream escaped from Tuoba Tao's mouth. He fell from his horse, rolled on the ground, and writhed in pain.

The remaining cavalry were shocked by the bloody scene and reined in their horses, retreating without daring to advance further.

Zhou Yang stood in the center of the battlefield, holding the Blood Dragon Sword.

The sword has fully awakened, with golden dragon scales covering the blade and blood-red light burning in its dragon eyes.

He felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through his body.

This is the complete form of the Blood Dragon Divine Weapon.

Indeed powerful.

But he also knew that this situation wouldn't last long.

"Two years!"

Suddenly, Zhou Yang paused for a moment.

He sensed that a portion of the ten years of lifespan he had consumed had been absorbed by the divine weapon and replenished.

Although it's only been two years, it's an unexpected bonus.

The divine weapon absorbs the enemy's life essence and converts it into its lifespan!

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he understood.

The true terror of the Blood Dragon Divine Weapon lies not only in the explosive power gained by burning away one's lifespan, but also in its ability to absorb the essence and blood of enemies and nourish the user.

The more you kill, the longer you live.

"Trying to run away?"

Zhou Yang looked around.

The disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect had already taken advantage of the chaos to rush forward and just happened to meet his gaze.

"Perfect."

Zhou Yang drew his sword and met him.

As the golden dragon energy swept across, the three disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect turned into blood mist without even uttering a sound.

The essence and blood were absorbed by the divine weapon and transformed into heat within Zhou Yang's body.

Two more enemies attacked. Zhou Yang swung his sword backhand, unleashing a surge of dragon energy that sliced ​​both men in half at the waist.

The sheer efficiency of this killing spree sent chills down the spines of the Heavenly Principle Sect disciples.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

Someone shouted, and the rest of the people scattered and fled.

Zhou Yang did not give chase. He turned to look at Qin Shuang.

"Are you alright?"

"It's alright." Blood dripped from Qin Shuang's sickle. "That move you made just now scared them half to death."

"Scared out?" Zhou Yang shook his head. "Not enough. The Heavenly Principle Sect won't let this go, and Tuoba Tao is still alive."

"We'll talk about it once we catch up," Qin Shuang said, supporting him. "You should rest for a bit first."

"Um."

Zhou Yang responded, but his expression suddenly changed drastically.

The soul began to backfire.

His attack was incredibly powerful, but it also placed a terrifying burden on his soul. If it weren't for the Blood Dragon Divine Weapon absorbing his essence and nourishing him, he would already be dead.

Even so, the trauma to the soul takes time to heal.

"Let's get out of here first."

Zhou Yang forced himself to stand up, and the two quickly retreated.

Behind him, the pursuers had been routed. But Zhou Yang knew this was only a temporary respite.

Ahead, an even more difficult road awaited him.

But at least for now, he is still alive.

Moreover, their lifespan increased by two years.

This was a good deal.