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

The basement was dark.

Only one oil lamp flickered on the wall.

In the dim light, the altar looked particularly eerie.

The fragment of the dragon's spine was placed in the center of the altar.

It has a bronze hue.

Like a rusty piece of iron.

But Zhou Yang knew its significance.

The altar master stood beside the altar, his face pale.

Blood was seeping from his chest.

He was seriously injured in that battle.

"Baihu, you shouldn't have come here," the altar master's voice was hoarse.

Qin Shuang gripped the knife at her waist tightly.

"We're just here to pick up something."

"Something?" The altar master laughed, but his laughter was interrupted by a cough. "This thing, you can't lift."

Zhou Yang's gaze remained fixed on the fragment of the dragon's spine.

Under the light, it seemed to be glowing slightly.

It's like summoning something.

"It seems we can't reach an agreement," Zhou Yang said in a relaxed tone.

The forum leader suddenly launched an attack!

With a flick of his right hand, three poisoned needles flew towards Zhou Yang.

The needle glowed with a green light.

It looks like it's highly poisonous.

Zhou Yang was prepared.

Lean back to avoid the path of the poison needles.

At the same time, his left hand moved.

Swift as lightning!

They seized the fragment of the dragon's spine.

A cool sensation came through.

It's like holding a piece of ice.

"court death!"

The forum master was furious.

Ignoring his injuries, he lunged at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang did not linger in the fight.

He grabbed Qin Shuang's wrist.

"Walk!"

His voice was urgent.

It's too late.

The altar master slapped his palm against the wall.

There's a mechanism on the bricks there.

"boom!"

The first explosion.

The basement started shaking.

Dust fell from above.

"Are you crazy?!" Qin Shuang shouted.

"They're going to die, don't drag us down with them." Zhou Yang pulled her towards the exit.

The altar master laughed wildly from behind.

"Since we're all going to die anyway, let's die together!"

Another mechanism has been triggered.

This time it was even louder.

The entire basement was shaking.

A rock fell from above.

Zhou Yang held Qin Shuang in his arms, using his back to support a rock.

"Well!"

He groaned.

It looks like my bone is cracked.

But there was no time to feel the pain.

"Get out of here!"

They rushed towards the stairs.

The steps have begun to break.

You could fall at any step.

"Boom!"

A loud noise came from behind.

Flames shot into the sky.

It's explosives.

The altar master filled the entire basement with explosives.

Zhou Yang's speed increased even further.

He was practically flying.

He led Qin Shuang towards the light.

It's finally out!

Outside is the main hall of the temple.

But it's not much better.

The entire temple is collapsing.

The beams and pillars broke, and tiles flew off.

"left!"

Zhou Yang pulled Qin Shuang to avoid a falling beam.

The wood crashed to the ground and broke into several pieces.

Smoke and dust filled the air.

They couldn't see anything clearly.

I can only run in the direction of the gate I remember.

Footsteps.

The sound of many people's footsteps.

It came from outside.

Zhou Yang's heart sank.

The people from the Heavenly Principle Sect haven't left yet.

They were waiting outside.

"Prepare for battle." Zhou Yang shielded Qin Shuang behind him.

Your injury...

"I won't die."

The smoke and dust dissipated a little.

You can see a row of men in black standing outside the door.

They were all holding knives.

The blade gleamed coldly in the setting sun.

Zhou Yang.

The leader spoke.

"The incense master wants to see you."

"Where is your sect leader?" Zhou Yang asked.

"You won't see him. Because you're going to die here."

The man waved his hand.

Everyone lunged forward at the same time.

The blades flashed like a forest.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath.

He felt a lot of pain in his back.

It might be a fracture.

This kind of injury usually requires a month of bed rest.

But not now.

"Stay close to me."

He suddenly rushed forward.

The Blood Dragon Short Sword was drawn.

The sword light was very bright.

Like lightning in the night.

The first man in black fell.

The second one fell down too.

There was a bloodstain on their throats.

But there were too many people.

It surged up like a tide.

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth.

Every sword strike consumes stamina.

The wound on my back hurts.

The pain made his vision go black.

But he cannot fall.

Qin Shuang was still behind him.

Moreover, the fragment of the dragon's spine was still in his arms.

This is something he earned with his life.

"Bang!"

A knife slashed at his back.

The wound reopened and went deeper.

Blood stained the clothes.

Zhou Yang swayed slightly.

But it stood up and didn't fall.

He swung his sword backhand.

Another one solved.

But this can't go on.

People will die here.

"Shuang'er!"

He suddenly shouted.

"What?"

"Get ready to run!"

After saying that, he did something crazy.

He headbutted the person in front of him.

That person never expected him to be so reckless.

I instinctively stepped back.

It's now!

"Hurry up!"

Zhou Yang pulled Qin Shuang along and squeezed through the gap in the man's body.

But there are many more people outside.

They were surrounded.

"it's over."

The leader of the men in black sneered.

Raise the knife.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

It's urgent.

Very dense.

It looks like a downpour is coming.

The man in black glanced back.

His expression changed.

"Are they...are they soldiers from the imperial court?"

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer.

You can tell they are cavalry.

Clashing swords and iron horses, a murderous aura filling the air.

Zhou Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

Reinforcements have arrived.

"shoot!"

At a command.

Arrows flew in like rain.

The men in black were thrown into disarray.

Many people were hit by arrows and fell to the ground.

"kill!"

The cavalry charged into the crowd.

Swords, spears, halberds, and blood and flesh flew everywhere.

The leading general was very young.

But his eyes are very sharp.

"Captain Zhou!"

He shouted.

"This humble general has come to provide support on the orders of the Great General!"

Zhou Yang recognized him.

It is Lieutenant General Wang.

A fierce general under the command of the great general.

"You've come at the perfect time," Zhou Yang said, his voice somewhat weak.

Wang, the military advisor, saw that he was covered in blood.

Are you injured?

"Minor injury."

"Get on your horse quickly!"

Wang Canjiang handed over the reins of a horse.

Zhou Yang helped Qin Shuang mount the horse.

He then climbed up himself.

The wound on my back was pulled.

The pain almost made him cry out.

But he held back.

We cannot show weakness.

"Break through!"

General Wang gave the order.

The cavalry began their charge.

The people of the Heavenly Principle Sect could not resist.

They all retreated.

"Don't let them get away!"

The man in black, who was in charge, was shouting.

But nobody listens to him anymore.

The cavalry was too fast.

That's incredible.

The smell of blood permeated the air.

Zhou Yang held Qin Shuang in his arms and gripped the horse's reins tightly.

The wind blew past my ear.

It smelled of blood.

He glanced back.

Bao'en Temple is now in ruins.

Thick smoke billowed out.

The forum leader should be dead by now.

But his death was worthwhile.

This at least bought Zhou Yang some time.

"How is it?" Qin Shuang asked in his arms.

"good."

Your injury...

"It's really nothing."

Zhou Yang reached his hand into his clothes.

He touched the fragment of the dragon's spine.

Still.

The cool touch made him feel at ease.

Although a price was paid.

But it's worth it.

"Where are we going?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Let's get out of here first."

Wang Canjiang caught up with them.

"Captain Zhou, the General is waiting for you outside the city."

"Know."

The sound of horses' hooves echoed in the setting sun.

The group rushed out of the capital.

Behind him were smoke and fire.

The future is unknown.

But Zhou Yang was not afraid.

He has a fragment of the dragon's spine.

This is enough.

The fragments in my arms were cold.

Like a block of ice.

But in his heart...

But a fire broke out.

Night fell.

They continued forward.

No one looked back.

No one spoke.

Only the sound of horses' hooves could be heard.

On the vast land.

Playing a tune of progress.

Zhou Yang touched his back.

The wound still hurts.

But I've become numb to it all.

He was used to this pain.

Every time I get injured.

These are all the costs of growing up.

He looked eastward.

There, the moon has risen.

The silvery moonlight bathed the earth.

It illuminated the path ahead.

It also illuminated his eyes.

That indomitable light.