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

The mountain road was muddy and slippery after the rain.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang climbed the stone steps upwards, the clouds and mist swirling around the mountaintop, the outline of the Star Gazing Pavilion appearing and disappearing intermittently. The eaves of the pavilion peeked out from the clouds, like a silent behemoth crouching atop the mountain.

Qin Shuang's breathing was still somewhat disordered.

Although the skirmish down the mountain was brief, the enemy's forces were clearly no ordinary bunch. If Zhou Yang hadn't sensed the trap beforehand, the two of them might already be lying in the mud.

She glanced at the man beside her.

His face was still pale, but his steps were steady. His eyes revealed little emotion, like a deep pool of water.

"arrive."

Zhou Yang suddenly stopped.

Qin Shuang looked up and saw a platform in front of her. It was paved with bluestone, not large in area, but very clean. At the end of the platform was a stone gate, with the words "Star Gazing" carved on the lintel. The characters were mottled and their age was indistinguishable.

Two young disciples stood on either side of the stone gate, dressed in gray robes and expressionless.

"Halt!"

The boy on the left spoke, his voice cold and clear.

Zhou Yang didn't move, he just stared at the stone gate.

Three breaths later, he smiled.

"So that's how it is."

Qin Shuang was taken aback: "What's wrong?"

"This door is fake," Zhou Yang pointed to the stone door. "The real entrance is in the wall behind the stone door. The array switch should be under the seventh blue brick on the left."

As he spoke, he walked over and lightly tapped a piece of blue brick on the left side of the stone gate with his finger.

"Click—"

A faint mechanical sound rang out.

The stone door slowly parted to reveal a passage. The passage was not deep, about three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and at the end was a spacious stone chamber.

The two boys' expressions changed drastically.

"You, what's wrong with you...?"

"Let's go."

Zhou Yang was the first to step into the passage.

Qin Shuang followed, glancing at the two boys before leaving. Their expressions were interesting—shock, confusion, and a hint of annoyance at being seen through.

The passage was short, and we reached the end in no time.

The stone chamber was large with a high dome, inlaid with luminous pearls, illuminating the entire chamber as bright as day. In the very center was a circular stone platform, its surface carved with intricate star maps. Surrounding the star maps were eight stone statues, each with a different posture: some holding swords, some holding books, some wearing armor, and some with their hands behind their backs.

Behind the stone platform stood an elderly man in a blue robe.

The old man looked quite ordinary, thin, slightly hunched, and his face was full of wrinkles, except for his strikingly bright eyes. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yang, a mixture of scrutiny and amusement in his eyes.

"How many years has it been?"

The old man spoke, his voice aged but full of energy.

"You are the third person to dare to take this shortcut."

Qin Shuang instinctively gripped the sword hilt.

Zhou Yang didn't move. He simply looked at the old man and said calmly, "Senior, you're not waiting here just to praise me."

"clever."

The old man smiled, a smile that held a hint of appreciation.

"I am Tianji, the current master of the Star Gazing Pavilion."

He paused, then added, "It was also the person who transmitted the message from the foot of the mountain."

Zhou Yang nodded: "When a senior sets up an illusionary array as a test, there must be a chance for people to pass."

"An illusion array?" The old man of heavenly secrets shook his head. "That's not an illusion array; it's the first test of the Path of Inquiry. If one's will is not firm, the stone door one sees will be a dead end. If one tries to take shortcuts, the moment one touches the switch, the restriction will be triggered, and one will die and perish."

He looked at Zhou Yang, his eyes becoming deep.

"Unfortunately, such petty tricks seem to have no effect on you."

Zhou Yang remained noncommittal: "You flatter me, senior."

"Whether it's a compliment or not, I know perfectly well."

The old man of the heavens walked around the stone platform, his gaze never leaving Zhou Yang.

"The one destined for this calamity, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang's expression changed slightly.

Zhou Yang remained calm: "How much do you know, senior?"

"Enough is enough."

The Celestial Elder stopped in front of the stone platform and pointed at a certain spot on the star map.

The star chart slowly rotated, and a star lit up, its position exactly in the north.

"There are nine fragments of the Dragon Spine. Each fragment corresponds to a forbidden land in the world. This fragment..." He pointed to the star, "is in the Northern Wilderness, and is called 'Fallen Dragon Abyss'."

Zhou Yang's eyes flickered.

He didn't speak, waiting for the other person to continue.

"I know what you're looking for." The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets stood with his hands behind his back. "Dragon Spine, a fragment of a divine weapon, containing the residual power of the laws of an ancient true dragon. If fully restored, it can cleave the void and tear apart the Heavenly Dao."

"And the price?"

Zhou Yang suddenly asked.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets smiled: "Indeed, you are a wise man."

He held up three fingers.

"The first fragment requires three hundred years to repair. The second requires five hundred years. And so on, with each subsequent fragment requiring more and more time to repair."

Zhou Yang squinted.

He was calculating.

If what the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets said is true, then the lifespan required to repair all nine fragments would be astronomical.

But he won't believe it completely.

"Senior, name your terms."

Zhou Yang said directly.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets didn't want ordinary help; he needed a pawn to fight against the Heavenly Principle Sect. And he himself just happened to fit that requirement.

"readily."

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets clapped his hands and laughed.

"My condition is simple. The Heavenly Principle Sect is also searching for this fragment. Their team set off three days ago and is expected to arrive in the Northern Wilderness tomorrow."

He looked at Zhou Yang, his tone becoming meaningful.

"As long as you can find the fragment before them and take it away, that fragment is yours. The Star Gazing Pavilion will not interfere."

"In return," the old man continued, "I will tell you the location of the other fragments. In addition, the library of the Star Gazing Pavilion will be open to you for three months."

"What classic texts?"

"Cultivation techniques, martial arts, formations, pill formulas, secret arts," the Heavenly Mystery Elder said calmly. "The Star Gazing Pavilion has a history of three thousand years, and the collection of its classic texts is enough to make any power envious."

Zhou Yang did not agree immediately.

He is processing this information.

The Star Gazing Pavilion and the Heavenly Principle Sect are adversaries. This is evident from their offer—they are willing to exchange the locations of other fragments and scriptures for their obstruction of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

But why would the Heavenly Principle Sect want this fragment?

What use is the dragon's spine to them?

Zhou Yang had many questions in his mind, but he knew now was not the time to ask them.

"I need time to think about it."

He said slowly.

The old man of heavenly secrets nodded: "Okay. But it has to be quick."

He looked up at the top of the stone chamber, his brow furrowing slightly.

"They're here."

"Who?"

Qin Shuang blurted it out.

The old man of the heavens did not answer, but turned to look at the entrance of the stone chamber.

A gust of wind blew in from the passageway.

The wind is red.

It carried a strong smell of blood.

“Gagaga—”

A strange laugh came from the depths of the passage, echoing in the stone chamber like the hooting of an owl.

"That old codger from the Star Gazing Pavilion wants to ask outsiders for help?"

As the voice faded, three figures emerged from the passage.

The leader was a burly man in red, eight feet tall, with a giant blood-red wolf tattooed on his bare chest. Behind him were two other men also dressed in red, one tall and thin, the other short and stout.

"The Heavenly Principle Sect, Blood Wolf Dharma King."

The old man of heavenly secrets spoke calmly, his voice unwavering.

"Blood Slaughter King," the burly man corrected, "I've already been promoted."

He looked at the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets, then at Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang, his copper bell-like eyes full of mockery.

"So it was the two of you who broke the trap my sect set up?"

Zhou Yang did not answer.

Qin Shuang's sword was already drawn.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The Blood Slaughter King laughed, his laughter echoing throughout the stone chamber.

"Interesting, so interesting!"

He pointed at the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets and laughed wildly, "You old codger, you want to use someone else to do your dirty work? Don't you even know if this knife is hard enough!"

"Whether it's hard enough or not, you'll only know after you try it."

The old man spoke calmly.

"There are rules in the Star Gazing Pavilion. Fighting is forbidden within the pavilion. Whoever can pass the 'Path of Inquiry' is qualified to enter the Star Gazing Pavilion."

He glanced at Zhou Yang.

"Including your Kagyu sect."

Blood Slaughter King's face darkened.

"Asking about one's inner path? That's your Star Gazing Pavilion's assessment; it's useless against our Heavenly Principle Sect!"

"The rules were set by me."

The old man of the heavens said calmly, "When you're on the territory of the Star Gazing Pavilion, you have to abide by the rules of the Star Gazing Pavilion."

He raised his hand and pressed down on a spot on the stone platform.

"boom--"

The stone chamber trembled.

The star map brightened, and the eight stone statues opened their eyes simultaneously.

"I forgot to mention."

The voice of the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets rang out the moment the stone statue opened its eyes.

"The Path of Inquiry consists of eight stages. Each stage you pass increases your strength by one point."

He looked at the Blood Slaughter King and smiled slightly.

"Your Majesty, please."