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

That thought, like ice water, poured into Zhou Yang's mind.

There was no warmth. Only a pure, emotionless perception. It was scanning him. From head to toe, every inch of his body, every thought.

Zhou Yang froze.

This is not an illusion.

It is a real existence.

He could sense that the source of that feeling was the white pagoda before him. Or rather, it was something that had been dormant within the white pagoda for a long time.

It is confirming him.

Confirm the dragon spine fragment in his palm.

Zhou Yang did not resist. He was too weak to resist. Besides, he wanted to see what the other party was planning to do.

The monsters in this place are afraid of the tower's light.

The tower was protecting him and Qin Shuang.

This doesn't seem like a bad omen.

The scan of the mind ended quickly, receding like the tide.

Immediately afterwards, a gentler message flowed in. It wasn't language, but more like... an instinctive transmission.

He got it.

The tower wasn't communicating with him. It was responding to the arrival of the "key." And he was the one carrying the key.

The light from the cracks in the tower wall softened. A beam of light extended from the crack, like a living white snake, gently wrapping around Zhou Yang's wrist.

That light has weight.

It has a cool, jade-like feel.

The light guided his hand, slowly pressing it against his chest, to the location of his heart.

Zhou Yang did as instructed.

The warmth of the dragon's spine fragment still lingered in his palm. When he pressed it against his chest, that warmth mingled with the coolness of the tower.

boom!

A muffled thud exploded inside his body.

It wasn't an explosion. It was the sound of a torrent rushing forth from a dried-up riverbed.

The deficit caused by his previous overdraft of lifespan, the damage to his meridians, the annihilation of his dantian—all of these were forcibly filled at this moment by an indescribably complex energy.

It hurts.

It felt like someone was slowly threading wire through my veins. My bones were rubbing against each other, and my muscles were tearing.

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead. He let out a suppressed hoarse sound, his body hunched over like a shrimp.

But within this pain, there was also a hint of indescribable comfort.

His vitality, his depleted vitality, is surging forth in a savage way.

He could feel his almost extinguished lifeline being rekindled. It was even thicker and brighter than before.

He sat down cross-legged, letting the energy wash over his body.

At the same time, he spared a glance at Qin Shuang beside him.

The tower's light enveloped her. Her face, which had been deathly pale, now glowed with a faint blush. Her breathing became much more even.

The tower was not only saving him, but also saving her.

Zhou Yang finally felt relieved.

He closed his eyes and focused all his remaining cultivation techniques on guiding this "windfall."

Time passed little by little.

A layer of black, viscous, oily substance seeped from Zhou Yang's body. It was all the impurities accumulated in his body, as well as the hidden injuries left from the previous battle.

As the last wisp of black energy was expelled from his body, the light emanating from him gradually faded.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

Everything in the world became clear. He could hear the wind whistling through the stones in the distant ruins, and smell the mixture of earth and blood in the air.

He clenched his fist.

power.

It's not just a recovery.

It was an unprecedented abundance. In his dantian, although he hadn't had time to relearn the cultivation method, the purity of his life essence made him feel like his body was a barrel filled with gunpowder.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and his joints made a series of crisp popping sounds.

All right.

It has a complete whisker and tail, and is even stronger than before.

He walked to Qin Shuang's side, knelt down, and checked her breathing. Her breath was long and strong, but she was still unconscious. Her injuries must have been too severe, and her body was trying to heal itself.

Zhou Yang breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the white pagoda again.

The light from the crack had dimmed, and it had returned to its previous ancient appearance.

It was as if nothing had happened.

But Zhou Yang knew things were different now.

He could feel a faint connection forming between himself and the tower. It wasn't control, but more like... acceptance.

He is the "holder".

He glanced back in the direction the monster had disappeared. His eyes turned cold.

He didn't want to experience that feeling of helplessness again.

"Qin Shuang, you wait," he said in a low voice. "We'll settle this score slowly."

He examined Qin Shuang's injuries, which were mainly internal injuries and some superficial wounds, none of which were fatal. He moved her to a relatively clean rock and let her sit against it.

After doing all this, Zhou Yang walked to the edge of the ruins.

He needed to figure out where he was and what those monsters were.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

A commotion arose from the distant ruins.

It wasn't the sporadic footsteps we heard before.

It was a chaotic yet purposeful roar, like hundreds or thousands of horses' hooves pounding the ground simultaneously.

Zhou Yang's pupils contracted.

He immediately turned around and took a few steps back towards the white tower. He pressed his palm against his chest again.

He needs the tower's power.

That connection was triggered.

The white tower emitted another hum. The crack in the tower wall, as well as other cracks created during the previous battle, simultaneously lit up with a soft white light.

A beam of light shot into the sky, forming a huge, invisible dome around the white tower.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A group of monsters rushed out from every corner of the ruins.

The number is at least several hundred.

There were faceless figures like before, and even taller monsters covered in black carapaces like beetles. There were also humanoid figures that looked like they were made of mud and stones, dragging thick stone clubs in their hands.

Their goal is clear.

White Pagoda.

Or rather, the things inside the White Pagoda.

These monsters rushed to a point several dozen meters away from the white tower, then suddenly stopped, as if they had crashed into a wall.

They roared anxiously, attacking the invisible barrier frantically with their claws, their bodies, and their stone clubs.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The dull thuds continued, and the ground trembled slightly.

The barrier rippled in the light, yet remained as stable as a mountain.

Standing at the foot of the tower, looking at the group of monsters, Zhou Yang felt surprisingly calm.

There's no escaping it.

This is his battlefield.

He took a deep breath and tried to activate the energy within his body to communicate with the tower.

He wanted to know what he could do.

An idea formed in his mind.

The tower can provide him with energy and can turn his "ideas" into reality.

However, it requires consuming his life force as a "beacon".

Zhou Yang did not hesitate.

He escaped death and was given an extra life; now is the time to use it.

He stared at an exceptionally tall, armored monster in front of him, stretched out his right hand, and aimed it at it.

"Light."

He was silent.

hum!

The white pagoda shone brightly!

A beam of light, even more dazzling than the sun, shot out from the top of the tower and struck the shelled monster precisely.

There was no explosion.

Wherever the beam of light touched, the hardened monster, along with several of its kind behind it, instantly turned to ashes. Not even a wisp of smoke remained.

Its power is terrifying!

Zhou Yang was startled.

This is much more direct than his own method of calculating lifespan by burning energy.

But this was only a one-time attack.

As the beam of light disappeared, he felt a tiny bit of his life force being drained away. Not much, probably just a few hours of his life.

Less than expected.

It seems that the tower itself is the main source of energy, and he is merely a trigger directing it.

This discovery put Zhou Yang at ease.

With this trump card, he felt confident.

More importantly, he saw that the monsters behind the pillar of light did not retreat. Instead, they became even more frenzied, attacking at an even faster pace.

They are testing the waters.

Consuming.

Zhou Yang understood. The barrier couldn't last forever. Nor was the tower's energy limitless.

He must take the initiative.

"bring it on."

Zhou Yang gave a cold smile.

He picked up a piece of rubble about half his height from the ground, weighed it in his hand, and then hurled it at the group of monsters.

The gravel drew an arc in the air.

Just as it was about to land, Zhou Yang had a sudden thought.

"Accelerate".

The ordinary stone was suddenly enveloped in a layer of white light. The next moment, its speed increased several times, like a cannonball, and it slammed into the monster horde.

Click!

With the sound of bones shattering, one of the faceless men charging at the front was sent flying, its body twisting into a monstrous shape in mid-air.

The results were outstanding.

This method consumes far less life force, almost negligible.

Zhou Yang found the most economical and effective way to fight.

He became the "bomb thrower" on this battlefield.

He doesn't need any profound martial arts skills, just a pair of eyes that can pick up stones and a will that can connect with the tower.

Stones flew out one after another, imbued with white light, causing wave after wave of damage among the monster horde.

The monsters were stunned by the attack.

They tried to break through, but couldn't.

They wanted to back down, but something seemed to be driving them away, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and keep going.

Suddenly, a bizarre scene unfolded on the battlefield.

A man in white leisurely tossed stones beneath a glowing white tower. With each throw, a monster fell to the ground. Hundreds of ferocious monsters could only roar in vain outside the barrier, or be smashed to pieces by his thrown stones.

Zhou Yang was playing very smoothly, and even found it a little... boring.

These monsters don't seem to have much of a brain.

Just then, a sharp cry rang out from behind the monster horde.

Zhou Yang's eyes narrowed.

He saw it.

Behind the horde of monsters, a tall figure slowly rose to its feet. It was unlike any of the other monsters.

It has wings.

It wasn't feathers, but a membrane like a bat's, yet it shimmered with a metallic sheen. Its head wasn't faceless either, but resembled that of a vulture, with a sharp beak and scarlet eyes.

It appears to be a commander.

It let out a cry, and all the monsters stopped their mindless attacks and began to organize themselves.

The shelled monsters stood at the very front, forming a wall.

The mud-man monster was behind, holding a stone club high.

The faceless figures scattered, seemingly searching for a weak point in the barrier.

Trouble.

Zhou Yang frowned.

That tactic might work against a small group of scattered soldiers, but it's far less effective against an organized army.

He threw a stone, which was blocked by the thick shell of the foremost armored monster with a muffled thud, leaving not even a crack.

The vulture monster's crimson eyes locked onto Zhou Yang.

It opened its mouth, and a jet of dark purple flame shot out, heading straight for Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang's expression changed.

This is the first monster that can ignore the barrier and attack him directly!

He suddenly pushed off with his feet and rolled to the side to dodge.

The black fire burned the spot where he had just stood, instantly corroding a large pit in the stone slab, which then emitted blue smoke.

Highly poisonous!

Zhou Yang dared not be careless any longer.

He has to take out that commander first.

He concentrated his mind, focusing most of his thoughts on the white tower.

He was preparing to use that ultimate move again.

Just as he was about to issue the command, a soft but firm voice sounded behind him.

"I'll cover you."

Zhou Yang suddenly turned around.

Qin Shuang had woken up sometime earlier. She was leaning on a broken longsword, kneeling on the ground, her face still pale, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.

She smiled at Zhou Yang.

"Don't underestimate the commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

That thought.

Like a scalding hot needle.

It pierced into Zhou Yang's mind.

pain.

He groaned and almost fell to his knees.

The white pagoda before him, through the crack, shone even brighter, like an open eye coldly watching him.

"The holder..."

The sound rang out again.

Broken, dry, as if no one had spoken for countless years.

Zhou Yang, clutching his knees, gasped for breath. He wanted to argue, to curse, but no sound came out. This force carried absolute pressure, making his very soul tremble.

"The key..." the thought continued, "...incomplete."

incomplete?

Is it a fragment of a dragon's spine?

Zhou Yang subconsciously raised his hand. The shard in his palm was burning hot. It felt like a red-hot iron, searing Zhou Yang's skin.

A faint light drifted out from the fragment.

Very slow, very gentle.

It drifted toward the white tower and disappeared into the glowing crack.

hum-

The entire white pagoda began to shake.

It wasn't a violent shaking, but a resonance from the inside out. The ancient patterns on the tower walls lit up one by one. The light spread along the patterns, like living veins.

Zhou Yang was dumbfounded.

Is this tower... alive?

Qin Shuang, standing behind him, was enveloped in this light. A trace of color returned to her pale face, and her breathing became much more steady.

This tower is saving her.

This thought flashed through Zhou Yang's mind.

He stopped struggling and instead calmed himself down, actively seeking out that thought.

"Who are you?"

He wanted to ask that question.

But the words, once on the tip of his tongue, were conveyed as a pure thought.

The thought paused for a moment.

They seemed to understand his question.

A moment later, a new idea came to mind. This time it wasn't pressured; it was more like a statement.

"My name is Yuan."

源？

What a strange name.

"You saved us...why?" Zhou Yang continued to ask in his mind, "What's in it for you?"

He believed in equivalent exchange. There's no such thing as a free lunch. This tower saved them twice; there must be a reason.

"The 'key' awakened me." Yuan's answer remained concise. "The holder of the 'key' is qualified... to accept the commission."

Commission?

Zhou Yang frowned.

As expected, it wasn't a free lunch.

"What request?"

Yuan's thoughts did not answer immediately.

The light emanating from the tower suddenly intensified.

Zhou Yang's vision blurred, and the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

He is no longer in the ruins.

Before him stretched an endless starry sky. Enormous stars swirled slowly around him, each one terrifyingly large. A shattered planetary remnant drifted past his feet, burning with eerie blue flames.

"Where...am I?" He felt incredibly small.

"past."

A thought came to mind.

The scene then changes.

The ruins vanished, the starry sky disappeared.

He saw a towering white pagoda, reaching to the heavens, suspended in the sky. Around the pagoda were countless bustling cities. Dazzling flying cars weaved between the buildings. A massive energy shield hung in the sky, and outside the shield lurked grotesque and hideous creatures.

The creatures, densely packed, crashed against the shield like a tidal wave.

He was watching a grand spectacle that only gods could witness.

"This is..." Zhou Yang's heart pounded wildly.

"My...hometown".

Yuan's thoughts carried a trace of emotion that Zhou Yang could understand... It was sadness.

In the scene, the enormous white tower is the Source itself. It is in battle. Destructive beams of light shoot from the top of the tower, annihilating swathes of monsters from beyond the stars.

But there are too many of them; we can't kill them all.

Finally, a massive shadowy rift appeared behind the white tower. A being far more terrifying than all the previous monsters combined emerged from the rift, its tentacle reaching out.

The tentacle struck the white tower with a seemingly effortless motion.

boom!

Zhou Yang seemed to hear the sound of the universe collapsing.

The massive white pagoda was broken in half.

The upper half plunged into the endless sea of ​​stars, while the lower half pierced through space and crashed into a blue planet.

The image is shattered.

The scene before Zhou Yang's eyes was once again a scene of ruins. He leaned against the stone wall, his body covered in cold sweat.

The shock he felt just now was more terrifying than being chased by the Faceless Man.

"I... am a remnant of that battle." Yuan's thoughts came, even weaker now, "Core dormancy, maintaining only the lowest level of operation."

Zhou Yang fell silent.

He got it.

This white tower is not native to this world. Is it a... warship? Or something else? It crashed in a terrible war and has slumbered here for countless years.

Until the discovery of the Dragon's Spine fragment.

"The Dragon Spine Fragment is my 'Beacon'," Yuan explained, "and also one of the key materials for repairing my core..."

So, this is the "key".

"What do you need me to do?" Zhou Yang asked directly.

He had already grasped the basics of this deal.

He helped Yuan retrieve the fragments and repair the core. Yuan paid him.

"Found...the other fragments."

Yuan's thoughts sketched a blurry map in Zhou Yang's mind.

That was the outline of a continent. Several red dots lit up in different locations along this continent.

One of the red dots was deep within the ruins beneath their feet. A place marked as "restricted" by the source.

"Fragments are scattered. Most... are 'contaminated'. Or possessed by a powerful... being."

"My power is imprisoned within the tower. I cannot reclaim it on my own."

"Holder, you can. Because the 'key' protects you from 'contamination'."

Zhou Yang roughly understood.

Simply put, it means sending him to work as a miner, to those extremely dangerous places, to mine raw materials.

What's the difference between this job and sending someone to their death?

He glanced at Qin Shuang lying on the ground.

If he refused, what would Yuan do to them? Would he turn his back on them? He had just saved him, but could kill him in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yang had no doubt about it.

"Where is my payment?" Zhou Yang asked the most crucial question.

Any job that doesn't discuss payment is just a scam.

"Knowledge."

Yuan's intention carried an unquestionable confidence.

"I can give you... all the knowledge you want."

"In martial arts deduction, I am faster than your talent."

"I have countless lost recipes for alchemy based on formations in my database."

"It even... lets you understand the 'reality' beyond this world."

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

He burns his lifespan to instantly deduce the technique. This is his trump card. But if the source energy can do it, and it uses the "database," then what's burned is the tower's energy, not his lifespan!

This looks absolutely tempting!

but……

"Why should I trust you?" Zhou Yang remained wary. "You've given me knowledge, but I still have to risk my life. What if I find the fragments and you turn on me?"

What he needs are benefits that can be realized immediately.

Yuan seemed to have anticipated his question.

"Once you accept the commission, I will immediately repair your 'key'."

"Restore it to... its current complete form."

Zhou Yang's breathing suddenly became rapid.

A fragment of the dragon's spine! He's only using a damaged edge now. If he could restore it to its original state, how much would its power increase? Perhaps even regain its original form!

This is more real than anything else.

"How can you prove it?" Zhou Yang pressed.

Yuan didn't say anything more.

A beam of purer white light shot out from the crack in the tower. This light was more condensed than when it had rescued them, like a liquid pillar of light.

The beam of light landed precisely on Zhou Yang's outstretched right hand.

His dragon spine fragment floated up automatically.

The beam of light enveloped it.

Zhou Yang could feel a warm current flowing into his body along the fragment. It wasn't repair, but more like... filling.

The breaks and cracks on the fragments were gradually mended in the light.

Some of the previously dim lines have also lit up again, shimmering with a faint light.

This process lasted for about ten breaths.

The light dissipated.

Zhou Yang opened his palm.

The dragon spine fragment in my palm has changed.

It was no longer that irregular fragment. Instead, it had transformed into... the shape of a small sword. Only three fingers long, its entire body was like white jade, with natural cloud patterns on its blade. It had no edge, yet it gave the illusion that it could cut through anything.

An indescribable sense of connection was established between Zhou Yang and the small sword.

With a thought, the small sword transformed into a white light, disappeared into his palm, and vanished. With another thought, the small sword reappeared in his hand.

This... is no longer an external object.

It's like a part that grew out of Zhou Yang's body.

Zhou Yang gripped the small sword and tried to channel his inner energy. As soon as the weak inner energy was injected, the small sword hummed, and a white sword light, about an inch long, shot out from its tip.

The sword light didn't look big, but it was frighteningly sharp. It seemed as if a tiny slit had been cut open in the void.

It was more than one level stronger than the sword energy he had previously condensed with his true qi!

This is just the internal energy he injected himself. What if he burned his lifespan to activate it?

Zhou Yang dared not think about it.

He looked at the white pagoda with a complex expression.

This guy has a big client. He's also a big problem.

But he seemed to have no other choice.

"I agree," Zhou Yang answered decisively with a thought. "So, what's the first task?"

He's figured it out.

Fortune favors the bold.

He's always lived a life of constant danger. Now, with Baita as his backup, although the work he has to do is dangerous, the pay is quite generous.

Moreover, he always felt that the truth of this world might be hidden behind these "fragments".

Yuan's thoughts seemed to have gained a hint of... satisfaction.

"The first task..."

"Go to the 'forbidden zone' beneath you."

"There are fragments of the 'Power Core' that were shattered when I fell."

"That fragment was swallowed by an 'Abyss Worm.' It became that thing's core."

"It lies dormant at the very bottom of the ruins, absorbing the core's energy."

"All you have to do is kill it and take the fragments."

Zhou Yang's face darkened.

Abyss worm?

Just from the name, you can tell he's not a good guy.

"How do I get down?"

The tower's will responded to him.

A portal of light slowly opened before Zhou Yang. The portal rotated, obscuring its depths.

"I will... open a path for you."

"At the end of the passage lies its lair."

"It's powerful. But you can use... your 'subordinates'."

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

"You know?"

"I can sense a life form in these ruins that has a faint connection to your 'key'..."

He was probably referring to the mutated creatures he had just subdued.

Yuan indeed knew everything.

Zhou Yang turned around and glanced at Qin Shuang.

She was still unconscious. He couldn't bear to leave her here alone.

"She will be safe," came the source's thought. "The light of the tower will protect her until you return."

Zhou Yang remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

He walked to Qin Shuang's side, took off his outer garment, and covered her with it. He then checked her pulse and breathing, confirming that it was just exhaustion and superficial injuries, and that she was otherwise unharmed.

After doing all this, he stood up.

He glanced at the unfathomable gate of light, then at the white pagoda behind him.

He knew that from the moment he stepped through the door, he had truly boarded this pirate ship.

There's no turning back.

However, who has Zhou Yang ever been afraid of?

He gripped the small sword that had transformed into a fist and took a deep breath.

A surge of pride rose from the soles of my feet.

"Wait for me to come back."

He whispered something to Qin Shuang, as if making a promise.

Then, he turned around and stepped into the portal of light. His figure was instantly engulfed by the swirling light.

The portal behind him slowly closed.

On the ruins, only the white tower radiating a soft light and a woman lying quietly on the stone remain.

Silence returned.

Words of the Divine Tower

Those two words were like a drop of water falling into boiling oil.

Zhou Yang's mind went blank.

It's not a sound.

There was no tone. There was no echo.

It was something more direct. Like a red-hot needle, piercing directly into the depths of his soul. A torrent of information surged forth. Countless images, countless fragmented pieces, rolled uncontrollably before his eyes. He felt as if he had been thrown into a kaleidoscope. Light and shadow, screams, filled him from all sides.

He was in so much pain that he wanted to hold his head.

But my body wouldn't obey me.

He stood frozen, his eyes wide open. The glowing crack in the white pagoda's wall was reflected in his pupils. His body trembled slightly. Not from the cold, nor from fear. It was an irresistible resonance.

A fragment of the dragon's spine. The fragment in his palm was now incredibly hot.

The heat surged from his palms, down his arms, and all the way to his brain. It acted like a guide, a key to deciphering the frenzied images flooding his mind, bringing order to them.

The chaotic torrent slowly split into tributaries.

The first scene appears.

That was a key.

A key woven from countless threads of light. He knew its shape all too well. It was exactly like the dragon spine fragment he held in his arms.

The key floated in mid-air. Before it stood a colossal stone gate, its edge seemingly endless. On the gate was a dark keyhole. The key drifted slowly towards it, and steadily, flawlessly, slipped into the keyhole.

Click.

A soft sound, not in the ear, but deep in the soul.

The door opened.

There was no light, no sound. Behind the door lay an even deeper darkness. But Zhou Yang "knew" that it was a door leading to somewhere. And the fragment of the dragon's spine was the key to unlock it.

The image is shattered.

The second scene unfolds.

A desolate wilderness. The sky is gray, the earth is cracked. A fierce wind whips up sand and stones, blurring the horizon.

A blurry figure stood in the wind.

His face and clothes were obscured. All that could be seen was his unwavering stance. No matter how fierce the wind raged, it could not budge him an inch. He was like a nail, holding this turbulent world together.

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

He sensed a shared aura emanating from that figure—a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve. He was all too familiar with this aura. He could feel it whenever he burned his lifespan to refine his cultivation techniques.

"The one destined to be robbed."

An idea arose out of nowhere. An explanation.

That figure was the one destined for calamity. Someone born or destined to die in response to a great catastrophe. Looking at that figure, Zhou Yang seemed to see another version of himself—a version of himself standing at a higher vantage point, facing even greater storms.

The screen collapsed again.

A third scene emerges.

It is a tower.

A complete white tower without a single crack.

It stands atop a pristine piece of land. The tower, entirely white, radiates a soft light. A halo of light envelops the land beneath, where vegetation flourishes and birdsong fills the air. It stands in stark contrast to the barren, ruined world outside.

Towers are refuges.

The thought was crystal clear.

A refuge that isolates us from calamities and protects our lives.

Three images flashed by rapidly, finally settling on a single frame: a fragment of the dragon's spine, the one destined to face the calamity, and the White Tower. Three items, three identities, combined in his consciousness to form a complete concept.

He got it.

The tower's protection of them was not without reason. It was due to the fragment of the dragon's spine. The aura of this fragment was the same as that of the master who built the white tower. The tower regarded him as its master's successor, or rather, a similar "those destined to face calamity." It protected him as if protecting the very foundation of its own existence.

This is an instinctive protection based on ancient imprints.

The information deluge recedes.

Zhou Yang's body went limp, and he almost collapsed to his knees. He staggered, bracing himself on one knee with one hand, gasping for breath. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. His head was buzzing, as if he had been hit with a hammer.

That brief information intake just now was more exhausting than fighting for three days and three nights.

"Zhou Yang!"

Qin Shuang's voice pulled him back to reality.

He looked up and saw Qin Shuang supporting herself, staring at him with a panicked expression. Under the white light, her injuries had healed by about 70-80%. Her face was no longer so pale.

"What...what happened to you just now?" she asked. "You seemed like you'd lost your soul."

Zhou Yang opened his mouth, but his dry throat produced no sound. He shook his head, indicating that he was alright.

Just then, the cracks in the tower wall changed again.

The soft white light suddenly contracted inward. The next moment, a thick beam of light, almost tangible, shot out from the crack. The beam hovered precisely three steps in front of Zhou Yang.

It makes no sound.

There was no scorching heat.

But Zhou Yang could sense that the pillar of light was brimming with life. Pure, rich, and almost overflowing with life energy. It was the yearning of a parched land receiving rain, the lifeline a drowning person clung to. Every cell in his body was screaming to him, yearning for that light.

That is the power of restoration.

It is the hope of survival.

Qin Shuang also saw the beam of light. Her eyes instantly sharpened. One hand instinctively reached for the sword at her waist, but found nothing. Her sword was nowhere to be found.

She shifted her body, trying to get closer to Zhou Yang and pull him behind her.

"Don't go over there." Her voice was low and hoarse. "We don't know what it is."

The unknown represents the greatest danger.

The tower suddenly unleashed its power, driving away the monster and then shooting out strange beams of light. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, no one could say for sure. Perhaps it was another trap. A more deadly trap.

Zhou Yang certainly understood this principle as well.

His lifelong belief was in the calculation of benefits and risks.

But now, he has no other choice.

His life was hanging by a thread. The little strength he had left wouldn't even last half a mile. In these ruins, without strength, there was only death. What awaited him was becoming a cold corpse. He would either starve to death or be torn apart by the next monster to appear.

The white pagoda offers the only hope for survival at present.

Even if it's a trap, he has to jump in.

He turned to look at Qin Shuang. Her eyes were filled with disapproval, but even more so with worry. She was afraid something might happen to him.

Zhou Yang suddenly felt a warmth in his heart.

This woman kept saying he was a pawn, a tool. But every time it came to a life-or-death situation, she was more nervous than anyone else.

He tried to force a smile, but found even that expression difficult. His voice was soft, yet firm.

"Believe me."

Qin Shuang was stunned.

Looking into Zhou Yang's eyes, there was no madness, no gambler's desperate gamble. Only a calm understanding, a single choice made after careful calculation.

He wasn't trying to be a hero.

He was trying to survive.

Zhou Yang stopped looking at her. He turned around and walked step by step toward the pillar of light.

His steps were unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton. Each step was shaky, as if he might collapse at any moment. Yet, he walked steadily, his goal clear and unwavering.

One step, two steps.

He walked up to the pillar of light.

He could smell a scent. It wasn't the fragrance of flowers or grass. It was a scent similar to that of a newborn baby. Clean, pure, and full of primal vitality.

He reached out his hand and slowly extended it toward the pillar of light.

The fingertips touched the light first.

There were no obstacles as he had imagined. Light, like water, enveloped his fingers. A warm, gentle energy flowed from his fingertips and immediately into his body.

That feeling...

The dried-up river of blood suddenly found its source.

Dead trees sprout new buds.

My exhausted body felt as if it were being caressed by countless gentle hands. The soreness in every muscle, the fatigue in every bone, quickly dissipated under the cleansing force of this energy. My strength was returning at a visible speed.

That's it!

Zhou Yang no longer hesitated.

He took a step and walked into the pillar of light.

The light instantly engulfed his figure. From the outside, his outline blurred in the light, as if he had merged into a warm, milky-white liquid.

Qin Shuang's heart was in her throat.

She stared intently at the light, her eyes unblinking.

Time seemed to stand still.

I don't know how much time passed; maybe it was just a moment, maybe half an hour.

The brightness of the light beam suddenly increased by one point.

Immediately afterwards, a soft light split off from the pillar of light, like a living ribbon, and gently floated toward Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang instinctively wanted to dodge.

But her body was too weak to move at all.

A band of light wrapped around her body. The same gentle energy slowly seeped into her limbs and bones. Her injuries, the internal organs damaged by the immense force, began to heal rapidly under the repair of this energy.

She opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

Then she saw the beam of light begin to slowly shrink.

Zhou Yang, who was wrapped inside, became clear again.

He stood in the light with his eyes closed. His tattered clothes were cleansed by the light. The weariness and death on his face disappeared, and he regained his former vitality. Beneath his skin, there seemed to be a faint glow flowing.

He looked like he was taking a bath.

A baptism of life.

Suddenly, Zhou Yang's eyelashes twitched.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were incredibly bright, as if they held stars. His gaze passed over the beam of light and landed precisely on Qin Shuang.

He moved.

He stepped out of the pillar of light, his steps steady and his breath deep. He was no longer the dying patient, but had returned to being the shrewd and decisive Zhou Yang.

He walked up to Qin Shuang, squatted down, and extended his hand to her.

"It's our turn."

His voice was deep and powerful.

Qin Shuang looked at his outstretched hand, then at the band of light that still enveloped her. She hesitated for a moment, but finally placed her hand in Zhou Yang's palm.

Zhou Yang's hands were warm.

He held her hand tightly.

The next moment, the beam of light suddenly enveloped both of them. A flash of white light, and Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang vanished from their original positions.

Above the ruins, only the ancient white tower remained, standing silently. The light from the cracks in the tower walls slowly faded, eventually returning to silence, as if nothing had ever happened.

Extreme tempering

The white light engulfed our vision.

Qin Shuang felt a sudden dizziness.

The ground beneath her feet was no longer a pile of rubble. She stumbled, regaining her balance. Her hand instinctively reached for the embroidered spring knife at her waist.

This is a stone chamber.

It was square and perfectly aligned, with ancient, undecipherable patterns carved on the ceiling. There were no windows; the only exit was the stone door they had just passed through. Now, the stone door was tightly shut.

In the center of the stone chamber stood a pillar of light.

The beam of light was pure white, without a trace of impurity, rising from the ground and connecting the dome. The light was not dazzling, but rather carried a warm and gentle quality.

Zhou Yang was inside the pillar of light.

His eyes were closed, his body suspended in mid-air, his arms hanging naturally at his sides. He looked like a cicada pupa enveloped in a beam of light.

Qin Shuang's heart clenched suddenly.

She walked quickly to the edge of the pillar of light, reached out her hand, and tried to touch the light.

The moment her fingertips approached, a gentle yet irresistible force pushed her away, as if she had encountered an invisible barrier.

She couldn't get in.

Zhou Yang's body began to tremble slightly inside the beam of light.

At first, it was just a slight twitch.

Soon, the trembling became more and more intense.

His features were contorted in agony, and streaks of blood seeped from between his clenched teeth, dripping down his chin. The blood droplets were swallowed by the beam of light and disappeared as soon as they left his skin.

"Zhou Yang!"

Qin Shuang called out softly.

The sound was absorbed by the stone wall, and there was no echo.

Inside the beam of light, Zhou Yang felt as if he had been thrown into a rolling drum.

No, it's worse than that.

His flesh, his bones, his veins, are being forcibly dismantled by a tyrannical force, and then haphazardly pieced back together.

A tearing sensation spread through my limbs and bones.

Every inch of skin is going through the process of being peeled off and then growing back.

He felt like a piece of iron, thrown into a furnace. The blacksmith's hammer struck tirelessly, relentlessly hammering at his soul, trying to forge him, this piece of scrap iron, into a fine sword.

pain.

A pain that goes deep into the bone marrow.

He wanted to scream, but an invisible hand gripped his throat tightly, preventing him from making a sound. He tried to struggle, but his limbs felt like lead and wouldn't obey his commands.

His consciousness began to fade.

Darkness spread at the edge of vision.

Just as he was about to sink into the darkness, a cold voice rang in his mind.

[High concentration of external life energy detected...]

[Forced repairs to the machine have begun...]

[Host's 'half-corpse' constitution detected...]

[Initiating purification and optimization...]

The system's voice, like a needle, pierced his chaotic consciousness.

Survive.

This idea became his only obsession.

He forced himself to stay awake, to feel the excruciating pain. He took this pain as proof that he was still alive.

The energy of the beam of light surged powerfully into his body.

At first, this energy was like a raging flood, washing away his parched life.

But as time went on, Zhou Yang discovered that this energy was not just "filling".

It is "cleaning".

Some dark purple, viscous substance began to seep from his pores. This substance carried a faint putrid stench; it was the accumulated corpse poison and impurities within his body.

His semi-corpse-like state granted him superhuman strength and regenerative abilities. However, it was also a double-edged sword, keeping his body in a perpetually "impure" state.

And now, the beam of light is driving away all this "impurity".

This process is more painful than simple tearing.

It was like countless tiny steel needles piercing through every cell in his body, from the inside out, and then picking out the dirty stuff inside.

A thick layer of black substance quickly covered Zhou Yang's body. The beam of light enveloped this black substance and then slowly dissolved it.

He was like a dirty piece of clothing that had been repeatedly scrubbed.

When the pain becomes extreme, you become numb.

A strange tranquility began to emerge in Zhou Yang's consciousness. He stopped resisting and instead learned to guide it.

He used his willpower, combined with the power of the pillar of light, to make that energy flow more smoothly throughout his body.

His will became the reins that steered this torrent.

Outside the stone chamber.

Above the ruins.

The faceless man finally recovered. He clutched his chest, where the lingering pain from Zhou Yang's punch still remained.

He looked at the empty ruins, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

What about people?

He lowered his head and sniffed the air.

A faint scent lingered, pointing towards the white tower.

He started walking towards the white pagoda.

One step, two steps.

When his foot landed on the ground within ten zhang of the White Pagoda, an invisible pressure descended from the sky.

That wasn't murderous intent, nor was it true energy. Rather, it was a more ancient and purer kind of majesty. Like an ant gazing up at an unshakeable sacred mountain.

The faceless man's steps suddenly became as heavy as a thousand pounds.

With each step forward, his bones groaned in pain from the unbearable strain.

All the strength in his body was suppressed and completely drained under this oppressive force.

He was just a mortal.

Mortals are not allowed to approach the sacred site.

These are rules etched into the soul.

The faceless man stopped, standing ten feet away, unable to advance any further. He could sense that there was something within the tower that he feared greatly.

He could only wait.

Wait for that person to come out on their own.

He believed that the other party could not stay in the tower forever.

Inside the stone chamber, Qin Shuang was unaware of the changes happening outside.

Her entire focus was on Zhou Yang, who was inside the pillar of light.

She watched Zhou Yang go from being writhing in pain to slowly calming down. She watched as layers of black filth seeped from his body, only to be purified by the beam of light.

Time seems to have lost its meaning here.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

It might be an hour, or it might be a day.

She simply leaned against the wall, hugging her knees, watching quietly. Her embroidered spring knife lay beside her, never leaving her side for a moment.

The intensity of the light beam began to gradually decrease.

The light gradually changed from a dazzling pure white to a soft milky white.

The energy enveloping Zhou Yang's body also began to recede.

"Thump."

A soft sound.

Zhou Yang's body fell from mid-air and crashed onto the ground below the beam of light.

He was like a lump of mud, unable to move.

"Zhou Yang!"

Qin Shuang was startled and immediately rushed over.

This time, that invisible barrier has disappeared.

She knelt down and helped Zhou Yang up.

His body was burning hot, like a branding iron just taken out of a furnace. But his skin no longer had the previous ashen and lifeless look.

She touched his forehead with the back of her hand.

Then, she placed her fingers on his wrist.

The pulse was steady and strong.

One beat after another, filled with the rhythm of life.

Qin Shuang's tense nerves finally relaxed. She let out a long sigh and leaned back against the base of the pillar of light behind her.

That night, she was more exhausted than if she had been in a fight.

Zhou Yang's eyelids twitched a few times.

He slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was still a little blurry, but he could sense that there were people around him.

It's Qin Shuang.

She leaned against the base of the pillar of light, seemingly asleep. Her brows, however, were still slightly furrowed, as if she hadn't slept soundly. Her hand was still resting on her wrist.

Zhou Yang moved his fingers.

An unprecedented feeling of lightness washed over me.

My body felt exceptionally clean, like the sky after a rain shower, spotless. The lingering sluggishness from before had vanished without a trace.

He tried to sit up.

Qin Shuang immediately woke up, her eyes instinctively scanning her surroundings with wariness. Only when she recognized Zhou Yang did her gaze soften.

"You're awake?"

"Um."

Zhou Yang spoke, only to find his voice was somewhat hoarse.

He looked down at his hands. His skin had become smooth and radiant, no longer the pale, bluish color it once was.

He sensed it.

The breath of life.

A genuine, palpable life force filling the body.

[Lifespan +60]

[Half-Corpse Physique Optimization Completed (Beginner Level)]

Physical condition: Weak (recovering)

In his mind, the system's notification sounded at just the right moment.

A lifespan of sixty years.

He returned overnight.

Moreover, the optimization of the semi-corpse means that his future potential is greater, and the "aftereffects" of his body have also been eradicated.

This tower is a treasure.

"How are you feeling?" Qin Shuang asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern that she herself didn't realize.

"I feel like... I could fight for another three hundred years." Zhou Yang twitched the corner of his mouth, trying to make a joke, but it aggravated his muscles, causing a sharp pain.

He grinned and said, "Except for being a little tired, I couldn't be better."

He looked at Qin Shuang and said earnestly, "Thank you very much this time."

Qin Shuang shook her head and didn't reply. She stood up, walked to the stone door, and pushed it.

The stone gate remained completely still.

"We're locked inside," she said.

"No rush." ​​Zhou Yang leaned back against the base of the pillar of light, closing his eyes to rest. "Since we can get in, we can get out. Right now, what we need is rest."

Although his body has been purified, his depleted energy and spirit still need time to recover.

Qin Shuang didn't say anything more. She walked over and sat down next to Zhou Yang, taking his wrist in her hand again.

This time, it wasn't to check the pulse.

It's just a simple act of protection.

Zhou Yang didn't open his eyes, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

The residual warmth of the pillar of light was still slowly radiating out, like a giant oven warming the enclosed stone chamber.

It dispelled the cold and the shadow of death.