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

The stone chamber was very quiet.

Zhou Yang sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes to rest. Qin Shuang sat beside him, her wrist still bearing a faint red mark from the light that had scorched her. She stared at Zhou Yang for a moment, and only after confirming that he was alright did she breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"Was that light you just used the power of the White Tower?" Qin Shuang asked in a low voice.

"I guess so." Zhou Yang opened his eyes, his voice a little hoarse. "It drained the remaining corpse poison from my body, but it also drained my strength."

Qin Shuang frowned: "You're still injured?"

"It's just a superficial injury." Zhou Yang waved his hand. "I'll be fine after a night's rest."

Even so, he did not immediately continue to regulate his breathing. His fingers unconsciously traced the brocade pouch at his waist, inside which was an item—a fragment of a dragon's spine.

After leaving the White Pagoda, he felt that something was off about the fragment.

The feeling was subtle, like something was gently trembling, or like a connection of blood. His fingers hovered over the brocade pouch for a moment, but ultimately he didn't take it out immediately.

"Eat something first." He glanced at Qin Shuang. "Do you have any dry rations?"

Qin Shuang took out a paper package from her bosom and handed it to him. The two of them silently shared a few pieces of hard biscuit, swallowing them with water.

It was unclear what time it was outside. The stone chamber had no windows; the only source of light was a few luminous pearls embedded in the walls, emitting a pale white glow.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Yang remained silent. He closed his eyes again, reached into the brocade pouch, and retrieved the fragment.

The fragment was only the size of a palm, completely black with uneven edges, resembling a piece of a massive weapon. Previously, it had remained dormant, like an ordinary piece of black metal. But now, holding it in his palm, Zhou Yang could clearly feel a slight warmth.

It wasn't the warmth of his palm.

It was the fragment itself that was getting hot.

"What's wrong?" Qin Shuang noticed his unusual behavior.

"Look," Zhou Yang said, handing the fragment to her.

Qin Shuang looked down. The surface of the fragment was rough and lacked any luster. After examining it for a moment, she shook her head and said, "Nothing has changed."

"No, there's been a change." Zhou Yang's tone was very certain. He turned the fragment over and pointed to a certain texture, "These textures weren't here before."

Qin Shuang narrowed her eyes. On the back of the fragment, there were indeed some extremely fine lines, almost indistinguishable without close inspection. The lines were faint, a pale gold color, resembling some kind of ancient runes, or perhaps the veins of blood.

"What... is going on?" Qin Shuang frowned.

Zhou Yang did not answer. His attention was entirely focused on the fragment. The warm sensation was becoming more and more pronounced, and he could feel that the fragment seemed to be drawing some kind of energy from his body—not internal energy, but something more ethereal and intangible.

With a thought, he brought up the system interface.

A semi-transparent panel appeared before his eyes, accompanied by a long-lost electronic sound:

[Residual primordial energy detected; fragment enters charging state]

Current charging progress: 1%

[Some features are now unlocked: Deduction feature (available for a limited time)]

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

Derivation function!

Is this the true power of the Dragon Spine Fragment?

He suppressed his excitement and carefully looked at the system panel. Below the [Deduction] section, a new option had appeared: [All Laws Return to Their Origin].

The principle of "all methods returning to the source" is a set of exercises.

He recognized the name in Fang Tian's memory. This was an extremely profound cultivation technique; when mastered to its peak, it could encompass all techniques and neutralize all attacks. According to Fang Tian's memory, this technique was one of the Heavenly Principle Sect's most treasured secrets, rarely passed on to outsiders.

Zhou Yang had never practiced this technique. His knowledge was diverse, but all of it consisted of practical combat skills; he had never systematically cultivated any profound internal energy techniques.

Now, the opportunity has arrived.

"How much lifespan is required to deduce the origin of all laws?" Zhou Yang asked in his mind.

The system responded quickly:

[Deducing the origin of all methods (minor success) requires consuming 1 year of lifespan]

[Confirm?]

Zhou Yang acted almost without hesitation.

"confirm."

The moment he made that thought, a surge of energy vanished from his body. The feeling was subtle, as if something had been ripped from the depths of his soul. While it wasn't physically damaging, the emptiness made him involuntarily furrow his brow.

At the same time, a large amount of unfamiliar information flooded into his mind.

That was the cultivation method that led to the origin of all things. The entire content, from beginner to minor mastery, including the pathways of each acupoint and the flow of each stream of internal energy, was clearly imprinted in his memory. It was as if someone had forcibly implanted this knowledge into his head, eliminating the need for him to spend time understanding or comprehending it.

This is what makes inference capabilities so terrifying.

Directly and perfectly.

Of course, one can only advance to the minor mastery level. Going any higher would consume more than just one or two years of lifespan.

After processing the information in his mind, Zhou Yang slowly opened his eyes.

"Did it work?" Qin Shuang, who had been watching him the whole time, asked immediately when she saw him wake up.

"Mm." Zhou Yang nodded. "Xiao Cheng."

Qin Shuang was taken aback: "So fast?"

Although she didn't know what methods Zhou Yang had used, she knew that although he had seemed exhausted just moments before, he had recovered considerably. Moreover, she could sense that Zhou Yang's aura had changed.

If Zhou Yang before was like a sharp knife, then now he is like a knife sheathed. His sharpness is concealed, but he is even more dangerous.

"What exactly are you cultivating?" Qin Shuang couldn't help but ask.

"It's a secret." Zhou Yang smiled. "Anyway, it's a good thing."

Qin Shuang snorted and didn't press the matter. She wasn't the type to pry. Since Zhou Yang wasn't going to say, she wouldn't ask.

The two fell silent again.

The atmosphere in the stone chamber was somewhat subtle. Before, when they were on the brink of death in the White Tower, they hadn't had time to think about anything else. Now that they were safe, those emotions were slowly beginning to surface.

Qin Shuang looked at Zhou Yang and suddenly remembered something.

"Why...why did you hold my hand just now?"

Her tone was calm, but her ears were slightly red.

Zhou Yang was taken aback. He hadn't expected Qin Shuang to ask this so suddenly.

"Uh... the situation was rather urgent." He coughed. "That band of light required two people to activate, and in my haste..."

"Really?" Qin Shuang interrupted him. "But you seemed very calm at the time."

"That was an act," Zhou Yang said honestly. "Actually, I wasn't sure myself."

Qin Shuang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"You are really..." She shook her head. "You are clearly an egoist, but you always do things that are not in line with your personality."

"Can't egoists help others?" Zhou Yang retorted.

"Of course," Qin Shuang stood up. "But you should expect something in return for helping me, right?"

Zhou Yang looked at her but did not answer immediately.

What's the point?

If it were the old him, he might have said things like, "I'm after the reward you offered," or "I'm after your background as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard." But now, those words are stuck in his throat, and he can't bring himself to say them.

Perhaps it was because of that scene in the White Pagoda.

When the light barrier fell, Qin Shuang's first reaction was to push him away, leaving herself in danger.

"I want you..." Zhou Yang carefully chose his words, "I want you to be willing to stand by my side next time you're in danger."

Qin Shuang was stunned.

She hadn't expected Zhou Yang to say something like that. It wasn't something a selfish person would say. A selfish person would say, "I need you to do things for me," not "I hope you're on my side."

"You've changed," Qin Shuang said slowly after a moment of silence.

"People change," Zhou Yang said, standing up as well. "Especially after going through all this."

Qin Shuang didn't say anything more. She turned around, walked to the other side of the stone chamber, sat down again, and closed her eyes.

Zhou Yang watched her retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He knew that his words had achieved their purpose. Qin Shuang would no longer be angry with him.

However, what he said was true.

After the ordeal at the White Pagoda, he had indeed changed. He couldn't quite put his finger on how. But at least, he no longer saw Qin Shuang merely as an "employer."

He didn't know whether this change was good or bad.

But he did not reject it.

---

The two of them spent the next few days in the stone chamber.

The beam of light from the white tower, though it didn't kill them, trapped them in this strange place. The stone door to the chamber was tightly shut, and they couldn't open it no matter what they tried.

Fortunately, there was a water source and a luminous pearl in the stone chamber, so they wouldn't starve or freeze to death.

Zhou Yang spent most of his time cultivating the "Return to the Origin of All Techniques" method. This technique was far more profound than he had imagined, and even reaching the minor completion stage had already greatly benefited him. Although his internal energy hadn't increased significantly, his control over it had become much more precise. Previously, when he used certain martial arts techniques, there would always be some subtle leaks, but now they were completely gone.

Qin Shuang wasn't idle either. She herself came from the Imperial Guard and her cultivation method was unique. These past few days she had been meditating with her eyes closed, trying to break through a certain bottleneck.

On the third night, the door to the stone chamber suddenly opened.

A cold wind blew in, carrying a strong, putrid smell.

Zhou Yang suddenly opened his eyes, exchanged a glance with Qin Shuang, and stood up at the same time.

Outside the door was a narrow passage, the walls of which were covered with green moss, and some white skeletons were scattered on the ground.

"Looks like we can get out of here." Zhou Yang gripped the knife in his hand tightly.

Qin Shuang didn't speak, she just nodded.

The two walked out of the stone chamber one after the other, stepping on the skeletons, and entered the unknown darkness.

Tower's Secret Vault

Zhou Yang, holding the knife, walked ahead.

The passage was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. The stone walls on both sides were slippery and sticky to the touch.

"Watch your step," Zhou Yang whispered.

Qin Shuang followed behind him, her steps very light. Her Xuan Yin Body allowed her to barely see in the dark.

Skeletons were scattered throughout the passageway. Some were animal, some were human.

Zhou Yang kicked aside a pile of bones, revealing a blue stone slab underneath. The slab had carvings on it.

"It's an array pattern." Qin Shuang squatted down and gently traced the engraving with her fingers.

Zhou Yang also squatted down. These array patterns were very ancient, with fine strokes, resembling some kind of writing.

"This tower is no ordinary building." He stood up and continued walking.

At the end of the passage was a stone door. There were no handles on the door, only a recess.

Zhou Yang reached out and pressed his hand against the indentation. The stone door remained still.

"Try using your true essence," Qin Shuang suggested.

Zhou Yang nodded and injected a wisp of true essence into the depression. The stone door vibrated slightly, then slowly opened inward.

Behind the door was a spacious stone chamber. In the center of the chamber was a spring, from which wisps of white steam rose.

The spring water is crystal clear and exudes a rich, natural energy.

"The Vitality Spring." Qin Shuang's eyes lit up. She could feel the pure energy contained in the spring water.

Zhou Yang walked to the spring and scooped up a handful of water. The water was warm, and after entering his throat, it turned into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones.

His depleted true energy is rapidly recovering.

"This spring water has a nourishing effect on the body." Zhou Yang scooped up another handful and carefully felt its properties.

Qin Shuang also came to the spring. She sat cross-legged and formed a mudra with her hands. She drew in the vital energy in the spring water, creating tiny whirlpools.

Her Yin Body was compatible with the properties of the spring water, allowing her to absorb it faster than Zhou Yang.

Watching her cultivate, Zhou Yang sat down by the spring himself. He needed to consolidate his current cultivation level.

He's been stuck at the peak of the Hundred Battles Realm for some time now. Perhaps he can break through with the help of the spring water.

He closed his eyes and circulated his internal energy. The vital energy from the spring water flowed continuously into his body, replenishing the energy consumed in the previous battle.

Three hours later, Zhou Yang opened his eyes. The true essence within his body had reached its peak.

"Breaking through to the next realm requires more accumulation," he muttered to himself.

Qin Shuang was still cultivating. Her complexion was rosy, and her breathing was steady, clearly indicating that she had made significant progress.

Zhou Yang stood up and walked around the stone chamber. The chamber wasn't large; besides the spring, there were several niches.

The niche was empty, filled only with dust.

"There should be other rooms here." Zhou Yang returned to the spring and waited for Qin Shuang.

Another hour passed, and Qin Shuang slowly opened her eyes. Her aura was stronger than before.

"The Xuan Yin Body has been nourished by the spring water, and her cultivation has improved somewhat." She stood up and stretched her limbs.

"We take turns cultivating," Zhou Yang said. "It seems there's a daily limit on the amount of water from this spring."

Qin Shuang nodded in agreement. She walked to a corner of the stone chamber and sat down, letting Zhou Yang continue his cultivation.

Zhou Yang sat cross-legged again, this time attempting to reach a higher realm.

The vital energy in the spring water circulates within the body, making the true essence purer with each cycle.

As night fell, only the faint glow of the spring water illuminated the stone chamber.

Zhou Yang stopped cultivating and opened his eyes. His cultivation level had been completely stabilized at the peak of the Hundred Battles Realm.

"It's time to rest," he said to Qin Shuang.

The two sat down against the wall and shared some dry food.

"What's the name of this tower?" Qin Shuang suddenly asked.

"I don't know." Zhou Yang shook his head, "but a tower that can provide a source of vital energy must have an extraordinary origin."

Qin Shuang nodded thoughtfully.

The next day, Zhou Yang continued his cultivation. He noticed that the vital energy in the spring water seemed to be slowly decreasing.

"The quantity is indeed limited," he told Qin Shuang. "We need to hurry."

Qin Shuang also began her second round of cultivation.

On the third day, Zhou Yang made a new discovery while cultivating. He sensed a faint spiritual force deep within the spring.

This thought is ancient and weak, as if it is asleep.

Zhou Yang gently touched that thought with his divine sense. The thought reacted, transmitting a blurry image.

The image shows the tower's internal structure. The tower also has three levels, each with different spaces.

"This tower is a secret vault," Zhou Yang said excitedly, opening his eyes.

Qin Shuang looked at him curiously.

"I sensed the tower's structure," Zhou Yang explained. "There are three more floors above; there should be even more treasures there."

"How do we get up there?" Qin Shuang asked the crucial question directly.

Zhou Yang frowned. The message conveyed through his mind didn't mention how to get up there.

"We need to find the mechanism." He stood up and carefully examined every inch of the stone chamber's walls.

Qin Shuang also joined the search. The two spent half a day without finding anything.

"Could it be in the spring?" Qin Shuang guessed.

Zhou Yang walked to the spring and put his hand into the bottom of the water. He felt a bump.

After pressing the protrusion, one side of the stone chamber wall slowly rises, revealing an upward staircase.

"Found it." Zhou Yang grinned.

The stairs were steep and spiraled upwards. A thick layer of dust covered the steps.

"I'll go first." Zhou Yang gripped his knife tightly and carefully stepped onto the stairs.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind.

The staircase wasn't long; it went around a few times before reaching the end.

There was a wooden door in front of me, with no lock, only a small hole.

Zhou Yang peered through the hole. Inside was a study, filled with bookshelves.

"The second floor is the study," he said in a low voice.

Pushing open the wooden door, a cloud of dust rushed out. Most of the books on the shelves were rotten, with only a few still intact.

Zhou Yang picked up a book at random. The pages were yellowed, but the text was still legible.

"It's a cultivation guide." He flipped through it quickly.

Qin Shuang also looked through another row of bookshelves. These books weren't of much value to them at the moment.

"There should be something better on the third floor." Zhou Yang put down his book and continued walking up.

The door to the third floor was made of iron and was much heavier. It had a complex keyhole.

"This lock requires a special key." Zhou Yang carefully studied the keyhole structure.

Qin Shuang searched the surroundings and found a hidden compartment in the wall. Inside the compartment was a bronze key.

The key's shape perfectly matches the keyhole.

"Open the door." Qin Shuang handed over the key.

Zhou Yang inserted the key into the lock and turned it. The iron gate made a heavy sound and slowly opened.

Inside the door was an armory. The shelves were filled with all kinds of weapons: swords, spears, halberds, and more.

At the very back there is a stone table, and on the table is a box.

Zhou Yang walked over and opened the box. Inside was a pill, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

"The Qi-Strengthening Pill." His breathing became somewhat rapid. This pill could help break through bottlenecks.

"You should use it," Qin Shuang said. "You need it more now."

Zhou Yang didn't stand on ceremony and swallowed the pill directly. The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into a powerful medicinal force that spread throughout his body.

He immediately sat down cross-legged and guided the medicinal power to break through his cultivation level.

Qin Shuang stayed by his side, vigilantly observing their surroundings.

An hour later, Zhou Yang's aura suddenly surged. The barrier of the peak of the Hundred Battles Realm was broken.

He successfully entered the next stage.

"How are you feeling?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Very strong." Zhou Yang stood up, clenched his fist, and said, "His true essence has increased by thirty percent."

He looked towards the top of the tower. There was still one floor he hadn't visited.

"The last floor should have the best stuff," Zhou Yang said.

The staircase leading to the fourth floor was hidden in the armory's ceiling. Zhou Yang moved a stone slab, revealing the passageway leading upwards.

The fourth level is very small, consisting of only one platform. A glowing bead floats in the center of the platform.

The bead emits a soft glow, and liquid energy flows inside.

"A core of vital energy." Zhou Yang's eyes widened. This thing could generate a large amount of vital energy.

He reached out to take the bead, and as soon as he touched its surface, a powerful energy surged into his body.

Zhou Yang grunted and took a few steps back. The energy was too immense; his meridians couldn't withstand it.

"Take your time." Qin Shuang helped him up.

Zhou Yang adjusted his breathing and tried to touch the bead again. This time he was prepared and guided the energy to circulate within his body.

He absorbed the energy from the bead little by little. His cultivation level was rapidly increasing.

Half a day later, the bead became dull and eventually disappeared.

Zhou Yang's aura has stabilized at the initial stage of the new realm.

"It's been a great success," he said with satisfaction.

The two began searching for a way out. On the wall of the fourth floor, they discovered a teleportation array.

The formation has been activated; you can leave as soon as you step inside.

"Are you ready?" Zhou Yang asked Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang nodded.

The two stepped into the teleportation array together, and with a flash of white light, their figures disappeared.

The stone chamber returned to silence, with only the central spring still steaming.

A flash of light appeared on the ruins outside the tower, and Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang reappeared.

The white pagoda began to collapse, turning into rubble scattered all over the ground.

"It's over." Zhou Yang looked at the collapsed tower with some emotion.

Qin Shuang didn't speak, she just held his hand.

As dawn broke on the horizon, a new day began.

The two turned and left the ruins, heading towards the road in the distance.

Their strength has improved, and the challenges they will face next will be even more difficult.

But at least now, they have greater power.

Zhou Yang glanced back at the site of the collapsed white pagoda, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This adventure was worthwhile.

Explore the ruins

The stone chamber was very quiet.

The residual heat of the pillar of light still lingered, like a giant heater. Zhou Yang sat cross-legged on the ground, regulating his breathing to recover his depleted energy. Three days had passed, and he felt the power within his body was rebuilding, but it would still take time.

Qin Shuang stood up and stretched her limbs. Her joints made a slight cracking sound.

"I'm going outside to take a look." She walked to the door and looked back at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes and nodded. "Be careful. This place isn't simple."

Qin Shuang responded and pushed open the door to go out.

Outside the door lay ruins. Broken walls and rubble were everywhere, and black smoke billowed from some places. The air was thick with the stench of decay and blood. She wrinkled her nose and quickened her pace.

The ruins were vast, stretching as far as the eye could see. Qin Shuang moved forward along a relatively intact path, her steps light, ready to respond to any unexpected situation. Her hand remained on the hilt of the knife at her waist, her knuckles slightly white.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she noticed something was wrong ahead.

A large section of the ground had collapsed, forming a deep pit. Scattered metal fragments lay at the bottom of the pit, reflecting a dim light in the sunlight. Qin Shuang cautiously approached and peered down into the pit.

It was the wreckage of an airship.

The ship was broken in two, exposing the cabins. Most of the structure was damaged, but its original shape was still discernible. Qin Shuang found a relatively gentle slope and slid down to the bottom of the pit.

The interior of the airship was a mess. Seats were overturned, instrument panels were shattered, and wires dangled like snakes. She walked through the debris, her boots creaking as she went.

The innermost cabin was relatively well-preserved. The door was twisted and deformed, but it could still be pushed open with difficulty. Qin Shuang slipped inside and was immediately captivated by the scene before her.

There were many papers scattered on the table, some soaked in blood, some torn to shreds. Most of the charts on the wall were blurred, but a few keywords could still be made out.

She crouched down and began searching carefully.

Most of it was a voyage log, written in a very messy hand. The handwriting became increasingly chaotic on the later pages, as if the person writing the log was in a state of extreme panic. Qin Shuang pieced together the legible parts:

"...On the thirteenth day, we got lost. This space is strange; there are no stars to guide us..."

"...Day seventeen, energy shortage. The backup generator is almost done for. Strange noises are coming from outside..."

"...On the twentieth day, it came. The shadow...was so large that it blotted out the entire sky..."

"...On the twenty-first day, we were attacked. Void Hounds...they are everywhere..."

Qin Shuang's heart raced. She picked up another sheet of paper, on which was drawn a huge shadowy outline, labeled "Devourer." There were also several sketches of twisted creatures, resembling dogs but not quite, labeled "Void Hounds."

What bothered her most was the last page, on which a few crooked words were written in blood:

"Run!"

She carefully put away her notebook and was about to leave when she suddenly heard footsteps outside.

It wasn't just one person's footsteps.

Qin Shuang immediately darted behind the door, holding her breath. The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping at the edge of the pit. She peeked out through the crack in the door.

Three figures stood motionless on the edge of the pit. They wore tattered clothes, but their faces were blank. No eyes, no nose, no mouth; it was as if they had been deliberately smoothed out.

The Faceless Man.

Qin Shuang's heart sank. She had seen similar descriptions in the Heavenly Principle Sect's materials, but she never expected to encounter them here.

The three faceless men began to descend into the pit, their movements stiff but swift. They made no sound, moving mechanically without making a sound.

Qin Shuang gripped the hilt of her knife tightly. Running was too late; she had no choice but to fight.

The first faceless man jumped into the pit, landing with a dull thud. He turned toward the cabin where Qin Shuang was hiding, as if he knew she was inside.

Without further hesitation, Qin Shuang pushed open the door and went out.

A flash of light, and the blade aimed straight for the faceless man's neck. The opponent reacted with lightning speed, dodging the fatal blow while simultaneously reaching for her wrist. The movement lacked human agility, resembling more of a machine.

Qin Shuang sheathed her blade, changing her thrust into a slash. The blade grazed the faceless man's chest, leaving only a shallow mark. The opponent's body was exceptionally resilient.

The other two faceless men also descended to the bottom of the pit, flanking from both sides.

Qin Shuang gritted her teeth. Facing three at once was too much; she had to deal with one first. She focused her attention on the one in front of her, her swordplay flowing continuously as she searched for an opening.

Although the Faceless Man was incredibly strong, his movements were predictable. Qin Shuang seized an opening, sidestepped, and suddenly swung her knife upwards, aiming straight for his chin.

This move was completely unexpected. The faceless man instinctively leaned back, exposing his throat.

Right now.

Qin Shuang thrust her knife forward with all her might this time. The tip of the blade pierced the faceless man's throat with a hissing sound. Blackish-green liquid spurted out, carrying a pungent, fishy odor.

The faceless man stiffened and slowly collapsed.

Before Qin Shuang could catch her breath, the other two had already attacked. She quickly retreated, creating distance between them.

A faceless figure suddenly accelerated, moving at an astonishing speed. Qin Shuang barely dodged, but her arm was still scratched. The wound wasn't deep, but it immediately began to go numb.

poisonous.

She dared not fight back any longer and turned to run. The pit walls were steep, but she couldn't care less. Qin Shuang scrambled up using both hands and feet, the pursuers behind her growing ever closer.

Finally reaching the top of the pit, she didn't even have time to catch her breath and ran desperately towards the white pagoda. A strange whooshing sound came from behind, as if something was rapidly approaching.

Qin Shuang glanced back; two faceless men were hot on their heels, with a creature she had never seen before sandwiched between them. The thing looked like a dog, but it had no fur, its body covered in twisted muscle lines, and its four legs were unusually long and thin, making it run like a spider.

Voidhound.

She quickened her pace, her heart pounding. The white tower was just ahead, but the pursuers were getting closer.

Suddenly, the ground in front of her collapsed. Qin Shuang reacted quickly and stopped in time, but she still slipped halfway down. She clung to the edge, below which lay a bottomless crack.

The Void Hounds behind them had already pounced.

Qin Shuang let go and fell into the crevice, simultaneously adjusting her posture in mid-air to grab a protruding rock on her side. The Void Hound swept over her head and fell deeper into the crevice.

She dared not linger and quickly climbed upwards. An angry roar came from the crevice behind her.

Finally climbing back to the ground, Qin Shuang discovered that the Faceless Man had also jumped down. She took off running, the White Pagoda drawing ever closer.

Fifty meters, thirty meters, ten meters...

She rushed into the white tower and slammed the door shut. The sounds of banging came from outside, growing louder and louder.

Qin Shuang leaned against the door, panting heavily, her body covered in cold sweat. She examined the wound; it had turned black, but the toxicity didn't seem fatal.

"You're back." Zhou Yang's voice came from inside.

Qin Shuang finally breathed a sigh of relief, almost collapsing to the ground. She forced herself to walk over and briefly explained the notes she had found and the situation with the Faceless Man.

Zhou Yang frowned, looking at her blackened wound. "The toxicity is quite strong."

He tore off a piece of his clothing, used it to make a simple bandage, and then turned to the faceless man's corpse. This was something Qin Shuang had brought back while fleeing.

"Let me see what this thing is."

He used his knife to cut open the faceless man's chest cavity. Inside, there were no internal organs, only tangled clumps of tissue. At the very center was a crystal the size of a walnut, emitting a faint bluish light.

"Core energy source." Zhou Yang took out the crystal and examined it carefully. The crystal surface was very smooth, and there was flowing light inside.

"These things are probably not living things, but more like some kind of construct." He flicked the crystal with his finger, making a crisp sound.

Qin Shuang leaned against the wall, feeling the pain in her wound growing increasingly intense. "That Void Hound is even more troublesome. Fast and aggressive."

Zhou Yang nodded and put away the crystal. "This intelligence is very important. It seems this ruin is far more dangerous than we imagined."

He helped Qin Shuang up and helped her sit down to rest. "You should heal your wounds first; I'll stay here."

Qin Shuang closed her eyes and began to circulate her internal energy to expel the poison. Zhou Yang stood at the door, vigilantly observing the outside.

As the sun set, the ruins were stained blood red. Strange cries echoed in the distance, as if something was awakening.

This night is destined to be anything but peaceful.