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

The golden corridor continued to pulsate. Tiny golden patterns on the walls, like enraged veins, meandered around him. Zhou Yang stood on the open space inlaid with dense runes. Warm sweat clung to the jade beneath his feet. His breathing was straight and steady, as if he were controlling a rhythm.

Qin Shuang withdrew the array core, her wrist flicking slightly, water mist swirling around her fingertips. Hei Gang stood beside her, his dark gold spear hanging low, a fiery red line dancing up and down its shaft. Their gazes focused on the golden crystal node ahead. The crystal was no longer shimmering; it was now erupting with a sharp vibration. Zhou Yang heard a low, hammer-like hum emanating from within.

A system notification appeared in the corner of his vision. The musical notes were in a clear and short sequence: low A, short E, high C. Zhou Yang focused his gaze on the node, igniting the memories behind the dragon spine fragment. He embraced the fragment with both hands, crushing and reassembling the azure bone fragment. Blood flowed warmly through his palms. The fragment spun in the air, gradually elongating into a blue longsword, its blade crystalline and transparent, like morning light condensed in water.

He approached the node, and following the instructions, slightly raised his arm, then lowered it. As the first note sounded, the tip of his sword hovered an inch from the node. His breath hitched in his throat, and his eyelids twitched like drumming.

The sword tip lightly touched the node. In that instant, blue light exploded. The extended musical note transformed into a crisp, resonant sound of the Great Dao. The sound burst behind the golden crystal, like a hammer blow against a metal roof. The air instantly tightened. Qin Shuang felt the sound wave pass across her chest, and the corners of her mouth tightened slightly. The tip of the black steel spear pulsated a few inches, and the shaft rose slightly, as if to rise with the sound wave.

Zhou Yang did not back down. The tip of his sword vibrated three times in the rhythm, then lightly tapped at the end of the first note. The sound waves spread from his hand. The sound waves formed a herringbone pattern, spreading along the corridor walls. The patterns were not dazzling, but they seemed to have an axis, suppressing the pulses around them. The flickering lights were flattened on the wall, emitting brief crackling sounds. Only the clear notes and the rhythm in his hand remained in the entire space.

A thin crack appeared in the node. White pulses danced at the edge of the crack, like frozen sparks. On the other side of the crack, the chain of rules began to contract, as if taut by a string. The system notification popped up again: [Node Oscillation Triggered] [Adjacent Chains Show Cracks] [Breakthrough Possible]. Those three words weren't fancy notifications, but rather static blocks of black text, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

The first strike was complete. Zhou Yang opened his eyes, blue lines flickering in his pupils. He didn't speak, his breathing remaining steady. Qin Shuang took a step forward, raising her hand towards the crack. Her movements were few, but a wisp of mist swept through the air, as if she were manipulating the fissure with her will.

The second note began. Zhou Yang didn't pause, but instead moved the sword tip slightly to the left as instructed, then returned it to the point of contact. The note was short and crisp, and his movements became even more swift. He closed his fist and adjusted the angle. The blade traced a bright line across the surface of the contact point.

With the second strike, Jin Jing first focused on the sound, then the crack rapidly widened. Tiny golden lights rose from the crack, as if burning, one stripe connecting to another. The light barrier slowly shifted, leaving a blood-red slit. The slit, narrow, became a doorway. The doorway appeared as if a hard shell had been forcefully peeled away, black light peeking through the small opening.

Black Steel could no longer suppress the rapid tremors. He activated the array's core, his spear plunging into the ground. The spearhead struck the stone slab with a low clang, the array core flashed, transforming into a supporting pillar. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his steps steady. A transparent net appeared on the array line, stabilizing the pulses beside it. Qin Shuang leaped forward, arms outstretched, body slightly leaning. She pressed her shield-like palms into the air, allowing the shockwaves to slide away from her body. The impact began to disperse in all directions, but was reversed the instant her movement blocked its path.

The passage opened. The narrow doorway gradually widened, like a gaping rift. A dim light shone within, seemingly sucking blood. The musical notes still echoed; the third note was about to sound. Zhou Yang's sword tip stopped beside the slit in light. He raised his hand again, the sword trembling slightly between his fingers, like an iron pen polished to a high shine in the morning.

He gazed into the depths of the passage. A faint light flickered in the darkness. He didn't speak, but the light in his eyes hinted at the next rhythm. He knew that after this strike, what awaited him wasn't stillness, but another beat. This was just the beginning.

Resonance of Rules

The narrow door was fully opened.

Zhou Yang stepped inside. The cold, golden corridor beneath his feet was gone. Before him lay a circular platform, entirely constructed of dark stone. Beyond the platform stretched endless darkness, like spilled ink, swallowing all light.

It's very quiet here.

Even the sound of breathing seemed exceptionally clear.

In the center of the platform, several golden rings hung suspended. The golden light was pure, without a trace of impurity. The rings were moving, not swaying, but trembling. They chased each other's rhythm, flickering in and out of light, as if communicating silently.

Qin Shuang and Hei Gang followed closely behind. As soon as Hei Gang landed, he looked around warily. Qin Shuang, on the other hand, looked directly at Zhou Yang, waiting for his signal.

"Be careful," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, "The things here are different from those outside."

He raised the fragment of the dragon's spine. The light emanating from the fragment had become much more subdued, but the resonance originating from the heart of the world remained, like an invisible string connecting his arm.

Zhou Yang walked towards the rings. His steps were steady. He didn't rush to touch them, but simply stood on the outside to observe. Each ring was a different size, and each vibrated at a different frequency. Some vibrated quickly, like rapid drumbeats. Others vibrated slowly, like the long tolling of a bell.

"Give it a try," he said to himself.

Zhou Yang reached out and pinched the end of the dragon spine fragment. He carefully brought the tip of the fragment towards one of the most trembling rings. Without touching it, he simply hovered it half an inch from the edge of the ring and then gently rotated it.

hum.

A clear, crisp note rang out.

It sounded like the strings of a zither being plucked. The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced through the entire silent space.

With that note, the ring suddenly lit up. A golden ray of light shot out from the ring and landed on the dark stone floor. The light extended, becoming a clear line.

Zhou Yang withdrew his hand. The musical notes stopped. The light from the rings dimmed. The lines on the ground, however, remained, faintly glowing.

A knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

It's not about smashing it open, nor is it about using brute force to break it.

It means "to play".

He changed the ring and used the same method again to make the dragon spine fragment rotate at the edge.

This time, it produced a deep, resonant sound, like the plucking of a cello string. A second golden line appeared on the ground, forming an angle with the first.

Just then, a stream of information flooded into his mind.

It's not sound; it's more like data that's been directly written in.

[Nodes need to be hit in combination according to musical scales.]

The next sentence is even more jarring.

[Continuous spell breaking will expose the core ward.]

Zhou Yang's pupils contracted slightly.

Core Guardian.

This word made him tense. They were struggling even with the outer floating guards, so the strength of the core guards was unimaginable.

The information stream continued. Several strange symbols flashed before his eyes. They resembled musical notes, but weren't quite. More like abstract markings, representing different pitches and beats.

"I understand," Zhou Yang whispered. "This is a lock. And the key is a song."

He looked up at Qin Shuang and Hei Gang.

"I'm going to start unlocking the 'lock' here. In the process, something will be attracted."

Qin Shuang immediately understood. She drew her long sword, its blade shimmering with frost. "I'll clear the way," she said without hesitation.

Black Steel walked to the other side of the platform and sat down cross-legged. He formed a hand seal, and a layer of earthy yellow light spread from his body, forming a semi-transparent dome that enveloped the entire platform. "Resilience Array. It can hold for a while."

Zhou Yang nodded.

He took a deep breath and focused his attention again on the golden rings.

Now, he wasn't watching, but "listening." He used his senses to capture the unique frequencies of each ring. Some were sharp, some were deep, some were light. They were like a set of musical instruments waiting to be arranged.

Qin Shuang moved.

She stood at the edge of the platform, facing the thick darkness. The floating guardians that had been dispersed by the golden corridor were now seeping back out of the darkness. They had no fixed shape, like distorted shadows, emitting a hoarse, grating sound.

The first shadow pounced.

Qin Shuang remained silent. Her fingertips traced lines in the air, releasing a chilling aura. As the shadow drew nearer, its movements slowed. The black shadow on its body rapidly solidified, transforming into a lifelike ice sculpture. The ice sculpture maintained its forward-leaning posture before silently shattering, turning into ice shards that fell in a flurry.

Her movements were clean and efficient. There were no unnecessary actions. Each slash cast a shadow. She was like a block of ice, standing before Zhou Yang, shielding him from all filth.

The black steel formation also began to take effect. Those shadows that attempted to attack from the side or below were instantly trapped in quagmire upon touching the yellow aura. Their speed was greatly reduced, and their movements became difficult.

This provided Zhou Yang with a relatively safe environment.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

When I opened my eyes again, the world was different.

What he saw was no longer rings, but flowing frequencies. The speed of each ring's vibration, the intensity of its sound, drew out different rays of light in his eyes. Some resembled burning flames, others like calm lake water.

What he was looking for was the thread that connected all these rays of light.

The symbols provided by the system were rearranged and recombined in his mind. This wasn't a simple sequence, but a logic. A logic about "resonance."

Zhou Yang extended the dragon spine fragment again.

This time, he did not hesitate.

The tip of the fragment scraped along the edge of the first ring.

"Do".

A bright line.

Next, move to the second loop.

"Re."

Another bright line.

The two lines intertwined on the ground, not disappearing, but rather seeming to come alive, trembling slightly. There seemed to be a faint gravitational pull between them.

Zhou Yang's hands did not stop.

"Mi".

"Fa..."

His movements grew faster and faster. The dragon spine fragment in his hand seemed like a conductor's baton. He was conducting an invisible symphony. With each note, the network of light on the ground became denser. The rays were no longer simple lines; they began to intertwine, forming tiny, luminous geometric shapes.

The air on the entire platform was vibrating.

The golden rings seemed to awaken. They stopped trembling randomly and began to rise and fall in sync with Zhou Yang's rhythm. The light flickered, as if they were breathing.

Qin Shuang's pressure increased sharply.

As Zhou Yang "played," more and more floating guardians emerged from the surrounding darkness. They seemed to be drawn by the resonance of this rule, rushing forward one after another. Their roars blended into a cacophony, creating a piercing noise, attempting to disrupt Zhou Yang's rhythm.

Qin Shuang's breathing quickened slightly. Her sword flashed even more intensely, the chilling aura almost forming a white storm behind her. But she never retreated an inch.

Black Steel's face was somewhat pale. Maintaining the resilience array required a huge amount of energy. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and held the array base firmly.

Zhou Yang was completely unaware of the changes in the outside world.

His entire being was immersed in the tuning of this song of breaking the law.

He discovered a pattern.

Whenever he connects the three nodes in the correct musical order, the light on the ground coalesces into a stable rune. But if the order is wrong, the lines instantly crumble, and he has to start all over again.

Even more dangerously, each failed connection deepens the surrounding darkness, as if urging the arrival of the "core guardian."

"That's not how it works... the order is wrong." Zhou Yang stopped what he was doing, sweat beading on his forehead. The light net on the ground dimmed instantly.

He had to find that most fundamental "tone".

He closed his eyes again, shattering all those symbols, frequencies, and lights, then reassembling them in his mind. He abandoned the complex sequences and returned to the most basic single node.

He reached out and gently touched the first, most trembling ring he had ever touched with the dragon spine fragment.

"bite."

A single, extremely pure sound rang out.

This time, the system did not provide any new information.

But Zhou Yang sensed something different.

The sound seemed to penetrate the barrier of the platform and reach somewhere below. He seemed to hear an extremely distant, equally pure echo.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"I see……"

He finally understood.

This is not a puzzle that needs to be solved by brute force. It is a ritual of "echo." He is not creating a song, but "finding" a song that already exists.

He looked up at Qin Shuang and Hei Gang. Both of them were struggling to hold on.

time is limited.

Zhou Yang no longer hesitated. He raised the fragment of the dragon's spine, his gaze sweeping over the rings once more. This time, his eyes were incredibly focused and certain.

He found the first note.

It's that "ding" that makes a sound.

Now, he needs to find a second sound that resonates with it.

The fragment of the dragon's spine sliced ​​through the air, accompanied by a barely perceptible tremor, and pointed towards another ring.

A seemingly unrelated loop with a completely different vibration frequency.

Song of Pulse

In the white light, the fragments of the dragon's spine formed an arc. Zhou Yang swiftly switched between three sets of nodes, the curve held by his fingertips leaving a lingering echo at each point. He no longer followed straight lines, but treated the dragon's spine as an invisible tuning peg, striking the air with his knuckles. With each touch, a note instantly took shape, then was pulled into a new rhythm by the next strike. He watched the string of light points on the curve, as if listening to a clever insect hopping about, the next rhythm flashing faintly white between his fingers.

The first set of golden rings made a striking first impression, rippling outwards in a thin layer. The second set followed, swaying gently on the water like the anchor chain of an old warship. The third set erupted suddenly, the rings scattering even more light, shattering the viscous feeling in the air. Zhou Yang's wrists tensed and relaxed, each retraction of the dragon spine producing a hum. He pushed the rhythm forward again and again, leaving no room for hesitation in his body.

The resonance of each node spread through his mind, like relay ripples on water. He didn't just layer the sounds; he picked out white lines in the gaps of the rhythm, then layered them back on top of each other. When the notes connected into a line, a golden ring rose from the ground, expanding into an irregular, undulating surface. That surface almost touched Zhou Yang's shoulder, yet it burst forth with a bright light upon contact. Pillars of light shot out from the ring, one after another, striking the outer light shield with crisp impacts. The guards paused beside the pillars of light, then were pushed back several steps.

"The Song of Breaking the Law is near the sixth note." The system notification was deep and calm. The interface floated to the side of Zhou Yang's line of sight, the text emitting a faint blue light.

[Song of Breaking the Law Progress: The five notes have been stabilized]

Current tempo intensity: 62%

[The core guardian will appear at the sixth note, with 48 seconds remaining.]

Zhou Yang's brows furrowed slightly. The remaining time was squeezed by the numbers, as if pushing him into the next judgment. He dared not slow down. The curves of the dragon's spine bent and unfolded in his hand, like a sleepless snake.

The outer Shadow Legion no longer charged directly, but instead circled dozens of feet away. Their figures were like gray smoke, moving so fast that the air itself seemed to whistle. Qin Shuang and Hei Gang each took the lead, shifting their weight to force a defensive posture. The legion would pounce half a step as soon as they got close, like snapped weeds.

Qin Shuang didn't hesitate. Her embroidered spring knife twirled in her hand, the trajectory of its tip flashing and disappearing in an instant. She aimed at the not-yet-fully-open gap in front of the dragon's spine and swiftly slashed out with a sharp line. The portal exploded beneath her blade, like a crescent moon tearing a slit in the darkness. The portal instantly opened, creating a transparent barrier that blocked the approaching shadow soldiers.

The portal of light wasn't permanent; it only left a brief gap, but enough for Zhou Yang to launch one more combo attack between nodes. Qin Shuang's back pressed against the edge of the portal, her knees bent, forcefully bracing herself against each troop's charge. She didn't speak, her arm repeatedly rubbing the Embroidered Spring Blade, the edge of the blade carving white marks along the portal's edge.

The critical point of the rhythm was becoming increasingly apparent. The pulse frequency emanating from the dragon's spine was interfering with the guardian's defensive frequency—the halo no longer floated statically but began to shatter into fragments. The fragments were tiny, like freshly burned coal ash, constantly peeling off from the edge of the halo. Each time a fragment fell, it created a ring of refracted light on the ground, the cracking sound like raindrops. They floated in the air, never to return to their original state, and their numbers were rapidly increasing. Zhou Yang's fingers swiftly traced the nodes, igniting the next rhythm, as if trying to suppress the falling fragments with a new sound.

"Push the tempo one more time," Qin Shuang said in a low voice, but without slowing down. She looked at Zhou Yang's back, a barely perceptible question in her eyes—was there still room for maneuver? Zhou Yang turned around, offering only a glance. That glance contained a signal, and also the only force he could bear at that moment. He knew that the remaining time would accelerate as the sixth note approached.

The dragon's spine circled from the first group to the second, then suddenly dropped towards the third, the musical notes leaping and creating tremors. Golden beams of light repeatedly struck the guards' chests, and the guards raised their hands to block, leaving streaks of purple blood on the beams. The beams of light were forcefully pushed down, and the guards staggered back several steps. Zhou Yang seized the opportunity to use the dragon's spine to draw a new arc in the air. The musical notes exploded into fragments in the air, like gems falling and then reforming. He silently counted in his mind: "One, two, three, four..." Each number ticked along with the rhythm.

The fifth set of notes rang out, and energy folded around it. The falling speed of the halo fragments increased dramatically, and faint particles of light danced on the ground, forming new halos once more. Zhou Yang didn't pause; he knew that as long as he held on until the sixth note, the system would tell him the location of the core guardian. He gripped the dragon spine tightly and decisively raised the tempo, pulling the notes into upward undulations. Each increase in tempo was like pulling the halo up half a foot, causing the guardian's defenses to sway.

"The sixth note is approaching." The system notification sounded again.

[The Song of Breaking the Law reaches its sixth note; the core guardian is about to appear.]

[Time Remaining: 33 seconds]

[Defense chain fluctuations intensify]

Numbers flickered at the edge of his vision, the yellow lettering emitting a low glow. Zhou Yang immediately sped up again. He lowered the notes, then suddenly raised them at the last moment, like shooting a drawn bowstring towards the heavens. At the same time, Qin Shuang continued to tear through the blade shadows within the portal, creating four slits in just a few seconds, slicing the shadow legion apart time and time again. Her brow was furrowed, but her lips did not tremble.

The notes trembled near the sixth note, and several golden pillars of light suddenly converged, breaking through another ring of light. The guards were no longer merely shaken, but actually propelled forward. Their figures stretched abruptly, radiating runic light and revealing their newly formed forms. Zhou Yang saw that the person at the front wore a half-silver mask, his gaze as sharp as a knife. Two rings of metal encircled his chest and shoulders, counteracting the pulse frequency of the area.

"Now." Qin Shuang didn't say much, but she uttered a single, decisive command. She used her embroidered spring knife as a marker and swiftly swung it diagonally. The portal shrank slightly under the blade's touch, but it was enough to stop the charge of a squad of shadow soldiers. Black Steel stood guard to the side, the shadows beneath her feet receding like a tide.

The syllable was frozen at the sixth note. Zhou Yang pressed the dragon's spine into the air, creating a long line, then suddenly pulled it back, like a beast finishing its work. That line instantly transformed into a golden light curtain, enveloping the core guard and the team. Within the light curtain, the golden ring began to pulsate—the frequency of the pulsation interfered with the frequency released by the guard, and tiny fragments kept falling from the ring, like a shattering mirror. The fragments flew out along their trajectory, reflecting Zhou Yang's face, his features elongated and compressed by the reflection.

Qin Shuang leaned against the edge of the portal, her breathing slightly rapid. But her eyes remained fixed on the core guardian. Hei Gang's hands were clasped together, the dark light in his palms drawing dense streaks of light on the light screen, as a backup. He didn't move an inch, guarding the gap between the portal and the light screen.

"Sixth note complete." The system notification finally sounded.

[Core Guardian Has Been Exposed]

The pulsating frequency and the guard frequency are interfering with each other.

[Time Remaining: 29 seconds]

Fragments within the light curtain fell, scattering upon contact with the ground and creating new oscillations of rules. Zhou Yang pressed the dragon spine against the fourth set of nodes, focusing his attack on the guard. The guard's body swayed noticeably within the pillar of light, the runes on its metal rings glowing faintly. Zhou Yang prepared to compress the rhythm again, allowing the next note to sweep across the guard's surface at an even faster speed. In his mind, the guard was not the final target, but rather the obstacle to breaking the seal. As long as the rhythm continued, the guard would be unable to maintain its balance.

Beads of sweat glistened at the corners of Qin Shuang's eyes in the light from the portal. She crouched down, elbows resting on her knees, slightly out of breath. She didn't speak, but raised her hand and tapped the edge of the light screen extending from the dragon's spine, as if confirming with Zhou Yang. They relayed their movements rhythmically, each action unspoken.

After the sixth note took shape, the entire field seemed to pause for a moment. The halo was still shedding fragments, and the pulse values ​​were full of cracks. Zhou Yang continued to push the rhythm forward; the next rhythm was already waiting there. Just one more step would allow him to beat the golden ring into an even more distant wave. He didn't get distracted, keeping his gaze fixed on the node.

A voice popped into his ear, from the system and from himself: "The rhythm must be tightened a bit more." He nodded, the dragon spine bent again, and a new rhythm was exhaled. He would rely on this pulsating song to continue forward, not letting the guard become an insurmountable barrier in the next instant.

Song of Breaking the Law

The seventh note did not appear.

Zhou Yang's sword tip hovered in mid-air, the fragment of the dragon's spine humming incessantly. The first six syllables had exhausted his accumulated strength. He could feel a burning sensation in his chest. It was his life force burning away.

Qin Shuang's face was paler than paper. Her hands, supporting the array's core, trembled violently. Hei Gang was in even worse shape, kneeling on the ground, each breath laced with blood. They were about to collapse. More and more fragments of the golden rings were falling, like a silent golden rain.

The cracks in the chain of rules are spreading. It's not enough. Far from enough.

We must be faster and more ruthless.

Zhou Yang's pupils reflected the entire circular platform. He didn't see the halo, the guards, or the intricate patterns. He saw an invisible musical score. The first six notes were the overture, the prelude. Now, the verse had arrived.

He needs a powerful voice that can move everything.

It's not about creating, it's about awakening.

Zhou Yang moved.

His movement was subtle, merely a slight twist of his wrist. The dragon spine fragment traced an eerie arc. It didn't point at any of the glowing rings, but instead pierced the gap between them.

A place of absolute nothingness.

This is it.

When the tip of the dragon's spine touched that empty space, there was no sound, no light. The whole world seemed to have been muted.

In an instant.

Zhou Yang felt as if his lifespan had been sucked out of his body, leaving a vacuum. His heart skipped a beat, then began to pound wildly, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

A note that cannot be described in words was born.

It is not a "ding," not a "hum," not any known sound. It is more like a concept, a command, a source of "breaking."

The syllable split instantly, transforming into three distinct forces: one sharp as a cone, one heavy as a mountain, and one vast as a tide. They did not disperse but instead intertwined, merged, and resonated on the tip of the sword along the dragon's spine.

A triple chord.

This was no longer a martial skill, nor a mystical art. It was a pure clash of rules. The dragon spine fragment in Zhou Yang's hand was now the sole conductor bearing this impact. It became scorching hot, and visible sound waves flowed along its blade, distorting the surrounding light.

He took a step forward.

This step felt like stepping to the beat of the entire world.

He thrust the sword made of musical notes into the third node at the very center of the circular platform!

"break!"

A single word was squeezed out of Zhou Yang's throat. It wasn't a shout, but a resonance that vibrated along with the chord.

—The song of breaking the law begins!

boom--!

The sound was like a tangible, gigantic wave, exploding from the center of the platform. It wasn't just a simple roar, but an energy fluctuation capable of tearing everything apart. The air instantly became viscous, like solidified glue, before being completely ripped apart. The golden ground trembled violently, cracking open with spiderweb-like fissures.

The still-spinning rings dimmed in a flash, like candle flames being extinguished. The runes on them flickered a few times, then shattered into golden dust.

The chains of rules that kept the platform running groaned under the strain. Black cracks sprouted wildly from within the golden chains, instantly covering every inch of their surface. Crackling sounds echoed incessantly, as if something was collapsing from its very foundation.

The newly formed core guardian was the first to be affected.

Before it could react, it was struck head-on by the sonic wave. Its thick golden carapace, as if made of paper, instantly cracked with countless fissures. The immense impact sent its feet off the ground, its heavy body flying uncontrollably backward, crashing heavily into the barrier in the distance.

Clang.

With a loud crash, it fell to the ground, its golden carapace still peeling away, sparks flying from its joints. The golden disc on its chest, which recorded data, flickered with an unpredictable light.

A line of illusory text appeared above:

Resonance failed.

System downtime.

With a click, the disc went completely dark. The core guardian remained motionless, like a broken iron statue.

An eerie silence fell over the entire circular platform.

Only Zhou Yang's panting could be heard. He leaned on the fragment of the dragon's spine, half-kneeling on the ground. His vision blurred at the edges, and he felt dizzy and disoriented. That attack had almost drained him dry. He felt as if his life was being rapidly drained away like a punctured sandbag.

But he won.

He looked up.

In the center of the platform, the node pierced by the dragon's spine had shattered completely. Around it, the patterns on the ground were collapsing en masse. Debris and metal fragments continued to fall, revealing a bottomless black void.

The collapse stopped quickly.

A brand new path appeared before the three of them.

It was a spiral staircase descending from the ground, cast from some unknown black metal. The steps were engraved with patterns similar to those in the previous corridor, but older and more intricate. It slowly extended downwards, disappearing into a dark abyss.

Just then, the enormous golden crystal suspended in the dome suddenly changed its operation. It stopped emitting light and instead condensed a straight beam of light from its core.

The beam of light was precisely projected onto the entrance of the spiral staircase.

At the boundary between light and shadow, an archway made of pure light appears out of thin air. Inside the archway, a completely different scene unfolds, as if it were the entrance to another world. Flowing spots of light float and sink within it, like countless sealed stars.

In Zhou Yang's mind, that cold system interface popped up again.

The core rift is now open.

The next step is to confront the very essence of the world.

He looked at the gate of light, then at Qin Shuang and Hei Gang, who were supporting each other.

Qin Shuang's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just gripped his arm tightly. Her hand was cold, but steady.

Black Steel grinned, revealing a mouthful of bloody teeth, laughing like a madman: "Awesome! That's fucking awesome!"

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and qi. He pulled the dragon spine fragment from the ground and hoisted it back onto his shoulder. The fragment had now returned to calm, as if the cataclysmic destruction it had just witnessed had nothing to do with it.

"Let's go."

He didn't waste any unnecessary words.

Go down and get what he wants.

This is the only rule.

Eye of the Soul Core

A spiral passage appeared before the three of them.

There was no door at the entrance, only a constantly rotating black hole, as if someone had cleaved a gap in the wall with a knife. Zhou Yang stood at the forefront, carrying the fragment of the dragon's spine on his shoulder, his gaze peering through the hole.

"This is it," Qin Shuang whispered.

As soon as she finished speaking, the walls of the corridor suddenly lit up.

Countless eye-shaped patterns emerged from the cracks in the stone, as if someone had painted eyes all over the wall with gold paint. These eyes varied in size, some as large as a bowl and others as small as a bean, and they were all staring at the three uninvited guests who had entered the passage. Orange beams of light shot out from each eye, converging into a path of light deep within the passage, winding downwards.

"Looks like a guide." Kurogane took a step forward.

"Be careful." Zhou Yang raised his hand to stop him. "These eye wrinkles have residual memories."

The system will pop up a notification at appropriate times: [Memory residue detected. Synchronization with musical notes and diagrams is required; otherwise, an alarm will be triggered].

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes. He had already figured out the nature of these mechanisms in the golden corridor—these eye-like patterns weren't just simple glowing decorations; they recorded the traces of someone who had once walked here. To avoid being discovered, he had to recreate those traces.

"Qin Shuang," he called out.

"Here." Qin Shuang had already stood against the wall, her palms pressed against the cold stone surface. A blue shield spread out from her palms, forming a thin film of light around the three of them.

"Black Steel".

"Understood." Kurogane grinned, his fingers rapidly tapping along the side of the passage. A magnetic array formed beneath his fingers, black magnetic needles embedding themselves in the walls, sealing off any corners that might harbor danger.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He replayed the rhythm he had felt in the golden corridor in his mind—the "ding" sound, the trembling waveform. He needed to inject this waveform into the memories of these eye-patterned creatures, making them believe that their own people had returned.

The fragment of the dragon's spine trembled slightly.

Zhou Yang stretched out his finger, tracing an arc in the air. Each time he drew it, the eye-shaped markings flickered slightly, as if responding to his movement. The orange beam of light changed angle with his movement, gradually narrowing from an all-around illumination to a single, narrow path.

"It's done," he thought to himself.

The light path points deep into the channel.

The three advanced in formation. Zhou Yang was at the front, Qin Shuang in the middle, and Hei Gang at the rear. The stone slabs beneath their feet were engraved with ancient patterns, emitting a slight hum with each step. The orange light path acted like guiding lights, illuminating their way in the darkness.

The passageway widens as you go further in.

At first, it could only accommodate one person at a time, then people could walk side by side, and later it even had the spaciousness of a palace hall. Zhou Yang looked up and found that the eye-like patterns were no longer just on the walls, but covered the entire ceiling and floor, as if the passage itself was a giant eye.

"How much further?" Kurogane asked in a low voice.

"It'll be soon." Zhou Yang looked ahead.

At the edge of my field of vision, something different appeared.

It was a sphere suspended in the air.

It was larger than any golden crystal Zhou Yang had ever seen, and its color was much deeper—not gold, but an almost pure black, like refined gold that had been refined countless times, or like solidified night. Streams of light constantly streaked across the surface of the sphere, each streak creating a ring of protective particles, like the stellar rings around a planet.

"Spirit Core," Zhou Yang murmured.

The system then displays a message: "[Spirit Core reaction is abnormal. You must trigger resonance twice before you can enter]."

Zhou Yang stared at the obsidian core, carefully observing the flowing light on its surface. He discovered that these flowing lights were not chaotic; they had their own rhythm—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and sometimes even pausing for a moment.

"Two resonances..." he repeated the system's words.

Qin Shuang stepped forward and stood beside him. Her shield became somewhat unstable as it approached the spirit core, its blue light flickering intermittently.

"This thing is very well protected," she said. "I can feel the rebound force."

"I'll do it." Zhou Yang held up the fragment of the dragon's spine.

He needed to find two nodes that could resonate with the spirit core. Just like he had searched for the two resonant notes in the golden corridor, he had to find the "rhythm" of this black spirit core.

The fragments of the dragon's spine began to tremble.

Zhou Yang held the fragment to his chest, closed his eyes, and focused his mind on sensing the frequency of the flowing light on the surface of the spirit core. Once, twice, three times… he counted silently in his mind, trying to capture that crucial moment.

found it.

The first node is an extremely slow frequency, so slow that it almost appears to be still. But if you pay close attention, you'll find that it is actually moving, just moving so slowly, like the speed of a glacier moving.

Zhou Yang slowly turned the dragon spine fragment in that direction.

The fragment trembled and emitted a low hum. The light on the surface of the spirit core seemed to be drawn in, and for a moment, the light of the entire spirit core dimmed slightly.

"First resonance complete," the system notification announced.

But this is not enough.

Zhou Yang continued searching for the second node. This time, the frequency was completely different from the first—extremely fast, as fast as a lightning bolt flashing through the darkness. He had to seize this moment, or he would miss it.

The fragments of the dragon's spine trembled once more.

This time, the movement needed to be faster and more precise. Zhou Yang flicked his wrist, and the fragment drew an arc in the air, colliding perfectly with the rapidly passing streak of light.

"Click—"

A soft sound.

The light emanating from the spirit core shifted once more. This time, it was no longer dim, but rather became more solid. The protective particles that had been floating around it began to gather towards the spirit core, like pilgrims rushing towards a holy site.

"Two resonances completed," the system notification announced. "You may proceed."

Zhou Yang opened his eyes and looked at the obsidian core in front of him.

The passage is now open.

He turned to look at Qin Shuang and Hei Gang. Qin Shuang's shield had been shattered by the resonance earlier, but it was now reforming, its color a deeper shade than before. Hei Gang's magnetic array was also complete, with black magnetic needles arranged in an impenetrable defensive line on the wall.

"Let's go." Zhou Yang said only one word.

The three walked toward the black spirit core floating in the air.

The space around the spirit core began to distort, as if an invisible hand was plucking the strings of time and space. Zhou Yang could sense something approaching, not an enemy, but the aura left behind by a more ancient and mysterious being.

He tightened his grip on the dragon spine fragment.

Whatever it is, he's going to take it down.

Boundary Guard

The faint light of the spiritual core pulsed in my chest, like a familiar drumbeat.

The surrounding air suddenly felt cool and astringent, as if invisible fingers were brushing past.

Immediately, a pale blue light rose beside the nuclear light, transforming into several shadows resembling luminous figures.

These shadows are not entirely transparent; slender, sharp blades gleam around them, and razor-sharp light swirls around them.

They crawl around the spirit core, drifting slowly in a spiral orbit.

Each turn leaves behind fine streaks of light, like stardust falling.

The guards moved at a measured pace, yet carried an invisible pressure.

The guard's figure resembled smoke, yet it was mixed with fine metal fragments.

Each rotation produces a slight hum, like a distant wind chime.

Their eyes were dark red dots, revealing a ruthless scrutiny.

Faint words are faintly reflected in the light spots, as if recording the traveler's journey.

Those words have faded with the wind, leaving behind only a faint warmth.

The guard moves along the spiral track at a speed exactly in sync with his heartbeat.

The track traced pale blue arcs in space, like ripples on the surface of water.

The intersection of the arcs forms tiny black holes that devour the surrounding light.

The light sucked in by the black hole does not disappear; it is simply refracted again.

After refraction, the beams of light intertwine to form a network, covering the entire hall.

The guards moved, accompanied by the faint cracking sound of metal breaking.

The sound left a slightly tingling sensation on the eardrums.

Zhou Yang closed his eyes, trying to listen to each change in frequency.

The frequency fluctuates with fine-tuning, like the rhythm of a heartbeat.

He memorized the rhythm, intending to use it as a benchmark for the reverse strike.

The system notification echoed in my chest, carrying a cold metallic glint.

"The current frequency band is -380 to -460, and the corresponding reverse frequency is required."

A line of code appeared on the screen, flashing blue and green dots.

Each letter in the code is like a musical note, waiting to be played.

Zhou Yang lightly touched the screen with his fingertips and felt a faint electric current.

In my memory, he had used the same frequency band to break the seal of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

The bloodshed was even more intense then than it is today, and the wounds had not yet healed.

He silently reminded himself that any destruction would come at the cost of his lifespan.

But the guards ahead did not allow for retreat; they had to keep moving forward.

He quickly calculated in his mind the time required for each strike.

A resolute light flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes, and the ice crystal in her hand was ready.

With a flick of her fingers, ice crystals shimmered with a faint, cold light in the air.

The cold light transformed into short, needle-like rays, precisely locking onto the core of the guard.

With each needle piercing the light, the guardian's luminous form dimmed by three points.

The dim light quickly returned, but with tiny cracks.

Black Steel raised the giant hammer to his chest, its surface emitting a dark red glow.

He sang an ancient rhythm in a low voice, deep and powerful.

As the chanting continued, runes appeared on the hammer's surface, resembling burning blood patterns.

The energy waves released by the runes intersected with the ice needles, forming a complex network of energy.

The energy network spread rapidly around the guardian, like a grid of lightning.

The guard felt the impact of the two forces and began to tremble violently.

As it trembled, the sharp edge of the light body shook involuntarily.

The vibration caused tiny nicks to appear on the cutting surface of the light blade.

The gap gradually widens under the influence of frequency, forming a visible crack.

The cracks continued to extend, eventually converging at the center of the light body to form a hole.

Zhou Yang's breathing became deeper, and his chest vibrated like a drumhead.

He focused his attention on the arrival of the fifth tone, and time became clear.

Each heartbeat felt like striking a drumstick floating in the air.

The echo of the drumsticks resonated with the frequency indicated by the system.

The resonant sound forms a swirling sound wall in space.

He aimed the light blade of the dragon spine fragment at the crack in the guard.

The light blade danced along the edge of the crack, like sparks streaking across the night sky.

The spark instantly ignited the energy in the reverse frequency band.

The energy expanded rapidly within the crack, impacting the core of the guardian.

After the core was impacted, the outer shell of the light body shattered like glass.

The surrounding space froze briefly at the moment of shattering.

In the stillness, only the echo of a heartbeat remains, clear and lonely.

The heartbeat sound is amplified by the system's inverted frequency band, creating a deep rumble.

The roar carved a deep abyss into the guard's tracks.

The abyss, like a giant suction cup, sucked away the remaining beams of light from the guards.

Qin Shuang's ice needles froze the air around the abyss, creating a transparent barrier.

The light waves reflected back from the barrier form a second layer of defense.

The black steel hammer struck the barrier, and the resulting shockwave shattered it.

The shattered barrier released bursts of cold air, instantly permeating the entire area.

The cold air caused the guardian light body to lose its heat source and gradually dim.

The fifth beat finally arrived, and Zhou Yang's fingers trembled.

The light blades of the dragon spine fragment instantly changed direction, creating a reverse shockwave.

The shockwave penetrated the core of the guard at extremely high speed.

The shockwave completely destroyed the core, and the light body instantly disintegrated into fragments.

The fragments flew through the air, falling like stardust.

Subsequently, cracks appeared in the seal of the passage.

The cracks spread across the entire stone slab, which emitted a low, trembling sound.

The vibrato intertwined with the aftershocks of the dragon's spine fragments, forming a new tone.

The new tone is like a key, smoothly unlocking the mechanism of the channel.

The stone slabs slowly moved, revealing a stone path leading into the depths.

Qin Shuang retracted the ice bridge and quickly arranged ice pillars on both sides of the stone path.

The icicles shimmered with a bluish glow under the light, illuminating the path ahead.

Metal fragments shimmered in the beam of light, forming a faint beacon.

The three figures mingled in the lighthouse's glow, their steps steady.

Their footsteps echoed through the empty stone path, like the beat of a drum.

The echoing sound resonated on the wall, vibrating out fine dust.

Dust floated in the beam of light, like golden drizzle.

A glint of greed flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes, yet it also carried a hint of loneliness.

He murmured to himself, "The road lies ahead; we still need to put in the effort."

Qin Shuang's brows relaxed slightly, as if she was pondering her next move.

Her hands clenched tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Black Steel's eyes were sharp as he stared at the dark passage ahead.

The three figures disappeared at the end of the dark stone path.

Gold core oscillation

The beam of light at the fifth sound node suddenly lit up.

Zhou Yang gripped the fragment of the dragon's spine tightly with his fingers, a cold light swirling around his fingertips.

The golden core guarding it throbbed steadily, as if waiting.

He took a deep breath and looked toward the core.

"Rush!"

He suddenly raised the fragment and slammed it down onto the surface of the gold core.

Instantly, the metal emitted a piercing "clang".

The guardian's body trembled violently, and cracks appeared in its outer shell.

The cracks spread rapidly like thin lines.

Flame-shaped rays of light shot out from the crack, transforming into several rotating orbs of light.

The ball of light traced an arc in the air, creating a slight gust of wind.

The shockwave suddenly burst out in all directions.

The guard was forcefully pushed aside, staggered a few steps, and fell to the ground.

The stone wall was torn apart by the shock wave, and debris was scattered everywhere.

The original passageway was opened up, creating a deeper opening.

A soft voice from the system sounded in my ear: "The gold core has entered a resonance state and can directly connect to life energy."

Zhou Yang frowned slightly and nodded quickly.

He placed his palm on the side of the gold core, staring blankly at the undercurrent.

Qin Shuang stood to the side, her eyes sharp.

She said softly, "Prepare to absorb."

The black steel fist, charcoal-colored, was clenched tightly, sparks dancing on its surface.

The light at the center of the gold core suddenly intensified.

A faint golden ray shot straight toward Zhou Yang's chest.

Without making a sound, he merged the blood patterns of life energy with the flow of light.

The light leaves tiny scratches on the skin.

Each encounter is like ants crawling in a blood vessel.

However, the power instantly doubled, and the tremors of the golden core became even more intense.

At the same time, a floating island rose up in the center of the passage.

The island's surface is as smooth as jade, surrounded by a pale blue mist.

The top of the island is engraved with four ancient seal characters, shimmering with pale gold light: "Heart of the World".

Qin Shuang stepped onto the island, gently stroking the engraved patterns with her palm.

She murmured to herself, "Finally, it's come to this."

Black Steel stood behind her, his gun pointed at the surrounding empty spaces.

Zhou Yang still maintains a resonance with the core.

The remaining lifespan was drained in an instant, but in return, a stronger beam of light was produced.

The beam of light sliced ​​through the gold nucleus like a sharp blade, and the crack closed immediately.

New patterns appeared on the surface of the gold nucleus, as intricate as a star map.

The spheres of light tumbled between the lines, radiating even more intense heat waves.

A low humming sound came from deep within the cave entrance.

It sounded like the activation of an ancient mechanism.

Zhou Yang turned to look at Qin Shuang, a calculating glint in his eyes.

Qin Shuang remained silent, only sticking the talisman in her hand to the side of the gold core.

The talisman immediately lit up, swaying like a small lantern.

Black Steel looked up at the shadows in the distance.

He growled, "Don't let them get there first."

The shockwaves from the gold core surged once more.

This time, the shockwave rushed directly into the depths of the cave entrance.

The stone wall at the cave entrance was completely hollowed out, revealing the gate below.

The system notification sounded again: "The gate has been unlocked, and the road ahead is safe."

Zhou Yang chuckled softly, his voice echoing through the empty stone path.

He retracted the dragon's spine and stepped into the center of the floating island.

The bottom of the floating island emitted a soft glow, like a heart beating rhythmically.

The light shone on the three people's faces, casting dappled shadows.

Qin Shuang raised her hand and grasped the edge of the floating island, standing steadily.

She turned to Zhou Yang and said, "This is the 'Heart of the World'."

Zhou Yang nodded, his gaze turning to the gold core.

He muttered to himself, "Now, let's see if we can withstand the cost of this lifespan."

Black Steel carefully put away his gun and stood on the flank.

His eyes were fixed only on the path ahead and the unknown that was about to unfold.

The beam of light from the gold core gradually converged, like the blade of a harvester.

After its final rotation, the sphere of light dissipated into tiny golden dust particles.

The four characters for "Floating Island" began to glow faintly, and the light spread upwards.

At the end of the passage, a golden gate slowly opened.

The three stood in front of the gate of light, their breathing even.

Zhou Yang's fingers were still stained with faint traces of blood, but his resolve remained unwavering.

"Go in," he said softly.

Qin Shuang and Hei Gang took turns stepping forward.

The space inside the portal surged and churned, like tides washing over a rocky shore.

The portal opened fully, revealing an endless starlight corridor.

Zhou Yang glanced back one last time at the shattered golden core.

The cracked metal reflected the last rays of sunlight in the brilliance.

He stepped into the Starlight Corridor, his steps steady yet light.

Lifespan conversion

The light in the Starlight Corridor was as soft as moonlight.

Zhou Yang walked at the front, the ground beneath his feet composed of pure light. With each step, ripples spread outwards. These points of light were not static; they were flowing, rhythmic like breathing.

Qin Shuang followed behind him, her hand always on the embroidered spring knife at her waist. Hei Gang brought up the rear, vigilantly observing their surroundings. They had been walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and the corridor seemed to have no end.

"There's something going on ahead." Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

At the end of the corridor, space began to distort. The previously parallel beams of light now converged into a vortex. At the center of the vortex, something was taking shape.

Qin Shuang moved closer to him: "Is it a trap?"

Zhou Yang shook his head: "No, it's like it's responding to something." He stared at the vortex, his intuition telling him that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

The vortex spun faster and faster. The light compressed at the center, then suddenly expanded outwards. When the light dissipated, a translucent altar was suspended in the air.

The altar was about three zhang in diameter, made of a material that resembled crystal yet possessed a metallic luster. Its surface was engraved with five different symbols: the first resembled a snake, the second a flame, the third a cloud, the fourth a rock, and the fifth lightning.

Zhou Yang reached out and gently touched the edge of the altar. His fingertips felt a cool touch, and a strange pressure, as if the weight of the entire world was pressing down on them.

A system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Lifespan Conversion Altar Detected]

[Conversion Conditions: The Void Bottle must be crafted using the energy of the Heart of the World, and must include Dragon Spine Blood, Profound Yin Bloodline, and a Guardian Force Field.]

Success rate: 67.4%

[Consequences of failure: Unknown mutations in life forms]

Zhou Yang's fingers twitched slightly.

He turned to Qin Shuang: "Your bloodline, is it the Xuan Yin bloodline mentioned here?"

Qin Shuang paused for a moment, then nodded: "I was born with the Xuan Yin physique and have been nurtured by my family since I was a child." She spoke calmly, but a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

"Black Steel." Zhou Yang turned to the burly man.

Black Steel patted his chest: "Just tell me what you need!"

"Your magnetic field is a protective force field."

Kurogane grinned: "I see, that's something I'm good at."

Zhou Yang took a deep breath: "Then let's begin."

He pointed to the symbols on the altar: "Qin Shuang, use your embroidered spring knife to carve lines along the edges of these symbols. Don't carve too deep, just enough for the blood to seep in. Remember, carve a sense of yin and yang intertwining."

Qin Shuang drew her Embroidered Spring Blade. The moment the blade was drawn, a chilling aura emanated from it. She walked to the edge of the altar and carefully observed the direction of the symbols.

"These symbols are arranged in a very regular pattern," she said softly, "like some kind of ancient script."

Zhou Yang didn't speak, only nodded. His entire focus was on the preparations for the ceremony. The 67.4% failure rate felt like a thorn in his side, but he had no other choice.

Qin Shuang's hands were steady. The embroidered spring knife grazed across the crystal-clear surface of the table, making a soft, rustling sound. Each cut was precise, neither too deep nor too shallow. After carving the first serpentine symbol, she dipped her finger in her own blood and dripped it along the carving line.

The bloodstains were immediately absorbed upon contact with the countertop. The entire symbol glowed with a pale blue light.

"Continue," Zhou Yang said calmly.

Qin Shuang carved the other four symbols in turn. She activated each one with her own bloodline. When the fifth lightning symbol lit up, the entire altar hummed. The light began to flow, as if forming some kind of cycle.

"Black Steel, it's your turn," Zhou Yang said.

Black Steel walked to the perimeter of the altar. He spread his arms, palms facing outwards. The magnetic force usually stored within him began to be released. Black magnetic needles emerged from his skin and floated in the air.

"Watch closely."

Black Steel gave a low shout and slammed his hands together. The magnetic needles, like a commanded army, quickly arranged themselves into a complex formation around the altar. They connected with each other, forming a semi-transparent black shield.

The moment the protective force field activated, the shaking of the entire altar noticeably subsided. The previously violent light became docile, like a tamed wild beast.

Zhou Yang nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, keep it up."

He walked to the center of the altar, where there was a recess just large enough to hold a sphere the size of a fist. He took out the Heart of the World he had acquired earlier from his robes.

The sphere lay there quietly, its surface shimmering with golden patterns. It seemed alive, each pulsation causing a slight distortion in space.

"It's about to begin." Zhou Yang took a deep breath.

He bit his fingertip and dripped the blood from the dragon's spine fragment onto the Heart of the World. Dragon's spine blood was much thicker and darker than ordinary blood. The drop of blood landed on the surface of the Heart of the World, but instead of merging, it formed a thin film.

"Void Bottle being crafted." A system notification sounded.

Zhou Yang placed the Heart of the World, stained with dragon's spine blood, into the groove of the altar. It fit perfectly, as if it had been prepared specifically for it.

All the symbols on the altar lit up simultaneously. Five beams of light of different colors—blue, red, white, brown, and purple—shot from the symbols and converged at the heart of the world.

The Heart of the World began to tremble violently. The golden patterns on its surface grew brighter and brighter, and the surrounding air began to distort. Tiny spatial cracks appeared around the altar, then quickly healed.

"Stabilize the force field!" Zhou Yang shouted.

Black Steel's face turned pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Maintaining the protective force field was clearly very taxing. But he gritted his teeth, pressing his hands firmly into the air, controlling the magnetic needles.

Qin Shuang's expression was also grave. She gripped her embroidered spring knife, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the center of the altar. Not a crack in the altar surface, but a crack in space itself. The crack widened, forming a black vortex.

Within the vortex, a transparent bottle slowly rose. It had no physical form, resembling more of a spatial container. The bottle's mouth opened, pointing directly at Zhou Yang.

"The Void Bottle has been completed." The system voice was calm. "The transformation process is about to begin. Please prepare to receive the infusion of energy from the Heart of the World."

Zhou Yang stared at the bottle, his heart pounding. This was it. Success or failure hinged on this. If he succeeded, he would gain a vast amount of lifespan. If he failed...

He dared not think any further.

"Are you ready?" he asked Qin Shuang and Hei Gang.

They both nodded at the same time.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath and leaped into the air. His body traced an arc in the air before landing precisely in the center of the halo.

The moment he touched the light, the whole world changed.