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

Zhou Yang's fingers tightened around the fragment of the dragon's spine.

The metal feels icy cold to the touch.

He could sense something awakening inside the fragment. Like a sleeping behemoth slowly opening its eyes.

"Are you ready?" He turned to look at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang nodded. Her knife was already half an inch out of its sheath, the blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

"I'm ready." Black Steel's voice came from the other side. His hands were on the stone platform, and the skin on his palms began to gleam with a metallic sheen.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath.

He slowly placed the dragon spine fragment into the groove in the center of the altar.

"Click."

The fragment was perfectly embedded within it.

The next second, blue light surged from the bottom of the fragment. The light spread outward in a ring, like ripples created by a pebble thrown into water. These ripples were not silent; they vibrated in the air with a peculiar frequency.

hum-

The deep notes echoed in the space.

"A sound ring has been formed." A system notification sounded, "The ritual has officially begun."

Golden rays began to flow from the edge of the altar. Like living streams, they slowly but steadily converged towards the center. But these rays were restless; they constantly shifted their course, attempting to rush towards the weakest point of the altar.

"Sister Shuang, now!" Zhou Yang shouted.

Qin Shuang moved.

Her wrist flicked, the blade carving precise marks across the stone. Her movements were lightning fast, yet as steady as a mountain. Each strike landed precisely where the golden light was about to shift.

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

The golden light struck the blade, producing a piercing scraping sound.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Qin Shuang's forehead. Her lips were pressed together and turned pale, but her hand holding the knife did not tremble in the slightest.

The blade left grooves of varying depths on the stone platform. These grooves connected to form a net, confining the flowing golden light within its predetermined path.

"Black Steel!"

"They're here!"

Black Steel slammed his palms down on the edge of the stone platform. The metallic sheen emanating from his palms spread rapidly, like ink dripping into clear water. Black energy flowed along the grooves Qin Shuang had carved, intertwining with golden light.

"Click-clack—"

The interwoven black and gold lines began to solidify, forming a peculiar structural pattern. They possessed both the stability of the black steel's power and the precision of Qin Shuang's guidance.

"Segment complete, energy channel established," the system voice announced again.

Zhou Yang sensed a change in the air.

The previously invisible particles began to become visible. They floated around the altar like fireflies, emitting a pale green glow.

"Power conversion depends on the integrity of the continuous notes." The system prompt suddenly turned serious, "You must maintain this for seven seconds without breaking the note."

A virtual timer appeared in Zhou Yang's field of vision.

00:07:00

The countdown starts.

Zhou Yang immediately began to circulate the "Song of Breaking the Law." Notes flowed from his mouth, each syllable carrying a specific frequency. These notes resonated with the sound rings emitted by the dragon spine fragment.

"Buzz—Buzz—Buzz—"

The sounds overlapped in space, forming an invisible net.

The green life-giving particles were captured by this net and began to converge toward the center of the altar. Like iron filings attracted by a magnet, they formed streaks of green light.

Qin Shuang's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

The impact of the golden light grew increasingly fierce. Her blade was already humming under the strain. Some of the golden light broke through the blockade, attempting to rush towards the outside of the altar.

"Hold on!" Zhou Yang's voice was a little hoarse.

His notes began to quicken. The operation of the Song of Breaking the Law required an extremely high level of mental concentration. Every note had to be precise, or the entire sound ring would collapse.

The situation is even worse for Black Steel.

Cracks began to appear on his arm. The black energy was rapidly draining his life force. But his gaze remained resolute, as he fiercely suppressed the onslaught of golden light.

00:05:00

Half the time has passed.

The altar began to shake.

A slight tremor emanated from the center and gradually spread throughout the platform. This vibration was very regular, perfectly synchronized with the frequency of the Song of Breaking the Law.

"The absorption rate has increased," Qin Shuang said, panting.

More life-giving particles were attracted. They converged at an increasingly faster rate, forming a huge green vortex.

At the center of the vortex was that fragment of the dragon's spine.

The fragment began to hum. This sound was unlike any before. It carried an ancient and majestic aura, as if proclaiming something.

Zhou Yang felt a suction force coming from the fragment.

This suction force not only affects the life-sustaining particles in the outside world, but also begins to influence his body. His lifespan is being slowly drained away.

"Warning! The energy conversion process is causing a backlash."

The system's voice carried an unprecedented urgency.

"We have to hold on!" Zhou Yang said through gritted teeth, "We're so close!"

Qin Shuang's blade began to glow red. The intense heat deformed the blade, but she still didn't back down. Her palms were already raw and bloody.

Black Steel's arms had completely turned a metallic black. Cracks covered them, but they still stubbornly held on.

00:02:00

The countdown is entering its final stage.

The altar trembled more and more violently. Some stones began to crumble and fall into the darkness below.

The green vortex of life-life particles had become impenetrable. They surged wildly into the center of the altar, greedily absorbed by the dragon spine fragments.

Zhou Yang's vision began to blur.

The loss of lifespan had weakened his body. But he knew that stopping now would mean all his previous efforts were in vain.

"The Song of Breaking the Law, Finale!"

With his last ounce of strength, he uttered three high-pitched notes.

These three notes connect perfectly in the air, forming a complete closed loop.

The green vortex contracted instantly.

All the life-life particles were instantly absorbed into the altar.

00:00:00

The countdown has ended.

"Conversion complete." The system voice finally calmed down.

boom--

A loud bang came from the altar.

All the light instantly vanished, including the blue, gold, and green lights. The entire space was plunged into complete darkness.

"Did it work?" Qin Shuang's voice rang out in the darkness, tinged with uncertainty.

Zhou Yang did not answer.

He was busy checking his system panel.

[Lifespan conversion complete]

Lifespan gained: 1200 years

[Repair progress of the dragon spine fragment: 3%]

"Hahaha!" Kurogane suddenly burst into laughter, "It's a success! It's really a success!"

A glimmer of light reappeared in the center of the altar.

It is a fragment of a dragon's spine.

It's brighter now than before, and intricate patterns have emerged on its surface. These patterns resemble some kind of ancient script, flowing slowly.

Qin Shuangsong had the surgery.

With a clang, the embroidered spring knife fell to the ground. Her hand was completely numb, and she didn't even have the strength to clench it.

Black Steel collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His arms had regained their color, but they were still trembling slightly.

Zhou Yang walked to the altar and reached out to touch the fragment of the dragon's spine.

The fragments were warm, as if they were alive.

"This is just the beginning," he said softly. "It will need much longer to fully repair it."

Qin Shuang slowly stood up and picked up the knife from the ground.

"Where to next?"

Zhou Yang looked towards the dark passage behind the altar. There seemed to be something more waiting for them there.

"Of course, we must keep moving forward." He smiled. "Our journey has only just begun."

Energy conflict

The halo suddenly contracted.

The golden light sliced ​​through the void like a sharp blade, piercing straight towards Zhou Yang's brow. His vision went black, and he felt as if he had been thrown into a furnace. Blood surged wildly in his veins, and every inch of his skin felt a tearing pain.

He clenched his teeth tightly.

The fragment of the dragon spine hummed in his palm, emitting a chilling power that suppressed the turbulent blood and qi within his body.

"System, activate the Song of Breaking the Law."

"Consuming ten years of lifespan, activation has begun."

An invisible sound wave emanated from his body, resonating with the halo on the altar. The golden light ceased its violent surge, transforming into fine threads that slowly coiled around Zhou Yang's body.

Just then, a screeching sound suddenly came from the surrounding walls.

Click—click—

Countless cracks appeared in the hard stone wall, and what spewed out from the cracks were not fragments of stone, but blades that gleamed with a cold light. These blades were made of pure energy, with regular patterns on their edges, as if they were meant to cut through anything.

"careful!"

Qin Shuang's blade flashed instantly. Her swordsmanship became even more ferocious, each strike precisely slicing into the incoming energy blades. Blinding sparks erupted as the blades clashed.

Black Steel's arms were once again encased in black metal. He stood beside Qin Shuang, magnetic lines weaving an impenetrable defense in front of him. The energy blades collided with the magnetic array, producing a dull thud before shattering into pieces.

But there are too many blades.

They gush forth endlessly from the cracks in the wall, impossible to cut them all off. Moreover, their speed and force are increasing.

"Zhou Yang!" Qin Shuang called out.

"Hold on! The ceremony has entered a crucial stage."

Zhou Yang's voice was somewhat hoarse. The Song of Breaking the Law was operating at full power, and golden energy threads were gradually drawing away the energy core at the center of the altar and merging it into the dragon spine fragment. This process could not be interrupted, otherwise all previous efforts would be in vain.

To make matters worse, the sound of orderly footsteps came from deep within the stone path.

thump -- thump -- thump --

The sound was like war drums, each strike striking the heart. Large numbers of light-maned guards appeared in sight, their bodies radiating white light, each wielding the same energy spears.

There are at least hundreds of them.

"Damn it, how come these guys are still here?" Kurogane gritted his teeth.

The magnetic array in front of him had been pierced through in several places by the energy blades, and several blades grazed his cheeks, leaving shallow bloodstains.

Qin Shuang's movements also began to show signs of strain. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing became rapid. The continuous high-intensity combat had taken a heavy toll on her physical strength.

The Lightbringer Guards began their charge.

Their goal was clear: the energy core at the center of the altar.

Zhou Yang could feel the killing intent emanating from the guards, cold and pure. He tried to divert some of the power of the Song of Breaking the Law to stop them, but the energy core on the altar suddenly trembled violently.

"No, we can't let our strength be divided," Zhou Yang thought to himself.

He made a decision.

"Qin Shuang, Hei Gang, buy me some time."

"Enough with the nonsense." Qin Shuang snorted coldly, but the flashes of her blades became even more intense.

Black Steel remained silent, simply adjusting the layout of the magnetic array. He concentrated more magnetic force in front, forming a thick energy shield.

"System, how much lifespan do you have left?"

Current lifespan: 342 years.

"Another twenty years will be wasted."

Zhou Yang increased the output of the Song of Breaking the Law. Golden energy threads surged into the dragon spine fragment like a tide, and the fragment emitted a low hum, the cracks on its surface healing at a visible speed.

However, this also triggered a more severe backlash.

The energy blades gushing from the cracks in the wall became even more violent, and some of them even began to combine themselves to form more complex attack patterns.

A giant energy sword composed of more than a dozen blades descended from the sky, aiming straight for Qin Shuang's head.

Her pupils contracted; it was too late to dodge.

Just then, Hei Gang suddenly grabbed her shoulder and flung her to the side. Qin Shuang was thrown three meters away, dodging a fatal blow.

Blacksteel himself was struck in the back by the greatsword.

boom--

The immense impact caused him to fall forward, and the metal armor on his back instantly cracked, with blood gushing out from the gaps in the armor.

"Black Steel!" Qin Shuang exclaimed.

"I can... I can still hold on." Black Steel struggled to get up, but the greatsword was still pressing down on his back, constantly releasing cutting energy.

The Lightbringer guards have already rushed to within a 30-meter radius.

They raised their spears simultaneously, the tips aimed at the altar.

"Zhou Yang, hurry!" Qin Shuang shouted. She cleaved through the attacking energy blade with her slash and tried to rush towards Black Steel, but more guards blocked her way.

Zhou Yang closed his eyes.

He sensed a wondrous change occurring within the Dragon Spine fragment, as if a new power was awakening within it. It was a power more primal than the Song of Destruction.

"System, fully activate the conversion."

"Lifespan consumption has increased to one million per year. Confirm execution?"

"confirm."

A terrifying suction force emanated from the dragon's spine fragment.

The energy core on the altar seemed to be captured by a black hole, frantically surging into the fragments. The golden light was instantly drained, leaving only a pure torrent of energy.

The shockwave generated by this process spread outwards.

The cracks in the wall widened instantly, and the entire altar shook violently. The energy blades dissipated like sand blown away by a gale.

Several of the Light Guardians were blown away by the shockwave, and the white light on their bodies dimmed.

But more guards rushed up, seemingly unconcerned about casualties.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin Shuang rushed to Hei Gang's side and cleaved the giant energy sword pressing down on his back with a single strike.

"Can you still fight?"

Kurogane coughed up blood and nodded with difficulty: "Okay."

His back was a bloody mess, but his eyes remained resolute.

Just then, the Song of Breaking the Law within Zhou Yang's body suddenly changed form.

No longer mere sound waves, they transformed into golden musical notes, dancing in the air. These notes seemed to possess life, actively welcoming the guardians of light.

The moment the musical note touches the guard, a burst of sparks erupts from the guard's body, then dissipates into specks of light.

"this..."

Qin Shuang was dumbfounded.

Zhou Yang's Song of Breaking Laws has evolved; it can not only convert and absorb energy but also launch proactive attacks. Each note contains the power of rules, specifically designed to counter these light-human guardians.

However, Zhou Yang's condition is not good.

His face was ashen, and his lips were cracked. Such a massive energy expenditure was draining his life force.

"Hang in there..."

He muttered to himself.

The energy core on the altar was shrinking, but the number of light-man guards seemed endless. They charged wave after wave, completely fearless of death.

Suddenly, the energy core at the center of the altar emitted a crisp sound.

It sounded like glass shattering.

Zhou Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

"It's done!"

The dragon spine fragment completely absorbed the energy core, all the cracks on its surface disappeared, and it regained its complete form. It emitted a warm glow and looked just like an ordinary piece of ancient jade.

But Zhou Yang knew that this contained terrifying power.

[System Notification: Successfully converted the energy of the Heart of the World. Lifespan increased by 100,000 years. Current lifespan: 100,342 years.]

A surge of immense joy welled up within me.

Ten years of consumption in exchange for a lifespan of 100,000 years—this deal is incredibly worthwhile.

But before he could even rejoice, the entire temple began to shake violently. It wasn't just an ordinary tremor; it felt as if it were about to collapse.

"Hurry up!" Qin Shuang shouted.

Just as Zhou Yang was about to retract the Song of Breaking the Law, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

The dissipated points of light are re-coalescing, and in greater numbers than before. Each point of light is frantically absorbing the surrounding spatial energy, transforming into a new guardian.

Even more frightening is that the aura emanating from these newly recruited guards is several times stronger than before.

"It's too late." Zhou Yang shook his head.

He made a crazy decision.

"Since we can't leave, let's bury these guys together."

He held the dragon spine fragment high in the air.

The fragment shone brightly, and a destructive power was brewing within it. That was the energy of the Heart of the World that he had just absorbed, which he was now unleashing in its entirety.

Qin Shuang and Hei Gang immediately realized what he was about to do, and the two quickly retreated.

"Zhou Yang!"

"Live on."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He saw that the newly formed guards had taken shape; their bodies were no longer pure white light, but rather tinged with a faint gold. Each guard exuded a godlike aura.

The guard at the front reached out his hand, seemingly trying to stop him.

But it was too late.

The fragments of the dragon's spine burst forth with a devastating light.

The entire temple appeared so small in the face of this light. Space seemed to be torn apart like paper, and time itself seemed to stand still.

Those powerful guards didn't even have time to utter a scream before they vanished into nothingness in the light.

Zhou Yang felt his body dissipating and his consciousness becoming blurred.

But he doesn't regret it.

Such a burst of energy is worthy of his current strength.

When the light faded, the entire temple was gone. Only a huge crater remained, in the center of which the fragment of the dragon's spine floated silently, its surface dull and lifeless.

At the edge of the deep pit, two figures lay there in a sorry state.

It's Qin Shuang and Hei Gang.

They were protected by Zhou Yang's power of the Song of Breaking Laws at the last moment. Although they were seriously injured, their lives were saved.

Qin Shuang struggled to get up and looked at the center of the pit.

There was nothing there.

"Zhou Yang..." Her voice trembled.

Suddenly, the fragment of the dragon's spine trembled slightly.

A phantom slowly coalesced above the fragment. It was a blurry human figure, resembling Zhou Yang, but even more ethereal.

"I'm alive."

The phantom spoke, its voice somewhat ethereal.

A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes.

"Where are you?"

"Inside the Dragon Spine fragments," the phantom said. "This eruption was too violent; my physical body was destroyed, but a wisp of my soul was preserved by the fragments."

He paused, then continued, "It will take time to rebuild my physical body. Find a safe place and wait for me to recover."

Qin Shuang nodded vigorously.

"We're waiting for you."

The phantom smiled slightly, then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the fragment of the dragon's spine.

The fragment swayed gently and flew to Qin Shuang's side. She reached out and caught it; the fragment was as smooth and warm as jade, as if nothing had happened.

Black Steel also crawled over. His injuries were more severe than Qin Shuang's, but he still stood stubbornly.

"Commander, what's next?"

Qin Shuang gripped the fragment of the dragon's spine tightly.

"Find a place to recover and wait for him to return."

Her eyes were resolute.

No matter how long it takes, she will wait.

Heavenly justice rises again

The afterglow of the ceremony had just faded when heavy footsteps echoed from the depths of the stone path.

Each step was heavy, like a hammer striking a rock wall.

Zhou Yang frowned, and blood seeped slightly from the back of his hand.

On the dark wall in the distance, a deep black band of light stretched out like a crack.

The light bands, like veins of blood, spread along the stone surface.

Its surface shimmered with faint purple patterns and exuded a chilling aura.

From the shadows at the end of the band of light, three messengers dressed in black robes slowly appeared.

Crimson fire patterns blazed on their chests, dazzling and eerie.

Each person held a different shaped ritual implement in their hand.

The first messenger's weapon was a blood-soaked short sword with tiny runes wrapped around its blade.

The second messenger held a round jade plate, the surface of which was engraved with ancient laws.

The third messenger had a huge iron ring embedded in his back, from which rolled dark red spiritual light.

Their gazes were like cold knives, fixed on the dragon spine fragment in the center of the altar.

The mission sheet on his shoulder, written on fiery red gold paper, read "Seize the Heart of the World".

The three men's voices were deep and resonant, echoing through the valley: "The will of the Heavenly Principle Sect will surely be fulfilled."

The system's notification sound echoed along the stone path.

"A signal from the Heavenly Principle Sect has been detected. The caster is using orthodox Heavenly principles to strengthen himself."

The words at the top of the screen flickered, and the red light seemed to surge like blood.

The beam of light instantly enveloped the three messengers, causing their magical artifacts to emit a blazing glow.

Zhou Yang raised his hand, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes.

"Qin Shuang, stop their forwards first."

Qin Shuang nodded, drew the silver blade from her waist, its edge gleaming coldly.

Her steps were light, yet carried an irresistible force.

"Black Steel, you are responsible for protecting the energy bloodline."

Black Steel gritted his teeth, gripped the massive iron hammer, and the tattoo on his chest trembled slightly.

He turned around and stood behind the altar, embracing the transformed energy bottle with both hands.

Zhou Yang turned around and stood at the edge of the altar, his palm lightly touching the texture of the dragon spine fragment.

The fragment emitted a warm echo, as if it were responding.

He muttered to himself, "As long as this bottle is held, the flow of life will not be interrupted."

Three messengers of the Heavenly Principle Sect approached the altar step by step, their figures like ghosts.

The first envoy swung his sword at Qin Shuang, the sword energy carrying a corrosive chill.

Qin Shuang dodged to the side, the blade slicing through the air with a piercing whistle.

The second messenger raised the jade plate high, and the light on the plate instantly condensed into a thin mist of blood.

The blood mist swept towards the black steel, and the mist contained a sealing power.

Black Steel swung the hammer and smashed it down, the hammerhead striking the mist and producing a deep rumble.

The third messenger turned and stood directly in front of the altar, the giant iron ring slowly rotating.

The spiritual light within the ring converged into an arc-shaped wall of light, pointing directly at the energy bottle.

The wall of light, like an invisible blade, attempts to sever the flow of life.

Just as the wall of light was about to touch the bottle opening, Zhou Yang focused his mind.

He placed his palm on the side of the bottle, and the heat in his veins rose accordingly.

The light inside the bottle suddenly spread, forming a pale blue shield.

As the shield flickered, the wall of light shattered, and fragments scattered like stardust.

The three messengers' magical artifacts dimmed abruptly, and their brows furrowed.

The system notification popped up again: "The orthodox Heavenly Way of the Heavenly Principle Sect has been weakened, and the threat level has decreased."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin Shuang moved forward, the tip of her blade touching the shoulder armor of the first envoy.

The silver blade left a thin, long mark, and the blood instantly congealed.

The first messenger let out a low growl, took several steps back, and his sword trembled.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Black Steel slammed the hammer handle into the ground, and the shockwave dispersed the blood mist.

After the blood mist dissipated, faint red marks appeared on the ground, seemingly imprinted by residual spiritual energy.

Zhou Yang stared intently at the remaining two envoys, already having a plan in mind.

He whispered to Qin Shuang, "Once their magic power is exhausted, I will activate the core in the bottle once more."

Qin Shuang nodded, and the blade continued to dance among the messengers.

Blood and silver glints mingled, and the sound of metal clashing echoed along the stone path.

The black steel hammer fell again and again, creating tiny cracks in the ground.

Each crack is like a provocation against the flow of life.

The three messengers gradually appeared tired, and the brilliance of the magical artifacts began to dim.

Their breathing was rapid, and the runes in their hands flickered erratically.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath and raised the old scroll in his hand.

The dense text on the scroll then emitted a soft golden light, pointing directly to the core of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

"Get ready," he whispered to Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword and stood beside him.

Just then, the distant stone wall trembled again, and a deep rumble came from it.

That was another team from the Heavenly Principle Sect, breaking through the defenses of the stone path.

A resolute glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes.

He turned to Black Steel and shouted, "Secure the bottle, I'm going to fight."

Black Steel nodded, buried the bottle deep under the stone base of the altar, and tapped the stone surface lightly with his fingers to make sure it wouldn't move.

Qin Shuang gripped the silver blade tightly and stepped into the end of the band of light.

The purple veins in the light band resembled blood vessels, reflecting her resolute back.

Night fell slowly over the stone path, and a cold wind swirled up debris.

The three Heavenly Principles Cult members finally lost their last bit of light power and collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Yang stood before the altar, a faint flame burning in his eyes.

He raised his palm and whispered an ancient incantation.

The echoes of the incantation reverberated through the stone path, and a chill spread with them.

The next moment, a faint blue light emanated from the tombstone-like stone pillar, pointing directly to the dark passage in the distance.

The light seemed to be guiding, or perhaps warning.

Zhou Yang withdrew his hand and fixed his gaze on the path.

"Let's follow them," he said softly.

Qin Shuang nodded, the silver blade swaying gently in her hand.

Black Steel put the hammer aside and turned to stand behind Zhou Yang.

The three walked side by side toward the end of the pillar of light, the echoes of the stone path fading into the distance with each step.

Rules of Confrontation

Outside the Starlight Corridor, the stone path was covered with lingering patterns of light. The patterns were no longer stable, occasionally flickering. Zhou Yang stopped, his wrist swaying slightly, his fingertips producing a low murmur. The sound contained the pulse of the Heart of the World, echoing the high-frequency resonances remaining on the dragon spine fragment. He closed his eyes, listening to the echoes beneath his feet, and suddenly reversed the syllables.

This melody was not as straightforward as before. Zhou Yang intertwined high and low notes, forging a new path. He silently recited in his mind, "The Sound of the Heart of the World"—the version he had obtained in the Void Bottle—compressing it against the "Heavenly Way" rhythm commonly used by the Heavenly Principle Sect. The sound waves fell on the stone statues on both sides of the corridor, like a thin mist dividing the rhythm. The statues' eyes did not open, but a faint, cold light shone through the trembling cracks. Zhou Yang's voice continued to rise lightly, pushing that high frequency away from the initial pulse.

"The Way of Heaven must be stable," he whispered. "The Dragon's Spine must stir up chaos." Though his voice was soft, it froze the other's rhythm like a sharp awl. At this moment, Qin Shuang was already pressed against the wall, the tip of her blade touching a semi-transparent band of light. The texture of that band of light flowed continuously, with a faint, surging energy, as if the next command was brewing. Qin Shuang composed a rhythm on the tip of her tongue, tapping the light band with the blade. She didn't need to shout; the blade itself was a vowel, and its vibrations disrupted the resonance of the light band.

Black Steel commanded in a deep voice, "Magnetic array in position." He pulled a piece of black cast iron from his back, its surface engraved with spiral patterns that spun rapidly in rhythm. Black Steel threw it to the ground; the spinning disc struck the light band and immediately vibrated. Black Steel was no longer impatient; his breathing was like that of a ferocious beast, while the magnetic array acted as a protective shield. Zhou Yang drew a golden rune from the center of the sound waveband. The rune seemed to possess warmth, carrying the aura of its remaining lifespan, and he gently pushed it out. The rune drew an arc in the air and collided with the Heavenly Principle Sect's "vital energy" aura.

A cold system notification sounded: "The Heavenly Principle Sect is mobilizing the 'Life Gate' and 'Dao Patterns,' which must be suppressed using the 'Reversal Law' of the Song of Breaking the Law." The notification included several specific items: the turning point of the rhythm, the resonance break, and the weighting synthesis. Zhou Yang memorized the notification, his eyes lit up, and he immediately adjusted his left and right hands to control the two frequency bands respectively. He knew that the Song of Breaking the Law was not just a simple sound wave. Behind the sound wave was the Reversal Law—he needed to create a break outside the original scale, so that the opponent's Heavenly Dao would see the "reversal" and be forced to self-examine.

He extended his right hand, and a beam of blue-white energy emanated from his fingertips. It was like a serpent of light flowing backward, bypassing the blade wind created by Qin Shuang, heading straight for the "vital point." Qin Shuang's blade traced an inverted crescent in the air, causing the light band to contract inward. She seized an exposed gap, and with a flick of the blade tip, severed half of the vital point's control. Black Steel followed closely, and a magnetic array sealed the gap. The magnetic array was like a barbed wire mesh, each ring carrying magnetic repulsion, pressing down on the vein-like Dao patterns, preventing them from pulsating any longer.

Zhou Yang dared not relax in this state. He used the high notes of the World Heart Sound as a fuse, while the low notes struck the rhythm of the Heavenly Dao like hammer blows. As the rhythm shifted, a layer of golden runes appeared around them. The runes were not arranged neatly, but rather resembled fragments condensed from the flow of life. The runes carried the residual aura of the Heavenly Dao, their translucent light tinged with blood, the surrounding rules chaotic. He felt a pulling pressure in his chest, a spontaneous counterattack from the Heavenly Dao, aware of the interference. His heartbeat was the first to adapt, like a knife finding its center.

Using the convergence of the light band, Qin Shuang pushed the line outward. A burst of azure light erupted from the blade, chasing the lifeline of the Heavenly Principle Sect cultivator along the light band. Her swordsmanship was no longer a one-way slash; each downward strike was rhythmic, like a beat. Her arms were so steady they barely moved. She swung the blade in the air in a small arc, the arc sweeping across the "Dao Pattern," disrupting its undulations. Qin Shuang remained silent, maintaining a steady breathing rhythm that compressed the opponent's senses, creating a suffocating effect.

Black Steel had stopped yelling. He crouched down, pressing the magnetic array against its weakest point. His body acted like a moving fence, his limbs suppressing the fluctuations of the light source. Beyond the blade, the magnetic array seemed to encircle a turbid current. When he looked up and saw Zhou Yang's left hand unfurl a new note, he chuckled, "Zhou Yang, the rhythm is here." His voice was deep and resonant, yet carried a metallic edge. Qin Shuang followed suit, her blade piercing the last, weakest point of the pattern.

The Heavenly Principle Sect's counterattack began to falter. Their so-called "vital points" and "Dao patterns" were disrupted; the pulse of their vital points was compressed, and the texture of their Dao patterns resembled silk pierced by needles, the fluctuations accompanied by a tearing sound. Within the Heavenly Principle Sect's formation, several cultivators gritted their teeth, trying to adjust their rhythm and re-match, but each attempt was tangled in the reverse law created by Zhou Yang. Zhou Yang did not pursue; he used the golden runes to maintain a line, sustaining the Song of Breaking the Law. He activated a new mode: transforming the remaining life force around him into rune particles, letting them rotate in the air like fragments, absorbing the Heavenly Principle Sect's sonic currents as they spun.

At this moment, the chieftain of the Heavenly Principle Sect stepped back. A deep blue blade of light rose from his palm, its edge engraved with Dao patterns. His gaze was fixed on the golden runes on Zhou Yang's body, for those runes were devouring him. He knelt down, silently making his decision. Retreat. Not to evade, but to preserve their formation and await the next, even stronger, attack.

Qin Shuang frowned slightly, her blade lowered, and Black Steel stood beside her. Zhou Yang slowly stretched out the last rune, like a ribbon outlining the surrounding rules. He lowered his voice even further, as if whispering. This low voice maintained the Song of Breaking Laws, as if preventing the Heavenly Dao from breathing. He stood at the entrance of the portal, the lingering echo of starlight behind him. He heard the system calmly say, "Maintain the tail of the Heart of the World's sound; the remaining notes can assist the next stage." He nodded, and then gently patted Qin Shuang's shoulder, signaling her to steady her breathing.

The Heavenly Principle Sect's formation slowly retreated, the blue light gradually fading into the dark passage. A remnant of order remained, like shards of glass. Zhou Yang retrieved the runes, the lingering sound in his hand like paper trampled underfoot. He neither cheered nor murmured. He simply glanced down at his palm, where golden specks of light still lingered. Qin Shuang sheathed her knife, looking towards the dark passage, light flickering along its edges. Hei Gang retracted the magnetic array, hoisted it back onto his shoulder, and strode steadily.

"Let's rest first," Zhou Yang said. He didn't add any more complications. His voice was calm and steady, as natural as the way he was maintaining the Song of Breaking the Law with the Voice of the Heart of the World. Qin Shuang and Hei Gang nodded. The surrounding space returned to calm, leaving only a faint rhythmic echo. They leaned against each other, preparing for the next wave of attacks.

perverse and perverse actions

On the altar, the fragment of the dragon's spine emitted a faint glow. Zhou Yang held it to his chest, his breathing slightly rapid. He silently recited the system command: "Reverse note, can trigger reverse action."

He stepped lightly on the stone slabs, with Black Steel standing behind him beside the magnetic array, a lodestone in his hand turning slightly. Qin Shuang gripped her knife, its blade gleaming coldly in the starlight. The three exchanged glances, a silent understanding flowing in the air.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Great Sound Arises." He uttered a series of strange syllables, the sound echoing around the altar. The sound waves were instantly absorbed by the dragon spine fragments, forming a layer of transparent ripples.

A golden musical note appeared at the center of the ripples, slowly flipping upwards. The reversed melody, like a river flowing backwards, crashed against the star pattern array above the altar. The star pattern trembled, and the light reversed into a black pulse.

The system screen flashed a countdown: "5". The countdown numbers struck like drumbeats in everyone's hearts.

A cold glint flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes as she drew her sword and charged forward. The blade sliced ​​through the energy wall formed by the reverse flow, instantly creating two thin cracks. Tiny wisps of cold flame drifted from the cracks, heading straight for the Heavenly Principle Sect's rune array.

Black Steel's steps were steady as the magnetic array beneath his feet activated. The magnetic field guided the countercurrent into a spiral shape, drawing it into the Heavenly Principle Sect's array. The magnetic force intertwined with the reversed musical notes, forming a massive energy vortex.

At the center of the vortex, the chains of the Heavenly Principle Sect's rules began to loosen. The tightly bound runes shattered one after another, and the pillar of light trembled before turning into fragments. The figures of the cultivators within the formation were torn apart by invisible forces, their magical artifacts fell from their hands, and their incantations abruptly ceased.

A cold smile flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes. He raised the dragon's spine, his voice rising again: "Going against the tide." The entire altar was submerged in reverse energy, light and darkness intertwined.

The Heavenly Principle Sect's formation collapsed instantly, and several cultivators fled in disarray. The remnants of the formation lay scattered on the stone ground, like shattered glass.

Qin Shuang swiftly gathered the fragments; her blade sliced ​​across the ground, slicing the pieces into tiny specks of light. Hei Gang retracted the magnetic array, the magnetic force dissipating, and held in his hand a rune stone that was still trembling slightly.

Zhou Yang stood at the highest point of the altar, looking down at the surroundings. The countdown had reached zero, and only the afterglow remained in the darkness.

"Gather." He murmured, and the light from the dragon's spine instantly receded. The light spot was re-condensed, transforming into a smooth, heart-shaped seal.

System notification: "The energy of the Heart of the World has been resealed."

The three exchanged a smile, saying nothing more. Qin Shuang sheathed her sword, gently stroking the back as if checking its sharpness. Hei Gang patted the iron armor on his shoulder, inspecting the magnetic array core for any damage.

Zhou Yang looked down at the ruins of the altar beneath his feet, his fingers lightly tapping the broken stones. Each tap produced a faint echo, as if reminding himself that the road ahead was still fraught with danger.

He turned, clutching the dragon spine tightly to his chest, and stepped into the dark passage leading to the abyss.

At the end of the passage, a faint blue light still flickered. The beam of light, like a guiding lighthouse, illuminated the stone wall ahead.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind, the blade trembling slightly in her hand. Hei Gang's steps were steady, the residual heat of the magnetic array leaving a warm trace in the air.

The three figures cast long shadows in the lamplight, slowly disappearing into the darkness.

This time, the Heavenly Principles Sect's magic array was no longer a threat, but was bound by its own rules and turned to ashes.

Zhou Yang had only one thought in his mind: the game of equivalent exchange was still going on.

Core Resonance

Blue light guides the way ahead.

Zhou Yang walked in front. Qin Shuang and Hei Gang followed behind. The threat from the Heavenly Principle Sect had temporarily disappeared.

The passage was long. The stone walls were slippery and carried a musty, earthy smell. The sound of the three people's footsteps was amplified in the narrow space, echoing again and again.

The blue beam of light was unstable. It flickered, like an oil lamp about to go out.

At the end of the beam of light was a more spacious circular stone chamber. In the center of the chamber, there was nothing. The beam of light shot straight up to the dome and then dispersed.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

He looked around. The walls of the stone chamber were covered with murals. They didn't depict gods or ghosts, but rather the trajectories of celestial bodies. The stars, the sun, and the moon were all arranged according to some kind of pattern he couldn't understand.

This place looks like an observatory.

The Heavenly Principle Sect came here. They set up a magic array, which was destroyed by the Song of Destruction. All they left behind was this silence.

Qin Shuang walked to his side, her gaze also falling on the mural.

"I've seen these diagrams in the ancient texts of the Heavenly Principle Sect," she said softly. "They are the foundational diagrams for their deduction of the laws of the world."

Black Steel vigilantly observed every corner, his hammer resting on the ground, ready to respond to any sudden attack.

Zhou Yang didn't say anything.

He closed his eyes.

He didn't feel the murals, nor the chill in the air. He felt it in his heart.

The golden crystal of the Heart of the World is now emitting an unusual tremor.

A familiar, subtle vibration emanated from within the gold crystal.

Zhou Yang's mind was deeply immersed in it.

In his perception, the golden crystal was suspended in a void. The cracks on the surface of the golden crystal, which had previously healed from absorbing the song of breaking the law, now silently opened a new fissure.

It's not a crack, it's more like a door.

Two ancient words peeked out from behind the door and were imprinted in his mind.

Core resonance.

This is neither a command nor a prompt. It's more like an option, an opportunity presented to you.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes, his gaze thoughtful.

Resonance? Resonate with what?

He subconsciously looked at his chest. The Heart of the World was the core. But with only a core and no vessel, resonance was impossible.

His gaze swept across the stone chamber, finally settling on the fragment of the dragon's spine he was holding.

The fragments were still warm. The sense of life was even clearer than before.

He seemed to understand.

He took a few steps forward and stood in the very center of the stone chamber.

"Commander, Black Steel," he began, "Guardian."

Qin Shuang didn't ask why. She simply drew her sword back into its sheath and placed one hand on the hilt. A thin layer of silver light spread out from her, like a calm, still lake, enveloping the three of them. At the edges of the light barrier, the air was compressed and slightly distorted, but within the barrier, all was calm.

Black Steel acted immediately. He knelt on one knee and removed the magnetic array from his shoulder. His fingers flew as he adjusted several key interfaces, muttering incantations. A low hum resounded, and the magnetic array emitted an invisible force field, forcibly smoothing out the energy fluctuations on the stone chamber floor and stabilizing this small space.

After doing all this, the two of them looked at Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath.

He raised the fragment of the dragon's spine and aimed it at his heart. Not to stab it, but to use it as a "hammer."

He closed his eyes and once again immersed himself in the perception of the heart of the world.

He needs to find that rhythm. A completely new, higher rhythm.

Just as he was concentrating, a sense of urgency suddenly seized him.

A voice devoid of any emotion resounded directly in his consciousness.

"Core resonance will unlock rule fragments. If you fail to absorb them within the time limit, the fragments will be automatically recycled."

The words had barely left his lips when an invisible shackle tightened around his sense of time. He could almost hear the second hand pounding frantically in his heart. Tick-tock, tick-tock. Time was running out.

Zhou Yang's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He could no longer hesitate.

He poured all his energy into the dragon spine fragment, feeling its texture, its temperature, and the ancient aura hidden within it.

Then he tapped it.

"bite."

First word.

Crisp and clear. Like jade chimes striking each other.

A golden ripple spread from the surface of the crystal, instantly engulfing the entire stone chamber. The star trails on the murals seemed to light up for a moment as well.

Zhou Yang didn't stop. He continued to tap, guided by the intuition flowing in his blood.

"Thump."

Second tone.

Dull and somber. Like the long, drawn-out tolling of an ancient bell.

The vibrations of the gold crystal became more powerful.

"Clang."

Third tone.

Sharp. Like the clang of clashing swords.

Qin Shuang's protective light barrier flickered violently. She immediately poured more internal energy into it, and the light barrier finally stabilized.

A strained expression appeared on Black Steel's face. The hum of the magnetic array became shrill, as if it were fighting against the leaking energy with all its might.

Zhou Yang was completely unaware of all of this.

He was completely immersed in this unique performance.

Every strike he made was incredibly precise. Some notes were long, some short, some high, some low. He played out all sixteen notes one after another.

This is not a piece of music. It is a language. A language that speaks to the heart of the world.

Tenth time, twelfth time, fifteenth time.

With each tap, the golden crystal in his heart shone brighter. The surrounding air seemed to freeze a little more. The pressure brought by the passage of time grew stronger.

Qin Shuang's lips had turned somewhat pale. Maintaining the shield had taken a heavy toll on her. But she gritted her teeth and remained motionless.

Sweat beaded on Black Steel's nose. The outer shell of the magnetic array began to heat up, but he remained steadfast in maintaining the array's base.

Finally, it was the sixteenth turn.

Zhou Yang lifted the fragment of the dragon's spine and, with all his might, struck out the last note.

"Buzz—"

That wasn't a knocking sound. It was a long, resonant sound.

It was as if the entire stone chamber, and indeed the entire world, was vibrating in unison at that moment.

The golden crystal in her heart clenched sharply upon hearing that last sound.

It no longer radiates golden light. Instead, it begins to absorb it frantically.

On the walls of the stone chamber, the ancient murals depicting the trajectories of stars all now shone with golden light. They were no longer lifeless pictures, but had transformed into real channels of energy.

The golden dust particles floating in the air, the energy previously scattered by the Song of Breaking the Law, came back to life. They transformed into billions of tiny, visible threads of light, converging from all directions.

Their target was the golden crystal on Zhou Yang's chest.

The golden crystal was like a bottomless vortex, swallowing all this energy. Then, it acted as a transit hub, continuously injecting filtered, purer energy into Zhou Yang's body.

A golden beam of light pierced through his flesh and flowed into his meridians.

That was not a brutal initiation, but a gentle irrigation.

Power flowed through his limbs and bones, washing away the fatigue he had sustained from casting the Spellbreaker Song. Every muscle and every bone hummed with satisfaction under the nourishment of this energy.

Zhou Yang's clenched fists slowly loosened without anyone noticing.

The torrent of golden light lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Then, the light began to slowly recede.

The light from the stone chamber murals faded. The wisps of light in the air disappeared. The golden crystals also stopped absorbing light, regaining their warm and ancient appearance.

Silence returned to the cave.

Only three people remained, one strong and two weak, their slightly heavy breathing echoing in the air.

The resonance is complete.

Zhou Yang slowly opened his eyes.

A deeper golden light, even more profound than before, seemed to flash deep within his pupils. He looked down at his hands. His power hadn't surged, but he could feel that his control over power and his perception of the rules had entered a completely new level.

He looked at Qin Shuang and Hei Gang.

Both of them were pale, but their eyes remained firm.

"Thank you for your hard work," Zhou Yang said.

Qin Shuang shook her head. She deactivated her shield, her body swaying slightly, but she remained standing upright. "What was the result?"

Zhou Yang did not answer directly.

He simply stretched out his hand, palm facing upward. A wisp of golden flame, thinner than a hair, spontaneously ignited in his palm. The flame had no temperature, yet it contained an aura of law that transcended all things.

With a gentle squeeze, the flame was extinguished.

"I've gained something new," he said softly. "This trip to the observatory was worthwhile."

As soon as he finished speaking, the blue beam of light that had been flashing on the dome of the stone chamber finally ran out of energy and went out completely.

The entire stone chamber was plunged into complete darkness.

Dive into the abyss

Darkness completely engulfed everything.

There was no light in the stone chamber. Qin Shuang's breathing was light, yet clearly audible. She gripped the hilt of her knife, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. Hei Gang stood beside her, heavy as iron, his breathing inaudible. In this deathly silence, any sound was exceptionally jarring.

Zhou Yang didn't move. He stood quietly, seemingly adjusting to the pure darkness. The wisp of golden flame he had just mastered still burned in his memory. It was a power that stripped away the laws of nature, at the cost of a considerable amount of his lifespan. But the gains were equally immense.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

A deep hum came from directly beneath the stone chamber. The sound wasn't heard, but resonated directly within their bones and internal organs. Then, a blinding golden beam of light exploded from beneath their feet! It tore through the darkness, dispelling all shadows.

The light was too intense, and Qin Shuang instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. Hei Gang also took a half step back and squinted.

The pillar of light stabilized, no longer blinding. It resembled an inverted golden ocean, within which countless tiny runes surged. And in the very center of the pillar, a staircase slowly emerged. The staircase was composed of pure light, spiraling downwards, its bottom invisible. It was like a road suspended in the void, leading to an unknown abyss.

"The Eternal Ladder..." Zhou Yang said softly, looking at the staircase of light. His voice was devoid of emotion.

Qin Shuang lowered her hand and looked at Zhou Yang: "What is this?"

"The true core of the observatory," Zhou Yang replied, "is that the group from the Heavenly Principle Sect who only reached the outer perimeter. This is the source."

He stepped forward, extended a finger, and gently touched the staircase of light. The sensation was strange; it was neither hard nor soft, like touching a frozen sound wave.

"I'll go down and take a look." Zhou Yang withdrew his hand, his tone as calm as if he were talking about eating or drinking.

"I'll go with you," Qin Shuang said immediately.

"No," Zhou Yang shook his head. "The energy required for this staircase is very special. Once it's interrupted, the people below won't be able to climb up. You two stay up there and guard the energy source. That's the most important thing." He pointed to the base of the pillar of light. "The black steel magnetic array can stabilize the structure, and your silver blade can cut off external interference. You two are the best guardians."

He wasn't lying. Given Qin Shuang and Black Steel's current state, venturing deeper into the abyss would only be a burden. Moreover, only he, possessing the Dragon Spine fragment and that system capable of burning through lifespan, could handle what lay below.

Qin Shuang fell silent. She looked at Zhou Yang, her eyes filled with worry, but even more so with trust. She understood that Zhou Yang's decisions were always the best solution.

"Okay," she said, offering only one word. "We'll wait for you."

This was the second time she had said those words. The first time was outside the observatory, when Zhou Yang was still just a blurry figure. Now, he was standing right in front of her, alive and well.

Black Steel stepped forward and patted Zhou Yang heavily on the shoulder without saying a word. But everyone understood the meaning.

Zhou Yang nodded. He took the fragment of the dragon's spine from his robes and held it across his chest. The fragment was slightly warm, as if responding to the abyss's call. He took a deep breath and stepped onto the staircase of light.

Stepping onto the staircase of light felt like stepping on solid ground. He didn't stop, continuing his descent step by step. His figure was quickly swallowed by the golden beam of light, leaving only a tiny black dot, shrinking ever smaller.

Qin Shuang and Hei Gang walked to the edge of the pillar of light and looked down. Below them were endless spirals and a deep golden sea of ​​light.

"Set up the formation," Qin Shuang ordered. Her voice regained its usual calm and decisiveness.

Without a word, Black Steel removed the magnetic array from his back and placed it at the base of the pillar of light. He quickly formed hand seals, and magnetic runes lit up, forming a semi-transparent shield that enveloped the base of the pillar of light.

Qin Shuang drew her silver blade and stood guard beside him. Her senses spread throughout the entire stone chamber, alert to any possible disturbance. They were like two most loyal sentinels, guarding the only escape route for those who had ventured deep behind enemy lines.

Zhou Yang continued to descend the steps.

There were no landmarks around him, only the eternally spiraling staircase of light descending. He didn't know how long he had been walking; it felt like a day had passed, yet also like only a moment. Time had lost its meaning here.

Gradually, he began to see other things.

In the dark void beyond the light ladder, luminous fragments began to appear. They were of various shapes, some like prisms, some like withered leaves, and some like frozen teardrops. They floated silently, emitting a faint glow.

Zhou Yang reached out, trying to touch the nearest fragment. Just as his fingertips were about to touch it, the fragment suddenly became sharp, and a sharp edge that could cut through space came from it.

He immediately withdrew his hand.

High-density, regular fragments have been detected.

[Fragmentation state: disordered, chaotic, and aggressive.]

[Solution: The fragments need to be integrated using a force field and regenerated through the Heart of the World to form a readable rule map.]

[In the process of deriving and integrating the formula... Formula derivation complete.]

[Will this consume time and require a one-time integration?]

A system notification sounded in Zhou Yang's mind. He didn't hesitate.

"Yes, execute."

In an instant, ten years of his lifespan vanished into thin air. A massive flow of information surged into his brain. It wasn't a technique or a move, but an extremely complex structural logic. He instantly understood what to do.

He raised the dragon spine fragment, using it as a pen. He began to draw lines in the void. The tip of the fragment trailed a golden path, merging into the darkness like ink.

He wasn't drawing symbols or words, but rather a kind of force field conductor. Each stroke precisely connected to the core of several fragments of rules. Those fragments, which were originally full of aggression, immediately quieted down and became docile after being connected by the golden threads.

Zhou Yang's movements grew faster and faster. He seemed to transform into a highly skilled weaver, using fragments of the dragon's spine as a shuttle to weave together countless scattered pieces. Golden lines crisscrossed in the darkness, forming a vast network.

With each piece he connects, he can read a wisp of remaining law information from that fragment.

"...The geological node of Anyang County..."

"...The flow of Qi (vital energy) in the Blackrock Mountains..."

"...Location of the Heavenly Principle Sect's branch altars..."

These were fragmented pieces of information, but when they were pieced together, a completely new map began to take shape in his mind. It wasn't a geographical map, but a "map of rules" covering the entire region. The map marked weak points of power, convergence points of fortune, and secret nodes hidden beneath the mortal world.

He even saw a marker pointing to an inconspicuous valley outside Anyang County. There, an extremely faint signal emanated, originating from the same source as the energy generated by the mutation of the corpse poison within his body.

It turned out to be the case.

Zhou Yang's hands continued moving, but the shock in his heart grew ever stronger. This observatory was practically the back-end server of a world. As long as he mastered the rules here, he could possess the ability to almost predict the future within this area.

Just as he was about to finish integrating all the fragments in the area, he stopped.

The nib of the dragon spine fragment hovered in mid-air.

A new pulse emanated from the deepest part of the abyss. The sound was low and deep, far more ancient than the hum that had accompanied the previous beam of light. It didn't resemble any energy fluctuation; rather, it was like a heart that had slumbered for billions of years, giving a slight beating.

thump...

That thud caused the entire void to tremble.

The rule map that Zhou Yang had just integrated dimmed for a moment and almost collapsed.

Zhou Yang's expression changed. He immediately poured more of his lifespan into the Dragon Spine fragment to stabilize the collapsing force field network.

He looked up. The end of the stairway of light was still shrouded in endless darkness. But that darkness seemed to have come alive at this moment.

That thing is still alive.

Moreover, it's about to wake up.

Zhou Yang gripped the fragment of the dragon's spine tightly; the fragment was incredibly hot at that moment. He didn't retreat; instead, he continued downwards, taking another step.

Temple Echoes

A black vortex exploded at the bottom of the abyss.

It wasn't a simple rotation; it filled the entire space at once. Zhou Yang instinctively raised his hand to protect his eyes, but Qin Shuang's blade was already positioned in front of him, and the black steel magnetic array hummed as it deployed a semi-transparent shield.

The center of the vortex is empty.

No, it wasn't empty. There was nothing there, yet something existed within it. Zhou Yang steadied himself and then saw clearly—it was a mirror image, countless concentric mirror images.

The first layer was dark gray, like a dusty bronze mirror. The second layer, the third layer… layer upon layer, extending into the depths beyond the reach of sight. Each layer was slowly rotating, at slightly different angles, as if someone had broken the same mirror and randomly pieced it back together.

"Protect?" Zhou Yang murmured to himself.

He knew that the Heavenly Principle Sect liked to set up things in places like this. The Star Observatory was like that, the entrance to the abyss was like that, and this thing in front of him was obviously no exception.

The mirror surface rippled.

To be precise, it was the mirrors that moved. Starting from the outermost layer, a figure slowly emerged from each mirror. At first, it was just a human outline, then the outline gradually became clearer—the whole body was wrapped in a gray-white robe, the face was not visible, the arms hung down, and the walking posture was like a puppet being pulled by strings.

One, two, ten, one hundred.

Qin Shuang gave up when she counted to three hundred. Countless white figures had squeezed out of the mirror image, filling the entire bottom of the abyss. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like well-trained soldiers, or like some kind of rhythmic movement.

"Echo Guard," Zhou Yang uttered the word.

The system popped up a timely notification: "A 'Temple Echo' guardian has been detected, composed of mirror images of laws. Each mirror image represents an independent law; destroying the mirror image will dismantle the corresponding guardian."

"Smash?" Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes.

He tried to throw a punch forward. The golden fist struck the outermost guard, which shattered like paper, but a new one immediately emerged from the mirror.

"Invalid." Zhou Yang frowned.

He immediately changed his strategy, his lifespan burning away in an instant, and a sword aura containing the law of stripping slashed towards the mirror image itself. Cracks appeared on the mirror surface, but only on the outermost thin layer. The mirror image inside remained intact, and the guard continued to emerge.

"We need to break it from the inside." Qin Shuang saw the problem. "These mirrors are one piece. If the outer layer is broken, the inside will be patched up."

With a hum, the black steel mirror array began to operate wildly, sending hundreds of magnetic rays towards the mirrors on different levels. The mirrors vibrated simultaneously, but none of them actually shattered.

"It's useless," Zhou Yang said. "An attack at the level of laws requires a response at the level of laws."

He gripped the dragon spine fragment tightly.

Last time, he used the Song of Breaking the Law in conjunction with the Dragon Spine Notes to break the Heavenly Principle Sect's magic array. Now, facing the same creation of laws, the approach should be the same—not to break it, but to resonate with it.

Zhou Yang closed his eyes.

He immersed his consciousness into the fragments of the dragon's spine, trying to sense the lingering musical notes. Last time, he learned "reversal," learned to turn the workings of the laws upside down. Now, he needed to go a step further.

The musical notes danced in his mind's eye, like a cluster of fireflies. Zhou Yang tried to touch them, to understand the logic behind their arrangement.

Suddenly, a possibility occurred to him.

If these reflections are essentially "echoes," then they must follow the laws of echoes—reflection, delay, and superposition. So, if it also emits a sound, a sound with the same frequency as the echo but opposite phase, will it cancel out?

"Come here," Zhou Yang said in a low voice.

The fragment of the dragon's spine flashed.

This time, it wasn't a single note that was emitted, but a complex melody. While the previous note was still echoing in the air, the next one caught up with it, and the two sound waves pressed against each other, creating visible ripples.

The ripples collided with the outermost mirror surface.

The mirror wasn't broken, but something was wrong. The once clear reflection suddenly became blurry, like looking through frosted glass. The outermost guard paused, then slowed down.

"It works!" Qin Shuang's eyes lit up.

"That's not enough," Zhou Yang said.

He knew this was just interference. To truly disrupt the mirror structure, the reverse sound waves needed to penetrate every layer. This required greater power and more precise control.

He decisively burned through more of his lifespan.

The temperature of the dragon spine fragment rose sharply, burning Zhou Yang's palms, but he didn't loosen his grip. A new set of notes was introduced, more complex and with a higher frequency than before.

This set of notes is like a key, inserted into a node of the mirror system.

The innermost layer changes first. The mirrors there blur first, then the middle layer, and then the outer layer. It progresses layer by layer, like a domino effect.

The mirror image began to collapse.

It wasn't shattering, but dissolving. Each mirror surface was like a sheet of paper soaked in water, its edges gradually blurring and the image fading. The guardians lost their anchor, their bodies becoming transparent, reverting to the most basic particles of the laws, drifting away into the air.

System notification: Echo Guardian has been destroyed. 'Resonance Fragments' have been detected scattered. Absorb them?

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

Sure enough, dozens of tiny fragments floated where the mirror image had originally been. They were translucent, with subtle shimmering light moving inside, like liquid starlight.

"absorb."

With a thought, the fragments flew towards Zhou Yang in unison. A list popped up on the system interface:

"Resonance Fragment ×27"

Can be converted into rule fragments:

- Mirror Principle (Beginner)

- Law of Reflection (Elementary)

- The Law of Unity (Beginner)

-Rhythm Laws (Beginner)

- Superposition Rule (Beginner)

Zhou Yang glanced at them. Although these laws were all at the beginner level, their type was different from any he had mastered before. They were more abstract, closer to the "rules" themselves, rather than specific techniques.

"Absorb it all first," he said.

The fragment disappeared into the body. The system interface flashed briefly, displaying "Rule fragment has been added to the database and can be accessed at any time."

Zhou Yang let out a breath.

The battle ended faster than he had anticipated, but that didn't mean it came without a price. His lifespan was reduced by another step; while it wasn't life-threatening, the damage accumulated and would eventually become a hidden danger.

"Let's go," he said.

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword, and Hei Gang withdrew from the magnetic array. The three continued downwards.

The abyss didn't become much brighter with the Echo Guard's demise, but the oppressive atmosphere in the air noticeably lessened. Zhou Yang looked down, his gaze piercing through the darkness, and saw something.

It was something floating at the very bottom of the abyss.

It is an irregularly shaped crystal, about the size of a human head. It is completely transparent, yet a faint halo flows within it. The color of the halo constantly changes—from white to blue, from blue to purple, from purple to gold, and then back to white.

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

"Did you see it?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Mm," Zhou Yang replied.

The object hovered three feet above the ground, rotating slowly. With each rotation, the air around it rippled slightly, like ripples on the surface of water.

The system popped up a message: "A crystal with the 'New Rule Preset' setting has been detected. It can be absorbed as a new rule."

Zhou Yang did not act immediately.

His intuition told him that this thing wasn't so simple. The Echo Guardian was just an appetizer; this crystal was the real core—and perhaps, an even bigger trap.

But he had no other choice.

Zhou Yang mobilized the energy of the Heart of the World, condensing it into a semi-transparent palm, and reached out to grab the crystal. The crystal did not resist, easily being grasped in his palm, and then slowly pulled towards Zhou Yang.

The crystal suddenly lit up the moment it touched the skin.

The light was so bright that Zhou Yang had to close his eyes, but he could feel the energy flowing into his body, replenishing what he had lost in the battle, and even more.

The system notification sound kept ringing:

"Rule Fragment +1 (New Rule Preset)"

New rules have been unlocked: Preset Rules (Beginner)

This rule can be triggered automatically under certain conditions, without requiring manual activation.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

The crystal had disappeared, leaving only a faint mark in his palm, like a drop of solidified mercury.

"A good harvest," he said in a low voice.

Qin Shuang asked, "What's next?"

Zhou Yang looked deeper into the abyss. There was still a path there, but his intuition told him to stop here for today. Going any further might be beyond his current capabilities.

"Go back," he said. "There are more important things waiting for us on the ground."

The three embarked on their return journey. The darkness of the abyss was no longer a threat, but a tunnel leading to the next confrontation. Zhou Yang gripped the fragment of the dragon's spine tightly; the warmth from the crystal still lingered there.

With the new rules in place, the game has entered a new phase.