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

The morning mist in the valley had not yet dissipated, and light seeped through the cracks in the rocks. Zhou Yang stood beside the remaining afterglow of the crystal, his palms slightly warm. The once shattered, regular crystal had been pieced back together into a semi-circle. A faint purple-blue light still flowed through the cracks, like the breath of a slumbering beast.

"Set it steady," he whispered to Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang stepped forward, lightly tapping the crystal base with her finger, and a slight hum immediately came through. A cold light flashed in her eyes, revealing her familiarity with this treasure.

Zhou Yang reached his hand towards the crystal's core, his fingertips tracing the patterns of the cold light. The life force within his body trembled slightly, releasing a wisp of heat. The light patterns expanded across the crystal's surface, like lamps ignited by raindrops. The light was no longer a single point of brilliance, but rather formed a wide grid.

Each line of the light network carried a tiny pulse. The pulses traveled through the rock walls, spreading outwards along the cracks. A soft hum began to fill the air, like the low breathing of a symphony. The light patterns gradually converged into a pale blue design, covering the entire bottom of the valley.

Zhou Yang turned to face Qin Shuang, his eyes sharp.

"This is called 'Light Field.' Once activated, it will cut off all trackers' senses. As long as the light pattern is intact, anyone who tries to get close will only see a phantom."

Qin Shuang nodded and replied softly, "With my Black Steel, once the nodes are synchronized, we can monitor in real time."

"Black Steel is already waiting at the pass," Zhou Yang said, raising his hand and making a stroke on the rock face of the pass. In an instant, faint silver symbols appeared on the surface of the rock face. Those were the activation markers for the synchronization nodes, and the light patterns automatically connected.

Black Steel—a burly man with skin covered in black iron patterns—stood at the mountain pass. A dark red jade stone was embedded in his chest, and his entire body radiated a low, oppressive heat. Zhou Yang lightly touched the jade stone with his finger, and it instantly lit up. Pulses of light patterns passed through his body, forming intricate geometric shapes.

"Look," Zhou Yang pointed to the sky behind Hei Gang, where several thin lines stretched out from Hei Gang's chest in all directions.

"Each line is a monitoring node. After the three of us synchronized at different locations, the entire valley became a distributed monitoring network. Any creature not within the network could only sense the movement of the air, but could not track us."

Qin Shuang's hand moved within a hidden compartment in her sleeve, retrieving a silver disc. The disc's surface was engraved with ancient patterns, the very same restrictive talismans of the Heavenly Principle Sect. She gently placed the disc in the center of the light net, then softly recited an incantation.

Suddenly, a dazzling beam of light burst forth from the center of the optical network, shooting straight into the clouds. At the top of the beam appeared a small emblem—the system's identifier. After the emblem flashed several times, a system notification sounded in Zhou Yang's ears.

System notification: Lightfield deployment complete. Regular light patterns have covered the designated area, and monitoring nodes are activated. Target locked: Heavenly Principle Sect core node.

The notification sound faded into the echoes of the valley. Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow slightly, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes.

"This means that the core of the Heavenly Principle Sect is now within our sights," he said calmly.

Qin Shuang's gaze grew even colder. She gently stroked the jade stone on her chest, and the heat flowing through it accelerated. Black Steel's chest also emitted a low hum in sync, as if its entire body was resonating.

"We've already breached one layer of their defenses," Qin Shuang said, "but there are still several layers of seals. We need to break through further."

Zhou Yang nodded and turned to walk deeper into the valley. Light patterns spread out beneath his feet, like an invisible road. With each step, tiny specks of light popped out, leaving a faint trace.

He randomly selected a spot on the pattern of light and raised his short staff. A dark purple pebble was embedded at the tip of the staff, its interior faintly glowing with crimson light. Zhou Yang pressed the pebble against the intersection of the light patterns, and the staff instantly emitted a soft hum.

The color of the light patterns changed from pale blue to deep purple, and the frequency of the pulses increased. The purple light, like ignited flames, drew countless flashing arrows around the valley. Each arrow pointed in a direction, seemingly marking the path of potential enemies.

Black Steel stood at the mountain pass, his hands raised, the jade on his chest gleaming with purple light. Light patterns formed a ring-shaped barrier around his body, within which tiny runes shimmered.

"Barrier activated," Black Steel whispered, his voice carrying a metallic echo.

Qin Shuang reached into her sleeve and took out a tiny silver needle. She inserted the needle into the center of the light net, and the needle instantly transformed into a thin thread, passing through every groove of the light net. A faint green light flickered at the end of the thread, like a signal light.

"Synchronization complete," Qin Shuang said. "Now, no matter how many trackers the Heavenly Principle Sect sends out, they can only see our phantom images inside the light network. Our true entities will be completely hidden."

Zhou Yang stood at the deepest part of the light network, gazing at the distant mountain ridge. Several ancient stone towers stood on the ridge, their surfaces eroded by time, yet still emanating a faint, chilling aura. Those were the outposts of the Heavenly Principle Sect, containing their second layer of seal.

He gently stroked the emblem on his chest, and its light immediately dimmed. Zhou Yang's breathing rose and fell rhythmically, the flame of life burning within him, yet causing him no pain. On the contrary, he felt a rare sense of satisfaction—the rules were in his grasp, and the enemy's movements were locked.

"Next," he whispered, "enter the stone tower and break the seal. As long as the regular light patterns at the entrance are not destroyed, the internal seal will collapse on its own."

Qin Shuang's gaze softened slightly, yet remained icy. She replied softly, "I'll be responsible for cutting off all external interference from the rear. As long as the optical network is secure, their reinforcements will never be able to get in."

Black Steel nodded, gripping his short sword, its blade gleaming silver-white in the light of the net.

"I'm on the front lines," he said. "Any creature that tries to break in, I make sure they get lost in the web of light."

The three took their positions, and every line of the light network was activated. In the center of the valley, the light formed a huge disc, its surface covered with intricate runes. Each pulsation of the runes was like a heartbeat, reflecting the very breath of the valley.

Zhou Yang looked up at the sky. Several eagles flew through the thin mist, emitting soft, sharp cries. The light from the surveillance network danced on the shadows of the eagles, as if reminding them: the surveillance was in place, and any attempt to penetrate would be captured instantly.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the stone tower of the Heavenly Principle Sect. The light patterns beneath his feet moved with him, illuminating the path ahead. Qin Shuang and Hei Gang's figures gradually faded at the other end of the light net, with only the distant pillar of light still flickering.

The valley wind blew again, stirring up fine sand. The light patterns trembled slightly in the wind, yet maintained their clear form. Zhou Yang had only one thought in his mind—to completely lock down the core nodes of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and then push the rules to a deeper level.

He quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing through the empty valley. The pulses of the light network accelerated accordingly, and the entire valley was enveloped in a faint purplish-blue light, as if draping the night in a thin veil.

Just then, the system notification sounded again:

System notification: The rule-based light pattern has finished spreading. Next target locked: The core node of the Heavenly Principle Sect has been marked. Please proceed to the designated coordinates to carry out the destruction mission.

Zhou Yang's lips curled slightly upward, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He said nothing more, but quickened his pace, running towards the stone tower. The net of light continued to expand behind him, like an invisible hand, tightly gripping every crevice of the valley.

Before the mountain tower, a cold light flashed, and the stone door slowly opened. The end of the light pattern formed a faint ring on the door frame, reflecting Zhou Yang's figure inside. As he stepped inside, the ring's light suddenly contracted, as if sucking him in completely.

The interior of the stone tower was dark and damp, its walls covered with ancient runes. Zhou Yang lightly touched a stone slab, which instantly emitted a deep hum, and pulses of light spread throughout the tower. Each light pattern precisely corresponded to a sealing mechanism within the tower.

Just then, a faint metallic clanging sound came from the distant valley. Qin Shuang and Hei Gang appeared at the other end of the light net, their movements synchronized and orderly. Qin Shuang held a short sword in her hand, its tip gleaming coldly; Hei Gang's blade had already carved several deep cuts into the outer layer of the light net.

The center of the light network lit up again, with a purple-blue beam shooting straight into the sky, seemingly illuminating the entire valley. Zhou Yang stood at the deepest part of the stone tower, with the seal about to be broken behind him and the only passage leading to the core of the Heavenly Principle Sect in front of him.

He took a deep breath, and the emblem on his chest immediately emitted a soft glow. The glow gathered at his fingertips, transforming into a tiny bead of light. After floating in the air for a few seconds, the bead of light suddenly shot towards the seal at the very top of the stone tower.

The seal's surface was struck by the light orb, instantly creating a crack. The crack widened, and pulses of light seeped out, shooting straight towards the secret chamber at the top of the tower. The door to the chamber slowly opened, releasing a faint, blood-red aura.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yang stepped into the secret chamber. Behind the door was a spacious stone chamber, in the center of which stood an ancient altar. On the altar rested a huge obsidian stone, its surface engraved with the highest-level prohibitive runes of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

The obsidian's luster trembled slightly under the reflection of the light net, as if awaiting the moment of its deciphering. Zhou Yang placed the light bead in his hand onto the obsidian, and the bead's violet-blue light instantly intertwined with the obsidian's dark red light.

The light within the obsidian was activated, forming a rotating halo. A faint symbol appeared at the center of the halo—the core node marker of the Heavenly Principle Sect. A resolute glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes.

The power of the aura rapidly spread outwards, and light patterns quickly expanded across the four walls of the stone chamber. Each line of the light pattern directly connected to the surveillance network outside the valley, forming a complete closed loop. At this moment, the core node of the Heavenly Principle Sect was completely locked down, and any attempt to operate covertly would be captured by the light network.

Qin Shuang's voice came from afar, carrying a faint smile: "We've been waiting for you."

The black steel blade gleamed silver-white under the halo, and the tip of the blade lightly touched the edge of the halo, producing a crisp metallic sound.

Zhou Yang withdrew his hand and stood before the altar, the emblem on his chest lighting up once more. The system notification sounded again, the voice deep and steady.

System notification: The new regulations have been deployed across the entire domain. The core node of the Tianli Sect has been compromised. Preparing to proceed to the next phase of operations.

The halo's light shone throughout the valley, its purple-blue patterns intertwining with the valley's shadows to form an insurmountable barrier. The figures of Zhou Yang, Qin Shuang, and Hei Gang appeared and disappeared within the halo, like three stars embedded in a network of rules.

The valley wind blew again, carrying away the lingering warmth of the light patterns, but leaving behind a clear target—the heart of the Heavenly Principle Sect. Zhou Yang's lips curled slightly upward, his voice echoing within the halo:

"Take one more step, and the end of the rules is just ahead."

The halo of light trembled slightly as he spoke, then spread into the depths of the mountain tower at an almost imperceptible speed. Under the protection of the regular patterns of light, the entire valley fell silent for a moment, with only the interplay of beams and shadows echoing softly in the air.

Aftershocks of the Rules

The valley was damp and chilly in the early morning.

Zhou Yang stood on a protruding rock, his gaze piercing through the thin mist, landing on the outline of a stone tower thirty miles to the southeast. The tower appeared and disappeared in the mist, like a rusted sword stuck into the ground.

"Confirmed." Qin Shuang's voice came from behind her. She held a transparent crystal in her hand, with fine threads of light flowing within it. "The Heavenly Principle Sect's outpost is at the bottom of the tower. The defenses aren't strong, but the teleportation array could be activated at any time."

Black Steel slung his longsword over his shoulder and grinned. "Then let's hurry up and get going, don't let them get away."

Zhou Yang nodded, then flipped over and jumped off the rock. He had just taken a step when his brows suddenly furrowed.

wrong.

A subtle tremor ran through his chest. It felt like someone was tapping a small drum beneath his ribs, the rhythm slow but each beat heavier than the last. Zhou Yang pressed his hand to his chest; the skin beneath his fingertips was surprisingly hot.

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

"It's nothing." Zhou Yang let go of her hand and tugged at her collar. "It's probably because I used up too much energy constructing the rule crystal. I just need to rest for a bit."

He wasn't telling the truth.

The tremors couldn't be explained by fatigue. The frequency increased, as if some living thing was awakening within him. At the same time, the system interface flickered on his retina—

The [Rhythm of the Breathing Wheel] operates stably, but there are abnormal energy fluctuations.

Alarms blared in Zhou Yang's phone. Based on past experience, such unusual fluctuations usually meant trouble, and big trouble at that.

"Don't rush off." Zhou Yang stopped Hei Gang, who was about to step forward. "The situation has changed."

As soon as he finished speaking, his vision suddenly distorted.

The surrounding scenery rippled violently, like water rippled by a thrown stone. Valleys, rocks, mist—everything began to distort unnaturally. Zhou Yang saw his hand split into three overlapping shadows in his vision, each with a different afterimage.

"Zhou Yang!" Qin Shuang's voice seemed to come from a very far place.

He wanted to respond, but the moment he opened his mouth, a chilling aura exploded from deep within his chest. The aura didn't come from the outside, but rather surged forth from within his own body. Or rather, the "Breath Cycle Rhythm" rules that had just been established within him were being torn apart from the inside by some force.

abyss.

When the word popped into his mind, Zhou Yang finally understood.

Everything he did at the Abyss Node—suppressing resistance, gathering information, establishing rules—was not without cost. The core consciousness of the Abyss only retreated temporarily, not completely disappeared. Like a hibernating giant serpent, it was slashed and then hid in a deeper crevice.

And now, it has awakened.

"Uh—" Zhou Yang knelt down, his hands supporting him on the ground. The rough texture of the rock was still real, but his vision had completely changed.

He saw the inside of his own body.

Countless threads of light extended from his heart, spreading throughout his limbs and bones. This was the "Breath Cycle Rhythm" rule network he had derived from his lifespan, which should have been operating stably, but now, these threads of light were being eroded by some dark force. Darkness invaded from the ends of the threads of light, gradually spreading towards the core.

At this rate, his network of rules will be completely destroyed in less than fifteen minutes. And at that point, all the power he has accumulated within him will backfire on him.

This is the price of using forbidden power.

"Zhou Yang! Look at me!" Qin Shuang rushed forward, grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and quickly pulled a talisman from her pocket with the other. Without hesitation, she slapped the talisman onto Zhou Yang's back.

The moment the talisman touched his skin, a thin layer of ice spread from the point of contact. The chill entered his body, and Zhou Yang shivered, his vision briefly clearing.

"Someone is attacking your consciousness." Qin Shuang's tone was more serious than ever before. "Is it a remnant of the Abyss? Haven't your rules already suppressed it?"

"Suppression doesn't mean annihilation." Zhou Yang gritted his teeth, sweat rolling down his forehead. "It's hiding, and now it's launching a counterattack while I'm off guard."

Black Steel approached, long sword in hand, surveying the surroundings warily: "What do you need me to do?"

"Protect ourselves." Zhou Yang struggled to lift his head, his lips twitching slightly. "Next, I need to—"

Before he could finish speaking, his consciousness was once again dragged into that darkness.

This time, he stood in a void. There was no concept of up, down, left, or right; only endless darkness. But in the darkness, something was watching him.

It was a shapeless black shadow, like an aggregate of countless eyes. Each eye represented a part of the consciousness of the abyss, and at this moment, all these eyes were focused on Zhou Yang.

"[Outsider.]" The voice echoed directly in his mind, aged and cold. "[You have stolen the laws of the Abyss. This debt must be repaid with your soul.]"

Zhou Yang steadied himself in the void. He knew that fear or retreat would be useless now. Since the other party had come knocking, there was only one thing he could do—

"Repay?" Zhou Yang sneered. "When you set up the trap and devoured so many lives, did you ever think about paying it back? Under the rules, the strong prey on the weak. Now that you've lost, stop pretending to be the victim."

The dark figure jerked violently.

Arrogant.

As soon as he finished speaking, the endless darkness around him suddenly compressed inward. Zhou Yang felt as if a boulder had struck his chest, making it extremely difficult to breathe. His "Breath Wheel Rhythm" rule network flickered wildly under the pressure of the darkness, on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

But at that moment, Zhou Yang noticed something.

The darkness that erodes the light filaments is not endless. It comes from one direction—like water that always has a source. Although the darkness contains infinite power, it is essentially just a remnant of a defeated army making its final stand.

If he could force this darkness back...

Zhou Yang suddenly looked up, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"System," he commanded mentally, "[Consume ten years of your lifespan to repair the Breathing Wheel Rhythm Rule Network.]"

[Confirmed. Deducting ten years of lifespan. Remaining lifespan: 127 years.]

The system's voice was devoid of emotion, but the cold numbers were the strongest guarantee at that moment. A warm current surged from the depths of his soul, instantly flowing into the collapsing light network.

The light filament lit up.

Not only within his body, but also in that dark void, Zhou Yang's body began to glow. A pale blue halo emanated from beneath his skin, like a faint flame burning within.

"The Rhythm of Breath." Zhou Yang's voice carried far in the darkness. "It's a rule I created. You've chosen the wrong battlefield to fight me here."

He raised his hand, his five fingers spread.

Light threads shot out from his palms, no longer a passive defense, but an active attack. Each light thread precisely pierced the weak points of darkness, blocking its flow like acupuncture.

The dark figure let out a sharp roar.

[Impossible! You're just a human being—]

"Humans can also make rules." Zhou Yang took a step forward, and the light network advanced with his movement. "You've been asleep for too long. Forgot about this."

A piercing shriek echoed from the boundary between light and darkness. Zhou Yang felt as if his consciousness had been torn in two, one half fighting in the darkness, the other enduring excruciating pain in the real world. But he couldn't stop; if he stopped, it would be utter destruction.

ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

When the net of light completely enveloped the shadow, Zhou Yang could no longer feel his body. His consciousness floated in the void, ready to dissipate at any moment.

But in the end, darkness was defeated.

The black image was a piece of red-hot iron that rapidly cooled and shrank, eventually turning into a pitch-black bead that fell at Zhou Yang's feet.

"This is just the beginning." The voice echoed one last time. "The abyss will not forget today."

Then, silence.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground. Qin Shuang was supporting his head with her hand, and Hei Gang was standing beside him, the hilt of his long sword bearing handprints.

"You're awake." Qin Shuang's tone remained calm, but Zhou Yang noticed that her eyes were slightly red. "Your presence almost completely disappeared just now."

"He's not that easy to kill." Zhou Yang forced a smile, but his facial muscles twitched violently. "I beat that guy back. He shouldn't be causing trouble again anytime soon."

He raised his hand and looked at his palm. Faint threads of light still flowed beneath his skin, but they had stabilized and were no longer as chaotic as before.

More importantly, he could sense that after this process of counterattack and suppression, his network of rules seemed to be more solid. Like a piece of iron, it became more resilient after repeated forging.

"Not bad." Zhou Yang stretched his shoulders and slowly sat up. "Now we can set off."

Qin Shuang brushed the dust off his clothes: "Are you sure you can do it?"

"No problem." Zhou Yang stood up, his gaze returning to the distant stone tower. "The guy in that tower has been waiting for a long time."

Black Steel carried his knife and walked ahead, while Qin Shuang and Zhou Yang walked side by side. The three figures gradually disappeared into the morning mist.

The outline of the stone tower grew larger and larger in his field of vision. Zhou Yang could feel the light filament on his chest trembling slightly—not a warning of danger, but some kind of resonance.

The turning point for the Heavenly Principle Sect is right there.

Abyss Breath Wheel

Zhou Yang stood on the rocky wall at the mouth of the abyss, the emblem on his chest trembling slightly. A faint light pierced through the gravel, reflecting on his fingertips like tiny tides.

He closed his eyes, feeling the rhythm within his body. The rhythm of his breath was like an invisible rope, gently pressing on his heart. Each beat brought a faint echo.

Suddenly, a pale blue beam of light pierced the darkness. The beam came from the guardian deep within the abyss—Yajin, clad in blood-patterned iron armor. Yajin wielded a giant axe, his steps steady, his aura like the embers of a volcanic eruption.

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped the emblem with his fingertip. The emblem emitted a deep hum, instantly stirring ripples within his body.

"The Rhythm of Breathing is activated." The system's voice was like a wind chime in the ear, crisp and unassuming.

Yakin swung his axe, creating a low-frequency boom. The moment the axe hit the ground, fine dust was stirred up in the air.

Zhou Yang's internal rhythm synchronized with it, as if he were taking Ya Jin's breath into his own chest.

The Blood-Patterned Iron Armor suddenly slowed down, its steps faltering.

Zhou Yang's consciousness followed the rhythm, capturing Ya Jin's every breath and every muscle contraction.

With a slight turn of his wrist, a stream of purplish-blue light spread from the emblem. The light passed through his chest cavity and reached the rhythm center of his brain.

The light stream cast a reflection on Yakin's body, and the reflection's movements were exactly the opposite of Yakin's.

Yakin's axe arced through the air, but was "reverse-controlled" just before it fell. The axe bounced up slightly and shot back at the guard.

Yakin retreated in terror, the giant axe slamming into his shoulder armor with a dull thud. Blood splattered on the metal surface, blooming like blood flowers.

"What is this?" Yakin growled, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

Zhou Yang remained silent, a calculating glint in his eyes. The Breath Wheel Rhythm was not merely a replication, but could also reverse the opponent's rhythm, binding them to their own fate.

The system notification sounded again:

>\\\*\\\*Abyss Core Awakening\\\\*\\\*,\\\*\\\*Pursuit Level Up to ▲▲\\\*\\\*.

The runic lamps deep within the rock face lit up rapidly, their dark red light dancing on the stone. The surrounding air seemed to be sucked away, and the oppressive feeling intensified abruptly.

Zhou Yang quickly withdrew the light stream, and the emblem's brilliance dimmed instantly.

He took a deep breath, the aftershocks of what had just happened still lingering in his chest.

"It's too dangerous here," he muttered to himself, his voice carried away by the wind.

He decided to retreat to the edge of the abyss and find a stone bench to sit on. The rough surface of the bench was covered with moss, and the dampness made his fingertips sting slightly.

Zhou Yang placed his hands on his knees, feeling the ripples within his body slowly subside. Each breath felt like recharging his chakra.

At this moment, Qin Shuang appeared out of sight. She held a short sword in her hand, the cold light of its tip reflecting her faint smile.

"The rules we just discussed were quite interesting." Qin Shuang walked to Zhou Yang's side, her voice low but clear.

Zhou Yang looked up, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Copying your opponent's rhythm and then controlling it in reverse, is that a new trick?"

Qin Shuang nodded, her gaze fixed on the distant valley.

"The stone tower of the Tenrikyo sect is on the cliff on the north side, where there is an open area called 'Hikarino'."

She gently raised her hand and pointed to the other end of the valley.

"The light network in the Lightfield has a wide coverage area, which can hide our current whereabouts in the gaps of light. If we continue to go deeper, we will inevitably be targeted by the tracking network of the Abyss Core."

Zhou Yang remained silent, several possible routes flashing through his mind.

"Can the Light Field's Light Network negate the Abyss Core's tracking?"

A faint smile appeared on Qin Shuang's lips.

"As long as we keep a low profile within the Lightfield's territory, the tracking intensity will be weakened. However, the LightNet itself will also consume our lifespan."

Her brow furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of worry.

"We've already used up a significant portion of our lifespan; if we consume any more, we may face a crisis in the short term."

Zhou Yang tapped the emblem on his chest lightly with his fingers, and the light spot flickered slightly.

"Let's keep this 'Rhythm of Breath' as ​​our trump card for now," he said in a low voice.

Qin Shuang nodded and turned to walk towards Guangye. Her steps were light, yet firm.

Zhou Yang stood up and took a deep breath. Night had already seeped in through the cracks in the valley, and the sparse starlight was enough to illuminate the stones beneath his feet.

He turned and looked towards the stone tower, its outline faintly visible in the distance. The remaining light from the seal at the top of the tower still flickered, like a warning beacon.

"Go back and recuperate first, and make a move when the time is right." He muttered to himself, his voice carried away by the wind.

The rocks beneath his feet wobbled slightly from his kick, and tiny rock fragments scattered in the wind.

Zhou Yang's silhouette stretched long in the dim moonlight, like a silent undercurrent.

In the darkness, a faint blue-white halo had quietly ignited in the distant field of light. The halo rippled with the breeze, like shimmering patterns on the surface of water.

Qin Shuang's figure appeared in the halo of light, the cold light of the short sword intertwining with the light field.

She glanced back at Zhou Yang, but only saw him standing on the edge of the cliff, looking down into the darkness of the abyss.

Their eyes met in the night, as if exchanging a silent understanding.

"First, seal this abyss, then clear the path through Guangye," Qin Shuang said in a low voice.

Zhou Yang nodded and clenched his fist.

"Once we have all the rules in our hands, the heart of the Heavenly Principle Sect will no longer be able to hide."

His voice echoed in the empty valley, only to be swallowed by the distant wind.

The black tide of the abyss continued to surge, and the rhythm of the Breath Wheel slowly settled within his body.

Zhou Yang knew that only by preserving this force could he gain the upper hand in the next round of the game.

As night deepened and the stars became sparse, they cast faint silhouettes of the two figures.

They took firm steps toward the direction of Guangye, moving forward toward the unknown future.

At this moment, only a faint light flickered on the rock walls at the mouth of the abyss, like a heart that had not yet been extinguished.

Zhou Yang glanced back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"When the time is right, the door of the rules will open for us."

His voice was deep, yet carried an undeniable firmness in the night wind.

Rule Cost

The moonlight was pale, and the outlines of the mountains were stretched into dim silhouettes by the thin mist.

Zhou Yang stood at the edge of Guangye, holding the newly developed "Rhythm of Breath" in his hand.

He gently pressed his fingers down, and spiritual energy swirled in his palm.

Instantly, a pale blue beam of light shot towards the rock wall ahead.

The beam of light pierced the silence, leaving behind tiny fragments.

"This set of rules isn't going to happen all at once," Zhou Yang muttered to himself.

"It requires a continuous supply of mental energy."

He closed his eyes and felt the life force flowing through his body.

Each cycle consumes a sliver of one's remaining life.

"If it's consumed too quickly, the consequences will be dire."

He frowned, tapping his fingers lightly in his palm, simulating the next step.

**Black Steel** stepped forward, his brows revealing a steady, calculating look.

"If we charge in head-on, we will inevitably be stopped by the Heavenly Principle Sect patrol."

He pointed to the black ridge behind the mountains.

"We might be able to sneak past by going around the ridge and taking a hidden path."

Zhou Yang nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Good idea."

The two moved side by side toward the ridge.

The bushes along the roadside swayed gently in the wind.

The night wind carried the damp chill of the mountain spring, penetrating to the bone.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind, her brows slightly furrowed.

She stopped in front of a stone slab that had been scratched by an energy storm.

"The light field node is damaged," she whispered.

She reached out her hand, and the lines on her sleeve reflected a subtle shimmer.

With a light tap of the fingertip, blue runes flickered on the stone slab.

Several beams of light shot from the fingertips, striking the shattered nodes.

The cracks at the node slowly closed, and it began to emit a faint light again.

Qin Shuang frowned and examined the nodes around her.

A place deep in the valley remains dark.

She walked over and placed her palm on the stone surface.

"The energy here is being depleted too quickly."

She chanted softly, ancient incantations echoing from her lips.

Blue light travels through the cracks, eventually sealing them.

The network in Guangye has regained some vitality.

Zhou Yang stood on a boulder on the ridge, looking down at the stone pagoda in front of him.

The stone tower stands tall, its outer walls covered with ancient runes.

He knew that there was a protective formation of the Heavenly Principle Sect inside the tower.

If we rush in directly, there will inevitably be bloodshed.

Therefore, he decided to use lifespan to make the calculation.

He closed his eyes, and the structure of the tower appeared in his mind.

Every rune, every layer of defense, was captured by his consciousness.

Then, he lit a blue lamp in his heart.

The lights spread down the tower walls, illuminating the weaknesses of each floor.

This time, he only burned through one-third of his lifespan.

"That's enough," he murmured to himself.

The simulation ended, and the blue light quickly receded from his mind.

His breathing was slightly rapid, and he had a slight tingling pain in his chest.

"I suppose this is the price to pay."

Kurogane stood to the side, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Only one-third used?"

Zhou Yang smiled, his teeth gleaming slightly in the moonlight.

"The rule is right, sustained consumption is more dangerous than a sudden burst of power."

He raised his hand and pointed to the base of the stone tower.

"The runes here are cracked."

"It can forcefully disrupt the attack, creating a temporary opening."

Black Steel nodded and immediately took out several small explosives from his backpack.

"If we rush in when the gap appears, the guards won't have time to react."

Qin Shuang approached the stone tower, holding a short knife in her hand.

Her eyes were sharp, as if they could pierce through every iron wall.

"My job is to cut off the chain the moment the gap appears."

She agreed softly, her voice slightly hoarse.

The three stood at the windy vantage point on the mountain ridge, where the night wind howled.

Their plan had already taken shape in their minds.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, sensing the remaining lifespan within his body.

Finally, he decided to put this price into action.

"Get ready."

Black Steel lit the explosives and gently placed them on the base of the stone tower.

Qin Shuang's knife tip pointed towards the intersection of the patterns.

Zhou Yang gently stroked his chest, feeling the flow of blood.

After a slight tremor, blue light flowed from his body.

It was a thin thread connecting his heart to the stone tower.

The blue light traced an arc in space, instantly touching the runes at the bottom of the tower.

The runes flashed white, as if they had tiny cracks.

The flashes of the explosives burst in the distance, the red flames dancing.

A tremor came from the base of the stone tower, and the guards' alarm was suppressed.

Qin Shuang seized the opportunity, and the energy flow from the gap created by the blade.

Blue light then leaked out, forming an incomplete loop.

At this moment, Zhou Yang felt a chill spread from the soles of his feet to his entire body.

He knew that the remaining lifespan was being drained away by this energy.

But he did not back down.

"Rush!"

Black Steel charged toward the breach, the residual force of the explosives detonating behind him.

The scattered rubble provided cover for their advance.

Qin Shuang's blade flashed through the air, severing the guard's rune chains.

The stone tower's defenses instantly failed, and the shadow soldiers inside abruptly stopped.

The three quickly stepped into the tower, where the air was filled with the damp smell of lime.

Their figures moved quickly through the dark corridor, their footsteps echoing on the stone walls.

Each step echoed faintly, like a taut string.

Zhou Yang felt the pain in his chest intensify, and his breathing became heavy.

He raised his hand and touched the lifespan emblem on his chest; the dark red light trembled slightly.

"The cost this time was higher than expected."

Kurogane glanced back and nodded.

"But the passage has already been opened."

Qin Shuang's eyes showed no hesitation; she had already concealed a hidden weapon.

"Be careful now, there are still untriggered traps inside."

The three continued deeper, and the layout inside the stone tower was even more intricate than the exterior.

With each step Zhou Yang took, his lifespan receded like the tide.

He forced himself to stay awake to prevent his consciousness from being swallowed by the darkness.

Finally, they stopped in front of a circular, enclosed room.

In the center of the secret chamber, there lies a glowing stone fragment—one of the pieces of the Dragon Spine Remains.

The light created a soft halo around the stone fragments.

A greedy glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes.

"This is what we want."

Qin Shuang said softly, "Don't forget there are guards here."

Just then, a slight grinding sound came from behind the stone wall.

Several shadowy soldiers emerged from the cracks in the wall, their blades aimed at the three men.

Zhou Yang's fingers gripped the lifespan emblem tightly, and blue light suddenly burst forth from his fingertips.

His consciousness instantly entered a state of high-speed deduction.

Within seconds, he had calculated the movement trajectory of each Shadow Soldier.

He then transformed his calculations into a whirlwind, which hurtled straight toward the core of the Shadow Soldier.

The Shadow Soldier's form shattered in the wind, turning into dust.

Black Steel drew his short sword and slashed at the afterimage it left behind.

Qin Shuang's hidden weapon drew an arc in the air, accurately striking the vital points of several Shadow Soldiers.

The three worked together like a precise machine, quickly clearing away obstacles.

The light inside the sealed room grew brighter, and the energy fluctuations from the broken stones began to intensify.

Zhou Yang reached out and grasped the stone fragments, feeling a surge of intense heat rush into his body.

His breathing suddenly quickened, and the pain in his chest turned into a sharp pain.

The emblem of lifespan lit up instantly, its red light flowing like blood.

"The price has been paid," he said softly, "but we have taken a crucial step."

Qin Shuang placed her hand on his shoulder, her tone slightly relaxed: "Don't let yourself collapse."

Black Steel sheathed his short sword, his eyes thoughtful: "This path is still dangerous, but it has been opened."

The three of them stood still in the dim light of the stone tower, their breathing gradually becoming steady.

The wind howled from the distant valley, as if reminding them that the road ahead was still long.

Zhou Yang looked up at the night sky, where the starlight was still sparse.

He knew he had already stepped off the edge of the rules.

But every step came at the cost of lives.

The first appearance of Guangye

The fog at the mouth of the valley was still hanging low, and the cold air clung to the skin like a knife.

Zhou Yang took out the side pocket of his backpack, ran his fingers across the metal box, and made a soft sound.

"Put the core in," Qin Shuang said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the rough cracks in the rock wall.

Black Steel stood sideways behind a boulder, sheathing his short sword and tapping the rock surface with the back of the blade, producing a crisp echo.

Zhou Yang aligned the box with the center of the crack and gently pressed a groove into it.

Blue light instantly converged inside the metal, like ripples on the surface of water.

The silver symbol cut across the rock face, first as a thin arc, then quickly spreading outwards.

The edges of the symbol, like polished steel, reflect a cold gleam.

Qin Shuang bent down to examine it, her finger lightly touching the starting point of the symbol.

"Hold on, this is the node's lock point," she whispered, her voice even lower in the fog.

Black Steel gently placed the short sword on the stone bench beside the rock wall, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

He quickly set up three thin ropes behind the rock face, with miniature electromagnetic sensors attached to the ends of the ropes.

Zhou Yang pushed the last crystal of the Guangye core into the keyhole, and the crystal trembled slightly under the pressure.

"Connect," he whispered the instruction.

In an instant, the entire valley was enveloped in a soft, silvery light. The light was not dazzling, but it cast subtle patterns on every rock.

The system's voice sounded in the headset: "The Lightfield Network has been activated, covering a radius of thirty miles."

Qin Shuang tapped the earphone panel lightly with her fingers to confirm the data.

"The monitoring points are all in place, and all movements are being transmitted back in real time." Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible laughter.

A glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes, as if he saw countless potential opportunities for personal gain.

He gave a soft snort and turned to look at Black Steel.

"Remove the guarding warning statues," he instructed.

Black Steel nodded, took out his fine wire cutters, and quickly inserted them into the gaps in the base of the stone statue.

The thin wires emitted a faint blue light for a moment, as if short-circuiting the internal wiring of the stone statue.

After a low hum, the red light in the statue's eyes went out, its body swayed slightly, and then it became completely ineffective.

Just then, a faint tapping sound came from the distant mountain peak.

A small stone bullet was fired and landed at the edge of the field, stirring up fine dust.

The system popped up an alert: "The core node of the Heavenly Principle Sect has been marked and its coordinates are locked."

Qin Shuang raised her eyebrows slightly, a deep look flashing in her eyes.

"They've noticed us."

Zhou Yang turned to face the stone tower deep in the valley. The stones of the tower were made to look particularly cold and austere by the silver light of the sunlight.

Suddenly, the guardian statue at the top of the tower emitted a faint metallic clanging sound, and a metal plate slid, revealing a dark red stone bead.

Ancient runes were engraved on the surface of the stone bead, and the beam of light from the light field immediately projected subtle textures onto it, as if they were exchanging information.

"Early warning system activated," the system voice reminded again.

Black Steel drew his short sword, the tip lightly touching the stone bead.

The moment the metal came into contact with the stone bead, a flash of light appeared inside the stone bead, followed by a soft, low-frequency hum.

Qin Shuang stood in front of the tower, gripping the worn-out dagger of the Imperial Guard tightly in her hand.

Her gaze pierced through the mist, fixing on the glowing stone bead.

"Let's make them think we've finished first," Zhou Yang said in a low voice, "then we'll exploit their weaknesses."

Kurogane nodded and quickly wrote a piece of spoof code onto the nodes of the Lightfield Network.

The code, like an invisible net, covered the surveillance signals of the Heavenly Principle Sect, concealing their true movements.

The silver light of the light field rippled gently in the valley, like living blood vessels, pulsating with information.

The system indicated that the surveillance footage of the Tianli Sect had been interfered with, resulting in brief fragmentation of the footage.

Qin Shuang took a deep breath, her voice becoming clear through the fog: "Stay vigilant, report any abnormalities immediately."

The three stood apart, with Zhou Yang standing at the highest point of the rock face, overlooking the entire valley.

His gaze pierced through the network of the light field, catching a faint movement of the distant mountains.

Black Steel stood in the shadows behind the stone tower, short sword in hand, ready to face any possible surprise attack.

Qin Shuang stood in the middle of the rock face, checking the Imperial Guard bracelet on her wrist from time to time to ensure that communication was working properly.

The area covered by the light field appeared exceptionally bright in the night, as if it had draped this desolate valley in a layer of silver armor.

A few minutes later, the system notification sounded again: "The Heavenly Principle Sect outpost has activated a Level 2 alert."

On the other side of the valley, several figures rushed out of the mist, their robes fluttering in the wind.

Their steps were light, yet they carried a clear sense of wariness.

Qin Shuang's eyes swept over them quickly, a contemptuous smile playing on her lips: "Trying to peek here? Too late."

Zhou Yang's voice came from afar, deep and metallic: "Let them reveal their location first, then reap the rewards."

The black steel short sword trembled slightly in his hand, its blade reflecting tiny specks of light under the silver glow.

He suddenly charged towards his two adversaries, and with lightning speed, slashed off the cloak from one of their shoulders, revealing the emblem of the Heavenly Principle Sect on the other's chest.

The emblem was illuminated by the beam of light from the light field, and its texture became clear instantly. The system automatically recorded the coordinates.

Qin Shuang raised her knife and stabbed at another enemy behind her. The blade pierced through her sleeve, leaving a thin, long bloody gash.

The blood, tinged with a faint purple by the silver light, dripped onto the rock and was instantly absorbed by the light field's energy, turning into tiny specks of light that dissipated.

Zhou Yang stood on high ground, overlooking the entire battle situation.

He quickly swiped his finger across the headphones to bring up the panoramic view of the optical field.

On the screen, red enemy markers are surrounded by a green safe zone, and the system prompts: "Enemy numbers have decreased, alert level has dropped."

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword, exhaled, and her voice drifted slightly through the mist: "This is just the beginning."

Zhou Yang nodded and said softly, "Once we lock onto the core nodes of the Heavenly Principle Sect, we'll have all the information in our hands."

The silver light of the open field continued to spread through the valley, like an invisible net, capturing every movement and every breath.

The night was still sparse, and the starlight was obscured by the light of the open field, but the valley was no longer a dark dead end.

The three men stood at their respective posts, a rare gleam in their eyes—a decisive moment amidst the intertwining of interests and risks.

stealth in the dark

The silvery light of the open field spread through the valley like a fine net.

Zhou Yang stood on the high slope, his fingers lightly tapping the array.

"The guard change is at 3:15," he said in a low voice.

The light field echoes the timeline, marking out the blind spots.

The north window of the tower on the left offers no view for ten seconds.

There was a gap in the right-hand stone wall, guarded by only two people on rotation.

These two locations form a slipway.

Qin Shuang stood in the shadows, her black steel fist clenched tightly behind her back.

She lit the lamp, and a dark red signal flare pierced the night sky.

Black Steel quickly climbed up the ridge and buried several steel cables.

"The way out is here," her voice echoed in my ears.

Her gaze was fixed on the base of the stone tower, her brows furrowed slightly.

Mitsuno's scanner suddenly started shaking.

"A new energy wave has appeared inside," the system announced briefly.

Zhou Yang turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

A pale blue halo appeared inside the stone tower.

This is no ordinary defense; it's more like a second layer of seal.

"If you rush in directly, the seal will explode instantly," Qin Shuang warned.

Zhou Yang stopped and pondered for a moment.

"Break the seal nodes first, then charge in," he decided.

He took a long, thin piece of obsidian from his backpack.

Ancient runes are engraved on the surface of the obsidian.

"Place it on the core of the seal," Zhou Yang instructed.

The beam of light from the light field was precisely positioned and pointed at the crack at the top of the tower.

Beside the crack, dust was stirred up by the faint light.

Zhou Yang pressed the obsidian into the crack.

The blue light inside the stone tower suddenly contracted.

A low hum echoed in the air.

The energy waves from the seal gradually faded away.

Meanwhile, the black steel structure has been deployed along the ridge.

He swung the two steel cables toward the side wall of the tower.

The iron chain drew an arc in the air, precisely gripping the rock.

In case of an emergency, Zhou Yang can descend rapidly along the chain.

After Zhou Yang finished his inspection, he turned around and nodded to Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang's brows relaxed slightly, and she said softly, "Ready."

She sheathed the dagger in her hand and turned to disappear into the shadows.

The night breeze rustled the pine branches, making a soft, rustling sound.

Zhou Yang stepped into the dark gate of the stone pagoda, his steps light and steady.

The light from the light source quietly followed behind him, recording every step.

The tower's passageways are narrow, and ancient bloodstains remain on the walls.

With each step, the gravel beneath their feet made a soft rustling sound.

The sound of guards' footsteps came from afar, the rhythm matching the changing of the shift.

Zhou Yang placed his hands on the stone wall and slid along it.

Suddenly, the stone gate in front of them trembled slightly.

A guard stood at the door, holding a torch.

The firelight illuminated his pale face, and his eyes revealed a wary expression.

Zhou Yang swiftly drew his dark silver dagger and stabbed it into the guard's neck.

The dagger slashed through the skin, and the blood dripped onto the stone slab and instantly congealed.

The guards fell to the ground, the torches dropped, and sparks flew everywhere.

Mitsuno spotted the embers of the fire and immediately dimmed the lights.

Zhou Yang continued forward and entered the main room.

In the center of the main room stands an ancient stone tablet, its surface covered with runes.

The beam of light from the light field was projected onto the surface of the monument, revealing the hidden grooves.

A piece of glowing red jade is embedded in the groove, emitting a faint heat.

Zhou Yang reached out and gently touched the red jade, feeling a chill.

"This is the core node," he whispered.

Qin Shuang's voice came through the radio: "Beware of the formation's backlash."

Zhou Yang took off the red jade and put it into his hidden pocket.

At the same time, he quickly tied the four corners of the monument with the silk ribbon he carried with him.

The ribbon was taut, and the monument trembled slightly.

Mitsuno's analysis showed that the remaining energy of the seal had been absorbed.

Zhou Yang looked up, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

He looked back at the entrance, where the black steel cables swayed gently in the distance.

Qin Shuang's figure had already blurred into the darkness, seemingly waiting.

"Evacuate now," Zhou Yang ordered in a low voice.

Qin Shuang nodded, the short blade twirling lightly in her hand.

The black steel rod slid quickly down the chain and landed in front of the stone gate.

The three of them rushed out of the tower at the same time.

The guards outside had already noticed something amiss, and their urgent shouts pierced the night sky.

Zhou Yang picked up Chi Yu and quickly crossed the guards' firing range.

A flash of light, the blade tracing a silvery arc in the night.

Qin Shuang charged ahead, using the black steel chains to pull the guards back.

Her movements were swift and precise, as if she had practiced her swordsmanship a thousand times.

The guard fell, a short blade piercing his chest, blood staining the snow-white rock red.

Zhou Yang rushed to the cliff top of the tower and looked back at the node he had just captured.

Mitsuno's beam continued scanning from afar, recording every exchange of fire.

He took a deep breath and felt the faint light of life pulsating in his veins.

He then stomped on the rock face and descended quickly using the steel cable.

Black Steel was already prepared below, and the ropes were taut.

Qin Shuang was the first to leap down, her short blade already stained with blood.

The three disappeared into the undercurrents of the valley, with the ruins of the burning stone tower behind them.

A night breeze swept through, and the pine forest rustled softly.

The light from the luminous field still flickered in the distance, like an invisible eye.

Their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving only a few faint streaks of light on the mountainside.

Zhou Yang looked back at the stone pagoda, thinking to himself: This is only the first step.

Qin Shuang's voice whispered in my ear: "What should we do next?"

Zhou Yang smiled and said, "Give this piece of red jade to Guangye first, then we'll find the next entrance."

Night swallowed everything, with only starlight faintly twinkling in the distance.

Stone Tower Outpost

At the end of the valley, the stone tower finally revealed its full form.

It was entirely black, like the spine of a giant beast driven into the ground. The tower had no windows, only a tightly closed stone door. Strange symbols were carved on the door, gleaming eerily in the faint starlight.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

Qin Shuang and Hei Gang also stopped, spreading out in a triangular formation. Their breathing was soft, blending into the night breeze of the mountains.

"Seven." Zhou Yang's voice was very low.

His gaze pierced the darkness. The figures moved about in front of the tower, not in a guard post, but more like on patrol. They were dressed in uniform black, with curved swords at their waists. Their movements carried a wolf-like alertness.

People of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

Qin Shuang followed his gaze. Her pupils seemed even brighter in the night. She nodded, indicating that she had locked onto her target.

Black Steel gripped the short sword on his back. He didn't speak, but the taut lines of his muscles said it all.

"I'll lead the way," Zhou Yang said. "Mitsuno, get ready."

His hand reached into his robes and touched the warm, crimson jade. This was something he'd obtained in the previous stage, and it was coming in handy. He infused it with a faint wisp of true energy. The crimson jade's light flashed and disappeared, like a extinguished spark.

At the same time, an invisible wave spread silently from the three of them.

This is neither light nor sound. It's more like an illusion, a thin veil covering the real world.

Before the stone tower, the seven guards noticeably slowed their movements. The leader frowned; he sensed something was amiss. The wind seemed to have changed, and the rustling of the distant pine forest sounded particularly jarring. The air seemed thicker, making it difficult to breathe.

"What's wrong?" someone next to me asked.

"I don't know." The leader shook his head. "I just feel...uneasy."

As soon as he finished speaking, a shadow emerged from behind the rocks beside him.

The shadow moved so fast it seemed unreal.

The guard's pupils contracted sharply. He tried to speak to warn the guard, but only a gurgling sound came out of his throat.

A cold, sharp light had already grazed his neck.

Blood gushed out, and his body slumped to the ground, not even having time to draw his knife. Qin Shuang's figure paused for a moment, then vanished like a ghost into the shadow of another boulder. The entire process took no more than two breaths.

They succeeded in one strike.

The remaining six people immediately erupted in chaos.

"Enemy attack!"

They roared, drew their scimitars, and rushed toward the direction where Qin Shuang had disappeared.

Just as their attention was drawn, Black Steel moved.

He charged forward head-on, like a runaway chariot. His target was clear: the two people closest to him.

"court death!"

The two guards' eyes flashed with ruthlessness when they saw Black Steel's forceful stance. They crossed their two curved swords, one above the other, aiming for Black Steel's neck and chest.

Black Steel neither flinched nor dodged.

He drew a semicircle in front of him with the short sword in his hand.

"when!"

A deafening metallic clang.

Sparks flew everywhere.

The two guards felt a mountain-like force emanating from the blade, causing their hands to go numb and their arms to go weak. The scimitar nearly slipped from their grasp.

Black Steel's steps did not falter.

He braced himself against the force of the two knives, took a step forward, and slammed his shoulder into the chest of one of the men.

"Well!"

The man's chest collapsed, and his body flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the stone wall behind him with a dull thud.

The other man was terrified upon seeing this and drew his sword, retreating.

But Black Steel was faster. He thrust out his short sword with a simple, direct stab.

The sword tip pierced the man's heart.

Blacksteel took on two opponents single-handedly and ended the fight in an instant. Instead of pursuing the remaining enemies, he held the front line firmly, drawing away enough firepower for them.

Now, only three people are left.

Including the one in charge.

Instead of panicking, they stood back-to-back, forming a triangular defensive formation. The fear had faded from their faces, replaced by the madness of desperados.

The leader's eyes were fixed on the places where Hei Gang and Qin Shuang might appear.

He knew there was another enemy. The most dangerous enemy had not yet made his move.

It is the person who controls their minds.

Where is he?

The wind blew past my ear.

He could hear nothing but his companion's panting.

An unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped his entire body. Every pore stood on end.

He turned around abruptly.

There was no one behind.

Is it just my imagination?

No, it's not.

He saw his companion's body stiffen. The companion's face still held a wary expression, but his eyes were unfocused.

There was a small, bloody hole in his throat.

Blood was slowly seeping out of that hole.

The man fell straight down.

The leader's scalp tingled with shock.

He wanted to shout, to run, but his body felt frozen, unable to move. He finally saw it.

A figure stood where his companion had just been.

It was as if he had always been there.

It's Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang's face was somewhat pale, but his eyes were calm. He looked at the leader as if he were looking at an object.

"Who...who are you?" the leader choked out the question.

Zhou Yang did not answer.

He raised his hand, spread his fingers, and shook hands with the leader from afar.

The leader felt his blood boil instantly. An irresistible suction force came, and the life force within him, the essence of his years of cultivation, seemed to have found an outlet, rushing wildly towards Zhou Yang's palm.

His body quickly withered, his skin lost its luster, his eye sockets became sunken, and his hair turned dry and yellow.

In just a few seconds, a living person was turned into a dried-up corpse that had been drained of all its moisture.

"Thump."

The mummified corpse fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Zhou Yang closed his eyes.

A warm current flowed into his body, washing away the emptiness he felt from deducing the cultivation technique. The lifespan he had just consumed was being replenished. Though not much, it was enough.

When he opened his eyes, his complexion had regained its rosy hue.

The last guard, witnessing this scene, completely broke down. He let out a scream, dropped his knife, and turned to run towards the stone tower.

He wanted to escape inside.

Qin Shuang appeared in front of him.

There were no unnecessary movements. A flash of light.

His running came to an abrupt halt. The man looked down at the hilt of the knife in his chest, his eyes filled with confusion. Then, he slowly collapsed.

The battle is over.

From the moment Qin Shuang made her move to the moment the last person fell, the entire process took less than a minute.

Quick, accurate, ruthless.

That's just their style.

Zhou Yang walked to the mummified corpse, squatted down, and searched it. He took out a black token from his pocket, on which was engraved the character "祭" (sacrifice).

"The high priest of the Stone Tower Outpost." Zhou Yang tossed the token to Qin Shuang. "His rank is quite high."

Qin Shuang caught the token and glanced at it. "This means that what's inside is very important."

Black Steel walked over, kicked a corpse aside, and said in a deep voice, "The defense force is not limited to these. These seven are just the outer perimeter."

Zhou Yang stood up and dusted off his hands.

He looked at the tightly closed stone door. The symbols on the door seemed to have become brighter during the battle.

"I know," Zhou Yang said. "So, we need to hurry."

He walked to the stone gate, reached out, and gently touched the cold symbols on it. A faint energy flowed from his fingertips.

The door to the rules has already been opened a crack for him.

Now, it's time to push it all the way out.