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

Chapter 699 Dragon Spine Synthesis II (Power Accumulation - Dragon Spine Fragment Collection Closed Loop - Power Accumulation)

The air inside the foundry seemed to have solidified.

Only the occasional crackling sound of the fire could be heard.

Qin Shuang did not immediately take the container. Her gaze lingered on Zhou Yang's ashen face for a long time, her brows furrowed.

"Find a place to sit down."

She helped Zhou Yang to an old recliner in the corner. The chair was probably used by a blacksmith for resting; the leather was worn through, revealing the yellowed sponge inside.

Zhou Yang sank into the chair and let out a long breath.

That deep-seated fatigue is slowly fading. The system's recovery functions are working, but the lingering feeling of being "drained" remains.

Qin Shuang straightened up and turned to look at the huge furnace.

The fire in the furnace was blazing, making her cheeks flush red. Without saying a word, she directly threw the "Starfall Crystal" into the observation port on the side of the furnace.

This is a special auxiliary furnace opening used for adding catalyst.

The moment the meteorite crystal hit the ground, the originally crimson flames suddenly contracted, and then burst out with a dazzling silver-white light.

The temperature rose sharply.

Zhou Yang squinted. Even from several meters away, he could feel the heat wave hitting him. The heat carried a strange sense of oppression, like countless tiny needles pricking his skin.

This is what is known as the "power of the stars".

Qin Shuang took a huge pair of iron tongs from the shelf next to her and picked up the container containing the dragon spine fragments.

She walked to the stove and paused for a moment.

"I'm going to start the furnace," she said, her voice low. "Once this is fused, there's no turning back. If it fails, all these materials will be ruined."

"If it's ruined, it's ruined." Zhou Yang leaned his head back in his chair, his voice weak but calm. "Anyway, the materials are yours, but my life is mine. I don't do deals that lose money. Since I've already done it, I'm confident."

Qin Shuang turned around and glanced at him.

This man is always like this; even though he's so weak he can barely stand, he still tries to take advantage of others with his words.

Without further hesitation, she used her arms to push the container into the core area of ​​the furnace.

The moment the container came into contact with the flame, the airflow in the entire foundry suddenly became violent.

The originally steadily burning silver-white flames seemed to be summoned by something, instantly transforming into a fire dragon that raged towards the container.

"Oh no!" Qin Shuang's expression changed. "The energy is too strong; the container can't withstand it!"

The iron pliers in her hand trembled violently, and a bloody gash appeared at the base of her thumb.

Zhou Yang suddenly sat up straight.

He couldn't see the specific situation inside the furnace, but he could feel the red warning sign on the system interface flashing frantically.

[Warning: The fusion process is extremely unstable.]

External energy leakage detected.

[Recommendation: Immediately inject ordered energy to suppress it.]

It wasn't that simple after all.

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth. This system is a shrewd businessman; it never offers a free lunch when it matters most.

"How much do I need?" he asked himself.

[Injection of Order Energy requires 50 years of lifespan.]

Zhou Yang almost cursed out loud.

It took twenty years to repair the dragon spine fragments, and now it will take another fifty years to fuse them? He's lived a lifetime in one night.

"Can you give me a discount?"

[System notification: The host has sufficient remaining lifespan. Pay now?]

What a load of rubbish!

Zhou Yang watched Qin Shuang's swaying figure. She was still desperately holding on, unwilling to give up. But the backlash from the flames was growing stronger, and the iron tongs in her hands were beginning to bend and deform.

If we don't take action, all the previous investments will be wasted. It's not just the materials, but also Qin Shuang's hard work and the years he's sacrificed.

"Add more money."

Zhou Yang muttered something under his breath.

He closed his eyes and silently repeated in his mind, "Pay."

[Lifespan deduction successful.]

[Order injection begins.]

In an instant, an indescribable cool aura exploded from between Zhou Yang's eyebrows. This aura was unlike any internal force or true energy; it was more like a rule, an invisible order.

Zhou Yang suddenly opened his eyes, stretched out his right hand, and pressed it lightly towards the furnace.

"Certainly."

The moment that word was uttered, all sound in the foundry vanished.

The raging fire dragon seemed to have its throat choked, instantly freezing in mid-air. The heat waves that had been surging around were also forcibly pressed back into the furnace by an invisible hand.

The silvery-white flames became docile; they no longer tore and gnawed violently, but began to pulsate rhythmically, as if breathing.

Qin Shuang felt the pressure on her hands suddenly decrease.

She turned around in surprise and saw Zhou Yang lower his hand. His face was even paler than before, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"Don't just stand there," Zhou Yang said, panting. "Now's the time to merge with it."

Qin Shuang took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart. She didn't ask any more questions, gripped the iron clamps tightly again, and poured all her strength into her arms.

She began forging.

Ding!Ding!Ding!

The crisp sound of hammering echoed in the silent foundry.

With each hammer blow, concentric silver ripples spread across the surface of the container. These ripples then dissipated into the air.

Qin Shuang's method was unique. She wasn't hammering the container, but rather using the container to hammer the flames inside.

She was using her power to guide the raging starlight, letting it seep into the dragon spine fragments little by little.

Time passed second by second.

Zhou Yang remained seated in the chair, maintaining the same "pressing" posture. His hands trembled slightly. While the system's energy of order was powerful, its consumption was also astonishing.

This fifty-year lifespan is not just a number, but a testament to his real vitality.

Every time Qin Shuang swung her hammer, he had to share some of the recoil. It was a clash of rules, more unbearable than physical pain.

But he didn't say anything.

He just stared at the spot of light in the center of the furnace.

As Qin Shuang's final hammer fell heavily, the point of light suddenly shrank, becoming an extremely bright spot the size of a pinhead.

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling silver light burst through the top of the furnace and pierced the sky.

Several roof tiles were blown off, revealing the dark night sky outside.

The beam of light lasted for about three breaths before quickly receding and finally returning to calm.

The fire in the stove went out.

The entire foundry was plunged into darkness.

Only the tip of the iron pliers in Qin Shuang's hand still retained a trace of dark red residual warmth.

"It's done."

Qin Shuang's voice trembled slightly. She reached the tongs into the now-cooled furnace and pulled out what was inside.

It was no longer the container it used to be, nor was it any fragment.

It was a sword.

A sword that is entirely silver-white with a crystal-clear blade.

The sword is about three feet and three inches long, and no more than two fingers wide. The blade does not gleam with a sharp, cold light, but rather has a thin layer of mist. The hilt is shaped like a dragon bone, with natural patterns winding down, perfectly fitting the hand's grip.

The most peculiar thing is the inside of the sword. Within that crystal-clear material, a very thin black line can be faintly seen moving about. That was the original vein of the dragon spine fragment, but now it has become the "blood vessel" of this sword.

Qin Shuang, carrying her sword, walked up to Zhou Yang.

"Take a look for yourself." She handed over the sword.

Zhou Yang took the sword.

It was quite heavy. At least three times heavier than a regular iron sword. But for him now, the weight was just right.

He could feel the warmth emanating from the controller. That warmth spread along his arm, slowly replenishing the mental energy he had just lost.

This sword has a spirit.

He tried waving it.

There was no sound of air being cut.

The sword's edge sliced ​​through the air without stirring even a wisp of wind. It was like a block of ice gliding across water, silent and still.

"Is this 'Tianyao'?" Zhou Yang looked at the patterns on the sword.

Qin Shuang nodded, walked to the table, and picked up a cloth to wipe the iron filings and bloodstains from her hands.

"The dragon's spine is the main bone, and the meteorite crystal is the flesh and blood. This sword is no longer an inanimate object; it can store true energy and also bear will." Qin Shuang paused, looking at Zhou Yang, "What did you do in that last move?"

Zhou Yang placed the sword on his knees and gently stroked the patterns on the hilt with his fingers.

He smiled but didn't answer directly: "Commander Qin, you should have heard the saying that the buyer's review and the seller's review are two different things. I just gave it a 'good review' at a crucial moment."

Qin Shuang stared at him for a while, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She knew he must have paid a price. But he wouldn't say, so she wouldn't ask. It was an unspoken understanding between them.

"Name," Qin Shuang suddenly said.

"What?"

"The name of this sword. You are its forging mentor, you have the right to name it."

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

He looked down at the sword. It was as white as snow, and contained the soul of a dragon.

The system's description is Dragon Spine - Heavenly Sword.

This name is too tacky; it sounds like something you'd find at a street stall.

He recalled the pillar of light that had shot into the sky, and that moment when he seemed to see a dragon awakening in the starry sky.

"Let's call it 'Shattered Star'," Zhou Yang said softly. "The dragon's spine shattered, and a star fell. Since it's something pieced together, let's call it that."

Qin Shuang blinked, seemingly savoring the name.

"Shattered Star," she repeated softly, "a good name."

She handed him the scabbard. It was made of some kind of unknown animal hide, a deep black color, which suited the sword perfectly.

Zhou Yang took the scabbard, and with a "click," the longsword was sheathed.

That sharp and aggressive aura instantly subsided, becoming ordinary, like a stick used for starting a fire.

"Did you make this scabbard too?" Zhou Yang asked, somewhat surprised.

"I just did it on the spur of the moment." Qin Shuang turned around to tidy up the tools. "You used up too much energy just now, and this sword's power is a bit excessive now. Putting on the scabbard will help suppress some of the backlash."

Zhou Yang gripped the sword sheath, feeling the coolness emanating from it.

This woman is tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

He stood up; although he was still a little weak, he was fine.

He walked to the table and picked up his teacup. The tea had gone completely cold.

"Is this deal settled?" He picked up his glass and swirled it around.

Qin Shuang stopped what she was doing and turned her back to him.

"That old Han..." she suddenly changed the subject, "What he gave you wasn't just the Frost Crystal Core, was it?"

Zhou Yang tapped the glass lightly twice with his fingers.

As expected, she couldn't be fooled.

"Some things, the less you know, the longer you live." Zhou Yang put down his cup. "Take this sword to deal with the inspections. Remember to settle the remaining payment."

Qin Shuang turned around.

Her gaze fell on a bulge in Zhou Yang's arms—another fragment he kept close to his body.

There is more than just this one Dragonspine fragment.

Although the synthesis ritual just now mainly used meteorite crystals and the main dragon spine fragment, Zhou Yang secretly mixed in a small, inconspicuous piece of bone fragment at the last moment.

He had collected it by chance during a previous battle.

Although the system didn't give any notification, he could sense that the bone fragment had been absorbed.

This means that the dragon's spine can be pieced together.

As long as there is enough energy and enough fragments, this "Shattered Star" sword can continue to evolve.

This was the real message the system gave him.

[Dragonspine Fragment Collection Progress: 2/9]

Zhou Yang looked at the faint progress bar on his retina.

Seven dollars are still needed.

He didn't know what would happen if he collected them all, but he knew about the system's greed. It was definitely a bottomless pit.

"I'll have someone transfer the final payment to your account," Qin Shuang's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Also, try to stay home as much as possible lately. There are unfamiliar faces in town."

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow: "Looking for me?"

"I don't know." Qin Shuang locked the tools she had packed away in the cabinet. "Maybe they're after this sword. After all, the news of the Starfall Crystal's appearance can't be kept secret for long."

Zhou Yang chuckled.

He hung the "Shattered Star" sword at his waist. The heavy weight of it weighed down his clothes, giving him a long-lost sense of security.

"Let them do it."

He straightened his collar and walked towards the door.

"As long as the price is right, I don't mind teaching them another lesson."

Pushing open the door to the foundry, the night breeze rushed in.

It's almost dawn.

A pale, fish-belly white dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

Zhou Yang stood at the door and took a deep breath of the cold morning air.

He hadn't slept all night, but he was unusually excited.

The system's countdown continues, and its remaining lifespan has dwindled considerably.

But he now carried a sword at his waist and harbored a secret in his mind.

That night of "overtime" not only saved his life, but also earned him a deadly weapon.

This is the joy of those who pay extra money; ordinary people simply cannot imagine it.

He glanced back.

Qin Shuang was still inside, staring blankly at the empty furnace. The firelight cast her silhouette, making her appear somewhat frail.

Zhou Yang withdrew his gaze and strode into the dawn.

Next, it's time to meet those "new faces".

Chapter 700 Heavenly Sword Trial (Outbreak - Dragon Spine Fragment Collection Closed Loop - Outbreak)

The morning mist hadn't completely dissipated, and the air in the forest felt damp.

Zhou Yang walked at the front, his feet crunching on the dry branches. The Tianyao Sword at his waist, which he had recently forged, had a rough leather cord wrapped around its hilt, but it fit perfectly in his palm.

He could feel that the sword was now like a wild beast that hadn't eaten for three days, throbbing restlessly in its scabbard, yearning to see blood.

"They're here." Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks without turning his head.

Behind her, Qin Shuang frowned slightly, her hand already resting on the long sword at her waist. She looked around; the dense forest was eerily quiet, not even a bird could be heard.

Immediately afterwards, a heavy clanging sound of armor clashing came from all directions and converged on the center.

Dozens of figures emerged from the mist, each clad in heavy, golden armor, the plates gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen in the morning light. They stood in neat rows, each holding a massive golden shield, its center etched with a majestic dragon claw.

Golden Armor Guards.

These are the emperor's close attendants, and also the most elite killing machines in this land.

The lead golden-armored guard stepped forward, his voice low and deep, like thunder in his chest: "Zhou Yang, hand over the Dragon Spine Fragment, and we'll leave you with a whole corpse."

Zhou Yang didn't reply, but instead chuckled softly. He reached up and touched his chin, his eyes devoid of warmth, as if he were looking at a flock of sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

"Leave the body intact?" Zhou Yang's lips curled into a smile. "You guys are always so rigid in your speech."

He slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the Tianyao Sword, his fingertips gently stroking the rough leather cord.

Before Zhou Yang could think, the leading golden-armored guard waved his hand sharply, and at his command, the dozen or so golden-armored guards in the front row instantly sprang into action. They were like a golden wall, their shields tightly interlocked, and they charged directly at Zhou Yang with an overwhelming force.

The most insidious aspect of this formation is that once you're forced into it, under the overwhelming pressure of layers of shields, unless you can instantly kill everyone, you have no chance to make a move.

Qin Shuang was about to step forward to help him block, but Zhou Yang gently raised his hand to stop her.

"Watch."

Zhou Yang whispered those two words.

Just as the golden shield was only three feet away from him, Zhou Yang made his move.

Instead of retreating, he took a small step forward. This action seemed suicidal to his opponent, as he was now completely surrounded.

But at that very moment, the Heavenly Sword was drawn.

There was no dazzling sword light, nor any earth-shattering roar. The speed of the sword strike was so fast that it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye; only a very short "whoosh" sound could be heard.

Zhou Yang drew an extremely strange arc in the air; the tip of his sword did not strike the shield directly, but instead lightly tore through the air.

hum-

A thin, hair-like black crack suddenly appeared in the air.

The moment the crack touched the first golden shield, it expanded wildly in all directions like a monster that had been activated. The once indestructible golden shield was like a piece of scrap paper that had been cut open in front of that black line.

Click!

With a sharp crack, before the expression on the foremost golden-armored guard's face could even shift from ferocity to terror, his shield was cleanly sliced ​​in two. Then, the crack continued to propagate through space, like some invisible ripple, cleaving the entire row of golden-armored guards horizontally.

There was no chaos of flying blood and flesh, only an extreme silence.

The bodies of the golden-armored guards were precisely divided into upper and lower sections, and the fragments of their armor fell to the ground like raindrops, making a tinkling sound.

More than a dozen elite soldiers were wiped out in less than a breath.

Zhou Yang held the sword in one hand, the tip pointing downwards, and a drop of thick blood slowly dripped down the groove into the soil.

He felt his lifespan fluctuating. Although he hadn't burned much energy this time, the Heavenly Radiance Sword had indeed absorbed a tiny bit of his vital energy when it cut through space.

"This sword is better than I expected," Zhou Yang muttered to himself.

The remaining golden-armored guards stood frozen in place.

They had never seen such an attack before. In their understanding, no matter how profound the opponent's internal energy was, it was impossible to break through the golden armor shield's defense in such a short time. Spatial cutting—this ability was beyond their common sense.

The leader of the golden-armored guards' expressions changed drastically; he realized he had underestimated Zhou Yang.

"Attack as a team! Fight to the death!"

He roared wildly, trying to compensate for his fear with sheer numbers. The remaining dozens of golden-armored guards charged again, this time no longer maintaining formation, but spreading out, their spears flashing coldly in the air, thrusting towards Zhou Yang from all directions.

Zhou Yang sighed.

He felt that these people were wasting their time, and time was the most expensive cost to him.

He swung his sword again, this time with greater force. The Heavenly Blade spun rapidly in the air, creating a thick cloud of black mist. As he tilted his body, the spatial rift, like a giant net, suddenly exploded in the center of the battlefield.

tear-

The sound was like someone tearing open a huge piece of silk.

Those golden-armored guards who rushed to the front had parts of their bodies disappear into the air the moment they came into contact with the black energy. Then, their entire bodies were forcibly pulled towards the center by the spatial rift, like crumpled pieces of paper.

The sounds of bones breaking echoed one after another, and screams were cut off by the compression of space before they could even leave the throat.

In a short while, the entire open space turned into a golden scrap metal yard.

The once formidable elite troops are now reduced to a pile of armor fragments and broken corpses.

Zhou Yang sheathed his sword, his movements as natural as if he were taking a stroll.

He walked to the corpse of the leader of the golden-armored guards. The man's eyes were still open, his pupils filled with confusion. Zhou Yang had no time for sympathy. He bent down and directly tore off a gold ring engraved with intricate patterns from the man's cold fingertips.

Golden Armor Guard Ring.

Within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, this item was a symbol of status. More importantly, it could record the holder's permissions and could be used to unlock many of the emperor's secret chambers or forbidden areas.

Zhou Yang rubbed the ring on his clothes and casually tossed it into his pocket.

"This deal is barely acceptable."

Qin Shuang finally approached, her eyes flashing with a complex emotion as she looked at the neatly cut corpses on the ground. She had followed Zhou Yang for some time and witnessed him kill, but this was the first time she had seen such a swift and ruthless method of killing.

Looking at Zhou Yang's back, she suddenly felt that this man was like a bottomless well in front of her, and no matter how she observed him, she could only see the very surface.

"Let's go, get out of here before they realize what's happening," Qin Shuang whispered a reminder.

Zhou Yang nodded and turned to walk deeper into the woods.

His steps were light, but with each step, it seemed as if he were moving a chess piece on some invisible chessboard.

Before leaving the scene, Zhou Yang secretly glanced at the system interface.

His lifespan was fluctuating slightly, but the thrill he felt from the killing had put him in an unusually high state of mind. He knew that the Heavenly Sword's closed loop was complete, and what he now held in his hands was not just a weapon, but a ticket to a higher level of power.

The fog in the forest thickened again, slowly covering the golden, blood-stained area.

Zhou Yang walked ahead, humming a little tune as if he had just finished a simple routine overtime work, rather than having just slaughtered an elite royal army.

Chapter 701 Pursuers from the Imperial Palace (Foreshadowing - The Closed Loop of Imperial Power Suppression and Counterattack - Foreshadowing)

When Zhou Yang walked out of the woods, it was already broad daylight.

A morning breeze blew by, carrying the damp chill unique to the forest and a faint scent of blood. His clothes were stained with mud, and his face bore a few scratches, but his eyes shone brightly. The feeling of being full of energy despite having stayed up all night gave him a dangerous, sharp aura.

The Heavenly Radiance Sword at his waist was wrapped in strips of cloth, obscuring its appearance. But Zhou Yang's fingers would occasionally touch it, feeling its heavy weight.

This is his overtime pay for tonight.

Before he could even reach the camp, the rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the other end of the road. The sound was loud and carried an unyielding, domineering tone.

The sentries in the camp immediately tensed up, and several crossbows were quietly raised.

Zhou Yang stopped. He squinted and looked over.

A lone rider approached, galloping swiftly. As the horse drew near, it braked sharply, rearing up with a long neigh. The rider dismounted with a swift, agile movement. He was a palace attendant, followed by two armored imperial guards.

The eunuch held a whisk in one hand and a bright yellow scroll in the other. He didn't even glance at Zhou Yang, and went straight to Qin Shuang's tent.

"Qin Shuang, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, receives the imperial decree!"

The sound was sharp and thin, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Qin Shuang quickly emerged from the tent. She had changed into an official robe, her long hair was tied up, and her face was expressionless, though her back appeared somewhat stiff when she stood still.

Zhou Yang stood not far away, watching.

The eunuch unrolled the scroll and began to read it aloud in a detached tone. The content was short, but every word felt like a block of ice, striking one's heart.

The gist of the statement is that the defenses of the capital have changed, the Golden Armor Guard has been transferred to the direct command of the Ministry of War, Qin Shuang's ring is to be immediately confiscated, and she is to return to the capital to report for duty. All her authority in this fiefdom will temporarily be taken over by the newly appointed garrison.

Ultimately, it's about stripping away power and disarming people.

After reading the decree, the eunuch put away the scroll, stretched out his hand, one palm open, in a superior posture.

"Commander Qin, the ring."

Qin Shuang slowly raised her hand, reaching for her waist. There was a small leather ring there, the symbol of power for the Golden Armor Guards. Her finger paused on it for a moment, then she untied it and placed it in the eunuch's palm.

The moment that thing made its move, she felt as if she had lost something to rely on.

Zhou Yang looked at her profile, his brows furrowing slightly. This emperor acted swiftly. Almost immediately after the incident at the observatory, the imperial edict arrived. It seemed the "royal elite" force he had wiped out had already relayed the news back.

Moreover, the emperor's reaction was not to send someone to investigate, but to directly strip Qin Shuang of her military power.

This doesn't feel like a punishment; it feels more like they're trying to trap Qin Shuang here and kill her.

The eunuch took the ring, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction. He then pulled out an iron plaque from his robes and tossed it on the ground.

"This is the token of the Crimson Sky Army; they will arrive soon. Commander Qin, you'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, he mounted his horse and rode away like the wind.

The iron plaque on the ground, engraved with the two characters "Chixiao," is entirely crimson, like congealed blood.

Qin Shuang bent down and picked up the iron plaque. Her fingers were clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The Crimson Sky Army.

Another elite force outside the three major military camps in the capital. They answer directly to the emperor and are not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. They are not many in number, but each one is selected from veterans who have been through many battles. They are well-equipped and fierce in combat.

Sending this force was not to "take over" the situation, but to "encircle and annihilate" it.

"The situation is worse than I thought." Qin Shuang's voice was soft, tinged with weariness.

Zhou Yang walked to her side.

"No," he said, "this is just right."

Qin Shuang looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion.

"The emperor sending troops means he's afraid." A smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Yang's mouth. "He's afraid we really did dig something up under the observatory. So he wants to bury us here, treasure and all, as quickly as possible."

He looked at Qin Shuang, his tone calm, yet exuding an undeniable confidence.

"If he acts rashly, he'll reveal his weaknesses. That's our opportunity."

Qin Shuang looked at him. The man before her still had a few streaks of gray hair at his temples, and his complexion wasn't great. But there was no panic in his eyes, only calmness and a kind of...excitement.

The kind of excitement a hunter feels when he sees his prey.

Her tense heart inexplicably relaxed a little.

"What do you want to do?" she asked.

"We'll meet force with force and water with earth," Zhou Yang said. "Isn't he trying to cut off our supplies? Then I'll burn his grain supplies first."

The Red Cloud Army moved very quickly.

That afternoon, scouts brought news that a force of about three thousand men had already set up camp thirty miles outside the city. Their camp was strategically chosen, nestled against a mountain ridge with a small river in front, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

More importantly, their camp blocked the main road from the county town to this territory.

Don't even think about bringing in any more food or supplies.

This is the most standard encirclement tactic.

When the news reached the camp, panic appeared on the faces of some of the newly recruited soldiers. Three thousand Crimson Sky Army soldiers outnumbered their entire camp combined. Moreover, the enemy was a regular army; their equipment, training, and discipline were far superior to their hastily assembled force.

The atmosphere inside Qin Shuang's tent was also somewhat heavy.

"Their commander is Sun Meng, a fierce general from the border army, known for his ruthlessness." Qin Shuang pointed to a red circle on the map. "He won't give us any chance. As long as he establishes a strong camp and slowly besieges us, we won't last more than half a month."

Zhou Yang didn't speak. He just looked at the map, his finger lightly tapping the location of Sun Meng's camp.

He was thinking about something else.

The emperor sent Sun Meng not merely to besiege Zhou Yang, but also to test him. To gauge Zhou Yang's true strength. If Zhou Yang showed no reaction, or only a slight reaction, the next step would be a full-scale attack.

Therefore, he had to give a resounding response.

A response that sent chills down the spines of both the emperor and Sun Meng.

"Pass down the order," Zhou Yang suddenly said.

Qin Shuang looked at him.

"Call all our night-watch guards here," Zhou Yang said. "Everyone who can move will have work to do tonight."

Qin Shuang nodded and immediately turned to make the arrangements.

The Night Watchmen were handpicked by Zhou Yang from the original group. They were all agile, bold, and meticulous individuals. After this period of training, they were already showing promise.

Half an hour later, more than twenty dark figures silently gathered in Zhou Yang's tent. Each of them carried a short knife and a grappling hook, and their faces were covered with black cloth, revealing only their eyes.

Zhou Yang stood before them, the cloth strips on his Tianyao Sword at his waist already removed, the blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light under the dim oil lamp.

"The Chixiao Army's provisions are in the mountain valley behind their camp, about five hundred carts," Zhou Yang said in a low voice. "Your mission tonight is to burn them all."

A leader of the secret guards clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Sir, their camp is heavily guarded. With so many of us, it will be difficult to get close."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He picked up a small cloth bag from the table and tossed it over.

"Don't come near."

The leader took the cloth bag, opened it, and found dozens of round ceramic balls inside, soaked in black grease, and connected by a thin string.

"These are incendiary bombs. They have a range of 100 paces," Zhou Yang said. "You will split into four groups and throw them into the grain piles from the east, west, and south. Once you've thrown them, run. Don't linger."

He then pointed to another point on the map.

"This is their stable. Before burning the provisions, let's make a scene here. The bigger the better."

The guards exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up.

They don't understand the big picture, but they can read maps. This plan is ruthless and direct.

"clear!"

The night was as dark as ink, splashed across the earth.

The third watch of the night is when people are sleeping the most soundly.

The Chixiao Army's camp was quiet, with only the sound of patrolling soldiers' footsteps and a few sporadic barks of dogs in the distance.

Suddenly, a mournful neighing of horses came from the direction of the stables on the east side of the camp.

Immediately afterwards, flames shot into the sky!

Several startled warhorses burst from their stables, rampaging wildly around the camp, flames still burning on their backs. The entire camp erupted into chaos.

"Enemy attack!"

"Protect the stables!"

"Quick! Put out the fire!"

The officers' shouts and the soldiers' cries mingled together. The camp was in chaos.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the east, dozens of dark figures, like ghosts, silently crept up from the west, south, and north of the camp.

They raised their crossbows and fired burning oil bombs at the dark mass of grain carts in the ravine behind them.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

The fireballs traced parabolic arcs through the air, whistling as they landed precisely in the haystack.

The canvas, soaked in tung oil, and the dry straw were almost flammable at the slightest touch.

In an instant, the valley was engulfed in flames. Fueled by the wind, the flames spread rapidly, consuming the grain carts. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, turning half the sky crimson.

"Food supplies! It's food supplies!"

Someone shouted, and the faces of the Chixiao Army soldiers who had just been busy putting out the fire instantly turned pale.

Now, everyone panicked.

Commander Sun Meng rushed out of the main tent, shirtless and his face contorted with rage. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the two towering flames.

"Zhou Yang!!"

He gritted his teeth and roared out the name.

But now, it's too late to shout. The provisions have been burned, the horses are frightened, and the entire camp is in complete chaos. His three thousand elite troops are now like a swarm of headless flies.

Sun Meng knew he had miscalculated this time. He had underestimated his opponent.

On a distant hill, Zhou Yang put away his monocular telescope.

He gazed at the distant, blazing fire, his face expressionless. He simply exhaled softly.

The air seemed to be filled with the smell of burning.

The head of the guards behind him rubbed his hands excitedly: "Sir, we succeeded! Those bastards are finished!"

Zhou Yang shook his head.

"It's not over yet."

He turned around and looked at their camp behind him.

"This is just the beginning."

He stretched, feeling like he had completed a good deal. He was a little tired, but mostly satisfied.

The emperor wanted to use the Chixiao Army to suppress him.

Then he first burned the Red Cloud Army's pot.

Next, we'll see just how elite this starving force can become.

Chapter 702 Security Tax Upgrade (Accumulating Power - Closed Loop of Jianghu Rules - Accumulating Power)

The pungent smell of burning still lingered in the air.

The Chixiao Army's camp had been completely engulfed in flames. Black smoke curled into the air, like an ugly scar.

The head of the guards stood behind Zhou Yang, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. "My lord, a stroke of genius! These bastards won't even have a hot meal to eat next!"

Zhou Yang didn't say anything.

He simply stared at the fire. The wind blew, carrying the smoke to the other side, where the main force of the Crimson Sky Army was stationed. He could almost hear the chaos and shouts coming from that direction.

Burning the grain and fodder was only the first step.

An army without food will either starve to death or plunder. Whichever they choose, their morale will crumble. If the emperor wants to use this sword to behead him, then he should first burn the scabbard.

"Clean this up." Zhou Yang turned around, his tone calm. "Make sure the area is clean and doesn't leave any traces."

"yes!"

The head of the secret guards immediately led his men to deal with the scene. These men moved swiftly, clearly not for the first time.

Zhou Yang strode back to his camp.

His camp wasn't large, but it was very well-organized. The tents were arranged in neat rows, and the patrolling guards followed fixed routes. In the center, the defensive tower he had built stood like a nail, firmly rooted in the land.

The tower wasn't tall, only about three stories. It was entirely constructed of dark blue-green rock, with simple runes engraved on its surface. This was a defensive structure provided by the system, which had cost him a considerable amount of his lifespan and materials.

He walked to the foot of the tower, reached out, and gently touched the cold rock wall.

This tower is his family's wealth and his source of confidence.

But last night's battle made him realize soberingly that his confidence wasn't enough. Against a well-organized elite force like the Crimson Sky Army, the tower's defenses were stretched thin. Without the sudden burst of power from the Heavenly Radiance Sword, the outcome would have been uncertain.

He needs greater power.

It's not his personal strength, but the defensive capabilities of the entire territory.

Zhou Yang's eyes became deep.

He looked up at the top of the tower, and the system interface appeared in his mind.

[Defense Tower: Level 3]

[Defense Ratio: Base +15%]

Resources required to upgrade to level 4: ...

This is followed by a long list of resources, the quantity of which is quite staggering.

Where did these things come from?

Robbery? Too slow. Waiting? Even more impossible.

Zhou Yang's lips slowly curled upwards. It wasn't a smile, but more like a businessman who had spotted a brilliant business opportunity.

He turned and walked toward the largest open space in the camp.

A considerable number of people had already gathered there. There were his bodyguards, members of nearby gangs who had pledged allegiance to him, and some ordinary merchants. They all looked bewildered and whispered among themselves.

They saw the fires over there and heard the news that the Chixiao Army's supplies had been burned. The world was about to change; this was the shared thought of everyone.

Zhou Yang's appearance instantly silenced the noisy crowd.

All eyes were on him. A mixture of waiting, scrutiny, and a hint of hidden fear.

Zhou Yang walked to a high rock and slowly scanned everyone with his gaze.

"Everyone knows what happened last night." His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him clearly. "I burned the Red Cloud Army's supplies."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Someone tried to speak, but was stopped by a look from the person next to them.

"The emperor sent them to take our lives," Zhou Yang continued, his tone completely flat, as if he were discussing the weather. "He wants us dead. We can't just stand there and wait to die, can we?"

No one answered. But some people gripped their knives tighter.

"If you're going to live, there have to be rules for survival." Zhou Yang changed the subject. "My rules are very simple: it's all about trading."

He held up one finger.

"I protect your safety. You pay the security tax. It's only right and proper."

A stir ran through the crowd. This rule had been in place ever since Zhou Yang settled here. Before, the tax rate was low, and everyone accepted it. But now, they felt the situation was different.

A bold merchant mustered his courage and shouted, "Lord Zhou! The government troops are pressing in, what are you doing...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: You can't even protect yourself, so what's the point of collecting taxes?

Zhou Yang glanced at him, but instead of getting angry, he smiled.

"Good question."

He withdrew his hand and put it behind his back.

"It is precisely because the officers and soldiers came that my protection is even more valuable."

"Before, I guarded against mountain bandits and outlaws. Now, I have to guard against the imperial army's elite troops. The risk is greater, and the cost is naturally higher. It's not hard to do the math, is it?"

The crowd fell silent.

Zhou Yang gave them time to process this.

"So, starting today," he held up two fingers, "the security tax will be doubled."

"Whoosh—"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

"Double it? Why don't you just rob someone!"

"Are they trying to kill us?!"

"We won't pay! What can you do to us?"

The voices of opposition rose and fell. Zhou Yang stood on the rock, quietly watching them, as if he were watching a flock of noisy sparrows.

He only spoke again after their voices had gradually faded away.

"Paying taxes ensures survival. Not paying taxes leads to death."

"It's very simple."

He paused for a moment, then threw out the bait.

"I won't pocket the extra taxes I collect. I'll use that money to hire even more powerful people to protect everyone. The Dragon Guards, ever heard of them?"

Dragon-patterned Guard.

The moment those three words were uttered, the expressions of those in the know in the crowd changed.

That was one of the most ruthless mercenary organizations in the martial arts world. Each member was a master fighter capable of taking on ten men single-handedly, charged extremely high fees, and never broke their word. It was said that they had dragon tattoos on their bodies, and the stronger they were, the clearer the tattoos became.

Please summon the Dragon-Patterned Guards?

How much would that cost?

One gang leader couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhou, can you afford to hire him?"

"I can't afford it," Zhou Yang answered frankly, "but the taxes you all pay combined would be enough to afford it."

"I'll use your money to buy your lives. Are you in or not?"

The crowd quieted down again.

The doubled taxes were a burden. But the protection of the Dragon Guards was also a real source of hope. Moreover, Zhou Yang's ruthless methods of burning the Crimson Sky Army's provisions were still fresh in their minds. They knew this man meant what he said.

"I'll give you three days," Zhou Yang said finally. "After three days, those who don't want to pay taxes can get lost. Whether they live or die elsewhere is none of my business. Those who stay will be dealt with according to the new rules."

After saying that, he jumped off the rock and turned to leave.

There were no unnecessary explanations, no forceful suppression. The choice was given to them, and so was the pressure.

This is the most brilliant form of governance.

The head of the guards quickly caught up and whispered, "Sir, will they really pay?"

"Yes," Zhou Yang said confidently.

Why?

"Because they're afraid of death, but they want to live even more," Zhou Yang said calmly. "They know exactly what kind of people the Crimson Cloud Army is. Rather than being robbed and killed by those thugs, they'd rather hand over their money to me; at least they'll have some hope."

This is the unwritten rule of the underworld. It's not about reasoning, but about interests and consequences.

He returned to the turret, a thought suddenly occurring to him.

The system interface appears.

[Funding injection detected...]

[The upgrade requirements for the defense tower have been met. Do you wish to upgrade it to level 4 immediately?]

"upgrade."

Zhou Yang silently recited in his heart.

The next second, a slight tremor came from the ground beneath his feet. The runes on the defensive tower lit up one after another, emitting a soft white light. An invisible wave spread out from the tower.

The air around us seemed to solidify.

Upgrade complete.

[Defense Tower: Level 4]

[Defense Ratio: Base +45%]

It increased by a full 30 percentage points.

Zhou Yang could sense that the tower was now like a sleeping giant, radiating an aura far more powerful than before. Let alone the Crimson Sky Army's ordinary bows and arrows, even their siege crossbows would likely struggle to budge it in the slightest.

He nodded in satisfaction.

My gaze continued downwards.

Resources required to upgrade to level 5: ...

[Tip: Reaching level 5 for the defense tower unlocks the special ability "Defense Barrier".]

Defensive barrier?

Zhou Yang's eyes lit up.

That's his real goal.

He needed an absolutely safe fortress. No matter how turbulent the outside world was, at least here, he and his people could remain safe and sound.

This is his biggest bargaining chip.

He snapped out of his daze, leaned against the tower wall, and let out a long sigh. The sunlight felt warm on his skin.

In the distance, people were already going door-to-door "discussing" tax matters. Although there were still some sporadic disputes, the overall situation was settled.

His "security tax" has become the true ironclad rule of this land from this day forward.

Everything is going according to his script.

Chapter 703 Defensive Barrier Activated (Outbreak - Closed Loop of Jianghu Rules - Outbreak)

Zhou Yang sat on the stone steps of the defensive tower.

With his back against the cold wall, he could feel an ancient, dormant power awakening.

Outside the tower, the world is quiet.

But he had already caught a discordant sound in his ears.

That was a tremor coming from the horizon.

It was very faint, like distant rumble of thunder in summer.

Only by listening carefully can one distinguish that it is not thunder, but the sound of countless iron boots simultaneously treading on frozen ground.

"They're here."

He said something softly, as if talking to himself.

The head of the guards behind him leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Sir, it's the Crimson Sky Army. Their formation is the same as last time, but they're moving faster."

Zhou Yang hummed in agreement.

He didn't move, and he didn't even fully open his eyes.

He gently placed his right hand on an inconspicuous stone slab in front of him.

This stone slab was much like every one he had touched before: rough, cold, and bearing the marks of time.

But when he put his hand on it, everything changed.

hum-

A deep, resonant sound came from the depths of the tower.

It wasn't a deafening roar, but a tremor that penetrated to the bone and reached the soul.

The entire defensive tower, like a giant beast that had been sleeping for thousands of years, was awakened by his simple action.

The stone steps beneath his feet began to emit a soft white glow. The glow was not dazzling; instead, it flowed gently upwards like ripples on water, following the texture of the steps.

"My lord, this is..." The head of the secret guards stared in disbelief.

Zhou Yang did not answer.

His entire focus was on his connection with the tower.

He could sense that some kind of invisible energy was gathering at the top of the tower, and then spreading out in all directions like a huge net.

……

Outside the tower.

The Chixiao Army's offensive was like a black, raging tide.

They have lost their camp and their supplies.

Hunger and anger transformed this elite force into a pack of rabid wolves.

"Rush!"

"Kill the traitors inside!"

"Reclaim our dignity!"

The officer's roar echoed across the front lines.

The soldiers brandished their longswords, their eyes burning with crimson flames. They were indeed much faster than before, almost coming out in full force, disregarding formation, determined to crush this small stronghold in the most savage way.

They broke through the first line of defense, which was the open space that Zhou Yang's "security tax" collection personnel had cleared earlier.

There was nothing there but a patch of ground that had been trampled firmly.

The soldiers at the front could already see the strange tower.

It stood there quietly, like a finger driven into the earth, ordinary yet strangely unsettling.

"Release the arrows!"

At his command, the archers behind him unleashed a volley of arrows.

Arrows rained down, blotting out the sun, and whistled as they shot toward the tower and the surrounding open space.

However, a strange scene happened.

Just as the rain of arrows was about to hit the tower, a transparent, water-like light curtain appeared out of thin air.

Those arrows, which traveled at extremely high speeds, struck the light barrier as if they had hit an invisible, highly elastic wall.

There was no breakage, no shattering.

They were merely bounced off that force and then returned the way they came at an even greater speed!

Puff puff!

A scream rang out instantly.

The Red Cloud Army soldiers at the forefront never expected that the arrows they shot would turn around and shoot back at them.

Some were shot through the throat, while others were nailed to their comrades.

In just a few breaths, a group of people at the very front of the formation fell down.

Everyone stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with shock.

"What's going on? Sorcery! This is sorcery!"

A general cried out in terror.

"Don't stop! Charge forward! That's just a diversion!"

But nobody listens anymore.

Fear spread like a plague.

Just then, the first hundred-man team to charge forward had reached within fifty meters of the tower.

They stared at the transparent light curtain, yet felt nothing.

They could even see the blurry figure on the tower through the light screen.

"kill!"

The centurion roared and was the first to charge forward.

His blade was about to strike the light barrier.

The next second, he vanished from the spot.

It neither turned into specks of light nor vanished into nothingness.

It means to disappear into thin air.

It was as if he had never existed.

The soldiers behind them stopped in their tracks, staring in disbelief at what lay ahead.

"Where is...Where is the centurion, King?"

Before he could finish speaking...

The centurion who had disappeared reappeared out of nowhere.

The place where he appeared was the starting point of his charge.

His expression remained frozen in the moment of his roar, his body still in a forward-leaning posture, but his eyes were filled with bewilderment and confusion.

"I...I just..."

Before he could finish speaking, the dozens of soldiers behind him also vanished at the same time.

Then, they appeared at the very back of the line.

The entire charging force seemed to have been squeezed hard by an invisible hand and then thrown back to its original position.

Everyone was dizzy and disoriented, completely unable to tell which way was which.

"Space... is spatial folding!"

In the ranks, a seasoned veteran, who had seen it all, was so terrified that he collapsed to the ground.

He had heard of this legendary secret technique, a realm that only legendary masters could access.

Imagine folding a space like a piece of cloth; if you take a step forward, you're actually just going around in circles.

"Monster! There's a monster here!"

The overwhelming emotions, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly shattered the last vestiges of discipline in the Chixiao Army.

They weren't killed, but rather toyed with by an incomprehensible force.

This is more terrifying than simply killing them.

That is a complete trampling of dignity and cognition.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

It's unclear who shouted the first time.

The sound was like a fuse.

In an instant, the entire battlefield descended into chaos.

The soldiers threw down their weapons and ran frantically back the way they had come. They pushed and trampled each other, hoping to get as far away from that terrifying tower as possible.

The one-eyed old general, the commander of the Crimson Cloud Army, stood at the rear, trembling with rage.

His single eye was fixed on the blurry figure on the tower.

He couldn't understand why, why such a thing would appear.

This is no longer something that can be resolved by force.

This is a complete domination at the rule level.

"Stay calm! Stay calm!"

He drew his command sword from his waist, roaring as he tried to intimidate the fleeing soldiers with military law.

However, just as he raised the knife, he felt a pulling force.

His body drifted forward uncontrollably.

He was horrified to discover that the scenery around him was distorted and elongated.

The next instant, he, like the soldiers, was violently "bounced" back.

He crashed heavily to the ground, his sword flying out of his hand and into the distance.

He struggled to lift his head and saw that his army had completely turned into headless flies, scattering and fleeing in all directions.

It’s over.

It's all over.

He closed his one eye, a deathly despair on his face.

……

Inside the defensive tower, the light curtain slowly dissipated.

Zhou Yang released his hand from the stone slab.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the tower, and looked down at the chaotic battlefield below.

His face was expressionless.

It was like watching a boring play.

He said to the head of the secret guards, "Go and bring back their command swords."

"Yes, sir!"

The head of the secret guards excitedly accepted the order and left.

A short while later, he returned carrying a finely crafted longsword. The scabbard was covered in sharkskin, and a roaring lion was engraved on the brass pommel.

This is the symbol of the commander of the Chixiao Army.

Zhou Yang took the knife.

He slowly drew the blade.

The blade gleamed with a chilling light in the dim tower.

He tested the blade with his hand.

It's very sharp and very heavy.

A good knife.

He glanced at the one-eyed old general lying on the ground in the distance, looking like a lump of mud.

The old general was looking at him with resentment.

Zhou Yang ignored him.

He casually slung his command sword over his shoulder, turned to the head of the secret guards, and said, "Pass down the order to clean up the battlefield. Keep anything useful."

"yes!"

The head of the secret guards acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Zhou Yang carried the knife and walked down the stone steps one by one.

The end of the scabbard tapped rhythmically on the stone slab behind him, making a soft "tap, tap" sound.

This sound seemed to herald the beginning of a new era.

He and his people have established their own rules on this land.