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

As he stepped out of the cell, the stone steps did not ascend as usual. He groped his way along the base of the wall, heading deeper into the earth's veins. The torches overhead were limp from the heat, and the smoke seemed to be permeated with the smell of iron. His footsteps were heavy, echoing in the narrow passage, accompanied by the pulsation of his knuckles as they slid between his mallet-shaped fingers.

No one paid him any attention; the guards at the gate were only focused on the plan for the plaza ahead. His shadow stretched long, almost touching the ground. He walked through the dimly lit doorway, all the way to the deepest pile of rubble at the bottom of the third level of the mansion. This place had originally been used to imprison the Northern Wilderness Beasts. Untouched for many years, grass stains naturally accumulated on the runes, and several talismans were torn.

He placed his hand on the rune array covered in mud. The residual warmth within the runes lingered, like lingering breath. He didn't undo it immediately. Instead, he slid his finger along the lines to create a small opening, bringing up the system panel. A dim red light indicated a simple option. He selected "Burning Lifespan." The panel displayed: Lifespan: Thirty-seven years—burning for one year.

The price of his lifespan was heavier than ever before. His blood seemed to vibrate slightly, and his heartbeat showed a brief fluctuation. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes. The black tendrils surged again between his brows, this time deeper. The system's energy, like a swarm of bees, rushed along his finger bones into his bone marrow, straight through to the soles of his feet. He could hear the pulse of the runes. Those concentric rings of runes, like broken chains, were finally forcibly disrupted.

As the crack burst open, the talisman exploded with white flames. The ground trembled slightly, followed by a low roar. Before he could fully open his eyes, the innermost iron door burst open. Shadows emerged from the crack—a beast, a fireball, rough scales. He didn't look at the beast, only letting the system input the explosive shockwave into his mind.

The earthly beasts burst from their cages, roaring aimlessly. They didn't recognize humans. The chains cracked and snapped as they pulled at their massive bodies, blood spurting from their split mouths and nostrils. He stood in the shadows, silently watching the guards being forced back several steps. Stone fragments flew through the blood mist, shattering the wooden windows of the passageway.

The alarm blared with a sharp, metallic sound. Such a noise was usually reserved for battlefields. The guards shouted in panic, their footsteps stumbling. The earth-fiend beasts, indiscriminately charging, crashed into the ceiling, snapping beams. The Hebei prisoners escorting the others howled, their cries mingling with the beast's roar like a torn cloth. He leaned against the wall, glancing sideways, seeing the dust on the ceiling swirling in the air. His heart, however, pounded steadily, as if bound by barbed wire.

Chaos spread like smoke. The flags at the prison gates billowed, and the elite guards outside, having heard the news, began rushing into the inner passageways. Overturned barrels and scattered copper coins littered every corner. Qin Shuang's name echoed through the chaos. He didn't turn around immediately. She was difficult to see clearly in the firelight, but he heard her low breath. He controlled his movements, silently approaching her.

The Dragonspine Sword he had borrowed from the second floor was still sheathed. The sword lay hidden behind his shoulder, its hilt patterned like cracks drawn in an old iron mirror. Seeing the ground cracked by beast claws, he drew the sword, its blade humming softly. He charged towards Qin Shuang's cell. The iron door bar was askew, the chains were stained with blood, and several were broken. He held the Dragonspine Sword between the two locks; a blinding white light flashed, and the chains, like molten steel in fire, were sliced ​​in two.

Qin Shuang lay on the bed, her body restrained by shackles, letting out soft breaths. Her face was expressionless, only her head was slightly raised, her gaze sweeping over his back. Her sleeves were torn, revealing several shoulder bones torn by nail marks. He threw his sword aside and quickly scooped her up. His arms were covered in blood, Qin Shuang's body was too light for a woman burdened with heavy emotions. He hoisted her onto his shoulder and instantly darted away.

A dark figure suddenly appeared at the doorway. The Commander of the Demon Suppression Division stood at the entrance of the passageway, dressed in a silver-gray brocade robe, his aura as a peak True Yuan Realm expert pressing down like a low pressure. He held a command fan in his hand, the embroidered scales on the fan surface slightly cool. He stepped to block the doorway, his body barely moving, only a hint of disdain between his brows.

"Where are you going?" His voice was dry and cold, like ice cracking against stone. He didn't raise his voice. He simply held the fan handle and slightly raised his chin.

Zhou Yang glanced back. Qin Shuang was still in his arms, her eyes slowly opening, her gaze lingering on his ear as she whispered, "Go quickly." He only gave a brief response, his lips pressed tightly together at the end. Without hesitation, he pulled out several unused zombie soldiers from behind his back. The zombie soldiers wore no armor, their bodies dismantled into fragments—their decaying ribs were bound into small balls with black cloth strips, the lingering corpse energy from their lungs flowing freely in the air.

He hurled the corpses at the commander like tongs. The corpse soldiers shattered upon impact with the aura of life. The corpse energy within them exploded before the commander, carrying the smell of rust and a wave of humid heat. The surrounding air became viscous. The commander's feet sank, and he managed to keep from falling back completely, even slightly closing his eyes.

Taking advantage of the commander's pause, he dragged Qin Shuang towards the window. Blood and mud mingled on the ground, making his boots stick and rattle, but that didn't stop him from lifting her up even more easily. He stepped out of the cell, leaving behind a scene of utter chaos. Qin Shuang pressed against his back, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly with her breath. She didn't speak, only pressed her fingertips against his sleeve, the pressure indicating she was still trying to maintain her connection with him.

The commander wiped the cold sweat from her chest, her eyes filled with obvious caution. She didn't believe this brief delay could stop them from escaping. Zhou Yang knew time was running out. He pulled out another cloth bundle—the blood-shadow talisman that remained on the token from before. He tossed it onto the bluestone pavement. As the talisman hit the ground, the surrounding scenery seemed to compress. His voice came in a low voice: "Go."

Amidst the smoke and noise, he led Qin Shuang out of the dead end. The wall where they had been provoking them collapsed, and the torches were scattered. He only glanced back. The commander had already rolled up his sleeves, his eyes blazing with genuine fury, as if he were about to charge forward. But the corpse aura continued to spread, like visible cables, holding him in place.

Zhou Yang didn't look back. His footsteps landed steadily on the stone slabs, leading Qin Shuang through the chaotic mob of guards. They reached the cold light outside the door, the wind carrying the lingering echoes of beast roars to their ears. He carried her on his shoulder, like carrying a sleeping statue, yet moving forward with ease. The long spear lights outside illuminated the area; he put his arm around Qin Shuang's waist, pulled her to his side, and prepared to leap out.

At that very moment, the siren sounded again from inside the city gate, its blast low and urgent. The guards throughout the prison shouldered their weapons. He stood at the broken exit, his shoulders trembling slightly, but his movements remained composed. He glanced down at Qin Shuang; she didn't respond, only gently tapping his shoulder.

"Go." He repeated again, his voice weak and feeble. He gripped her arm tightly, took a step forward, and the stone slab beneath his feet shattered into tiny pieces, covered in blood. Ahead, the roars of the Earthly Fiend Beasts echoed once more, and that chaos would only pave their way back in the next few breaths.

He didn't stop. Because with every step he took to escape, the earthly beast would explode behind him with even greater noise. He once again tucked the man-eating corpse energy into his sleeve, carrying it with him. He knew that the shrill sound wouldn't chase them forever. Now, the important thing was to get Qin Shuang out of the nearest white light.