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

The night, like a piece of old cotton soaked with water, weighed heavily on the capital city.

Zhou Yang stuffed the half-cold sesame seed cake in his hand into his mouth, chewing the last two bites with great force. The dry, hard crumbs scraped against his throat, causing a slight pain, but this pain kept him awake.

He swallowed the last bite and patted the crumbs off his hands.

The Zhang residence was just ahead. The vermilion gates were tightly shut, and two stone lions stared out from the shadows.

Zhou Yang didn't go through the main entrance. He swayed and, like a wisp of smoke, vaulted over the wall.

The courtyard was quiet, save for the patrolling servants carrying lanterns. The lanterns' glow flickered on the ground like will-o'-the-wisps.

Zhou Yang walked close to the wall. His footsteps were so light that they didn't even disturb the wind.

He silently calculated in his mind. Twelve people, twelve blood sacrifices to powerful ministers. These were the names he crossed off the Book of Life and Death. After each name, there was a note indicating the approximate amount of "debt" that could be recovered.

Zhang Zhengxing ranked first. This old fox cultivated the Blood Fiend Technique, and his body was so rich in blood and qi that he was like a living blood bank.

Zhou Yang licked his lips.

It's time for the accountant to start working his abacus.

The lights were still on in the study.

Zhang Zhengxing was sitting at the table, twirling a jade thumb ring in his hand. He looked unwell, with puffy eyes, as if he hadn't slept well for several nights.

The door creaked open.

Zhang Zhengxing suddenly looked up and put his hand under the table.

"Who?" he asked, his voice tense.

Zhou Yang stood at the doorway, backlit. His Imperial Guard uniform was indistinguishable in the darkness, except for the embroidered spring knife at his waist, which gleamed with a cold, menacing light.

"I'm here to pay the bill," Zhou Yang said.

Zhang Zhengxing was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. Without saying a word, he swiftly pulled a talisman from under the table, and with a flash of red light, he was about to stick it on Zhou Yang's face.

That's a death warrant.

Zhou Yang didn't move. He simply raised his right hand and lightly tapped the air with his index finger.

This gesture was devoid of any fancy elements.

But he had just used up three years of his lifespan before he even entered the room.

What these three years brought was a moment of perfection in the "Finger of Breaking Illusion".

A crisp sound came from the air, like a thin piece of paper being punctured.

The shimmering red talisman exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of ashes.

Zhang Zhengxing's pupils suddenly contracted.

"You..." He had barely uttered a single word when a "clucking" sound came from his throat.

Zhou Yang's hand was already around his neck.

The strength was astonishing. Zhang Zhengxing felt like an old chicken being lifted off the ground, his legs kicking desperately, his face turning a deep purplish-red.

Zhou Yang looked at him, his eyes showing no hatred or murderous intent, only a cold indifference as if assessing the quality of goods.

"I heard you've cultivated thirty-six virgin boys and girls," Zhou Yang said. "Your qi and blood must be quite nourishing."

Zhang Zhengxing's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He desperately tried to pry Zhou Yang's fingers off, his fingernails leaving white marks on the back of his hands. But the hand was like iron, completely unmoving.

"Don't rush," Zhou Yang leaned closer and whispered, "It'll be over soon. I don't like things dragging on."

The feeling of lifespan burning out is back.

It was a chill that seeped from the bone marrow, followed by a surge of heat that seemed to boil over the whole body.

The Dragon Spine Sword hummed in its scabbard, like a wild beast that had smelled blood.

Zhou Yang placed his other hand on Zhang Zhengxing's crown.

"Collect the debt."

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

Zhang Zhengxing's overflowing, almost explosive blood energy surged into Zhou Yang's body like a floodgate opening.

The feeling was like a dry riverbed suddenly being hit by a torrential downpour.

Zhou Yang's body was trembling.

The sense of exhaustion and weakness caused by overdrawing one's lifespan is being rapidly filled by a vast and pure power.

The hazy mist in my field of vision dissipated, and my hearing became more acute; I could even hear the flapping of the wings of the lone autumn insect in the yard.

[Kill Blood Sacrifice Master Zhang Zhengxing]

Lifespan: 86 years

The cold voice echoed in his mind, a voice that, to Zhou Yang, was more melodious than any string or wind instrument in the world.

Eighty-six years.

This was a huge profit.

Zhou Yang loosened his grip.

Zhang Zhengxing's body slumped limply, shrinking into a withered, skeletal shell. His previous air of pampered luxury and absolute power had vanished without a trace.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

The joints cracked and popped.

A long-lost sense of power surged through his limbs. The exhilarating feeling of being in complete control made him involuntarily curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"Next," he said softly.

……

The night rain began to fall in a light drizzle.

But this rain cannot wash away the bloodshed in the capital tonight.

The back garden of the Ministry of War's residence.

Minister Wang was embracing two beautiful concubines, drinking and warming himself in the heated chamber. The charcoal fire was burning brightly, making everyone feel hot and bothered.

The window suddenly shattered.

Several shards of glass flew in, slicing the beautiful concubine's delicate face, and her scream instantly pierced the night sky.

Zhou Yang stood in the rain, not a drop of water on him. Before the raindrops even reached his shoulders, they were dispersed by the protective inner energy emanating from his body.

"Zhou Yang! You've gone mad!" Minister Wang was so frightened that he dropped his wine cup, his entire body trembling with fear. "You dare kill an official of the imperial court!"

"An official?" Zhou Yang stepped onto the stairs, his boots crunching on the broken glass. "Is an official more important, or my life?"

Before Minister Wang could even call for his guards, a flash of cold light appeared before his eyes.

Sword light.

The sword strike was so fast that the pain didn't even have time to reach the brain.

Wang Shuo's head rolled to the ground, his fat face still bearing the expression of terror.

[Kill the Blood Sacrifice King Wang Shuo]

[Lifespan granted: 42 years]

Although it's not as good as Zhang Zhengxing's, I'd rather not refuse this free lifespan.

Zhou Yang didn't even wipe his sword before turning and leaving.

His figure moved like a ghost in the rainy night, darting through every corner of the capital.

That night, the lights in twelve grand mansions throughout the capital remained burning all night.

Some people begged for mercy, offering up mountains of gold and silver.

Some resisted, unleashing their most treasured evil weapons and demonic artifacts.

Some people even knelt on the ground and kowtowed, until their brains spilled out.

But to Zhou Yang, these were just numbers.

Those who beg for mercy will have their price halved; those who resist will die a more gruesome death, but their lifespan will not be shortened.

He was like a diligent rent collector, going door to door to collect debts.

As dawn broke, the last name on the list was crossed out.

Zhou Yang stood on the roof of the Grand Tutor's mansion, holding a sword in his hand.

Rainwater flowed down the blade, gathering into drops of crimson blood that dripped onto the tiles.

He closed his eyes and felt the changes in his body.

That was not just a restoration of strength, but a qualitative leap.

Killing these twelve blood sacrifice ministers not only restored his previously overdrawn lifespan, but also made him a fortune.

He is now like a volcano filled with water, ready to erupt at any moment.

Moreover, with the deaths of these blood sacrificers, the gloomy and oppressive blood-red aura that shrouded the capital city seemed to have been diluted considerably.

The sky was turning a bit blue.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath of the moist morning air. The air smelled of earth, of grass, and of course, the lingering stench of blood.

But when he smelled it, he felt more at ease than any spice.

This is the taste of being alive.

……

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face as pale as paper. His hands gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white from the effort.

The ministers below bowed their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

There were twelve trays on the ground.

The tray was covered with a red cloth, but the raised outline beneath the cloth made it easy to guess what it was.

Those were twelve human heads.

Last night, the capital was shaken.

Twelve powerful ministers had their entire families wiped out overnight. The perpetrators were ruthless yet incredibly precise, killing only those directly involved and sparing no innocent servants.

Such swift and decisive methods, such terrifying strength, sent chills down everyone's spines.

"Your Majesty..." the old eunuch approached tremblingly, "Lord Zhou... Lord Zhou has arrived."

Footsteps sounded at the entrance of the palace.

Unhurried and unhurried, each step felt like stepping on one's heart.

Zhou Yang walked in.

He was still wearing the flying fish robe he wore last night. Although he hadn't taken good care of it, the bloodstains on the hem had dried and turned dark red.

He didn't kneel.

He stood there so openly and confidently in the center of the hall, looking at the emperor on the dragon throne.

The entire court was in uproar.

Is this the traitor of the current dynasty? Is this the autocratic head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

No, this is a ferocious beast that will devour anyone it chooses.

"Zhou Yang!" Finally, one of the imperial censors couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward, shouting, "You have arbitrarily killed a minister and shown no respect for the emperor! This is treason!"

Zhou Yang turned and glanced at him.

His eyes were calm, devoid of any emotion.

The censor felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and the rest of his words seemed stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered. He saw the bloodshot in Zhou Yang's eyes.

That was the murderous aura that had settled after killing too many people.

Zhou Yang turned his head and continued to look at the emperor.

"Rebellion?" Zhou Yang smiled. "I was merely sharing Your Majesty's burdens. These ministers were corrupt, colluded with cults, and even practiced blood-based evil arts, plotting rebellion. Was I wrong to execute them on the spot?"

The emperor's hand trembled slightly.

He knew, of course, that these ministers had problems, but he didn't expect Zhou Yang to dare to do this, and to wipe them all out overnight.

More importantly, the power Zhou Yang displayed instilled fear in him.

This person is out of control.

"I...I understand." The emperor's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Minister Zhou...you have rendered meritorious service in serving the emperor."

"That's only right." Zhou Yang nodded. "After all, this world belongs to His Majesty, and I'm just someone who does things for money. However, this time, the reward I'm asking for is a bit too much."

The main hall was deathly silent.

Everyone perked up their ears.

Zhou Yang raised his hand and pointed to the twelve trays on the ground.

"These twelve heads are in exchange for my position as regent."

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the main hall.

Regent!

What kind of power was that? It was the power to handle state affairs on behalf of the emperor, second only to the emperor and above all others!

"You..." The censor was about to shout when the minister next to him grabbed him tightly.

The emperor stared intently at Zhou Yang, his chest heaving violently.

He wanted to refuse and ordered the guards to hack Zhou Yang to death.

But he didn't dare.

He could sense that the aura emanating from Zhou Yang was stronger than that of all the civil and military officials combined.

If they don't agree, will Zhou Yang put the thirteenth head on top as well?

Could that spot be the one on the dragon throne?

The emperor's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He couldn't afford to lose. Even if Zhou Yang wanted to seize the throne right now, he could only agree for now and make plans later.

"Approved...approved."

The emperor squeezed out those two words through gritted teeth.

Zhou Yang smiled.

He smiled broadly, like a shopkeeper who had just closed a big deal.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

This time he bowed slightly, as if to pay his respects.

"Since Your Majesty is unwell, then I will leave the trivial matters of the court to you from now on." Zhou Yang straightened up and looked around at the ministers who were bowing their heads.

Wherever his gaze swept, the heads of the people there drooped even lower.

Is this what power tastes like?

Zhou Yang felt no excitement, but rather a sense of relief that everything had finally settled down.

In this world, only by standing in the highest position and wielding the greatest power can one truly protect one's own "interests".

Whether it's lifespan or anything else.

"Dismissed." Zhou Yang waved his hand, as if shooing away flies. "That concludes today's morning court session. Be careful on your way home, gentlemen; things are not peaceful in the capital lately."

No one dared to speak.

No one dared to make the first move.

Only when Zhou Yang turned around and strode out of the hall did the ministers dare to breathe a sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

Zhou Yang walked out of Fengtian Hall.

The sunlight was perfect, almost blinding.

He stood on the high white marble steps, squinting at the Forbidden City before him.

The red walls and yellow tiles looked particularly solemn under the sunlight.

Previously, he was just a cog in this vast imperial machine, someone who could be discarded or sacrificed at any time.

Now, he is the operator of this machine.

He reached out and touched the golden seal of the regent that he had just acquired.

The seal was cold and heavy.

But his heart was warm.

That's because of the sense of security that comes with a long lifespan, and also because of the thrill of controlling one's destiny.

"Zhou Yang." A voice came from behind.

Zhou Yang didn't turn around, but he knew who it was.

Qin Shuang stood in the shadows at the palace entrance, watching him.

"What?" Zhou Yang asked.

"Are you insane?" Qin Shuang's voice was unreadable. "Regent? Have you considered the consequences?"

"Consequences?" Zhou Yang turned around and looked at her. "The consequence is that I can eat whatever I want and kill whoever I want. Isn't that what we've always been pursuing?"

Qin Shuang remained silent for a moment, then her lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Indeed," she said. "However, from now on you will be a true traitor."

"A treacherous minister?" Zhou Yang scoffed. "What does it matter if someone is a treacherous minister, as long as one can survive? Besides..."

He looked down at his palm. The lines on his palm were clear and full of power.

"In this world, being a good person is too tiring. It's more worthwhile to be a bad person."

The wind blew across the square, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

Zhou Yang carefully put the gold seal away, then turned and walked down the steps.

His steps were steady.

Each step feels like stepping onto a new starting point.

The bloodstains on the twelve severed heads had dried, but the stench of blood would linger over the capital for a long time.

This smells bad.

But Zhou Yang felt that this was the taste of justice.

His blood-red justice.

He tightened his cloak and strode into the sunlight that belonged to him.

The loneliness at the pinnacle of power

In the early morning in the imperial city, the fog had not yet dissipated.

The vermilion palace walls loomed in and out of the mist, like a lurking beast, its jaws agape, waiting for someone to crawl inside. Zhou Yang stood outside the Meridian Gate, holding the still-warm golden seal in his hand, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the patterns on it.

This seal weighs three jin and six liang; it's heavy and feels substantial in your hand.

"Sir, please."

The young eunuch leading the way hunched over, his voice high-pitched but not harsh, carrying a hint of cautious flattery. He didn't even dare to look up at Zhou Yang, staring only at his toes, taking tiny steps, afraid of displeasing this newly emerged nemesis if he walked too fast.

Zhou Yang didn't move.

He watched as the door slowly opened, its hinges turning with a dull thud.

Just three days ago, he was a wanted criminal, fugitive whose every purchase was fraught with peril, forced to hide in an alley to buy a simple pancake. Now, he stands at the very center of power, wielding the power of life and death, with a retinue of obsequious imperial guards following him.

The changes are happening so fast it's almost unreal.

"My lord?" the little eunuch called out again, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

"What's the rush?" Zhou Yang tucked the gold seal into his pocket and strode off. "If you don't walk carefully on this road, you could lose your head."

The little eunuch trembled and lowered his head even further.

The two walked through a long corridor. The guards on both sides stood ramrod straight, like wooden stakes driven into the ground. But Zhou Yang could feel their gazes, like hooks, fixed on him. There was jealousy, fear, and naked hatred.

But he doesn't care.

He now has enough leverage to ignore those stares.

Upon entering the main hall, the previous hustle and bustle vanished instantly, as if cut off by a knife. The officials lined up on both sides, and those who had been whispering to each other fell silent, turning their gazes to the center of the hall.

There was inquiry in that gaze, but even more so, there was apprehension.

Zhou Yang's flying fish robe was new, just received, and hadn't been starched yet, so it was a bit stiff. He walked with a gust of wind, his black boots making a crisp "tap-tap" sound on the gold bricks, echoing in the empty hall.

No one dared to stop him, and no one dared to speak up.

When he stood still beneath the dragon throne and turned to face his ministers, those who had stood so straight all suddenly shrunk a bit.

That is power.

Sharper than swords and more deadly than poison.

Zhou Yang glanced around, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Gentlemen, why are you all so quiet? Wasn't it quite lively just now?"

An elderly official standing in the front row twitched his beard, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just closed his eyes and sighed deeply. That was the Minister of Rites, who just two days ago had denounced Zhou Yang as a "national monster" in the palace, but now he didn't even have the courage to look him in the eye.

In this world, reasoning is for the living. The dead are not worthy of reasoning.

At that moment, a soft cough came from the side hall.

Qin Shuang came out.

She wore a bright red official robe, her black gauze hat neatly adjusted, and held a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict in her hands. Her usually aloof face now held an air of authority, a demeanor cultivated only by those who had long held high positions.

She didn't look at Zhou Yang, but walked straight to the center of the hall and unfolded the imperial edict.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

Her clear, melodious voice echoed in Zhou Yang's ears. Just a month ago, he had haggled with Qin Shuang over a few taels of silver, and argued with her over wanting an extra day off. Back then, she was a high-ranking centurion, and he was a lowly squad leader who could be sacrificed at any moment.

Now, she is the highest-ranking administrative official in Dongdu, and he is the all-powerful head of the secret service. The two stand side by side in this grand hall, their feet treading on the corpses and futures of countless people.

This deal was worthwhile.

As Zhou Yang listened to the long, convoluted string of official documents, his mind wandered elsewhere. He was doing accounting.

The emperor's rewards this time were very generous: ten thousand taels of gold, thousands of acres of fertile land, and the so-called "authority to act as he saw fit." But what he was more concerned about was how many years of life these things could be converted into.

The number that had been hovering before his eyes had now become an astronomical figure. But that wasn't enough. Far from enough.

In this cannibalistic world, lifespan is one's greatest asset. Without lifespan, he's just an old man who could die at any moment; with lifespan, he's a living evil god.

"...So be it."

After Qin Shuang finished reading, she closed the imperial edict and handed it to Zhou Yang.

Their hands touched briefly as they exchanged them. Qin Shuang's hands were cold, while Zhou Yang's hands were warm.

For a fleeting moment, Qin Shuang's fingers stiffened slightly before returning to normal. She glanced at Zhou Yang, her eyes calm and unreadable.

"Congratulations, Lord Zhou," she said calmly.

"Congratulations, Lord Qin." Zhou Yang took the imperial edict and casually handed it to the little eunuch next to him, as if he were handing over a piece of toilet paper.

A collective gasp rippled through the assembled officials. That was an imperial edict, a symbol of imperial power, yet in his hands it was as worthless as a piece of waste paper.

Zhou Yang was too lazy to pay attention to these people's fuss.

After the court session ended, officials avoided him like the plague. He carved a wide path through the once-crowded imperial road. Within ten steps of him, no one dared approach except for Qin Shuang.

"You'll scare them if you do that," Qin Shuang said, walking beside them without looking at them, her voice low.

"Scared?" Zhou Yang scoffed, reaching out to pluck a leaf from a tree by the roadside, sniffing it. "If they weren't scared, I would be the one who died."

Qin Shuang didn't respond.

She knew Zhou Yang was telling the truth. Ever since that night he beheaded twelve people on the training ground, the winds of change in the capital had shifted. Those who used to want to get rid of him were now desperately sending silver, antiques, and women to his residence.

We're all smart people; we know what to say when a knife is at our throats.

"You still need to go see His Majesty," Qin Shuang reminded him. "You have to maintain appearances."

"No," Zhou Yang replied decisively. "I've given him everything he was supposed to. There's no need to listen to that old man's nonsense anymore. Besides, if I go into the palace, what if he doesn't want me out? I'll have to fight him for it, and that would hurt our relationship."

Qin Shuang paused, turned to look at him: "You're trying to force me to abdicate."

"Don't put it so harshly." Zhou Yang threw away the leaves in his hand, clapped his hands, and said, "This is called an equal exchange. He gives me power, and I do things for him. I don't play any unnecessary roles, and I don't have time to."

Qin Shuang fell silent.

She looked at the man before her. He was the same as before—shrewd, calculating, and always spouting business acumen. But the aura around him had changed. Before, he struggled to survive; now, he schemed to live better.

This change felt both unfamiliar and unsettling to her.

"Whatever." Qin Shuang withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward. "Anyway, it's the two of us who have to deal with this mess now."

"It's not us, it's you," Zhou Yang corrected. "I don't like to take on messes; I only create messes and then collect the money."

Qin Shuang's lips twitched slightly, clearly she was angry, but she held back.

As the two reached the palace gate and were about to leave, a group of people approached them.

Leading the group was an old eunuch, dressed in a python robe, holding a whisk in his hand, and sporting the kind of fake smile that made you want to punch him. This was the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and also the emperor's most trusted confidant.

"Lord Zhou, we have been waiting for you for a long time." The old eunuch bowed from afar, his posture very humble.

Zhou Yang stopped and squinted.

"What's up?"

"His Majesty has hosted a banquet and specifically instructed me to invite Lord Zhou." The old eunuch approached, lowered his voice, and spoke earnestly, "His Majesty said that he has some things on his mind that he would like to discuss with Lord Zhou alone."

This is what it means to win someone over.

Everyone knows that although Zhou Yang wields great power, he is nominally still a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, essentially the emperor's servant. The emperor's hosting of this banquet is nothing more than an attempt to promise him more benefits, binding him to the imperial chariot and making him the sharpest blade.

Zhou Yang looked at the old eunuch's wrinkled face and suddenly laughed.

"Since His Majesty is granting us this meal, we should naturally go."

The old eunuch's eyes lit up, and he was about to speak when Zhou Yang changed the subject.

"However, I have a big appetite and poor table manners. Go back and tell His Majesty that if you don't prepare enough 'hard dishes,' you'd better not invite me. Otherwise, I might flip the table."

The old eunuch's smile froze.

He understood.

Zhou Yang was telling the emperor that he only cared about interests, not people. If the royal family didn't offer enough, or tried to deceive him with empty titles, he wouldn't hesitate to turn the tables.

"This..." The old eunuch hesitated, unsure how to respond.

"And another thing." Zhou Yang stepped forward, leaned close to the old eunuch's ear, and whispered in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "Don't try any underhanded tricks with me. I don't even have enough life for myself. Anyone who wants to take it should be prepared to risk their own life first."

The old eunuch felt a chill run down the back of his neck, as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake. He instinctively took a step back, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Zhou Yang had already stepped back, still wearing that nonchalant smile on his face, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "Take care, Father-in-law, I won't see you off."

After saying that, he turned and left without even looking back.

Qin Shuang followed behind him. When she passed the old eunuch, she paused for a moment, said nothing, and left only a cold, indifferent back view.

Stepping outside the palace gates, the sunlight was blinding.

Zhou Yang raised his hand to cover his forehead and let out a long breath.

"You went a bit too far just now." Qin Shuang walked beside him, her voice somewhat cold. "He's the emperor's man. If you embarrass him like that, it won't end well later."

"Closing things up?" Zhou Yang stopped and turned to look at her, his eyes serious. "Qin Shuang, do you think that now that I'm doing so well, I should just obediently play the role of a loyal and devoted general?"

Qin Shuang remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

"Wrong." Zhou Yang shook his head and pointed to the sun overhead. "This sun is bright, but it's also scorching. If you stand under it for too long, you'll eventually get dried out. What I'm doing now isn't trying to get on their good side, but rather making them afraid of me, so afraid that they won't dare to touch me."

"Only mutual benefit can create the most stable relationship. Everything else is nonsense."

Qin Shuang looked at him and suddenly felt that the man in front of her was somewhat unfamiliar. The little flag bearer who had once haggled with her over a few taels of silver in the rainy night was truly dead. In his place was a complete egoist, a monster in human skin.

"Let's go." Zhou Yang withdrew his hand and started walking again. "I'm tired. I'm going back to catch up on my sleep. I've killed too many people these past few days; the smell of blood on me is impossible to wash off."

He walked very fast, as if he were running away from something.

Qin Shuang stood there, watching his figure gradually blend into the crowd. The flying fish robe gleamed coldly in the sunlight, like a hard shell, completely covering him.

She suddenly remembered a joke Zhou Yang had made a long time ago.

He said, "I'm a materialistic person; I only care about money. If you give me money, I'd sell my life for you."

At the time, she just thought it was a joke.

Now she realized that it wasn't a joke.

That was his rule of survival.

In this cannibalistic world, he turned himself into a commodity with a price tag. No one but himself could take advantage of him.

This is the price he paid for being at the pinnacle of power.

Lonely, yet lucid.

Qin Shuang sighed, straightened her official robes, and followed.

Ahead, Zhou Yang's figure had become somewhat blurred. The shops on both sides of the street had already hung up their signs early, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

This capital city remains as prosperous as ever.

But for Zhou Yang, the price behind this prosperity is probably only known to himself.

When Zhou Yang arrived at the gate of his own residence, he stopped and glanced at the two large, gilded characters on the plaque above the gate: "Zhou Residence".

This was a residence bestowed by the emperor; it used to belong to a corrupt official, but his property was later confiscated.

He pushed open the door; the courtyard was quiet, without even a servant in sight.

So what if you're rich and powerful?

Zhou Yang touched his nose and gave a wry smile.

Still, I'm left all alone, guarding this desolate courtyard, calculating tomorrow's business.

He stepped across the threshold, shutting out the noise behind him.

"Life expectancy..." he muttered to himself. The number in front of him, visible only to him, flickered and remained a shockingly negative number.

Zhou Yang sighed.

Being an evil god is really not easy.

"I'll have to raise prices tomorrow," he muttered to himself as he walked toward the backyard, his long shadow stretching out in the setting sun, making him appear particularly lonely.

The wind rose, swirling up the fallen leaves and sending them drifting into the distance.

Just like his own fate, he knew no destination, only how to move forward.

The remaining bloodline

Late at night.

The hustle and bustle of the capital city gradually subsided, like the receding tide.

Zhou Yang sat in the armchair in his study, holding a white jade teacup in his hand. The tea had long since gone cold, but he didn't drink it. His gaze was fixed on a point in the void, a panel visible only to him.

Life expectancy remaining: -342 years

The red numbers are glaringly obvious. Negative numbers.

If it were anyone else, seeing that number would probably have scared them so much they wet their pants, or they might have even hung themselves from a beam. But Zhou Yang just frowned, put his teacup on the table, and it made a soft "tap" sound.

"It's still too much of a loss."

He muttered something under his breath.

The battle during the day was a resounding victory, but also a financial drain. In order to deduce the flaw in that "Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique," he burned nearly forty years of his lifespan in one go. This doesn't even include the time spent repairing the Dragon Spine Sword.

If you look at the numbers carefully, this deal actually resulted in a loss.

Unless he completely resolves the underlying issue, he'll never be able to turn the red numbers back to black, let alone achieve his long-desired "retirement" life.

The wind outside the window stirred.

The Dragonspine Sword hanging on the wall suddenly trembled. The scabbard struck the wooden board, producing a dull hum. The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed particularly jarring in the quiet night.

Zhou Yang's eyes narrowed.

This sword has a contract with him, and it's incredibly intelligent. It's usually as docile as a cat, only becoming unruly in one situation—when it smells blood or senses something of the same origin.

He stood up, walked to the wall, and gripped the hilt of his sword.

It was icy to the touch, even carrying a chill that seemed to penetrate to the bone. But within this chill, there was also a restless heat, as if something inside the sword had come alive and was desperately trying to break free.

"You felt it too?"

Zhou Yang squinted, his fingers gently stroking the rough sharkskin hilt of the sword.

The Dragon Spine Sword trembled again, and this time, the tip of the sword deflected uncontrollably, pointing straight north.

The north is where the imperial palace is located.

That magnificent cage, where countless people want to squeeze in, and countless others want to climb out.

Zhou Yang released his grip, and the sword returned to its original position. He walked to the window and opened the shutter.

The northern night sky was pitch black, with even the starlight completely obscured by thick clouds. It looked much the same as usual, with only a few patrol lanterns flickering in the wind.

But he knew that things were different down there.

During the daytime battle, the members of the Heavenly Principle Sect went berserk, performing a blood sacrifice. Zhou Yang originally thought that the group of followers wanted to use the blood energy to break through the Jinyiwei's encirclement, or that they wanted to set up some kind of large formation to perish together with the enemy.

At that time, he was only focused on harvesting heads to replenish his lifespan and didn't think much about it.

Now that I've calmed down and thought about it, something's not right.

The blood didn't even leave any residue on the ground.

The blood on the ground seeped out extremely quickly, as if it had been absorbed by the parched sand. Zhou Yang thought it was because the soil was loose, or that he had killed so fiercely that he had misjudged the situation.

The Dragonspine Sword's reaction told him that the blood hadn't disappeared. It had flowed away.

It flowed to deeper places.

Zhou Yang turned around, grabbed a black cloak from the shelf, and casually tied it around his neck. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

He blew out the oil lamp on the table.

The room plunged into darkness, and the next second, a dark figure darted out of the window and disappeared into the night.

……

The palace is too big, and there are too many rules.

But if you become strong enough, the rules are set for the weak.

Zhou Yang avoided the imperial guards' patrol routes, moving like a ghost, clinging to the shadows. The guidance of the Dragon Spine Sword became clearer and clearer, and the restlessness even traveled through his palm to his meridians, causing his originally calm true energy to begin to surge subtly.

Finally, he stopped in front of an abandoned palace garden.

This was the former palace of the previous dynasty, which I heard collapsed long ago and later became a forbidden area for storing miscellaneous items. Even the old eunuchs in the palace didn't want to go near here, saying they could hear crying at night.

Half of the wall collapsed, and broken bricks and tiles were piled up all over the ground.

Zhou Yang rolled over and went inside.

The moment my feet touched the ground, a stench filled my nostrils.

It wasn't putrid or musty.

It had a cloyingly sweet, fishy smell. It was like pouring ten thousand pounds of sugar into a bucket of blood, stirring it all together, and then leaving it to bake in the scorching sun for three days.

The taste made his stomach churn.

Is this the scent of the "upper realm"? Or is it something else emanating from it?

Zhou Yang covered his mouth and nose, channeling his inner energy to protect his heart. He followed the scent to a dry well.

The wellhead was sealed off by several large blue stones, covered with yellow talismans. The talismans had turned black, their edges curled up like charred cicada wings.

The Dragonspine Sword trembled violently behind him, emitting a clear and melodious dragon's roar.

"This is it."

Zhou Yang reached out his hand, but instead of touching the bluestones, he grabbed at them from a distance.

"break."

The true energy was like a knife, directly cutting through the sealed stone slab.

With a deafening roar, debris flew everywhere.

A thick black mist suddenly gushed out of the well, threatening to burst through the roof in an instant. Zhou Yang was prepared; he shifted his feet and retreated more than three zhang away.

The black mist swirled in the air, seemingly searching for living things.

Zhou Yang sneered and with a flick of his right hand, the Dragon Spine Sword was drawn from its sheath on its own.

A brilliant golden light shone from the sword, and the shadow of a dragon appeared. The black mist seemed to have seen its natural enemy, and it shrank back in fear, trying to retreat back into the well.

"Trying to leave?"

With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Yang unleashed a torrent of sword energy that instantly pulverized the black mist.

As the fog dissipated, the wellhead was revealed.

There was no water inside, only a bottomless passage. The walls of the passage were covered with dark red veins, like some kind of huge blood vessels, throbbing violently.

The blood shed by the followers of the Heavenly Principle Sect flowed to the end through these blood vessels.

Zhou Yang peeked out.

It was dark below, but he could see.

At the end of the passage was a giant heart.

No, to be precise, it was a still-writhing tumor. It was chained by countless iron chains, which dug deep into the flesh, oozing black pus. And directly above the tumor, a broken stone tablet floated.

Zhou Yang recognized the patterns on the stone tablet.

It has the same pattern as the Dragon Spine Sword.

It turned out to be the case.

Zhou Yang suddenly realized.

The so-called dragon spine is not the spine of any divine weapon at all, but a chain. A chain used to lock this thing up.

Those lunatics from the Heavenly Principle Sect have been causing trouble for so long, even risking the fate of the entire capital, not to help anyone ascend the throne, nor for the sake of any so-called common people.

They are raising poisonous insects.

They wanted to use the blood of living people to grow this tumor bigger and break the chains.

What will the world be like once this thing comes out?

Zhou Yang didn't know, and didn't want to know.

He only knows one thing.

This tumor contains immense vitality. It is the essence plundered from millions of people. If one could swallow it, not only would it make up for the forty years it lost, but it could also add another five hundred years to its life.

More importantly, if this thing isn't completely eradicated, it's like a bottomless pit, constantly sucking up the vital energy of this world.

By then, forget about retirement; this whole area will probably turn into wasteland.

He stopped by the well and looked down at the throbbing tumor.

The thing seemed to sense his gaze; a crack appeared on the surface of the tumor, revealing a cloudy yellow eyeball.

He stared intently at Zhou Yang.

A mental shock directly entered Zhou Yang's mind.

"A lowly insect...a sacrifice..."

The voice was ancient and hoarse, carrying an air of superior arrogance. It belonged to a being from the upper realm, who didn't consider the people here as human beings at all.

Zhou Yang felt as if a needle had pricked his brain, but the pain quickly disappeared.

His lifespan system can filter out this kind of mental pollution.

"insect?"

Zhou Yang smiled.

He laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

"You call me a bug?"

He lifted his foot and placed it on the edge of the well, looking down at the eye from above.

"There are two things I hate most in this life. First, people who owe money and don't pay it back. Second, people who try to get something for nothing."

"You want to come out? Sure."

Zhou Yang took out a gold ingot from his pocket, which he had just "borrowed" from the Ministry of Revenue that afternoon. He tossed it in his hand, and the gold drew a beautiful parabola in the night.

"Pay first. If you don't have money, you'll stay locked up down there."

The tumor seemed to be enraged; its blood vessels suddenly swelled, and a foul wind howled up, trying to drag Zhou Yang away.

Zhou Yang didn't move.

He simply snapped his fingers.

"Dragon's Spine, Up."

The longsword on his back let out a resounding cry. The blade swelled to three zhang in length, its golden light illuminating the entire desolate palace as if it were daytime.

The sword light fell.

There are no fancy moves, just pure speed and pure power.

Click.

The yellow eyeball was instantly pierced by the sword energy.

"ah--!!!"

A piercing scream echoed through the night sky, but the sound was quickly muffled at the bottom of the well. The Dragon Spine Sword hung at the well's mouth, frantically devouring the pure energy overflowing from the tumor.

Zhou Yang felt the deficit in his body being filled at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The negative number fluctuated, becoming -200, -100, and finally a positive number.

This long-lost feeling of fullness made him so comfortable that he almost groaned.

But he did not let his guard down.

This is just one tentacle, or a projection, of this thing. The real threat lies deeper, or rather, from a higher vantage point.

The aura that thing exuded before it died did not belong to this world.

That is the "upper realm".

Zhou Yang sheathed his sword.

He stuffed the gold ingot back into his arms.

A bubbling, boiling sound came from the bottom of the well; it was the remaining flesh and blood completely dissolving. This time, it was truly clean.

The Heavenly Principle Sect's conspiracy has been thwarted.

The projection of that so-called "upper realm creature" was destroyed.

But Zhou Yang knew in his heart that this was just the beginning.

Since that "upper realm" could send down something like this, it means they've been watching this place all along. They're treating it like a pigsty or a pasture.

If that butcher isn't killed, the pigs in this sty will never have a peaceful life.

"Retirement plans..."

Zhou Yang sighed and looked up at the sky.

The clouds dispersed, revealing a few sparse stars.

These stars look bright, but they're just light seen by the eyes of the dead.

"It looks like it will have to be postponed."

He turned around, ready to leave.

Just then, a piece the size of a fingernail suddenly flew out from the depths of the dry well.

The fragment was dull and lifeless, like charred iron slag. It didn't fly towards Zhou Yang, but instead landed on the ground, bounced twice, and then remained still.

Zhou Yang stopped, walked over, and bent down to pick it up.

The moment my fingertips touched it, a burning sensation came over me.

Is this the core of that tumor? Or a fragment of a chain?

He held the fragment close to his eyes and examined it.

There seemed to be some strange symbols engraved on it, which were not in the local script.

He doesn't understand.

But he could sense that there was a message hidden in the fragment. A message about "how to get up there".

Zhou Yang held the shard in his hand, feeling the rough texture.

He originally thought that once he became the boss of this area, he could live a peaceful life counting money. Now it seems that he was too naive.

Since we can't avoid it, we can only climb up.

Climb to the top and see what those guys who want to slaughter him look like.

When the time comes, we'll have to settle this score properly.

"Add more money."

Zhou Yang said something to the night sky.

This is not only a principle, but also the source of confidence.

Only by exchanging life for money, and then money for life, can one survive longer and be tougher than others in this cannibalistic world.

He tucked the fragments into his pocket, tightened his cloak, and leaped onto the high wall.

The wind blew, stirring up the fallen leaves and covering the dry well again.

Everything returned to calm.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Only a few wild grasses in the corner were cut off by the sword energy that had just overflowed, the cuts were smooth and clean, reflecting the cold moonlight.

Zhou Yang didn't look back, and strode away into the night.

There's still a lot to do tomorrow.

That piece of land needs to be replanned. Since it's such a prime location, it would be a real shame not to use it to open a restaurant.

As for those trivial matters about the "upper realm," we'll talk about them after I wake up tomorrow.

Anyway, there's plenty of time in the future.

This lifespan is only just beginning to increase.

Battle in the penalty area

The air underground was as heavy as solidified lead, and every breath carried a musty, stale smell, along with an indescribable metallic odor.

Zhou Yang carried the Dragonspine Sword in one hand, his feet sinking into a bottomless abyss of black rock. This was a forbidden zone, a place where even light couldn't penetrate and time seemed to stand still. He glanced down at the lifespan panel before him; the string of negative numbers was still flashing, as if reminding him that every step he took now was pushing his lifespan to its limit.

"Tsk, the feng shui of this place is really not good."

He muttered something under his breath, the sound echoing faintly in the deathly silent cave.

The moment he stepped into the core of the restricted area, the surrounding scenery changed without warning. The originally jagged rock walls suddenly rippled like water, and then a blurry figure slowly materialized ten steps ahead.

That thing cannot be considered a person.

It wore a tattered white robe, the silk fabric glowing eerily in the darkness. Most terrifyingly, its face had no features, only a smooth, mirror-like surface of skin.

This is the so-called remains of the "celestial messenger".

Zhou Yang's eyes narrowed, and his body instinctively took a half step back. He felt an extremely strong sense of oppression, not the kind of simple physical suppression, but a sense of rejection from some higher dimension that wanted to erase him from this space.

The mangled body moved.

It didn't move; instead, it seemed to slide across the canvas, instantly arriving in front of Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang reacted with lightning speed, his Dragon Spine Sword slashing horizontally in a flash, the sword wind whipping up a stench, aimed straight for his opponent's neck. However, just as the blade was about to touch his opponent's skin, Zhou Yang felt a strange resistance.

It felt like being stuck in thick glue.

He watched helplessly as the tip of his sword stopped just an inch away from his opponent. Not because it was blocked, but because time seemed to slow down within that tiny space.

"Hold."

Zhou Yang cursed under his breath and quickly rolled backward.

At the same time, the mangled body extended a finger and gently tapped it in the void.

boom!

Zhou Yang felt as if a mountain had struck him head-on in the chest, sending him flying like a cannonball and slamming him hard against the rock wall behind him. A heavy thud echoed as rocks crumbled and rubble fell onto his shoulders.

He coughed violently, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

The other party is manipulating time.

Faced with such an absolute speed difference, all moves and techniques would probably seem as slow as a snail crawling in the eyes of the opponent.

Zhou Yang propped himself up to stand up, patted the dust off his clothes, and his eyes became excited.

"How much lifespan do you get after killing this kind of creature?"

He didn't attempt another direct assault, knowing that with his opponent controlling the tempo, any attack would be tantamount to handing the ball to them. He began moving quickly within the restricted area, using the rock walls for cover and constantly changing positions.

The mangled body remained eerily calm; it wasn't in a hurry to kill, but rather seemed to be observing how an ant struggled.

This arrogance made Zhou Yang very uncomfortable. In his business philosophy, what he hated most was a client who thought they had everything under control.

Zhou Yang suddenly stopped and plunged the Dragon Spine Sword into the ground.

He closed his eyes, and deep within his consciousness, his burning lifespan began to accelerate wildly.

-10 years, -50 years, -100 years!

He doesn't care about the balance; he's gambling.

At this moment, the Dragon Spine Sword emitted a deep resonance, and its previously dull blade suddenly burst forth with an extremely pure white light. This light was unlike ordinary sword energy, but rather resembled some kind of sharp blade capable of severing connections.

The other party finally noticed the abnormality. The white-robed, mangled body raised his hand, attempting to freeze time around Zhou Yang once again.

But this time, Zhou Yang's speed did not slow down.

He felt an extremely domineering power surging within his body, the ultimate feedback from the Dragon Spine Sword after burning through its lifespan. At this moment, he forcibly used his own life force to create a tiny, undisturbed "absolute domain" around himself.

"Add more money, enough to buy your life."

Zhou Yang let out a low roar, and his entire body transformed into a streak of white light, instantly closing in on him.

The other party clearly did not expect that this ant could break through the time restriction. Although there was no expression on its mirror-like face, its body subconsciously took a step back.

This step is the opening.

Zhou Yang no longer used any fancy moves with his Dragon Spine Sword, but instead used the simplest straight thrust.

puff!

The sword tip pierced precisely into the opponent's chest.

The moment he touched the other, Zhou Yang felt a violent recoil, as if he had crashed into an invisible high wall. But the Dragon Spine Sword's effectiveness was at its peak at this moment; it wasn't just cutting flesh, but severing some kind of connection.

The mutilated body emitted a sound, not like speaking, but like the screeching of fingernails scratching glass.

The surrounding space began to tremble violently, and countless tiny cracks appeared in mid-air, like a shattered mirror. The other party was attempting to request support from the so-called "upper realm" through some means, or was trying to drag Zhou Yang into some unknown dimension.

But the Dragon Spine Sword was like a nail, firmly driven into the opponent's heart.

Zhou Yang twisted the sword hilt hard, his eyes turning cold.

"Trying to leave? You didn't pay, where do you think you're going?"

With this twist, the Dragon Spine Sword erupted with a blinding light, severing the remains from the cracks in the void. The connection between the creature and the upper realm was forcibly severed; the unsupported remains instantly lost their luster and began to wither rapidly like dried leaves.

At the same time, an enormous, terrifying energy surged wildly into Zhou Yang's body through the sword.

Those were lives taken from them, spoils of war in the forbidden zone.

Zhou Yang felt his heart pounding violently. His previously dried-up life pool was instantly filled and even continued to rise.

-100, -10, 0, 100, 1000...

The numbers were jumping wildly, and that long-lost sense of security, of having it all under my control, returned to my heart.

When the remains were completely reduced to dust, the oppressive atmosphere within the restricted area finally dissipated.

Zhou Yang knelt on one knee, panting heavily. His chest still ached slightly, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

He slowly drew the Dragon Spine Sword, looked at the sliver of white light remaining on the tip, and casually wiped it on his robe.

"This deal is actually quite worthwhile."

He stood up and looked into the depths of the forbidden zone. The light there had gone out, but a new aura was slowly rising.

He didn't leave immediately, but habitually touched his chest.

There was still half a crumpled sesame seed cake there, completely cold and covered in dust.

Zhou Yang stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it vigorously. The dry, hard texture spread across his tongue, making him feel that the land beneath his feet had finally become real.

He looked up at the sky. Although he couldn't see the sky, he knew that the sunlight in the capital was still dazzling, and there were still many businesses waiting for him to "collect money".

Zhou Yang clapped his hands, turned around, and walked towards the exit of the restricted area.

His steps became light again, each step seeming to be on some kind of steady calculation.

As for those so-called celestial messengers, or tricks from the upper realm.

In the face of absolute profit and lifespan, everything else is nothing more than a commodity waiting to be sold.

Chapter 684 The Last Stand in Burning Fire**

A cold wind swept through the ruins, and the rubble clattered underfoot.

Zhou Yang stood on the obsidian platform, his brows furrowed.

The rune array before them flickered with a faint light, with a dark red soul core at its center.

That was the core that the Upper Realm used to suppress the forbidden zone.

"It has to end tonight," he muttered to himself, tapping the lifespan meter on his chest with his finger.

The numbers fluctuated in the dim red light, dropping to as low as seventy-two.

His long-term calculations made him realize that only a single act of passion could break through this constraint.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He gripped the bronze sword tightly with his right hand and activated the lifespan depletion device with his left.

Holy light emanated from his fingertips, instantly enveloping his entire body.

Immediately, a metallic stinging sensation spread through my chest, as if an invisible blade was cutting me.

System notification: Lifespan burned by 30% - The skill is instantly perfected, and the sword intent soars to the heavens.

The sword was enveloped in crimson light, and the blade was no longer metal, but a burning beam of light.

A fiery light shone in Zhou Yang's eyes, and his heartbeat seemed to be in sync with the drumbeats.

He leaped into the air, the tip of his sword pointing directly at the soul core.

The beam tore through the rune array, and several energy waves struck the core.

The patterns on the surface of the soul core cracked instantly, and the dark currents inside began to surge.

"Haha, that's the end of my scheme!" Zhou Yang shouted, his voice echoing through the ruins.

However, the soul core did not explode directly. It had layers of defense, and its internal mechanism was like a maze.

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, quickly searching his mind for the methods Fang Tian had left behind to break the deadlock.

He remembered that Fang Tian had written in an ancient scroll that if the core was forced to self-destruct by the method of "reversing the current," it would require using one's own lifespan as fuel to form an equivalent exchange.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yang pressed the consumption button again.

A system pop-up window appeared: "Lifespan 50% - Reverse Drive".

The pain in my chest intensified, as if blood was being drained away.

The beam of light intensified, and the sword tip transformed into a giant silver dragon, coiling around the soul core.

The undercurrents within the core were forcibly reversed, causing a violent roar.

A piercing crack ripped through the night sky as the outer shell of the soul core shattered, and the black mist was instantly engulfed by the towering flames.

The fragments scattered and landed on the surrounding stones.

The rune array on site instantly failed, and the barrier binding the restricted area began to crumble.

The chains of the massive stone gate snapped with a crash, and the heavy stone slabs collapsed.

"Retreat quickly!" Qin Shuang's voice came from afar, followed by the footsteps of several Imperial Guards.

Zhou Yang turned around and saw Qin Shuang holding a golden seal, her eyes showing a rare gentleness.

He nodded, signaling her to continue.

Just then, a blood-red crack appeared in the sky, as if the remaining power of the upper realm was trying to penetrate again.

Hot blood mist churned inside the crack.

A resolute glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes; his body had only half a life left to live.

Yet it still retains heat and can burn.

He aimed the sword tip at the center of the crack and quickly injected the reverse beam of light.

The blood mist was sliced ​​open by the intense light and instantly evaporated into ash.

The crack contracted, emitting a piercing wail, before closing completely.

The threat from the upper realm vanished completely at this moment.

Amidst the ruins, the firelight illuminated Zhou Yang's pale face.

The wound on his chest scabbed over automatically in the residual heat of the beam of light, and the bloodstains slowly dried.

Qin Shuang ran to his side and whispered, "Can you still hold on?"

Zhou Yang smiled, his voice a little hoarse: "As long as I have a breath left, I can still make money."

He raised his hand and lifted his sleeve, revealing the lifespan meter on his chest.

The number had now dropped to three.

"This game is over," he added.

Qin Shuang nodded, her gaze hardening.

The two turned and left, behind them lay the collapsed restricted area, a mixture of rubble and ashes.

The night wind swept by, carrying away the last embers of the fire.

Zhou Yang's steps remained steady, as if he were standing on a newly formed foundation.

He secretly made a mental note: every burning is an investment, and the return may not be gold or silver, but the ability to continue standing on this land.

Finally, the light completely faded, and the world returned to silence.

Only the lights on the distant city walls remained, faint but never extinguished.

Zhou Yang turned back to look at the city that had once been suppressed by the upper realm, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"Next step?" he murmured to himself, a new spark of calculation igniting in his eyes.

The final bill

The surroundings became quiet.

Only the sound of the wind blowing, carrying the scent of earth and fish.

The shattered armor fragments on the ground were still emitting wisps of blue smoke. The immortal envoy's remains had turned into specks of light and completely dissipated.

Zhou Yang stood still, without moving.

He is waiting.

He was waiting for a voice. A voice that only he could hear.

Sure enough, after a while, that familiar, emotionless mechanical voice rang in his mind.

"Slay the remains of the 'Immortal Envoy from the Upper Realm'."

"Judgment: S-level threat. Difficulty: Extremely high. Contribution: Complete."

"Settlement begins."

The first information box pops up.

"Bonus lifespan: 9,877,321 years."

Zhou Yang's pupils suddenly contracted.

He blinked, then blinked again.

He thought he was seeing things.

More than nine million years.

This number was far too unfamiliar and too enormous to him. In the past, he would burn through his lifespan for years or even decades at a time. To develop a single cultivation technique, he might have to sacrifice several decades of his lifespan.

He always felt that his lifespan was a deficit in his ledger—a debt that could bankrupt him at any moment. He had to calculate carefully, making sure every penny was spent wisely.

And now, this ledger contains a huge surplus that he never dared to dream of.

He subconsciously looked towards the corner of his field of vision.

There, the line of red negative numbers that had tormented him for so long had disappeared. In its place was a long string of green numbers.

9877321.

There's a small unit after that: year.

Zhou Yang slowly exhaled.

He reached out as if to touch the number, but his fingertips passed through the illusory air.

He suddenly felt his legs go weak.

He leaned against a section of broken wall and slowly sat down.

The cold stone pressed against his back, but he didn't care.

He just stared at that number, looking at it over and over again.

This was the first time he felt so far from death. So far that it seemed like a joke. What Heavenly Principle Sect, what Immortal Envoy, what Commander Chen—in the time he had now, they were all as insignificant as a speck of dust.

He can burn through his lifespan without restraint.

He can perfect all the martial arts techniques in the world. He can repair all the divine weapons to their ultimate state. He can even burn for tens of thousands of years just for fun, to see what he can get in return.

This feeling of being able to do whatever he wanted made him feel a little dizzy.

He took a deep breath. The air smelled of earth and burnt earth. It felt so real. For the first time, he felt that this breath was so steady, so reassuring.

So this is what it feels like to not have to calculate costs.

This is the source of confidence for a true "paying extra money lay Buddhist".

He leaned against the wall, tilted his head back, and looked at the gray sky. A silly grin involuntarily spread across his face.

Just then, the system's voice sounded again.

"Host has been found to be in possession of a fragment of the 'Dragon Spine'."

"S-class threat defeated, energy overflow. 'Dragon Spine' artifact energy infusion complete."

"Artifact repaired. Status: Perfect."

Zhou Yang's smile froze.

He suddenly looked down at his chest.

The cold dragon spine fragment he always kept close to his body was now burning hot. A warm current emanated from the fragment, making the skin on his chest turn slightly red.

He frantically pulled it out.

The fragments are gone.

Instead, there was a long, jet-black sword.

The blade is long and narrow, without a handguard. The handle is made of rough black iron, looking like an unworked iron bar. There are no patterns, runes, or decorations on the blade. Only a faint, almost invisible sheen flows slowly across the edge like ripples in water.

It looks very simple.

It was even somewhat rudimentary.

But when Zhou Yang grasped it, he felt his entire arm sink. It wasn't the pressure of weight, but a kind of suppression originating from his very soul. This knife felt heavier than a mountain.

He could feel a chilling power contained within the blade.

That wasn't just pure qi or spiritual power. It was something more fundamental. Like order, like laws, like the foundation of this world.

"This is... the perfect dragon spine?" he murmured to himself.

He stood up and weighed the knife in his hand.

The feeling upon holding it was cold and heavy, like grasping a frozen abyss.

He wanted to try it.

He casually waved his hand lightly at the open space in front of him.

No sound was made.

There was no energy, no special effects.

There was nothing there.

However, where his blade passed, an extremely thin black crack appeared in the space ahead. The crack was pure black, and nothing could be seen inside; it seemed capable of sucking in one's soul.

The crack appeared for only a moment before it healed instantly, leaving no trace.

Zhou Yang's hand froze in mid-air.

He stared at the empty space, and his eyelids twitched.

With a single slash, space itself was cleaved open.

This was something he couldn't do before. In the past, burning lifespan only made the blade's energy sharper and faster. But now, the blade itself possessed extraordinary power.

He was no longer the penniless man who needed to burn himself to gain power.

He is now a truly wealthy man who possesses a divine artifact.

Zhou Yang put the knife back into his pocket.

That warm feeling was very comforting. It was as if I had a reliable support system that I could always rely on.

He looked up at the sky.

In the direction of the capital, the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. Daylight was approaching.

They fought all night.

He touched his chin, where a few stubble peeked out and felt a bit prickly.

He suddenly felt very hungry.

He looked down at his clothes, stained with blood and dust, and then at the chaotic battlefield around him.

everything is over.

He not only paid off the bill from the "upper realm" that had almost cost him his life, but also received a huge sum of money.

This deal is incredibly lucrative.

Zhou Yang grinned.

He thought for a moment and muttered to himself:

"Tomorrow... let's go have a bowl of mutton soup in the south of the city."

"Add double the meat."