Chapter Fifty-Five: The Terror of Eternal Night Shall Ultimately Descend Upon the World

These ghastly pale monsters were enormous, easily four or five times the size of ancient apes. Each one was hideous, their faces twisted, eye sockets sunk deeply into flesh, with whites engulfing their entire eyes save for a single crimson dot at the center—a chilling, uncanny sight.

At the instant these pale giants appeared, nearly everyone present, including Ning Zhan, could not help but draw a sharp breath, stunned for a long moment.

“Prepare to meet the enemy!” Ning Zhan was the first to regain his senses, roaring with all his strength. Instinct and the scattered bones littering the ground told him that these dozen vast, pallid beings were immensely dangerous, incomparably so.

At his command, the soldiers of Ning Kingdom behind him responded in unison, stepping forward and instantly forming an attack formation with remarkable precision. These warriors were in their prime—robust and strong, with rectangular faces, reddish-brown skin, straight noses, wide mouths, coarse hair and thick brows: the very image of men from the far north. Their eyes, though not large, were dark-lashed and sharp, radiating a decisive aura of killing intent.

Ning Kingdom revered martial prowess. Though their numbers were pitifully few, their fighting strength could vanquish enemies many times their own size. Such were the soldiers of Ning Kingdom: warriors, true men. This was Ning Zhan’s foundation in the harsh, frozen reaches of the far north.

Seeing his warriors arrayed, Ning Zhan’s panic eased somewhat. Though Ning Kingdom lacked powerful cultivators who could overturn the heavens with a wave, it was filled with unyielding ambition, men fearless of death, forged by years battling the elements. No matter how terrifying these pale creatures were, they would fall beneath the iron fists of Ning Kingdom’s sons, reduced to ashes beneath their blade.

“Strike!” He handed the Xuan Li to Ning Xia beside him and gave the order. In warfare, striking first was essential.

“Strike! Strike! Strike!” The cry thundered from thousands of throats as Ning Kingdom’s warriors surged forward, their battle shouts echoing like the revival of a primordial beast, deafening and earth-shaking. Anyone hearing it would be moved, whether they wished it or not.

The battle erupted, and in an instant, the two sides clashed. The slaughter began.

Ning Zhan led from the front, his aura blazing, leaping with ease to heights five or six men tall, like a human cannonball. Though not a cultivator, he was a master of hard qigong; dozens of ordinary men could not touch him.

In midair, Ning Zhan swung his iron fist, smashing it into the face of one pale giant.

A muffled thud sounded, and the monster reeled backward, howling, stumbling seven or eight steps.

“Long live King Ning! Long live King Ning!” The surrounding warriors’ morale soared, cheering for their lord.

Yet Ning Zhan himself showed no excitement, his expression even somewhat grave. That punch, while not his full strength, used nearly two-thirds of his power, yet all it managed was to force the creature back—without so much as breaking its skin.

Behind him, the massed ranks of Ning Kingdom’s warriors formed dozens of small squads, launching fierce attacks on the pale monsters. With Xuan Li lighting the darkness, the monsters lost the advantage of surprise. But no matter how fierce the assault, none could kill these pale beasts.

“Your Highness, you must leave now. Give Xuan Li to me; let this old man clear a path for Ning Kingdom’s sons.” The old royal advisor hurried to Ning Xia’s side, speaking with deep meaning.

“Old advisor, why do you say this? My father and our warriors clearly have the upper hand; I expect these ugly monsters will be driven off soon. How could I flee?” Ning Xia asked, puzzled.

“My prince, heed my advice and escape. Go as far as you can,” the advisor urged, sighing heavily. Others might not see the change in the field, but as a former top hundred fighter in the martial world, though his strength had waned, his insight remained. He could discern the true course of battle.

Though it seemed Ning Zhan and his warriors pressed the monsters, it was obvious: despite all the time spent fighting, the creatures’ aura was largely undiminished. Even King Ning’s attacks barely scratched them.

These monsters were waiting, intent on exhausting the Ning warriors until they collapsed. Once that happened… the consequences would be disastrous.

“Old advisor, as the heir to Ning Kingdom, I cannot leave at such a moment,” Ning Xia replied firmly. He was wise beyond his years, praised for his intelligence since childhood. He trusted his judgment that, with his father and the kingdom’s battle-hardened soldiers, they would ultimately destroy these invading monsters.

“Xia’er, listen to the advisor. Escape—go as far as you can.” Before Ning Xia could respond, Ning Zhan suddenly spoke, his tone resolute.

“Xia’er, I may not be able to attend your coming-of-age ceremony, but remember: your blood is Ning Kingdom’s blood. Though born in the bitter cold of the far north, Ning Kingdom’s people battle the heavens for their lives, striving for the sun, forging an unbreakable spirit.”

“Father?” Ning Xia was startled, but before he could react, a group of personal guards rushed out from the shadows, carrying him away.

“Old advisor, please notify the townsfolk as well—tell them to flee, as far as possible…” Watching Ning Xia’s figure fade from the light of Xuan Li, Ning Zhan turned to the advisor.

The old advisor was right. Though they seemed to have the upper hand, they had fallen into the monsters’ trap. Their attacks were little more than tickling to these creatures, while a single swipe from them could tear a Ning warrior into five pieces.

At this rate, Ning Kingdom would inevitably fall.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty—I have already sent word,” the advisor replied, stooped and holding Xuan Li, ready to illuminate the battlefield.

“Then, on behalf of Ning Kingdom’s people, I thank you.” Ning Zhan nodded gratefully, then smiled with tragic resolve, preparing to charge the pale monsters.

But just then, shrill screeches rang out, the ground began to tremble.

Visible to the naked eye, on the horizon where dawn approached, a tide of pale figures surged toward them…

“Ning Kingdom’s sons!”

“We are here!”

“Stand with me. At any cost, block them—give our people a chance at survival!”

Ning Zhan’s voice boomed like thunder, despair and determination mingling on his face. He stood at the forefront—small in stature, yet straight and tall as a pine.

“Strike! Strike! Strike!”