Perhaps these were the true elites of the Eternal Night World—or rather, not even the elites, but a tier just above cannon fodder. Even so, the sheer number of them was terrifying. Their aura exuded chaos, slaughter, and madness. Their eyes gleamed with a strange blood-red hue. Each of them already seemed frenzied, and once unleashed in combat, their destructive potential would far exceed their actual combat power.
Amidst the endless tide of monsters and Zerg sweeping in from all directions, a massive black cloud suddenly appeared in the sky, blotting out the sun. Even though it wasn't yet nightfall, the world was instantly cast into complete darkness.
"How lively! So many geniuses gathered in one place… But if this is truly a banquet, why weren't the geniuses of the Eternal Night World invited? Are you looking down on us?"
From atop the black cloud, a clown wearing a harlequin mask laughed as he spoke.
"Indeed," said a skeletal knight mounted on a bone dragon, his voice icy. "If it's a feast that gathers so many Eternal geniuses, there's no way we from Eternal Night would miss it. Since we weren't invited, we had no choice but to come uninvited."
"So many handsome men gathered in one place… how could I not come?" A seductive woman with crimson hair and wearing a vibrant red dress spoke with a coquettish smile. "Tell me, gentlemen, what's being served at this banquet? Come with me, and I'll let you experience the true meaning of pleasure. Ever heard of the Path of Joy? I've got some special tools you'll never forget."
As she spoke, she extended a slender finger, beckoning teasingly at the many geniuses atop Lingshan.
This was Blood Concubine, a genius of the Blood Demon Clan from the Eternal Night World. Among them, males were vicious and cruel, while the females were notorious for their wanton lust. Blood Demon women were infamous for seducing all manner of creatures, indifferent to race or origin, as long as the target met their high standards of beauty. After all, no one wanted to be intimate with something grotesque.
The most terrifying part: during intercourse, when their partner reached the peak of ecstasy, they would drain every drop of their blood essence, absorbing it into themselves and leaving behind only a withered husk. To Blood Demon women, blood boiling with passion was the most nourishing delicacy, tremendously enhancing their cultivation. This practice earned them the title "Blood Widows" throughout the Eternal Night World.
Though strikingly beautiful, those who knew of them feared them like venomous serpents. The thought of being seduced and drained until only a shell remained was the stuff of nightmares. Yet their continued survival and fearsome reputation proved that the Blood Demon Clan was far from ordinary—they possessed immense strength and deep foundations.
Standing atop the black cloud, one after another, geniuses of the Eternal Night World appeared. They looked down at Lingshan, eyes gleaming with amusement and anticipation.
The Fruit Banquet held by the Stone Emperor was a rare occasion, drawing the brightest young talents of the Eternal Continent together. Such an opportunity was too good for Eternal Night to pass up. If they could eliminate all these geniuses in one fell swoop, it would deliver a devastating blow to the Eternal Continent.
This siege had been in preparation for quite some time.
Now, over a thousand Eternal Night geniuses had appeared atop the black cloud, each one emanating an aura that rivaled the Eternal geniuses below—not inferior in the least.
Though they were outnumbered, it wasn't due to a lack of Eternal Night geniuses. Rather, this battlefield simply wasn't worth drawing in their full force. For them, this was nothing more than an opening skirmish.
Yet the strength they displayed was no less than that of the Eternal Continent's top geniuses. Combined with the vast army of monsters swarming in like a tidal wave, it wasn't unthinkable that Lingshan could fall.
"What a fine ambush," Stone Emperor said coldly, his face darkening. "You dare to strike during my banquet, aiming to kill the Eternal geniuses gathered here and deliver a blow to the Eternal Continent? And you didn't even bother to ask if I agreed."
This was a blatant slap to his face. Invading his feast and trying to massacre his guests? That was unacceptable. If Eternal geniuses died at his banquet, it would be an intolerable humiliation—far worse than the deaths caused by infighting with the Human Race. Those were internal matters. But this… this was a war between worlds.
Suddenly, a large-headed demon with a grotesquely enlarged brain stepped forward from the cloud and said mockingly, "Stone Emperor, is it? In fact, we should thank you. Without your banquet, we wouldn't have had such a convenient chance to trap all the Eternal geniuses. You've done us a great favor. Why not make it official? Join us. In Eternal Night, you could have unlimited resources and anything you desire. Our doors are always open for talents like you."
A blatant attempt to recruit him.
Eternal Night never minded turncoats—only that there weren't enough of them.
"Join Eternal Night? Betray the Eternal Continent?" Stone Emperor sneered. "Dream on. The ancestors of my Holy Spirit Clan once fought against Eternal Night. We have never surrendered, never betrayed. There are no kneeling Holy Spirits—only ones who die standing. I am the Stone Emperor. I will never yield!"
His eyes were cold and firm. Although he had previously opposed the Human Race over the rankings, that was a family affair. Eternal Night was an enemy to all.
"If this ambush is anyone's fault, it's mine. I did not foresee this," he declared, addressing the gathered geniuses. "But rest assured, I will not let Eternal Night's plan succeed. There is a Void Transference Array hidden within this mountain. It can teleport groups of cultivators thousands of miles away instantly. It is immune to spatial restrictions. If any of you wish to leave, now is the time. I will stay and deal with the aftermath."
This Lingshan wasn't ordinary—it was filled with hidden mechanisms, and the Void Transference Array was one such measure. With it, he was confident he could get everyone to safety.
But just then…
"Hah! Stone Emperor, you underestimate us!" a booming voice interrupted.
Ao Qing of the Dragon Race stepped forward, laughing coldly. "We're the cream of the crop, the peak of all our races. And you want us to flee like cowards before the battle even begins? We're not afraid! If we run today, our hearts will forever carry that shame. I, Ao Qing, will not retreat!"
He had made his decision.
Why flee when they outnumbered the enemy? If they ran now, they'd never be able to face Eternal Night with pride again. It would be a crack in their heart, a flaw in their Dao.
"I, the Son of Light, have never retreated without battle!" the Son of Light declared. "I've been waiting to test the Eternal Night geniuses. Let's see if they're really as strong as they claim!"
When cultivators reached this level, they understood: the heart and will mattered as much as strength. To flee without battle was to break their own Dao.
"That's right! We're the geniuses of the Eternal Continent. If we retreat today, we'll no longer deserve the title!"
"Fight! Today we drink the blood of Eternal Night as our wine!"