Chapter 176: As the Night Ends

In Qian Ye’s eyes, there was no distinction of race, no differentiation between the old and the young. There were only enemies.

He did not know how many wounds he had sustained, nor how much blood he had lost. Pain had long ceased to exist, leaving only numbness. His heart remained as cold as an icy sea, still and calm, searching for the most efficient and logical way to reap lives.

Before him, a beautiful vampire maiden seemed to appear, adding a touch of color to the battlefield. Yet, that flash of brightness dimmed in an instant, and Qian Ye could not even remember if he had retaliated or what the outcome was. At this moment, his mind was solely focused on the next enemy.

Suddenly, a faint crack sounded, like thunder in Qian Ye’s ears, jolting him awake. He turned to see a werewolf warrior swinging an axe, striking the pole of the great banner.

Qian Ye erupted in fury!

But before he could act, a werewolf baron pulled the warrior away, pointing at Qian Ye and roaring madly at the warrior.

Qian Ye couldn’t quite understand; it was in the language of the werewolf tribe. From the few words and gestures, he gathered that they needed to kill him to properly cut down the banner.

The werewolf warrior, ashamed, immediately went berserk and lunged at Qian Ye, only to become a corpse in a blink.

This incident snapped Qian Ye’s somewhat sluggish will back into focus. He glanced around, suddenly thrusting the Dongyue spear into the ground. In an instant, countless lines of blood erupted, sweeping across the battlefield!

Yet, the dark warriors were too numerous. Even after he had cleared out half the peak with his life-stealing attacks, the space was quickly filled again.

This time, the advancing warriors were struck by surprise, quickly turning to despair.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

The continuous sound of gunfire echoed on the lone peak. The Eternal Night warriors fell like reaped wheat, regardless of whether they were common soldiers or barons and marquises.

All the strong from the Eternal Night forces paled. It was the Tempest!

This time, the speed at which the Eternal Night warriors surged onto the peak couldn’t match the rate at which the Tempest reaped them, causing a break in the flow. If the previous was a battle, the appearance of the Tempest marked a one-sided slaughter.

Duke Dominic’s face changed several times. He couldn’t understand why the Tempest’s firing was so prolonged. Qian Ye was alone, without comrades to replenish the weapon’s energy.

Finally, the Duke moved forward, approaching the battlefield. He saw Qian Ye holding the Tempest steadily, its muzzle spewing flames ceaselessly. Above his head floated an ancient black book, its pages flipping one by one, pouring a waterfall of bloody energy into Qian Ye’s body, transforming into the fury of the Tempest, obliterating everything.

The Duke made several decisions, but in the end, he dared not face the Tempest directly, unable to charge into the fray.

Qian Ye glanced at him, then looked away. Dominic felt a flush of shame, realizing that in Qian Ye’s eyes, he was no different from a common soldier. No, he was even less, for at least they had the courage to stand before Qian Ye.

The overwhelming might of the Tempest finally broke the morale of the Eternal Night forces. For the first time in three days and nights, there were no more enemies around Qian Ye.

Qian Ye put down the Tempest, straightened the tilted flagpole, and re-erected it.

A sudden gust of wind blew, unfurling the heavy banner, fluttering proudly once more!

Around the lone peak, the corpses of the dark races were everywhere, almost forming a slope. Over these three days and nights, the souls of over a hundred thousand Eternal Night warriors had burned, illuminating that solitary banner.

Everyone knew that the king under the banner could fall at any moment, but no one knew when. Perhaps in the next instant, perhaps never.

One after another, the Eternal Night warriors charged forward, not to defeat Qian Ye, but to prove that the long-lived races also had dignity and honor, which could not be defiled.

Yet, at this moment, Qian Ye still stood, while countless Eternal Night warriors and strongmen felt exhausted.

Not out of fear, but out of despairing fatigue.

The Tempest could not last forever. After its most intense burst, the sky would clear.

However, if he were to end things here, the play would have only one protagonist. The countless strong of the Eternal Night would become mere background and foil. The judgment of future generations often mattered little, but in this moment, it was supremely important.

Duke Dominic finally slowly drew his longsword.

But before he could step into the battlefield, a thunderous cheer erupted! Countless Eternal Night warriors knelt on one knee, shouting in unison, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Countless dark golden Elysium flowers appeared in the air, forming a path of light from the center of the fortress to the top of the lone peak.

Yatong’s figure appeared at one end of the flower path, her unparalleled grace leaving everyone breathless. She carried the long saber Dream Awakening, her steps flowing like water, as she walked up the flower path and onto the lone peak.

When she stood before Qian Ye, their figures facing each other were etched deeply in everyone’s hearts.

“Can you still fight?” she asked.

“I still have one strike left.” Qian Ye’s pair of luminous wings slowly unfolded, a spot of ink appearing at the tips, spreading until both wings were entirely black.

A complex emotion flashed in Yatong’s eyes, “Very well! As the inheritor of the Blackwing King, it is fitting to use you as a sacrificial offering.”

“Not just that.” Qian Ye discarded the Tempest, holding Longzang in his hand, and took out an ammunition box. As the lid opened, a high and boundless dawn aura shot into the sky!

Yatong’s expression changed slightly, her lips curling into a sneer, “The power of a Longevity King? Excellent, I can finally experience the power of the human Sky King again.”

Ignoring her, Qian Ye focused on loading the original force bullet containing the power of the Longevity King into the chamber of Longzang, checking it repeatedly. Once satisfied, he looked up at Yatong.

For a moment, the ice in Qian Ye’s eyes seemed to melt, only to be quickly covered by a thicker layer, hiding any trace of change.

Yatong did not move, waiting quietly for Qian Ye to complete his preparations. Then she asked, “Are you ready?”

“Just one more step.”

Qian Ye let out a long, lingering roar.

His pair of black wings suddenly spread, and countless light feathers flowed into Longzang like a tide.

On the battlefield, countless exclamations rose, and many Eternal Night strongmen who were previously confident in victory became anxious. Duke Dominic’s grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white.

At this moment, the Primordial Wings, Longzang, and the power of the human Sky King merged into one, inseparable. Qian Ye’s final attack was now no less formidable than any full-power strike from a Sky King.

Yatong assumed a serious expression, holding her saber with both hands, her focus nearly reverent. This was the first time since her awakening that she had to give it her all.

Far in the distance, an airship appeared, flying at high speed. But at this moment, no one paid attention to the small intruder.

Yatong said in a loud voice, “Begin! The entire Eternal Night Empire will bear witness to this battle!”

Qian Ye’s eyes reflected Yatong’s figure, and blue threads began to entwine around her image.

Yatong’s eyes also reflected Qian Ye, with dark gold and crimson cutting through his image in an instant.

The Gaze of Control versus the Gaze of Destruction!

No one knew the outcome of the clash of their powers, nor did they need to. In the stillness, Yatong could no longer move. An annihilating storm erupted, and the original force bullet finally left the chamber.

This was a shot condensed from Qian Ye’s life, unstoppable.

A blade of light appeared in Yatong’s hand, stunning the world in an instant.

In a daze, everyone seemed to experience the deepest and most beautiful dream. In the dream, they saw the ultimate power that a strong person pursues. That shot was the fusion of night and day, the ultimate destruction.

The original force bullet shot straight into the sky, tearing through the clouds and the heavens, flying toward the end of the void.

Countless strongmen sighed, seeing the pinnacle of power they had pursued their entire lives, and yet, only in a dream.

Then, the dream ended.

They looked at the closing hole in the sky, suddenly realizing that the final shot was aimed at the sky.

In an instant, gazes from all directions returned to the battlefield, to the banner.

Qian Ye’s eyes finally regained some vitality, a faint smile on his face. He stood straight, Longzang pointed at the sky. Meanwhile, the long saber Dream Awakening had pierced through his chest.

Yatong’s hand holding the saber began to tremble, uncontrollably.

She suddenly let go, rushing to embrace Qian Ye, “Why, why did you do this…”

Qian Ye whispered, “I was in a difficult position, with no other choice but to escape…”

“I know, I know. I won’t make things difficult for you anymore.”

Qian Ye looked at her, his gaze soft as spring water, “I… I wronged you. Although it was unintentional, I didn’t know how to face you. Maybe escaping was the only way to find peace.”

Yatong could no longer control herself, tightening her embrace, “I know, I know. It’s not your fault, I never blamed you. Let’s not talk about it anymore, okay? Don’t leave me, please, don’t leave.”

Qian Ye managed to lift his hand, gently stroking her face, “You have awakened, and you are no longer her. I just… couldn’t accept the reality. This parting… is for the best…”

“No, no! I have awakened, but I am still Yatong! I haven’t changed!”

But Qian Ye’s hand slowly fell, his voice becoming hazy. His eyes saw the Eternal Night, the Beacon Town, and the old, half-lit tavern, Manjusha Flower.

Back to where they first met.

“Ah!!!!” Yatong suddenly screamed.

With a boom, the impregnable lone peak exploded, leaving only the base standing.

The terrifying power made all the strongmen instinctively activate their original force protection. When they looked back, the peak was empty, and Yatong and Qian Ye were gone.

The distant sky rumbled with the sound of airships. Countless floating warships appeared on the horizon. The insignias indicated that the First, Second, and Third Imperial Guard Fleets had arrived in full force, with no reservations.

The lead command ship raced forward at an incredible speed, leaving its own fleet behind, heedless of the countless Eternal Night strongmen gathering ahead.

Standing at the bow, Song Zining, looking at the remains of the peak, suddenly felt his limbs go cold.