Several maids entered on command, carrying a set of deep gray xuan silver heavy armor, and began to dress Song Zining. Moments later, he had exchanged his wide-sleeved ancient attire for the heavy armor, appearing exceptionally valiant. However, with his handsome features and gentle demeanor, he seemed to lack a bit of intimidating presence.
A maid presented a brocade box, from which Song Zining took out a xuan silver mask. Carved with a menacing ghost face, it appeared lifelike, clearly the work of a master.
Song Zining slowly placed the ghost mask over his face, hiding all expression. In that moment, all the refined and luxurious qualities vanished from him, and he seemed like an ancient divine weapon, thirsty for blood, emerging from its sheath, causing the entire room to chill with murderous intent.
Moments later, Song Zining ascended to the city tower, ordered a seat to be brought, and sat down, looking down at the endless army surrounding the city below.
As the dark race’s forces arrayed themselves, a desolate and strong horn sounded, and countless cannon fodder screamed as they charged towards the black tide, thus beginning the siege.
Generally, the first assault by the dark races was usually a feint, probing the defenses and strength of the garrison. However, seeing the overwhelming momentum of the enemy, the onlookers on the city tower turned pale. A force of five thousand, even if just a feint, could still potentially break through with one blow.
Only Song Zining remained motionless, his face hidden behind the xuan silver ghost mask, concealing his emotions. It was only when the cannon fodder wave was about to reach the city that Song Zining raised his hand, and his attendants immediately signaled, issuing the first command.
On the bastion guns of Heiliu City, four fortress cannons had already been calibrated, and dozens of strong gunners were ready. Upon receiving the order to fire, the gunners shouted in unison and pushed a large turntable with great force.
The bastion tower shook violently, emitting a deafening roar. In a flash of light, hundreds of kilograms of cannonballs were launched, striking the distant enemy, causing the entire wall to tremble.
Simultaneously, several thunderous explosions rang out in the sky above Heiliu City, and four huge fireballs ignited in the dark tide below, flinging the nearby cannon fodder soldiers into the air. Even some spider demons mixed in the ranks were not spared, their massive bodies also sent soaring. Those dark warriors near the explosion’s epicenter were completely obliterated, leaving not even a fragment of their limbs.
After the flames, four gaps suddenly appeared in the dark tide that had once covered the earth, almost cutting the black wave in half. But this scene was fleeting, as the number of cannon fodder was too great, and the advancing black tide quickly overwhelmed the demarcation line.
However, another four thunderous explosions followed, once again leaving gaps in the dark tide.
“Oh? Not bad!” Song Zining was slightly impressed.
The four city defense cannons, after being enhanced by Nangong Xiaoniao, had more than doubled in power, rivaling even the newest small fortress cannons. If not for the limited power output of Heiliu City’s power towers, these four giant cannons might have been even more powerful.
In a blink, three volleys were fired, and the gunners on the bastion tower sprang into action. Three groups continuously pushed the turntables, and the bastion tower was filled with steam, nearly engulfing the structure. However, the gunners, trained to perfection, knew exactly what to do even in near-zero visibility.
Dozens of gunners worked together, pulling chains and loading three rounds of cannonballs into the open base of the fortress cannon. The cannon then closed, the armor sealing, and the cannon barrel slowly elevated.
Outside Heiliu City, the cannon fodder army, like a black tide, surged towards the city, slamming against the walls, splashing high.
These “splashes” were actually dark warriors, with unmatched agility, either leaping high or being thrown by their strong comrades, soaring upwards, directly aiming for the city head. The rest of the cannon fodder scaled the outer walls.
Comprised of various races, they all had sharp claws and fangs, easily piercing through common stone, so the wall was not much of an obstacle. However, the top section of Heiliu City’s wall was reinforced with steel plates, impervious to ordinary claws. Thus, when they reached this point, most of the cannon fodder slipped and fell, momentarily halting the relentless black tide.
Those who managed to leap onto the city head were swiftly surrounded and killed by the elite troops Song Zining had stationed.
By now, the fortress cannons had completed a round of reloading, and the thunderous explosions echoed again, creating more gaps in the black tide. The dark armies’ fierce offensive was temporarily stalled.
In the dark races’ central camp, a demon youth clad in splendid armor, his face ashen, raged, “Didn’t you tell me that the defenses of the Evernight humans were as weak as paper? Is this what you call paper-thin defenses? Don’t tell me those fortress cannons are old and nearly obsolete. Even on the Upperland battlefield, the fortress cannons of human cities are no better!”
A spider demon replied, “Lord Lud, our intelligence indicates that the four fortress cannons in the city are models from over a hundred years ago and have been in use for at least decades.”
Lud sneered, “And you have the nerve to mention intelligence? Have you ever been on the Upperland battlefield, or have I? Spire, are you questioning my judgment, you waste?”
The spider demon’s face showed anger but he suppressed it, bowing his head, “No, sir.”
But Lud was in no mood to be merciful, retorting, “No? Then what was that look you gave me? It seems your clan has lived far too long!”
The spider demon, inherently cruel, could no longer contain his rage, growling, “Lud! We are both first-tier viscounts. Do you really think I’m afraid of you?”
Lud’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile as he glanced at the surrounding high-ranking figures, saying, “First-tier viscount? What significance does that title have for lowly creatures like you? This is the first and last time I will tolerate such disrespect. From now on, anyone who dares to challenge my dignity will see their clan destroyed. You, you lowly things, did you hear me?”
Around Lud, there were over a dozen strong individuals from various races, many showing signs of anger. But none dared to challenge Lud, knowing that he had both significant influence and a glorious record on the Upperland battlefield. Even Spire, reluctantly, bowed his head.
Lud glared at the spider demon, saying, “You and your clan go and attack the city. If you survive after the city falls, I will forgive this offense.”
Facing Lud’s terrifying aura, Spire did not provoke or question further, silently stepping back.
Moments later, several spider demons appeared on the battlefield, led by a towering five-meter-tall demon in heavy armor. Disregarding the hail of bullets, he charged straight towards the city tower where Song Zining stood.
His charge was ferocious, running in a straight line, ignoring his own troops, and any cannon fodder in his path were either knocked aside or trampled to death. In an instant, the spider demon reached the city gate, letting out a resounding roar, and then smashing a multi-ton war hammer against the gate!
The ground shook, and the entire city tower jolted. The reinforced steel gate dented, and the steam rails on both sides jumped, showing that another strike would likely break through even the two-meter-thick armored gate.
The appearance of this spider demon caused a slight panic among the defenders of Heiliu City.
Song Zining finally rose, and a waiting maid promptly handed him a long spear. Taking the square-edged spear, he walked forward, the surface of his silver armor shimmering with a faint blue light, and the spear’s blade flickered with an indistinct glow, revealing a non-metallic, non-jade essence.
In just three steps, he reached the top of the city tower, appearing above the heavily armored spider demon, and like a falling meteor, crashed down upon the demon.
Compared to the spider demon’s colossal body, Song Zining seemed puny, yet his fall was as heavy as a thousand catties. His feet landed, and the spider demon’s legs buckled, crashing to the ground, raising a cloud of blood-soaked dust, as the surrounding dark warriors were crushed underfoot.
Song Zining raised the spear and thrust it into the spider demon, sinking to the hilt. The heavy armor and the spider demon’s solid body were as weak as tofu before his strike, and the once-vital demon, after being pierced, was utterly still.
He calmly withdrew the spear, blood gushing like a fountain. Song Zining slowly levitated, and within thirty meters around him, an autumn chill swept through, leaves falling like rain. The charging cannon fodder warriors, bathed in a burst of blood, were instantly cut into pieces, scattered across the ground.
Song Zining took a cloth and wiped the blood from the spear, then calmly leaped back to the city tower. The place he had stood was now a bloody slaughterhouse, with few intact corpses left.
Back on the tower, Song Zining suddenly looked back, gazing deep into the dark armies. There, standing, was the spider demon Spire. His face was ashen, watching his top warrior, felled in one blow by a single human, without a chance to retaliate.
Spire met Song Zining’s gaze, and the menacing xuan silver ghost mask instilled a fear in him, more terrifying than facing Lud.
The wailing horn sounded again, and the dark armies retreated like a receding tide. The first assault was over.
Over the next few days, the dark armies encircled Heiliu City, launching attacks daily, sometimes multiple times. Song Zining finally demonstrated his prowess, defending the city flawlessly, thwarting every tactic Lud tried.
Meanwhile, the seventh son of the Song family, revealed a ruthless side, executing anyone found lacking in combat, coordination, harboring ill intentions, or colluding with the Nangong family. Thus, while the battles outside raged, the city remained unprecedentedly calm.
Unable to break through, Lud’s initial fury turned to grim determination, realizing he had met a formidable foe. He constantly mobilized and coordinated his five-thousand-strong allied forces, attacking the city daily to maintain pressure, waiting for a mistake. But Song Zining was like a perfectly calibrated machine, flawless under any pressure.
The battle between the two sides, each employing their tactics, grew increasingly intense, creating countless classic attack and defense scenarios, drawing the attention of many influential figures.
Since the iron curtain descended and the bloodshed began, numerous young prodigies emerged. The once-unknown seventh son of the Song family, like a morning star, was rising.
At this moment, in a remote forest, Qian Ye was curled up in a hollow of a dead tree, sleeping soundly. A wild wolf quietly approached, sniffing the air, gradually drawing closer.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage