Under the brilliant full moon and a sky scattered with stars, an indescribable darkness and savage intent cloaks the night beneath its beauty, painting terror and ushering in shadow.
This is a banquet of blood.
Panic surges—this is a feast belonging to Demons and Specters.
As the era advances, the Martial Arts World has changed dramatically, and so have the Demons and Specters—they, like humans, are evolving upward!
The Demons and Specters of today are utterly different from those of a century ago, and far more terrifying.
And now—
After enduring for untold ages, the Demons and Specters have finally seized their chance: they weave a sky‑shrouding conspiracy, mobilize countless forces, and completely surround the area, determined to devour all the martial prodigies of the Peerless Prodigy Battle.
Their feast—
has begun.
......
Deep within the shadowy forest, countless Specters are on the march.
At their head is a bizarre, rectangular Specter whose ghostly form shifts like a kaleidoscope. Its voice is cold and eerie: "The Martial Arts World has no idea—we have grown stronger. Possession is no longer a suicidal last resort."
"And the fatal flaws of possession have already been solved."
"If not for this Peerless Prodigy Battle, the perfect chance to bury an entire generation of the Martial Arts World, we would never have revealed ourselves."
Its voice is tinged with regret, yet remains utterly ruthless.
In truth, the drawbacks of Specter possession have been fading for decades, though never exposed—this Peerless Prodigy Battle is the ideal moment to go all in and reap the finest harvest.
A feast of the most exquisite food!
To its eyes, ahead lie over fourteen hundred martial prodigies!
Understand this.
Every participant in the Peerless Prodigy Battle is the brightest of their region, with talent unmatched—true martial prodigies, one in ten thousand.
Only the brilliance of the Twelve Coiled Dragons outshines them.
Wherever they go, these martial prodigies are hardly weak—they are already the backbone of the Martial Arts World. In ten years, they will be its core.
Even seeing a hundred Martial Lords emerge among them would not be unusual.
At this moment—
"Indeed." A nearby Specter echoes, "The quality of this Peerless Prodigy Battle's 'food' far surpasses any prior year. Still, I envy Eye Eight and Eye Nine."
"Envy them?"
"Envy that they get to eat Peerless! Uuuu, I want to eat Peerless too. If only I could encounter Peerless Andrew Han, my ghostly life would be complete."
Hearing this, the leading Specter lets out a soft, mocking laugh.
Its voice carries a hint of sarcasm: "No help for it—Eye Eight and Eye Nine volunteered for the hunt, and their desire was strong. Do you dare compete with them?"
"No, no, who could challenge them with such a powerful big brother?" The Specter shrinks back, replying.
This sky‑shrouding scheme includes detailed plans for every human Coiled Dragon. If any Coiled Dragon is caught alone, they are doomed to a life‑and‑death siege—no Coiled Dragon can be allowed to survive.
A single Coiled Dragon is worth a hundred prodigies!
A Peerless is even more priceless!
The intelligent Specters know well—the way to exterminate the Martial Arts World is not to slaughter every top expert head‑on, but to destroy its foundation and ruin its glorious future.
What is the future?
These exceptionally gifted young humans are the future of the Martial Arts World!
Hmph.
The leading Specter marches on, its gaze locked on the distant horizon—where the ink‑black giant gate is already visible.
"In this total assault, we must slaughter without mercy."
"All the major Specters and Demons of North Sinovera have gathered here, blocking every direction. The titled Martial Lords are held at bay, buying us time. We must kill everyone—leave no one alive."
Shhh, shhh.
The multitude of Specters continue their advance.
Meanwhile, the Demon horde on the other side merges with the Specters, surging together toward the ink‑black giant gate beneath the shroud of night.
It is now just past midnight—twelve o'clock.
A sky full of stars,
A silken moon,
The heavens, like a black curtain, silently blanket the earth.
Humans wage war mostly in daylight, for day is best for fierce battle. But for Demons and Specters, it is the opposite—night belongs to them.
Shhh, shhh.
With the hazy night, the cool breeze, and surging waves of panic, the Demons and Specters finally burst from the forest, charging toward the ink‑black giant gate they have long coveted.
Inside, heaps and heaps of food await!
They can feast to their hearts' content!
"Comrades."
"Rejoice and indulge—this is our delicious banquet—" The leading Specter is issuing its command with wild abandon, but its pace slows.
The other Demons also pause, stunned.
Look—
Upon the open ground before the ink‑black giant gate, a figure burning with light stands tall, like a towering mountain, cutting off all killing intent.
Beneath the starry sky, only a song of heroism and sorrow remains.
No.
Not quite.