Chapter 7

The Medicine Mountain in Lingjia Town was merely a branch of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, situated at the very edge of the mountains.

The true Extreme Cold Mountain Range was vast, stretching for thousands of miles, and many of its peripheral areas were not cold at all. Some special valleys were even spring-like all year round, making them very suitable for cultivating spirit herbs and medicines.

However, the deeper one went into the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, the colder and more desolate it became.

This was due to several towering snow-capped peaks and glaciers deep within the mountains. These snow-capped peaks and glaciers never melted, constantly releasing intense and bone-chilling cold, which spread out and made the surrounding mountains equally cold and desolate.

The deepest snow-capped peaks and glaciers were among the forbidden zones of heaven and earth. It was rumored that they produced many rare spirit herbs and cold crystals, all of which were extraordinary treasures, the dream materials for cultivation for martial artists.

Wherever rare spirit herbs grew, there were often fierce creatures guarding them. The same was true for the snow-capped peaks and ice peaks, where many high-level fierce spirit beasts resided. Even powerful martial artists rarely ventured there, and when they traveled through the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, they would actively choose to avoid provoking those powerful spirit beasts.

On the periphery and outer regions of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, there were also many spirit herbs and spirit beasts, but their levels were not very high, and they were scattered. To find spirit herbs and hunt spirit beasts required considerable effort and luck.

These areas were where martial artists frequently operated. The martial artists of the Star Cloud Pavilion, along with many small forces like the Ling family that relied on the Star Cloud Pavilion, almost always operated in areas far from the snow-capped peaks and glaciers.

After a heavy rain, the mountain paths were muddy and slippery, but the air was exceptionally fresh.

Qin Lie, who had left Medicine Mountain, moved deeper into the mountains, his trouser legs covered in mud, but his face was somewhat excited.

In recent years, he had devoted all his time to cultivating the Heavenly Thunder Punishment, never breaking his routine, and had been in intense seclusion.

After all, he was just a fifteen-year-old boy. After years of monotonous cultivation, the ability to leap through the forest brought him immense joy, and even the fatigue in his body seemed to vanish.

"Secluded Ridge should be close. I hope the first-stage Shadow Lightning Eagle won't disappoint me..."

As he observed the mountain path and recalled the map in his mind, seeing that he was getting closer to Secluded Ridge where the Shadow Lightning Eagles were active, Qin Lie gradually calmed his excitement, focused his attention, and became more cautious.

The Shadow Lightning Eagle was only a first-stage spirit beast, equivalent to the strength of a martial artist in the Body Tempering Realm. Depending on the size and strength of the Shadow Lightning Eagle, there might be some differences in strength, but even the strongest Shadow Lightning Eagle would not reach the strength of a martial artist in the Origin Opening Realm.

In Qin Lie's view, the Shadow Lightning Eagle, with its lightning power as its trump card, could not pose a threat to him, no matter how strong it was.

After years of cultivating the Heavenly Thunder Punishment, a body that dared to guide the power of the nine heavens' thunder into itself would not fear the lightning power of a first-stage spirit beast.

His caution was due to the fear of encountering other types of spirit beasts.

Half an hour later, a mountain ridge covered with ancient trees slowly came into view. The trees were over ten meters tall, with dense branches and leaves that obscured the sky, making the mountain ridge somewhat deep and secluded.

This was Secluded Ridge.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The whistling sounds of birds flying through the forest came from deep within the mountain ridge, occasionally accompanied by the shouts and curses of young people.

Qin Lie's eyebrows raised, immediately realizing that there were martial artists battling Shadow Lightning Eagles deep in Secluded Ridge. Without hesitation, he sped up, rushing straight toward the high slope of the ridge.

Under a dozen tall ancient trees, a group of seven young martial artists, three men and four women, stood back-to-back, holding weapons such as swords, knives, bows, and silver hammers. Their clothes were torn, and their arms and chests were covered in blood. They were fighting a desperate battle against the Shadow Lightning Eagles circling in the sky.

The seven martial artists were all in the Body Tempering Realm, young, and dressed in fine, luxurious clothing. Their weapons were also imbued with spiritual energy, clearly indicating that they were ranked spirit weapons, suggesting they were of noble birth.

The leader, a young man with a broad back and muscular build, held a crimson longsword. His black hair flew wildly as he swung the sword, creating dazzling red arcs, exuding a formidable aura.

Over thirty Shadow Lightning Eagles, each over two meters long, with gray-brown feathers, hooked beaks, short wedge-shaped tails, and anchor-like talons, had a green, diamond-shaped crystal on their foreheads. They continuously released green lightning.

The Shadow Lightning Eagles circled in the air, swift and agile, first attacking the martial artists below with lightning from their forehead crystals. Once the martial artists were paralyzed by the electric shock, the Shadow Lightning Eagles would immediately pounce, using their hook-like beaks and anchor-like talons to tear their prey apart, causing the martial artists to scream in pain and their flesh to be torn.

Five Shadow Lightning Eagles had already been impaled and fallen to the ground, their feathers and blood scattered everywhere. The seven martial artists were also covered in wounds, indicating that the battle had been ongoing for some time.

The seven martial artists stood united, and whenever one of them was struck by lightning, the other six would immediately protect them, risking their own injuries to safeguard their comrades.

This unity prevented the Shadow Lightning Eagles from quickly killing any of them, prolonging the battle.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze spat out a feather, swinging his longsword and creating dazzling light arcs, cursing, "What bad luck, running into these flocking feathered beasts. Everyone, stay close together, don't scatter. If anyone dares to not save a comrade first, I'll skin them alive after this!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeful. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeful. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their attackers to the death!

With the presence of the five dead eagles, the battle could not end well. Either the seven martial artists would be torn to pieces, or all thirty-plus Shadow Lightning Eagles would be killed!

The Shadow Lightning Eagles and the seven young martial artists were evenly matched, and if the battle continued, both sides might suffer heavy losses, with only a few survivors, either human or eagle.

"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"

A loud, mournful eagle cry suddenly came from deeper within Secluded Ridge. Soon, another dozen Shadow Lightning Eagles joined the attack, adding to the chaos.

"Damn it!" Tu Ze's face changed, "It seems this place is the nest of these feathered beasts. We can't stay here any longer; we need to break through as soon as possible! Otherwise, if more of these beasts gather, we'll be in real trouble!"

"Brother Tu, don't worry!"

"We'll definitely save our comrades first!"

The young people gritted their teeth, their breaths steady, clearly experienced in battle, not inexperienced novices.

Behind an ancient tree, Qin Lie narrowed his eyes, observing the intense battle between the seven young martial artists and the Shadow Lightning Eagles. After a while, he realized that the seven young martial artists were in a dire situation.

Shadow Lightning Eagles, being social spirit beasts, were vengeous. Once one of their kind was killed, they would relentlessly pursue their