Chapter 8

As the greenish-blue lightning enveloped him, Qin Lie's expression turned serious. Suddenly, he opened his chest and began to fully activate Heavenly Thunder Punishment.

"Zzzt, zzzt, zzzt!"

Numerous currents of electricity, like streaks of greenish-blue fire, all entered Qin Lie's body. In an instant, the intense and rampant lightning power began to wreak havoc in his tendons and meridians.

Qin Lie's eyes suddenly lit up, and he smiled excitedly.

The currents of electricity, initially fierce and violent, became docile and obedient after he activated Heavenly Thunder Punishment, all merging into his bones.

A delightful and pleasant sensation spread from his pores, and Qin Lie felt his body brimming with energy, his spirit invigorated.

The currents of electricity that would be fatal to ordinary people were, to him, like powerful elixirs. Not only did they not paralyze his body, but they also made him feel refreshed and invincible.

"Come on!"

Seeing the ghostly electric eagles flying towards him, Qin Lie was not alarmed but rather delighted. When the nearest one approached, he suddenly reached out to grab it.

The ghostly electric eagle's iron claws descended, but Qin Lie caught them with both hands. With a roar, he tore the eagle apart, blood and flesh splattering everywhere.

With this successful strike, Qin Lie's spirits soared. He laughed loudly and moved nimbly, attacking the ghostly electric eagles as they approached the ground. Each time, he would accurately grab the iron claws of the eagles and tear them in half.

The ghostly electric eagles had attacked Tu Ze, Zhuo Xi, and the others by first striking them with lightning and then swarming them.

Tu Ze and Zhuo Xi were both in the advanced stages of the Body Tempering Realm, but their bodies could not withstand the lightning. Once hit, they would immediately feel numb and weak, their combat power plummeting.

Their battle against the ghostly electric eagles was most feared for the electric shocks. Even when rescuing others, they had to be extremely cautious, fearing being struck by lightning, so they could never gain the upper hand.

Qin Lie's combat style was completely different!

He paid no attention to the lightning attacks. On the contrary, the lightning that was fatal to Tu Ze and Zhuo Xi was beneficial to him, enhancing his combat power and filling him with energy.

Additionally, his physique was already robust, and the ghostly electric eagles' sharp beaks and iron claws could not cause him fatal injuries.

These first-stage spirit beasts were only good at attacking, not defending. Their bodies were extremely vulnerable, and with his complete immunity to attacks, once he had the chance, he would tear one to shreds.

His combat style was simple and direct, cruel and brutal, but extremely effective!

In a short time, with the eerie cries of the eagles, over ten ghostly electric eagles met their end at his feet.

If it had been any other spirit beast, they might have already retreated in fear and fled in a group.

But the ghostly electric eagles were stubborn. Although they sensed something strange about Qin Lie, like a natural enemy, after many of their kind were brutally torn apart, they went mad and charged at him without regard for their lives.

The outcome was already determined.

As one ghostly electric eagle after another died at Qin Lie's feet, the battle had no suspense left.

Soon, the fierce battle ended, and Qin Lie, covered in blood, stood in the center of the eagle carcasses, surrounded by feathers.

Even with the absolute advantage, he still had many wounds on his body, but his robust physique could easily handle them.

He knew that if the ghostly electric eagles had not encountered him, they would have been a nightmare for any low-level martial artist.

If Tu Ze and the others had stayed to fight, it would not have been the ghostly electric eagles who were wiped out.

Without rushing to collect the beast cores, he stood there, squinting his eyes, and silently sensing his internal state...

In his body, threads of electricity surged, gradually converging in his lower abdomen's dantian as he focused his mind. A warm feeling rose from his heart, and a smile appeared on Qin Lie's lips.

At this moment, the lightning from the ghostly electric eagles was strangely absorbed by him, and as Heavenly Thunder Punishment operated, it slowly transformed into his own spiritual energy!

"Indeed, it's as I thought."

Qin Lie felt that this trip was not in vain. Glancing at the carcasses beside him, his smile grew even wider.

...

On the other side.

Tu Ze, Zhuo Xi, and the others, who had fled from the Silent Ridge, were on high alert, their hearts heavy. They were ready for battle at any moment.

The combat power of over forty ghostly electric eagles was formidable enough to make even a typical Kaiyuan Realm martial artist retreat. Qin Lie, being young, was clearly sent to be the bait. Once he was dead, the ghostly electric eagles would surely come after them.

So they did not dare to relax for a moment, expecting the eagles to chase them at any time, leading to another difficult battle.

However, no matter how long they waited, the eagles never appeared, and the seven of them gradually became suspicious...

"Stop!"

Just as they were about to leave the Silent Ridge, Tu Ze finally sensed something was wrong. He signaled the group to form a defensive formation and turn back, then focused his gaze on the sky behind them.

Not a single eagle in sight!

"This..."

Even Zhuo Xi, with her fiery figure and calm, ruthless demeanor, looked puzzled, wiping the sweat from her neck, her alluring eyes blinking.

"I heard the eerie cries of the ghostly electric eagles earlier. The battle definitely happened, there's no doubt about that..." Tu Ze, with his rough and wild appearance, was actually very perceptive. He leaned on his long saber, adjusting his breathing and not missing any opportunity to recover his spiritual energy. He said solemnly, "The ghostly electric eagles haven't come, which means only one possibility—that kid has become a big problem for them!"

"How is that possible?" the chubby Kang Zhi exclaimed.

"The ghostly electric eagles won't come after us until they've torn that kid apart. Since they haven't come, it means the feathered beasts haven't easily killed him." Tu Ze saw through the situation clearly. After a moment of consideration, he suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go back and check!"

"Brother Tu?" Kang Zhi's face fell, and he shook his head. "We barely escaped, why go back? Whether that kid is dead or alive, we're alive, so why risk it again?"

"Yeah, yeah." The others echoed, clearly terrified by the relentless ghostly electric eagles and not wanting to face danger again.

"Zhuo Xi, what do you think?" Tu Ze asked, raising his head.

Shrugging, the curvaceous Zhuo Xi showed an interested expression. "I don't care. If we go back, we go back. Since those beasts haven't caught up, they must have encountered trouble. I'm really curious if that crazy kid is still alive. If he is, we should thank him."

"Right, whether he's dead or alive, we should thank this young brother. Without his interference, it would have been hard for us seven to survive. Over forty ghostly electric eagles are not something we can handle..." Tu Ze said seriously.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Zhuo Xi flicked her chestnut hair and was the first to turn back towards the Silent Ridge, her figure as agile as a panther. "The longer we wait, the closer he is to death. Once we decide, don't hesitate. Don't act like a bunch of girls!"

Inspired by her, her previously timid companions felt ashamed and roared as they followed her back.

Tu Ze rubbed his nose, looking at the energized group and cursing under his breath: Damn, in critical moments, only Zhuo Xi can control you guys!

Many women are calmer and more ruthless than men, and Zhuo Xi was one of them.

Earlier, when she saw Qin Lie provoke the ghostly electric eagles, making them attack fiercely, even Tu Ze was stunned and couldn't react.

However, Zhuo Xi seized a chance to escape, screaming and urging everyone to abandon Qin Lie and quickly break out of the Silent Ridge.

At that time, she believed Qin Lie was doomed. Even if the seven of them tried their best to save him, they couldn't change his fate and would only end up sacrificing themselves.

So she decisively called for everyone to leave.

No matter how you looked at it, her judgment at that time was wise and correct. She couldn't have known that Qin Lie was the natural enemy of the ghostly electric eagles.

Now, with the ghostly electric eagles not appearing, Zhuo Xi realized her judgment might have been wrong. She thought Qin Lie might still be alive.

She wanted to make amends, so she was the first to turn back and rush back to the Silent Ridge.

"Hope it's not too late..."

As they were about to re-enter the dangerous area, Zhuo Xi thought to herself, her nerves tightening, and her slender fingers gripping her bow and arrow more firmly.

Passing through a dense forest, Zhuo Xi entered the depths of the Silent Ridge, her eyes scanning the area they had fled from.

"Ah!"

Zhuo Xi suddenly screamed.

Tu Ze and the others, following closely behind, heard her scream and their faces changed. They rushed over without hesitation.

Then, they all screamed in shock...

Beside Qin Lie, the ground was covered with eagle feathers and carcasses. None of the ghostly electric eagles' bodies were intact, all torn in half, clearly dying a terrible death.

Qin Lie, with only minor injuries, was crouched, digging out the beast cores from the foreheads of the ghostly electric eagles.

The seven of them stared in disbelief, their mouths wide open, their eyes almost popping out.

"Am I seeing things?" The chubby Kang Zhi rubbed his eyes, looking at Qin Lie as if he were a monster. "Over forty ghostly electric eagles! All dead? And in such a terrible state?"

Qin Lie looked up, seeing them return, and smiled. "I have a spirit tool that can completely resist lightning attacks. It's not because of my own strength."

"Damn, why didn't you say so earlier?" Tu Ze laughed and walked over, giving Qin Lie a friendly pat. "If you had told us, we would have helped you! We felt bad and came back to save you. Little brother, were you afraid we would take your beast cores?"

"Sort of..."

Qin Lie muttered, thinking they wouldn't come back. After killing the ghostly electric eagles, he planned to take all the beast cores for himself.

—He didn't want to have any dealings with Tu Ze and the others.

"No, I was just worried the spirit tool wouldn't work and would endanger you, so I didn't say much..." Qin Lie explained.

This was not Ling Family Town, so he didn't need to pretend. His expression was natural.

Qin Lie's eyes, far from being dull, were exceptionally lively, making his handsome face almost otherworldly.

"You're still a bit naive. Your lies aren't smooth enough. If you were really worried the spirit tool wouldn't work, would you have come to send yourself to death?" Zhuo Xi gave him a sidelong glance and teased, "You went straight for the beast cores. If you're greedy, just admit it. Don't make excuses. Do you think we're like you? Would we fight over the beast cores of first-stage spirit beasts?"

"Ha ha ha, we're from the Nebula Pavilion. I'm Tu Ze, this sister is Zhuo Xi, and that's Kang Zhi..." Tu Ze laughed and introduced his companions. "We heard there was star iron nearby and came to try our luck. We didn't expect to run into a group of ghostly electric eagles. First-stage spirit beast cores are not something we care about. Don't worry, we won't fight you over them..."

Qin Lie's heart stirred.

First-stage spirit beast cores were not particularly valuable, but for most Body Tempering Realm martial artists, they were still significant. He knew that Ling Family martial artists would not be so indifferent to these cores.

Although Tu Ze and the others were from the Nebula Pavilion, they were still in the Body Tempering Realm. Their young age and their ability to so easily dismiss first-stage beast cores suggested that they were likely influential in the Nebula Pavilion.

...