Chapter 18

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Chen Xun searched the eagle's nest again, finding that the other items were all ordinary. Afraid that the green-eyed eagle might have a companion flying back, he did not dare to stay in the nest for long. He clung to the cliff wall and slid down to the bottom cave, planning to rest for half the night and return to the village at dawn.

Inside the cave, there was still half of a green-scaled snake's body. Chen Xun tore off some snake meat and ate until he was full. Then, he sat cross-legged and practiced the breathing technique described in the silk scroll by the Green Wood Daoist, cultivating his mind and spirit.

While in a meditative state, he heard a rustling sound in the cave, as if a snake was approaching. Chen Xun suddenly opened his eyes and then heard someone speaking softly in the distance.

"The clan leader was right. That kid either fought the injured green-eyed eagle on the ground or found the eagle's nest and forced it to fight him at close range. Look at the dark cave entrance on the cliff top; isn't that the green-eyed eagle's nest?"

"Alright, alright, no more nonsense. Check if there's anything good in the stone nest. We need to find and kill that brat from the Black Python tribe at dawn. He's only thirteen or fourteen and dares to fight a green-eyed eagle alone in the mountains. If he grows up, what will happen?"

Chen Xun felt a deep hatred in his heart. He didn't expect Gu Hu and Gu Chen to send people to hunt him down. He thought that Gu Hu and Gu Chen didn't come personally because they had to attend to the noble guests from Canglan and couldn't spare the time.

Although the two men were some distance away, Chen Xun wasn't sure they wouldn't see the cave. Even though it was dark and the cave was partially hidden by tree vines, they would likely find him if they searched the valley and forest thoroughly at dawn.

Chen Xun didn't have a suitable weapon. Although the animal skeleton was indestructible, the joints could be separated. He removed two ribs with vertebrae, holding them like white short spears. He slowly practiced a few moves, finding them quite handy.

Chen Xun's spiritual senses were sharp, and his eyes and ears were keen, but the wind and rustling leaves made it hard to detect the movements of the two Black Mountain tribe warriors on the cliff top.

Using the cover of the tree vines, Chen Xun peeked out of the cave and saw two blurry figures standing on the stone beam outside the eagle's nest, looking into the distance.

The moonlight was dim, and visibility at night was limited. Chen Xun could only see the vague outlines of the two men, thinking they probably couldn't see the valley clearly either.

The surrounding stone walls of the cave had become loose from the previous battles. Even a slight touch could cause rocks to fall.

Chen Xun didn't dare to quietly descend the mountain, fearing he might dislodge a rock and alert the two men on the cliff top.

The two Black Mountain tribe warriors sat on the stone beam outside the eagle's nest, letting the mountain wind blow through them without entering the stone nest to rest. Chen Xun had no plan.

He had no confidence in fighting two Black Mountain tribe warriors alone.

Chen Xun saw that the two men were not in a hurry to chase him, seemingly convinced that he wouldn't move around at night and was likely hiding somewhere nearby to recover.

Warriors entering the deep mountains usually rested at night and moved during the day, mainly to observe the tracks of fierce beasts and avoid them carefully.

Unless it was a special situation, no one dared to wander in the depths of Pythontooth Ridge at night.

If one accidentally entered the lair of a fierce bird or beast at night, it would be a disaster.

Since the enemy didn't move, Chen Xun didn't move either.

He sat patiently inside the cave, closing his eyes to rest but keeping a part of his mind focused on the outside.

**************

The moon sank behind the western ridge, and the sky soon turned a pale white. Hearing the birds flying around the cliff top, Chen Xun knew the two Black Mountain tribe warriors were starting to move.

Hidden among the tree vines, Chen Xun watched the two men stand up from the fish-shaped stone beam, seemingly preparing to exercise in the morning light before searching the valley for him.

The morning light was clear, though not yet bright. Chen Xun could see that the two men, besides holding long spears, also carried several short spears on their backs.

He had never directly clashed with the Black Mountain tribe.

Even though he and Zong Ya, Zong Ling, Nan Xi, and others had the strength of mid-rank warriors, as potential leaders of the Black Python tribe, they were well-protected. In tribal conflicts, the witch doctor Zong Tu and the chief Nan Liao wouldn't let them fight on the front lines.

However, Chen Xun had seen Zong Tu fight Black Mountain tribe warriors and knew that the short spears they carried could be thrown with lightning speed and incredible accuracy, capable of breaking trees and shattering rocks.

Chen Xun felt a headache coming on. If he met these two Black Mountain tribe warriors in an open area, it would be very dangerous.

The two Black Mountain tribe warriors soon noticed the cave at the bottom of the cliff.

Yesterday, in the dark, the two men had rushed to the eagle's nest to see if they could find any treasures, so they hadn't thoroughly searched the cliff. Now, how could they miss a cave entrance almost as tall as a person?

The bottom of the cave was littered with broken wood and rocks from the previous battle.

Chen Xun suspected that the two men might have noticed the cave last night but feared being ambushed if they searched it, so they had stayed on the fish-shaped stone beam all night.

If both warriors came at him at the same time, how would he deal with them?

Chen Xun racked his brain but soon realized his worry was unnecessary.

Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, he saw the two men part ways at the fish-shaped stone beam:

One man grabbed the tree vines and slowly slid down to the cave entrance, while the other ran to the north side of the cliff, seemingly to search the valley and prevent Chen Xun from escaping.

Chen Xun realized he had overthought it. These two Black Mountain tribe warriors, with their mid-rank peak strength, wouldn't fear a "severely injured" thirteen or fourteen-year-old Black Python tribe youth.

Chen Xun stood against the inner wall of the cave, holding his breath and focusing his mind. His spiritual senses spread out.

Chen Xun hadn't expected that after the six-armed giant demon appeared in his soul sea, his spiritual senses had become even more acute, able to detect faint movements within twenty to thirty meters.

The Black Mountain tribe warrior, as strong as a bull but agile like a monkey, quickly slid down the tree vines to the cave entrance.

Chen Xun focused his mind, visualizing the third stance of the Great Peng Secret Fist, his breath becoming even more subtle, as if his body had merged with the stone wall, cold and lifeless.

Just as the Black Mountain tribe warrior was about to step into the cave, Chen Xun, without hesitation, thrust the short spear made from the animal skeleton into the man's abdomen.

The savage soul surged, and Chen Xun's fists and arms seemed to swell with power, his veins bulging. A powerful aura burst forth, creating a gust of wind that whistled against the stone wall. Chen Xun's punch not only drove the bone spear deep into the man's abdomen but also struck his soft belly with the force of a hammer.

Before entering the mountains, Chen Xun had the strength to lift over two thousand pounds. After breaking through to the fifth layer of bone tempering, his bones were as hard as iron, and his strength had greatly increased.

Chen Xun suspected that his punch could shatter a boulder.

The Black Mountain tribe warrior, caught off guard by the fierce aura, tried to brace himself in mid-air, but with no support, he could only tense his muscles and endure the blow.

However, he didn't expect Chen Xun's bone spear to be so sharp, piercing his abdomen and causing him to scream in pain as he was thrown out of the cave by the powerful force.

Chen Xun didn't care that the cave was thirty to forty meters above the valley. He knew that a mid-rank peak warrior was tough, and although he had successfully ambushed him, he couldn't completely incapacitate him or kill him.

If he didn't act quickly, the other Black Mountain tribe warrior would arrive, and Chen Xun would be in trouble. He needed to take advantage of this brief moment.

The Black Mountain tribe warrior fell like a stone, screaming in pain. Chen Xun, like an eagle, silently leaped out, using the protruding stone beams on the cliff wall to gain momentum, and swung his bone spears at the man.

The warriors of the Western Wasteland survived in harsh conditions, fighting in tribal conflicts and battling fierce beasts. Mid-rank warriors were battle-hardened, their combat skills honed through countless battles, almost instinctive.

As Chen Xun leaped to attack, the Black Mountain tribe warrior, screaming in pain, curled his legs and kicked at Chen Xun's head, trying to kill him on the spot.

The wind from the kick was like a knife, and the legs, like iron stakes, moved so fast they left several afterimages.

Chen Xun didn't expect the warrior to generate such force in mid-air. He was amazed by the warrior's mid-rank peak strength and knew that if he hadn't ambushed him, he would have been no match in a direct fight.

Facing the iron stakes-like legs, Chen Xun didn't dodge.

His advantage was the element of surprise. The Black Mountain tribe warrior, with no support in mid-air, couldn't adjust his stance and still generated such force. If he landed, it would be even worse.

Chen Xun avoided the head and took the hit on his left shoulder, swinging his bone spears at the man's legs.

The powerful force hit his shoulder, and Chen Xun suspected his left shoulder bone was shattered. He was thrown backward, crashing into the stone wall, his skin torn and organs displaced. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fell into the valley.

Fortunately, the impact was only about twenty meters, and he rolled through a patch of shrubs, avoiding further injury.

The Black Mountain tribe warrior was in no better condition:

He never expected the Black Python tribe youth to ambush him in the cave. He thought his body, hardened like wood, would protect him, but it was like a water-filled bag, pierced by the youth's attack, blood gushing out. He also didn't expect the youth to take a four-thousand-pound kick to the left shoulder and still try to sever his legs.

He didn't know what weapon the youth was using, but he couldn't stand up after falling into the valley. His legs were completely severed, and his leg tendons were cut, almost splitting his bones in two, blood staining the ground.

Chen Xun spat out a large mouthful of blood, struggling to catch his breath. His left shoulder was in excruciating pain, making him see black.

The Black Mountain tribe warrior, about ten meters away, was bleeding profusely from his abdomen and had his legs severed, but he still seemed to have some fighting spirit. He took out two short spears from his back, preparing to make a last stand.

The commotion also alerted the other Black Mountain tribe warrior, who was searching the cliff to the north. He leaped down from the cliff top, turning into a black shadow.

Chen Xun knew he had only a moment to catch his breath and escape. He had to let the injured man go and flee into the forest.

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