After climbing for a full day and night, the Ye family members finally reached the mountain peak as planned.
By the time the day came to a close, their harvest was impressive: ten mid-tier carnivores and a high-class white tiger.
To make transportation easier, Ye Saint and the others only kept the most valuable parts—skin, fur, horns, teeth, and such. Even so, lugging those back took time and effort, and they didn't arrive at the peak until well past midnight.
"Everyone rest by the bonfire for a couple of hours. I'll take the first watch," Ye Saint said, noticing how exhausted the younger ones looked.
The group quickly pitched their tents and fell into a dazed sleep.
The night passed uneventfully—until the darkest hour before dawn.
Startled by Ye Saint's shout from outside her tent, Ye Lingyue rushed out into the campsite.
Ye Qing and the others had also emerged to see a shadowy figure sprinting toward the cliffs.
"Something's happened—let's check it out!" Ye Qing immediately took off after the figure.
"Don't act recklessly. The cliffs are treacherous, and dangerous birds live in that area," Ling Yue warned, trying to stop him.
"If you're too scared to die, then stay behind." Ye Qing glared at her and led the others toward the cliffs.
In just a few leaps, the dark figure reached the cliffside.
This region was lined with towering cliffs hundreds of meters tall. Vine-covered rock walls cradled massive nests belonging to Silver Claw Eagles.
These birds were the undisputed rulers of Seven Star Mountain's cliffs. With powerful talons, they could easily snatch an adult man off the ground and carry him into the sky.
"Ye Lingyue, I'll enjoy watching you die this time," Song Han muttered with a sinister glint in his eyes as he pulled out a pouch of powder and tossed it toward the eagle nests on the cliffside.
This was a specially made drug crafted by Master Lian for this very purpose. Once the birds caught its scent, they'd go into a crazed frenzy, attacking any Ye family members nearby.
Cackling coldly, Song Han ducked into a bush to hide. But he didn't notice the strange gust of wind that rose from below, blowing some of the powder back onto his clothes.
By the time Ye Qing and the others arrived, they found only emptiness—no sign of anyone at all.
Woosh—woosh—woosh—
Hearing the strange winds from below, Ye Qing stepped forward and looked down. What he saw made his scalp go numb.
From the depths of the cliff, hundreds of Silver Claw Eagles surged upward.
Sensing human scent in the air—and with it being mating season—the birds became even more frenzied.
"Scatter!" Ye Qing shouted, urging everyone to flee.
But it was too late. One eagle swooped in and slashed a deep wound across Ye Qing's shoulder.
Ling Yue arrived just in time to see Ye Qing and two others surrounded by the sky-darkening swarm of Silver Claw Eagles.
Without hesitation, she drew the Yuan Iron Arrow she had taken from Song Han and fired.
As expected of an arrow made of 50% Yuan-grade iron—its gleam flashed through the air and pierced an eagle's wing, sending the beast crashing to the ground.
The sudden attack startled the flock, causing them to rise higher and granting the group a brief window to move.
"Squeak!" Little Squeak poked his head out of Ling Yue's robe and pointed his tiny paws toward the bushes. Ling Yue followed his gaze—and spotted Song Han hiding like a rat.
Good. Ling Yue didn't need further explanation—she understood everything.
Because of their soul contract, she and Little Squeak could communicate on a basic level without words.
"Squeak!"
With a bark, Big Yellow shot toward the target identified by Little Squeak.
Song Han had no idea how he'd been discovered. Startled by the glowing eyes rushing at him through the dark, he panicked.
What was wrong with this dog? Without warning or provocation, the red-eyed beast chased him like it had a vendetta.
In a panic, Song Han fled toward the cliffs—right into the eagle swarm.
Seeing Song Han appear, the Ye family members began to piece things together.
"Song Han—it's you!" Ye Qing's eyes were bloodshot with rage as the truth dawned on him.
"That shadow earlier—it was him! He deliberately lured us to the cliff!" Ling Yue called out, stepping into the fray.
"Ye Ling Yue, don't you dare slander me!" Song Han shouted, now bleeding from eagle scratches and unable to escape Big Yellow's pursuit.
But a piercing shriek drowned out their argument, making their ears ring.
From the depths of the cliffs, the Silver Claw Eagle King emerged. Its silvery feathers glistened like polished oil, and its claws gleamed with murderous sharpness.
A high-class predatory beast—Silver Claw Eagle King—had entered the battle!
Everyone, including Ling Yue, felt their scalps go numb. The Eagle King was the ruler of the cliff skies. Even an eighth-rank martialist might not survive against it—let alone them.
Drawn by the scent of the drug on Song Han's clothes, the Eagle King dove and seized him with its claws.
"HELP!" Song Han screamed, but no one had the time or will to save him.
The Eagle King dropped him from the sky, and the screams faded into silence.
With its first victim dealt with, the Eagle King's killing intent surged even higher.
"Ye Ning, send a distress signal—everyone, gather and defend back-to-back!" Ling Yue shouted.
Frightened senseless, the remaining group members rushed together. With their backs pressed close, they fought off the eagles with all they had.
The Eagle King didn't dive immediately. Instead, it hovered in the air before spreading its wings wide.
Fwoosh!
Mighty gusts of wind slammed into the group.
Unable to stand against the sheer force, Ling Yue and the others were blown off their feet—on the verge of falling into the abyss.
But death by falling wasn't enough for the Eagle King. It dove straight at Ling Yue with claws outstretched.
Ling Yue's eyes sharpened. In a flash, she countered with a grab of her own—aiming at the eagle's claw.
"Flying dagger, go!"
Whoosh!
The dagger cut through the air with a high-pitched hum, striking the Eagle King's abdomen. Blood splattered and feathers rained down.
CAW—CAWW—!!
In a stunning turn, the cliff's overlord let out a dying cry as it plunged down the abyss—dragging Ling Yue with it.
As she fell, Ling Yue managed to grab onto a thick vine, stopping her descent.
But the danger wasn't over. Several Silver Claw Eagles immediately dove at her, pecking with ruthless ferocity.