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However, the crows had wings, were adept at flying, and extremely cunning. With slightest rustling of leaves, the sentry crows would immediately fly off and could not be caught at all.

The crackdown by the soldiers in the mountains naturally came to nothing.

Later, the government sent skilled archers into the mountains to shoot down the crows. This time, they achieved some success.

But it angered the bird demons among the crows, which spat out green flames. Anyone touched by it would immediately drop dead.

What was strange was that the slain archers’ bodies were intact, showing no signs of damage.

The green flames did not burn the mountains, trees, or clothes, but anyone touched by them would instantly die.

Only after consulting knowledgeable cultivators did they learn that the green flames spewed by those crow demons was nether flame.

Which burns a person’s soul.

For a while, the government was also at a loss and posted offer rewards for experts to deal with those crow demons. Unfortunately, no one dared to accept the challenge.

Just when the government was at its wits’ end, a great bird, enveloped in fire, appeared in the sky from afar and made its way directly into the Qifeng Mountain Range. Some said that its wingspan was nearly a hundred meters wide, and its body was twenty to thirty meters long—so immense that it blotted out the sky and was an astonishing sight.

Strangely, ever since it entered the mountain, those man-eating crows had not been seen again.

Even today, there are very few crows within the Qifeng Mountain Range.

And they never harm humans.

This further convinced the local people that the Fire Phoenix’s descent upon the Qifeng Mountain Range was true.

At this moment, Qin Niu was leading Green Ox deeper into the mountain range.

Dressed in King Pig Leather Armor and possessing the cultivation of the Innate Realm, he was able to disregard any thorns and spikes.

He moved through the mountains more nimbly than wild animals.

He even discovered numerous thoroughfares left by large beasts.

Based on the footprints and droppings on the ground, it was apparent these passages had been made by groups of wild boars.

Wild boars liked to search for food in large, organized groups.

Qin Niu had previously slaughtered a wild boar king that had turned into a demon, yet the rest of the boar herd still dared to roam in this area.

Following the trails they had used, Qin Niu traveled about seventeen or eighteen li non-stop, gradually making his way deeper into the mountain.

The vegetation around him was not as lush as before.

Or rather, tall trees everywhere became the norm, while shorter trees and plants like ferns became increasingly scarce.

The ground hosted only some sporadic weeds or low ferns.

Most of the sunlight was blocked by tall trees, making it difficult for smaller plants to survive in this environment.

This was a true primeval forest, seldom visited by humans.

Even woodcutters who regularly ventured into the mountains to chop wood did not dare to come here.

Perhaps some herb pickers would enter.

In the forest, apart from Qin Niu and Green Ox, there seemed to be no other animals.

He was well aware that this was because other animals were natives; they hid away in their own lairs.

In such an environment, he felt somewhat uneasy.

Occasionally, he would spot a rare medicinal herb that was hard to find outside.

No birds could be seen on the trees.

Moreover, the mountains within were contiguous, and looking ahead, one could faintly see towering peaks piercing the clouds, standing tall between heaven and earth.

They were hidden in the mist, almost reaching the heavens.

Despite its appearance like a fairyland, such places were uninhabited by humans.

Qin Niu looked up at the sky; Xiao Qing was still cultivating under the Ancient Banyan Tree. She did not have the ability to leave the Ancient Banyan Tree Maze.

If Qin Niu could not return before dark and lead her out, she would disappear the next day.

The towering peaks ahead beckoned to him but also gave him an intense feeling of danger.

“I’ll come back to explore deeper into the mountains tomorrow. For today, this is far enough.”

Qin Niu did not venture any further but began to traverse laterally, surveying this stretch of mountainous land.

Despite being owned by the government, beyond the outer regions, no one would come to manage it.

If it were not expensive, he would buy it outright.

If the price was exorbitant, he would definitely not make the purchase.

Mountains have traditionally been of little value.

Unless there were gold mines, silver mines, or spiritual veins, they could potentially have high value.

The real moneymakers are farmlands.

Especially fertile ones.

Because farmlands can be used to grow crops, directly generating economic effects.

There are many who would lease farmland, but very few would lease mountains.

Qin Niu purchased this expanse of mountain with the aim of turning it into a formidable stronghold. In doing so, he wouldn’t fear even the strongest of enemies.

Ancient human ancestors, when battling gigantic beasts, often sought refuge in caves and underground burrows.

These were the earliest human dwellings.

Later, as humans triumphed over the gigantic beasts and began to flourish, they moved from living in underground caves and mountain caverns to establishing homes on the ground surface.

Qin Niu quickly traversed laterally through the terrain.

Along the way, he encountered no danger.

Occasionally, a rabbit that had strayed from its master would dart out from the bushes, fleeing swiftly to some other place.

“Clang, clang!”

“Clang, clang!”

From within the depths of the mighty peaks, a petrifying cry echoed.

It did not sound like the roar of a ferocious beast but rather like the call of a bird.

Yet, this call seemed as if it could pierce through the clouds, soaring straight up to the heavens.

Hearing it instilled a sense of awe.

No ordinary bird, not even large species like peafowls or eagles, could emit such a resounding cry.

Green Ox stopped in its tracks and looked towards the distant rugged peak.

For the first time ever, a trace of seriousness could be seen in its eyes.

“Lazy ox is usually fearless of both heaven and earth, so any creature that makes it feel solemn must be no ordinary being,” Qin Niu silently thought.

It seemed that deep within this mountain, there were still many secrets to be uncovered.

Last time he had encountered a wild boar king that had turned into a monster, which suggested that the mountain might still be home to even more formidable mythical beasts.

“Lazy ox, don’t be nosy, let’s go!”

Of course, Qin Niu wouldn’t risk exploring deeper into the mountain.

His current strength was still too weak, and recklessly venturing into danger would be like asking for an early demise.

The experience of nearly losing his life when he wandered into the Ancient Banyan Tree Maze was still vivid in his memory.

He guided Green Ox and dared to explore only within the current depth they were at.

As they proceeded, they clearly became much more cautious and vigilant.

“Woo…”

A low growl came from behind a large tree up ahead.

A spotted tiger with drooping eyes, its body crouched low, fixed its gaze on the approaching pair of man and ox.

It’s said that a tiger’s territory spans five hundred miles.

Meaning, within a five hundred mile radius, only one adult tiger resides.

Qin Niu had heard of the legends of tigers but had never seen a real one until now.

At this moment, as he observed the yellow-striped tiger, he could feel a faint aura of tiger’s might emanating from it. However, for him, a cultivator of the Innate Realm, it posed no threat at all.

Even Green Ox could probably handle this adult tiger with ease.

“Ao~!”

Green Ox issued a humming call towards the fierce tiger in front.

It kept flicking its tail, its eyes filled with curiosity and devoid of fear.

The adage about a newborn calf not fearing tigers truly applied here.

Green Ox was utterly oblivious to how fierce and terrifying tigers could be.

An adult tiger was fully capable of hunting and killing a fully grown adult water buffalo on its own, and would do so quite effortlessly.

A calf the size of Green Ox could easily be pressed to death on the ground with a single slap of its paw.

The paw strike of a tiger is even more terrifying than that of a Black Bear.

It could deliver a blow with the force of a ton.

Easily capable of smashing the skulls of its prey.

Even the Grey Wolf, a powerful wild animal of the forest, was insignificant in its presence.

Even a pack of wolves would flee immediately upon encountering an adult tiger, daring not to challenge it.

“Roar!”

The tiger, perhaps feeling its majesty had been affronted, let out an angry roar.

Green Ox’s horns pointed towards the fierce tiger, and with a flash of golden light shooting out, struck the tiger’s forehead.

“Woo…”

The fierce tiger instantly turned into a scaredy-cat, its tail between its legs, scampering away without any notion of resistance.