“Little Ryan, Grandpa will try his best to come back for you before you turn seventeen. If I haven’t returned by then, it probably means something has happened to me. In that case, you must never come looking for me. Just focus on your cultivation and live your own life well.”

“When the day comes that your cultivation reaches a high enough level and you can break the memory seal of the Soul Suppressing Pearl, you will naturally learn what happened ten years ago.”

“Those maps are of the unique places within the Extreme Frost Mountains, drawn by Grandpa. They show detailed locations of spirit herbs, spirit stones, and the activity ranges of many spirit beasts. I’ve specially marked the spirit beasts and spirit herbs that are useful for your cultivation. After you wake up, you can go and gather or hunt them as your abilities allow.”

“These years, Grandpa has traveled frequently within the Extreme Frost Mountains and has made acquaintances with some spirit beasts. If one day you need to go deep into or cross the Extreme Frost Mountains, remember to bring that statue. Some spirit beasts recognize it. If you show it, those that know the statue won’t trouble you.”

“I’ve also specially marked the territories of the spirit beasts that definitely recognize the statue. Pay attention to those.”

“The spirit herbs and medicines on the Ling Family’s Medicine Mountain can’t withstand the damage from the overflow of lightning. When I was here before, I would guide the lightning overflow from your cultivation elsewhere, so it wouldn’t affect the spirit herbs on the mountain. Before I left, I rearranged things, but because I left in a hurry, I couldn’t cover everything. Over time, the lightning overflow from your cultivation will still damage the growth of those spirit herbs. I’m afraid it will eventually draw the Ling Family’s attention, so be mindful of this.”

“The Soul Suppressing Pearl is a supreme treasure, the only spirit artifact your parents left you. It’s not just for sealing your memories—there are many mysteries within it that even I can’t unravel. You must keep that pearl safe and never let anyone else see it, lest it bring you immense trouble! Remember this!”

“……”

The letter wasn’t very long. Ryan Carter finished reading it quickly. After pondering for a while, he took out the stack of maps and began to study them intently.

The top map showed a location only thirty li from Medicine Mountain. Several prominent spots were circled, and one of them was marked as the home of the Shadow Lightning Eagle.

Spirit beasts are ranked by tiers, from weakest to strongest. First-tier is the weakest, equivalent to the strength of a martial artist at the Body Tempering Realm. Tenth-tier is the strongest—rumor has it that tenth-tier spirit beasts are terrifying beyond measure, comparable to the ultimate martial artists of the Domain Origin Realm.

The Shadow Lightning Eagle is only a first-tier beast. It prefers to live in groups, has low physical defense, but is skilled at attacking. They usually appear in flocks, move swiftly, and when attacking, they first shoot lightning to paralyze their prey before closing in to tear it apart with sharp claws and fangs.

The reason David Carter specially marked the Shadow Lightning Eagle is entirely because the beast core of this spirit beast contains lightning spiritual power. Of course, the lightning power in those beast cores is still far inferior to the thunder currents of the Nine Heavens and can’t help Ryan Carter temper his flesh and blood.

However, the lightning power in the Shadow Lightning Eagle’s beast core still has its uses. After absorbing it, Ryan Carter can easily convert it into spiritual power!

Spiritual power is the core source of strength for martial artists and the most basic standard for measuring their power and cultivation level.

Generally speaking, the more abundant and refined a martial artist’s spiritual power, the stronger and higher their cultivation realm.

This is why David Carter specially marked it—the beast core of the Shadow Lightning Eagle can help Ryan Carter quickly accumulate a reserve of spiritual power.

“Shadow Lightning Eagle…”

After carefully putting away the letter, maps, and wooden statue, Ryan Carter considered for a moment. Since he was already awake and the days of thunder and lightning wouldn’t last forever, he decided to try his luck in the Extreme Frost Mountains. Maybe he could hunt some Shadow Lightning Eagles to accumulate spiritual power and determine his true cultivation level.

In the pouring rain, Ryan Carter left the stone cave on Medicine Mountain and headed alone into the deeper parts of the Extreme Frost Mountains.

……

Mountain top.

The brothers John Harper and Robert Harper, after the thunder and lightning stopped, stood in the pouring rain under umbrellas, looking at the withering spirit herbs, feeling utterly helpless.

When they noticed the sudden change in weather and the onset of thunder and lightning, the two brothers hurried to Medicine Mountain. Not long after Ryan Carter entered the mountain to cultivate, they also arrived at the mountain.

This time, John Harper carefully observed the density and direction of the thunder and lightning from the sky and confirmed that the storm was secretly connected to the mountain’s interior, finally verifying his younger brother’s suspicions.

After the thunder and lightning faded, the brothers also noticed that the spirit herbs were withering much faster, and they finally concluded that the dying herbs were indeed related to Ryan Carter.

“Big brother, it’s the rainy season between spring and summer now, and if this continues, I’m afraid we won’t harvest a single spirit herb or medicine this time. As for Nebula Pavilion, sigh…” Robert Harper shook his head bitterly and sighed.

“No matter if Ryan Carter is truly foolish or just pretending, this time, I must have a good talk with him!”

With a darkened face and suppressed anger, John Harper went to the entrance of a mine on Medicine Mountain and sat down silently, waiting for Ryan Carter to come out.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know that Ryan Carter, who had behaved himself for five years, had broken his routine for the first time today!

Ryan Carter didn’t leave the cave before nightfall. Instead, shortly before John Harper arrived, he braved the torrential rain and ventured alone into the depths of the Extreme Frost Mountains.

Chapter 7: The Silent Ridge