Zhang Xiaoli ignored Qin Shilei's suggestion and piloted the drone towards a protruding rock on the left.
Landing, then stopping.
The propellers had just stopped spinning when the eagle appeared above the cliff.
The eagle showed no reaction to the palm-sized drone ten meters from the cave. It flew into its nest for a while before flying further away into the forest.
"That was close."
Qin Shilei gave a thumbs-up and praised, "You're still more experienced."
"If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have had time to fly to the woods on the right. You likely would have been targeted and attacked by the eagle."
Zhang Xiaoli replied modestly, "It's thanks to this small drone that can land so flexibly."
As they spoke, she was already piloting the drone back.
Holding the controller, Qin Shilei carefully watched the recorded footage.
From here to the top of the cliff, it was just a matter of following a small path.
The key was the section from the cliff top to the cave.
The goal was to select the most suitable route for sliding down and climbing up.
While Qin Shilei was planning the route, Zhang Xiaoli was also observing the intervals between the eagle's departures.
"In two hours, the eagle went out five times. The shortest was 18 minutes for the first trip, and the longest was over half an hour."
Zhang Xiaoli recounted the data she had recorded.
"Alright, you stay here and be ready to provide support with the drone at any time."
Qin Shilei changed into a camouflage suit, went downstairs, climbed over the wall, and dashed towards the cliff top.
Half an hour later, Qin Shilei had reached the vicinity of the cliff near the cave.
After hiding in the bushes for only a few minutes, the eagle returned.
Two minutes later, the eagle left in a hurry again.
Qin Shilei quickly went to the edge of the cliff, took out a rope from his spatial ring, and tied it to a tree.
He rapidly descended using a rappel device.
Although Qin Shilei had never engaged in activities like rock climbing, his powerful physique, having leveled up six times, allowed him to quickly grasp the techniques of rappelling.
In less than four minutes, he had descended to the side of the cave.
Zhang Xiaoli, who had been watching the scene through binoculars, broke out in a cold sweat.
Qin Shilei reached out his hand, and a silver treasure chest entered his spatial ring.
Undeterred, he peered further into the nest.
It was still empty.
He chuckled to himself and quickly began to climb back up.
Scaling walls and traversing cliffs.
Upon activating 'Instant Step', the abilities within immediately took effect.
For the steep cliff, Qin Shilei moved as if on level ground. In just ten seconds, he had ascended thirty meters.
'Instant Step' entered its cooldown period, requiring ten minutes before it could be used again.
For the remaining twenty meters, Qin Shilei estimated it would take less than five minutes.
Fifteen meters.
Ten meters.
"Screech!"
Suddenly, a distant eagle cry was heard.
"Holy crap!"
Qin Shilei accelerated his pace further.
Zhang Xiaoli also dropped her binoculars and quickly activated the small drone.
Eight meters.
Five meters.
The enormous eagle was now above the cliff.
Three meters.
"Screech screech!"
The eagle had spotted Qin Shilei and was swooning downwards with a cry.
Two meters.
The cliff top was within reach, but Qin Shilei had to stop.
He turned to face the rapidly approaching eagle.
Facing the eagle at close range, he realized how massive it was.
Its wingspan was nearly four meters.
Its jade-like talons gleamed with a chilling light, causing one to tremble at the sight.
This must be a mutated animal mentioned by the system.
Qin Shilei had this realization instantly in his heart.
At this moment, the creature's sharp talons were less than half a meter away from him.
If it managed to grab him with its talons, he would likely be torn in half instantly.
The Seven-Star Sword appeared in his hand instantly, and he swung it diagonally towards the talons.
Clang!
A flash of sparks erupted. Qin Shilei staggered, almost sliding down, and quickly wrapped his left hand around the rope a couple of times.
The sharp Seven-Star Sword had been ineffective for the first time.
Even a powerful evolved giant zombie had its arm, as thick as a thigh, severed by his sword.
Yet, it had not left even a scratch on the eagle's talons.
The eagle's talons were incredibly tough.
Missing its attack, the eagle circled and flew back.
Qin Shilei pushed off with his feet, swinging his body half a meter to the side to evade the talons.
Simultaneously, he thrust the sword straight towards the eagle's wing root.
The eagle sharply pecked its head, accurately striking the sword.
The Seven-Star Sword almost flew out of his hand.
The second round, neither side gained an advantage.
However, Qin Shilei was at a disadvantage.
He was suspended on the cliff, his feet not on solid ground, with most of his weight supported only by the rope in his left hand.
He could only exert six to seven tenths of his strength.
One wrong move, and he could plummet off the cliff, leaving no trace behind.
"Screech screech!"
Seeing that it couldn't harm Qin Shilei after two attempts, the eagle didn't rush into a third attack. Instead, it began to circle in the sky.
At this moment, the drone controlled by Zhang Xiaoli had approached.
It flew directly towards the eagle.
Attempting to attract the eagle's attention, allowing Qin Shilei to climb back up the cliff.
The eagle glanced at it dismissively, not taking the little thing seriously.
With a powerful flap of its wings, it sent the drone tumbling seven or eight meters away.
The eagle used the force of this flap to charge towards Qin Shilei from above.
"Not good."
Qin Shilei's heart sank. He instantly realized the creature intended to sever the rope first.
One-Punch Man.
Qin Shilei instantly felt an invincible power surge through his entire body.
He pushed off with his feet, pulling on the rope with his left hand, and swung his body in an arc towards the sky.
By the time the eagle pecked at the rope, he had already reached above and behind it.
Relying on his immense momentum, Qin Shilei flashed towards the eagle's head.
In the face of imminent death, the eagle flapped its wings wildly and pushed off with its talons, trying to escape upwards.
Although this saved it from being decapitated, the Seven-Star Sword pierced its back and went straight through its chest.
"Screech!"
The eagle let out a pained cry.
Near death, its wings flapped involuntarily, causing its body to move further away from the cliff.
At this moment, Qin Shilei's right foot had landed on the eagle's back.
He had intended to use this push to leap back to the cliff edge.
Due to the eagle's dying movement, he was also carried away from the cliff and was about to fall straight down.
Qin Shilei bent over and touched it, and the eagle's corpse beneath his feet was instantly absorbed into his spatial ring.
At the same time, a parachute appeared in his hand.
Without time to put it on, Qin Shilei directly pulled the parachute.
His rapidly descending figure swayed left and right for a few moments before slowly coming down.
"Hoo!"
Qin Shilei took a deep breath, his mind finally settling.
Fortunately, he had already prepared for the worst and had made backup plans.
This parachute, bought with two packets of instant noodles, had become his last resort.
In dormitory 808, Zhang Xiaoli watched as Qin Shilei had killed the eagle and was about to land safely with the parachute.
The worry in her heart finally eased.
"Screech!"
Suddenly, another eagle cry echoed from afar.
"No way?"
Qin Shilei could only hope that he could land in the lake below before the eagle arrived.