Chapter 270: Trying For Gold

It was at another location within the endlessly vast snowy forest maze. 

The Mercenary Exchange Event had now shifted into a continuous state of high tension and high action. Hours passed, and numerous squadron groups were throwing all caution into the wind. 

During the period where all Spirit Monsters had gained a strange immense boost in power, there were numerous causalities and destruction all across the independent realm.

Now that the Spirit Monsters roaming in this realm had all got subtly weaker, all squadron groups were going on a relentless attack. 

This year's event had already surprised everyone participating, and the Mercenaries didn't know if something unexpected could happen again. 

And within one random section of the snowy forest maze, one particularly strong squadron group had their eyes set on an incredible treasure.

This squadron group consisted of the usual six people, which made for solidly tight formation. At this point in the event, it wouldn't be uncommon for a close-knit squadron like this one to be brazenly rushing towards their treasure.

Yet, this squadron group wasn't being overly rash and was carefully traversing to their upcoming treasure.

Though this squadron group has the average number of members, their overall prowess was nothing to scoff at. For as within their formation, there were two seventh-level Heavenly Kings!

Furthermore, each squadron member here carried an overbearing appearance that could strongly intimidate weaker groups and even groups on a similar level. 

Each squadron member carried long broad weapons that weighed hundreds of pounds right over their shoulders. It was like weight didn't matter for any of them as they held their massive weapons like it was sacks of potatoes. 

Additionally, each squadron member was wearing pristine white color armor that perfectly fitted their bodies, allowing for perfect movements.

This squadron group was one of several belonging to the White Demon Mercenary group. 

And as true to their infamous reputation, each of them was spouting immensely confident expressions as they slowly traversed to their treasure.

Just five hundred feet away from the White Demon squadron was a colossal, slumbering polar bear-type monster. 

Among all monstrous bear beasts, this specific polar bear stood frighteningly tall. Its heights at least ranged over twenty feet tall, and though it was lying down, it was occupying a massive amount of space. 

Furthermore, this monstrous bear's white fur coat seemed radiantly shining, almost like it took a dip in luminous gloss.

Even while it was sleeping, the monstrous polar bear Heavenly Aura still naturally exuded from its resting body. And the beast was a peak seventh level Heavenly King!

No matter if a squadron group were highly prepared and cautious, most of them wouldn't dare to a peak seventh level Heavenly King Spirit Monster lightly. 

Even when outnumbered, Spirit Monsters at this level tend to have insane vitality that makes it immensely hard to kill them in general. Moreover, with these Spirit Monsters' sudden berserk powers upon near death, most squadron groups would take at least a few minutes for a plan before brazenly rushing in.

However, for this White Demon squadron, none of them were taking such risk into account. In their minds, a vast sum of greed worked over any nerves they had about their safety.

Within one of the seventh level Heavenly King's hands, he held a violently pulsating compass that was wrapped in a bluish glow. And the closer they got to the slumbering Spirit Monster, the harsher the compass's bluish light became.

Furthermore, the seventh level Heavenly King could sense a massive sum of incredibly rich Qi energy swirl around in his Spirit Sense. He was the Vice-Captain of their squadron group, so he naturally reported to the head Captain, telling him, 

"Now that we're much closer to the beast, I can pinpoint a more accurate sense of the treasure. And it must be at least a high Heavenly Rank!" 

Even more greed swirled in each squadron member's eyes.

Like many other squadrons, they weren't having the best times here. In fact, they had quite a few unfortunate encounters that were a legitimate danger to all of their lives.

Only recently, where the Spirit Monsters are seemingly growing weaker, the White Demon squadrons are finding their luck is changing.

Before coming here, they had already dug several other potent Qi treasures. And the Spirit Monsters guarding those treasures were all swiftly dealt with them. 

This is why they have a certain confidence in their actions; they already believe that whatever they have on them can deal with this Powerful Spirit Monster bear.

Right then, the head Captain stopped walking, causing his other squadron members to stop moving as well. 

The head Captain squinted his eyes on the slumbering monstrous bear, and the beast still hadn't taken notice of their presence. 

"Captain, should we go with the usual plan? This type of monster tends to have a more troublesome vitality than most other beasts." The Vice-Captain had suddenly made a suggestion.

The other squadron members knew their places and listened intently to whatever course of actions their Captains would decide. 

For a brief moment, the head Captain closed his eyes, contemplating the Vice-Captain's words.

Soon enough, after rummaging on it for several seconds, the head Captain flung his eye back open. He believed he had just come up with the perfect idea as there was a chilling gleam in his eyes while he stared at the slumbering Spirit Monster.

The head Captain had then started to say, "Ok. Here's the plan-" 

Whatever plan the head Captain had was doomed to never be known. 

Completely out of nowhere, the head Captain felt a tightening lump clutch in his throat, preventing him from speaking further.

And it wasn't just him; his other squadron members all went rigid as a tremendous sense of danger exploded within their Spirit Sense. 

From where the slumbering Spirit Monster laid, the White Demon squadron had suddenly sensed a tremendous sum of powerful Heavenly Qi!

'Hua!' 

Before anyone could see what was happening, a bright blue light burst throughout the whole area, covering everything in a radiant ice glow for hundreds of feet!

At the same time, that sum of powerful Heavenly Qi exploded into a colossal attack! 

The White Demon squadron felt considerable pressure just from the aftershocks of whatever Heavenly Qi blast that was.

"Fuuu…." 

A second after the Heavenly Qi blast, everyone in the White Demon squadron exhaled a cold breath. Their bodies began to instinctively shiver as the temperature had suddenly plummeted to freezing levels.

"Wh-what the hell is-Ah?" 

The head Captain raised a cry of surprise as his eyes landed back on the slumbering Spirit Monster. His other squadron members had also raised cries of shock when their gazes were back on the monstrous bear.

That massive, powerful yet slumbering Spirit Monster bear was now encased in a vast block of Ice Qi! 

The Ice Qi had covered a wide thirty-foot radius and froze everything it came in contact with.

Every member of the White Demon squadron simply stared unblinkingly at the frozen Spirit Monster. Their minds were entirely lagging at the moment, unable to comprehend just how the hell this happened. 

Everything occurred in just an instant snap. Neither the White Demon squadron nor the slumbering Spirit Monster bear could have ever prepared for that massive blast of Heavenly Qi power. 

The thought they also could've been completely caught off guard snapped the White Demon squadron back to reality. An even greater chill than the freezing temperature swept through their entire bodies.

None of them could sense what had caused the Heavenly Qi blast, and even now, they still didn't sense anyone near them! 

Genuine fear began to creep in each White Demon squadron member's mind. They for sure could tell whoever had just attacked would come for them next! 

The head Captain started to surge his Heavenly Qi and attempted to say, 

"Everyone-?!" 

However, his words were caught short once again as he suddenly sensed tremendous danger right by them!

Once again, in an entirely abrupt manner, a colossal sum of Heavenly Qi appeared out of thin air. But this sum of Heavenly Qi was far stronger than the one used on the Spirit Monster bear.

"Shit!!" Everyone in the White Demon squadron fiercely cursed as they desperately tried to gather their Heavenly Qi and Heavenly Aura. 

However, in the split second they raised their powers, they all immediately stopped.

It wasn't that they stopped on their own, but the storm of Heavenly Qi power right by them was utterly suppressing their entire bodies! 

A freezing cold that went even below absolute zero drilled right into each White Demon squadron member's bodies.

In just an instant, frostbite was covering each White Demon squadron member's faces. And before the White Demon squadron could even tell what was going on, a blinding blue glow covered their visions.

'Hua!' 

In a similar manner to the slumbering Spirit Monster bear, the immense sum of Heavenly Qi exploded, causing Ice Qi to cover each White Demon squadron member.

Without even a chance to resist, the whole White Demon squadron was encased in solid blocks of ice Qi. 

And right then, from ten feet behind the White Demon squadron, the person closely following them leaked a small breath.

If the White Demon squadron members weren't completely frozen, they would all be utterly terrified. 

The person behind them was a Captain of the Snow Angel group, Captain Bella!

Throughout this entire time, Bella had trailed right behind the White Demon squadron, going entirely undetected by them. 

"Now to finish this," Bella said with a small lazy smile. 

She had then fished out a Royal Spirit Sword from her spatial ring, covered the whole blade with Gray sword Qi and had then made a full swipe with her sword.

'Chi!' 

A wave of sword Qi unleashed from Bella's Royal Spirit Sword. The wave of sword Qi was an unstoppable force as it effortlessly sliced through the Ice Qi and cleanly torn through each White Demon squadron member's necks.

Every White Demon squadron member's head flew up into their air, yet no gory fountain of blood sprayed out of them. 

The beheaded frozen heads crashed right back into the snowy ground, and on each face, there was a look of horrifying disbelief.

In an instant, a powerful Mercenary squadron group was killed without them even having a chance to resist. And more terrifying was that the White Demon squadron couldn't even sense who was their inevitable executioner.