1348: Treasure

“Only one million six hundred and fifty thousand star coins left to reach the goal.”

Inside the spacecraft, named Blue Star, Wang Chen leaned back on a comfortable sofa, calculating his savings from the past few days.

This was his third day in the Black Forest. After dealing with that group of Ferocious Wolves, his luck had been consistently good, as he successively dealt with several more waves of Vicious Beasts.

Now, the accumulated bounty, along with what the kind-hearted person had contributed earlier, had reached eight million three hundred and fifty thousand star coins.

As long as he encountered another wave of Vicious Beasts, or a few lone Realm Four Peak Stage Vicious Beasts, he would have enough money to purchase citizen status.

“Once I obtain Empire citizen status and dissolve my subordinate relationship with Shen Yu, I can become a formal mercenary.”

“At that time, I can start taking on missions to deal with the Nightmare Ghost Disaster.”

“It's been so many days without experience points coming in, I feel like food has no taste now.”

Wang Chen pondered silently while spinning his identity card on his fingertip.

Without experience points coming in, the little ones temporarily couldn't leave the Beast Pet Space.

He wasn't sure why this was happening. They had undergone the Ascension transformation together, yet the little ones were stuck.

Although he could still use secret techniques normally, the little ones couldn't come out to move around, which made him feel a bit lonely when he was by himself.

“Master, we have already searched most of the Black Forest. To find suitable Vicious Beasts now, we might have to enter the core area of the Black Forest.”

At this moment, Shen Yu walked over and asked:

“According to the surrounding natives, there might be Five Realm Vicious Beast kings in the core area of the Black Forest. Master, what do you think? Should we change locations?”

“No need, just go directly to the core area.”

Wang Chen shook his head.

“Might be” doesn't mean “definitely will be.”

Such rumors are always the most unreliable.

Moreover, even if he did encounter a Five Realm Vicious Beast king, with the excellent performance of the Blue Star spacecraft, Wang Chen was confident he could retreat safely.

“There's no need to search the remaining areas. We will directly go deep into the core area of the Black Forest and finish this matter as soon as possible.”

Finally, Wang Chen made the decision.

“Understood, Master.”

Shen Yu respectfully responded, but after speaking, she didn't immediately go to the control room. Instead, she stood still, her expression a bit hesitant.

“Is there anything else?”

Seeing this, Wang Chen frowned and looked over.

“Master, I've noticed that the frequency of mercenaries appearing around us is increasing, and Blue Star also scanned other spacecraft entering the Black Forest before…”

“I suspect something is about to happen in the Black Forest, attracting a large number of mercenaries. The situation might become very complicated from now on.”

Shen Yu said, a worried expression on her face.

“Hmm?”

“Have you seen anyone from the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group?”

Wang Chen asked, intrigued by her words.

“No.”

Shen Yu first shook her head, then added:

“But I saw the marks left by members of the Fire Fox Mercenary Group, and I also found traces of the Storm Mercenary Group earlier.”

Not hearing any news about the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, Wang Chen felt inexplicably disappointed, but still asked:

“Are these two mercenary groups special in any way?”

“The Fire Fox Mercenary Group and the Storm Mercenary Group are quite outstanding among the mercenary groups that have come to Jin Yu Star.”

“Unlike other mercenary groups, who can only take on missions issued by the association, they are directly employed by the Seven Stars Sect and have joined the development of Jin Yu Star.”

“All official members of these two mercenary groups are Realm Four, and their leaders and vice-leaders have all reached Realm Four Peak Stage. Their strength is extremely high, and it is said that they are not far from breaking through the first great heavenly tribulation.”

Shen Yu provided Wang Chen with a detailed introduction to the Fire Fox Mercenary Group and the Storm Mercenary Group.

Compared to these two mercenary groups, the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group was like a younger brother. The Fire Fox Mercenary Group and the Storm Mercenary Group could easily wipe out the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group by sending out just a small squad.

“I see. In that case, it's fine. Continue exploring deeper into the Black Forest as I said before.”

“We won't interfere with them; as long as they don't provoke us, there's no need to pay attention to them.”

After listening, Wang Chen waved his hand dismissively, instructing Shen Yu to carry out his orders.

...

At the same time.

Outside the Black Forest, in a temporarily set up camp.

Chen Feng, the leader of the Storm Mercenary Group, frowned, staring at a hand-drawn map, his finger subconsciously sliding across it, lost in thought.

Just then, someone suddenly walked up beside him and slapped him on the shoulder:

“Old Chen, what are you thinking about so intently?”

“…”

Chen Feng came back to his senses and turned his head, seeing a rugged face.

“Old Zhang, can you stop being so elusive? Frightening people can scare them to death!”

Seeing this person, Chen Feng irritably removed the other's hand.

The newcomer was Zhang Bao, the vice-leader of the Storm Mercenary Group.

“Hey, isn't that a bit unreasonable? You were just so lost in thought yourself, how can you blame me for being elusive?”

Zhang Bao shrugged, pulled a chair from nearby, and sat down.

“The Fire Fox people have also arrived. Our people saw their third team leader, Cui Keqin, in the Black Forest.”

After sitting down, Zhang Bao brought up the main topic.

“It's good that they've come. We can't determine the exact location of that Treasure Trove right now, and with our manpower, we can't conduct a carpet search. Their joining will help us share a lot of the burden.”

Hearing this, Chen Feng said indifferently.

“That's true.”

Zhang Bao nodded, his expression subtly excited as he said:

“If they find the location first, we'll just snatch it from them!”

“You brute, we haven't even found it yet!”

Chen Feng gave Zhang Bao an exasperated look, then shook his head and said:

“Besides, the information revealed by that native might not be accurate. Whether the Treasure Trove truly exists is still an unknown.”

“No way…”

“Is that old man lying to us?”

Zhang Bao's eyes widened, and he shot up from his chair.

“Damn it, if he dares to lie to us, I'll crush his bones one by one.”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Chen Feng quickly pressed Zhang Bao back down.

“What he said was all true and passed the lie detector test. What I mean is, what he knows might be false.”

“After all, for a Treasure Trove from ten thousand years ago, with such a long time passing, no one can guarantee that there haven't been any changes during this period, causing the long-circulated information to be corrupted.”

“Moreover, the value of a Treasure Trove left by a Sect native to a remote Life Star like Jin Yu Star couldn't be too high.”

“Don't dream of getting rich overnight. I estimate that even if we get our hands on it, at most it will allow us to exchange for a new small civilian spaceship.”

Chen Feng said calmly, turning back to stare at the hand-drawn map.