246: Chapter 246 Big Bear!

However, the most eye-catching one was the Ice Field Bear leading the group.

Its physique was even more burly and majestic than its companions.

Its fur was not pure white, but had a faint ice-blue luster, making it look even more extraordinary.

As it swung its massive bear paw, a solid white paw radiance four feet long burst forth!

Wherever the paw radiance passed, the tough black energy defense of the Vine Evil Spirits was easily sliced open like paper.

They then turned into flying ash, a mixture of ice crystals and black smoke.

It was invincible, almost single-handedly bearing the brunt of the attacks from most of the powerful Evil Spirits.

This awe-inspiring Ice Field Bear was precisely one of the leading geniuses of the Icefield Bear Clan participating in this Hidden Dragon Assembly—Xiong Da!

He studied under an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster, was exceptionally gifted, and possessed formidable combat strength.

On the heavenly pride ranking for this Hidden Dragon Assembly, he was ranked as high as ninety-fifth!

The battle did not last long.

Under Xiong Da's powerful leadership, the remaining Vine Evil Spirits were quickly cleared out.

But while Xiong Da's aura remained steady and powerful, the other four Ice Field Bears were all panting heavily, their snow-white fur stained with a lot of black ash and ice chips.

There were even a few spots with slight burns or signs of corrosion.

After a short rest, one of the Ice Field Bears, which was relatively smaller and had an aura at the third grade late stage, spoke while gasping for breath: "Xiong Da, I... I'm out.

This ghostly place is just too dangerous."

Its bear eyes held a lingering fear that was hard to hide: "The further in we go, the stronger and more numerous these vine monsters become.

My strength can't keep up... If it weren't for everyone looking out for me, I probably would have..."

Another Ice Field Bear, also only at the third grade late stage, immediately voiced its stance as well, its voice raspy: "I'm out too.

No matter how good the treasures are, you have to be alive to take them.

If we go further, we'll only become burdens, or even... drag everyone down."

They knew very well that facing the potentially more treacherous environment and enemies ahead, with their strength, the chances of survival were slim.

Continuing forward would not only yield no benefits but might instead cost them their lives.

Hearing this, Xiong Da's massive ice-blue bear eyes gazed at the two clansmen who proposed to withdraw.

After a moment of silence, his deep, thunder-like voice rang out: "Granted. Return the way you came, and be sure to be careful.

If you encounter an irresistible enemy, prioritize survival; points come second."

The two Ice Field Bears nodded hurriedly, not daring to stay a moment longer. They turned and left along the markers left on the way, their steps slightly staggered but their speed not slow.

Their figures soon disappeared into the intricate vine maze.

Only Xiong Da and two other Ice Field Bears remained on the spot.

The two remaining Ice Field Bears had both reached the Third-Rank Peak. Although not as strong as Xiong Da, they were considered elites of the clan.

They glanced at each other and instinctively moved a few steps closer to one another, forming a triangular formation where they could support each other.

Only then did they turn their gaze toward Xiong Da, their eyes carrying clear wariness.

Although they all belonged to the Icefield Bear Clan, they were not blood brothers; they had only formed a temporary team because their strengths were similar and their goals aligned.

In this crisis-ridden secret realm where interests were paramount, trust was an extremely luxurious thing.

No one could guarantee that after discovering truly precious treasures, the strongest, Xiong Da, wouldn't turn cold and ruthless to monopolize them.

By sticking together, the two of them could at least form a certain check at a critical moment, adding a bit of leverage for negotiation or survival.

Seeing this, Xiong Da's massive head turned slightly, and two streams of white air carrying ice shards snorted from his nostrils.

He seemed indifferent to his companions' wariness, or perhaps he simply didn't care about their thoughts.

He just said deeply: "Keep up."

After saying that, he took heavy strides and continued toward the deeper parts of the black vine area.

The other two Ice Field Bears looked at each other and hurriedly followed, but they always maintained a distance they considered safe from Xiong Da.

It wasn't just the Icefield Bear Clan.

In this vast and eerie sea of black vines, the sounds of blood-qi collisions and the roars of Evil Spirits could be heard faintly from different directions.

Clearly, far more than just the Icefield Bear Clan had been teleported to this place.

One figure after another was struggling to push toward the central zone of this area.

There were Storm Winged People teams with slender builds and wind-like movements, tearing through vines with sharp claws.

There were Lava Lizards covered in dark scales, with faint sparks in their mouths.

There were Mountain Giant Spirits covered in rock armor, moving slowly but as steady as boulders, using brute force to crush the vine obstacles and Evil Spirits ahead.

There were even other racial geniuses with strange forms and powerful auras.

They fought individually or formed temporary alliances, exploring and slaughtering in this crisis-ridden "vine maze."

Their goals all pointed vaguely toward the depths of this area.

In the fierce battles, one Vine Evil Spirit after another was blown apart, turning into thick black smoke.

Battles broke out sporadically everywhere.

Vine Evil Spirits were blown apart by various powerful attacks, dissipating into wisps of black smoke.

However, none of the geniuses focused on fighting or traveling noticed an extremely eerie phenomenon:

The black smoke formed by the defeated Evil Spirits did not completely decompose and dissipate, or naturally drift away, as it did in other places.

They were like living things, wisps silently sinking down and then... merging into the black vines below that composed the "ground"!

And as more and more black smoke was absorbed by the vines, the eerie patterns on the surface of the black vines across the entire vast area seemed to brighten imperceptibly.

An extremely subtle yet incredibly massive flow of energy...

Was slowly and steadily converging... toward the deepest part of the region beneath this network of vines.

It was as if countless tiny streams were quietly merging into a dark river that was about to surge violently.

...

Stepping into the Vine Forest, Qin Yan was not tempted by the treasures that might exist in the depths; instead, he decided to first find a path to leave this place.

He identified the general direction and began exploring toward the peripheral areas where the terrain felt lower and the vines were relatively sparse.

As he moved, he tried to use the shadows of the thick vines and the terrain's undulations to hide his figure, avoiding unnecessary combat.

However, the perception of the Vine Evil Spirits seemed closely linked to this forest.

Even though he was careful, he still inevitably encountered several ambushes.

These Vine Evil Spirits were even more difficult to deal with than those in the valley.

They could not only attack from the front, but the vines themselves were their weapons and extensions.

They often stabbed out or entangled silently from beneath the feet, overhead, or from the sides and rear.

Qin Yan maintained high alertness. For these scattered attacks, he sought to end the battles quickly, resolving them with minimal commotion and consumption.

The points on the purification ring grew slowly but steadily.