Chapter Thirty-Six: Opportunity!

Because Fang Mu didn’t waste time looking around and was moving at full speed, even though the snowy ground slowed him a little, it still took him less than an hour to reach the icy mountain area where they had vanished. Only then did he slow his pace and step into the foothills of the mountain.

At the base, crystalline ice formed a series of fantastic and awe-inspiring sights—dozens of thick ice pillars forested together like “ice trees,” towering beneath the mountain. Layers upon layers of icy crystals spanned both sides of the mountain, arching overhead in midair…

It was like stepping into an enchanted world of crystal.

Once inside the mountain’s base, the terrain suddenly became treacherous and complex, causing Fang Mu to furrow his brow.

This must be the legendary “Snowfall Cliff”—one of the more dangerous regions of the One-Star Battlefield, rumored to be haunted by large numbers of bronze and even silver-grade vicious birds.

Were those people here to hunt silver beasts?

Fang Mu speculated as he crept onward, listening intently.

After several dozen minutes of cautious movement, he suddenly froze in his tracks…

Some three hundred meters ahead lay a sheer cliff, ringed at the edge by towering ice pillars. Beneath those pillars, he spotted dozens of figures.

Fang Mu’s heart lurched. He ducked quickly behind one of the “ice trees” and cautiously peered out.

All those people wore white snow ghillie suits. In this frozen world, unless one looked closely, it was easy to overlook them entirely.

But Fang Mu immediately spotted the four-person squad he’d been tracking—they had also changed into snow camouflage at some point. Still, the “Heavy Blade” among them was so conspicuous that, despite their backs being turned and their camouflaged attire, Fang Mu recognized them at once.

The four he’d followed had joined the larger group, all prone on the ground, quietly discussing something and waiting.

But at this distance, Fang Mu couldn’t make out what they were saying, their voices deliberately hushed. The bright glare outside, combined with the fact that his position was on a slope below their ambush, meant he couldn’t see what they were watching.

Fang Mu’s brow creased in concern.

He was nearly certain the four he’d followed belonged to Sirius, and now, with the sudden appearance of dozens more, it was highly likely these newcomers were Sirius members as well.

Judging by how secretive and coordinated they all acted, they were clearly preparing for something major.

It was definitely not a simple beast hunt.

The four-man squad alone was more than sufficient to take down a silver-class beast—why gather so many?

If it was for a gold-class creature, then this number was still far too few.

What, then, was their aim?

Fang Mu studied the group, then looked around at his own position. He realized he was in a rather awkward spot—neither ahead nor behind, but precisely in the middle. If more people came in from behind, he’d be discovered at once.

And if that happened…

It didn’t take much imagination to know his fate would be sealed.

He hadn’t expected to land in such a predicament. His expression darkened, but he quickly surveyed the landscape. After a brief pause, he exhaled softly.

No matter what, he needed to get out of this central area first, lest he be spotted by any newcomers.

He decided to shift leftward, moving with utmost caution, crouching low among the ice pillars and uneven terrain. He was more than two hundred meters from the main group and, being careful, managed to relocate without being noticed.

Half an hour later, Fang Mu had reached the far left section, where a dense cluster of ice crystals and pillars offered perfect cover. Only now did he allow himself to breathe easy, finally feeling a measure of safety.

Just as he settled in, several figures appeared at the entrance.

Fang Mu’s heart leapt, but then he relaxed—luckily, he had moved, or these newcomers would have spotted him instantly.

The new arrivals made no effort to mask their presence, immediately alerting the main group, who turned sharply to look. But it was clear they were allies, as the group visibly relaxed upon recognizing the newcomers.

Soon, someone from the main group tossed several snow ghillie suits from a tactical backpack to the new arrivals, who quickly donned them and merged with the team.

They resumed their low-voiced deliberations—too far away for Fang Mu to hear.

Watching the group settle back down, Fang Mu frowned. Now over three hundred meters away from them, he pulled out his D-785 from his spatial arsenal, hoping to catch a glimpse of what lay outside.

But the result was disappointing.

From his vantage, he could only see a blindingly white sky—nothing else.

He frowned again and sighed.

Among the dozens, there were only a few snipers—just three or four with sniper rifles aimed at something beyond. The rest were all melee evolvers.

Since they were lying in ambush, they clearly intended to act. All Fang Mu had to do was wait, and eventually, he was bound to learn their purpose.

With that in mind, Fang Mu settled in to wait.

And so he waited—for over two hours.

Lying prone on ice and snow for two hours—honestly, in the past, Fang Mu might have frozen half to death by now.

But now, with his body surging with genetic energy, he felt little discomfort. The cold was there, but it was a minor nuisance.

In those two hours, three more squads arrived, swelling the group by more than a dozen.

What on earth were these people planning?

Two hours later, Fang Mu was still completely in the dark, not daring to make a move, still speculating—

Suddenly—BANG BANG BANG!

A sudden, violent burst of gunfire erupted outside.

The unexpected noise startled Fang Mu. In the next moment, his eyes narrowed in realization.

Suppressive fire!

Alongside the snipers, the thunder of heavy machine guns filled the air. He could even see the fierce flashes of gunfire.

Were they hunting a golden beast?

Shock flashed across Fang Mu’s face.

At that very instant, the Sirius squad sprang into action. The melee evolvers leapt from the gap in the cliff edge and vanished from view in a blink.

Only four snipers remained, unmoving as they aimed at their targets.

Fang Mu’s thoughts raced. His eyes locked onto one of the sniper’s heads—

Chang Le!

Finally—

His chance had come at last!

The cold, massive muzzle of the D-785 was now trained directly at Chang Le’s head from behind…

[Today, I noticed more brothers sending rewards. Special thanks to “Bored” for the twenty thousand coins—an old friend of four or five years. To such a generous supporter, half-cat can only say: is that all? Is that all? Hahaha… And also “SiSiSiSiSi”—thanks for the support, bro. New book, new author—please support in every way!]