This made the members of the Savage Hunting Party somewhat puzzled.
It wasn't their first time hunting the White-headed Giant Bear. For hunts of this level, their leader wouldn't usually be involved. It was typically the vice-leader, Song Guangyi, who would lead the team.
But this time, with Vice-Leader Song Guangyi and half the members staying behind, their leader Yang Qianrou was personally leading the charge.
Still, it was the leader's decision, and despite their confusion, no one voiced any objections.
Before long, the Savage Hunting Party arrived in a world of ice and snow, where numerous icebergs floated in the water. These icebergs marked the territory of the White-headed Giant Bears.
A White-headed Giant Bear, easily over ten meters tall, appeared before them. Its movements caused the ground to tremble with a resounding thud, and a single swipe of its paw could shatter a floating iceberg.
Although Ning Beichen had already witnessed the might of the giant beasts in this world, seeing this White-headed Giant Bear for the first time still left him deeply impressed.
"This is the White-headed Giant Bear. Who will go deal with it?"
Yang Qianrou asked, seemingly not intending to act herself.
"Leader, I will."
As soon as Yang Qianrou finished speaking, three members of the Savage Hunting Party stepped forward.
"Good, you three go handle the White-headed Giant Bear."
Yang Qianrou instructed.
Soon, the three began their assault on the White-headed Giant Bear.
Among them, one attacked from a distance with a bow and arrow, while the other two engaged in close combat. One wielded a massive axe and began a fierce struggle with the bear.
The other, moving with agility, circled behind, looking for an opportunity to strike the bear's vital points.
The way these three surrounded and attacked the White-headed Giant Bear was highly skilled, clearly indicating they had done this many times before.
Ning Beichen could also see that Yang Qianrou intended to give him a display of power, to let him understand the true strength of the Savage Hunting Party.
However, she was unaware that Ning Beichen was entirely unfazed.
While the White-headed Giant Bear before them was massive with thick hide, appearing difficult to hunt, Ning Beichen could have killed it with a single punch if he wished, rendering all this effort unnecessary.
But since it didn't require his intervention, Ning Beichen naturally observed the situation.
Under the combined assault of the three, the White-headed Giant Bear became extremely agitated. At that moment, the distant archer leaped into the air, drew their bow, and loosed an arrow that precisely struck one of the White-headed Giant Bear's eyes.
With one eye blinded, the White-headed Giant Bear became ferociously savage. A faint red glow emanated from its body. With a swipe of its paw, it sent the axe-wielding member flying, then raised its head and roared.
"This is bad, the White-headed Giant Bear is calling for help! Finish it quickly!"
The three members attacking the bear immediately launched a frenzied assault on the now one-eyed beast.
Arrows streaked across the sky like laser beams, bombarding the bear's body. The axe-wielding fighter, with a roar, unleashed a flurry of blows, striking the bear hundreds of times.
Although the White-headed Giant Bear had batted him away multiple times, the axe-wielder was clearly a body cultivator and was unfazed by the bear's paws. As long as his head wasn't hit, he paid the attacks little mind.
The third fighter, focusing on agility, wielded a sharp dagger, intermittently slicing the White-headed Giant Bear and drawing its blood.
Before long, the White-headed Giant Bear whimpered and collapsed in a pool of blood, no longer able to move.
The fact that these three had hunted the White-headed Giant Bear didn't mean the bear was weak, but rather that the members of the Savage Hunting Party were strong. Other smaller teams might not have been able to hunt a White-headed Giant Bear even with their entire group, and might have even been hunted by it.
This sort of incident had happened many times before; a hunting party of twenty or thirty people would go after a White-headed Giant Bear, fail to hunt it, and end up annihilated.
"Leader, it's done."
The three excitedly declared as they looked at the fallen White-headed Giant Bear.
"Well done."
Yang Qianrou expressed her satisfaction with her subordinates.
Receiving their leader's praise, the three members shot Ning Beichen a proud and somewhat provocative look.
Ning Beichen felt a bit helpless.
He knew that his sudden, powerful entry into the Savage Hunting Party, coupled with rumors of him replacing Vice-Leader Song Guangyi, had ruffled some feathers.
However, out of respect for his strength, they dared not confront him directly, but that didn't mean they truly accepted him.
Being strong was one thing, but contributing to the hunting party was what earned respect. They questioned what right Ning Beichen, a newcomer, had to take Song Guangyi's position.
Ning Beichen clearly understood their thoughts, but he didn't care. He was confident that he would eventually win their sincere admiration.
Just as everyone was preparing to butcher the White-headed Giant Bear, the icebergs suddenly vibrated violently. Then, over a dozen White-headed Giant Bears emerged from within the ice.
Among these White-headed Giant Bears was one that was smaller in size, but instead of a white head, it had a black one.
"Not good, it's the Bear King! The Bear King has come for revenge!"
Yang Qianrou exclaimed urgently.
Even as the third-ranked hunting party, they had no hope of winning against the Bear King and so many White-headed Giant Bears.
They would struggle even to escape, as the White-headed Giant Bears could easily outrun them on the ice, unless they could fly.
"Assemble! Everyone, retreat!"
Yang Qianrou could no longer afford to demonstrate her prowess to Ning Beichen. Faced with the Bear King and this overwhelming force, they might all perish here.
If it were just one or two White-headed Giant Bears, they might have managed. But now there were over a dozen, and with the Bear King, not to mention the White-headed Giant Bears, the Bear King alone was beyond their capabilities.
Everyone immediately began to retreat, but on the ice, they couldn't outrun the four-legged bears.
"You all go first, I'll cover the rear."
As their leader, Yang Qianrou couldn't abandon them. Seeing the White-headed Giant Bears closing in, she stopped, urging Ning Beichen and the others to go ahead.
"Leader, we're not leaving. We'll stay and fight them."
The members of the Savage Hunting Party became anxious upon seeing their leader, Yang Qianrou, intending to stay and cover their retreat. One by one, they refused to withdraw.
The current standing of the Savage Hunting Party was all thanks to Yang Qianrou. At this moment, her leadership was evident.
"Go quickly, staying here will only be sending you to your deaths."
Yang Qianrou shouted at them.
"No, Leader. We're not going, and we won't let you go either. If we die, we die together. No one in the Savage Hunting Party is a coward!"
The members of the Savage Hunting Party declared in unison.