Chapter 27: Rapid Progress |
The Ice Abyss, Ancient Abyss Era, Prehistoric Civilization, Mo'ao Mountain Range, the Nine Human Towns, five types of Abominations, Warmth Realm experts...
Limited by their strength, Luo Ming, Shi Qing and others had lived in Redwood Ridge for decades without ever venturing out or having any opportunity to communicate with the outside world.
Yang Ning's words undoubtedly broadened their horizons.
But at the same time, it also stirred greater concerns.
All five types of Abominations instinctively evolved by killing humans.
Intermediate-level Craftsman Abominations could even overpower Warmth Realm experts.
If that escaped Wood Puppet Abomination truly evolved to intermediate level, no humans would survive around Redwood Ridge, and they would all inevitably perish.
Luo Ming's expression fluctuated as he stood frozen for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and kneeling before Yang Ning and his companion, pleading:
"Honored sirs, the camps around Redwood Ridge alone stand no chance against that Abomination. We beg you, as fellow humans, to show mercy and help us. Whatever you desire in exchange for slaying that creature, if we have it, it's yours!"
Hearing their plea, Yang Ning and Li Hu exchanged glances, both smiling briefly before composing themselves.
Yang Ning stepped forward to help Luo Ming up:
"To be frank, Leader Luo, Li Hu and I are scouts from Beishuo Town's garrison, sent to map the surrounding areas. We came to Redwood Ridge by chance.
As fellow humans, this encounter is fate. We won't stand idly by.
But as you've seen, this Wood Puppet Abomination is both powerful and cunning. Without a perfect strategy, eliminating it is nearly impossible. We'll help, but you must agree to one condition first."
"Any condition, if it means destroying that Abomination."
"Good, straight to the point then. During this time, Rogge Camp and all surrounding camps must follow our orders. Agreed?"
Luo Ming's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged as he quickly replied:
"I can guarantee Rogge Camp's compliance, but the others..." He glanced at Shi Qing.
Shi Qing had already weighed the pros and cons upon hearing Yang Ning's demand. Meeting Luo Ming's gaze, he nodded: "Boulder Camp agrees. Without destroying that creature, none will survive."
Luo Ming gave Shi Qing a grateful look before turning back: "Besides us two, there are five other camps. I'll convince them once the stakes are clear."
"Leader Luo, it's four now!"
Shi Qing's correction startled Luo Ming.
Originally nine camps surrounded Redwood Ridge. Iron Peak and Shenju had been destroyed by the Abomination, leaving seven. Excluding their two, that should be five.
Shi Qing pointed at the corpses nearby.
Understanding dawned on Luo Ming.
"Four then. Great Xia Camp must have fallen victim too!"
With all lumberjack team members turned into puppets, including Xia Ding, Great Xia Camp's destruction was certain.
Having achieved their goal, Yang Ning and Li Hu nodded: "Then without delay, Leader Luo should summon the remaining four camps to Rogge Camp within days. Organize all Lumberjack Realm members into patrols. In ten days, we'll search the woods for that creature."
Luo Ming agreed and invited them to rest at Rogge Camp while Shi Qing returned to prepare his camp, arranging to meet again at Redwood Ridge in three days.
........
Luo Ming and Shi Qing's conclusion about Great Xia Camp's destruction wasn't baseless.
Small camps needed two essentials to survive: Crystal Fruits and lumber - the latter being more crucial.
Without Crystal Fruits, one could endure hunger for days, but without lumber, they wouldn't survive a single night.
Thus the lumberjack team's importance was evident. With Xia Ding and all lumberjacks dead, even if not killed by Abominations, Great Xia Camp's people would have frozen to death.
However, they failed to account for one variable: Xia Hong.
Far from perishing, Great Xia Camp was thriving more than ever - progressing by leaps and bounds, one might say.
"Leader, I've broken through too!"
Returning empty-handed that night, Xia Hong was in low spirits until hearing good news upon entering the cave:
Xu Ning had broken through.
Among the first five who received Frost Beast meat - besides Xia Hong, Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng - Xu Ning was the last to advance.
Patting Xu Ning's shoulder, Xia Hong smiled: "Finally no more long faces. Starting tomorrow, you can join us outside!"
Yue Feng, Lin Kai and others behind Xia Hong burst into laughter, making Xu Ning blush.
Among the five, Yue Feng had broken through first, followed by Lin Kai, Qiu Peng and Lu Yang.
Seeing his peers already accompanying Xia Hong outside daily - returning with lumber and occasional prey - Xu Ning had grown anxious over his delayed breakthrough, hence his recent sullen dedication to cultivation.
"Leader, I was ashamed - eating Frost Beast meat you risked your lives for while contributing nothing, stuck at pre-breakthrough like dead weight.
Now I can finally help."
Xia Hong frowned at this.
"Are you saying everyone in camp below Lumberjack Realm is dead weight then?"
Xu Ning froze at the question.
Without waiting for an answer, Xia Hong turned to Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, Yue Feng and others: "Do you all think so too?"
Hearing Xia Hong's displeasure, they exchanged glances, answering with silence.
This wasn't unique to them - all camps shared this view.
Ordinary people below Lumberjack Realm couldn't venture out or contribute resources while consuming lumber and Crystal Fruits - what else were they if not burdens?
Even now, portions of their Frost Beast meat were being shared.
Since Xia Hong's first successful Small Torch hunt, they'd replicated it four more times - three Snow Manes and one Frost Wolf totaling nearly 5,000 pounds of meat.
Yet Xia Hong maintained the original 3:5:2 distribution ratio, which had begun chafing.
The deafening silence spoke volumes.
Xia Hong understood their thoughts.
Having planned to address this soon, he seized the opportunity.
"Chuan, you mentioned revising the meat distribution recently. Share your proposal now."
Hearing this, Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng and others' eyes lit up, sensing an impending change.