Chapter 32: Frost Beast Attack (1) |
The upgrade from the Small Fire Pit to the Smelting Furnace brought unexpectedly significant improvements.
The heating range expanded from ten meters to a hundred meters.
Its deterrence and offensive capabilities saw major enhancements, though the exact standards remained unclear for now.
It could directly burn coal for blacksmithing purposes.
The Small Torch functionality was retained.
Most importantly, it introduced a new special item—Concentrated Fire Oil.
Contact with Abominations triggers instant combustion!
Memories of his first summoning of the Small Fire Pit, which reduced the fake Xia Ding to ashes in moments, resurfaced in Xia Hong's mind. His anticipation for the Concentrated Fire Oil's capabilities soared instantly.
This Concentrated Fire Oil was practically the ultimate weapon against Abominations!
The Frost Beasts encountered in the periphery no longer frightened him as more camp members reached the Lumberjack Realm. But Abominations? They still made him nervous.
Of course, Small Torches could be used, but they were limited in number. At best, they served as handheld deterrents against Abominations—hardly reliable when hoping the creatures would stand still to be burned.
Moreover, Small Torches only lasted fifteen minutes.
Concentrated Fire Oil was different—liquid, easy to carry, and inconspicuous.
Most crucially, harmless to humans but igniting upon contact with Abominations.
Those eight words alone opened up tremendous possibilities.
As the flames diminished, the makeshift fire pit assembled from earthen blocks had somehow transformed into a circular furnace over a meter in diameter and two meters tall.
"Hey, how did the fire pit turn into a furnace?"
The first to notice exclaimed in shock, drawing everyone's attention. Those gathering near the furnace felt its radiating warmth, and when they looked at Xia Hong, their eyes burned with newfound fervor.
During the cave disaster earlier, only a handful had witnessed Xia Hong summoning flames from thin air, but word had spread until nearly the entire camp knew.
Still, most had only heard rumors, with many dismissing them as fabrications.
This time was different—the bonfire's transformation into a furnace happened before everyone's eyes, instantly elevating Xia Hong's status in their minds.
Xia Hong naturally offered no explanations.
Creating a deity-like figure might generally be unwise, but circumstances mattered.
For Great Xia Camp, perpetually on the brink of catastrophe, a leader possessing formidable and mysterious abilities played a vital role—uniting the collective and bolstering their confidence in facing the future.
The camp members were manageable, but Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and the seven lumberjack team members who'd witnessed the Small Torch's power and Xia Hong's combat prowess against Frost Beasts regarded him with even greater fervor.
Unconsciously, everyone in Great Xia Camp had developed a shared understanding:
Xia Hong possessed extraordinary strength and commanded esoteric powers enabling him to hunt Frost Beasts and even repel Abominations. He was generous—increasing Crystal Fruit rations so all could eat their fill. He was selfless—sharing Frost Beast meat to enhance everyone's capabilities.
From this understanding emerged a unanimous consensus:
Only under Xia Hong's leadership could they survive longer and live better.
Without mind-reading abilities, Xia Hong couldn't know their exact thoughts, but their gazes revealed two clear truths:
First, his standing among them was rising at an astonishing rate.
Second, every camp member—from his brother Xia Chuan and the lumberjack team to ordinary adults and children—now carried newfound hope for life and the future in their eyes.
......
In the following days, Xia Hong didn't lead expeditions to Redwood Ridge.
Although the upgraded Smelting Furnace consumed twice as much wood daily—four units compared to before—his current wood reserves were overflowing.
With 470 wood units, they could last over three months without gathering more. Combined with their stockpile of over ten thousand jin of Crystal Fruit, short-term isolation posed no issues.
Xia Hong had considered searching near Pagoda Mountain for Boulder Camp to assess their situation.
But fearing the lurking Abomination, he abandoned the idea.
First, while certain Boulder Camp was near Pagoda Mountain, all camps prioritized concealment. Even if he went, finding them was unlikely. If found unharmed, his unexplained appearance might spark conflict.
Second, wariness toward that Abomination held him back.
Previously, it had likely manipulated the fake Xia Ding from shadows. Strictly speaking, Xia Hong still didn't know what the creature even looked like.
Though now armed with anti-Abomination measures, his limited understanding made reckless engagement unwise.
For these reasons, Xia Hong patiently remained camped, training everyone while researching Abomination countermeasures.
"Practicing Long Fist with me serves two key purposes beyond improving Frost Beast meat absorption," Xia Hong declared beside the furnace, shirtless, executing precise punches accompanied by sharp fist winds as he explained Tai Zu Long Fist's essence to encircling trainees.
"All martial arts ultimately train two things: reaction and explosive power—your greatest combat assets.
Reaction means anticipating danger early. Take Frost Beasts—predicting attack angles before they strike lets you respond timely, nullifying threats.
Explosive power means generating maximum force in minimal time—your strongest offensive tool, whether barehanded or armed."
His punches gradually accelerated, powerful fist winds causing the furnace to roar. He continued:
"While Lumberjack Realm provides five thousand jin base strength, that's static lifting power—not equivalent to punching force.
Actual combat's physical constraints prevent full utilization, so constant training is essential—conditioning muscles and perfecting form to unleash your potential."
"Larger motions engage more muscles, enhancing speed and power. Thus, among Tai Zu Long Fist's four sets—Compact Combat, Grand Combat, Free Hands, and Combined Combat—Compact Combat's close-quarters strikes are simplest."
Though rapid, his punches stayed tightly controlled, yet still produced fierce whistling from air friction.
"With limited Compact Combat practice, you'll only muster half your base strength currently. But persistent training will let you achieve eighty percent like me.
Master Compact Combat, and I'll teach Grand Combat—integrating fists, feet, and waist to deliver full power strikes, even surpassing physical limits at advanced levels."
Xia Chuan and others nodded excitedly, having witnessed Xia Hong demonstrate Compact, Grand, and Free Hands sets during outings, well aware of the style's potency.
"Actually, Long Fist's true power lies in weapon compat—"
BOOM...BOOM...BOOM...
The ground suddenly quaked violently beneath them. Xia Hong's expression darkened as he snapped his gaze toward the cave entrance.
Everyone around the furnace leaped to their feet simultaneously, heads whipping toward the tunnel.
"Something's charging at us?"
"That tremor—Frost Beasts?"
"But we sealed the entrance! How could they find us?"
"It's daytime! If Frost Beasts discovered us now, we're doomed!"
Despair instantly flooded most camp members' faces.
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