Chapter 48: Challenging the Limits of Lifeforms

Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

On the eastern side of Pagoda Mountain, Xia Hong continuously felt along the cliff face, occasionally glancing up at the mountainside with a flash of impatience in his eyes.

Soon, Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng arrived with two others each from the northern and southern sides respectively.

"No entrance found on the south side."

"Couldn't find one on the north side either."

Xia Hong's expression darkened. He had already searched the entire eastern side without finding Boulder Camp's entrance, leaving only the west.

Shortly after, Yue Feng arrived with Lu Yang and Qiu Peng in tow.

"Nothing on the west side either, no traces at all. It shouldn't be there."

Xia Hong immediately furrowed his brows. How could it be possible that no entrance to Boulder Camp could be found from any of the four directions?

"This makes no sense," Xia Chuan said. "Boulder Camp's base must be around Pagoda Mountain. I remember Father mentioning it before. How could we not find it?"

Yuan Cheng nodded in agreement. "My father said the same thing. It's definitely around here. If we've searched all four sides of the mountain and still can't find it, are they capable of flying or something?"

At the mention of flying, Xia Hong froze momentarily before looking upward, suddenly having an epiphany.

"So that's how it is!"

Unlike typical pyramid-shaped mountains, Pagoda Mountain stood straight and upright, with its peak only slightly narrower than its base.

Xia Hong's upward gaze made the others realize the truth as well.

As everyone looked up, the sharp-eyed Yue Feng was the first to make a discovery:

"Leader, there's a vine here that seems to connect to the top."

Xia Hong quickly went over and took the vine from Yue Feng. With just a gentle tug, several chunks of snow slid down from above.

"This is it. Follow me up carefully."

After testing the vine's sturdiness and finding no issues, Xia Hong immediately climbed up, followed by Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng and the other seven.

The five-meter-wide wooden board was far too conspicuous amidst the snow-covered mountaintop. Xia Hong spotted it immediately after a quick scan and hurried over to stand above the cover.

"Ah......"

As he approached, faint screams could be heard from below. Xia Hong's expression changed instantly as he quickly pulled out a fist-sized black lump from his robe.

"Everyone gather round and take out your hand axes!"

Once the nine men had their axes ready, Xia Hong began applying the black substance to their blades.

The black lump was miraculous - appearing incredibly hard, yet turning liquid-like upon contact with metal. By the time he'd coated all nine axes, only a marble-sized piece remained.

This black substance was naturally the Concentrated Fire Oil that ignited upon contact with Abominations.

Xia Hong drew his small dagger and applied the last bit to its blade before turning to address the group: "Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng - you two come down with me first to assess the situation. The rest stay up here. If we need help, I'll shout immediately. No matter what comes up, attack it with your axes - no exceptions!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Taking a deep breath, Xia Hong made this arrangement since he had no knowledge of what lay below. He stepped forward and yanked open the wooden cover.

"Ah......"

"Shi Dong, have you gone mad? Don't kill me!"

"Spare me, Shi Dong! Stop killing! No more......"

As the three-meter-wide opening was revealed, the continuous screams became clearly audible.

Just as he'd suspected - Shi Dong was indeed being controlled by an Abomination.

Xia Hong jumped straight into the opening, followed closely by Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng.

Upon entering the cavern, a thick metallic scent of blood assaulted their nostrils, rushing straight to their brains and making all three nauseous.

"Mmmpfh......"

Hearing muffled sounds nearby, Xia Hong suppressed his discomfort and looked down to find Shi Qing lying on the ground, struggling desperately while using his eyes to gesture toward the bonfire, clearly urging them to save those there.

His mouth was sealed by something unknown, and his body was bound by countless white threads that weren't simply wrapped around him but pierced through his flesh to restrain him tightly.

"You two free Leader Shi! I'll go save the others!"

The moment he entered, Xia Hong had already seen the ongoing massacre by the bonfire. Now with Shi Qing's silent plea, he didn't hesitate and charged straight toward the Abomination that was thoroughly enjoying its slaughter.

Perhaps too excited from its bloodlust, the Abomination seemed unaware of Xia Hong's arrival, continuing to butcher the ordinary people.

Only when Xia Hong was upon it did the creature toss aside a freshly severed head and whirl around to glare viciously at him.

"You again, you little bastard! Always interfering with my plans!"

Xia Hong quickly scanned the surroundings, his expression darkening as fury erupted within him.

His rage wasn't from the Abomination's insults.

His rage came from the people, the corpses, the countless severed limbs scattered around the bonfire, and the grievously wounded humans writhing and wailing in agony on the ground.

At a glance, Xia Hong estimated at least a hundred dead.

Among the dead were men and women, adults and children.

Even nursing infants hadn't been spared.

Many with mortal wounds lay moaning, their breathing shallow as they awaited death. Xia Hong even noticed one person severed at the waist, their face twisted in terror and pain as they still struggled on the ground.

Those killed instantly now seemed fortunate by comparison.

Xia Hong clenched his fists, his fury boiling over.

Though this was his second time witnessing an Abomination's atrocities, this scene was far more horrific, bloody and merciless than what he'd experienced at Great Xia Camp.

These Abominations that attacked humans indiscriminately had no emotions, let alone conscience.

Their very existence challenged the limits of what could be considered a lifeform.

The deaths of Xia Ding and the lumberjack team, the seventy-two lives lost in the camp's first massacre, and now this appalling scene before him - all these grievances, old and new, combined to fuel Xia Hong's towering rage as he glared at the Abomination controlling Shi Dong, speaking through gritted teeth:

"Vile creature! I know you prefer hiding in the shadows. You'd better pray I never catch you, because when I do, I'll roast you over flames day and night until you're reduced to ashes!"

Xia Hong knew the Shi Dong before him wasn't the Abomination's true form.

Having said his piece, he wasted no more words, drawing his dagger and closing the distance in a flash.

The Abomination's face had already darkened at Xia Hong's words. Now seeing him charge, it flew into a rage, shooting several transparent white threads from its hands toward him.

Seeing the threads, Xia Hong recalled how they'd bound Shi Qing and knew not to underestimate them. He dodged several before raising his dagger to slash at the nearest one.

Sssss......

To his delight, sparks flew the moment blade met thread.

Realizing the threads also carried Abomination properties, Xia Hong discarded all caution. Instead of dodging, he swept his dagger horizontally, cutting through the incoming threads until he reached the creature in just three breaths.

"First installment of your debt, monster. Just wait - you'll die by my hand eventually!"

Eyes blazing with fury, Xia Hong swung his dagger through the air.

Though he'd only recently broken through to the Digging Realm with just over ten thousand jin of base strength, his Great Combat Fist technique amplified his weapon strikes by twenty percent beyond that.

This single slash carried overwhelming force.

The panicked Abomination raised its arms to block, only to have both limbs and head cleaved apart in one stroke. The sheer power sent the head flying while the remaining body remained standing.

Only after four or five breaths did small flames finally appear where the Concentrated Fire Oil had touched its neck.

The flames gradually spread, growing fiercer by the moment - much like the towering inferno of rage burning in Xia Hong's heart.