Chapter 140: Mining Competition, the Hunt Begins |
"All camp members must now go out without earning contribution points.
Lumberjack team members must bring back at least ten thousand jin each night;
Gathering team, at least five thousand jin;
Camp Supplies Office and Artisan Workshop personnel must all go out to cut wood whenever they're not busy;
Including myself, all fifteen hunting team members must now spend all our time mining except when going out hunting with the leader. Even eating and sleeping must be done in the mine tunnels..."
After leaving Xia Hong's room, Xia Chuan immediately summoned Mu Dong, Cheng Feng, Bai Dongying, and all hunting team members.
Except for Zou Yuankai who was too severely injured to get up, even Zhu Shun who could barely walk attended.
Hearing Xia Chuan announce the new regulations, everyone looked somewhat confused.
It wasn't about difficulty - while Great Xia hadn't fully popularized iron tools yet, they weren't lacking saws and axes for cutting.
Cutting two trees per night wasn't too difficult for Lumberjack Realm cultivators.
The problem was bringing the trees back. Even with two people working together, they could only make two trips per night at most. Ten thousand jin might not be the absolute limit for Lumberjack Realm, but it was close.
"Lord Xia Chuan, aren't wood resources already sufficient?"
Bai Dongying was the first to ask. As lumberjack team captain, he needed to convey Xia Chuan's decision to all team members.
This sudden change required clarification.
As he spoke, gathering team captain Cheng Feng also asked:
"Sir, one tree is nothing for the gathering team, but with the camp's current logging efficiency, this frenzied tree-cutting will fill the valley in days. Can we even use that much wood?"
Though the fourteen hunting team members remained silent, most had confused expressions, clearly not understanding.
"Sir, one tree is nothing for the gathering team, but with the camp's current logging efficiency, this frenzied tree-cutting will fill the valley in days. Can we even use that much wood?"
With nothing urgent recently, why this desperate extraction?
The camp didn't lack wood, and iron/coal mines didn't need such intensive extraction either. The previous intensive mining was because of the Gnawer Rat swarm.
Wasn't the leader breaking through to Warmth Realm?
The hunting team members all paused at this thought, speculation dawning on their faces as they looked at Xia Chuan.
"Chuan, are these resources for the leader's breakthrough?"
Not just Luo Yuan - since Xia Chuan had just come down from upstairs last, everyone connected the resources to the leader's breakthrough.
Cheng Feng and Bai Dongying looked puzzled but, seeing the hunting team's serious expressions, realized there might be a connection and turned to Xia Chuan.
"Correct!"
Xia Chuan didn't plan to hide it, nodding directly as he continued gravely:
"The leader's breakthrough to Warmth Realm requires massive amounts of intermediate Frost Beast blood plus enormous resources - wood, coal, and iron all needed. During this period, all other camp activities can pause to focus on gathering breakthrough resources!"
Luo Yuan immediately nodded with solemn expression: "Of course! We've already antagonized Mirror Immortal Camp who have two Warmth Realm experts. The sooner our leader becomes Warmth Realm, the stronger our position!"
Yuan Cheng nodded heavily: "If it's for the leader's breakthrough, no need to say more. We hunting team members usually only play supporting roles during hunts anyway. Mining is actually our main task - helping share the leader's burden is our duty."
The hunting team all nodded in agreement.
Truth was, during hunts with Xia Hong, they could only assist while Xia Hong took the real risks facing Frost Beasts directly.
Even hunting low-level Frost Beasts, Xia Hong only delegated after ensuring they could handle it.
Compared to hunting, they contributed more during mining. Now that Xia Hong needed resources for breakthrough, of course they'd supply them with full effort - just some tiredness, much easier than Xia Hong risking his life against Frost Beasts.
"Our lumberjack team hasn't been very useful anyway. With wood overflowing recently, we worried about becoming obsolete. Finally being useful, especially helping the leader breakthrough - once I notify everyone, they'll be thrilled. Lord Xia Chuan, rest assured, the lumberjack team will complete the mission perfectly."
"My gathering team too! Helping share the leader's burden is our duty!"
Bai Dongying and Cheng Feng both stood up, quite excited.
Even hunting low-level Frost Beasts, Xia Hong only delegated after ensuring they could handle it.
Compared to hunting, they contributed more during mining. Now that Xia Hong needed resources for breakthrough, of course they'd supply their full effort - just some tiredness, much easier than Xia Hong risking his life against Frost Beasts.
Now, Xia Chuan said ordinary logging could help Leader Xia Hong break through to Warmth Realm.
Cheng Feng and Bai Dongying knew immediately that once conveyed, gathering and lumberjack teams would be wildly enthusiastic, competing to cut wood.
Not just two trees per night - some would try three.
"Training troops for a thousand days to use them once. The leader has given so much to the camp daily - finally we can give back. Everyone must not fail.
Besides, the leader breaking through to Warmth Realm is to resist Mirror Immortal Camp and protect Redwood Ridge territory. Ultimately, we all benefit."
During the Gnawer Rat incident, they could contribute with bows, but over time, they'd felt disappointed again.
Redwood Ridge wasn't just Xia Hong's personal treasure - all Great Xia Camp members felt the same.
Facing Mirror Immortal Camp with two Warmth Realm experts, protecting Redwood Ridge seemed only possible through Xia Hong's rapid breakthrough.
"Alright, everyone go notify all personnel. These new regulations take effect tonight.
During this period, the entire camp must mobilize - no slacking allowed. We can relax only after the leader breaks through.
I won't say harsh words - you three manage your people properly. If problems occur, even if the leader doesn't investigate, I'll hold you three accountable. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Mu Dong, Cheng Feng, and Bai Dongying nodded heavily, hearing the seriousness in Xia Chuan's tone, making them take it even more seriously.
Watching Xia Chuan directly give orders to Mu Dong's trio, Luo Yuan's eyes flashed with complex emotions.
Theoretically, Xia Chuan's official position equaled Mu Dong's trio, but reality differed.
Xia Chuan's personal strength plus relationship with Leader Xia Hong gave him natural authority over others.
Especially as Xia Hong delegated more matters to him, this authority became increasingly evident, making him Xia Hong's camp representative.
Not that he objected - whether by strength or handling matters, Xia Chuan deserved this role as Xia Hong's representative more than anyone.
I won't say harsh words - you three manage your people properly. If problems occur, even if the leader doesn't investigate, I'll hold you three accountable. Understood?"
The leader valued ability and efficiency, fairness evident from early hunting team selection via Wooden Dummy public trials.
Delegating more to Xia Chuan was certainly because he's my younger brother, but more importantly, due to Xia Chuan's demonstrated value and capability.
Back at camp merger, Luo Yuan's base strength exceeded Xia Chuan's, and Xia Hong guided him considerably too. But later, Xia Chuan's base strength surpassed his, then overall strength, even hunting team contribution exceeded his.
Through this continuous surpassing, whether within hunting team or entire camp, his status gradually fell behind Xia Chuan.
Now, Xia Chuan could openly give orders to Mu Dong's trio while he remained just a small, transparent figure in the hunting team.
This was hard for proud Luo Yuan to accept.
"I won't say much to hunting team. When the leader goes hunting, I'll notify you to rest beforehand. Other times, stay with me in the mine tunnels. Oh, the leader will probably come too!"
Everyone nodded while Luo Yuan turned silently, grabbed a Gnawing Tooth Chisel from the wall, went downstairs and left the wooden house, clearly heading to the mines.
"Can't let him get ahead, I'm going too."
Delegating more to Xia Chuan was partly because he's my younger brother, but more importantly, due to Xia Chuan's demonstrated value and capability.
Back at camp merger, Luo Yuan's base strength exceeded Xia Chuan's, and Xia Hong guided him considerably too. But later, Xia Chuan's base strength surpassed his, then overall strength, even hunting team contribution exceeded his.
"Everyone go, hurry up."
Now, Xia Chuan could openly give orders to Mu Dong's trio while he remained just a small, unnoticeable presence in the hunting team.
..............
"The leader needs wood for Warmth Realm breakthrough?"
"Really?"
"Can't be fake. I saw personally - leader touches wood and it disappears. Definitely absorbs wood."
"Not just wood - iron ore, coal stones too. I've seen it."
"The captain wouldn't lie to us."
"Why didn't the leader say earlier? I'd have cut more before. I only cut one tree nightly because I found it tiring."
........
Through Cheng Feng's notifications, all camp Lumberjack Realm cultivators learned Xia Hong needed enormous resources for Warmth Realm breakthrough.
As Xia Chuan predicted, once the news spread, all camp Lumberjack Realm cultivators stirred excitedly.
Long-term, Xia Hong's contributions to camp were universally witnessed.
Throughout Great Xia Camp, from hunting team Digging Realm members down to ordinary children, all felt gratitude and reverence toward Xia Hong.
This emotion, through long fermentation, even evolved into fanaticism.
Learning Xia Hong could use wood for breakthrough, without Cheng Feng or Bai Dongying reminding, lumberjack and gathering team members all immediately agreed without hesitation, taking saws out in batches after nightfall.
Even Artisan Workshop and Camp Supplies Office personnel went out after finishing tasks.
Hunting team members needed no mention.
"Why didn't the leader say earlier? I'd have cut more before. I only cut one tree nightly because I found it tiring."
Thirteen people working together, continuous digging sounds almost reaching outside the tunnels.
Zou Yuankai temporarily couldn't come, but Zhu Shun dragged his injured leg to the mines. Only strong refusal from Xia Chuan's group made him agree to heal first.
As Xia Chuan predicted, once the news spread, all camp Lumberjack Realm cultivators stirred excitedly.
From nightfall, everyone displayed extraordinary mining enthusiasm.
This already extraordinary enthusiasm, Xia Chuan seemingly found insufficient, discussing with Shi Ping next day to create a mining competition.
This emotion, through long fermentation, even evolved into fervor.
Learning Xia Hong could use wood for breakthrough, without Cheng Feng or Bai Dongying reminding, lumberjack and gathering team members all took saws out in groups after nightfall without another word.
Wood top thirty; iron ore and coal stones top five each.
Wood list first place: 800 contribution points; iron/coal lists: 2000 points each, decreasing downward.
Just making the lists brought high contribution point rewards, higher ranks meaning more points.
Once announced, hearing the high contribution point rewards, all personnel above Lumberjack Realm became fired up.
Zou Yuankai temporarily couldn't come, but Zhu Shun dragged his injured leg to the mines. Only strong refusal from Xia Chuan's group made him agree to heal first.
Take hunting team example: hunting alone, they could only kill low-level Frost Beasts, needing 4-5 person coordination.
Low-level Frost Beasts worth 200-400 points, split five ways meant ~40 points each. With Xia Chuan or Luo Yuan leading, maximum two kills nightly, meaning maximum 80-120 points per hunt.
They couldn't hunt daily, plus hunting itself carried high risks. Golden Injury Powder now cost contribution points, Iron-backed Bows currently only owned by Luo Yuan and Zhao Long brothers - others rented them, and iron-tipped arrows as consumables also cost points.
Hunting team calculated: full month, fifteen hunting trips minus bow rentals, Golden Injury Powder costs, they could earn maximum ~1000 points.
This competition's first place offered 2000 points - almost two months' income.
If hunting team felt this way, gathering team, lumberjack team, Artisan Workshop and Camp Supplies Office personnel who faced greater difficulty earning points needed no explanation - one-time 800 point reward was extremely rare good fortune.
With super-high incentives plus connection to Leader Xia Hong's breakthrough, these factors combined multiplied everyone's mining enthusiasm several-fold.
Great Xia Camp's atmosphere immediately transformed.
Once announced, hearing the high contribution point rewards, all personnel above Lumberjack Realm became fervent.
Setting aside importance for Xia Hong's breakthrough, just the contribution point rewards alone drove everyone wild.
Take hunting team example: hunting alone, they could only kill low-level Frost Beasts, needing 4-5 person coordination.
Low-level Frost Beasts worth 200-400 points, split five ways meant ~40 points per person. With Xia Chuan or Luo Yuan leading, maximum two kills nightly, meaning maximum 80-120 points per hunt.
Low logging efficiency largely stemmed from low transport efficiency. Though Redwood Ridge was less than one li from valley, trees were huge and heavy - even several people carrying took significant time.
After someone raised this to Mu Dong, Artisan Workshop developed human-powered wheelbarrows within two days.
Early versions were crude - wooden boards plus single wheel, but continuous improvements based on feedback made them increasingly proper.
Later came two-wheeled carts, even multi-wheeled, higher-capacity trailers needing more manpower.
Beyond transport, people also improved logging tools - flexible saws, two-person saws, three-person saws emerged accordingly.
Seeing logging efficiency rise, hunting team members mined with redoubled effort fearing falling behind. Including Xia Chuan himself, everyone stayed in the mine tunnels for four to five days straight, even eating Frost Beast meat delivered by others.
........
At nightfall, everyone went out in groups. For safety avoiding large gatherings, Cheng Feng and Bai Dongying even planned dividing logging areas to disperse people.
Only on Great Xia Year One, February 1st, when Xia Chuan notified upstairs that Zhu Shun's injury had fully healed, did Xia Hong learn about these developments after going downstairs to collect resources with his system.
[Resources: Wood 11200 Coal 580 Iron 1220 Silver 0 Gold 0]
Xia Chuan conveyed the all-hands accelerate extraction order on January 27th - just three days passed, yet resources increased this much.
Coal and iron mining progress remained within Xia Hong's expectations.
With Gnawing Tooth Chisels, individual Digging Realm cultivators could mine ~40 units daily of coal/iron. With Zhu Shun and Zou Yuankai injured, remaining thirteen people mined 1800 coal/iron units total over three days - showed great effort but not excessive.
Mainly the wood was absurd!
Three hundred-plus Lumberjack Realm cultivators, maximum two trees each nightly meant ~8000 jin. System converted 1000 jin to one unit, meaning daily camp wood acquisition maximum ~2500.
Seeing logging efficiency rise, hunting team members mined with redoubled effort fearing falling behind. Including Xia Chuan himself, everyone remained in the mine tunnels for four to five days straight, even eating Frost Beast meat delivered by others.
11200 units - how?
Xia Hong's confusion resolved upon being brought by Mu Dong to Artisan Workshop, seeing newly made iron saws and various-sized wooden wheel carts.
"Recently, everyone brainstormed many strange new ideas to improve logging efficiency - truly racking their brains!"
Hearing Mu Dong's words, Xia Hong showed thoughtful expression.
Pressure indeed bred motivation. When wood overflowed previously, nobody thought of these things. Now with resource pressure, collective wisdom quickly produced new inventions.
Xia Chuan conveyed the all-hands accelerate extraction order on January 27th - just three days passed, yet resources increased this much.
All three hundred-plus personnel above Lumberjack Realm worked tirelessly, sparing no effort mining resources ultimately for his early breakthrough to Warmth Realm.
"Big brother, since you can collect resources at will, couldn't we have loggers leave cut wood onsite at Redwood Ridge for you to collect directly there?"
Mainly the wood was absurd!
Three hundred-plus Lumberjack Realm cultivators, maximum two trees per person nightly meant ~8000 jin. System converted 1000 jin to one unit, meaning daily camp wood acquisition maximum ~2500.
"Then move the Smelting Furnace to..."
Xia Chuan instinctively suggested but stopped mid-sentence, realizing it wouldn't work.
Xia Hong shook his head - he'd considered this plan too, with same conclusion.
"Recently, everyone brainstormed many strange new ideas to improve logging efficiency - truly racking their brains!"
Moreover, Smelting Furnace's primary function was Abomination defense.
Moving it meant the entire camp must relocate.
Even without Abominations, Xia Hong dared not move the furnace casually, especially now that Great Xia Camp was targeted by Abominations.
All three hundred-plus personnel above Lumberjack Realm worked tirelessly, sparing no effort mining resources ultimately for his early breakthrough to Warmth Realm.
"With so many people going out these three days, no incidents encountered?"
"Big brother, since you can collect resources at will, couldn't we have loggers leave cut wood onsite at Redwood Ridge for you to collect directly there?"
Three hundred-plus Lumberjack Realm cultivators almost all mobilized, yet that Abomination never attacked once - somewhat strange...
Xia Hong frowned, looking puzzled.
No problems was good news of course.
But according to Abominations' abnormal killing nature, this complete silence felt more terrifying.
Xia Hong shook his head - he'd considered this plan too, with same conclusion.
Hidden in darkness with extreme caution undoubtedly made it more difficult to deal with.
"If it won't act, then continue pretending it doesn't exist. With Smelting Furnace here, it shouldn't breach camp. Just have everyone be careful when going out. If problems occur, we'll deal with them then!"
This was a helpless measure - with zero information, even wanting to deal with the Abomination, Xia Hong couldn't devise any method.
Even without Abominations, Xia Hong dared not move the furnace casually, especially now that Great Xia Camp was targeted by Abominations.
With furnace here, camp was definitely safe;
With Concentrated Fire Oil applied, the enemy didn't dare attack;
Confirming these two points was sufficient.
Three hundred-plus Lumberjack Realm cultivators almost swarmed out entirely, yet that Abomination never attacked once - somewhat strange...
"Yes, big brother!"
With three hundred-plus people all going all out mining resources for his Warmth Realm breakthrough, everyone working so hard, Xia Hong naturally felt pressure too.
But according to Abominations' abnormal killing nature, this complete silence felt more terrifying.
This suggested the Abomination likely knew about Concentrated Fire Oil, and its nature was more cautious than the previous Wood Puppet Abomination.
Hidden in darkness with extreme caution undoubtedly made it harder to deal with.
Meanwhile, hunting team members mining in the tunnels grew excited learning from Xia Chuan that Xia Hong would lead intermediate Frost Beast hunting after nightfall.
This was a helpless measure - with zero information, even wanting to deal with the Abomination, Xia Hong couldn't devise any method.
Last intermediate Snow Mane hunt, Xia Hong set 10,000 points, keeping none for himself, so fifteen hunting team members got 600+ points each.
600+ points in one hunt - this mining competition's duration remained unknown, first place only 2000 points.
Hunting with Xia Hong's temptation was unimaginable.
"Last time was first intermediate Frost Beast, leader intentionally set high. This time probably not 10,000, but not low either - 8000?"
"I think not, probably 6000!"
"Wishful thinking! Low-level Frost Beast maximum currently Cloud Python 380 points. I estimate normal setting at most 5000."
"5000 is good too! Fourteen people this time, 300+ points each, hehe!"
........
After brief discussion, hunting team all put down their Gnawing Tooth Chisels, returning to rooms to rest and prepare.
After nightfall, without needing Xia Hong's notification, all fourteen hunting team members stood fully armed at Camp Supplies Office entrance.
"All ready?"
"Ready, leader!"
"Move out!"
Without extra words, Xia Hong gave order, leading fourteen people out of camp straight into Redwood Ridge.
Foreseeably, hunting frequency would increasingly intensify later - only question was how long the hunting team members' excitement would last...
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