Chapter 146: Rage, Killing, Ferocity |
Great Xia Year One, February 25th
Third floor of the wooden hut. Xia Hong, lying on the bed, opened his eyes.
Although the room was brightly lit by fire, sensing no movement downstairs, Xia Hong immediately determined it was daytime.
"440 jin, two days, fainted ten times total. The progress is now..."
[Camp: Great Xia (Tier 0)]
[Lord: Xia Hong]
[Cultivation: Digging Realm Complete (Skin Membrane Remodeling Progress 31%)]
[Territory Population: 1088]
[Resources: Wood 52030, Coal 4910, Iron 11740, Silver 0, Gold 0]
A look of surprise appeared on Xia Hong's face. He quickly clenched his fist to test his strength, and the astonishment instantly transformed into intense joy.
"Nearly seventy thousand jin!"
With less than one-third of the progress completed, his strength had increased by nearly forty thousand jin.
As anticipated, once the skin membrane remodeling process was fully complete, his base strength would reach at least one hundred fifty thousand jin.
Xia Hong pondered for a moment, then suddenly threw a punch forward with his right fist.
Whoosh…………
A faint sonic boom sounded in the small area where his fist traveled. The air current generated by the punch immediately caused the fire basin in the room to sway left and right.
"Warmth Realm is one hundred fifty thousand jin. With my nearly seventy thousand jin base strength plus the Long Fist power application technique, I should be comparable to more than half a Warmth Realm expert, right?"
He used an uncertain tone because Xia Hong hadn't yet witnessed a true Warmth Realm expert in action. Everything so far was merely his speculation.
Xia Hong walked to the wall and opened the window.
Chillingly cold light shone on his body. After a full half hour, Xia Hong's face showed no sign of discomfort. He could even look up and stare directly at the somewhat dim sun in the sky.
"The higher the progress, the less reaction I have to the coldness of this light. When I have time, I'll test how long I can actually stay outdoors during the day!"
Staying completely outdoors was not the same as standing inside the wooden hut with the window open, being exposed to the light.
Within the wooden hut's area, there was the warming effect from the Smelting Furnace. Outdoors had no such protection.
Although Xia Hong currently felt almost no harm from the light, he wasn't confident about whether he could last the full four hours of daytime outdoors.
The reason he needed to wait until he had time to test it was because...
"Eight people missing over these three days, and the wood resource number is wrong too. Something must have happened!"
Xia Hong didn't only focus on his own cultivation progress.
The camp population and resource reserves, these two crucial elements, were also things he paid close attention to every time.
Six days ago, wood was forty-five thousand. Based on the current daily mining rate of three to four thousand, it should have been over sixty-three thousand today.
Missing over ten thousand clearly indicated that for three nights, the camp's Lumberjack Realm members had basically not gone out to cut wood.
The wood was one thing, but seeing the camp population decrease by eight, Xia Hong frowned deeply and directly shouted towards the door.
"Shi Ping, come in!"
He had woken up several times during his seclusion and knew Shi Ping had been guarding outside the door, probably arranged by Xia Chuan who was concerned he might need something.
"Head, you're finally awake..."
Shi Ping immediately pushed the door open and entered upon hearing the call, his face full of pleasant surprise.
"What happened in the camp during my two days of seclusion?"
Hearing Xia Hong's question, the surprise on Shi Ping's face instantly turned into anger. He recounted everything that happened on the night of the 22nd in detail.
As Shi Ping continued his account, the calm on Xia Hong's face broke. The joy he felt upon leaving seclusion vanished completely in an instant, his expression growing increasingly gloomy, then turning into raging fury matching Shi Ping's.
Especially when Shi Ping led him to the back of the valley to see the eight still-unburied bodies, he could no longer contain the fury in his chest. Drawing his saber, he directly cleaved a giant tree nearby into two pieces.
"Notify Xia Chuan and the hunting team members to all come to the main hall on the second floor!"
Xia Hong looked down at the body with its head sliced off, seeing its stabbed-through abdomen and neck fixed with wood, almost squeezing the words out through his teeth.
"Yes, Head! I'll go immediately!"
After Shi Ping left, Xia Hong stayed alone at the scene, staring at the eight corpses for over a hundred breaths. Finally, he slightly bowed in salute, then turned and went upstairs with an expressionless face.
…………
Hearing that Xia Hong had left seclusion, Xia Chuan and others who were mining in the cave all immediately put down their Gnawing Tooth Chisels and rushed to the main hall on the second floor.
Seeing Xia Hong sitting by the stove, everyone spoke with righteous indignation:
"Big Brother!"
"Head, you've finally left seclusion."
"Head, those beasts from Mirror Immortal Camp..."
…………
"Enough, no need to say more. I already know everything!"
Xia Hong directly raised his hand to stop everyone, indicating he was fully informed.
It was currently daytime. Not just the seventeen hunting team members, but the gathering team, lumberjack team, including almost everyone else in the camp who learned Xia Hong had left seclusion, had gathered around.
Their faces all showed anger, clearly having been suppressing their fury these past two days.
"All hunting team members prepare yourselves. Tonight, follow me north to kill!"
Facing the crowd's anger, Xia Hong merely stated this calmly.
"Yes, Head!"
The hunting team members who received the order looked excited and nodded in unison.
Only Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and Yue Feng at the very front showed a trace of concealed worry on their faces.
"Head, let us go too!"
"Let me go too, Head."
"Our strength isn't great, but with bows in hand, we can threaten them."
"I want to avenge my third brother, Head. Please take us!"
………………
Members from the gathering team, lumberjack team, Artisan Workshop, and even Lumberjack Realm members from the Camp Supplies Office all spoke up, hoping to be included.
"Dealing with a bunch of small fry doesn't require such a massive mobilization. No more discussion. Tonight, just the seventeen hunting team members will follow me!"
After speaking, Xia Hong didn't give anyone else a chance to speak, directly turning and going up to the third floor.
The crowd on the second floor immediately fell into heated discussion. The hunting team members dispersed to prepare, while only Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and Yue Feng exchanged glances, nodded at each other, and went up to the third floor together.
Reaching the third floor and seeing Xia Hong's room door still open, Xia Chuan led the two inside. After bowing, he asked in a speculative tone:
"Big Brother, have you broken through?"
After asking, not just him, but Luo Yuan and Yue Feng behind him also looked at Xia Hong with expectant eyes.
Unfortunately, all three were disappointed.
Xia Hong slightly shook his head and said solemnly, "Haven't broken through yet. Need at least another month or more. You..."
Seeing the three of them hesitate to speak upon hearing he hadn't broken through, Xia Hong immediately understood.
Clearly, the attitude he had just displayed had caused a misunderstanding.
"You're thinking that Mirror Immortal Camp's strength is too great, and it's not suitable to confront them too harshly now? That even for revenge, we should wait until I break through first?"
After a moment of silence, the three gently nodded.
Anger can make people lose reason, but time makes people calm down.
Two days ago, when Xia Chuan first saw the eight bodies, he was also filled with raging fury, wanting to seek revenge against Mirror Immortal Camp regardless of consequences.
But after these two days passed and he cooled down, he had to admit that seeking revenge against Mirror Immortal Camp now was indeed unrealistic.
The two Warmth Realm experts were like two great mountains, an insurmountable chasm before Great Xia.
At least until Xia Hong broke through, that was the case.
As for the Digging Realm, based on the three interactions so far, Mirror Immortal Camp definitely had more Digging Realm members than Great Xia.
Their top-tier combat power was inferior, and their core forces were fewer.
They truly didn't possess the strength for revenge.
"Don't be afraid!"
Xia Hong stood up and waved his hand, continuing solemnly:
"Unless Mirror Immortal Camp's two Warmth Realm experts follow them around every moment, which is unlikely.
Even if they are following, it's fine.
Tonight, everyone bring five torches as a dual preparation.
We'll ignore the periphery. We'll only hunt them within the thousand-meter depth range of Redwood Ridge, until we completely drive them out of the northern territory!"
Anger was one thing, but Xia Hong had already considered the problems Xia Chuan worried about.
If possible, he certainly didn't want to break relations with Mirror Immortal Camp so early.
The problem was, the other side had pushed too far, right to their doorstep.
Not only did they directly kill people, but they also tried to probe Great Xia's base location.
Killing people was already crossing the bottom line; probing the base location was practically stepping on Great Xia's face and trampling it fiercely.
In the Ice Abyss world, camps fear each other probing locations the most.
Last time, he had the opportunity to kill Yuwen Tao but gave it up, and even had Yuwen Tao deliver a message, only asking Mirror Immortal Camp to maintain mutual non-aggression with Great Xia.
Three nights ago, he also had the chance to use Frost Beasts to kill He Meng and others, but similarly gave it up, only taking their three prey animals. When He Meng and others escaped, he didn't create any trouble for them.
Clearly, the other side hadn't appreciated either gesture.
Not only did they not appreciate it, but from He Meng bringing people directly to the southern part of Redwood Ridge to kill, it was evident that Mirror Immortal Camp simply didn't take Great Xia seriously, fundamentally viewing Great Xia as an insignificant existence that could be casually manipulated.
Not only did they not appreciate it, but from He Meng bringing people directly to the southern part of Redwood Ridge to kill, it was evident that Mirror Immortal Camp simply didn't take Great Xia seriously, fundamentally viewing Great Xia as an insignificant existence that could be manipulated at will.
The chill in Xia Hong's pupils intensified. Seeing the worry on the faces of Xia Chuan and the other two, knowing what concerned them, he pondered for a moment and focused his mind.
"Roar…………"
Suddenly, a low roar came from above.
Xia Chuan and the other two instinctively looked up. Seeing what was on the roof, they jumped in fright, their expressions changing dramatically, almost simultaneously drawing the large knives from their waists.
Five sixty-to-seventy-meter-long Cloud Pythons were coiled and intertwined on the five large wooden beams of the roof. The five Cloud Pythons, each in different postures, had their bloody mouths wide open, staring intently at the three people below.
"Head..."
Luo Yuan was the first to cry out in shock and horror. But after speaking, he noticed the Cloud Pythons above remained completely motionless. Combined with Xia Hong's calm expression, he immediately recovered his composure, his expression turning to pleasant surprise.
"Head, is this... the Wooden Dummy?"
As Xia Chuan asked, the five Cloud Pythons on the beams successively transformed, reverting to their original forms.
Although the upgraded Wooden Dummy looked quite different from before, Xia Chuan and the other two recognized it at a glance.
After all, the only thing in the entire camp that could transform into Frost Beasts was this item.
"Five of them! Five intermediate Frost Beasts! Head, this..."
"Now we don't need to fear! Even if Warmth Realm experts come to our doorstep, we have nothing to fear! Hahaha, no wonder, no wonder..."
Xia Chuan's laughter affected Luo Yuan and Yue Feng, and they also laughed.
First, the strength of intermediate Frost Beasts was considerable. Their impact force reached tens of thousands of jin, combined with unique innate skills, cunning nature, and large size.
If not for relying on the Iron-backed Bows and animal traps, plus overwhelming numerical advantage, Great Xia likely still wouldn't possess the ability to hunt them.
A single intermediate Frost Beast certainly wasn't much, given their recent experience hunting three Snow Manes every night using rich hunting experience and increasingly complete iron traps.
Even a strong camp like Mirror Immortal Camp wouldn't dare confront more than two intermediate Frost Beasts at once.
Moreover, these were five intermediate Frost Beasts that were 100% obedient, could coordinate with each other, and ignored all pain and injury. Without exaggeration, even if all of Great Xia's current members combined forces, they couldn't successfully hunt them.
"With these five Wooden Dummies, the safety of our base is guaranteed. I estimate even if those two Warmth Realm experts truly attack, they can't do anything to us!"
Finally understanding the source of Xia Hong's confidence, Xia Chuan and the other two no longer looked worried, instead becoming resolute.
"Base safety is guaranteed. The torches serve as a second layer of insurance. Even if Warmth Realm experts truly attack, we won't be completely helpless. Since that's the case, there's no pressure in dealing with He Meng and those dog-like scum."
"Alright, all of you go prepare. Nightfall is coming soon!"
Xia Hong gestured for everyone to leave, then drew his Ceremonial Saber and began adapting to the increased base strength from the latest skin membrane remodeling.
Swish... swish... swish...
Each swing of the Ceremonial Saber produced a violent sonic boom. The air currents generated by the saber's gleam caused the room's bonfire to crackle loudly.
As his saber movements grew faster, the chill in Xia Hong's eyes intensified, and fierce fighting spirit continuously rose from his heart.
"If the Warmth Realm experts truly attack directly, that might be good too. I can finally see for myself, instead of constantly worrying here. Let's see exactly how big the gap between us is!"
………………
Deep within the middle section of Redwood Ridge
Crack…………
He Meng's saber struck the Magic Goat's neck, then he immediately withdrew to a distance.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…………
As he ran away, a series of arrows flew from all directions. The already severely wounded, dying Magic Goat lasted less than ten breaths before completely collapsing.
Over twenty people emerged from several large trees surrounding the area.
After gathering around, they retrieved the iron-tipped arrows stuck in the Magic Goat's back while speaking to He Meng, their leader.
"Third one! Hahaha, good harvest tonight!"
"The Frost Beasts in this Redwood Ridge are really plentiful."
"Leader should have brought us here earlier."
"Such a good place actually occupied by that Great Xia—what a waste!"
"If we'd come south earlier, we wouldn't have had to struggle so much before."
…………
"Hahahaha..."
Hearing everyone's words, He Meng also laughed heartily several times, saying, "Thanks to those fools from Great Xia. I thought they'd have some backbone and cause trouble for us. Didn't expect to see no one after coming two days in a row. Hmph!"
He Gang sneered twice, shaking his head, "According to Lu He, they're at most a medium-sized camp. Going hard against us is seeking death. After eight deaths, they've probably accepted reality and are preparing to withdraw from Redwood Ridge. Though weak, they're somewhat sensible."
He Meng nodded slightly, looking around with a hint of smugness on his face.
After all, they had killed eight of their people!
But for two consecutive days, no one from Great Xia was spotted in the north.
Tonight was the third day. He directly brought people south, entering the middle section of Redwood Ridge, the area they had reached last time while chasing the ten Great Xia members.
From the periphery to the depths, they surprisingly found not only no people, but also no recent traces of human activity. Moreover, there were many unmoved logs and wheelbarrows left in the periphery.
Great Xia hadn't dared to come out for several days in a row!
Confirming this, He Meng's mood greatly improved.
Combined with what everyone said, and thinking about the huge strength disparity between Great Xia and Mirror Immortal Camp, the smugness on He Meng's face grew even stronger.
Only a fool like Yuwen Tao would be deceived by them, even advising the leader to maintain friendly neighborly relations with Great Xia. Such a weak camp—are they worthy!"
He Gang nearby nodded, saying solemnly, "Thinking they can settle things just by withdrawing from Redwood Ridge is wishful thinking. Lu He said since Great Xia took over Rogge Camp, their base should be between the two high mountains to the east. Next time we come, bring more people and go find them directly!"
He Meng first nodded in agreement, then a fierce expression appeared on his face, "First kill that leader Xia Hong, and those other scum around him. Then take in the rest to report to the leader."
"This Great Xia camp, its members have tough temperaments and unruly natures. Probably if we really take them in, there might be some trouble initially!"
Hearing He Gang's words, He Meng touched his ear, a flash of anger in his eyes, saying fiercely, "How much trouble can there be? Just like before, kill a batch to intimidate them. No matter how unruly their nature, they'll still fear death eventually!"
"Hahahaha…………"
Hearing He Gang's words, everyone around burst into loud laughter.
"I'd say this Great Xia isn't tough-boned, but cowardly-boned. They only get scared after we kill people."
"Haha…………"
Whoosh………
An archer on the easternmost periphery couldn't help but laugh wildly. But after just two laughs, accompanied by the sound of an arrow cutting through air, his laughter abruptly stopped.
An iron-tipped arrow shot from the darkness behind passed directly through the back of the laughing man's head, the arrowhead protruding from his forehead. The force carried his entire body forward over ten meters, nailing him dead to the trunk of a large tree twenty-plus meters behind.
"Careful, arrows!"
"Who's there!"
"Everyone, scatter quickly!"
………………
He Meng's face changed dramatically in shock. He quickly withdrew to escape, not forgetting to shout for everyone to disperse.
The moment he saw the arrow's power, he immediately realized the person shooting the sneak attack arrow had strength not inferior to his own.
The enemy in darkness, us in light—already fatal. Moreover, hiding in the dark was someone possibly stronger than himself.
"May I ask which camp's friend this is? He Meng of Mirror Immortal Camp. I don't know when I offended you, that you'd use underhanded tactics, so despicable!"
The response to He Meng was just another iron-tipped arrow with similar speed and power. Wanting to test it, He Meng gritted his teeth, gathered strength, raised his saber, and attempted to block.
Clang…………
The large saber collided with the iron arrow, sparks flying. He Meng, who was running wildly away, was knocked sideways one or two meters.
He Gang and the other twenty-plus people immediately took out pale golden board-like objects from their backs upon hearing.
Whoosh…………
Another iron arrow shot from behind, targeting the group that had run the farthest. Unfortunately, they had already raised their shield. The arrow accurately hit the pale golden shield.
Although the arrow didn't penetrate the shield upon impact, the powerful force directly smashed the shield-bearer backward, knocking down the four people in front as well. They tumbled forward on the ground for four or five meters.
"How can it be this strong! Warmth Realm—this must be a Warmth Realm expert! Is it someone from Honeycomb Camp, or from somewhere else? Why are they targeting me!"
He Meng not far away trembled inwardly upon seeing this scene.
He didn't know the exact strength of the archer behind, but an arrow shot from such a distance, with impact force enough to knock down five Digging Realm members holding Thunder Kui shields, was already unbelievable.
He didn't know the exact strength of the archer behind, but an arrow shot from such a distance, with impact force enough to knock down five Digging Realm members holding Thunder Kui shields, was already absurd.
He definitely couldn't achieve that, no matter what.
…………
"The Ten-Dan Iron-Backed Bow seems unsuitable for me now!"
On a large tree behind, Xia Hong, who was leading everyone in rapid pursuit, looked at the Iron-Backed Bow in his hand and slightly shook his head.
The bow body was completely bent, the specially thickened bowstring already broken.
From start to finish, he had only shot three arrows.
The people around him, Xia Chuan and others, looked at the bent bow in his hand with shock and horror on their faces, while the same question arose in their hearts:
How many jin is the Head's strength now?
"Alright, you all shoot arrows. Keep the others engaged, don't let them escape our sight. I'll deal with them one by one!"
Xia Hong looked at the fleeing crowd in the distance, cold light gleaming in his eyes. After giving the order, he discarded the Iron-Backed Bow, drew the Ceremonial Saber from his waist, and suddenly accelerated forward.
The Mirror Immortal Camp members retreated with a method.
He Meng and He Gang, the two strongest, were covering the rear.
Naturally, Xia Hong's primary targets were these two.
After receiving the order, Xia Chuan and others bypassed He Meng and He Gang in the middle, drawing their bows and continuously shooting iron arrows at the twenty-plus people fleeing ahead.
With shields blocking, the arrows naturally couldn't hit them, but Xia Chuan and others' intention was merely to disrupt their escape, not necessarily to hit them urgently.
"Warmth Realm! How did a Warmth Realm expert appear? Killing directly without saying anything! Why, why, why…………"
He Meng inwardly cried out, his expression panicked to the extreme.
He Gang not far away also looked extremely tense. While passing a large tree, he had to detour, slowing his escape speed.
Swish…………
A sound of a sharp blade cutting air reached his ears. He Gang suddenly turned his head, catching a glimpse of a saber gleam attacking from behind. Knowing he couldn't avoid it, he suddenly lowered his head, placed his saber on his back to block, his heart stopping for several breaths.
The moment the narrow long saber hit his large saber, He Gang felt like a mountain was crashing into him. He couldn't hold on even half a breath. His entire body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
Thump... Crack... Crack…………
"Pfft..."
He Gang, flying backward over ten meters, heard two clear bone-breaking sounds from his back. His internal organs were severely impacted by the force, and he directly spat out a mouthful of reverse-flowing blood.
Even injured like this, the expression on his face was one of relief. Glancing back at He Meng, his eyes held even more gratitude.
He would definitely be dead!
"Nearly seventy thousand jin! It's Warmth Realm! It really is a Warmth Realm expert..."
Despite blood continuously overflowing from his mouth, He Gang struggled to remind his big brother He Meng how immense the force he just felt was.
But when he looked up, he found He Meng's expression completely stunned, his pupils filled with disbelief.
"How... how... how is this possible!"
He Gang suddenly turned his head, also wanting to see the appearance of the person behind.
Unfortunately, the other party seemed not planning to give him this chance.
"Careful!"
A saber gleam suddenly swept across. Although he felt He Meng pulling him to dodge, the aura of death still rushed into He Gang's nostrils.
Crack…………
The sound of cartilage breaking echoed. Scalding blood from internal organs splattered out, instantly staining the accumulated snow on the ground black.
He Meng, who had dodged three meters away, looked at the He Gang in his hands—now only the upper half of his body remained. His expression instantly went mad.
"Everyone stop running! Come back and fight this bastard with me! He killed my brother! Even if I lose my life today, I'll bite a piece of flesh from you! Ah!"
The originally fleeing twenty-plus people, hearing He Meng's words, all stopped, quickly turned around, drew their sabers, and charged towards him as well.
The fierce reaction of He Meng's group didn't surprise Xia Hong. After all, he had witnessed it once before with Yuwen Tao's group during hunting.
"Good, then I'll finish you all together!"
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