Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

When Xia Chuan returned to the camp with the nineteen people, pulling the Thunder-Kuei along, it didn't cause much of a stir among the ordinary people.

Not to mention the earliest batch of people from Great Xia, Xia Hong had previously spent nearly half a month bringing back three to four intermediate cold beasts every night in order to quickly break through the cold-resistance level, so they were no longer reacting much when they saw intermediate cold beasts.

The two groups from Mirror Immortal and Five Ape Mountain who had recently joined were also surprised at first, but after living in the valley for so long, listening to the stories from the Great Xia group, and seeing so many intermediate cold beast materials with their own eyes, they were no longer surprised.

Besides, this wasn't the first time the Cloud Dragon Squad had brought back intermediate cold beasts.

Not only Xia Chuan's Cloud Dragon Squad, but Yu Wentao's Dragon Martial Squad had also brought back several intermediate cold beasts before.

Now, everyone in the camp basically knew that the Cloud Dragon and Dragon Martial squads both had the ability to hunt intermediate cold beasts.

However, this was in regard to ordinary people.

For the people in the Hunting Department, it was completely different.

Ordinary people didn't know the difficulty of hunting cold beasts outside, but they did.

So every time the two squads brought back intermediate prey, the people from the Hunting Department would quickly gather around to watch the excitement, congratulate them, and also seek to learn hunting skills from the members of the two squads, preparing for their future hunts.

Of course, there was also the most important point.

Who in the Hunting Department didn't know that these two squads were currently vying for the crown of the first intermediate hunting squad of Great Xia?

And some people with ulterior motives, after seeing that the Cloud Dragon Squad had brought back an intermediate Thunder-Kuei this time, after calculating in their hearts, immediately perked up.

The Cloud Dragon Squad has been promoted to an intermediate hunting squad!

Those with foresight had already realized this;

While the others only knew three days later, on May 23rd, when Luo Yuan, the Deputy Director of the Hunting Department, announced the promotion news.

As soon as the news spread, the entire camp was in an uproar, and a large crowd of people ran to the entrance of the Hunting Department on the second floor to watch.

A wooden board hung at the entrance of the Hunting Department.

The wooden board recorded the monthly merit rankings of all the squads from highest to lowest.

First place, Cloud Dragon Squad: 44300 (Intermediate)

Second place, Dragon Martial Squad: 28190

Third place, Divine Martial Squad: 16720

Fourth place, Zhenwu Squad: 16290

Fifth place, Tiger Leopard Squad: 16180

Sixth place, Yingwu Squad: 16020

Seventh place, Dragon Slaying Squad: 15890

… … … …

Forty-seventh place, Xihua Squad: 280

"Doesn't Great Xia only have thirty hunting squads? Why have seventeen more appeared?"

"Hey, you don't know yet, five days ago, Director Si ordered the power standard for creating hunting squads to be lowered to 15000, and seventeen more squads have come out these days."

"No wonder, I was wondering why the merit points of the last dozen squads were so low."

"Don't underestimate them, they've only just been created, and the five cold beasts in the assessment don't accumulate merit points. For example, that Xihua Squad, with only 280 merit points, should have just hunted a low-level Snow Mane and handed it in. If you add the five from the assessment, think about it!"

Hearing that person's words, the people around him lowered their heads and pondered for a moment, and immediately their expressions brightened, and their expressions became slightly solemn.

The assessment task for creating a hunting squad was to hunt five low-level cold beasts of different species, and the squads that could be on the merit list must have completed it.

It had only been five days since Director Si issued the order, which meant that these squads had not only completed this assessment in these five days, but also started bringing back more prey.

Taking the Xihua Squad, which was ranked last, as an example, they had hunted at least six cold beasts in these five days, and there were five different species.

This difficulty was not low.

"Director Si's Cloud Dragon Squad is too strong. It's only the 23rd today, and they already have 44,000 merit points. If converted into low-level cold beasts, that's almost more than a hundred. Five beasts every night, that's a bit too exaggerated."

"Hehe, converting them all into low-level ones, you really dare to think. Didn't you notice that the suffix of the Cloud Dragon Squad is Intermediate? I heard that the Cloud Dragon Squad has already hunted seven intermediate cold beasts this month."

"An intermediate cold beast is at least 4000 points, and seven would be nearly 30,000, no wonder it's so high."

"This is our camp's first intermediate squad, and it's personally led by Director Si, what do you think?"

"Director Si Zheng's Dragon Martial Squad is not bad either, already 28,000. If you convert it, it's also a lot, but their merit points don't seem to have changed. I remember when I came to see it a few days ago, it was the same."

"I know, wasn't there a beast tide in the Arrow Bamboo Forest five days ago? I heard that the Dragon Martial, Xiongwu, and Shanhe squads were trapped in the Mirror Valley, and the Chief also went over. They haven't been able to return for so many days, so of course the merit points haven't changed."

"No wonder, I was just saying, I haven't seen Director Si Zheng for several days."

"The Cloud Dragon Squad has 44,000 merit points, and if the whole team divides it equally, each person gets 2,200 points. The month hasn't ended yet, so they can earn 3,000 contribution points just from hunting in a month?"

"You haven't seen it yet, the members of the Cloud Dragon Squad are making a lot of contribution points. Last time I saw, one of their ordinary members exchanged for two beast bone chairs in the camp supply department in one go, 70 points each, too extravagant."

"The first intermediate squad, I heard that the Hunting Department will give a lot of rewards, and also expand the upper limit of the number of team members, they should be recruiting people soon."

"Who was it who told me before that Director Si's strength was not as good as Director Si Zheng's, and also said that the Dragon Martial Squad would definitely be the first intermediate squad in Great Xia? I almost believed it."

"I heard from those people in Great Xia that Director Si personally killed a strange monster back then, and also obtained a very powerful inheritance, how could his strength not be as good as Director Si Zheng's? I think some people are just spreading rumors."

"Director Si is the Chief's younger brother, how could his strength be poor? Just think about it with your brain and you'll know."

"No, the Cloud Dragon Squad will definitely be expanding soon, I'm only a little bit away from the Earth Digging Realm, I have to break through quickly and find a way to get in."

"I want to go too… …"

… … … …

Hong Yu, Meng Ao, and Zhu Kang were also in the crowd, and when they heard the people around them questioning Yu Wentao, their expressions suddenly became a little unconvinced.

"Brother Tao is only one intermediate cold beast away, if it weren't for this beast tide, the Dragon Martial Squad would definitely have been promoted first."

"Director Si is powerful, but I heard that he only started using beast blood to cultivate last month, his basic strength is definitely still different from Brother Tao's!"

Hearing the rather indignant tone of Hong Yu and Meng Ao, Zhu Kang did not answer immediately, but after thinking for a moment, he said in a low voice: "The basic strength should be different, but have you ever thought about it, the standard for measuring strength is not just this one, the wooden puppet in the Craftsman Department that is full of knives, you have all seen it, right?"

Hong Yu and Meng Ao's expressions stagnated slightly, and they immediately fell into silence.

From the bottom of their hearts, they of course tended to believe that Yu Wentao was stronger.

At the same time, the three of them had always firmly believed that the first squad to be promoted to intermediate would definitely be Yu Wentao's Dragon Martial Squad.

But at this moment, reality was right in front of them, and no matter how indignant they were, there was nothing they could do.

"Lord Luo Yuan is out, look quickly."

Hearing the words of the people around them, the three hurriedly looked towards the entrance of the Hunting Department.

Luo Yuan came out, but he was not the only one who came out, there was also Qiu Peng, and eighteen other people.

Today was the day of the Cloud Dragon Squad's promotion, and the eighteen people who came out were obviously the other members of the Cloud Dragon Squad besides Xia Chuan and Qiu Peng.

Everyone's gazes all looked towards the waists of the eighteen people without prior consultation.

To be precise, it was the shiny new token hanging on their waists.

The tokens of low-level squads were all made of pure iron, so they were black;

The tokens of the nineteen members of the Cloud Dragon Squad were also black, but the flanks had ten very clear silver fine lines, and the two characters "Xia" and "Cloud Dragon" on them had also turned into conspicuous red.

"Hiss… … … … This token is made of Ten-Forged Iron!"

"That red font is painted with Vermilion Frost Powder, right?"

"The token of the intermediate squad is so good-looking."

… … … …

The members of the Cloud Dragon Squad, hearing the discussions of the people around them, and seeing the envious gazes of everyone, unconsciously straightened their chests and revealed pride on their faces.

"Cough… … Cough… …"

Luo Yuan then coughed slightly and stood out, raising his hand to signal everyone to quiet down, then said loudly: "Director Si Zheng is out and cannot return, today I will be responsible for the promotion of the Cloud Dragon Squad, below I will announce the rewards for the Cloud Dragon Squad… … … …"

Speaking of this, Luo Yuan paused, and continued:

"First of all, as the first squad to be promoted to intermediate, all members of the Cloud Dragon Squad will receive an additional reward of 1500 contribution points."

Secondly, the promotion reward is 500 points per person, this reward, in the future, all squads, as long as they are promoted, can get it."

A one-time 2000 contribution points!

Hua… … … …

The crowd instantly boiled, and everyone looked at the members of the Cloud Dragon Squad with envy in their eyes.

Not to mention the Wood Chopping Realm and ordinary people, the contribution points they get from working hard for a month are only a hundred or so, sometimes if they are lucky, they can collect special materials, at most two or three hundred, getting 2000 points at one time is simply a fantasy for them;

The members of the Hunting Department are the same.

It can be seen from the merit list that the strongest Cloud Dragon Squad, not counting mining, only relies on hunting, and can get less than 3000 points a month; the Dragon Martial Squad's 1500 points is also good; but the squads behind them don't even have 1000 points.

2000 contribution points, the land on the outermost edge of the valley is only this price.

"Let me also explain one point to everyone: the nineteen teams that advance to the intermediate level the fastest will receive extra rewards, with contribution points ranging from 1400 to 600. Whether or not you can get this reward depends on yourselves."

Hearing this, many people below began to look excited.

The nineteen teams after the first one, which means the top twenty teams to advance to the intermediate level, will receive extra rewards.

They don't need to compete for second place, as it will definitely be the Dragon Martial Team. The same goes for the next few teams, but after that, they still have a chance.

When everyone quieted down, Luo Yuan continued:

"Of course, after a team advances to the intermediate level, the corresponding obligations will naturally increase. Intermediate hunting teams must hunt at least ten intermediate cold beasts and thirty low-level cold beasts per month. In addition, the individual quotas for coal and iron ore will also be increased from 5000 and 2500 catties to 10,000 catties and 5,000 catties respectively."

The increase in hunting quotas didn't elicit much reaction from the crowd, but when they heard about the adjustment to the mining quotas, everyone frowned.

Upon breaking through to the Earth Digging Realm, the basic strength is 10,000 catties. The daily iron ore mining output is about 100 catties, and coal is 200 catties. Using a rodent chisel can double the output, which would be 400 catties and 800 catties respectively.

The increase in basic strength will of course increase the mining output, but it's basically in units of 10,000 catties.

Take Xia Chuan as an example: his basic strength is more than 40,000 catties, and he can mine 1,600 catties of iron ore a day, or 3,200 catties of coal.

That is to say, even if he were to complete this quota, it would take him seven days.

The Cloud Flood Dragon Team has twenty people, but not everyone is Xia Chuan.

In fact, apart from Xia Chuan, only Qiu Peng's strength exceeds 20,000 catties, and most of the others fluctuate around 15,000 catties. According to their mining ability, it would take at least seventeen or eighteen days, or even more, to complete this quota.

Wouldn't this squeeze their hunting time?

This is not just a matter for the Cloud Flood Dragon Team, but for everyone, because their strength is not static, and they will eventually advance sooner or later.

For a time, everyone looked at Luo Yuan with a hint of confusion, clearly questioning the quota adjustment he had proposed.

"Everyone may think this quota is a bit high. Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet. The number limit for intermediate teams is fifty."

Fifty people?

Everyone present was stunned when they heard this number limit.

But immediately afterwards, they reacted and their expressions brightened slightly.

Hunting is taboo when there are too many people, so the members of the Hunting Department had previously guessed that even if the hunting team advanced to the intermediate level, the number of people would not exceed thirty at most, so they were stunned when Luo Yuan said the number fifty.

But considering the mining quota just now, this number makes sense.

"It's definitely not realistic for fifty people to hunt together, so as long as a portion of the people are spared to specialize in mining, then this quota will not be difficult to achieve."

"So that's how it is. Mining is much safer than hunting. If you can stay in the camp to specialize in mining, you can also get a share of the hunting contribution points. Everyone will definitely be willing to mine."

"It's basically the limit for more than twenty people to hunt together. Any more people would be inconvenient to hide and difficult to command. Leaving half the people to mine is just right."

"So that's how it is. That makes sense."

… … …

"The Chief Steward really thought it through. In this way, it can not only greatly increase the upper limit of the number of people in the team, but also take into account the problem of too many people when hunting, and also greatly increase the camp's coal and iron mining output. It can be regarded as killing three birds with one stone."

Hearing Luo Yuan's sigh, Qiu Peng smiled and said, "Indeed, now there are more and more Earth Digging Realm cultivators, most of whom are newly broken through. Letting them go out hunting immediately is too risky. It's better to let them honestly mine for a while. Mining can also be used for cultivation. When their basic strength is improved, hunting will not only be more efficient, but also safer."

Luo Yuan nodded, looking at the Cloud Flood Dragon Team token in Qiu Peng's hand, and couldn't help but reveal a hint of envy in his eyes.

"My basic strength is similar to that of the Chief Steward. The team configuration of the Tiger Leopard Team is said to be a little stronger than the Cloud Flood Dragon Team, but the intermediate cold beasts we have hunted are only Snow Mane and Frost Wolf. To advance to the intermediate team, it is estimated that it will take another month or two."

Qiu Peng smiled when he heard this. He also knew the situation of the Tiger Leopard Team. Zou Yuankai, Ying Xuan, and Luo Yuan, the captain whose basic strength is similar to Xia Chuan, from the perspective of personnel configuration alone, the Cloud Flood Dragon Team is indeed not as good as them.

"Is the Chief Steward's Blade Puppet really that powerful?"

Luo Yuan certainly knew where the problem was. He had also seen the Blade Puppet in the Craftsman Department. Although the size was intimidating, he had never seen the Blade Puppet take action with his own eyes, so he was naturally curious.

Qiu Peng nodded heavily and said in a low voice: "It's terrifying. The explosive force of the Blade Puppet's attack, let alone Yuwen Tao, I suspect even his father, Yuwen Hu, may not be able to withstand it."

Luo Yuan's expression suddenly perked up. Of course, he didn't doubt Qiu Peng's words. When Yuwen Hu fought against the leader, they, the first batch of hunting team members, had witnessed it with their own eyes.

"Don't be impatient. Advancing to the intermediate level still needs to be done slowly. If you plan to lead a team to hunt new varieties, remember to come to me. I have hunted five species with the Chief Steward, so I still have some experience."

Qiu Peng also knew that Luo Yuan was also eager to advance, and was worried that he would be too hasty, so he hurriedly told him.

Luo Yuan nodded, indicating that he knew. Thinking that Xia Chuan hadn't shown his face all day, he hurriedly asked: "Where did the Chief Steward go?"

"He just exchanged for ten catties of beast blood and is cultivating at home!"

Hearing Qiu Peng's answer, Luo Yuan's expression suddenly condensed, and he exclaimed: "Ten catties? The Chief Steward can now use ten catties of beast blood at a time?"

Beast blood is currently the most important cultivation resource in the camp. One catty requires 50 contribution points to exchange, so generally, you exchange as much as you use.

He has also started using beast blood, but he only uses six catties at most at a time.

The heart-wrenching pain made Luo Yuan shudder at the thought of it. If it weren't for cultivation, I'm afraid no one would really want to suffer this pain.

Six catties at a time almost gave him a shadow, so he was so shocked when he heard that Xia Chuan exchanged for ten catties at a time.

Qiu Peng nodded. Although he hadn't started using beast blood yet, he had seen Xia Chuan's cultivation, so he knew very well why Luo Yuan was so shocked.

But thinking of something, Qiu Peng asked: "At the beginning of the month, the leader summoned a group of Earth Digging Realm limit cultivators to impart the experience of breaking through to the Cold Resistance level. I remember you also went, right? Didn't you say that the more beast blood you use at one time, the higher your potential will be? Haven't you increased the dosage during this time?"

Luo Yuan heard the words and showed a bitter expression on his face, saying: "Of course I have increased it, but now I can only use six catties at most at a time. Not only has the gap with the Chief Steward not narrowed, but it has become even bigger."

Qiu Peng fell silent when he heard the sound. He remembered very clearly that in the earliest days, Luo Yuan's basic strength was still above Xia Chuan, but now not only has his basic strength been surpassed by Xia Chuan, but even the amount of beast blood he uses is not as good.

According to the leader, the gap between Luo Yuan and Xia Chuan's strength will become even greater when they break through to the Cold Resistance level in the future.

In Qiu Peng's perspective, this matter is actually normal.

Xia Chuan is, after all, the leader's biological younger brother.

His talent will naturally be outrageously high.

Of course, Qiu Peng would not say these words to stimulate Luo Yuan.

"I never thought about surpassing the Chief Steward, but the gap is getting bigger and bigger, and I still feel a little unwilling in my heart!"

Hearing Luo Yuan's words, Qiu Peng didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only smile and say: "The Chief Steward's talent is actually okay. At least we can still see a little possibility of catching up. Think about the leader, that's really despairing… … … …"

After saying these words, Qiu Peng left directly.

Luo Yuan, who was alone, turned from a strange expression to relief, and finally could only clench his fists and walk towards his home, seizing the time to cultivate.

That's right!

Although the Chief Steward is powerful, he is at least within the scope of understanding.

Xia Hong used hundreds of catties or even more at a time when he broke through to the Cold Resistance level. They had all witnessed it with their own eyes.

Thinking of him, Luo Yuan really didn't feel so uncomfortable anymore.

… … … … … …

The appearance of the Great Xia Valley is now completely different compared to the beginning of the month.

Previously, the entire valley, in addition to the largest wooden building in the center, had three buildings in the back: the Martial Arts Hall, the Forging Workshop, and the Alchemy Workshop;

Now it's different. On the east and west sides of the four buildings, along the edges of the three main roads, fifty or sixty buildings have been sparsely built.

Xia Chuan's home is in the place closest to the wooden building.

The allocated land was ten meters by ten meters, so the houses built by the Craftsman Department were all three-story buildings, not spacious but very comfortable to live in.

In a quiet room on the second floor of the small building, Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu sisters were standing at the door, their eyes fixed on the inside of the quiet room, their faces full of worry and concern.

"Ho… … Ho… … … …"

In the quiet room, there were constant suppressed painful roars from Xia Chuan.

"Is breaking through to the Cold Resistance level so painful? Can't you use less beast blood at a time? He applied all ten catties at once, will something happen?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Ning shook her head gently and said: "Big Brother said that the more beast blood you use, the stronger you will be when you break through to the Cold Resistance level, and the greater your future potential will be. Husband probably doesn't want to disappoint Big Brother, so he is working so hard. Didn't Husband just say that Yuwen Tao can now use twelve catties of beast blood at a time? He can't lose."

Xiao Yu's expression faltered upon hearing this. Although she understood the situation, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Xia Chuan, hearing his constant, agonizing screams.

"He's in so much pain after only ten jin. My husband said his older brother used over a hundred jin at once, or even more. What kind of willpower does that take!"

The thought popped into Xiao Yu's head. While feeling sorry for her husband, she couldn't help but feel sincere admiration for her older brother's willpower.

"You guys go out first. I need to talk to Xia Chuan."

Just as she was worrying, a gentle voice suddenly came from the side.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu's bodies trembled. They turned their heads and realized that a man in black had unknowingly been standing behind them.

"Greetings, Leader!"

The person who came was Xia Hong, dressed in black.

Hearing the two women's address, Xia Hong chuckled and teased, "We're all family. There's no need to be so formal in private."

The two women's faces flushed slightly, and they said again, "Greetings, Big Brother."

"Alright, you can all go and do your own things. Xia Chuan will be fine here."

Xiao Ning nodded and turned to leave with Xiao Yu.

Xia Hong turned his head to look at Xia Chuan in the quiet room, observed his skin for a while, a hint of surprise first rising in his eyes, before he walked in.