[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades":3,"chapter-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-119":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Endless Winter: My Camp Infinitely Upgrades",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2266545,4425,"Chapter 119: Great Righteousness: Hunting the Tengjiao","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-119",119,"\u003Cp>The long-tailed gnawer, after its tail is cut off, is no more than one meter long, small in size, and naturally yields little meat—on average, each one provides less than three hundred jin of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, we harvested four gnawers altogether, totaling just over a thousand jin of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rate of strength increase has slowed because immunity has developed to the meat of the first three cold beasts; new cold beast meat must be consumed. Xia Hong, having confirmed this, intends to keep all this thousand-plus jin of gnawer meat for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is, his daily consumption limit has now risen absurdly to over fifty jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping all thousand-plus jin for himself would last less than twenty days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, after inquiry, he learned that Xia Chuan and Luo Yuan have also experienced a slowdown in strength gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the current decline is still minor, based on his own experience, once this sign appears, it accelerates rapidly—so it won’t take long before a shortage of new cold beast meat becomes inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, cultivation is the top priority; strength gains cannot stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, due to concern over the gnawer herd: since normal methods cannot resolve the gnawers on the north slope of the mountain wall, alternative solutions must be considered. Tengjiao and gnawers are mutually antagonistic; targeting the Tengjiao is clearly more reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, compared to the gnawer herd and other unknown cold beasts, the Tengjiao’s strength is at least not yet overwhelming—it’s within acceptable limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, as night fell, Yuan Cheng eagerly packed away the Startling Cold Blade, then collected a bow and a quiver of iron arrows from the supply depot, and headed to the wooden hut’s entrance to assemble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our leader is incredibly strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That great axe must weigh over a thousand jin, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A thousand jin? Are you joking? Even the great sword weighs seven or eight hundred jin—this great axe is so massive, it’s surely over two thousand jin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa… over two thousand jin? Our leader’s strength is insane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to say it—our leader is the strongest in Great Xia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they stepped out of the wooden hut, they found a large crowd gathered at the entrance. Hearing the exclamations from the crowd, Yuan Cheng immediately pushed his way in curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom… boom… boom…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front of the wooden hut, Xia Hong gripped the great axe with both hands, eyes flashing like lightning, his body darting swiftly as he swung the weapon, each half-blade carving circular horizontal arcs through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash, chop, sweep, smash—even upward thrusts—he performed every motion effortlessly. The two-thousand-eight-hundred-jin great axe felt weightless in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When ordinary great swords are swung, the sharp edge cuts the air with a whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Xia Hong swung the great axe, it emitted a booming sound—the immense kinetic energy had already swept away all the accumulated snow around his body, leaving a bare, circular patch of ground five to six meters wide, revealing the sheer force of his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s burly body seemed fused with the great axe; with his final move, he leapt into the air and brought the axe down with full force, striking the ground with a thunderous crash and splitting a trench half a meter deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single strike turned the faces of the nearest onlookers pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they clearly felt the ground tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yuan Cheng finally understood why Xia Hong had looked so strangely when he’d worried the day before that Xia Hong didn’t know how to wield the great axe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t know how? The way our leader swings that axe is far more skilled than how he wields his great sword—no, not just more skilled than him, but more skilled than anyone else in the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our leader can master anything without a teacher—he must be a god reincarnated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, not just Yuan Cheng, but Luo Yuan, the Zhao brothers, and even Xia Chuan couldn’t help thinking the same—let alone the rest of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong, of course, had no idea what these people were thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could roughly tell from their expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong chuckled lightly and offered no explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is no such thing as innate mastery in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there were, it wouldn’t be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Forms of the Great Ancestor’s Fist were designed to be combined with all manner of cold weapons; moreover, in his past life, he had already studied various weapons—hence his rapid adaptation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His base strength already exceeded twenty thousand jin, towering above the entire camp; wielding such a heavy axe naturally produces an astonishing spectacle, and he himself carries an aura of awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only natural these people think this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong held the axe in both hands, originally planning to practice more—but seeing the crowd grow larger, he frowned slightly, slung the axe onto his back, and turned to look at Xia Chuan at the front of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is everyone here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the crowd, Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, the three Zhao brothers, and the newly arrived Yuan Cheng—six men in total—stepped forward immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All six were neatly dressed, solemn in bearing, each holding a great sword, carrying a bow on their backs, and wearing a large leather sack at their waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go. Tonight’s hunt is just our seven. The rest of the hunting team will patrol the outer perimeter, assist in protecting the foraging and logging teams, and stand ready to support us at any moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Leader!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the six responded loudly, the other nine members of the hunting team also stepped forward. Though their faces showed disappointment at not joining Xia Hong’s group, they quickly adjusted their moods and answered in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Leader!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing everyone ready, Xia Hong led the fifteen men out immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foraging and logging teams had already departed ahead. Upon entering Redwood Ridge with the fifteen, Xia Hong ordered the other eight to scatter and patrol their assigned zones, while he led the seven deeper into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once past the five-hundred-meter boundary, Xia Hong did not immediately begin searching for the Tengjiao. Instead, he first located the Blue Jade Tree he’d found previously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time they came, they’d found two Blue Jade Trees—both surrounded by emptiness, with no new Blue Condensation Grass sprouting, not even seedlings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Blue Jade Tree first discovered by Cheng Feng has gone nearly three months since the last harvest. He said it had just begun sprouting. At this growth rate, the new crop won’t emerge for another four months—meaning the growth cycle of Blue Condensation Grass is at least seven to eight months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong pondered for a moment, then shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An eight-month growth cycle is indeed long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But remembering the extraordinary healing power of Golden Wound Powder, he let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We only have three trees now, but the amount of Golden Wound Powder produced is still sufficient. We just need to find a few more later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader, is that over there the Tengjiao’s territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Xia Hong was focused on the Blue Condensation Grass, the other six—especially Yuan Cheng—were clearly growing impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five-hundred-meter range wasn’t large. The Tengjiao’s mist zone was roughly fifty meters in diameter. In fact, as soon as they crossed the five-hundred-meter boundary, they’d already spotted three mist zones nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xia Hong didn’t lead them toward them. Instead, he avoided two of the mist zones and found two more Blue Jade Trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, finally arriving at the third mist zone, and having learned from Xia Chuan that this was the Tengjiao’s lair, Yuan Cheng couldn’t help asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush. You’ll get your chance soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After signaling Yuan Cheng to calm down, Xia Hong didn’t move away. Instead, he took a piece of leather from his robe, wrapped a handful of snow in it, and tucked it into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the others immediately grew serious and followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before we begin, I’ll reiterate the three points again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Tengjiao is large, has keen senses, and moves extremely fast. Once inside the mist zone, even if you move slowly, you must proceed with extreme caution—do not wake it before attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, when we enter, it’s likely coiled around a tree. To strike first, you must climb the tree and use your bow. The Tengjiao’s defense is weak; our specially made iron arrows will pierce its hide. But its body is too large—arrows alone won’t kill it. So after the first volley, everyone must immediately descend and form a group to fight it together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third—and most important—our hunting window is only twenty minutes. When twenty minutes are up, regardless of success or failure, everyone withdraws immediately. No lingering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he’d already repeated these points several times, Xia Hong’s tone remained stern. After speaking, he scanned the group and continued: “I’ve only mentioned one way to earn contribution points so far—two points per night’s outing. Now I’ll tell you the second…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six immediately perked up, ears straining to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Contribution points are assigned by prey species. Currently, the camp can access five types of prey, ranked by difficulty: Long-tailed Gnawer—200 points, Bone-Spike Frost Wolf—240 points, Long-Tongue Snow Mane—280 points, Golden-Eyed Demon Sheep—350 points, and Cloud Mist Tengjiao—the highest at 380 points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stating the contribution point values for the five prey, Xia Hong fell silent and observed the reactions of the other five—excluding Xia Chuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of cold beast meat alone, this pricing was clearly unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gnawers were fine—each yielded only two or three hundred jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including hide, bones, and teeth, the surplus wasn’t excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Snow Mane, Frost Wolf, and Demon Sheep were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each adult specimen of these three yielded over a thousand jin of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the camp’s current rate of two jin of cold beast meat per contribution point, even just the meat from these three would be worth at least five hundred points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the hide, bones, and other parts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even accounting for the camp’s costs—dedicated personnel to process the prey, management fees—the hunters were clearly at a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what matters is how these men think!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The camp provides fixed housing, security, food, heating, weapons, tools—even Xia Hong’s initial investments—all these are hidden costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you factor them in, the hunters aren’t losing out at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, not just the hunting team, but the logging and foraging teams also have contribution point systems where members clearly lose out—when they hand over supplies to the camp, the contribution points they receive don’t fully compensate for what they gave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plainly put, the contribution point system is a transparent tax mechanism—whether you think it’s worth paying depends on you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any intelligent person in the camp has already figured this out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, from the occasional feedback these past few days, everyone seems satisfied—likely because Xia Hong’s earlier sacrifices and the camp’s recent prosperity are obvious to all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those are the reactions of the logging and foraging teams, and ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people are at most Foundation Establishment—they lack hunting capability. What they care about most is cold beast meat, and the supply depot has priced it within their affordability, which is why they accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunters are different—especially the five before him: Luo Yuan, the Zhao brothers, and the newly promoted Yuan Cheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuan, the Zhao brothers, and Yuan Cheng now have the ability to hunt cooperatively. Xia Hong doesn’t intend to lead the hunting team forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The camp’s hard currency—cold beast meat—will soon be obtained by these men. If they’re dissatisfied with the current distribution system…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xia Hong will have to redefine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader, how are contribution points divided during cooperative hunts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five’s silence didn’t last long. Yuan Cheng was the first to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his question, Xia Hong’s expression turned slightly odd. After thinking, he answered: “Normally, points are divided according to each person’s contribution. You can discuss this yourselves during future cooperative hunts. But when you hunt with me, I won’t take any contribution points—you divide them all equally among yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader, you’re generous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Xia Hong’s words, the five’s eyes lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuan couldn’t help speaking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong smiled and shook his head; as their leader, he had the strength and didn’t need these things anyway—better to give them to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the five had no further questions, Xia Hong’s expression remained odd; he glanced at them all, then asked: “No objections to the contribution point conversion for the five prey?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Xia Hong’s question, the five froze, then all shook their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Xia Hong’s expression grew even stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that none of these five could do arithmetic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuan, watching Xia Hong’s face, suddenly realized something, his expression darkening: “Leader, you’re underestimating us too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind other things—before, you risked your life to save us, gave us this much cold-beast meat without charge so we could cultivate. You protected us at the cost of your own safety. Without your sacrifices, we’d never have broken through the Digging Earth realm, and Great Xia would never be what it is today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We hunt outside precisely because we want to contribute to Great Xia. If we counted every single point, thinking only of ourselves, how could we still call ourselves people of Great Xia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Luo Yuan spoke, Zhao Long and the other three, including Yuan Cheng, instantly understood: Xia Hong had been silent so long because he thought they’d be dissatisfied with the prey’s contribution point conversion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not for the Leader, I’d be dead long ago—how could I have the life I have now? Leader, even if you asked me for two or three hundred points, I’d still hunt for free without a single complaint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader’s great kindness, my three brothers and I hold deep in our hearts. No matter how much we do, it still falls short of everything you’ve done. Like Yuan Cheng, we’ll charge into fire and sword for you—no hesitation, no second thoughts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five’s declarations stirred Xia Hong slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong fixed his gaze on the five, then turned his eyes to Xia Chuan beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan wore a helpless smile, nudging his chin toward Xia Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong chuckled softly, though silent—he instantly understood what Xia Chuan meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? I knew it’d be like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contribution point conversion for the five cold-beast prey had been discussed and decided by Xia Chuan and him together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Xia Chuan’s original plan, the contribution points for the five prey were far lower than what they were now—Xia Hong had forced him to raise them, fearing Luo Yuan and the others would object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Xia Chuan had said: “They won’t object.” Xia Hong hadn’t believed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was clear: Xia Chuan was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, Xia Hong hadn’t fully grasped how deeply his own example had taken root, or how great his authority was among these men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine—I was petty. You understand justice so clearly; everything I’ve done hasn’t been in vain. The stronger Great Xia becomes, the better your lives will be—and vice versa: the better your lives, the stronger Great Xia will naturally grow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember this: Great Xia’s future is intertwined with every single person in this camp—mutually reinforcing, inseparable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood, Leader!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five’s unified reply lifted Xia Hong’s spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the mist zone, raising his great axe and pointing at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember the three points I just said—prepare to enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Xia Hong led the way forward; the other five followed closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the poison mist thickened, Xia Hong felt the air he inhaled grow unbearable—he immediately pulled a soaked leather cloth from his chest and pressed it over his mouth and nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other five did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six, mouths and noses covered, plunged into the mist zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Estimated body length: thirty-five meters, diameter sixty-five centimeters—similar to the one we encountered before. The mist zone’s radius is roughly fifty meters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the mist zone and cautiously advancing only ten meters, they looked up and saw their target. Xia Hong lowered his voice, muffled by the cloth—his words were unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the six, close enough, heard clearly. The redwood trees were already thick; within the fifty-meter mist zone, only dozens stood. The Tengjiao coiled above one central tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That tree had a trunk over eight meters wide—not the thickest, but unusually tall, with many branching limbs. Part of the Tengjiao’s body twisted around it, its tail only dangling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are three large trees around it, barely reaching the Tengjiao’s body. I’ll take the left one. You six—Zhao Long, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao—take the front tree. Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, Yuan Cheng—take the back tree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once under the trees, no one makes a sound. Climb quietly, find your position, then choose your attack method—aim for one strike to inflict maximum damage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have five minutes total to climb and position yourselves. After five minutes, watch my signal—attack together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From past hunting experience, killing a Tengjiao this large in one strike was impossible for their seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they’d settle for second best: deliver a crippling blow to minimize cost in the follow-up hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Xia Hong fell silent, gesturing toward the trees ahead and behind the Tengjiao’s. The six behind him split into two groups, slipping forward soundlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the six begin climbing, Xia Hong walked to the left tree, tightened his grip on the great axe behind his back, and began ascending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tengjiao’s position was too high—over ten meters off the ground, tail only touching earth. Without climbing, they couldn’t reach its main body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+ Shu _ Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the mist zone, all was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only seven dark figures climbed steadily up the tree trunks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xia Hong climbed, his right hand suddenly touched something cold and sticky—he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped firm with his left hand, pulled his right back, and stared: it was coated in a thick, transparent gel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking slightly upward, more of the same clung to the bark above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… looks like secretion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s heart jumped—he looked up sharply and realized the secretion came from the sleeping Tengjiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely: saliva dripping from its mouth as it slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d chosen the left tree precisely because the Tengjiao’s head hung directly above it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The saliva didn’t flow continuously—only a thin strand hung from its jaw, slowly accumulating, unlikely to fall for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clump on the tree must have fallen earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong didn’t dwell on it—he kept climbing. As he passed the large glob of saliva, a sweet fragrance entered his nostrils—he suddenly stiffened, eyes brightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This saliva… neutralizes poison?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wet cloth didn’t fully block the mist’s poison—only their Digging Earth-level physiques let them temporarily endure the filtered toxins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since entering the mist zone, he’d felt strong discomfort inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just now, inhaling the saliva’s fragrance—the discomfort vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Confirm later—focus on the mission!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong suppressed his excitement, scooped another handful of saliva, smeared it on his face, and kept climbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were seasoned hunters—climbing trees was nothing. Ten meters normally took seven or eight seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was their first Tengjiao hunt, and Xia Hong’s constant warnings made them cautious. It took them two to three minutes to reach the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong, first to climb, crept carefully onto a horizontal branch, glancing at the Tengjiao’s head—barely ten meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tengjiao’s eyes were shut, its exhaled white mist nearly solidified. Two bulges on its forehead added to its ferocious appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong tensed, fearing movement might wake it—he drew his great axe and glanced toward the other two trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan’s group and Zhao Long’s brothers were ready—all had drawn weapons. Seeing Xia Hong look their way, they nodded silently—prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong drew a deep breath, raised his right hand—about to signal—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned back toward the Tengjiao—and his blood turned to ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tengjiao’s closed eyes had opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two crimson vertical pupils locked onto him—and slowly shifted, as if glancing at the trees behind and ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse: the Tengjiao’s body, once coiled only around the central tree, had now fully spread—wrapping all three trees where Xia Hong’s seven had climbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tengjiao had moved its entire body silently—and none of them noticed a thing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… how…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack! It’s been awake the whole time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s back hairs stood on end—he shouted to the six on the trees, then gripped his double-bladed great axe and charged straight at the Tengjiao’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Xia Hong’s cry, the six instantly moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan leapt forward, left hand firing a thread, right hand wielding a black blade—aiming for the Tengjiao’s back. High above, Luo Yuan leapt, slashing downward with his knife at the spine. Yuan Cheng gripped his Frost Shock Blade, kicked off the tree, and swung horizontally at the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Long and his brothers didn’t use blades—they were expert archers, and their positions gave them angled views of the Tengjiao’s eyes. At Xia Hong’s shout, they loosed the iron black arrows they’d already nocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six were fully prepared, obeyed Xia Hong’s orders perfectly—but they hadn’t counted on the Tengjiao waking early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just a little early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had silently wrapped its body around all three trees without a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have woken much earlier than he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When… when exactly did the Tengjiao wake…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong had no time to ponder it. The moment he drew his axe and charged, he realized this hunt would be far harder than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roar…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack… crack… crack… crack…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As predicted, the Tengjiao roared—and its thirty-meter body surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four massive trees—three where the seven stood, plus the one the Tengjiao coiled around—all over six meters wide—snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six, fully prepared, and Xia Hong, who’d anticipated the danger—all their planning was wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trees fell. Xia Hong halted his charge, retracted his axe, clung to the branches, and leapt aside as the trunk toppled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and Yuan Cheng tumbled down. Zhao Long’s three arrows flew true—but their footing gave way, accuracy ruined. They missed the Tengjiao’s eyes by miles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom… boom…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scatter! Find your own openings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four trees crashed down in staggered thunder. Xia Hong, having dodged, shouted to the other six, then charged straight at the fallen Tengjiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hssss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great axe stirred the air into tremors, its whooshing sound causing Tengjiao’s pupils to contract slightly—as if sensing the immense power within Xia Hong. Tengjiao’s ferocity began to stir; its elongated body twisted and coiled, swiftly detaching from the fallen trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengjiao contracted its belly, lifting its upper body off the ground, and roared. Its massive tail whipped backward, unleashing a gale that slashed horizontally toward Xia Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiii… Shiiiiii… Shiiii…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several arrows streaked in from the flank—Zhao Long and his two brothers, having regained their composure, fired in rapid succession. In three to four breaths, they unleashed over a dozen arrows, all aimed at Tengjiao’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, on the other side, Xia Chuan stood atop a broken tree trunk, his white thread darting swiftly as he moved left and right around Tengjiao’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuan and Yuan Cheng favored broadswords for direct assaults; they raised their blades, one on the left, one on the right, charging toward the lowest point of Tengjiao’s upright body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid so many simultaneous attacks, Tengjiao’s sweeping tail strike had lost much of its former force. Forced to dodge arrows and shift its body, it even began retracting its tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t let you retract it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong, bracing his great axe to absorb the blow, narrowed his eyes. He had already learned Tengjiao’s strength during the rodent pursuit—he never feared this sweep. Instead, he intended to use Tengjiao’s own momentum to deliver a counterstrike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Tengjiao had been driven back by the other six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s plan had failed, and he would not let it pass. Besides, he could not allow Tengjiao to evade the others’ attacks so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The double-edged axe carved a fierce wind through the air. Xia Hong surged forward, borrowing momentum from the axe’s swing, his body moving at its absolute limit—he closed the distance in an instant, catching up to Tengjiao’s retracted tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he neared Tengjiao’s body, Xia Hong spun the axe around himself, raised it high above his head, and brought it down in a vertical slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ho……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blow, nearly at the limit of his physical strength, roared with wind. The icy gleam from the dual blades shone vividly in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiii…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great axe struck Tengjiao’s tail without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green blood spurted meters into the air. Xia Hong clearly felt Tengjiao’s tail bones shatter under the axe’s force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single strike had cleaved Tengjiao’s body in two—seven or eight meters of its tail had been severed, leaving a deep gouge in the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The blade radius on each side is seventy-five centimeters. You may be large, but before my great axe, you’re still not enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong drew a deep breath, staring at the severed Tengjiao, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. This axe was designed for more than just Tengjiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been forged specifically for massive prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roar……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengjiao’s cries now lacked their former ferocity, filled instead with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, it had not anticipated Xia Hong’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xia Hong’s strike, Tengjiao faced an even more precise and concentrated assault from the other six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black arrows flew relentlessly. Zhao Long and his brothers emptied their quivers in one breath. Though Tengjiao struggled backward and barely avoided the eyes, the sheer density of arrows pierced its forehead and body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yuan and Yuan Cheng’s broadswords had already struck Tengjiao’s body. As Tengjiao rolled and twisted, they shifted positions continuously, using their blades to inflict more damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their arrows spent, Zhao Long and his brothers charged forward with their swords, joining the others. Tengjiao, now unable to defend itself, fell back steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With its tail severed, Tengjiao’s balance was ruined. As its wounds worsened, its struggles grew increasingly feeble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a moment of desperation, it turned its head, scanning the crowd. A red gleam flashed in its eyes, then fixed on Yuan Cheng—the closest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in the group noticed this subtle movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried Tengjiao might flee, Xia Hong had circled ahead, flanking it with Xia Chuan. Seeing Tengjiao’s head movements grow weaker, Xia Hong wasted no time—he raised his axe and charged straight for its face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiii…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical moment, Tengjiao suddenly twisted its body, whipped its head around, and opened its mouth toward Luo Yuan and the other five attackers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick, green mist gushed from its mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too fast, too dense—it was no longer mist, but a beam of green light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hunting so long, the group’s vigilance was sharp enough that Xia Hong’s warning was unnecessary. The moment Tengjiao turned, Luo Yuan and the other five—including Xia Chuan at the rear—had already dodged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and Zhao Long’s brothers all escaped in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Yuan Cheng, newly ascended to the Digging Earth realm, driven by eagerness to prove himself, had climbed atop Tengjiao’s belly—closest of all—and failed to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he covered his mouth and nose and twisted his body aside, the mist struck his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengjiao still kept its mouth open, seemingly preparing to intensify the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong, now behind Tengjiao, showed a look of urgency. His movements accelerated—he spun the axe around his body and slashed horizontally from right to left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaaak…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengjiao, already at its last strength, was cleaved completely by this blow. Its head and over ten meters of body crashed to the ground. The green mist, deprived of its source, faded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having successfully hunted Tengjiao, Xia Hong’s expression relaxed as he stared at the three severed segments. But Yuan Cheng’s ensuing scream made his heart snap taut again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong dropped his axe and sprinted to Yuan Cheng’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other five rushed over, all tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Cheng’s eyes were bloodshot. He writhed on the ground, screaming. His clothes were burned through; his back skin was rotting, spreading rapidly toward other parts of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold him down—don’t let him move. I’ll be right back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong hesitated only a moment, then turned and ordered the five to pin down the unconscious Yuan Cheng. He spun around, searching the ground for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan and the others didn’t understand, but they swiftly pinned Yuan Cheng to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaah… Aaaah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Digging Earth cultivator, unconscious and pushed beyond pain’s limit, could unleash tremendous strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan and the others gritted their teeth to hold him—one gripping his head, four holding his limbs—but even then, Yuan Cheng’s struggles were too violent to contain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tengjiao’s poison is terrifying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yuan Cheng’s condition, the five felt a chill. As the rot spread to his arms, sorrow crept into their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Xia Chuan, closest to Yuan Cheng, whose eyes were filled with pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, there was no saving him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Xia Hong returned, having rummaged through the broken trees, clutching a large clump of viscous liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong rushed forward, ignoring the others’ puzzled looks, and smeared the transparent, sticky fluid onto Yuan Cheng’s back and arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five holding Yuan Cheng froze, then their faces lit up with relief—they clearly felt Yuan Cheng’s struggles lessen the instant the fluid touched his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it kept lessening…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tengjiao’s saliva… is the antidote to its mist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yuan Cheng’s back heal rapidly, Xia Hong relaxed, marveling at nature’s wonders—then his eyes suddenly gleamed as he stared at the saliva, realizing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the ten-thousand-character mark, the word count shouldn’t be low. I just don’t want to split chapters. If you think splitting points would be better, say so—I’ll adjust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4989,"2026-06-19T20:30:15.201Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3b34c51a1a159cf750803d8fd29f49126989cefba4817f9763177b7c621f36b4","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-120","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-118",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fendless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-cover.jpg"]