Chapter 183: Exchange Fair, Killing, Does Does Da Xia's Gospel

Does Does Da Xia Year 1, April 3rd.

At the northern foot of the First Ape Peak in the Five Ape Mountains, Xiao Kangcheng and his party of three were moving steadily on the snow, pushing a wooden-wheeled cart.

"How come this cart feels less strenuous to push than last month?"

"It seems the ice layer on the ground has thickened."

Hearing the conversation between the two beside him, Xiao Kangcheng's brows tightened slightly. He drew his blade, lowered his body, and stabbed the ground. Then he took out a few pieces of broken ice, observed them, and said in a deep voice: "It has thickened. It's estimated that in a few days, the cold wave will officially arrive."

The ground of the Frozen Abyss World was covered in snow all year round, and there was an ice layer under the snow. The ice layer didn't change much usually, but every year when the two-month cold wave period arrived, it would suddenly thicken by two to three times. This could be considered the basis for humans in the Five Ape Mountains area to judge that the cold wave period was about to arrive.

Lu Shun and Xiao Ping also had cultivation in the Earth-Digging Realm, but their experience was naturally not as rich as Xiao Kangcheng, the leader.

Hearing that the cold wave was only a few days away, their expressions became a few shades more solemn.

However, looking at the ten bags of coal stones on the wooden-wheeled cart and thinking of something, Lu Shun smiled again and said: "This time, fifty thousand jin of coal stones can all be used to exchange for Chen fruit and beast meat, and we can also exchange for some extra animal hides and medicine for external injuries. This cold wave, our camp's life should be a bit easier."

"There's no need to change the iron; it's much more abundant now. Every time there's an exchange fair, I see the Zhu He and Tongling camps using iron ore to trade for so many supplies, and I'm incredibly envious. Thanks to that Lord Xia Chuan, who brought out ten thousand jin at once—Leader, do you think the iron ore in their Does Does Da Xia camp is so plentiful that they can't use it all?"

"Not just iron ore; those three longswords and that ten-thousand-jin iron-womb bow—I estimate that in the entire Five Ape Mountains, only the Three Tigers camp has them. The Zhu He and Tongling camps can't forge such good bows either."

Hearing the two's words, a smile also appeared on Xiao Kangcheng's face.

The three items Xia Chuan sent the day before yesterday indeed shocked them greatly.

Was Does Does Da Xia's iron ore endless?

Xiao Kangcheng still didn't dare to answer Lu Shun's question. A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes as he said: "That's not necessarily true. When we see Xiao Yuan and Ning'er and the others later, ask them and it will naturally be clear."

Lu Shun and Xiao Ping nodded upon hearing this, and a look of expectation appeared in their eyes.

They also knew that Xiao Yuan had taken Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu to Does Does Da Xia the night before last, so they couldn't help but have some expectations in their hearts.

Perhaps, the Does Does Da Xia camp was truly as Xia Chuan said…………

"Leader, are you so sure that Xia Chuan will also come to the exchange fair?"

Xiao Ping asked curiously. The night before last, Xia Chuan was in the camp and only inquired about the time and location of the exchange fair without saying he would come, but Xiao Kangcheng was so sure that he set off with them as soon as night fell.

Xiao Kangcheng pondered for a moment and nodded: "Didn't you notice that he already knows quite a bit about the situation of the camps in the Five Ape Mountains area? I suspect that the Does Does Da Xia camp has long since figured out this area, and I even suspect that they might have already had actual contact with the Three Tigers camp……"

Actual contact with the Three Tigers camp?

Lu Shun and Xiao Ping looked at each other, and a look of shock rose on both their faces.

"Reporting to my lord, Director Director Yu Wen has already rescued the people. They caught quite a few, and they look very angry. It seems the squad led by Hong Guang must have had quite a serious incident."

Xiao Kangcheng recalled the words of the person who arrived last at the night before last, and his guess became more and more certain.

However, it was just a guess, so he didn't say it directly to the two.

The three continued to push the cart forward and soon circled to the side of the mountain wall at the northern foot.

Seeing three large trees standing side by side not far away, Xiao Kangcheng's expression relaxed instantly.

"We're here."

It wasn't Lu Shun and Xiao Ping's first time here either. Hearing this, they also relaxed a lot and continued to push the cart toward the three large trees.

After approaching the three large trees and circling to the mountain wall behind, a mountain cave lit by a bonfire suddenly came into the eyes of the three.

Figures could be seen moving in the cave entrance. The three immediately quickened their pace and soon arrived at the cave entrance.

Someone in the cave clearly noticed the three approaching. A middle-aged man wearing animal hide clothes brought a few people holding broadswords and ran out. Seeing it was Xiao Kangcheng, he immediately let down his guard and said with a smile:

"Old Xiao, you're a bit late. Only you and Old Chen were left."

"Old Zhu, you're standing and talking without back pain. Old Chen and I are from the Five Ape Peak side, the furthest away, so naturally, we're the latest."

Seeing the person who came, Xiao Kangcheng couldn't help but tease him.

Zhu Xing, leader of the Zhu He camp.

The exchange fair, although it was something the eleven medium-sized camps in the Five Ape Mountains area had discussed and organized together, and on the surface everyone was equal in status, it wasn't like that in reality.

The so-called exchange was exchanging supplies with each other.

To put it plainly, everyone took what they needed.

It looked good, but when it came to actual exchange, it wasn't like that.

Everyone lived in the same area, so the supplies they could obtain were roughly the same. It was just that due to the difference in strength, some camps had a larger range of activities and stronger hunting capabilities, so the supplies they could collect and obtain, whether in variety or quantity, were more.

Iron ore and cold beasts could be considered two relatively representative resources.

The Xiaohe camp's strength wasn't bad either, with twenty-plus Earth-Digging Realm members, but it was precisely because there weren't enough weapons that their hunting capability had always been unable to come up, and the corresponding supply of beast meat naturally couldn't keep up.

Some things had chain reactions.

Once the beast meat supply couldn't keep up, the improvement in strength would be slow, the number of Earth-Digging Realm members wouldn't come up, causing the camp's range of activities to be unable to expand, so the cold beasts they could find were also very few, and the improvement in hunting experience was slow…………

Without iron ore, enough weapons couldn't be made;

Without weapons, the range of activities couldn't be expanded, and more cold beasts couldn't be found or hunted;

And without cold beasts, strength couldn't continue to improve, the range of activities was still restricted, and it was even more impossible to find iron ore.

This was almost a perfect closed loop!

Everyone knew that iron ore was very important.

Therefore, the Xiaohe camp's demand for iron ore was huge.

And in the Five Ape Mountains area, there were eight other camps that were just as short of iron as they were.

Among the eleven medium-sized camps in the entire Five Ape Mountains, only the Zhu He and Tongling medium-sized camps had iron ore. Knowing that the other nine camps were short of iron, how could these two families casually circulate iron ore to them?

20 to 25 jin of coal to exchange for 1 jin of iron—not only was the price set so high, but at the monthly exchange fair, the amount of iron ore these two camps released was surprisingly consistent: only five thousand jin.

Five thousand for one family, adding up to ten thousand.

Even if divided equally, each family could only get a little over 1,500 jin.

Xiaohe wasn't stupid, and the leaders of the other eight camps weren't stupid either.

The Zhu He and Tongling camps were just using iron to exploit them.

They all understood this in their hearts, but they had no choice at all.

Weapons and tools had wear and tear.

Especially weapons—fighting cold beasts, not to mention anything else, just the rolling of the edge caused an astonishing amount of wear; not to mention bows and arrows that couldn't be retrieved after being shot.

Being able to exchange for over a thousand jin of iron every month could at least maintain the weapons and tools needed by the camp, possess a certain hunting capability, and hunt at least some cold beasts every month, and safety was also greatly guaranteed.

If even this thousand-plus jin was gone every month, once the weapons and tools in hand were damaged, not only would the danger of hunting cold beasts greatly increase, but even basic things like chopping trees would become difficult.

Therefore, even if they knew they were being exploited, they couldn't do anything. Not only did they not dare to say anything, but every month they had to happily and actively come over to be exploited once.

"Old Xiao, you go in first, Old Chen has arrived too. I'll go pick them up."

Hearing Zhu Xing's words, Xiao Kangcheng looked back and discovered that three more people had arrived behind. Knowing it was Chen Hu from the Xifeng camp, he immediately nodded and walked toward the cave.

"Old Xiao has arrived."

"Hahahaha, brought quite a lot of coal."

"The cold wave is here, no other way, have to prepare more."

"We brought quite a lot of things too, all want to exchange for more."

…………

The monthly exchange fair made the leaders of the eleven medium-sized camps very familiar with each other. Xiao Kangcheng chatted with everyone while observing the situation in the mountain cave.

Except for the Tongling and Zhu He camps, which brought two bags, the other seven families brought as much as their own, nearly ten bags each.

Despite this, the gazes of these seven families were mostly gathered on the bags of the Tongling and Zhu He camps.

"Sigh……"

Seeing this scene, Xiao Kangcheng sighed slightly in his heart.

It was a matter of mutual consent, so exploitation couldn't really be counted.

The Zhu He and Tongling families were at least willing to release over a thousand jin of iron ore to their nine camps every month. If they didn't give a single jin, you couldn't do anything about it either.

The Three Tigers camp also had iron ore, but the problem was, did you dare to go exchange for it?

"Old Chen has arrived, everyone is here!"

Soon, Zhu Xing brought Chen Hu and the others in.

This mountain cave was very spacious. Just the part outside illuminated by the bonfire was over twenty meters wide. The forty-plus people from the eleven groups circled around the bonfire, not appearing crowded at all.

Seeing that everyone was in position, Zhu Xing announced:

"The exchange fair officially begins!"

According to past practice, Zhu Xing announced the start, and next was for him and Meng Yuan, the leader of the Tongling camp, to state the amount of iron ore and cold beast meat they intended to release this time, and then the other nine camps would bid, exchanging with coal or other supplies.

The situation was indeed so. As soon as he announced the start, Meng Yuan stood out from the side.

Bang…… bang……

It was just that, just as the two were about to speak.

In the mountain cave, two heavy thuds suddenly rang out one after another.

Two unknown objects suddenly flew from the depths of the mountain cave toward the side of the bonfire.

"Who is it!"

"Someone hiding inside?"

"Who is it, sneaking around, get out!"

………………

The group of people circling the bonfire had their expressions change drastically. While scattering toward the surroundings, they shouted angrily toward the depths of the mountain cave.

At the same time, the unknown objects that had just flown out also fell to the side of the bonfire, and everyone naturally saw them clearly.

At this sight, their expressions were stunned.

The things that flew out were actually two people bound by ropes.

"Ugh ugh…… ugh…… ugh…………"

The mouths of the two people were pinned by iron arrows. Previously, something should have been used to seal their mouths. The impact of flying out was too fierce, causing the things on their mouths to fall off, and they let out muffled screams.

Step…… step…… step……

Before they could see the two people on the ground clearly, a steady sound of footsteps came from the depths of the mountain cave. Everyone turned their heads to look, and their expressions became tense.

Only the three from the Xiaohe camp had guesses on their faces.

Xia Chuan, in a black cloak, slowly walked out from the shadows in the depths of the mountain cave to the front of the crowd, with a smile on his face, and said:

"Seniors, no need to panic. I am Xia Chuan, Director of the Does Does Da Xia camp. I have come here today with no ill intent, only to present a grand gift to you all!"

Through the illumination of the firelight, seeing Xia Chuan clearly, Zhu Xing, Meng Yuan, and the people from the other eight camps all had their pupils tighten.

Not to mention Xia Chuan's young and handsome face, just his black cloak, animal hide boots, and blue animal fur hat were shocking enough to everyone present.

Not to mention the slender long blade hanging at his waist.

Everyone could see at a glance that the scabbard outside that long blade was actually made of iron.

Combined with the two people lying on the ground and the force of them just flying out from inside.

Meng Yuan and Zhu Xing looked at each other, and both their expressions were full of solemnity.

"Lord Xia Chuan, you really came!"

As soon as Xiao Kangcheng spoke, the others looked at him with anger in their eyes.

"Seniors, don't blame Leader Xiao. Xia said, coming here today has no ill intent, only to present a grand gift to you all. I wonder if you seniors recognize these two people on the ground?"

Xia Chuan didn't want to harm Xiao Kangcheng. After helping him resolve the situation, he immediately continued, signaling everyone to take a good look at the two people on the ground.

Although everyone was suspicious, they still turned their heads to look at the two people on the ground. "This…… isn't this Liu Erhu?"

After observing carefully, Meng Yuan was the first to exclaim.

He seemed to still have some doubts, then immediately went to look at the other person. After finishing, he exclaimed again in shock: "Liu Sanhu!"

As soon as Meng Yuan said this, the other ten leaders, including Xiao Kangcheng who had guesses early on, couldn't help but lower their heads to look carefully.

"It really is Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu!"

"The Three Tigers camp, could it be that this person…………"

"The Does Does Da Xia camp, was the Three Tigers camp destroyed by this Does Does Da Xia camp?"

…………

After confirming the identities of the two people on the ground, they were truly Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu. The way everyone looked at Xia Chuan changed completely, and countless guesses arose in their hearts.

Seeing that everyone recognized the two, Xia Chuan's eyes lit up. This saved him quite a bit of effort. He continued with a smile:

"The Three Tigers camp has been doing evil in the Five Ape Mountains area and has brought quite a bit of trouble to you all. Since my Does Does Da Xia has come, naturally I cannot tolerate it. Today, not only these two chief culprits—Director Yu Wen Tao, come in!"

In the end, Xia Chuan shouted toward the outside of the mountain cave.

Everyone followed his voice and looked toward the cave entrance.

Outside the cave entrance, Director Yu Wen Tao led over a hundred people surging in. Who else could it be but the hunting team members of Does Does Da Xia?

Almost everyone was grabbing one or two prisoners, all tied tightly with ropes. There were men and women, and some older ones. The only thing these people had in common was that they all carried a thick, fierce aura on their bodies.

Exactly the same as Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu.

Director Yu Wen Tao was also carrying two people in his hands. After entering, he kicked them down directly, then cupped his hands and saluted Xia Chuan: "My lord!"

Seeing this, the others also kicked the prisoners in their hands forward, then respectfully saluted Xia Chuan and stood behind the prisoners without moving.

Following the salute of Director Yu Wen Tao and the others, the entire mountain cave instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Zhu Xing, Meng Yuan, and the other eight camps, including almost everyone including Xiao Kangcheng, now had their gazes gathered on Director Yu Wen Tao and the others. Their pupils were trembling, and their faces were full of horror.

And looking around at everyone, seeing their reactions, Xia Chuan hooked the corner of his mouth slightly without rushing to speak.

He knew very well why these people had such reactions.

Not speaking was to give them time for psychological buffering.

"They are all wearing full sets of animal hide clothes?"

"Longbows, broadswords, one for everyone?"

"Look at that one, the double-edged giant axe on his back is too big. That must have cost quite a bit of iron ore, likely over two or three thousand jin?"

"Swords, axes, long sticks, and spears—so many weapons."

"Not just that, look at their waists, they all have a token hanging, and that token seems to be made of iron too."

"Look at that person's neck, is that an animal tooth accessory?"

"That seems to be the small fangs of a thorn wolf. A thorn wolf only has two. That string must have over a hundred!"

"Hiss…………"

………………

In the crowd, there were already whispering discussions.

Zhu Xing and Meng Yuan heard the discussions of their own people behind them and felt ashamed, so they hurriedly turned their heads to glare at them. But when they turned back to look at Director Yu Wen Tao and the others, the horror in their eyes still betrayed them.

Even the leaders couldn't help but be shocked, let alone the people below them.

Compared to the people in the Five Ape Mountains area, these people from the Does Does Da Xia camp were too eye-catching, whether in terms of clothing or weapons, or even the accessories they wore casually.

So eye-catching that they simply couldn't look away.

The entire mountain cave was silent for a full forty or fifty breaths due to the appearance of Director Yu Wen Tao and the others, until someone moved their gaze away from Director Yu Wen Tao and the others. Xia Chuan felt it was about time, so he walked slowly behind Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu, gripped the hilt of his blade, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"These beasts, relying on a bit of strength, act recklessly. Not only do they enslave others and treat human life like grass, but they also use their own kind as bait to hunt cold beasts. Such corruption of human ethics and evil deeds—since my Does Does Da Xia has come to the Five Ape Mountains, how can I tolerate such evildoers? Today, the first grand gift Xia has prepared is to eliminate this group of evildoers for you all in the Five Ape Mountains."

Crack……

As Xia Chuan's words fell, a pitch-black blade light, like lightning, suddenly radiated from his hand. Everyone present hadn't even reacted yet, only hearing a crack sound entering their ears, and Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu on the ground were already beheaded.

Swish!

Squish…… squish……

And just after Xia Chuan drew his blade and killed the two, Director Yu Wen Tao and the over a hundred people also immediately drew their weapons and killed all the over a hundred people they had just escorted over.

Over a hundred human lives, in less than three breaths, all perished.

The entire mountain cave was silent, only the sound of the bonfire crackling. A fishy smell rushed into their noses. Everyone present looked at the over a hundred corpses lying scattered on the ground and couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

They looked up at Xia Chuan, Director Yu Wen Tao, and the others, their faces full of joy, astonishment, shock, and even a hint of faint fear. It was very complex.

Joy, because the Three Tigers camp that plagued the Five Ape Mountains was destroyed!

Astonishment, because it was destroyed in such an absurd way.

They didn't even know the ins and outs; the two chief culprits of the Three Tigers camp, plus over a hundred followers, were executed and beheaded.

Shock, naturally because of the strength of Xia Chuan, Director Yu Wen Tao, and the Does Does Da Xia camp they represented.

The final fear was even simpler.

The ones present today were the leaders of eleven camps.

They weren't fools!

Since the Does Does Da Xia camp has come to the Five Ape Mountains……

These were the words Xia Chuan just said.

This sentence, plus the fact that he was now killing these people from the Three Tigers camp in such a domineering and bloody way in front of the eleven medium-sized camps.

His motivation was not hard to guess.

It was nothing more than giving them a warning to achieve a deterrent effect.

As for the purpose…………

They didn't know, and it was precisely because they didn't know Xia Chuan's purpose that fear appeared in their hearts.

Was this Does Does Da Xia camp going to stay in the Five Ape Mountains from now on?

Would they be the same as the Three Tigers camp before?

With the strength Does Does Da Xia currently displayed, if that were truly the case, they…………

"Zhu Xing pays respects to my lord! Thank you, Lord Xia Chuan, for eliminating this great harm for our Five Ape Mountains. From now on, whatever Does Does Da Xia commands, my Zhu He camp will not dare to disobey!"

This old fox!

Seeing Zhu Xing rush to speak, Meng Yuan cursed secretly in his heart, and hurriedly followed behind to bow and salute Xia Chuan:

"Meng Yuan pays respects to my lord! My lord acted righteously, and I am extremely grateful. From now on, my Tongling camp will also honor Does Does Da Xia as supreme. Whatever Does Does Da Xia needs, as long as my Tongling camp has it, there will be no two words, and we will definitely offer it with both hands!"

"Chen Hu pays respects to my lord! Today…………"

"Liuzhen pays respects to my lord……"

"Kong Xiu pays respects to my lord……"

………………

As soon as Zhu Xing and Meng Yuan spoke, the remaining eight almost all rushed to respectfully salute Xia Chuan. The words they said were different, but the meaning expressed was the same:

From now on, they would all honor Does Does Da Xia as supreme. As long as it was Does Does Da Xia's order, they would unconditionally obey.

This was the effect of deterrence!

Seeing everyone's reaction, a look of satisfaction appeared deep in Xia Chuan's eyes.

The effect before his eyes was undoubtedly what he wanted most.

After Hong Guang's incident, he had been considering.

What is the best way for Does Does Da Xia to expand?

Like Hong Guang, directly using force—too barbaric. Although it could achieve the goal quickly, it was easy to make others harbor resentment, and there would be endless trouble;

And like he did when finding the Xiaohe camp before—communicating step by step, using gifts to highlight the camp's strength—although the effect was good, the whole process was both time-consuming and labor-intensive, which also wouldn't work.

Xia Chuan finally thought it through: deterrence plus goodwill was the best way.

Clearly and plainly tell these people that Does Does Da Xia has strength but has no ill intent toward you. Only by communicating this way could things follow his own train of thought.

The scene before his eyes was completely within Xia Chuan's expectations.

Of course, what he wanted wasn't just for these camps to honor Does Does Da Xia as supreme.

"Since you all say so, then Xia will just say it directly…………"

After Xia Chuan looked around at everyone, he continued: "What my Does Does Da Xia camp currently lacks most is people!"

Hearing this, only Xiao Kangcheng's expression remained the same.

The expressions of the other ten people all changed slightly, and a look of shock flashed in their pupils.

"Rest assured, my Does Does Da Xia is not the same as the Three Tigers camp…………"

Knowing what everyone was thinking, Xia Chuan continued.

"To be honest with you all, under the leadership of my older brother Xia Hong, Does Does Da Xia camp has occupied territory of over three hundred square kilometers.

The outer perimeter on the east side of Seeing Hong Mu Ridge, the entire bamboo forest to the north, are now all Does Does Da Xia's hunting grounds. Beast hides, beast meat, beast blood, iron ore, coal mines, spiritual medicines, and rare treasures—everything is available…………"

Hearing this, Xiao Kangcheng's expression was a bit strange, because ten days ago, when Xia Chuan came to the Xiaohe camp for the first time, he had also said it to him once.

But seeing the reactions of Zhu Xing, Meng Yuan, and the others, he immediately realized that the effect received by these words today was definitely higher than before.

The facts were also so. The ten leaders, including Zhu Xing and Meng Yuan, as well as the people from their own camps behind them, heard Xia Chuan's description of the Does Does Da Xia camp. Although some still harbored doubts, many people's expressions gradually revealed a look of yearning.

This was the benefit brought by deterrence!

If Xia Chuan had done nothing and just said such a paragraph dryly, he was afraid that not a single person present would believe him.

But with over a hundred Earth-Digging Realm members like Director Yu Wen Tao, plus the destruction of the Three Tigers camp right before their eyes, these people couldn't help but believe it.

"……Therefore, the only thing my Does Does Da Xia camp lacks is people!"

After Xia Chuan finished this final sentence, everyone present fell silent.

Resources being so abundant that they were short of people—this was unbelievable in their view, and even unimaginable, but the meaning expressed in the paragraph Xia Chuan just said was exactly that.

Regardless of whether they believed it or not, the ten leaders present finally understood.

This was planning to forcibly annex their own camps.

Having figured out Xia Chuan's intention, their gazes immediately became vigilant, and at the same time, a few people even showed obvious resistance on their faces.

"Of course, my Does Does Da Xia will not force any of you to merge. Just like the Xiaohe camp, each of your camps can send three people to visit and understand the Does Does Da Xia camp. In the end, whether to merge or not is your own business!"

This sentence made everyone breathe a huge sigh of relief.

A few leaders even had the vigilance in their eyes disappear directly.

"The matter of merging can be considered a gospel given to you by my Does Does Da Xia. Whether you can grasp it depends entirely on yourselves. But there is one thing I must say in advance: such an opportunity for direct merging only exists once. If you miss it, it won't exist in the future!"

After Xia Chuan finished these words, he also put aside the thought of continuing to persuade them. He changed the subject and smiled: "I heard that most of the camps here in the Five Ape Mountains are in urgent need of iron ore. My Does Does Da Xia is very interested in this exchange fair.

If you can bring out things with enough appeal, my Does Does Da Xia has as much iron ore as you want!"

After finishing this final sentence, he signaled to Shi Ping beside him with his eyes.

Shi Ping nodded and clapped his hands.

Eight people from the Cloud Dragon Squad walked out from behind, each holding a leather bag, and opened the bags directly in front of everyone.

Ding ding…… clang clang…………

Five large bags of iron ore, followed by five large bags of nearly a hundred weapons, were dumped on the ground with a clatter.

Everyone's gaze instantly became dull. Looking at the large amount of iron ore on the ground, as well as the over a hundred sharp weapons, their eyes were full of longing.

Meng Yuan and Zhu Xing, seeing the bag of iron ore they had brought, hurriedly blocked it with embarrassment.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 184 =====

(End of this chapter)