Chapter 195: Hive Predicament, Earth-Digging Realm Surge

Three days ago, that is, the first year of Great Xia, the fifth day of the fifth month

Ten miles north of the Border Valley, three slightly panicked figures finally stopped in the snow.

Pfft…………

Chen Yingyuan held on for a long time. Once his mind relaxed, the counter-blood he had endured for a long time immediately sprayed out, and his body staggered. If it weren't for Chen Yingba and Wu Tianxing supporting him in time, he would probably have fallen directly to the ground.

"Big Brother, how are you?"

"Leader, are you okay?"

Chen Yingyuan waved his hand slightly, indicating that it was okay, turned to look south, and there was still a trace of horror in his pupils.

"I thought that after He Yuanhun had this accident, we could take advantage of the situation and extend our hands to the Arrow Bamboo Forest. This Xia Hong's strength is so terrifying. I estimate that even if the three of us join forces, we might not be able to take him down!"

Chen Yingba lowered his head when he heard this, his eyes full of hatred and self-blame.

Wu Tianxing on the side heard this, and a trace of solemnity rose on his face, saying: "That Xia Hong probably saw that we two were hiding behind early on. Looking at his last reaction, I suspect that he had the idea of leaving us behind just now, and it should be because he didn't have a hundred percent certainty, so he didn't take action..."

Speaking of this, he paused slightly, looked at Chen Yingyuan and continued: "I don't think this person is stupid. He should be very clear about the leader's plan. This person looks more difficult to deal with than He Yuanhun. This time we have already become enemies. I am afraid we will have to pay more attention in the future."

Chen Yingyuan heard this, and a trace of regret immediately appeared on his face.

Wu Tianxing's meaning was very clear. The person was not stupid. He brought two Cold-Resisting Realm practitioners to the door and took action first. The intention of testing was so obvious that Xia Hong couldn't have failed to see it.

From the moment he chose to test, the two camps had already become enemies and could not be changed.

If he had known, he should have just apologized directly, and shouldn't have been so greedy.

"It was hard to get rid of a ruthless one, and I just thought it would be more comfortable, but a more ruthless one came. It was my confusion. How can this Xia Hong's strength be so strong, and also..."

Chen Yingyuan talked to himself for a while, and finally thought of something, turned to look at Chen Yingba, and continued to ask sternly: "What is going on with that Great Xia camp? Didn't you say that they were only a medium-sized camp a year and a half ago? The leader must have obtained some opportunity to become so strong. How can it be that they don't have a few Earth-Digging Realm practitioners in total?"

Not many Earth-Digging Realm practitioners?

In the six wooden houses in the Border Valley just now, Chen Yingyuan perceived at least a hundred Earth-Digging Realm breaths, among which six or seven had even started to reshape their skin membranes.

This was just the Border Valley, not the opponent's base camp.

None of the information Chen Yingba said before matched.

How could Chen Yingyuan not be angry in his heart.

Chen Yingba also had some anger on his face at this moment, and said in a deep voice: "Big Brother, I didn't lie to you. This information was told to me by a small captain named Luo Ming in the hunting group.

That Luo Ming joined the camp last year. He claimed to be from a camp east of the Red Wood Ridge and had a good relationship with the leader of the Great Xia camp.

I heard him say that Great Xia was so weak, thinking that it must be that the Mirror Immortal camp had an accident, and this Great Xia picked up a leak, so I came by myself."

The situation behind, Chen Yingba naturally didn't need to continue.

Chen Yingyuan didn't speak when he heard this, but lowered his head and fell into thought.

He could naturally trust his own younger brother, Chen Yingba.

What is relatively coincidental is that he happened to have an impression of this Luo Ming.

"Is it the Luo Ming who joined the camp last year with three Earth-Digging Realm practitioners, a total of twelve people? If I remember correctly, he said at the time that their Luo Ge camp was attacked by monsters and was completely wiped out, and the twelve of them escaped with great difficulty, right?"

Chen Yingba nodded and said: "That's right, Big Brother, it's him."

Wu Tianxing also inserted a sentence at this time: "I also know him. This Luo Ming's strength is good. It seems that he is still leading a hunting squad. Among the eleven people who came with him last year, eight are already in the Earth-Digging Realm, all in his squad."

Chen Yingyuan's brows furrowed even tighter.

No matter how good Luo Ming's strength is, he is only a small captain under the Hive hunting group. A small captain is probably not even at the limit of the Earth-Digging Realm.

How could such a person have a good relationship with that Xia Hong who almost killed him just now?

Either this Luo Ming lied;

Or, this Xia Hong really had some extraordinary opportunity, and in just a year and a half, he changed from an Earth-Digging Realm practitioner to be so strong?

Thinking of this possibility, a strong greed rose in Chen Yingyuan's heart, but it only lasted for three or four breaths. As soon as the danger of fighting with Xia Hong just now appeared in his mind, it was immediately extinguished by himself.

He almost lost his life just now, so he couldn't let his imagination run wild again.

"No matter what, this Great Xia must not be provoked. We must be more careful than before with the Mirror Immortal camp. He Yuanhun was personally deterred by people from Longshan before, but this Xia Hong is not. Who knows if he will have a convulsion and take action against us, at this juncture..."

Seeing that his brother didn't finish his words, Chen Yingba's face was a bit confused.

But Wu Tianxing on the side obviously knew something and asked in a low voice: "Leader, the situation in Longshan is not good?"

Chen Yingyuan pondered for a moment and nodded, saying: "At the Longshan Alliance last month, only ten families came. The Zhaoyang camp was even more excessive this time than last year, and didn't even send a single person, obviously not taking Longshan seriously."

Wu Tianxing heard this and his expression was solemn, saying slowly: "The Alliance Leader is old, and it seems he doesn't have many days left. Zhaoyang's Hou Hu is in his prime, and the camp's strength is getting stronger day by day. Having such a mentality is considered normal."

"But it's not just the mentality. I went to Longshan this time and heard that Hou Hu, either by coercion or bribery, has started to secretly win over other camps, preparing to overthrow our old Alliance Leader and create a Zhaoyang Alliance!"

"Hiss………… This, the old Alliance Leader didn't manage him?"

"Manage, how to manage? Longshan is now all decided by the eldest son. The old Alliance Leader doesn't even show up. If it weren't for the secret sentries, I even feel that he might not be there anymore."

Wu Tianxing's expression flashed slightly, and he said in a low voice: "Leader, if this is true, then our camp must make plans early."

Chen Yingyuan's brows condensed. He naturally understood the meaning of Wu Tianxing's words.

The reason why the Longyou Alliance could maintain the previous fifteen years was simply because the old Alliance Leader himself and the Longshan camp he led were strong enough to hold the field.

When people die, politics disappear.

Once the old Alliance Leader is gone, relying on a mere eldest son...

If the Longyou Alliance is gone, and Chen Yingyuan hasn't found a backer in advance, the ending of the Hive camp will definitely not be too good.

There are strong enemies in the north and west, and now a Great Xia camp has popped up in the south, and it is not restricted by the alliance...

"Let me think about it first. That Hou Hu is not a good person either. Thirteen years ago, the old Alliance Leader borrowed grain and people to help him go back to inherit the Zhaoyang camp, which was a great favor to him. Only thirteen years have passed, and as soon as his strength became strong, he immediately bit back. Who dares to talk about cooperation with such a person? Wait first."

Wu Tianxing heard this and his expression froze first, then asked: "Then what about the Alliance Leader Order issued by the eldest son? Ten jin of jade bones, five million jin of iron ore, and also send a hostage. Are we all going to follow it?"

This question made Chen Yingyuan's expression sink instantly.

Chen Yingba also knew about the Alliance Leader Order and couldn't help but be angry: "I think this eldest son is crazy. The old Alliance Leader doesn't have much time left, and the Longyou Alliance is obviously crumbling, but he is still thinking about collecting money and searching. Isn't this forcing our ten families to rebel? Big Brother, in my opinion, let's just surrender to Hou Hu!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yingyuan's brows furrowed tightly.

Wu Tianxing on the side didn't say a word, and his gaze looked directly elsewhere.

"If it were really that simple, idiot!"

Chen Yingyuan cursed in his heart, but he had no intention of explaining to this straightforward younger brother, so he could only sigh long and said: "This Alliance Leader Order still has a one-year deadline after all. Our Hive is the farthest from Longshan. Let's see what other camps do first, and then talk about it..."

Speaking of this, he paused, looked at Chen Yingba, and continued:

"This Xia Hong is not easy to provoke. You take the hunting group and be honest with me recently. Don't get close to the Border Valley side again."

"Yes, Big Brother."

Seeing Chen Yingba nod and agree, he turned his gaze to Wu Tianxing again, saying:

"Old Wu, you go and contact Luo Ming to see if you can find out more news about Great Xia. If it is suitable, see if you can re-establish a trading relationship with them. The Mirror Immortal territory has been occupied by them, and the Arrow Bamboo Forest must also be in their hands. Raw bamboo silk and snow bamboo are still good things in Longyou. Try to exchange as much as possible. By the way, there are also iron mines and coal mines. They should also be very short of cold beast meat."

Wu Tianxing nodded, indicating he understood.

………………

First Year of Great Xia, Eighteenth Day of the Fifth Month

Wooden building in the valley, another burst of noise.

"Who is getting married today?"

"The tenth family, hurry up and see."

"Today is Zhao Bao, captain of the Golden Eagle squad."

"The last family, right? We can have a bowl of salted meat soup tonight." "Tsk tsk... that meat soup is so fragrant, I want to drool when I think about it."

"That soup is all added with salt."

"No wonder it's so fragrant. I heard that salt is made by grinding intermediate beast bone powder and adding other medicinal materials. At the Camp Needs Department, 1 jin costs 500 contribution points to exchange. The price is ridiculously expensive. Except for the captains of the top-ranked hunting squads, others can't afford to exchange it at all."

"Expensive is expensive, but the effect is amazing. I heard from several lords in the Camp Needs Department that eating salt for a long time can not only improve cultivation talent but also prolong life!"

"Prolong life?"

"That aged wine is also delicious. I went to the Camp Needs Department to inquire yesterday. Guess how many contribution points 1 jin of aged wine costs?"

"How much?"

"It takes 100 points."

"Hiss... this is too expensive!"

"Expensive is also no way. Haven't you noticed these days that many Earth-Digging Realm practitioners kept the aged wine without drinking it after being divided, and gave it to their own children or nephews in the Woodcutting Realm? I heard it's because drinking aged wine can improve strength."

No one is wrong, read the content inside!

"Ah?"

………………

Ever since Xia Hong announced that night that the ten pairs of newcomers who marry later would all follow the specifications of Xia Chuan's wedding, the wooden building in the valley had not been idle for a moment, and a pair of newcomers got married every day.

In this way, the most troubled one was Qiu Peng, the Commandant of the Camp Needs Department.

"Ten weddings in ten days, plus the one of the Commandant, these eleven days in a row, our Camp Needs Department can be considered a heavy loss."

On the top floor of the wooden building, Xia Chuan put on that black cloak again. Hearing Qiu Peng's complaint, he asked: "Why, used a lot of materials?"

Qiu Peng nodded immediately, opened the account book in his hand, and said with a worried face: "More than 20,000 people, except for children under one year old, everyone can have a bowl of beast meat boiled with salt, and every Earth-Digging Realm practitioner tasted a small cup of aged wine. After a wedding, 30 jin of salt, 1,500 jin of beast meat, plus ten bottles of aged wine. If calculated by contribution points, the materials thrown out by the Camp Needs Department in these eleven days are almost 200,000."

Beast meat is okay, salt is 500 points per jin, aged wine is 100 points per jin. The materials Qiu Peng said are the price for a single day. Multiplying by eleven is indeed more than 180,000.

"The salt, our Camp Needs Department only has more than 400 jin in total. It's almost used up in half a month. New salt hasn't come out yet. At present, except for the leader's share, others can't even exchange it. The situation of aged wine is about the same."

Xia Chuan looked at Qiu Peng's worried look as a housekeeper and couldn't help but smile lightly:

"The price of salt and aged wine is so high, and there are not many people who can exchange it at present. Recently, they are all saving contribution points to build houses, and basically no one comes to you to exchange it. Keeping it is keeping it, it's better to take it out and share it with everyone, let them taste it."

Hearing this, Qiu Peng's eyes lit up and he smiled: "Also, this salt and aged wine are currently only used by the leader. Others want to exchange but can't afford it. The key is that this half month can be considered to have completely publicized these two things. I see that many people in the Hunting Department are thinking about aged wine and come to inquire every day if there is any, but they are just reluctant to exchange it, hahaha."

Aged wine is indeed a good thing!

Mellow wine liquid, one sip down, the whole body is hot, and it can also improve strength.

Who can resist this?

Hearing that people in the Hunting Department were inquiring about aged wine but were reluctant to exchange it, and thinking of their embarrassment, Xia Chuan couldn't help but shake his head and smile a few times.

But then, he said seriously: "Consumed so many resources recently, the improvement of the camp's strength should not be small, right?"

The consumption of all resources can be transformed into strength.

Not to mention aged wine, salt, and beast meat, these three things are important resources that can improve strength. Eleven weddings consumed so much, then by the same token, the camp's strength recently must have improved significantly.

Qiu Peng heard this and his expression also vibrated. He nodded and smiled: "Of course, those more than 3,000 people from Mirror Immortal have been here for almost two months, and the people from Five Apes Mountain have been merged for almost a month. In the first eleven days, with the help of these three things, the stamina seems to have been stimulated all at once, and more and more people are breaking through..."

Speaking of this, Qiu Peng took out a roster from his body, opened a few pages, and continued excitedly: "As of yesterday, there are 792 Earth-Digging Realm practitioners in our camp, and even more in the Woodcutting Realm, 6,921 people.

And according to my observation in the martial arts hall during this period, in the next month, there should be more than two hundred people in the Earth-Digging Realm who will break through one after another, not to mention the Woodcutting Realm, the number will definitely continue to rise!"

In the next month, more than two hundred people will break through to the Earth-Digging Realm.

The martial arts hall is managed by Qiu Peng. The 200 people who go in to practice every day are all reviewed by him. His words naturally have high credibility.

That is to say, before July, the Earth-Digging Realm practitioners in the Great Xia camp will break through to a scale of one thousand; the Woodcutting Realm will reach ten thousand, it is possible!

Xia Chuan's expression vibrated, both happy and worried.

"No wonder Yu Wen Tao came to me recently, saying that he wanted to continue to relax the restrictions on the number of people in the hunting squad. It seems that there are more and more people in the Earth-Digging Realm, and the current number of hunting squads is too small."

Qiu Peng also knew this situation and nodded: "Only 7 hunting squads have been added recently, totaling 30 squads. Currently, there are indeed nearly two hundred people who have not entered any hunting squad. This problem must be solved."

The current upper limit for the number of people in a low-grade hunting squad is 20. Thirty squads fully staffed is 600 people. Currently, there are only nearly 200 more, and there will definitely be more later.

Xia Chuan's brows furrowed. This problem is really not easy to solve.

It is definitely not possible to increase the upper limit of the number of people again.

Hunting is not fighting. It is not that the more people the better. In fact, once the number of people is too large, not only is the difficulty of coordination and cooperation increased, but it may also attract a large number of cold beasts, and even monsters.

He himself also leads a team to hunt outside, so he is very clear that hunting low-grade cold beasts, twenty people is basically the limit. Adding more is not only a waste of manpower, but also of no help to hunting, but will become a drag. If it is serious, it will even make the hunting efficiency lower.

"Lord, why not follow what the leader said, set up a team that does not need to hunt, specifically to patrol our Great Xia territory?"

Xia Chuan heard this, and his heart moved, but he shook his head quickly: "You are managing the Camp Needs Department now. You should know the accounts better than me. Can the camp afford such a team that is completely out of production?"

Qiu Peng heard this and paused. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head helplessly.

"It's my subordinate who thought too much. To tell the truth, the beast meat in the camp is already a bit in short supply. Especially as there are more and more Earth-Digging Realm practitioners, the consumption of beast meat is rising every day. If it weren't for the top few hunting squads, I'm afraid even the supply wouldn't be able to keep up."

Xia Chuan heard this and his expression froze, asking: "What is the daily consumption of cold beast meat in the camp now, and what is the reserve of the Camp Needs Department?"

"Just for the Woodcutting Realm and Earth-Digging Realm, 35,000 jin are exchanged every day, which is 1.05 million jin a month. Adding 10,000 or so reserve forces, the daily consumption is also about 15,000, which is 450,000 jin a month. The rest under six years old are considered small heads, temporarily ignored. Just these two items, it is 1.5 million jin a month."

Woodcutting Realm needs 3 to 5 jin a day for cultivation, Earth-Digging Realm needs 7 to 10 jin. According to the numbers Qiu Peng just reported, all are calculated by folding, it is indeed about 35,000; reserve forces have a quota of 1 to 2 jin a day according to base strength. 10,000 people are calculated by folding, and it is also about 15,000.

So Qiu Peng's calculation is basically no problem.

1.5 million jin, calculated by the 1,300 meat output of a single low-grade cold beast, that is to say, the camp currently needs to hunt at least 1,200 cold beasts a month to be enough.

There are only 30 hunting squads in total, and on average, each squad needs to hunt 40 cold beasts a month to maintain the beast meat supply.

This has already exceeded the low guarantee of 15 set for the squad at the beginning, almost three times.

Xia Chuan calculated in his heart, and his brows furrowed tightly.

No wonder it is said that it is barely supplied by relying on the top few squads.

This consumption is really a bit amazing.

But there is no way, beast meat is the key for the camp to continue to improve strength. Unless the population is restricted, the rising demand for beast meat is inevitable.

"Reducing the beast meat quota is not realistic, and restricting the population is even more impossible, so we still have to find a way to supply it. If the beast meat is insufficient, then continue to increase the number of squads and relax the conditions for creating squads. Lower the limit of 20,000 jin of base strength to 15,000 jin, and it should be enough."

Qiu Peng nodded immediately: "That would be more than enough. There are not many people with base strength over 20,000 jin, but there are many with over 15,000. Many of the first batch of people in Great Xia have met the standard of base strength, but in this way, the casualties during hunting may increase."

Xia Chuan said in a deep voice: "There is no way to have casualties. The camp has already had a shortage of beast meat. Taking some risks is also appropriate. They can cultivate to this point, relying on the beast meat hunted by their predecessors, and now it is their turn to support the people below."

Qiu Peng nodded, revealing a trace of approval in his eyes.

He himself relied on the cold beast meat brought back by Xia Hong to cultivate and become stronger step by step to the present, and his base strength has also exceeded 20,000.

"By the way, you brat, still want to stay in my squad?"

Xia Chuan suddenly thought of something, turned his head and asked Qiu Peng.

Qiu Peng smiled when he heard this: "My subordinate is just planning to mention it!"

In fact, Qiu Peng's base strength met the standard a few days ago and had the qualification to create a hunting squad. The problem is that staying in Xia Chuan's Cloud Dragon squad can earn more contribution points, so he has not mentioned creating a squad.

Of course, it won't work now. The Hunting Department is short of teams. He is the Commandant of the Camp Needs Department after all, so he naturally has to think for the camp and cannot continue to stay in Xia Chuan's side to take advantage.

Xia Chuan nodded, but thought of something, reached out and said: "Wait a moment, I have a big action the day after tomorrow. Wait until you finish it before leaving the team."

Qiu Peng was stunned, but immediately reacted. He knew what the big action Xia Chuan said was, and his expression vibrated.

"Yes, Lord."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 196 =====