Chapter 200: Cloud Jiao Promoted, Beast Blood Dosage

When Xia Chuan brought nineteen people and dragged that Lei Kui back to the camp, it didn't cause much of a sensation among the ordinary people.

Not to mention the earliest batch of people in Great Xia, Xia Hong, in order to quickly break through to the Cold-Resisting Realm, had brought back three or four intermediate Cold Beasts every night for nearly half a month, making them have no reaction when they see intermediate Cold Beasts now.

The two groups of people, Mirror Immortal and Five Ape Mountain, who merged recently, were also surprised at first, but after living in the valley for so long, along with the narration of that batch of people in Great Xia, and seeing so many intermediate Cold Beast materials with their own eyes, they were no longer surprised.

Furthermore, this wasn't the first time the Cloud Jiao Squad had brought back intermediate Cold Beasts.

Not only Xia Chuan's Cloud Jiao Squad, Yu Wentao's Dragon Martial Squad had also brought back several intermediate Cold Beasts before.

Now everyone in the whole camp basically knew that both the Cloud Jiao and Dragon Martial squads possessed the ability to hunt intermediate Cold Beasts.

But, this was for 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 knew.

So every time the two squads brought back intermediate prey, the people in the Hunting Department would quickly gather to watch the excitement. While congratulating, they would also find members of the two squads to learn hunting techniques to prepare for their own future hunting.

Of course, there was one more most important point.

Who in the Hunting Department didn't know now that these two squads were recently competing for the crown of Great Xia's first intermediate hunting squad.

And some interested people, seeing that the Cloud Jiao Squad brought back an intermediate Lei Kui this time, after calculating in their hearts, immediately felt their spirits lift.

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

People with foresight had long realized this point;

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

As soon as the news spread, the whole camp immediately boiled over, and a huge crowd ran to the entrance of the Hunting Department on the second floor to watch.

At the entrance of the Hunting Department, a wooden board was hung.

On the wooden board, from high to low, the monthly merit ranking of all squads was recorded.

First place, Cloud Jiao Squad: 44300 (Intermediate)

Second place, Dragon Martial Squad: 28190

Third place, Divine Martial Squad: 16720

Fourth place, Shaking Martial Squad: 16290

Fifth place, Tiger Leopard Squad: 16180

Sixth place, Heroic Martial Squad: 16020

Seventh place, Dragon Slaughter Squad: 15890

Forty-seventh place, West China Squad: 280

"Doesn't our Great Xia only have thirty hunting squads? How did seventeen more pop up?"

"Hey, you don't know yet. Five days ago, the Si Cheng ordered to lower the strength standard for creating a hunting squad to 15000. In these few days, seventeen more squads have come out."

"No wonder, I was just saying why the merit of the dozen or so squads behind is so low."

"Don't look down on them. People have just been created, and the five Cold Beasts for assessment don't count toward merit. For example, the West China Squad, with only 280 merit, should have just hunted a low-level Snow Mane and submitted it. You count the five for assessment in, and then think about it!"

Hearing that person's words, the circle of people around thought for a while, and immediately their spirits lifted, and their expressions also became slightly solemn.

The assessment task for creating a hunting squad is to hunt five low-level Cold Beasts of different types. Squads that can be on the merit list must have completed it.

It has only been five days since the Si Cheng gave the order. That is to say, these squads have not only completed this assessment in these five days, but also started to bring back more prey.

Taking the West China Squad at the bottom of the ranking as an example, they hunted at least six Cold Beasts in these five days, and there were five different types.

This difficulty is not low.

"The Si Cheng's Cloud Jiao Squad is too strong. Today is only the 23rd, and the merit is already 44300. If converted into low-level Cold Beasts, it's almost over a hundred. Five a night, this is too exaggerated."

"Hehe, all converted into low-level, you really dare to think. Didn't you notice the suffix of the Cloud Jiao Squad is intermediate? I inquired that the Cloud Jiao Squad has already hunted seven intermediate Cold Beasts this month."

"Intermediate Cold Beast, one is at least 4000 points at the lowest, seven is nearly thirty thousand. No wonder it's so high."

"This is the first intermediate squad in our camp, and it is led by the Si Cheng himself. What do you say?"

"The Si Zheng's Dragon Martial Squad is not bad either, already 28190. Converted, it's also a lot, but their merit value seems to have never changed. I remember coming to see it a few days ago, and it was also this much."

"I know. Wasn't there a beast tide on the Arrow Bamboo Forest side five days ago? I heard that the Dragon Martial, Heroic Martial, and Mountain River squads were all trapped in the Border Valley, and the Leader also went over. They haven't been able to come back for so many days, so the merit naturally hasn't changed."

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

"Cloud Jiao Squad has 44300 merit. Divided equally among the whole team, each person is 2200 points. The month hasn't ended yet. In a month, just hunting can earn 3000 contribution points?"

"You haven't seen it. Those members of the Cloud Jiao Squad earned so much contribution value. I saw it last time. One of their ordinary members exchanged for two beast bone chairs at the Camp Needs Department in one breath, 70 points each. Too extravagant."

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

"Who told me before that the Si Cheng's strength is not as good as the Si Zheng, and also said that the Dragon Martial Squad must be our Great Xia's first intermediate hunting squad. I almost believed it."

"I heard from those people in Great Xia that the Si Cheng killed a Ghost Monster with his own hands, and also obtained a very powerful inheritance. How could his strength be inferior to the Si Zheng? I think it's just some people spreading rumors."

"The Si Cheng is the Leader's own younger brother. How could his strength be poor? Just think about it with your brain."

"No, the Cloud Jiao Squad must be expanding soon. I am just a little bit away from the Earth-Digging Realm. I must break through quickly and find a way to get in."

"I am going too..."

In the crowd, Hong Yu, Meng Ao, and Zhu Kang were also there. Hearing the questioning voices around toward Yu Wentao, their expressions were immediately somewhat unconvinced.

"Brother Tao is also only one type of intermediate Cold Beast away. If it weren't for this beast tide, the Dragon Martial Squad would definitely have been promoted first."

"The Si Cheng is powerful, but I heard he only started using beast blood for cultivation last month. His base strength must still have a gap with Brother Tao!"

Hearing the somewhat indignant tone of Hong Yu and Meng Ao, Zhu Kang didn't answer immediately, but thought for a while, then whispered: "Base strength should have a gap, but have you ever thought that the standard for measuring strength is not just this one. That wooden puppet filled with blades at the Artisan Department, you have all seen it, right?"

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

From their hearts, they naturally all 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 now the reality was right in front of them. No matter how indignant they were, there was no way.

"Luo Yuan is out, look quickly."

The three heard the words of the people around and hurried to look at the entrance of the Hunting Department.

Luo Yuan came out, but not only him, but also Qiu Peng, and another eighteen people.

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

Everyone's gaze looked at the waists of the eighteen people involuntarily.

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 these nineteen people of the Cloud Jiao Squad, although also black, had ten very clear silver fine lines on the side wings, and the "Xia" and "Cloud Jiao" fonts on them had also become conspicuous red.

"Hiss... this token is made of ten-forged iron!"

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

"The token of an intermediate squad is really good-looking."

The members of the Cloud Jiao Squad, hearing the discussion of the people around and seeing everyone's envious gazes, couldn't help but puff out their chests, and their faces revealed pride.

"Cough... cough..."

Luo Yuan coughed twice at this time and stood out. After raising his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, he said loudly: "The Si Zheng is away and cannot come back. Today's promotion of the Cloud Jiao Squad will be handled by me. Below, I announce the rewards for the Cloud Jiao Squad..."

Speaking of this, Luo Yuan paused in his tone, and continued:

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

"Secondly, the promotion reward is 500 points per person. This reward, from now on, all squads, as long as they are promoted, can receive it."

2000 contribution points at once!

Whoosh...

The crowd instantly boiled over. Everyone looked at the members of the Cloud Jiao Squad, their eyes filled with envy.

Not to mention the Woodcutting Realm and ordinary people, the contribution value they earned after working hard for a month was only over a hundred points. Sometimes if they were lucky and collected special materials, it would be at most two or three hundred. Obtaining 2000 contribution points at once, for them, was a fantasy;

The members of the Hunting Department were the same.

It could be seen from the merit list. Not talking about mining, just relying on hunting, the strongest Cloud Jiao Squad earned less than 3000 points in a month; the Dragon Martial Squad's 1500 points were also not bad; but the squads behind them didn't even have 1000 points.

2000 contribution points, the land price at the outermost edge of the valley was just this price.

"In addition, I will explain one point to everyone. In the future, the nineteen squads promoted to intermediate the fastest can all receive additional rewards, ranging from 1400 to 600 contribution points. Whether this reward can be taken depends on yourselves."

Hearing this sentence, many people below started to get excited.

The nineteen squads behind, that is, the first twenty squads promoted to intermediate, can all receive additional rewards.

They didn't need to compete for the second place; it was definitely the Dragon Martial Squad, and even the few places behind were the same. But further behind, they still had a chance.

After waiting for everyone to quiet down, Luo Yuan continued to speak:

"Of course, after the squad is promoted to intermediate, the corresponding obligations will naturally be more. An intermediate hunting squad must hunt at least ten intermediate Cold Beasts per month, plus thirty low-level Cold Beasts. In addition, the individual submission indicators for coal stone and iron ore have also been adjusted from 2500 and 5000 to 5000 jin and 10000 jin respectively."

The hunting indicator in front rose, and everyone had no reaction. But hearing the subsequent adjustment of the mining indicator, everyone's brows immediately wrinkled.

The base strength just after breaking through to the Earth-Digging Realm is ten thousand jin. The daily iron ore mining volume is about 100 jin, and coal is 200 jin. Using a gnawing chisel can double it, which is 400 jin and 800 jin respectively. The rise in base strength will, of course, cause the mining volume to rise, but it is basically also in units of ten thousand jin.

Taking Xia Chuan as an example, his base strength is over forty thousand jin. He can mine 1600 jin of iron ore a day, and if it is coal, it is 3200 jin.

That is to say, even if he came to complete this indicator, it would take seven days.

The Cloud Jiao Squad has twenty people, but not everyone is Xia Chuan.

In fact, except for Xia Chuan, only Qiu Peng's strength exceeded twenty thousand jin. Most of the others fluctuated around fifteen thousand. Calculated according to their mining ability, it would take at least seventeen or eighteen days, or even more, to complete this indicator.

In this way, I am afraid it will squeeze their hunting time, right?

This is not just the Cloud Jiao Squad's business, but everyone's business. After all, their strength is not immutable, and they will be promoted sooner or later.

For a time, everyone's gaze carried a trace of confusion, looking at Luo Yuan, clearly questioning the adjustment of the indicator he proposed.

"Everyone might feel that this indicator is a bit high. Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet. The number limit for intermediate squads is fifty."

Fifty people?

Everyone present, hearing this number limit, was stunned.

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

(No errors, no omissions, read the content at a glance!)

Hunting is taboo for too many people, so the members of the Hunting Department had guessed before that even if the hunting squad was promoted to intermediate, the number of people would not exceed thirty at most. So when Luo Yuan said the number fifty, they were stunned.

But connecting it to the mining indicator just now, this number became reasonable.

"Fifty people hunting together is definitely not realistic. So, as long as a part of the people are spared to specialize in mining, then this indicator is not difficult to achieve."

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

"Twenty-plus people hunting together is basically the limit. If there are more people, it is not convenient to hide, and it is not easy to command. Leaving half the people to mine is just right."

"So it was like this. Then it's easy to talk about."

"Still the Si Cheng thinks thoroughly. In this way, it can not only massively increase the upper limit of the number of people in the squad, but also take into account the problem of too many people when hunting, and also massively increase the camp's coal and iron mining volume. It can be considered killing three birds with one stone."

Hearing Luo Yuan's exclamation, Qiu Peng smiled and said: "Indeed. It just so happens that there are more and more Earth-Digging Realms now, and most of them are people who have just broken through. Letting them go out to hunt immediately has too much risk. It is better to let them honestly dig for a period of time first. Mining can also be used for cultivation anyway. After the base strength is improved, then go hunting. It is not only more efficient but also safer."

Luo Yuan nodded, looking at the Cloud Jiao Squad token in Qiu Peng's hand, and couldn't help but reveal a trace of envy.

"My base strength is not much different from the Si Cheng's. The team configuration of the Tiger Leopard Squad, according to reason, is even stronger than the Cloud Jiao Squad. But the intermediate Cold Beasts we hunted are only the two types of Snow Mane and Frostwolf. To be promoted to an intermediate squad, it is estimated that it will take another month or two."

Qiu Peng smiled upon hearing this. He also knew the situation of the Tiger Leopard Squad. Zou Yuankai, Ying Xuan, plus Luo Yuan, the captain whose base strength is not much different from Xia Chuan—just from the personnel configuration, the Cloud Jiao Squad is indeed inferior to them.

"Is the Si Cheng's Blade Puppet really that powerful?"

Luo Yuan naturally knew where the problem lay. He had also seen that Blade Puppet at the Artisan Department. Although the body shape was bluffing, he hadn't seen the Blade Puppet attack with his own eyes, so he was naturally curious in his heart.

Qiu Peng nodded heavily and whispered: "Very terrifying. The explosive power when that Blade Puppet attacks, let alone Yu Wentao, I suspect that even his father Yu Wenhu might not necessarily be able to take it head-on."

Luo Yuan's expression immediately lifted. He naturally didn't doubt Qiu Peng's words. When Yu Wenhu fought the Leader, they, the first batch of hunting squad members, had all witnessed it with their own eyes.

"You don't be impatient. Promotion to intermediate still needs to be done slowly. If you plan to lead a team to hunt new types, remember to find me. I have hunted five types together with the Si Cheng, so I still have some experience."

Qiu Peng also knew that Luo Yuan was also anxious to be promoted, worried that he would be too hasty, and fearing that he would have any problems, so he hurriedly opened his mouth to exhort.

Luo Yuan nodded, signaling that he knew. Thinking that Xia Chuan hadn't shown up all day, he hurriedly asked: "Where did the Si Cheng go?"

"Just exchanged for ten jin of beast blood and is cultivating at home!"

Hearing Qiu Peng's answer, Luo Yuan's expression immediately froze, and he exclaimed: "Ten jin? The Si Cheng now can use ten jin of beast blood at once?"

Beast blood is currently considered the most important cultivation material in the camp. One jin requires 50 contribution points to exchange, so under normal circumstances, how much is used is how much is exchanged.

He also started using beast blood, but at most he could use six jin at once.

That piercing pain made Luo Yuan shudder whenever he thought of it. If it weren't for cultivation, I am afraid no one would really want to suffer this hardship.

Six jin at once almost gave him a shadow, so hearing Xia Chuan exchanged for ten jin at once, he was so shocked.

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

However, thinking of something, Qiu Peng asked: "At the beginning of the month, the Leader summoned a group of Earth-Digging Realm limits to teach the experience of breaking through to the Cold-Resisting Realm. I remember you went too, right? Didn't you say that the more beast blood used at once, the higher the potential will become? You haven't increased the dosage during this period?"

Luo Yuan revealed a trace of bitterness upon hearing this and said: "Of course I increased it, but I can only use six jin at most at once now. The gap with the Si Cheng has not only not narrowed, but has been pulled even wider."

Qiu Peng fell silent upon hearing this. He remembered very clearly that at the earliest time, Luo Yuan's base strength was still above Xia Chuan's. But now, not only has the base strength been surpassed by Xia Chuan, but even the beast blood dosage cannot compare.

According to the Leader's statement, then in the future when breaking through to the Cold-Resisting Realm, the strength gap between Luo Yuan and Xia Chuan will become even larger.

This matter, from Qiu Peng's perspective, is actually normal.

Xia Chuan is, after all, the Leader's own younger brother.

His talent will naturally be outrageously high.

Of course, Qiu Peng naturally wouldn't say this to stimulate Luo Yuan.

"I didn't think about surpassing the Si Cheng either, but seeing the gap being pulled wider and wider like this, in my heart, there is still some unwillingness!"

Hearing Luo Yuan's words, Qiu Peng didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only smile and say: "The Si Cheng's talent is actually okay. We people at least can still see a little possibility of catching up. Think about the Leader; that is truly desperate..."

After saying this, Qiu Peng walked away directly.

Luo Yuan, who was alone, had his expression change from strange to relieved. Finally, he could only clench his fists, walk toward his home, and seize the time to cultivate.

That's right!

Although the Si Cheng is powerful, he is at least within the scope of understanding.

When Xia Hong broke through to the Cold-Resisting Realm, he used over a hundred jin or even more at once. They, these people, 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, compared to the beginning of the month, had already been completely different.

Previously, in the whole valley, except for the largest wooden building in the center, there were only the three buildings of the Martial Arts Hall, the Forge, and the Medicine Refining Workshop in the back;

Now it is 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 was in the place closest to the wooden building.

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

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

"Hoo... hoo..."

In the quiet room, Xia Chuan's suppressed painful roars kept coming.

"Is breaking through to the Cold-Resisting Realm so painful? Can't you use less beast blood at once? Applying ten jin all at once, won't something happen?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Ning shook her head lightly and said: "Big Brother said that the more beast blood used, the stronger the strength will be when breaking through to the Cold-Resisting Realm, and the future potential will also be greater. Husband probably doesn't want to let Big Brother down, so he is working so hard. Didn't Husband just say that Yu Wentao can use twelve jin of beast blood at once now? He cannot lose."

Xiao Yu's face froze upon hearing this. Although she understood in her heart, hearing Xia Chuan's continuous painful roars, she couldn't help but feel a bit distressed.

"It's so painful to use only ten jin, then Husband said his Big Brother used over a hundred jin at once before, or even more. That must be what kind of willpower!"

Xiao Yu had this thought pop up in her mind. While feeling distressed for her husband, she couldn't help but feel heartfelt admiration for this Big Brother's willpower.

"You go out first. I have something to find Xia Chuan."

Just as they were worried, a gentle voice suddenly came from the side.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu's bodies shook suddenly. The two turned their heads and found that a person in black had stood behind them unknowingly.

"Pay respects to the Leader!"

The person who came was actually Xia Hong in black.

Hearing the two's address to him, Xia Hong joked with a smile: "We are all one family, so don't be so polite in private."

The two women's faces flushed slightly, and they opened their mouths again: "Pay respects to Big Brother."

"Alright, you all go busy yourselves. Xia Chuan is 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-Membrane for a while, a trace of surprise rose in his eyes, and then he walked in.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 201 =====