Chapter 209

*Step... step... step... *

Xiang Liang stepped into the silent hall, his ears only hearing the echo of his own footsteps. This solemn and solemn atmosphere undoubtedly made his mood become increasingly nervous.

Bypassing the three-legged round tripod, he saw the five people at the back of the hall.

"Sure enough!"

Xu Ning, Lin Kai, and Lu Yang were all standing at the very bottom; Director Yu Wen Tao, who had just shown great power outside and killed that raptor, stood in front of them;

And in front of these four people, there was a young man in black, with a gentle face, facing the door, staring at him with a smile in his eyes.

Although the clothes this young man wore were also black, they were different from Director Yu Wen Tao's slim-fitting outfit. His were slightly looser, his sleeves were long and large, tied with a vermilion ribbon around his waist, and he wore a hair bun crown carved from beast bones that looked like white jade, making him look more elegant and calm.

"Xiang Liang from the He Feng Camp, pays respects to Secretary Lord!"

Seeing the gorgeous and exquisite golden chair on the high platform behind the five people, Xiang Liang immediately guessed the identity of the black-clad person. Without thinking, he knelt down directly in front of him and bowed respectfully.

"You have some insight. Get up, take the Cold Marrow Iron and let me see."

Seeing the surprise on the faces of Xu Ning and the three, Xia Chuan immediately understood that Xiang Liang had guessed his identity purely by observation, and praised him with a smile.

Xiang Liang immediately opened the wooden box and handed it up.

Xu Ning immediately took the wooden box and handed it to Xia Chuan.

Xia Chuan took the wooden box and carefully examined the Cold Marrow Iron inside.

Lin Kai on the side thought of something, ran out quickly, and soon moved a large and a small wooden basin from outside the hall.

The large wooden basin was about half a meter in diameter and contained dark green liquid, which looked like low-level beast blood; the small wooden basin was only twenty centimeters in diameter and contained scarlet liquid.

Recalling the color of the blood spilled when Director Yu Wen Tao beheaded that raptor outside just now, Xiang Liang immediately understood that this scarlet liquid should be the blood of an intermediate cold beast.

Xia Chuan came back to his senses from his examination, picked up five pieces of Cold Marrow Iron, and threw them all into the large wooden basin first.

*Sizzle*...

The beast blood in the basin boiled directly, and it was decreasing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. In less than ten minutes, the blood in the wooden basin had decreased by more than half.

Xia Chuan's eyes instantly brightened, and so did Director Yu Wen Tao's.

Even Xu Ning and the three, who had seen it once before, were no exception.

The beast blood they used for testing before was not as much as it is now.

After waiting for a while, the blood in the wooden basin disappeared. The five people approached and looked over. At this look, the expressions of the five people were slightly stunned.

The Cold Marrow Iron, which was originally the size of a fist, had all grown a circle larger.

Xia Chuan picked up one piece, weighed it for a while, and then squeezed it hard with his strength. Seeing that the Cold Marrow Iron did not undergo any deformation, his eyebrows frowned slightly.

"The volume has changed, but the weight and hardness have not changed..."

"Secretary Lord, this humble one remembers that when this Cold Marrow Iron was first dug out, it was this big, but it was ground down a lot by us, and later we kept using beast blood to nourish it, but unfortunately it never recovered as before."

Xiang Liang, who had been watching for a long time, gathered his courage and spoke.

Hearing his words, Xia Chuan immediately understood.

Xu Ning had already said just now that when the He Feng Camp forged weapons before, they would mix in the powder ground from this Cold Marrow Iron. It should be that the He Feng Camp's hunting ability was limited and the amount of beast blood obtained was not enough, so it never recovered.

Xia Chuan thought for a moment, picked up a piece, and put it into the other small wooden basin.

*Sizzle sizzle sizzle*...

Including Xiang Liang, the expressions of the six people present changed instantly.

The reaction of the Cold Marrow Iron when it came into contact with the scarlet beast blood was even more intense than just now. In less than three breaths, a small basin of intermediate beast blood was absorbed.

Moreover, the Cold Marrow Iron clearly produced intense high heat, actually burning through the bottom of the wooden basin and even emitting a trace of flame.

"The higher the level of beast blood, the stronger the reaction of this Cold Marrow Iron. If this is the case, these five pieces of Cold Marrow Iron can be really not simple..."

Director Yu Wen Tao's words made the eyes of Xu Ning and the three brighten instantly.

The higher the level of beast blood, the stronger the effect.

Wouldn't the weapons forged with Cold Marrow Iron be the nemesis of cold beasts?

Imagine, if it penetrates the body of a cold beast, it can suck dry the blood in its body in an instant...

Xia Chuan looked at the Cold Marrow Iron, which was originally dark green in the wooden basin, and was slowly turning red after absorbing the intermediate beast blood, and a look of excitement rose on his face.

"Good stuff, your name is... Xiang Liang, right?"

Hearing Xia Chuan's tone, which carried a hint of surprise, Xiang Liang's mood also became excited. He hurriedly nodded and replied: "This humble one is called Xiang Liang."

"Whatever you want, just say it. For the sake of these five pieces of Cold Marrow Iron, as long as it can be satisfied, I will try my best to satisfy it."

A look of surprise appeared on Xiang Liang's face, and he hurriedly bowed to plead for the He Feng Camp.

After listening to Xiang Liang's statement, Xia Chuan turned to Xu Ning to confirm, chatted for a while, and learned about the previous events between Wuyuan and the four camps, his eyebrows frowned slightly.

"Pardoning everyone in the He Feng Camp, you really dare to think!"

Xia Chuan whispered softly, swept a glance at Xu Ning with his peripheral vision, and frowned slightly.

According to the camp's current regulations, the twenty-nine Earth-Digging Realm experts of the He Feng Camp all belonged to Xu Ning's Black Arrow Squad. Since it involved the interests of Xu Ning's squad, he naturally couldn't easily pardon them.

"Lu Yang, according to the regulations of the Camp Needs Department, how should the five thousand-plus people from the four camps in the north of Wuyuan be dealt with this time?"

Lu Yang, who held a position in the Camp Needs Department, was naturally familiar with these affairs and answered without thinking.

"The 124 Earth-Digging Realm captives, 182 Woodcutting Realm captives, and 306 criminals who have made a move on us from the four camps.

The main culprit Wang Lie was stubborn and refused to listen to repeated advice. According to the regulations, he should be sentenced to three years of corvée labor; the thirty-three Earth-Digging Realm experts under his command, the circumstances were slightly more serious, and according to the regulations, they should be sentenced to one and a half years of corvée labor; the 182 Woodcutting Realm experts were also from the Flying Tiger Camp, and according to the regulations, they should be sentenced to one year of corvée labor;

The other three leaders, He Feng, Liu Qing, and Xiang Ping, were accomplices, and according to the regulations, they were sentenced to two years of corvée labor. The 87 Earth-Digging Realm experts under the three of them should be sentenced to one and a half years of corvée labor according to the regulations.

In addition, the direct family members of these criminals, 572 people who do not overlap, will also be sentenced to half a year of corvée labor, which will be superimposed on them."

The captive rule has been implemented for more than two months, and the details in all aspects have naturally been supplemented quite a bit.

Making a move on Great Xia people applies the captive rule, so those who haven't made a move are naturally not applicable, which can be considered a relatively humane clause in this rule.

Almost all ordinary people in the camps have no right to speak, and they don't have a say in whether to make a move on Great Xia or not. They can only be directed by the leader. Since that's the case, Great Xia naturally won't pursue their faults.

But the direct family members of these criminals are different.

Since they have been supported by these criminals on weekdays, they will naturally be implicated if something happens, so they will be sentenced to half a year of corvée labor.

Of course, there are very few people with Earth-Digging Realm strength among these people, so the corvée labor will be added to the criminals themselves.

This is a restrictive clause, mainly aimed at those criminals who refuse to mine honestly after entering the mine cave.

His father is an accomplice and has two years of corvée labor, plus half a year each for his mother, younger brother, and younger sister, adding up to a total of three and a half years of corvée labor.

Hearing this sentence, Xiang Liang's expression suddenly became nervous.

Xiang Ping is already thirty-nine years old. According to the average life expectancy of forty-plus in the Frozen Abyss World, he doesn't have many years to live. Whether he can walk out of the mine cave alive after serving three and a half years of corvée labor is another matter.

He wanted to speak to plead for his family, but the pressure of the solemn hall was too great, and Director Yu Wen Tao and the other four were all silent, so he didn't dare to speak.

After thinking about it, he could only lower his body and knock his head lightly on the floor.

*Bang*...

Xia Chuan was interrupted by the sound, looked down at Xiang Liang, and spoke slowly:

"Pardoning everyone in your camp is definitely not possible. How about this, considering your contribution of offering the treasure, I will take the initiative to exempt your family of four from corvée labor."

Xiang Liang's expression was stunned first, then he knocked his head repeatedly, excitedly saying: "This humble one thanks the lord for his mercy on behalf of my father and family."

Xia Chuan nodded with a smile, just about to speak.

*Boom*...

A huge drum sound suddenly resounded over the valley.

The drum sound shook the sky and the earth, not to mention the wooden building, the entire valley seemed to tremble with it.

Xiang Liang, who was kneeling on the ground, almost fell down, feeling his heart beating with the drum sound, and thought it was some terrifying cold beast attacking the valley, suddenly terrified.

However, when he looked up, he saw Xia Chuan and the five people, their expressions were extremely relaxed.

Not only relaxed, but the five also showed some smiles.

"The time has come?"

"Hahaha, it should be time, Yue Feng has started over there."

"The first Cold Yuan Festival, it has to be a bit sensational."

As the five people finished chatting, the drum sound sounded again.

*Boom... boom... boom... boom*...

The interval between each drum sound was very long, about three breaths. Xiang Liang perceived his heart beating with the drum sound, a solemn and sacred feeling arose from the bottom of his heart, and his mood became inexplicably excited.

*Boom... boom... boom... boom*...

A total of nine drum sounds that shook the sky and the earth finally ended.

The entire valley also fell into silence.

The main building, which was still a bit noisy, also became quiet instantly.

The entire Great Xia Valley was silent, and the subtle sound of snowflakes flying in the sky became unusually clear at this moment. If Xiang Liang could walk out of the hall, he would find that the people in the main building had all walked out, and all the Great Xia people in the valley had walked out of the wooden houses, standing on the three main roads, looking toward the main building, all with a look of sacredness and expectation on their faces.

"Great Xia Year 2 Cold Yuan Festival, Leader's Edict..."

A huge voice sounded over the valley.

"Someone is coming soon, you go down first!"

Xiang Liang, who was kneeling on the ground, heard Xu Ning's words, hurriedly thanked him and stood up, listening to the voice in the sky while walking toward the hall door.

Before he walked out of the hall door, a rich fragrance came from outside the door.

Immediately afterwards, a large wave of people walked in, carrying wooden cases and chairs. Those wooden cases were filled with delicacies and fruits he had never seen before, and each one had a wooden pot on it, not knowing what was inside.

Xiang Liang smelled the intoxicating fragrance, widened his eyes, and his walking speed slowed down a lot, almost blocking others.

"The first day of the first lunar month, the auspicious time has arrived, the new day begins, close the city gate, light the valley lamps, the banquet begins, all people receive the edict, the whole world celebrates together!"

Coincidentally, when Xiang Liang walked out of the hall, the voice in the sky also ended.

【Content missing in source】

Outside the hall door, it was exactly the west corridor on the top floor of the main building.

Xiang Liang looked up and saw a scene he would never forget in his life.

*Bang*...

A drum sound rang out, followed by the sound of countless flames soaring into the sky.

*Boom... boom... boom*...

The roofs of thousands of houses within sight ignited bonfires at the same time;

Thousands of bonfires lit up on the stone walls on both sides of the valley at the same time;

A violent flame rose from the top of the main building where Xiang Liang was, soaring twenty or thirty meters high.

The entire Great Xia Valley was instantly warm like a tide, bright as day.

"The beginning of the New Year, Cold Yuan is safe and healthy!"

"The beginning of the New Year, Cold Yuan is safe and healthy!"

"Hahaha, it's Great Xia Year 2, set the table, set the table."

"Don't have to go out for fifteen days, have to take a good rest."

"The beginning of the New Year, Cold Yuan is safe and healthy!"

"Hurry and set the table, start eating, start eating."

The people on the three main roads congratulated each other, filled the tables with round tables at a very fast speed, occupied the entire street, and the crowd sat down nearby.

The five or six thousand people in front of the wooden building had already been taken elsewhere, replaced by round tables and Great Xia people who were full.

"The beginning of the New Year, Cold Yuan is safe and healthy!"

The people who sat at the tables were all smiling and congratulating each other.

Dishes of cold beast meat, all kinds of fruits, and many foods that Xiang Liang had never seen before were served on the tables.

The entire valley was instantly filled with fragrance, and laughter shook the sky.

Xiang Liang had no time to care why Great Xia dared to illuminate the valley to this extent on such a night. Just the countless beast meat and all kinds of delicacies on the tables below were enough to make his breathing stop and his expression numb.

Great Xia, how can they be wealthy to this extent!

Their food, could it be that it fell from the sky?

"The beginning of the New Year... Cold Yuan is safe and healthy..."

Xiang Liang looked at the dreamlike valley scenery before his eyes, muttered these eight words in his mouth, an inexplicable emotion suddenly grew in his heart, and a look of indescribable heat and expectation rose in his eyes.

"Who is standing there?"

Suddenly, a rough voice came from the side.

Xiang Liang hurriedly turned his head and found that three people had walked up from downstairs at some point. The one who spoke was the most burly one.

As the three approached, seeing the clothes they wore, which were also translucent like Director Yu Wen Tao's, Xiang Liang's expression suddenly became nervous.

"Asking you a question, you can't just come up to the third floor, don't you know?"

The burly young man in the middle, seeing that Xiang Liang didn't answer for a long time, approached a few steps and released some aura.

This aura was stronger than Xu Ning's...

Xiang Liang hurriedly lowered his head, about to answer.

But before he could speak, another one of the three spoke.

"It's the person Xu Ning brought back from Wuyuan, seems to be the one who wants to offer treasure to the leader, estimated to have just come out of the hall."

"Offer treasure to the leader..."

Hearing Qiu Peng's words, Yuan Cheng's face suddenly showed a hint of strangeness. The four camps in the north of Wuyuan Mountain were pitifully weak. In his view, such a camp, what good treasure could they have.

Offering it to the leader was even more of a joke.

"If there's nothing, don't linger on the third floor, go down!"

"Yes, my lord."

Hearing Yuan Cheng's words, Xiang Liang hurriedly turned around and walked down the stairs.

However, coincidentally at this moment, there were a large wave of people walking upstairs.

Xiang Liang hurriedly retreated to the side of the stairwell, lowered his head, and waited for these people to come up.

"Eh, why is there a young man?"

"Doesn't seem to be from our camp."

"Must be here to offer treasure, Xu Ning brought him over from Wuyuan."

"Oh oh oh, I see, Xu Ning is glorious this time."

"Over five thousand people, over a hundred Earth-Digging Realm captives, the Black Arrow Squad is estimated not to need to enter the mine cave for several years."

"After the Cold Yuan Festival is over, I have to find him and buy a few."

After all the people walked away, Xiang Liang slowly looked up, his eyes full of horror.

"Over a hundred people..."

Although he didn't feel the aura of these people, just from the content of their conversation, Xiang Liang could basically judge that the status of these people was definitely about the same as Xu Ning's.

Strength is equal to status, any camp is like this.

That is to say, these nearly a hundred people who just came up, even if not everyone's strength is stronger than Xu Ning's, at least it wouldn't be too different from him.

*Gulp*...

Xiang Liang swallowed his saliva and walked quickly toward downstairs.

Coincidentally at this time, that voice of the ceremony sounded again.

"First Cold Yuan Festival, Leader's Edict, pardon all criminals, three months of corvée labor, to show the benevolence of our Great Xia."

Exempt all criminals from three months of corvée labor?

Xiang Liang, who had just walked down the main building, was stunned, and his face suddenly showed wild joy.

Their family of four had been exempted from corvée labor, but the other Earth-Digging Realm experts in the He Feng Camp were not exempted, and they still had to serve one and a half years of corvée labor. Reducing three months, which is equivalent to one-sixth, was already quite a lot.

"Leader for ten thousand years, Great Xia for ten thousand years!"

"Leader for ten thousand years, Great Xia for ten thousand years!"

"Leader for ten thousand years, Great Xia for ten thousand years!"

The crowd in front of the main building let out one round of shouts after another.

"Leader for ten thousand years, Great Xia for ten thousand years!"

Xiang Liang couldn't help but be infected by this emotion, looked up at the top floor of the main building, clenched his fists, and shouted along.

Just when Yue Feng shouted the last pardon edict.

Inside the top floor hall, Xia Chuan and the others who were already seated were stunned for a moment, then all turned to look at the back of the hall, with joy on their faces.

"Big Brother is out of seclusion."

"Leader is out of seclusion."

"Almost four months, finally out of seclusion."

(End of chapter)