Chapter 214: Elite System, Mining, Cheng Ping's Grudge

The two blades Xia Hong carried on his back were actually quite conspicuous.

Both the ceremonial blade and the horizontal blade were narrow-bladed, which was significantly different from the common broadswords in the Ice Abyss world. Moreover, the ceremonial blade was so long that it was almost as tall as Xia Hong, so it was normal for people to notice it.

Luo Ming's heart skipped a beat when he heard Cheng Ping wanted to see the blades. Then, turning back to see Xia Hong's look of help, he knew these two blades were very important to him, so he quickly spoke to Cheng Ping.

"My lord, what good things can someone from a small camp have? These two blades are so narrow and thin, clearly forged reluctantly because there wasn't enough iron ore..."

"Less nonsense, open it if I tell you to open it, what's the waste of words!"

Before Luo Ming finished speaking, he was interrupted by Cheng Ping.

Cheng Ping stared directly at Xia Hong, and seeing his embarrassed look, he became even more interested in the two blades behind him.

Someone from a small camp indeed couldn't have anything good, but if there was an exception, maybe he would pick up a leak today?

The other four people on duty with Cheng Ping looked over, all with a trace of bad smiles on their faces, clearly knowing Cheng Ping's style very well, and all put on an expression of watching the fun without it being too big.

After Luo Ming was interrupted, his face immediately became ugly, but he was clearly afraid of Cheng Ping and didn't dare to continue speaking. He just turned his head to look at Xia Hong, gave a look of being unable to help, and the meaning in his eyes was clearly hoping he could hand over the blades.

Seeing the meaning in Luo Ming's eyes, Xia Hong's expression gradually became gloomy.

It was impossible to show Cheng Ping. According to this person's character, if he really showed him, the subsequent trouble would definitely be one after another, and in the end, he would probably not be able to stay in Beehive.

Since that's the case…………

After a long time, Xia Hong turned his head directly to look at Cheng Ping, and said in a low voice:

"These two blades are relics of an old friend and are very important to me. I once swore a heavy oath that whoever wants to pull them out must kill me first. If you really want to see them, my lord, then do it!"

Xia Hong's firm voice fell, and Cheng Ping's expression froze instantly.

The four people beside him, who were originally watching the fun, also changed their expressions.

Luo Ming and Shang Ping were even more dumbfounded.

Want to see the blades, then kill him first.

No one expected that Xia Hong would refuse so thoroughly.

Cheng Ping's expression froze for a full ten breaths. After gradually becoming gloomy, he glared at Xia Hong, walked slowly to him, and said in an extremely gloomy tone: "Are you threatening me? Do you think I dare not kill you?"

"The small one has no such intention, just telling the truth. If you don't believe it, my lord, you can make a move and you will know!"

Xia Hong's expression was calm, his expression was composed, and although his tone couldn't hear anger, the firmness contained in his words made people unable to produce any doubt.

Everyone present could clearly feel that as long as Cheng Ping made a move, Xia Hong would definitely fight to the death.

"Forget it, Captain. This kid just arrived and is a greenhorn. Once he's been here a while, he'll understand. Just let him in!"

"No need to have a conflict here, it's not good to make a scene."

"Yes, yes, Captain, forget it!"

…………

The four people on duty with Cheng Ping couldn't sit still at this moment and stepped forward to persuade him one after another.

These people coming forward to persuade could be considered giving him a step down. Cheng Ping's face, which couldn't hold on, immediately converged, but the anger in his eyes when looking at Xia Hong was still thick.

He glared at Xia Hong for a full three or four breaths before revealing a trace of grimness:

"Consider you kid having guts today, I will play with you slowly later!"

An episode caused by the double blades passed temporarily.

Luo Ming and Shang Ping took Xia Hong to continue forward, but their faces were very ugly. Although the two didn't speak, Xia Hong could see that they should have some opinions about him in their hearts.

"Two, no need to worry, the fault of this matter lies with me. Cheng Ping also took a fancy to my blades. Even if he wants to find trouble later, he should only come to me and shouldn't implicate you."

Hearing Xia Hong's words, Luo Ming couldn't help it this time, turned his head, looked at Xia Hong helplessly, and said: "If they were really just two ordinary blades, it wouldn't matter if you gave them to him. This Cheng Ping's identity is not simple..."

After Luo Ming's explanation, Xia Hong understood why Cheng Ping was so arrogant.

Cheng Ping has an older sister named Cheng Mei, who is the woman of Hunting Regiment Commander Chen Yingba and has been very favored recently. Watching the camp gate is a fat job in Beehive. Cheng Ping relies on his sister blowing pillow talk to get it.

Watching the city gate is not an important thing, but the advantage is that anyone can manage it. Goose passing and plucking hair, this Cheng Ping is greedy by nature. Relying on his sister's relationship, except for the elite team members he dare not provoke, everyone else, no matter who they are, must be peeled once when entering the door.

Luo Ming's hunting team brought back cold beasts before, and the prey had to be cut off by him.

Some people went to react above, but in the end, it was all left unsettled. Everyone knew there was no way to take Cheng Ping, so they just let it go.

Luo Ming's explanation made Xia Hong frown repeatedly.

"The cold beasts you hunt outside, aren't they managed and distributed uniformly by the camp after being brought back? So many people are exploited by him, and the ones above don't care?"

Seeing Xia Hong ask here, remembering that he just arrived and didn't understand anything, Luo Ming simply introduced the management mode of the Beehive Camp.

The management mode of the Beehive Camp, simply summarized, is the elite system.

The elite system, as the name suggests, is that everything is based on the core elite. Everyone in the whole camp is almost serving them.

The Beehive Camp has more than 30,000 people. The most core and important one is naturally the Hunting Regiment led by Chen Yingba. The whole regiment has more than 700 people, all of whom are Earth-Digging Realm members, forming more than 30 hunting teams.

And among these 700 people, only more than 100 have obtained elite status.

"Elite members, food, clothing, housing, transportation, cultivation needs, even servants, attendants, and even women are all handled by the above. They only need to cultivate, and even the frequency of hunting outside is controlled by themselves. They hunt if they want to, and don't if they don't want to. They only need to obey the orders of the commander and the two leaders. They can be considered the most precious batch of people in Beehive!"

More than 100 people?

Xia Hong frowned and asked: "Only more than 100 people, Beehive has more than 30,000 people in the whole camp, and there are still?"

"They can't use it, but their families, attendants, and even servants and women need to use it, which is not a small amount…………"

Saying this, Xia Hong immediately understood.

No need to guess, he knew that the original intention of this so-called elite system must be to screen out a batch of the most excellent elites in the camp. They are responsible for specialized cultivation and improving strength, while others are responsible for support, and then this batch of elites assumes the guard responsibility of the camp to protect the safety of others.

Such a system, when it first started running, should have been very reasonable.

But judging from Luo Ming's attitude when speaking now, it is clear that this system has begun to change flavor.

Not surprisingly, these 100-plus elites should have formed a community of interests, equivalent to the power class of Beehive, and others can only live a good life by relying on this batch of people.

"Then what is the way to obtain elite status?"

Hearing this question, Shang Ping couldn't help it this time and said: "First, the basic strength must exceed 30,000 jin, second is to obtain the joint recommendation of eight elites, and finally it can be reported to the commander, who will find the two leaders to approve it. Only after approval can it be obtained."

…………

Xia Hong was speechless, and a trace of incredulity appeared on his face.

This is blocking the upward channel!

How has such a system been running in Beehive for so many years?

Seeing the incredulity on Xia Hong's face, a trace of helpless smile appeared on Luo Ming's face, and he said: "Actually, it's not difficult to understand. You just need to understand the specific composition of the 100-plus elites in the camp, and you will know."

Xia Hong lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and immediately realized the key point. "The 100-plus elites are all relatives of the three leaders. Even if they are not relatives, they are also related by marriage, right?"

Luo Ming and Shang Ping's expressions changed slightly. While being surprised by Xia Hong's keenness, they also nodded, confirming his guess.

"Beehive has a total of 162 elites, which are actually 162 disguised elite families. These 162 people have thousands of threads of relationships with each other, and the vast majority of them are related to the Chen family and the Wu family. Even if they are not related, they will forcibly send their daughters to be concubines for the three, as a way to climb up. In this way, the elite system is implemented more firmly and cannot be shaken!"

After Luo Ming finished speaking, Shang Ping immediately sneered: "They also symbolically give one or two elite qualifications every year, but the ones who successfully promoted in the end are either the sons-in-law of those elite families or their followers and vassals. It basically has nothing to do with us people."

In this way, Xia Hong roughly figured out the matter.

Not surprisingly, these elite families united together, not only colluded to form interest groups, blocked the promotion channels of others, but also guaranteed each other, and through the way of inheritance, let elite status only circulate within their own internal.

This Cheng Ping, and his older sister Cheng Mei, must also be members of the elite family, otherwise, where would they have such great courage.

"The hunting teams formed by elite families only have six in total, and all the prey harvested can be brought back by themselves. The other 28 hunting teams must hand over half of the prey brought back, including iron ore, coal ore, and other materials.

Over time, the members of the elite families, regardless of strength or hunting experience, are naturally much higher than ours. In the subsequent series of competitions, we can't compare to them, so it's logical..."

Xia Hong fell silent upon hearing this, and in the end, he could only shake his head and not speak.

No errors in the content, check it out!

Such an operating mode, although it makes those elite families comfortable, is undoubtedly very fatal to the development of the Beehive Camp.

No wonder Beehive has existed for so many years and still hasn't developed.

If Chen Yingyuan is not stupid, he should be able to see the drawbacks, but the problem is that he himself and his own family, as well as a series of relatives by marriage, are all beneficiaries of this system.

Self-reform, how easy is it to talk about?

Xia Hong turned his head to look at Luo Ming, revealing a trace of sympathy on his face.

Luo Ming's basic strength has reached the limit of 30,000 jin. According to the rules of the Beehive Camp, he has the qualifications to be promoted to elite, but looking at his posture in front of that Cheng Ping just now, it is clear that this matter is also remote for him.

If he were younger, he could still find someone from an elite family to marry, and then after a long time, maybe he could mix up. But he is so old, and he has a child, and considering that Li Baihe, Xu Kang, and Shang Ping are all following him, it is probably very difficult to integrate into that group of elites.

For a time, Xia Hong could roughly guess Luo Ming's situation in Beehive.

"Hong Yu, I promised Yue Feng to bring you here, indeed out of the friendship of being from Red Wood Ridge, but you also saw that I have only been in Beehive for two years, and my status is not high. For the subsequent matters, I am afraid I cannot help you too much. After reporting to the Hunting Regiment, the rest of the matters will depend on yourself."

Luo Ming said these words, and Shang Ping on the side wanted to speak but stopped, as if thinking of something, but finally sighed slightly and didn't speak.

Xia Hong saw the embarrassed expressions of the two and didn't say much, just nodded and smiled lightly: "Brother Luo has helped me so much, Hong Yu is already very grateful. For the subsequent matters, I dare not trouble the two anymore. Just take me to report to the Hunting Regiment, thank you!"

Luo Ming nodded and didn't say anything more, taking Xia Hong toward the inside.

The buildings in the underground space of Beehive are distributed in a ring shape. The most core building is in the middle area. Soon Xia Hong followed Luo Ming and the others to the door of the tallest building.

"The Hunting Regiment is on the second floor, follow me!"

Xia Hong raised his head to look at the five-story building more than twenty meters high, his mind moved slightly, and he looked at the top floor, then followed Luo Ming up.

Walking into the building, Xia Hong discovered that this entire five-story building was actually made of pure iron, with only a layer of wooden boards on the ground. Inside, a coal stove was lit every five meters, and it was brightly lit, with many people coming and going.

"Coal, iron, beast meat, beast bones, beast skin... the first and second floors should be partially storage rooms, the third floor has the sound of iron beating, cutting, and carpentry, it should be a functional layer, just like the wooden building of Great Xia before... someone is practicing boxing on the fourth floor, but there are not many people, it should be a place for those elite family members to practice... the fifth floor, Beehive only has three Cold-Resistant level members, how can there be an extra aura…………"

After the perfect reshaping of the skin membrane, Xia Hong's perception is not what it used to be. Within two hundred meters, unless people of the same level deliberately conceal it, he can perceive any movement clearly.

He naturally has no interest in everything in this building.

Only the fifth floor, that fourth Cold-Resistant level aura, makes him very curious.

Chen Yingyuan, Wu Tianxing, Chen Yingba, according to Yu Wentao, Beehive should only have these three Cold-Resistant level members. Who is this extra one?

Could it be that this Beehive Camp still has a hidden hand?

This question can only be left for later to understand slowly.

Xia Hong soon followed Luo Ming to finish the report. An ordinary Earth-Digging Realm member joining the camp naturally doesn't need Commander Chen Yingba to come forward personally, just an ordinary Earth-Digging Realm member registered for Xia Hong.

"Hong Yu, 28 years old, Earth-Digging Realm, basic strength 26,000. According to the rules, you will automatically become a member of the Hunting Regiment. Is there any hunting team that wants you?"

Hearing the inquiry from the registration office, Xia Hong's expression was stunned, and then he shook his head.

"None?"

That person was stunned upon hearing this, and then raised his head to look outside the door, finding that Luo Ming and Shang Ping had already walked far away, and his face immediately became strange.

"If there is no hunting team that wants you, then you have to go mining first. Recently, iron ore is just short of people. You go to report tomorrow. Complete the mining quota of 100 jin of iron ore every day. When you enter a hunting team and complete the beast meat handover amount, you will only have ten days of mining quota every month."

Xia Hong only reacted at this moment, what Luo Ming meant by saying that he could only rely on himself later.

It turns out he didn't want to let him enter his hunting team, so he said that.

Luo Ming must have seen that he had offended Cheng Ping just now, worried that if he brought him into his hunting team, he would be made difficult by Cheng Ping later.

Xia Hong frowned, but didn't blame Luo Ming, but he had finally infiltrated the Beehive Camp, and he couldn't waste so much time on mining.

"Must I join a hunting team? Is it okay to create one myself?"

That person at the registration office was stunned upon hearing this, and then raised his head to look at Xia Hong, saying with a hint of teasing: "It's also okay, but you have to pull three people first, come to me here to report together, and then hand over three low-level cold beasts, before it counts as a successful creation. During this period, the daily iron ore mining amount still has to be handed over on time."

"Understood, then my residence?"

"It's over at the mining area. You walk through passage number 19 and you will arrive. There will be someone specially responsible for taking you there. Go directly."

A newcomer actually can't even get a residence.

An Earth-Digging Realm member still has to go to squeeze into the mining area.

Xia Hong shook his head repeatedly in his heart, but didn't say much, turned around and walked out of the building, walking toward the entrance position.

"Kid, are you going to the mining area?"

Just as he walked to the entrance, Xia Hong was stopped by Cheng Ping. Looking at the other party's gloating posture, he just frowned and bypassed him to continue walking out.

"Give you another chance, hand over the two blades on your back to me, and I will open my mouth, Luo Ming will definitely accept you, how about it?"

Being stopped by the other party again, Xia Hong had almost lost his patience. This time he simply didn't endure it, raised his head directly to stare at Cheng Ping, and said:

"If you really have any big backer, why don't you make a move on me here? My strength is not as good as yours anyway. Kill me, and you will naturally take these two blades. If you don't dare, then give me... get out!"

The last two words "get out", Xia Hong increased his tone, almost scolding Cheng Ping. The volume was too loud, immediately attracting many people on the side to watch.

Cheng Ping's face turned into a pig's liver color, his chest heaved, clearly not light, but even though he put his hand on the hilt of the blade two or three times, he still didn't dare to draw the blade. Seeing more and more people watching, he could only grit his teeth and retreat to the side, using an extremely gloomy tone to speak to Xia Hong in a low voice:

"Scum, sleep in the mining area during the day, remember to keep one eye open."

"I'm waiting for you to come!"

Xia Hong spoke four words back to him as if no one was around, and walked out of the entrance directly.

Cheng Ping, standing in place, stared at Xia Hong's back with a gloomy and resentful face, clearly brewing in his heart how to concoct this newcomer who had disobeyed him twice in a row.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 215 =====