Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

The two voices echoed one after the other in an instant!

The once silent surface of the river suddenly surged up with a gigantic wave dozens of meters high, like a mountain crest, crashing towards Xia Hong.

Boom......

The massive wave struck his back, and Xia Hong didn't even have a chance to look back. He caught sight of the fiery red beastly shadow beneath the water curtain, causing his heart to contract violently. He fled frantically northward.

"Run, run quickly!"

Seeing that Xu Ning hadn't fled at the first moment and was still drawing his bow, attempting to shoot at the fiery red beastly shadow behind the water curtain, Xia Hong immediately shouted to stop him.

Xu Ning gritted his teeth and put away his longbow. Yet, he didn't escape immediately but waited until Xia Hong was within ten meters of him before retreating and fleeing together with him.

Bang!

Before the massive wave hit his back, Xia Hong had already held his breath, concentrated, and mobilized his skin membrane defenses. However, when he actually came into contact with that force, a look of fear still appeared on his face.

Pfft...

Like a cannonball, Xia Hong's body was directly knocked hundreds of meters away.

Before being blasted away, Xia Hong still gritted his teeth and pulled Xu Ning along with him.

He had no doubt that if Xu Ning were hit like him, his body would definitely explode immediately.

Bam......

Xia Hong didn't know how many large trees he crashed through, only knowing that his body flew forward at least over five hundred meters, almost over a mile. Finally, half his body was embedded in the ground before he barely came to a stop.

Spurt!

It wasn't over after stopping; he couldn't suppress the injury on his back, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. Lifting his head to look at the direction of the riverbank where the fiery red beastly shadow lingered, his eyes were full of horror.

"Leader, you..."

"Stop babbling, keep running!"

The gigantic wave stirred up by the fiery red beastly shadow was still approaching their way.

Xia Hong interrupted Xu Ning, enduring the immense pain on his body and swiftly fled northward.

Xu Ning also stopped procrastinating, not even daring to look back. He directly followed right behind Xia Hong in a wild escape.

"Li-li-li-li-li-li…....."

A series of urgent bird-like shrieks came from behind. Having just taken the Blood Sore Pill, Xia Hong's face was filled with both fear and shock. Yet, he dared not slow down a bit and continued to flee northward with Xu Ning in tow.

"Leader, that sound seems to be....."

"It's a warning; it's warning us not to get close to the river!"

Xia Hong's voice was filled with horror, mingled with intense fear.

A hundred bristles... a thousand bristles?

No, the force just now when the giant wave hit, Xia Hong couldn't even quantify it. It felt like another dimension's power, filling one with despair.

Importantly, it wasn't even the opponent's physical strength; it was merely the force from that giant wave when it broke through the ice surface.

Xia Hong, with Xu Ning, ran full speed for three to four kilometers, all the way to the foot of the Five Ape Mountain before stopping.

After stopping, he immediately turned his head to Xu Ning and asked:

"What was that fiery red beastly shadow? Did you get a good look at it just now?"

When the giant wave rose, Xia Hong only caught a glimpse of the fiery red beastly shadow before turning to flee. He had his back to the fierce beast the entire time and couldn't see clearly, but Xu Ning should have had a clear view facing the riverbank all along.

Xu Ning, with lingering fear, calmed his breath for over ten seconds before opening his mouth to reply:

"The water curtain was too large just now; even I couldn't see clearly. I only saw it had a pair of blue glowing eyes, no limbs, the main body seemed oval, and it was covered in a layer of fiery red scales. The part exposed above the water was over a hundred meters long."

As he spoke, he sketched the approximate shape of the fierce beast in the snow.

Xia Hong was momentarily stunned upon viewing his drawing.

Others might not recognize what Xu Ning drew.

But he recognized it at a glance.

It was evidently a scarlet carp!

Of course, considering the size and strength of that fierce beast and the eerie sounds it made, it definitely had nothing to do with the scarlet carps of the past life.

"No wonder the Cold Beasts dare not approach the water surface. Breaking through the ice surface and raising the giant wave took just an instant. Even if an Advanced Cold Beast was in my earlier position, it would probably be swallowed whole!"

And who knows if that fierce beast could come ashore?

Just like how Cold Beasts can all climb trees, the creatures beneath the Ice Abyss surely can't be judged by normal assumptions, which is why Xia Hong led Xu Ning so far away.

"A simple underwater fierce beast is already so strong. The underwater world must be even more dangerous than the land."

Hearing Xu Ning's remark, Xia Hong nodded slightly and gradually looked at the Xing River with a hint of fervor.

The greater the danger, the greater the reward; this is an immutable truth throughout time!

The scarlet carp was so powerful, undoubtedly related to the rich resources underwater in the Xing River. The final warning from the creature clearly had a territorial undertone; it most likely regarded that section of the water body and the bank as its territory.

"Even collecting is forbidden. These aquatic plants must be remarkable!"

Xia Hong pulled out a total of five crystal-clear green plants, wiped the blood from his mouth, and smelled the fragrance emitted by the plants, eyes full of anticipation.

All five plants were identical, clearly of one species.

There wasn't much choice; the situation was critical earlier, and his last grab was confined to one area, hence getting only one kind was inevitable.

"It's a pity no White Frost Grass was found. It'll probably be a long time before we can approach this place again... I guess we'll have to find a way in Longyou!"

Though the primary aim of approaching the Xing River was reconnaissance, Xia Hong had other motives, namely finding the White Frost Grass.

White Frost Grass typically grows near water sources and is one of the eleven herbs used to refine the Yangyuan Pill. It's also used in crafting several other Dan Medicines. The supplies from Long Mountain and Zhaoyang area traded earlier have been used up. If found near the Xing River, Great Xia would have a steady supply in the future.

Alas, the scarlet carp disrupted everything.

Xia Hong took a deep breath and instructed Xu Ning:

"That fierce beast is likely long-term settled near the North Shore; without my order, don't let anyone approach the Xing River from now on."

"Yes, Leader!"

If Xia Hong hadn't pulled him along just now, he wouldn't even be alive tonight. Without Xia Hong's exhortation, Xu Ning wouldn't let anyone near the Xing River again.

"It seems you don't have many in the Earth-digging Realm. Are you planning to send those promoted to the Logging Realm to Xia City tonight or tomorrow night?"

During April's Longyou conflict, most of Wuyuan's Earth-digging Realm, including Xu Ning's Black Arrow Team members, were dispatched, leaving very few.

Having few in the Earth-digging Realm means Wuyuan couldn't host a grouping martial contest for the Earth-digging Realm.

"I have just over seventy people in the Earth-digging Realm here, and they need to return to Xia City for the selection. As soon as the Logging Realm grouping selection ends tonight, I'll arrange for these seventy-plus people to escort the 1600 Logging Realm individuals back along the Xia Path. They should have just set out."

After the first round promotion in the Logging Realm, they need to go to Xia City for the second-round selection.

In Wuyuan, a total of 1600 people were promoted, and with so many departing from Wuyuan to Xia City, all in the Logging Realm cultivation, arrangements for escort along the Xia Path are necessary.

"That's perfect, I need to return to Xia City too and will escort them along the way."

Xu Ning immediately bowed deeply, recalling something. Seeing Xia Hong about to leave, he asked:

"Leader, when will the Cold Resistance Level grouping martial contest begin?"

With its rich rewards, Xu Ning had been eagerly awaiting the Cold Resistance Level grouping martial contest, busily preparing and seizing every moment. Facing Xia Hong, he couldn't resist seeking clarity.

"After the Earth-digging and Logging Realm contests conclude, it should start on the fifth. Don't worry, I'll send someone to notify you."

"Alright, Leader, I'll head back now!"

Having received his answer, Xu Ning saluted and headed towards Wuyuan.

Xia Hong, too, continued on his way, carrying the five plants, sweeping through the snowy night. He first found the Xia Path connecting Wuyuan and Xia City, soon locating the group that set out from Wuyuan, and stayed on the sidelines ensuring their safety.

When Xia City came into view, Xia Hong detached from the group, swiftly reaching the main building, and immediately ordered someone to fetch Cheng Feng.

"Cheng Feng, take these five herbs to the Alchemy Workshop for identification."

"Yes, Leader!"

Cheng Feng took the five plants and quickly headed to the Alchemy Workshop.