Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1196 - 404: The Six Towns Arrive Together, Hand Over the Culprit, Divine Machine Crossbow, Sworn Oath

Folks often grasp terms by their surface-level sense. When they initially encounter the phrase "Xianyang," they could assume it marks the stage in cultivation where fear of icy glare fades, permitting fearless baring under the frigid sun. Xia Hong shared this notion even prior to his own advancement.

Yet, this merely scratches the surface of its true essence.

A warrior at the Xianyang level can unleash a mere trickle of power from their skeletal frame to swiftly banish chill and sharply elevate the warmth encircling their form.

Matching this trait, the deeper implication of "Xianyang" lies in how most view such a powerhouse as a radiant, scorching sun. For any settlement housing a Xianyang-level expert, warmth preservation tactics become unnecessary, and concerns over frost simply evaporate.

Hence, every Xianyang-level powerhouse, within their home base or even nearby outposts, holds a near-divine stature. The adoration and awe they command surpass anything achievable by Cold Resistance Level figures, no matter their feats.

Consequently, should a Xianyang-level powerhouse also carry the mantle of a Lord, their prestige ascends to unparalleled heights.

Right now, the response from over ten thousand Cold Resistance Level fighters lining the South City avenues from the Eight Towns vividly illustrates this elevated standing.

As representatives from six towns dispatched twelve Xianyang-level powerhouses to loom in the skies a hundred meters above the Hongmen City Government Building, almost ninety percent of those thousands of Cold Resistance Level warriors promptly lowered their gazes.

"Greetings, Lord!"

"Greetings, Lord..."

......

More than thirty percent displayed wild enthusiasm, dropping to their knees toward the heavens, clearly hailing from the six towns and spotting their own Lord, offering scattered tributes.

In the leftover under ten percent showing no outward response, aside from Great Xia natives, those genuinely originating from the Eight Towns prove scant.

Should Cold Resistance Level warriors react thus, then the Earth-digging Realm dwellers hunkered in South City dwellings due to daytime hours respond with even greater intensity; from those abodes, subtle echoes of prostration can be detected.

None ventured murmurs. Though some had arrived merely to witness the event, all fell hushed, fixing their stares upon the dozen figures aloft.

Hongmen City itself plunged into quietude.

Naturally, this held true close to the Ministry Building. In more distant spots, like various eateries in South City, the hush didn't fully extend.

"Leading them is Beishuo Lord Yang Zhun, Town Chief Yang Fa; to the left stands Jinshan Lord Shangguan Yang, Army Chief Shangguan Long; farther left is Chui Mountain Lord Duan Hong, Army Chief Mu Longhe; on the right is Wuchuan Lord Qin Feng, Army Chief Ye Tianhao; farther right is Dragon Valley Lord Long Mingyuan, Army Chief Li Yangtian; at the extreme edge is Yangqu Lord Cao Qianyang, Army Chief Yan Chenzhou."

"Wasn't it supposed to be just the Northern Three Towns? How come they're all here?"

"Not the full roster. Jiangxia and Muyin towns are absent, aren't they?"

"Idiot, sans Great Xia, those pair of towns barely cling to survival. They'd never trail the Northern Three Towns in cornering Great Xia!"

"So those two plan to stay sidelined?"

"Great Xia's folks haven't emerged yet; it's uncertain."

"With six towns uniting, neutrality makes sense for the duo. Muyin hangs by a thread already, and Jiangxia took brutal hits post-clash with Dajue Temple. Even aligning with Great Xia would amount to a futile splash, yielding zilch!"

......

Within a South City tavern, Chen Yiqing and his seven companions occupied a refined chamber overlooking the window. They gazed northward at the twelve silhouettes and, catching the buzz of chatter inside the establishment, grins crept across their features.

"From where I stand, the Northern Three Towns teamed with Chui Mountain ought to do the trick. Involving Dragon Valley and Yangqu too, isn't big brother regarding Great Xia too highly?"

At Chen Yimou's remark, the other six swiftly agreed with nods, swiveling toward Chen Yiqing with puzzled expressions.

"Overestimating?"

Chen Yiqing glanced at the six, shook his head, and intoned gravely, "You all arrived in the city the night before last. You've surely explored South City extensively these past couple of days. You've noted the riches in supplies and the plenty of wares in Great Xia, haven't you?"

"Petty tricks! In the end, the Ice Abyss boils down to raw power. Regardless of resource hoards, varied merchandise, or masterful techniques, absent a bedrock of might, it all crumbles to nothing."

Answering Chen Yiqing came his second son, Chen Huang.

No sooner had Chen Huang wrapped up than his firstborn, Chen Yu, bobbed his head and pressed on, "Second brother's spot on. From my scouting these two days, Great Xia Town's display boils down to the Cloud Jiao and Long Wu forces. I figure their Cold Resistance Level forces, even if outsizing the Northern Three Towns, won't exceed much!"

Contrasting their polite air during yesterday's civilities with Ji Hong, the pair of youths now exuded haughtiness from their brows despite donning rough hemp attire. Chen Yu, in particular, when touching on Great Xia's Cold Resistance Level might, wore undisguised disdain.

Diverging from the youths, Chen Yimou alongside the trio of mature men held back from instantly addressing Chen Yiqing's prior query. They dipped their heads faintly, evidently mulling the profound intent in his statement.

Though Chen Yiqing shook his head right after his sons spoke, he forbore direct contradiction, pausing to reflect that unlike his near half-month stay here, the seven had just reached Hongmen City the night before last. He then drew forth a score of varied-hued tiny porcelain vials from his pouch, setting them squarely on the tabletop.

"The Treasure Tower's undergone overhaul. Entry now demands wealth checks. As you've merely strolled South City lanes these two days, start by examining these ten varieties of Dan Medicine!"