Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1202 - 405: Taking the Fall, Struggle for Supremacy, If You Can’t Win Then Cheat, Burning with Frustration (Part 2)
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
Dressed in swirling black robes, Xia Hong advanced with commanding presence, trailed by Xiahou Zhang, Murong Chui, and Xiang Fuhai. The quartet ascended into the skies over the Ministry Building, directly facing off against Yang Zhun and his twelve allies.
"Clown!"
Once Duan Hong had voiced his words, Xia Hong's sole reply came as a scornful "Clown."
In late April, at the Hongmen Banquet, Xia Hong had shamed him publicly; the camps on both sides of Hongmen Peak, plus Bashang City, ended up under Great Xia's control; and due to dread of Great Xia's power, he had followed orders by delivering his portion of goods from Bashang Prefecture to Hongmen in May.
A profound grudge against Great Xia burned in Duan Hong's heart. Teaming up with the remaining Five Towns to curb Great Xia thrilled him. Yet prior to encountering Xia Hong personally, Xia Chuan had again disgraced him using the Divine Machine Crossbow, fueling his inner rage.
Following his statement, Xia Hong dismissed him as a mere clown, refusing to regard him as a town lord. Such an insult naturally ignited a storm of anger within him.
Duan Hong fixed a fierce stare on Xia Hong, his fists balled up beneath his sleeves. His right hand automatically grasped the large saber. However, glancing upward and recalling the Hongmen Banquet from late April, frustration caused him to flinch; he pivoted toward Yang Zhun and the lords of the four other towns, snapping irritably, "Brother Yang, all of you, Great Xia has confessed to the murders, so what's left to talk about? Recall the purpose of our gathering here today, right?"
Yang Zhun along with his four allies gazed down at Great Xia's formidable three thousand soldiers positioned near the Ministry Building. Upon catching Duan Hong's outburst, they creased their brows heavily, then lifted their gazes to meet Xia Hong's.
"During the Hongmen Banquet in April, Lord Xia Hong pledged to unite the Eight Towns, guiding Great Xia toward the Moao South Slope. However, within under five months, you've begun massacring residents from our Three Towns. Does this represent Lord Xia Hong's idea of alliance?"
In contrast to Duan Hong's previous tirade, Yang Zhun's query made Xia Hong knit his brows, shifting instantly to a grave demeanor.
Staring straight at Yang Zhun, he skipped the man's inquiry and countered with a faint smile, "Since Great Xia ventured beyond the Xing River's North Bank, the name I encounter most is Beishuo Lord Yang Zhun, hailed as the foremost among the Nine Towns. As an outsider, I hesitate to accept it. Now that we stand before each other, Brother Yang, does this rank as the Nine Towns' supreme come from your own claim, or is it mere hearsay?"
Wow......
Xia Hong's words sparked a stir; be it the eleven Xianyang Level powerhouses such as Yang Fa, Qin Feng, and Shangguan Yang hovering overhead, or the more than ten thousand Cold Resistance Level fighters from the Eight Towns in South City, plus the multitudes concealed in homes, the whole city buzzed with excitement.
"Is Lord Xia Hong issuing a challenge to Yang Zhun?"
"Ridiculous, it's plainly a duel invitation!"
"By questioning if it's self-claimed or fabricated gossip, he's outright rejecting Lord Yang Zhun's status as the Nine Towns' leader!"
"Rumors have swirled for over four months about Xia Hong overtaking Yang Zhun as the Nine Towns' top figure. Will we witness the clash today?"
"Lord Xia Hong dodged Lord Yang Zhun's prior accusation, though!"
"Challenging his prowess isn't avoidance? For figures of their stature, what hits harder than doubting one's might?"
"True enough, everything ultimately hinges on power!"
......
A trace of surprise flickered in Yang Zhun's eyes, evidently shocked that events had intensified this far.
Shockingly, Xia Hong had thrown down a gauntlet against him amid the gathered crowd.
One must realize this scene was watched by over ten thousand Cold Resistance Level fighters, with only a few hailing from the eight township settlements. Most consisted of the tens of thousands in Earth Digging Realm across every village camp in the Eight Towns Territory.
This basically signified Xia Hong's provocation reached the entire Moao South Slope, and the fight's outcome would surely propagate swiftly across the area.
"Daring to act so boldly with just eleven jun of force!"
Thinking back to their short skirmish with Xia Hong at Bashang City in early May, Yang Zhun felt a mix of bewilderment and unease.
In Bashang City, they had vied for dominance, both deploying their utmost power in the standoff.
Of course, it stopped short of a deadly brawl, and he knew Xia Hong must hold hidden aces.
Yet didn't Yang Zhun possess his own secrets?
Yang Zhun scanned the cluster of Great Xia forces by the Ministry Building, noting the blazing assurance and zeal in their gazes toward Xia Hong. A grin gradually spread across his features. Confronting Xia Hong, he lifted his silver long spear, bypassing idle chatter.
"Whether self-proclaimed or spread by rumor, it makes no difference. Since Lord Xia Hong doubts it, our abilities shall resolve the dispute!"
A flash of contempt gleamed in Yang Zhun's eyes. Surrounded by so many onlookers in South City, backing down was impossible.
Their purpose in coming today was to dominate Great Xia, and by first humiliating Xia Hong before Great Xia's and the Eight Towns' Cold Resistance Level warriors, the following steps would unfold with greater ease!
Whoo......
Harboring this resolve, Yang Zhun sprang upward without delay, halting at three hundred meters altitude to oppose Xia Hong, his spear tilted slightly.
"Good!"
Shhh......
Saying nothing further, Xia Hong drew his Dragon Sparrow Saber amid a clear ring, his form blurring into a radiant beam that rocketed skyward.