Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1210 - 406: Great Xia’s True Strength, Shaking the Mountains to Intimidate, Coercion and Capitulation, Aftermath Reckoning (Part 5)

That was simply the situation back then. The Cold Ruins Tripod hadn't received its upgrade yet, so the simulation feature of the Cold Beast Stake was restricted to the area covered by the tripod. There was no way he could lug the Cold Ruins Tripod everywhere throughout the day.

Thus, even though he held the power of a Beast King level during that period, the constraints on the Cold Ruins Tripod's abilities and activation requirements prevented him from deploying it freely.

These transformations all happened in September of Great Xia's third year, precisely when the Level 4 Cold Ruins Tripod advanced to the Level 5 Yangxu Tripod.

The Level 5 Yangxu Tripod allows absorption into the body, where it can be activated straightaway using system resources. Its coverage area and additional impacts stayed the same.

That's the reason why, during the final instant when the Five-headed Mysterious-faced Maitreya in Bashang City attempted revival in early May of this year, he daringly struck at the Five Great Masters—since the Yangxu Tripod was raging intensely within him at that point.

Xia Hong furrowed his brow; upon reflection, the successful elimination of the Three Great Masters and the failure of the Five-headed Mysterious-faced Maitreya to resurrect might well be attributed to the Yangxu Tripod's role.

With so much time elapsed since, Xia Hong certainly wouldn't linger on such thoughts any longer.

Since breaking through to Xianyang Level last September, he had slain a total of twenty-six Beast Kings, and logically, the essence blood from those twenty-six had been channeled into each of the Cold Beast Stakes.

The twelve heads don't represent Great Xia's maximum; they're merely what he's chosen to reveal to the Eight Towns.

To be frank, without worries over the alleged Cai Qiu Feudal Town and potential hidden forces from outer realms within the Nine Towns, conquering the Eight Towns would pose no real challenge for Great Xia right now—it could shatter them individually and ultimately seize control of Moao South Slope Land.

Though the Northern Three Towns and the rest might possess certain aces up their sleeves, they couldn't endure the might of Great Xia's fifty Cold Beast Stakes.

Provided Xia Hong dedicates the effort to empower the leftover Cold Beast Stakes with Beast King simulation abilities, wiping out the Eight Towns becomes inevitable with time!

"The display of power has concluded; the real issue lies in its impact. If this minor show can cow Cai Qiu, then that feudal town's power is nothing impressive. Should they strike too soon, I've got numerous tricks ready, and I hold no real dread at all.

If Cai Qiu remains unresponsive, it could mean their might truly surpasses my expectations; or perhaps there's indeed some barrier in the North that severs the Southern Slope from Cai Qiu Feudal Town, blocking any major incursion southward!"

Xia Hong quietly surveyed the more than ten thousand Cold Resistance Level individuals in South City, thought briefly, then shifted his attention to Yang Zhun’s group of twelve, inquiring with a subtle grin: "Lord Yang Zhun mentioned earlier that today, I owe your Six Towns an explanation. What sort of explanation would satisfy you? Go ahead and voice your requests without hesitation now!"

Thump...

The twelve under Yang Zhun felt their hearts skip a beat uncontrollably, after which they raised their gazes to Xia Hong, their forms trembling abruptly.

"Lord Xia Hong, Shangguan Long and I arrived here at Beishuo's invitation. The fallen ones belong to the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce and bear no relation to my Jin Mountain. How could I possibly demand an explanation from Lord Xia Hong?"

"Lord Xia Hong, we too were invited by Lord Yang Zhun, so naturally, we wouldn't seek any explanation from Great Xia."

Shangguan Yang and Qin Feng promptly bowed in respect to Xia Hong, shifting all responsibility to Yang Zhun and fully exonerating themselves.

Xia Hong didn't cut in or reply, just gave a slight nod, before directing his eyes toward the representatives from the remaining four towns.

"Lord Xia Hong, my visit this time was solely to probe the reasons behind the Chamber of Commerce members' demise, not to clash with Great Xia. Throughout, I never moved against any in Great Xia. I trust Lord Xia Hong sees the truth in this!"

"Long Mingyuan also journeyed here to clarify the circumstances of their deaths and harbored no hostile intent toward Great Xia. Should any slight have occurred, I beg Lord Xia Hong's pardon!"

The thousands gathered in South City below, catching the statements from these two town heads, experienced a sharp twitch in their eyes, their expressions brimming with shock.

Advancing to Xianyang Level hadn't only boosted their power but apparently their performance in pretense too!

On probing the death's cause, Xia Hong had plainly confessed before that he'd commanded the slaying of the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce members. Nevertheless, Long Mingyuan and Cao Qianyang now insisted their purpose was merely to examine the deaths' reasons and they meant no opposition to Great Xia.

Leaders from four towns had now bent the knee, offered apologies, and sought Xia Hong's mercy, sparing only Beishuo and Chui Mountain.

All gazes converged at once on Yang Zhun, once deemed the foremost among the Nine Towns.

Naturally, they also fixed on Duan Hong, Chui Mountain's lord, standing close by.

Duan Hong's face drained to a ghostly pallor, his eyes brimming with dread, as Mu Longhe at his side shut his eyes, displaying clear hopelessness.

Evidently, turmoil gripped both their minds right then, leaving them speechless.

Observing this, a spark of fury lit in Yang Zhun’s eyes; he ground his teeth, subtly tightened his fist within his sleeve, stepped forward boldly, saluted Xia Hong, and declared: "Lord Xia Hong, from my perspective, the demise of those Three Towns Chamber of Commerce individuals surely conceals deeper schemes. I believe some schemer lurks in the shadows, deliberately fanning strife among the Nine Towns to ignite pointless turmoil in Moao South Slope. I acted rashly and nearly succumbed to the traitor's vile plot, nearly sparking catastrophe. I implore Lord Xia Hong's magnanimity; given Yang's accidental error, please grant clemency!"