Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1217 - 408: The Aging Li Tiancheng, a Powerful Core Team, Hidden Intentions, Fusion of the Three Towns

"Quickly, set him down, I’ll tend to your injuries!"

Li Xuanling hurried forward alongside Han Shuang and the maids from the side room, urging Xia Hong to place the boy flat first. She then took charge herself, removing his upper garment and applying a fabric bandage around the gash on his back.

Noticing the concern etched across her features, a surge of warmth filled Xia Hong’s chest. He grinned and assured her, "Don’t worry, Yang Zhun couldn’t shatter my frame; these are mere surface cuts. The Blood Returning Pill is already working its magic, and I’ll be healed in no more than fifteen days!"

Li Xuanling shot him a quick glance, checked that the wrapping held firm, and nodded to Han Shuang and the rest to help him slip into fresh attire.

"The Lord possesses remarkable power; this humble senior is truly awed!"

From the inner room emerged an elder sporting flowing white locks and a beard. Astonishment lingered on his countenance, his mind evidently still replaying the clash between Xia Hong and the ruler of the Six Towns. It wasn’t until he approached Xia Hong that he recalled proper etiquette, hastening to offer a respectful bow.

"Old Li, that’s overly polite, no formalities required!"

The elder stood a bit bent at the waist, and Xia Hong naturally wouldn’t permit the gesture, swiftly moving to support him upright. Observing the deepening lines on the elder’s visage, he felt an inner pang of sorrow.

This respected figure was Li Xuanling’s second uncle, Li Tiancheng.

In the third year of Da Xia during the Cold Yuan Festival, he assumed the role of Prison Department Director. Within a mere couple of months, Li Tiancheng not only built the department’s framework but also unveiled the initial Xia Law edition, effectively addressing Great Xia’s lack of a formal legal code.

That inaugural Xia Law version drastically curbed the spiking offenses in Xia City, triggered by the influx of Longyou residents. As subsequent second and third iterations were refined, they laid a sturdy groundwork for Xia City’s ongoing populace expansion.

Now boasting over two million inhabitants, Xia City has seen little direct oversight from Xia Hong on its daily internals for quite some time. He relies on broad indicators like offense rates, murder incidences, unresolved investigations, and unrest occurrences to assess its condition.

Based on those metrics and his sporadic covert trips to the Outer City, the Prison Department has performed admirably across the last five years; Xia Hong reckons even his own direct involvement might not surpass Li Tiancheng’s achievements.

What’s the saying about an elder in the family being like a hidden gem?

Li Tiancheng exemplifies this proverb flawlessly.

The sole minor drawback remains his advancing years.

At ninety-five years old this year, Li Tiancheng marks a venerable milestone!

In his initial two years as Director, he oversaw every detail personally. Be it inside Xia City or at outlying stations, any murder or mystery case drew him and his team for hands-on probes.

Come the third year, marking Da Xia’s fifth, signs of fatigue became evident. He not only passed the Longyuan Squad—his own brainchild—to Lu Yushan but also shifted most departmental duties to Senior Prison Warden Hou Ming, his protégé. He remained in the Inner City, devoting himself to Xia Law’s study and enhancement. Apart from occasional visits bearing gifts to his two grandchildren at the Star-picking Hall, he largely withdrew from public life.

With age creeping in, it’s inevitable that vitality wanes. Li Tiancheng steered the Prison Department with exceptional skill, facing scant troubles. Xia Hong harbors no grievances toward him whatsoever.

Indeed, during the call for all Great Xia figures to Hongmen City, Xia Hong explicitly exempted Li Tiancheng from attending.

Upon learning his grandchildren would journey there too, Li Tiancheng fretted over their well-being and offered to escort them. Moments earlier, he’d lingered indoors with Li Xuanling, minding the two young ones.

"Core power stays at 23-maned, wait, it’s dipped a touch!"

As these thoughts swirled, Xia Hong evaluated Li Tiancheng, his expression growing somewhat somber.

As a bearer of Superior Battle Body, Li Tiancheng’s aptitudes were solid indeed. By Da Xia’s second year, he’d attained Peak Cold Resistance Cultivation with 17-maned might.

Regrettably, in Da Xia’s early phases, no Dan Medicine existed to boost Peak Cold Resistance Level strength, leaving Li Tiancheng’s power stagnant through those times.

Only following last year’s inclusion of Dragon Carp and Green Cod in Dan Medicines by the Camp Supply Department did Li Tiancheng and fellow Peak Cold Resistance Cultivators in Great Xia gain chances for further gains.

Back in May this year, when Xia Hong last met Li Tiancheng, he distinctly recalled the elder’s power nearing 24-maned, yet now it shows a subtle regression.

This signals Li Tiancheng’s body entering its waning phase due to extreme age. In essence, his life force nears exhaustion.

Though Cold Resistance Level grants a century of life, scant few endure beyond it. Reaching this span makes Li Tiancheng exceptional.

Thinking of Li Xuanling’s repeated trips with Yu Yao and Yu Sheng to see Li Tiancheng since last year, Xia Hong let out a quiet breath and murmured, "Old Li ought to seclude himself in Xia City for cultivation. Achieving Xianyang Level would extend your years twofold. Wouldn’t that allow ample time with your grandchildren later?"

At Xia Hong’s remark, Li Xuanling cast a chiding glance at Li Tiancheng and added, "Exactly! Second Uncle, I warned you against coming, yet you persisted. Your priority now must be remaining at the camp to train and hasten a breakthrough to Xianyang Level, resolving the longevity concern."

Their words prompted Li Tiancheng to flash a bitter grin and wave his head, replying, "No need for Lord and Madam to console me. This old body’s decline has set in, rendering breakthrough impossible. I prefer cherishing moments with my two grandchildren over futile cultivation efforts."