Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1299 - 426: The Grand Scene of the 3 Towns Martial Arts Competition, Marriage Alliances and Integration

Ji Hong's siblings' incident undoubtedly ranks as a major happening in Hongmen City;

Yet, across the vast expanse of Great Xia, it barely creates any ripples.

Speaking plainly, beyond the Dragon Martial Army, Xu Family, Zhao Family, and a handful of folks connected to or familiar with Ji Hong's siblings, most who hear the news won't spare it a thought.

Great Xia has simply expanded too enormously now.

At the Cold Yuan Banquet early this year, Military Department Director Yuwen Dao publicly displayed Great Xia's updated map. Its territory now stretches over 23,000 square kilometers, boasting a population of up to 2.66 million. Outside the 22 Outer City districts, 65 outposts stand guard.

Every one of Xia City's 22 districts houses more than 100,000 people; the 65 outposts range in size, with the tiniest exceeding 2,000 residents, bigger ones like Long Mountain City hitting 100,000, and giants such as Hongmen Port City surpassing 300,000, with numbers still surging upward.

Given such immense lands and crowds, isn't it expected that incidents pop up every single day?

Though Great Xia has undergone massive transformations, the lurking dangers of the Ice Abyss World persist unchanged. Even now, within Xia City's 22 districts, folks venturing out still vanish or perish frequently—this occurs despite the Holy Tripod's shield and tight security, not to mention the remote outposts.

Truthfully, without Ji Hong's superior battle body talent and his role as a Dragon Martial Army soldier, his desertion wouldn't ignite hot discussions, and sister Ji Jiang's demise wouldn't circulate in the slightest.

Starting last May, as Great Xia advanced eastward to forge ties with the Eight Towns and blend into Moao Mountain's southern flank, the entire camp surged into swift expansion. The July port inauguration and Xia Hong's September post-battle Three Towns Integration initiative propelled this boom even harder.

The camp's broad progress ties deeply to personal fortunes.

Hongmen's launch alone brimmed with endless chances to chase riches, obvious to anyone with a shred of smarts.

To say nothing of the following Three Towns merger.

For anyone, syncing with this camp growth wave, advancing their cultivation, bolstering their skills, elevating their status, and dramatically overturning their destiny to climb into Great Xia's mid-to-upper echelons is entirely feasible.

From Great Xia's elites down to everyday hunting and foraging squads, all are hustling relentlessly, swamped with daily duties, leaving scarce moments to notice Ji Hong's siblings.

Hence, the siblings' fame lingered just over a month in Hongmen City before fading from talk entirely.

As months slipped toward May, a far more thrilling and explosive story swept through, burying Ji Hong's siblings' saga for good.

......

Great Xia's ninth year, May 8th, nighttime

Hongmen, South City Archway

More than twenty young lads and lasses stared at the thriving South City Main Street, their expressions brimming with astonishment and thrill.

"Isn't the crowd a tad too massive?"

"Feels like more than everyone in our Town City!"

"Didn't Second Uncle mention on the way that Hongmen's population is just above 400,000?"

"This stretch alone looks like over 100,000!"

"Back in Town City, I caught wind that Hongmen City's the most vibrant spot among the Nine Towns now. Didn't buy it then, but seeing this, I do."

.........

Xiahou Qingqing caught the amazed chatter around her and grinned, clarifying, "It's due to the high population density. Hongmen covers merely 25 square kilometers, scarcely a tenth of Town City's size, but packs in half our numbers, making it seem way busier than home."

Her words clicked for the group right away.

"Whoa, check that out—so many tasty treats!"

The team's youngest, Jiang Yining, had her gaze locked on the street-side food vendors, eyes sparkling eagerly, drawing laughs and jabs from the others.

"Ah Ning, rumors say Hongmen boasts at least a thousand yummy dishes. With over a month here, you've got time to sample them all."

"Won't that make you a chubby little thing?"

"Haha, relax, Ah Ning doesn't fret over weight gain."

"When Ah Ning heads home, Third Uncle might not even spot her amid the plumpness."

"Hahaha..."

"Scram, scram, scram—you lot will be the chubby ones!"

At just past fifteen, Jiang Yining brimmed with youthful vigor. Teased by her elders, she fired back swiftly, then recalled something, whipping toward Xiahou Qingqing with sly, twinkling eyes, teasing, "Qingqing Sis, your fiancé seems kinda neglectful, huh? So many of us here, and he hasn't popped up yet."

"Yeah, yeah, didn't Xiao Hen vow last month in Jiangxia to host us for a feast upon our Hongmen arrival this month? Where's he at? Where?"

"Qingqing Sis, summon your fiancé pronto."

"Yeah, get him here fast."

......

Flooded with teasing, Xiahou Qingqing flushed crimson, stumbling over words without reply.

"Sorry for the wait, everyone—my bad!"

Fortunately, aid arrived swiftly.

From North City direction strode a handsome youth in black summer garb, hastening over. Spotting the Jiangxia crew, he beamed, clasped his fists, and offered apologies.