Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1311 - 429: Holy Platform and Offerings, 4 Xianyang Level, Astonishing Talent, Ritual Process_2

Bai Shanqiu boasts three sons and a daughter, each wedded; his firstborn, Bai Yucheng, has reached forty-one years this year. Not just senior to him in age, Bai Yucheng surpasses him vastly with a power of 19 Manes.

Xiang Liang faces this embarrassing predicament right now. Be it the ninth-rank title or the Vice Chief of Punishment role, his mere 13 Manes strength leaves him utterly unqualified.

Based on his initial grasp, Great Xia holds 339 nobles at present, most boasting over 25 Manes in strength; even those at 20 Manes stand out as scarce, and Bai Shanqiu—ennobled alongside him sans War Body Talent—commands 16 Manes.

As a Ninth-Rank Xuanling Marquis, his power places him dead last among nobles.

The real discomfort stems from superiors outmuscling him yet bound by Xia Li’s rules to hail him as "Lord" and bow first, should they lack noble rank.

Little surprise the Assistant Minister fast-tracked his access to the Martial Arts Pavilion for two months prior to last year’s posting; stepping into Hongmen Vice Chief of Punishment at just 6 Manes would’ve shamed him, with even guards potentially stronger.

Thankfully, Xiang Liang had weathered plenty of such mortifying moments over the prior half-year in Hongmen, so he shrugged it off now.

Sensing his unease, Bai Shanqiu swiftly shifted topics with a grin: "This year’s offerings boast entirely new standards unlike before—has Lord Xiang spotted it?"

Xiang Liang nodded at once, noting the enigmatic glint on Bai Shanqiu’s face, and probed curiously: "Does that mean, beyond the hairstyle ceremony for the two Young Masters of the Major Sect, something even grander unfolds today?"

Grinning, Bai Shanqiu affirmed with a nod, then bent closer to murmur: "Stuck in Xia City, I’ve caught wind of whispers. Word is the Lord emerges from seclusion today, prompting the Assistant Minister to prep these offerings ahead. I reckon the Lord will unveil stunning feats once more, and these might outshine past years’ effects."

Excitement lit up Xiang Liang’s features at the news.

Post the Major Clan’s yearly sacrifice, half the devoured offerings get doled out solely to minor clans. Xiang Liang snagged his share last year, so he knows full well.

In stark contrast to minor clans, the Major Clan’s sacrificial rites supercharge the offerings’ potency.

Take Beast Meat from Beast King flesh: its overflowing energy suits medicinal use alone normally, demanding at least Cold Resistance Level cultivation for direct intake. Yet ritual-processed, the energy explodes over tenfold, granting Cold Resistance Level users a boost five or six times mightier than Yangyuan Pill upon consumption.

Beast Blood follows suit, empowering Earth-digging Realm Limit cultivators to uplift their War Body Talent; post-ritual, its offerings deliver five-to-sixfold amplified gains too.

Spiritual Elixir and Wine undergo the same boost.

Past allocations hinged on noble ranks: higher titles claimed bigger hauls. Xiang Liang’s bottom-tier ninth-rank netted him merely 10 jin beast meat, 3 jin beast blood, 1 jin spiritual wine, and 5 Yangyuan Pills last year.

From that debut haul last year, Xiang Liang grasped instantly why Great Xia nobles surge ahead in strength gains.

He devoured the beast meat, spiritual wine, and Yangyuan Pills from those four, saving Beast Blood for his siblings Xiang Yan and Xiang Rong to fuel their War Body Talent breakthroughs.

More offerings await him this year—doubtless exceeding last year’s—and with Bai Shanqiu hinting at superior effects, Xiang Liang buzzes with thrill.

"Time’s nearing; Assistant Minister arrives shortly—let’s grab positions and stand by!"

Alerted by Bai Shanqiu, Xiang Liang reined in his hype, scanned the Holy Platform where all had aligned by noble rank, and trailed Bai Shanqiu to the rear spot.

Apart from tonight’s sacrifice overseer Assistant Minister Xia Chuan, plus Major Sect disciples Xia Yuzong and Xia Yuning, over three hundred minor clan heads and heirs fill the ranks, arrayed rigidly in five rows by noble title.

Up front, the first row holds just one: Military Department Director Yuwen Dao, elevated to fifth-rank Jinque Marquis with the Assistant Minister early this year; unwed, he lacks a sect heir and stands solo.

Second row’s sixth-rank Zidian Marquis features four father-son duos—Yuan Cheng & Yuan Shao, Xu Ning & Xu Cheng, Qiu Peng & Qiu Hong, Luo Yuan & Luo An—plus lone Li Tiancheng.

Third row’s seventh-rank Qingming Marquis packs more father-son teams: Yue Feng & Yue Yuan, Lin Kai & Lin Shou, Lu Yang & Lu Yuzhou, Liu Yuan & Liu Che, Mu Dong & Mu Yan, Cheng Feng & Cheng Luan, Bai Dongying & Bai Yaodun, Zhao Long & Zhao Yuanwu, Hong Guang & Hong Yu, Meng Yi & Meng Ao... making 27 pairs.

Fourth row’s eighth-rank Chixiao Marquis swells further: Li Yuankun & Li Tiandu father-son, Shi Ping & Shi Da father-son, Chen Yingyuan & Chen Yuan father-son, Peng Bo & Peng Zu grandfather-grandson, Hong Tian & Hong Ning father-son, Zhu Yuan & Zhu Ying father-son, Zhao Hu & Zhao Yuankong father-son, Zhao Bao & Zhao Yuankang father-son... summing 61 pairs.

The back fifth row brims with ninth-rank Marquises, 295 strong, mirroring the front four rows in mostly father-son or grandfather-grandson pairs, with scant singles.

"Total nobles hit 393, yet only 390 show—likely Huang Yong, Zhu Ling, and Ying Xuan’s titles await offspring inheritance, barring them from ascending."