Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1316 - 430: Emerging from Seclusion, Adding Hairpins and Unintended Consequences, The Grand Scene of Great Xia and the Eve of a Surge (Part 3)...

With Qiu Peng overseeing the event, the tribute distribution wrapped up swiftly, as all participants claimed their portions based on their noble ranks.

"Good, the ceremony has ended. Xia Chuan, Directors and Deputy Directors of the Eight Departments, plus all Chief Envoys from key stations—make your way to the Political Debate Hall. I've been secluded for nearly a year; now report the camp's current status to me. Everyone else, dismiss if no other matters!"

After uttering those words, Xia Hong scooped up Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng, soaring off straight to the main hall, while Li Xuanling trailed right behind him.

The named individuals like Xia Chuan promptly left the Sect Temple and rushed toward the main hall, as the almost three hundred others on the Holy Platform slowly scattered.

…

"21,800 jin, 21,500 jin—amazing! In under a year, you'll need to rebuild your skin membranes. Hitting Cold Resistance Level before age ten!"

Main hall, Political Debate Hall.

From the head seat, Xia Hong gazed at the two kids in his embrace and couldn't hold back his admiration.

"Heh, naturally—Ah Yao is daddy's little girl!"

His daughter's remark drew a hearty laugh from Xia Hong.

"Others are arriving soon—stop hanging on daddy. Come here quickly!"

The two kids, catching their mother's firm voice, instantly behaved, leaping down from Xia Hong's knees and darting to her side, settling obediently one on each flank.

Watching how well the children listened to Li Xuanling, Xia Hong shook his head with a touch of jealousy.

"Truth be told, it irks me a little. The Spiritual Milk Pills were set for one per month each. Yet they snuck into my quarters, swiped extras, and hid them away, gobbling two more monthly. If I hadn't spotted their unusually rapid power surge post-seclusion, no one might have caught on yet."

Xia Hong paused in surprise at this, then eyed the pair sternly. "Consuming Dan Medicine without care—your boldness has grown too much!"

Already ashamed from their mother's scolding, Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng bowed their heads further at their father's sharp tone.

"For this, you're confined to the Inner City for one month. Misuse Dan Medicine again, and it'll be a full year. Got it?"

"We won't dare anymore!"

Relieved by their unified reply, Xia Hong eased up.

Though talented, the kids remained at Earth-digging Realm cultivation. Luckily, Spiritual Milk Pills carry gentle effects; wrong Dan Medicine for their level could have spelled disaster.

"I meant to curb their advance, but now they might truly enter Cold Resistance Level before ten. In that case, forget leaving Xia City until you're fifteen!"

Li Xuanling's words turned Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng's faces to pure dismay, regret practically etched on their brows.

"Hahahaha..."

The kids' crestfallen looks greatly entertained Xia Hong.

Last year, during their first Spiritual Milk Pill dose, Xia Hong supervised closely. He realized then their talents allowed up to three pills monthly.

Li Xuanling had insisted on just one per month.

The motive was straightforward: prevent their genius from drawing unwanted threats.

Great Xia's power had surged, yet two Feudal Towns loomed overhead. Future uncertainties abounded. Displaying excessive talent could prove risky.

The tallest tree in the woods draws the fiercest gales.

Mindful of that, Xia Hong backed Li Xuanling's caution.

Unexpectedly, the kids pilfered Spiritual Milk Pills themselves, sneaking an extra monthly. No surprise their base strength topped 20,000 jin. One additional pill yielded such leaps—what if they'd maxed out? They'd cap Earth-digging Realm!

This proved Li Xuanling's wisdom spot-on.

The two little ones had long dreamed of venturing beyond Xia City to explore. In Li Xuanling’s original plan, if their strength hadn’t grown so rapidly, taking them out at a suitable age would have been no issue.

Their secret intake of the Spiritual Milk Pill ended up as a botched clever scheme, prompting Li Xuanling’s command that they couldn’t leave Xia City before turning fifteen.

Seeing their nervous little faces, Xia Hong couldn’t suppress a chuckle inside.

"Behave yourselves, don’t anger your mother, and she’ll allow you out!"

Xia Hong softly reassured them, catching the sound of numerous footsteps drawing near, then quickly straightened up, facing the main hall’s entrance.

"Greetings, Lord!"

Xia Chuan promptly guided over thirty people with swift strides into the hall.

"Has Xia City added new districts now?"

Xia Hong glanced swiftly over the crowd, his interest sparking at once.

He had called only the Directors of the Eight Departments and all Chief Envoys from the major stations. Forty-one people now occupied the hall; the front row featured Xia Chuan and the eleven Directors of the Eight Departments, as thirty others stood in the back row.

He remembered that last year during his seclusion, Xia City counted twenty-two districts altogether, including Long Mountain, East Ridge, Wuyuan, Hongmen, and Bashang, for a total of twenty-seven Chief Envoys. With Great Xia showing no outward expansion, the three extras clearly stemmed from new districts in Xia City.

Sure enough, moments after Xia Hong spoke, three figures stepped forward from the group below, bowing respectfully to him: