Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1327: 433: Martial Arts Competition Concludes—Cat Demon and Bearing, East Ridge's Defeated People
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
Top level, Political Debate Hall
Guided by the two victors Lu Dong and Tie Xinchuan, two teams comprising a total of 20 individuals arranged into twin lines and stepped inside successively from beyond the hall.
The hall featured enormous pillars entwined with gold and silver dragons; a grand circular golden ceiling overhead; refined Jade Bone carvings flanking both sides; and upon the elevated stage within, the golden throne representing the height of authority in Great Xia…
Lu Dong, Luo An, Liu Peng, Zhao Yuandao, and the heirs of other prestigious families were all well-acquainted with the splendor of this grand hall. From the instant they entered, their eyes fixed upon the high officials of Great Xia positioned along both sides of the chamber;
In contrast, Tie Xinchuan, Yuan Bai, Zhou Yalong—the three common heirs of Great Xia—along with Jiang Yichen, Murong Yan, Fu Tiandu, Xiahou Qingqing—the four heirs from outer towns—felt differently.
Having joined the prelims and semis in Hongmen City, they had already witnessed Great Xia's opulence. Today, stepping into the Inner City, they believed themselves ready, only to be stunned anew.
Yet now, crossing the threshold of this main hall, they finally understood their earlier preparations were utterly laughable.
Those eight pillars, each over three meters thick, stretched upward from the hall's base, factoring in the underground foundation for a total height exceeding 40 meters. Though coated in pure gold externally, they were evidently forged from Hundred Forged Iron.
With a three-meter diameter and 40-meter height, constructed fully from Hundred Forged Iron, even a rough estimate showed each pillar devouring tens of thousands of tons of ore—and the hall boasted eight such behemoths.
Nearly equivalent to an entire small iron mine!
Moreover, every one of these eight pillars bore a carved silver dragon, their sinuous forms wrapping the columns, heads meeting at the dome, crimson eyes glaring downward as if judging these 20 entrants, realism pushed to the utmost.
“Silver dragons, each spanning at least 30 meters, demanding over ten million pounds of silver apiece. Factoring in forging and sculpting labor, beyond mere manpower and resources, the sheer artistry surpasses anything in the other Eight Towns. Hongmen serves only as Great Xia's showcase. True peak mastery reveals itself only in Xia City or within this hall!”
“Jade Bone, a vital cultivation material, employed here as mere decorative sculptures—this alone screams vast wealth. No surprise they send numerous hunting squads to Jiangxia Town; an Advanced Hunting Team likely means little in Great Xia.”
Both Jiang Yichen from the youth division and Xiahou Qingqing from the young adult group held their breaths, absorbing the hall's every detail. Merely five meters separating them, they exchanged looks inevitably, spotting awe and astonishment mirrored in each other's gaze.
Curiously, Murong Yan stood out!
Upon entering the hall, Murong Yan was briefly mesmerized by the ambiance, yet her eyes swiftly locked onto Yuwen Dao, positioned second from the left along the hall's side.
Her stare was so overt that Xia Chuan and his companions spotted it right away, prompting puzzled glances toward Yuwen Dao.
Yuwen Dao stayed composed regardless. Though aware of Murong Yan's attention, he kept his focus forward, face impassive.
“Hahaha… these are this year’s outstanding talents from the Three Towns, quite impressive!”
Noting Yuwen Dao's rigid poise, Xia Hong chuckled heartily, then swiftly followed with praise.
“Greetings to the Lord, greetings to all the esteemed.”
The 20 below snapped to attention then, bowing promptly to Xia Hong and the rest, led by Lu Dong, Luo An, and Tie Xinchuan.
“Lu Dong, Luo An, Zou Ping, Zhao Yuanwu, Luo Cheng… these faces are all familiar. I recall vividly, before the nation's founding, you were mere toddlers still soiling yourselves, and now over a decade has flown by. You've not just matured but achieved Cold Resistance Level cultivation…”
Xia Hong gazed at the front row—Lu Dong, Luo An, Zou Ping—his features etched with sincere nostalgia. Among them, Luo An and Zou Ping left the strongest mark on him.
He recalled sharply: before attaining Cold Resistance Level, these two lads, barely past five, adored spying on his boxing drills. In the flash of over ten years, they neared twenty, full-fledged adults now.
Upon hearing Xia Hong recount how they had wet their pants, Lu Dong, Luo An, and the rest naturally displayed a hint of shame before their elders, though they swiftly regained their composure. Yet, the sixth youth in the group, Luo Cheng, lifted his eyes toward Xia Hong overhead, his heart surging with intense emotion.
Xia Hong promptly caught sight of Luo Cheng's stare. Recalling their short master-disciple bond from the Beehive, she offered a subtle smile of encouragement, nodding gently at him first before shifting her gaze to the 16 Great Xia scions below, then proceeded with a grin:
“The outcome of a competition doesn’t mean much. Cultivation lies in perseverance, Cold Resistance Level is just a starting point, how far you can go in the future, become stronger, surpass your elders, or even me, depends on your future performance. Sixteen top-grade War Bodies, talent-wise, you are not inferior to anyone. Resource-wise, today among the Nine Towns, there should be no one who can compare with you!”