Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1358 - 40: Cai Qiu Sword Saint, A Hazy Naturalization, Miss Mengya_2

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Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
Xia Hong confronts Cai Qiu Sword Saint Cai Yunzhou in mid-air. After a tense verbal exchange, the two powerful swordsmen clash. While Cai Yunzhou initially seems to have the upper hand, Xia Hong demonstrates an uncanny ability to mimic and surpass Cai Yunzhou's techniques, forcing the Sword Saint into a defensive retreat.
Clang... He achieved victory, yet simultaneously met defeat! Success stemmed from his ability to deflect the trajectory of Xia Hong’s sword thrust; however, failure arose from the minimal degree of alteration, as the trajectory merely shifted from his head to his own throat. Xia Hong’s sword, strikingly similar to Cai Yunzhou's Heaven-pulling Sword Technique, similarly relied on swiftness for its dominance. For a fleeting moment, Cai Yunzhou harbored the thought that Xia Hong was employing the Heaven-pulling Sword Technique. Yet, upon recalling that it was Cai Qiu’s secret technique, exclusive to the descendants of the Cai Family, he promptly dismissed this notion. It was only when he finally perceived Xia Hong’s sword speed to be at least thirty percent faster than his own that he confirmed his initial thought was a mere misconception. The sword technique wielded by his adversary was evidently superior and more potent than the Heaven-pulling Sword Technique. As for the sheer power Xia Hong unleashed with this particular strike, there's little more to elaborate upon! "An increase of forty percent, wielding nearly thirty Jun of power..." The Splendid Light Sword was violently knocked aside. Cai Yunzhou watched with widened eyes as Xia Hong’s longsword was already positioned against his neck, his previously solemn expression instantaneously overtaken by a shade of stark terror. But just as the dreadful apprehension in his pupils escalated without end. The very next moment, Xia Hong unexpectedly lifted the Shattered Star Sword an inch away from his neck. Whoosh... The sword's edge moved, yet the lingering Sword Qi tracing its perimeter still managed to slice through Cai Yunzhou’s skin, delving into the flesh and leaving a two-inch gash upon his neck. Clang... "You indeed possess some measure of skill. Earning the title of Sword Saint in the Four Vassal Lands is not an unfounded claim; however, within our Great Qin Feudal Town, it appears insufficient!" Xia Hong sheathed the Shattered Star Sword and looked up at Cai Yunzhou. Though his eyes betrayed a slight restraint of his inherent disdain, his countenance remained etched with profound arrogance, and his tone was even more imperious than before. Receding several dozen meters towards the city's direction, Cai Yunzhou also sheathed his Splendid Light Sword. He calmly adjusted his collar before gazing back up at Xia Hong, a subtle smile gradually appearing on his face. He clasped his fists respectfully and spoke, "So, an esteemed guest from the Foreign Fief truly graces us with their presence. I am Cai Yunzhou, a third-generation member of the Cai Family and the City Lord of Qinghua City. May I inquire, esteemed brother, for your honorable name?" Finally, a proper conversation could commence! Xia Hong’s gaze first swept over Qinghua City, observing the five recently emerged auras quickly recede and conceal themselves once more. A faint smile graced his own face as he clasped his fists and replied with a laugh, "Hong Yu. It is a pleasure to meet you, Brother Cai." The Great Qin, Hong Yu! Cai Yunzhou committed these two pieces of information to memory. With a placating expression, he continued, "My apologies for my earlier rashness, Brother Hong. I hope you can forgive my offense." "Brother Cai is far too courteous! It was indeed somewhat abrupt of me, as a princely heir traveling here, to intrude so suddenly. Shall we consider today a day of encounter without conflict?" "Hahaha, Brother Hong speaks with admirable forthrightness, a trait that resonates with my own disposition! However, please forgive Cai’s ignorance. Having rarely ventured beyond the Moao River, I am inevitably somewhat uninformed. May I ask where your esteemed fief is situated?" Having spoken, Cai Yunzhou hastily added, "Of course, if Brother Hong finds it inconvenient to disclose, simply consider me overly inquisitive." A subtle glint appeared in Xia Hong’s eyes as he waved his hand and chuckled, "It is not inconvenient at all. Our Great Qin lies to the east of Lulong, quite distant from this region. Even within Lulong, few are aware of its existence, so it is understandable that Brother Cai has not heard of it. Besides, did you not just learn of it today?" An arbitrarily fabricated origin would inevitably falter under scrutiny, especially when confronting a camp of Cai Qiu’s caliber, which could easily discern falsehoods. Xia Hong was acutely aware of this. While the name of the fief could be conjured arbitrarily, specifying its location demanded careful consideration. Inventing a place too distant and fantastical would not only be unconvincing but could also arouse suspicion and ill intent if believed. Conversely, a location too close and specific could be readily verified, rendering it unsuitable. The positioning east of Lulong was not a casual fabrication by Xia Hong; rather, it was a meticulously crafted origin story, meticulously researched during his four months within the Evergreen Valley. Due to the territories of Cai Qiu, Chen Cang, Hezang, and Wei Bo being encircled by the Moao Mountain range, the designation 'Moao River' came into being. Strictly speaking, Lulong Feudal Town also resides within this broader territory, but separated by the Cold Wave Lake, Lulong does not directly border the surrounding Three Vassals, resulting in minimal interaction. Precisely because of this geographical isolation, Lulong presented itself as Xia Hong's ideal point of departure for fabricating his identity. As long as he maintained a low profile, the Four Vassals would likely not expend the effort to dispatch individuals to Lulong for verification. Furthermore, the region east of Lulong offered an expansive canvas for imaginative speculation. This was sufficient.As anticipated, mentioning Lulong's eastern region prompted Cai Yunzhou to wear an expression of "just as I suspected," validating the successful fabrication of the Great Qin Feudal Town's origin. "Indeed, indeed. I just heard today that a genius like Brother Hong truly reflects the greatness of the Great Qin Feudal Town..." Cai Yunzhou paused, feigning self-reproach. "Cai was foolish. Brother Hong has traveled far as our guest; how can we allow you to stand idly here? I shall prepare a banquet within the city. Brother Hong, please accompany me. We can converse further once we are seated, what do you say?" "I would be delighted." "Hahaha, excellent, Brother Hong, this way please!" "However, I do have a few servants..." ...... "Is he gone? Did the Lord enter the city with him?" Xia Hong and Cai Yunzhou had conversed at a normal volume, rendering their discussion inaudible to everyone below South City, including Su Jing and the four siblings. At this moment, Su Jing felt a degree of unease. Despite having witnessed their earlier aerial battle, discerning the victor, the loser, or the balance of power based on their current strength proved impossible.