Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1369 - 443: White Phoenix Forest of Snow Phoenix Mountain, Five-Colored Demon Sound Rabbit, Playing Mind Games with Me?
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
The Caiqiu Calendar year 297, February 15, daytime.
Thirty miles northeast of Qinghua City, a majestic mountain stands tall, known as Snow Phoenix Mountain. This name originates from a clan of Snow Phoenix Cold Beasts that has long established their territory at its summit.
Beyond the Snow Phoenix tribe, the mountain is renowned for its peculiar flora, the Ice Sword Trees.
As their name aptly suggests, Ice Sword Trees feature a single, straight, and erect elliptical trunk resembling a sword blade, devoid of any branches. While their diameter typically ranges from a mere three to five meters, their height can astonishingly soar to a thousand meters or more. During daylight, the ice crystals clinging to their exterior reflect sunlight, emitting a cold, luminous glow that creates an illusion of longswords piercing the heavens, thus earning their distinctive name.
Snow Phoenix Mountain itself measures only two hundred meters in height. However, adorned with countless Ice Sword Trees, its apparent elevation is dramatically amplified five to sixfold.
The Snow Phoenix, a unique flying cold beast native to Qinghua City, exhibits a predilection for perching atop these Ice Sword Trees. Its body is adorned with icicle-like white feathers, complemented by a white, hooked beak, two limbs situated on its belly, and formidable, sharp claws at their extremities.
A low-level Snow Phoenix typically possesses a wingspan of approximately 6 to 10 meters. Intermediate ones span from 25 to 30 meters. Advanced specimens, particularly when preparing for combat, boast a minimum wingspan of 80 meters, extending up to 120 meters.
Interestingly, while perched upon the Ice Sword Trees, the Snow Phoenix often extends its wings fully, creating a striking tableau where the beast and tree together evoke the appearance of a sword's hilt when viewed from a distance.
"A natural marvel, akin to the Ice Abyss. In ordinary locales, how could such unique vegetation possibly flourish? And these Snow Phoenixes, resting with wings unfurled… this utterly defies the known biological habits of avian creatures..."
Amidst the howling, frigid wind, Xia Hong stood upon an Ice Sword Tree, soaring over a hundred meters high. In his left hand rested the Shattered Star Sword, while his right clutched a Snow Phoenix, approximately two meters in length. The Snow Phoenix's neck bore a clean severance, its beak also sliced away, its head lolling downwards, clearly having met its demise some time ago.
Xia Hong gazed upwards towards the lofty heights of Snow Phoenix Mountain, his heart filled with profound admiration for the natural wonders of the Ice Abyss.
An isolated Ice Sword Tree, or even ten or a hundred, amounts to little. Yet, when thousands upon tens of thousands cluster together, blanketing the mountainside, an awe-inspiring spectacle unfolds.
The entirety of Snow Phoenix Mountain seemed arrayed with longswords thrusting towards the heavens, resembling a perfectly formed natural sword tomb—a vista simultaneously perilous and uniquely beautiful, evoking a complex blend of apprehension and inexplicable aspiration.
Abruptly, Xia Hong detected a subtle sensation—a few piercing gazes from the mountain's summit were fixed upon him. His expression instantly shifted, a flicker of caution crossing his features.
"Beast King... no. This feeling of danger transcends the Beast King level! Above Beast King, it must be the Five Luminaries Realm, or perhaps an Emperor Level Fierce Beast!"
Having spent close to a month within Qinghua City, despite his inability to make direct inquiries, Xia Hong had managed to gather vital intelligence through indirect channels concerning the classification of cold beasts and deceptive monsters.
"Emperor Level Fierce Beast, also referred to as the Five Luminaries Realm. This is because when cold beasts attain the Emperor Level, they typically align with the five fundamental elements: gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. Furthermore, Emperor Level Fierce Beasts possess both the essential core items required for a breakthrough to the Xianyang level within the Tribulation Body Realm and the crucial resources needed for cultivation at that same Tribulation Body Realm."
Xia Hong's brow knitted together as he cast one final glance towards the sky above Snow Phoenix Mountain. Suppressing the covetous desire glinting in his eyes, he then leaped from the Ice Sword Tree, descending to the ground within the White Phoenix Forest.
"Brother Hong is truly incredible! This advanced Snow Phoenix, its speed is comparable to the Xianyang level. Previously in Qinghua City, aside from the Four Great Commanders, the two Deputy City Lords, and my father, no one else could have possibly hunted one. And now, Brother Hong joins their ranks."
As Xia Hong touched down, Cai Mengya's gaze fell upon the advanced Snow Phoenix corpse in his hand, eliciting an exclamation of surprise. Her slender and alluring fox-like eyes remained fixed on Xia Hong, her expression flickering with admiration, practically displaying pure adoration.
"Hahaha, Miss Mengya is too kind. As mighty as it is, it's merely an advanced cold beast. Daring to act arrogantly before a princely heir is hardly a simple feat!"
Xia Hong replied with evident pride, basking in Cai Mengya's admiring attention. He laughed heartily and continued, "However, Miss Mengya, what exactly is this Rabbit Fur Beast you spoke of? We've already journeyed halfway up Snow Phoenix Mountain and haven't encountered it yet. Pressing further may not be as secure."
The endeavor to capture a Rabbit Fur Beast was, in part, a consequence of Xia Hong's own initiative.
A month prior, upon his arrival in Qinghua City, Cai Yunzhou orchestrated a grand banquet, extending invitations to nearly every significant figure and noble within the city. To further honor him, his youngest daughter, Cai Mengya, was personally tasked with attending to him during the festivities. Given Xia Hong's considerable standing, such a reception was entirely fitting, and he experienced little disquiet. However, the banquet soon steered into unforeseen territory. Throughout the event, Cai Mengya cast furtive glances his way with a frequency he could not ignore. To uphold the image he had cultivated, Xia Hong chose to play along with the unfolding social dynamics. Yet, this inclination to simply go with the flow initiated a cascade of complications. Cai Mengya, the favored and exceptionally gifted youngest daughter of City Lord Cai Yunzhou, commanded significant attention from a multitude of admirers. Notably, two of the esteemed Four Great Commanders were among her suitors, not to mention countless other promising talents from across the city. As a recent arrival, Xia Hong swiftly captured her interest, inevitably positioning him as a target for her many suitors. Consequently, he found himself subjected to persistent challenges throughout the banquet. Initially, Xia Hong felt no compulsion to engage with these provocations. However, having already established the persona of a noble heir from a powerful lineage, continuous deference would only breed suspicion. This left him with no alternative but to confront the challenges directly.