Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1436 - 458: 9-Curve Blood Corridor, Mysterious Ice Dao Monster, Feudal Town’s Military Might (2)

Because the northern face of the mountain was tainted with a poisonous miasma that dyed it a deep blood-red, while the southern face was blanketed in snow, creating a stark white panorama, Chen Cang bestowed upon it the name Danxue Peak.

Descending the peak places one technically within the Southern Slope Territory. The eastern flank remains a part of Moao Mountain’s expanse. Venturing roughly fifteen kilometers south from the mountain into the Snow Forest will lead travelers to established camps and settlements where humanity congregates.

The Year 289 of the Chen Cang Calendar, the first day of November.

Nightfall on the southern slope of Danxue Peak.

A group of five, all appearing to be middle-aged, traversed the terrain at a brisk pace, heading southward. Three individuals led the way with effortless strides, while two lagged behind, maintaining a distance of five to six meters, visibly struggling to keep pace.

"Eighteen years of dedication, my path of southern expansion – how can it be halted by mere Great Xia? This time, a lesson must be taught to that Great Xia! Do they truly believe that because their army cannot march south, we possess no means to retaliate?"

Chen Yuanbai, the leader of the contingent, gazed with fervent anticipation toward the Southern Slope Territory. A distinct glint flickered in his pupils, and he could not refrain from exclaiming aloud as the objective of their journey occupied his thoughts.

The exhilaration stemmed from the prospect of once again demonstrating his capabilities within the Nine Towns Territory; the ire arose from the humiliation inflicted upon the young Princess Chu Yan’er in the Nine Towns Territory three months prior.

This expedition was undertaken under the directive of Chu Yan’er’s great-grandfather, Governor Yanling, Chu Tianxu, with the explicit aim of chastising that audacious Great Xia Town.

Chen Yuanbai’s personal strength capped at 16 Jun, a modest level in Chen Cang. However, within the Nine Towns Territory, the situation was markedly different. Excluding Yang Zhun’s elder brother, he stood virtually unparalleled, a reality that fueled his eagerness for this assignment.

Furthermore, he was operating under the Prefectural Governor’s explicit orders. Addressing the question of their potential success in exacting satisfaction upon Great Xia, he turned his gaze toward the two individuals accompanying him, his composure undisturbed by doubt.

"Three individuals possessing 16 Jun strength. As long as we avoid initiating large-scale hostilities, even Yang Jian will be powerless. Causing a modicum of trouble for that pair from Great Xia is a straightforward task. A direct confrontation might even yield unforeseen advantages. Imagine if we could secure Great Xia Town outright for the Governor…"

The more Chen Yuanbai contemplated the possibilities, the more his excitement surged, his steps unconsciously quickening.

"Brother Chen, moderate your pace! They are finding it difficult to keep up."

Yet, after only a few paces, a companion beside him interjected with a reminder.

Upon turning his head, Chen Yuanbai observed that He Yang and Zhu Dong, now trailing behind, were already hundreds of meters distant. He shook his head with a sigh.

"Pray forgive us, sirs. We genuinely cannot maintain this speed."

He Yang and Zhu Dong hastened their approach, and upon seeing Chen Yuanbai and the others awaiting them, they immediately bowed their heads in fearful apology.

"Let us proceed to Beining Village for a brief respite! It is less than five kilometers away."

Chen Yuanbai gestured dismissively and then resumed his southward course, leading the way.

The inclusion of He Yang and Zhu Dong, both possessing the Cold Resistance Level, was strategic. Their prior accompaniment of Chu Yan’er to Xia City made them invaluable guides, offering a more reliable route than aimless wandering.

Chen Yuanbai had visited the Nine Towns Territory the year before last, making him familiar with the established path. Traveling south from Danxue Peak for fifty kilometers would bring them within the jurisdiction of Beishuo Town. This fifty-kilometer stretch was dotted with three villages and over a dozen significant encampments.

Beining Village lay directly along their intended route. The journey to the Nine Towns Territory was substantial, necessitating brief rests at Beining Village during each descent from Danxue Peak.

Five kilometers represented a short distance, and their arrival at Beining Village was swift.

However, a few hundred meters from the village periphery, the group of five halted abruptly,struck by a profound stillness.

It was nighttime, yet Beining Village offered no sign of cooking fires or illuminated dwellings. Furthermore, not a single soul was visible. From their vantage point, the village presented a disconcerting spectral white, utterly devoid of any indications of life.

"Something is amiss. Proceed with caution and advance slowly!"

Chen Yuanbai’s caution was almost superfluous. The two individuals of Xianyang level accompanying him, along with He Yang and Zhu Dong from the rear, swiftly drew their weapons and procured fire-red Deceit Detection Stones from their pouches. They then followed Chen Yuanbai’s cautious advance toward the village.

As they drew nearer to the village entrance, the scene within became discernible, causing their pupils to constrict slightly.

The village was far from deserted. Positioned at the entrance, near the dwellings, around the remnants of bonfires, and along the main thoroughfare penetrating the village, stood at least a thousand figures.

The unsettling aspect was that these thousand figures remained utterly motionless, fixed in their positions.

It was because everyone within had been turned into ice sculptures!

The ice sculptures stationed at the village entrance were outfitted with sturdy bows, grasped weapons, and had worn leather pouches around their waists, appearing poised for a hunt. Strangely, no hint of terror could be seen on their countenances; some even preserved a cheerful, open-mouthed speaking pose, as if they were conversing with the guards at the village entrance. "Not merely the people, Brother Chen, cast your gaze upon the bonfires within the village..." Upon hearing the prompt from the individual next to him, Chen Yuanbai turned his attention to the closest bonfire and was immediately rendered speechless. Even the bonfire was frozen solid! Frozen flames, a concept that defied logic, yet right before Chen Yuanbai's very eyes, the bonfire was undeniably encased in ice. The distinct shape of the flames remained visible, the sole departure from ordinary fire being its stillness, its inability to flicker. "No response, let's proceed inside to investigate!" Observing that the Deceit Detection Stone clutched in his hand registered no anomaly, Chen Yuanbai directly unsheathed his Great Saber and entered the village. The two companions flanking him promptly followed. Even He Yang and Zhu Dong exhibited no apprehension, swiftly joining them within. This phenomenon was unmistakably the doing of a deceitful fiend. Nevertheless, all five hailed from Chen Cang. Despite He Yang and Zhu Dong possessing merely Cold Resistance Level Cultivation, their formidable might exceeded 40 Zong, rendering such a spectacle incapable of intimidating them.