Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

【Resources: Wood 82102, Coal 1820, Iron 1260, Silver 0, Gold 0】

In the mine in the south of the valley, Xia Hong converted the iron ore and coal covering the ground into system units, a look of satisfaction on his face.

The previous hundred-odd iron-core bows had depleted the camp's iron ore reserves, not to mention the increase in wood. Xia Hong clearly remembered that when they set off to deal with the gnawing rat swarm, the system only had a little over 500 units of coal left, and there was no iron at all.

Now there were so many. Coal was twenty catties per unit, which translates to 36,400 catties. Iron was ten catties per unit, which translates to 12,600 catties.

Today was the sixteenth. He hadn't mined at all for the first half of the month.

Clearly, this extra batch of resources was mined by Xia Chuan and the others.

"Big Brother, I took Yuan Cheng and fitted a few more gnawing chisels. The mining efficiency is much higher than before.

Luo Yuan and you are both injured, so only Yuan Cheng, Zhao Long, and I, a total of five people, are mining. We each have a gnawing chisel. In the past fifteen days, except for four hunting trips, the other eleven days were spent mining, six days mining iron and five days mining coal. That's how much we got."

A coal mine yields 200 catties a day, and an iron mine yields 100 catties a day. Moreover, the higher the foundation strength of the Earth Digging Realm, the more appropriate the increase will be. Using a gnawing chisel can double that, reaching four times the basic mining volume.

Five people mining coal would yield over 4,000 catties a day, and mining iron would yield over 2,000 catties a day, which translates to 200 system units.

Adding the coal left over from before, the mining capacity of Xia Chuan and the five others matched the number of system resources.

"Huang Yong and Li Ping have broken through. More people will break through later. The iron ore production should also increase. I estimate that it won't be long before the iron mine in the valley won't be enough for us to mine."

Xia Hong shook his head and smiled, naturally not taking Xia Chuan's joking seriously.

It's unclear how big the iron mine in the valley is, but it can supply the Rogue Camp for more than ten years. Judging from the volume of a single iron ore, even if Great Xia's mining capacity doubles several times, it won't be exhausted in a few years.

This wave of explosive growth in the Earth Digging Realm mainly involves the fifteen members of the hunting team, which isn't a large number; but when the next wave comes, which is the current Lumbering Realm, and they start breaking through to the Earth Digging Realm one after another, the camp's mining capacity is estimated to take a big leap forward.

Don't even mention it; by then, the iron mine in the valley might really not be enough to mine.

Xia Hong's mind stirred slightly, and he directly instructed Xia Chuan beside him:

"However, we can also prepare in advance and have the gathering team pay attention to black tribulus when they go out. Once they find it, mark it; coal mines are not necessary, there are many golden juniper trees in Crimsonwood Ridge, and the underground coal mines should be very rich."

Black tribulus is a companion plant to iron mines. Finding it is equivalent to finding an iron mine.

Xia Chuan nodded in agreement, hesitated for a moment, and asked:

"Leader, the Arrow Bamboo Forest has already been merged into the Mirror Immortal Camp, so how should we handle the original Lu Shang Camp's territory in Crimsonwood Ridge?"

Hearing this question, Xia Hong did not answer immediately, but lowered his head and pondered. Thinking of the Lu Shang Camp, he felt a little regretful in his heart.

If the gnawing rat swarm hadn't appeared, the hundreds of people in the Lu Shang Camp should also be people of Great Xia now, but unfortunately, the gnawing rat swarm delayed the time, and the Mirror Immortal Camp suddenly emerged.

According to convention, as everyone merged into the Mirror Immortal Camp, the Lu Shang Camp's original territory in Crimsonwood Ridge would naturally also belong to the Mirror Immortal Camp.

But this is unreasonable;

Secondly, Great Xia would not agree!

The Lu Shang Camp's territory was originally allocated by the Rogue Camp leading everyone. Without the Rogue Camp, they would not have obtained any territory in Crimsonwood Ridge at all.

The Rogue Camp allocated territory to them to a large extent because they were both camps around Crimsonwood Ridge. Now that Lu Shang has merged into the Mirror Immortal Camp north of the Arrow Bamboo Forest, they are not considered people of Crimsonwood Ridge.

This territory naturally cannot belong to them anymore.

The point that Great Xia would not agree to is even simpler.

The other directions of Crimsonwood Ridge are unclear, but on the east side, in the eyes of Xia Hong and everyone else in the camp, that is the sphere of influence of Great Xia.

To cede the rights to the 500-meter span range in the north to the Mirror Immortal Camp.

Unrealistic and impossible!

"No need to handle it, send people to gather and hunt there in an orderly manner. If people from the Mirror Immortal Camp cross the border, give a warning the first time, and directly attack the second time. I want to see if the other people in that Mirror Immortal Camp act as arrogantly as He Meng!"

A trace of coldness flashed in Xia Hong's eyes. Last time, after returning from the north slope, it took him a long time to realize that He Meng was testing him when he first asked for all the prey and then only wanted half.

The first test was obviously for later manipulation and oppression, right?

At that time, if he had loosened his mouth a little, the result would probably have been completely different.

This also made Xia Hong realize that from the first moment they met, He Meng and his group had deep hostility and a strong desire to attack him and the others.

Thinking of these things, Xia Hong was afraid and naturally had no good feelings for the Mirror Immortal Camp, and even became wary of other camps.

"Coincidentally, I haven't been to the northernmost side yet. In the next period of time, I'll go hunting there, which will also allow me to keep an eye on the Arrow Bamboo Forest to prevent them from taking any new actions."

The Lu Shang Camp's territory is on the northernmost side. Previously, in order to take into account the Lu Shang Camp's thoughts, Great Xia had never crossed the border. Now that he had decided to include that territory into his own sphere of influence, Xia Hong naturally had no scruples.

"Big Brother, are you preparing to hunt intermediate Frostbeasts?"

The key to breaking through the Cold Resistance level is the blood of intermediate Frostbeasts. Xia Chuan also knew this, so he immediately asked when he heard Xia Hong say he was going to hunt in the north.

Hunting intermediate Frostbeasts…

Xia Hong recalled his previous experience of facing the Rat King, a look of hesitation flashed across his face, and he began to hesitate.

There was no doubt about the Rat King's strength, let alone fighting alone.

But to be honest, as long as there are enough Earth Digging Realm cultivators, and the weapons are fully prepared, and the other party is not a group, it is not invincible.

The only key is…

"Gnawing rats are low-level Frostbeasts, but the Rat King is intermediate, which means that other types of Frostbeasts also have high and low levels. It's just unclear whether other Frostbeasts are like gnawing rats, also living in groups, controlled by the Rat King leading a group of ordinary gnawing rats. If so, hunting any intermediate Frostbeast would be like a fool's dream."

Xia Chuan thought for a moment and said: "It shouldn't be, right? Currently, only gnawing rats are encountered in groups, snow manes, frost…"

Before he could say the word 'wolf', Xia Chuan's expression froze and he stopped.

Obviously, he also remembered the frost wolf pack they encountered when they moved from the earthen slope to the valley.

"Although we didn't see the alpha wolf that time, it can basically be judged that frost wolves also form packs. If so, snow manes and magic sheep may also form packs, so hunting intermediate Frostbeasts should not be rushed. Confirm first!"

Xia Hong said as he walked out of the mine with Xia Chuan.

At this moment, there were still three or four hours before dawn, and many people were lingering outside the wooden house.

Whether they were practicing boxing, collecting snow water, practicing archery, or playing around, whenever these people saw Xia Hong passing by, they would respectfully stop and salute him.

Xia Hong smiled and nodded, without saying anything, but after taking a rough look, he was a little curious to see that more than a dozen of the hundreds of people outside the house were wearing clothes.

"Recently, many new clothes have been added?"

It's not that they can't afford it. With the camp's current hunting ability, as long as the clothes aren't as exquisite as the ones Xia Hong wears, it's not too difficult for everyone to have a set of clothes.

The problem is that these clothes have to be exchanged for contribution points, and they are expensive!

"If I remember correctly, a set of clothes made of beast skin, plus customization from the craftsman's workshop, should cost a total of 155 contribution points. Do these people have so many contribution points to exchange for?"

Xia Chuan laughed a few times and said: "Big Brother forgot about the gnawing rat swarm. That night, many people were allocated a large number of contribution points. Apart from the Earth Digging Realm cultivators, the main members were the hunting team members, plus a very small number of Lumbering Realm cultivators. They were allocated more than two hundred contribution points, and the highest person was allocated 320. It's more than enough for them to exchange for a set of clothes."

So that's how it is!

"Everyone is using contribution points to exchange for clothes. No one is exchanging for bows and arrows?"

Weapons are the biggest guarantee of safety. Xia Hong was a little curious. Such a simple principle, it's impossible for the people in the camp not to understand.

The need for clothes is obviously not as high as bows and arrows!

After hearing the exchange prices that Xia Chuan set for the two types of iron-core bows, which were 800 and 2000 respectively, he immediately understood.

This price, apart from the Earth Digging Realm cultivators and the members of the hunting team who have hope, is unattainable for others. They will have to save for at least half a year, no wonder so many people directly exchanged for clothes.

"Big Brother, is the price set too high?"

Seeing Xia Hong's expression slightly sinking, Xia Chuan's expression was uneasy, thinking that he was blaming himself for setting the price too high, making it unaffordable.

Xia Hong smiled lightly and shook his head, praising: "No, it's very suitable. The right to use and the right to own are different.

Weapons are dead in the camp's supply depot and will always be used by people. It doesn't matter if the rental price is lowered. Even in emergency situations like the gnawing rat swarm this time, it's okay to distribute them directly.

But the right to own is different. Once the bows and arrows are exchanged by them, they are their personal belongings. The camp will not interfere with loss, damage, or inheritance, which is equivalent to selling them directly, so the price must be set high."

An ordinary iron-core bow weighs 300 catties. From mining iron ore to the Earth Digging Realm cultivators, even he personally forges it, it takes a lot of resources, effort, and sweat to finally become a finished product.

With the current scarcity of Iron Bows and the number of people in the camp who can use them, a price of 800 contribution points is definitely reasonable.

"By the way, has Luo Yuan's injury healed?"

"Almost. He came out of the wooden house a few days ago, so it should be soon."

"Pass down the order that for the next three days, all those at the Earth Digging Realm will go down into the caves to mine iron ore. In three days, I'll take you eight to the north to take a look. Have the mining team and logging team follow as well, and thoroughly survey the 500-meter span around the Lu Shang camp. From now on, the entire eastern side of Redwood Ridge will belong to our Great Xia. No other camp is allowed to interfere!"

Hearing that last sentence, a flash of excitement crossed Xia Chuan's eyes, and he nodded heavily, bowing and saying, "Yes, Chief!"

The two were talking as they prepared to enter the house and go upstairs, but just as they walked through the front door,

"Ah… … … …"

A shrill scream came from the passage at the mouth of the valley, instantly alarming everyone outside the wooden house, naturally including Xia Hong and Xia Chuan.

"What's going on?"

The expressions on their faces changed drastically, and they immediately rushed towards the entrance of the valley.