Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

"How is the situation in Mirror Valley now?"

"After nightfall, seven thousand Earth-digging Realm from Xia City, led by Zhu Yuan, traveled the Direct Road through Mirror Valley to gather at the Hive Station; the Logging Realm from Wushuang, Hanqiong, and Hive have gradually returned to Xia City through Mirror Valley. When I just set off for Wushuang, Mirror Valley was already completely empty."

Xia Hong nodded, a shock in his expression as he cast his gaze toward Zhu Yuan.

"What's the current situation in Hive?"

Zhu Yuan immediately stepped out, cupped his hands and bowed in salute: "To report to the leader, the giant stones marking the entrance on Hive's surface have all been cleared. The seven thousand Earth-digging Realm I led have already entered the underground main zone, along with 2500 people from Wushuang. Hive currently totals 9500 people, all entirely Earth-digging Realm.

This group has already begun setting traps in various underground tunnels and building defense fortifications. As per the leader's previous instructions, they are making the underground passages completely unrecognizable from before, expected to be finished by tomorrow night."

Xia Hong continued to ask, "Have you brought enough of all types of beast meat, crystal fruit, and necessary water sources and other supplies?"

"The seven thousand people who departed from Xia City in the first half of the night had their hands full. The total supplies brought over, without affecting everyone's cultivation, I estimate are enough for thirty days, and if only maintaining basic sustenance, it could last up to three months."

With the conversation reaching this point, although Xia Hong hadn't fully expressed his intentions, the present Cold Resistance Level crowd quickly connected the dots with the actions of Wushuang's four thousand people tonight and Xia Hong's earlier words. They would soon know how formidable the three thousand Longyou Army would be, and most of them had already realized it.

Obviously, Great Xia is preparing to hold the Hive at all costs!

Amidst the realization flashing across everyone's faces, Chen Yingyuan, standing behind Xia Chuan, showed no surprise on his face.

Right at this moment, Xia Hong also turned his gaze towards him.

"Chen Yingyuan, you are the initial leader of Hive, most familiar with the situation in the underground station. I'll ask you one last time, with 9500 Earth-digging Realm plus twenty-five Cold Resistance Level, under the full command of you and Xia Chuan, do you have confidence in holding the Long Mountain army?"

Chen Yingyuan's expression turned serious, he bowed and declared in a loud voice: "Rest assured, leader. The Hive main zone is buried over a hundred meters underground. Just finding it will consume significant efforts from Long Mountain, and even if they manage to find it, they won't be able to break through.

All walls of the underground main zone have been poured with iron extract by three generations of Hive, the weakest points are ten meters thick. Even if Li Tiancheng personally takes action, attempting to break through is wishful thinking. Other than attacking from the iron gate, Long Mountain has no other method. With 9500 Earth-digging Realm lying in wait, as long as we respond appropriately, holding the Long Mountain army for several months is definitely possible."

Upon hearing Chen Yingyuan's speech, Xia Hong nodded, a trace of pride flashing in his eyes as he directly said: "You don't have to hold for several months, just fifteen, no, ten days at most, and I can make Li Xuanling obediently withdraw his army from Hive."

The crowd immediately showed a sudden expression, then unconsciously glanced northward.

"From today onward, Hive matters will be handled by Xia Chuan and Chen Yingyuan. I will not intervene further. Only when encountering an unsolvable issue can you send someone to the north to report to me, though I hope you won't need to summon me, understand?"

Xia Chuan and Chen Yingyuan's expressions turned serious as they both nodded heavily.

Xia Hong then looked around at the dozen or so people, speaking sternly: "It's said that Great Xia is now at war with Long Mountain, risking with a smaller force against a larger one, which isn't ideal. But since Li Xuanling has already knocked on the door, Great Xia shouldn't back down. A Long Mountain so large, it's impossible for the Li Family to monopolize it.

There's a way to risk with a smaller force against a larger one. I don't need you to fight desperately; your task is to firmly hold Hive, avoid excessive casualties, and delay Li Xuanling's army at Hive for a few days.

If this battle is successful, Great Xia will be able to establish firmly in Longyou from now on, and perhaps even overthrow the Longshan Li Family in one fell swoop, directly engulfing Longyou's thirteen thousand square kilometers of land, turning the majestic Long Mountain to the east into Great Xia's hunting ground entirely."

Engulfing Longyou's thirteen thousand square kilometers of land, turning the majestic Long Mountain to the east into Great Xia's hunting ground entirely.

Upon hearing this final segment, Xia Chuan was thoroughly invigorated, he immediately cupped his hands and bowed towards Xia Hong, speaking solemnly:

"Rest assured, leader, we will certainly hold Hive at all costs and quietly await the leader's good news!"

Chen Yingyuan and the other dozen or so people immediately followed suit, simultaneously cupping their hands in salute towards Xia Hong, unanimously declaring: "We will certainly hold Hive at all costs and quietly await the leader's good news!"

"Good, return to Hive and prepare, Li Xuanling will certainly rush to advance to Hive after boosting the morale, and then it will be up to your performance."

Xia Chuan nodded heavily, being the first to turn and leave, followed closely by the dozen or so people as they swiftly turned and followed him, all heading southeast towards Hive.

Standing at his original spot, Xia Hong stared at Wushuang for a few minutes, coldly chuckled twice, then turned and headed towards the snowy plains north.

"Li Tiancheng with such high seniority, even knew to personally investigate the movements of Wushuang's army, unfortunately, his luck was bad, he only saw a large number of troops heading to Hive, but missed my other troop heading towards Hanqiong."

Of course, saying Li Tiancheng is unlucky not to see is merely a joke.

He had long anticipated that there would be people from Long Mountain overlooking, so when the last batch of people headed southward retreated to Hive, he purposefully made a big commotion, which is the reason Li Tiancheng discovered.

Xia Hong's eyes flickered slightly, Long Mountain probably never dreamed that Great Xia with only a thousand Cloud Dragon Army, would still dare to divide forces at this critical juncture.

"If it weren't for Hive Station's naturally advantageous solid defensive perimeter, I wouldn't have such courage, but since it's there, it should be made use of."

The solid iron walls poured by three generations, even Xia City's existing Black Stone Wall, is nothing but larger scale, and in terms of defensive capability, probably can't even compare to Hive's underground space.

Xia Hong was fortunate upon learning the Hive underground main zone's unique structure, thankful that Zhaoyang struck first when Chen Yingyuan wasn't present, catching Hive off guard, ultimately allowing Great Xia to benefit.

Otherwise, considering the Hive underground space's situation, even if he personally led an attack, there would be absolutely no chance of taking it down.

With such strong defensive capability, coupled with Chen Yingyuan as the initial leader well-versed in the underground space, 9500 Earth-digging Realm, and 20 Cold Resistance Levels, defending against 3000 Longyou Army is certainly more than enough.

"Ten meters thick iron wall, also buried underground, almost impossible to break directly by manpower unless they clear a large stress point with Li Tiancheng leading a dozen Cold Resistance Levels to act together, there's a chance, but doing so would take significantly more time, if Long Mountain opts for this route, it would be preferable.

Water attack is impossible, even if there's water surrounding Hive, Li Xuanling wouldn't dare lead troops to mess with it; Fire attack has some promise, but Chen Yingyuan is well-informed of Hive's structure and has countermeasures, so it's useless."

Hive, this pure iron underground space, is truly difficult to conquer.

If it were exposed on the surface, simply setting it alight would suffice, but it happens to be buried deep underground, not only with astounding thickness, but due to being poured with iron extract, the entire barrier is seamless, with almost no other entrances besides the main gate.

Basically akin to a massive sphere buried over a hundred meters underground, with a diameter of three kilometers and wall thickness exceeding ten meters, poured from iron extract.

"Three generations, Chen Yingyuan's ancestors were truly single-minded, fearing death so much? The amount of iron extract used for pouring is probably beyond measure, and Hive's slow development might be due to expending all iron resources on this."

Xia Hong chuckled twice before shaking his head, thankful for Chen Yingyuan's ancestors' efforts, otherwise, apart from exiting Longyou, there really would've been no other option.

"Hail the leader!"

Although his mind was occupied, Xia Hong didn't halt his steps, walking ten kilometers north when a familiar voice suddenly sounded ahead.

Seeing it was Chen Yingba, Xia Hong's face immediately broke into a smile, spotting a severed Direct Road entrance behind him, his eyes brightened as he inquired:

"Has the army emerged?"

Chen Yingba cupped his hands and responded: "They've long emerged from the Direct Road. Director Yuwen ordered me to lead a battalion of soldiers to set the third trap here; he led the main force, continuing northward."

As Xia Hong spoke, he headed toward the direction of the Direct Road, seeing below the entrance, there were over a hundred Cloud Dragon Army soldiers, clutching bundles of small fire torches, hidden beneath the snow on both sides of the Direct Road. They soon began repairing the Direct Road again, his eyes flashing with a glint of brilliance.

"Accelerate the pace, once done quickly, catch up with the main force north."

"Subordinate obeys!"

Chen Yingba cupped his hands in agreement, immediately rushing below the Direct Road entrance, urging the soldiers to quicken the pace in one hand, while personally lending a hand to assist everyone."