Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1202: Chapter 405: Taking the Fall, Struggle for Supremacy, If You Can’t Win Then Cheat, Burning with Frustration (Part 2)

In a whirlwind of black attire, Xia Hong moved with an air of authority, followed closely by Xiahou Zhang, Murong Chui, and Xiang Fuhai. The four of them rose into the air above the Ministry Building, confronting Yang Zhun and his twelve companions head-on.

"Clown!"

After Duan Hong finished speaking, the only response from Xia Hong was a dismissive "Clown."

At the end of April, during the Hongmen Banquet, he was publicly humiliated by Xia Hong; both camps on Hongmen Peak, along with Bashang City, fell into the hands of Great Xia; and out of fear of Great Xia’s might, he had complied by sending his share of supplies from Bashang Prefecture to Hongmen in May.

Duan Hong harbored a deep-seated hatred for Great Xia. Joining forces with the other Five Towns to suppress Great Xia filled him with excitement. But before meeting Xia Hong himself, he was once again humiliated by Xia Chuan with the Divine Machine Crossbow, leaving him seething inside.

After his remarks, Xia Hong merely called him a clown, not even treating him as a lord of one town. The fury that surged within him was predictable.

Duan Hong glared at Xia Hong, clenching his fists tightly inside his sleeves. His right hand instinctively reached for the big saber. But as he looked up and remembered the Hongmen Banquet at the end of April, he twitched with frustration, turned to Yang Zhun and the other lords of the four towns, and angrily said, "Brother Yang, everyone, since Great Xia has admitted to the killings, what is there to discuss? Remember why we’ve come today, don’t you?"

Yang Zhun and his four companions looked down at the imposing three thousand troops of Great Xia near the Ministry Building. Hearing Duan Hong’s words, they frowned deeply before raising their heads to face Xia Hong.

"At the April Hongmen Banquet, Lord Xia Hong vowed alliance with the Eight Towns, to lead Great Xia into the Moao South Slope. Yet, in less than five months, you start slaughtering the people of our Three Towns. Is this how Lord Xia Hong practices alliance?"

Unlike Duan Hong’s earlier speech, Xia Hong furrowed his brow upon hearing Yang Zhun’s words, immediately adopting a serious expression.

He looked directly at Yang Zhun, not answering his question but instead asking with a hint of a smile, "Ever since Great Xia crossed the Xing River North Bank, the talk I hear most often is about Beishuo Lord Yang Zhun, said to be the number one in the Nine Towns. As a newcomer, I’m inclined not to believe. Now that we’re face to face, Brother Yang, is this title of the top in the Nine Towns self-proclaimed, or just a baseless rumor?"

Wow......

Upon Xia Hong’s utterance, whether it was the eleven Xianyang Level experts like Yang Fa, Qin Feng, Shangguan Yang in the sky, or the over ten thousand Cold Resistance Level warriors of the Eight Towns in South City, including the tens of thousands hiding inside the houses, the city was abuzz.

"Lord Xia Hong is challenging Yang Zhun?"

"Nonsense, it’s obviously a challenge!"

"To ask if it was self-proclaimed or rumor-mongered, he’s clearly not recognizing Lord Yang Zhun as the top of the Nine Towns!"

"There’s been chatter for over four months now, about Xia Hong replacing Yang Zhun as the number one in the Nine Towns. Are we finally going to see it today?"

"Lord Xia Hong didn’t respond to Lord Yang Zhun’s earlier question though!"

"Isn’t questioning his strength a response? For leaders at their level, is there anything more potent as a response than questioning one’s strength?"

"Indeed, in the end, it all boils down to strength!"

......

Yang Zhun’s pupils bore a hint of astonishment, clearly taken aback that the situation had escalated to this point.

Xia Hong, astonishingly, had issued a challenge to him in front of everyone.

It’s important to understand that this moment was being observed by over ten thousand Cold Resistance Level warriors, and only a minority were from the eight township cities. The majority, including the tens of thousands of Earth Digging Realm folks, populated all village-level camps within the Eight Towns Territory.

This essentially meant that Xia Hong was challenging him in front of the entire Moao South Slope, and the result of this battle would undoubtedly spread rapidly throughout the region.

"With merely an eleven jun force, to have such audacity!"

Recalling their brief encounter at Bashang City in early May with Xia Hong, Yang Zhun was filled with confusion and perplexity.

At Bashang City, they had clashed over possession, both of them unleashing their full strength when they confronted each other.

Naturally, it wasn’t a life-and-death struggle, and he understood that Xia Hong surely had cards yet to play.

But did Yang Zhun not have his own cards?

Yang Zhun glanced at the crowd of Great Xia near the Ministry Building, seeing the fervent confidence and fervor in their eyes for Xia Hong. A smile slowly emerged on his face. Facing Xia Hong, he raised his silver long spear without any unnecessary words.

"Self-proclaimed or rumored, it matters not. Since Lord Xia Hong disbelieves, then let our skills settle the score!"

A glint of disdain appeared in Yang Zhun’s eyes. With so many eyes from South City upon him, retreat was no longer an option.

Today’s arrival was meant to suppress Great Xia, and by first embarrassing Xia Hong in front of the Cold Resistance Level warriors of Great Xia and the Eight Towns, the upcoming matters would proceed more smoothly!

Whoo......

With this thought, Yang Zhun wasted no time, leaping into the sky, stopping three hundred meters above the ground to face Xia Hong, with his spear slightly raised.

"Good!"

Shhh......

Without uttering another word, Xia Hong’s Dragon Sparrow Saber unsheathed with a resonant sound, and his body transformed into a brilliant streak, shooting straight into the sky.