Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1524: Chapter 477: The Surprise Brought by Ji Hong, First Hearing of Xue Zijing (2)

The map of Chen Cang is so detailed that it even extends to the westernmost side of the Blood Miasma Plain, a place named Jiuqu Blood Corridor. Xia Hong saw it clearly; Jiuqu Blood Corridor is built by the west bank of Yanze Lake, on one side of Moao Mountain Body. Passing through here leads to a place called Danxue Peak. After Danxue Peak, heading south will lead to the Dongchuan jurisdiction of Beishuo Town.

“Excellent, excellent, excellent, Ji Hong, well done!”

Xia Hong was immensely excited, his face even showed a slight loss of composure, as he repeatedly exclaimed ‘excellent’ and looked up at Ji Hong, his eyes full of appreciation.

The surprise brought by Ji Hong was truly immense.

Suddenly remembering something, he also took out a Beast Skin Roll from his person. After unfolding it, it turned out to be a map of Cai Qiu.

However, this map only marked the positions of the four counties and seven cities of Cai Qiu, with somewhat detailed information concerning terrain and garrison positions, as well as some relatively secretive situations, only detailed for the cities of Qinghua and Lin Chu, and part of the Blood Miasma Plain. It simply couldn’t compare to the map Ji Hong had produced.

“I came to Cai Qiu on the Bone-Eroding Path in August of the ninth year of Great Xia, and have only set foot in Qinghua and Lin Chu. Due to my sensitive identity, I didn’t dare to investigate these territories in detail. Your map is far superior to mine. Even without discussing potential future warfare with Chen Cang, with this map in hand, Great Xia already has the upper hand; this is wonderful, simply wonderful…”

While Xia Hong spoke with a slightly excited tone, Ji Hong’s face revealed a broad smile, but in truth, his heart wasn’t very stirred.

“Lord, you might have forgotten, before coming to Chen Cang, I already became an official member of the Dragon Martial Army Reconnaissance Camp. I’m well aware of the importance of maps; during the past three years, apart from investigating Chen Cang’s strength, I’ve spent nearly all my remaining energy on this map, and as my status in Chen Cang rises, the map can be continually improved.”

Appointing Yuwen Dao as Director of the Military Department was indeed the right choice!

Upon hearing Ji Hong’s words, Xia Hong’s heart couldn’t help but express great admiration for Yuwen Dao, this Director of the Military Department.

Although Xia Hong initially established Great Xia’s military system, all subsequent rules of the Military Department were established and gradually refined by Yuwen Dao. For instance, the Military Department set up specialized institutions for map drawing and provided map training to soldiers of Great Xia’s Reconnaissance Camp; these matters were all known to Xia Hong.

Of course, skills are one thing, but the intention is most crucial.

In three years, Ji Hong managed to explore the entirety of Chen Cang’s territory so thoroughly, even understanding the distribution of forces and military generals; the dedication comes second to none, but the money and effort spent would probably be immeasurable.

“What about Chen Cang’s strength, how’s your investigation?”

Xia Hong temporarily suppressed his other thoughts and inquired about Chen Cang’s overall strength.

Ji Hong naturally understood what the Lord wanted to know. After lowering his head and pondering for a moment, he slowly began to narrate:

“Chen Cang’s overall strength should rank among the top in the Four Vassals of Moao River; it’s superior to Hezang and Cai Qiu, and only slightly inferior to Wei Bo.

The governmental structure of Moao River’s Four Vassals is quite similar, Lord has stayed in Cai Qiu for quite some time and should have some understanding of it, so I’ll briefly introduce the situation in Chen Cang.

Chen Cang’s Landgrave, named Chu Longteng, is 318 years old this year, and is a renowned Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm expert of Moao River…”

Xia Hong was stunned upon hearing Chu Longteng’s cultivation realm.

Not the Fifth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm?

Ji Hong seemed to have noticed Xia Hong’s confusion, and continued, “The Lord might expect all Four Vassal Landgraves to be of the Fifth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm. When I first came to Chen Cang, I thought so too, but as my understanding deepened, I confirmed through cross-verification from multiple sources that:

Each breakthrough in the Fifth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm is as difficult as scaling the heavens, especially the leap from the Fourth to Fifth Transformation, which is fraught with lethal risk.

The Four Vassal Landgraves, firstly, do not dare attempt it; secondly, they are all currently only over 300 years old. Based on their Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm cultivation, with a lifespan of 450 years, they still have ample time and are not in a hurry.

The Four Vassal Landgraves are likely all at the Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm, and currently, only the Landgrave of Wei Bo, Li Gangfeng, is most likely to break through to the Fifth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm.

Of course, this information is sourced by me from various places; although cross-verified with some reliability, it’s not guaranteed to be 100% accurate!”

Upon hearing Ji Hong’s final note, Xia Hong nodded slightly, his eyes flickering, he said: “Tribulation Body Realm has a lifespan limit of 300 years, with an increase of 50 years for each transformation breakthrough, isn’t that right?”

Ji Hong nodded affirmatively, “Correct, the ages of the Four Vassal Landgraves aren’t vastly different, the oldest being Landgrave Cai Qianshan of Cai Qiu, rumored to be 369 this year.”

369 sounds old, but based on a 450-year limit, he still has at least 80 years.

So, the Four Vassal Landgraves could be considered just entering old age, and might last perhaps another century. During this time, as long as a new Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm expert emerges, the Feudal Town’s lineage continues.

“Please, go on!”

Ji Hong nodded and continued, “Chen Cang has two major Landgrave lineages, namely the Chu Family and the Chen Family…”

“I mostly know the situation of the two families, so just focus on the Tribulation Body Realm experts of Chen Cang!”

Ji Hong hesitated for a moment, but considering Xia Hong had stayed in Moao River for such a long time, it wasn’t surprising, so he continued: “Aside from Lord Chu Longteng, Chen Cang’s current commander, the ancestor of the Chen Family, Chen Liwu, also holds the Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm. These two are considered the suns of Chen Cang, among eight publicly known Fourth Transformation Tribulation Body Realm experts of Moao River, Chen Cang has two.”