Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

102: Chapter 102: The Arrival of the Spurt Period 102: Chapter 102: The Arrival of the Spurt Period Shi Ping was the first to break through to the Logging Realm, and the happiest of all was Shi Qing.

Although a long time had passed, Shi Qing’s body had improved significantly, but a root cause of lifelong disability remained.

Now, he could at most walk around the valley.

Recovering his strength was out of the question, let alone cultivating.

Having been a leader for so many years, Shi Qing naturally couldn’t resign himself to idleness, especially when most people in the camp were madly training, and he could only watch from the sidelines.

Fortunately, his archery skills were still intact.

Although he couldn’t demonstrate them to others due to his lack of cultivation, he could still offer some guidance.

Moreover, the camp now had eleven bows and arrows, and many needed archery guidance, so he had found something to do.

Teaching archery, Shi Qing found where his value lay.

Besides, his primary concern was urging his son Shi Ping to train.

Having been a leader, Shi Qing clearly understood the camp’s hierarchical structure.

Although the Great Xia’s current strength far exceeded that of the former Da Shi, the core remained unchanged.

Cultivation determines value; value determines status.

This was the case in every camp.

This was why, even though he was crippled, Shi Qing kept looking for things to do.

Urging his son to train was partly for his son himself, and partly for the hundred-plus people from the former Da Shi Camp.

Currently, Great Xia consisted of over nine hundred people, strictly speaking, merged from five groups.

Under the indiscriminate Cold Beast Meat system, the camp had considerable cohesion, but the five groups still experienced some differentiation internally.

It was apparent from where each group resided in the wooden house.

The closest to the stove were the initial members of the Great Xia; next were the over one hundred from Rogel Camp; and then those from Da Shi, Da Chuan, and Huang Zhao Camps were on the outermost layer, with Da Shi people seated the furthest back.

These signs didn’t indicate a split in the camp.

Humans are sentimental and naturally gravitate towards familiar people.

This is a natural order, unchangeable by rising camp cohesion.

Just like they would stick with familiar people, as the leader, Xia Hong naturally gravitated towards the initial members of the Great Xia.

Although he treated everyone equally in distributing Cold Beast Meat, he inevitably showed favoritism in everyday details.

Currently, the highest status among the camp’s five groups belonged to the initial members of the Great Xia, justified by factors such as strength and Xia Hong;

Secondly, there were the over a hundred people from Rogel Camp, featuring fifteen Logging Realm members like Luo Yuan and controlling eight out of fifteen spots in the Hunting Team; Cheng Feng, the Logging Team captain, and Mu Dong, the Craftsman Workshop master, were also from their ranks.

Then there were the camps of Da Chuan and Huang Zhao, with a total of ten Logging Realm members, and Hong Gang, Huang Yong, and Zhu Shun joined the Hunting Team, while the remaining seven were in the Logging Team.

Only the hundred-plus people from Da Shi had no Logging Realm members, let alone anyone in the Hunting or Logging Teams.

Shi Qing wasn’t worried that Xia Hong would marginalize the Da Shi people.

The critical issue was that this group brought no value to the camp, leading to inevitable marginalization if it continued.

The development of Great Xia had visibly gained traction, advancing rapidly.

Such marginalization could later evolve into being ignored and losing influence, missing out on benefits.

Therefore, Shi Qing watched anxiously.

Now a cripple, Shi Qing had no say in camp development, so he pinned hopes on Shi Ping—not just Shi Ping, but any young recruit from Da Shi he could supervise.

Fortunately, Shi Ping surprised him by breaking through to the Logging Realm first among the more than three hundred recruits.

This breakthrough not only gave Shi Qing face.

According to Xia Hong’s earlier standard, the first five recruits to break through to the Logging Realm would receive a set of clothes.

Thus, it was both fame and fortune.

Watching Shi Ping receive that outfit from Xia Hong and wear it.

Though the attire wasn’t as refined as Xia Hong’s, it was a complete set—jacket, fur hat, coat, trousers, and boots—and it looked striking on him.

Onlookers in the wooden house all cast envious glances at Shi Ping, including Hunting and Logging Team members.

Shi Qing’s sixteen, seventeen-year-old son already showed hints of adult demeanor.

Feeling emotionally stirred, Shi Qing remembered his tragically deceased wife and two brothers, bringing tears to his eyes.

“Uncle Shi, you have someone to carry on your legacy.

Congratulations!”

Awakened by Xia Hong’s congratulatory voice, Shi Qing snapped back to reality, bowing respectfully, “Nothing would be possible without our leader bravely hunting.

Ping’er wouldn’t have this fortune.”

Xia Hong smiled faintly and said softly, “Uncle Shi, don’t worry.

Currently, all nine hundred plus people are cramped together, and space in the wooden house is limited, so some will inevitably be inside, and some outside.

In a few months, when the new dwelling is done, accommodation arrangements will be unified.

As I said before, I treat everyone equally.

Do you still distrust me?”

Hearing these words, Shi Qing paused.

Shi Qing instinctively wanted to explain.

But Xia Hong shook his head, signaling that Shi Qing need not explain.

Xia Hong understood Shi Qing’s concerns.

To be precise, the camp was so small that people essentially stayed in the wooden house; if anything happened and he paid attention, he could find out.

Regarding the camp’s current factional division, Xia Hong instinctively recalled the saying “shallow waters can’t accommodate many turtles, small temple attracts shady winds,” initially finding it laughable, worrying about its impact on camp unity.

But upon reflection, he realized that wasn’t necessarily the case.

In any organization reaching a certain size, factions emerge unavoidably.

After all, any human group will develop factions based on closeness or differences in ideas or interests.

Factions mean competition, which, when malignant, can disrupt unity or even lead to severe splits; but beneficial competition is essential for Ice Abyss, a world that highly values martial power and respects might.

The key issue lies in whether these differences are allowed to grow or are promptly addressed.

As long as the core—Xia Hong—can properly handle these differences, this inter-faction competition is positive.

This healthy competition not only won’t damage the camp’s unity but will urge camp members to cultivate, boosting development speed.

He didn’t give Shi Qing a chance to explain because of this principle; within controllable limits, Xia Hong could accept factional competition.

Shi Ping being the first to break through to the Logging Realm and donning new clothes clearly stirred others.

After congratulating Shi Ping, everyone resumed their frenzied training, eagerly eyeing the remaining fourteen outfits.

Xia Hong sat on his exclusive seat, scanning the wooden house.

Observing the Qi Muscle changes in everyone’s breaths, he smiled.

Others might have seen only Shi Ping’s breakthrough.

But Xia Hong saw more.

The recruits had been fed Cold Beast Meat simultaneously; even with age and talent differences, their breakthrough gaps wouldn’t be large.

One breakthrough signaled others were close too.

The boom period was near!

Indeed, as Xia Hong anticipated.

The next day, two more broke through to the Logging Realm;

On the third day, another; the fourth and fifth days…

Within the following month, the Logging Realm members in Great Xia sprouted like mushrooms after rain, and even the Hunting Team saw breakthroughs.