Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1301: Chapter 426: The Grand Scene of the Three-Town Martial Arts Competition, Marriage Alliance and Integration (Part 3)

”Sssss...”

”Hahahaha!”

Xiao Hen’s grimacing expression naturally drew more laughter from behind, from Jiang Yining and the others.

”So many beautiful clothes!”

Entering South City, the street-side shops immediately elicited exclamations of surprise from everyone from Jiangxia. Jiang Yining and the five or six girls around her were instantly attracted to a shop with the sign ”Zeng’s Summer Clothing Workshop”.

Inside the shop hung an array of diverse summer clothes, and the customers were incredibly numerous, the store almost packed with people. A 25 or 26-year-old woman with a beautiful appearance, the shopkeeper, along with a few female assistants, was passionately serving customers, tirelessly busy.

”That shopkeeper sister is so pretty! Did she make all these beautiful clothes? I want to buy a couple of pieces too!”

Upon hearing Jiang Yining’s words, Xiao Hen immediately turned his head to look at the summer clothing workshop. He seemed to recognize the female shopkeeper at a glance and, after a slight sigh, smiled and said, ”No rush, you’re going to stay in Hongmen for over a month; you’ll have plenty of time to shop later. Let’s go eat first!”

With these words, everyone reluctantly gave up and followed him southward, soon arriving at Zhao’s Restaurant.

”Young Master Xiao, you finally arrived. The other Young Masters have been waiting upstairs in the private room. Young Master Xiao, you’ve brought so many guests today; please come in!”

The servant inside the restaurant, quick on his feet, recognized Xiao Hen immediately and hurriedly welcomed them, promptly leading everyone up to the third floor.

Jiang Yining, Xiahou Qingqing, and the others quickly followed behind Xiao Hen, walking briskly upstairs.

”Restaurant – is it a place where you spend money just to eat?”

”Isn’t it similar to the inns in Jiangxia?”

”This is obviously more advanced than an inn. Look, nearly everyone who comes to eat here has Cold Resistance level cultivation!”

”I just saw on the first floor that everyone was paying with silver.”

......

Like the street-side shops earlier, even the restaurant was a significant psychological shock to Jiang Yining and the others. They had already heard much about Hongmen back in Jiangxia Town, but hearing is one thing, and experiencing it firsthand is another.

The moment they stepped onto the stairs and were about to reach the third floor, they heard discussions coming from above:

”Although it’s called the Three Towns Martial Arts Competition, Great Xia hasn’t prohibited participants from the other six towns. As long as they pass the bone age test, confirm their age is between 15 and 25, and clearly explain their background, all young people can participate.”

”Great Xia has such a grand style! No wonder so many people have come to Hongmen recently. Today is the eighth, and from my observation, at least 30,000 people have come to Hongmen in the past eight days, mostly young people. There’s still 22 days until the competition starts; I estimate at least 100,000 more will come by the end of the month.”

”There’s no choice; the rewards for the martial arts competition are just too generous. Great Xia announced last month’s rewards, totaling 10 million taels of silver alone, not to mention the Dan Medicines, weapons, war armor, and other items. I estimate organizing this competition would cost Great Xia at least 30 million taels of silver.”

”What’s the purpose? Offering so much silver just for a martial arts competition?”

”I suppose Great Xia has confidence in its young people, believing they’ll secure many top positions, and so ultimately, the rewards will be consumed by their own people.”

”No kidding! I acknowledge Lord Xia Hong’s reputation as number one of the Nine Towns, but young people’s martial arts are a different matter. A strong lord doesn’t mean the young people in the camp are strong too.”

”Northern Three Towns have quite a few geniuses under 25, like the Yang’s Eight Horses, Jinshan Six Cubs, and Wuchuan Seven Heroes. Dragon Valley, Yangqu, and Chui Mountain all have talented individuals, not to mention many village-level camps occasionally producing geniuses. Even if Great Xia is strong, it can’t take all the top spots, can it?”

”How many rankings will be chosen this time, do you know?”

”I heard each group will select the top 100 positions based on age, under 20 and under 25, with higher rankings receiving better rewards.”

”How many have registered so far?”

”Registration started on the first. The announcement board in front of the Hongmen Government Building lists registrations; currently, the total number seems to be over 40,000.”

”Ssss... Over 40,000 by the eighth, isn’t that over 100,000 by the end of the month?”

”Why are so many people coming? Did all the young people from the Nine Towns come?”

”Probably close to it. Great Xia hasn’t restricted anything, and anyone within the age limit can come. Many might not necessarily aim for a position but just want to watch the excitement.”

”Are you kidding? Over 100,000, how long will this competition take?”

”It’s not up to you to worry; Great Xia surely has a way to screen participants.”

”The martial arts competition is divided into preliminaries, semi-finals, and finals. It’s said the first two rounds will be held in Hongmen City, taking two months. After the semi-finals, each group will leave 1,000 people, and in August, the finals begin, where these 2,000 compete for the top 100 in Xia City.”

”Is Great Xia intentionally absorbing young talents from the Nine Towns, so those who win must join Great Xia to receive their rewards?”

”Does everyone think like you? Minister Xia Chuan of Great Xia personally issued a public notice at the end of last month, clearly stating that rewards have no restrictions. As long as you’re from the Nine Towns, regardless of which family, you can receive rewards, and whether you join Great Xia is entirely up to you.”

”No wonder so many are participating; is it really that free?”

”Of course!”

......

Amidst the discussion on the third floor, Xiao Hen led everyone into a private room by the window.