Why was Da Shi Camp certain that the Snow Mane was a leftover picked up by Great Xia?
The reason is simple, because the camps surrounding Redwood Ridge are all too weak.
The only camp that can stably hunt and obtain Cold Beast Flesh is the Rogel Camp, which boasts five Tunneler-level experts.
As for the other camps, if they want Cold Beast Flesh, they can either purchase it from Rogel Camp with large amounts of wood, Crystal Fruits, or other scarce resources, or rely on luck.
Luck, to put it plainly, means finding the corpses of Cold Beasts in the forest.
Cold Beasts prefer eating live creatures and usually stop eating once the opponent dies after defeating other Cold Beasts, so if you can come across them, there will definitely be gains.
But how often does such an opportunity arise?
Perhaps deep within Redwood Ridge, there are many Cold Beast corpses, but the problem is they don't dare to venture inside, and picking up corpses on the outskirts is rare—a once or twice a year event is considered very lucky.
Moreover, having been neighbors for many years, they are very clear about Great Xia's capabilities as a fellow small camp.
Generally speaking, the limited Cold Beast Meat should definitely be provided to the members of the logging team first, and only the surplus would be given to the juniors.
Therefore, there's no doubt, that Snow Mane was definitely a leftover picked up by Great Xia.
...
Summer Hong was unaware of Da Shi Camp's resentment.
After driving the other party away that night and having Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng each chop down a tree, the camp entered a relatively peaceful development period.
As the three of them went out each night, the reserves of wood and Crystal Fruits in the camp increased rapidly, visibly to the naked eye.
The Crystal Fruits increased from 7,000 catties to 12,000 catties.
With 154 people in the camp, that's an average of one catty per person per day. Even if they didn't go out, these Crystal Fruits would last for over two months.
As for wood, it rose from 87 units to 210 units.
Food and heating were secured.
The vitality of the camp naturally began to recover slowly.
Although at night they still had to seal the cave entrance, at least they no longer had to suffer from hunger and cold.
But while others were happy, Xia Hong was well aware that the camp had only just resumed to the state it was before the logging team's accident.
When Xia Ding was still around, the camp was never short of Crystal Fruits and wood.
For a small camp like Great Xia, the most scarce resource is Cold Beast Meat.
Without Cold Beast Meat, there's no way to train and become stronger.
Maintaining the status quo would eventually lead to either being discovered by Cold Beasts or found by a Deceitful Monster, repeating past events.
Moreover, Crystal Fruits are not unlimited; the Crystal Fruits on the three Ice Trees have been picked clean, and when they will mature again is unknown.
If the existing Crystal Fruits are exhausted and the three trees haven't borne fruit, they'll have to go hungry again, and without the only food source of Crystal Fruits, starvation is possible.
Redwood Ridge certainly has more than those three Ice Trees.
Xia Hong believes there are definitely larger Ice Trees with more fruit deep in the forest, but the problem is he doesn't dare to venture inside at all.
So the crux of the problem is still the Cold Beast Meat.
The thirty catties of Cold Beast Meat from Yue Feng and his group of five are already used up.
All five have made significant progress, but it's still a long way from breaking through to the Logging Realm.
Xia Hong himself has also used up his hundred catties of Cold Beast Meat.
Although his strength has increased considerably, he is still far from the Tunneler level.
"If I can't continue to get stronger, not to mention upgrading the Small Torch, I won't be able to achieve anything with the other numerous builds within the system.
We must find a way to hunt, even if it involves some risk, it's worth it!"
So far the camp system only has a Small Torch. To upgrade it from level one to level two requires 200 woods and 50 iron.
Wood is no longer an issue now.
But resources like iron are just a fantasy without strength.
"Chuan, Cheng, tonight when we go out, we'll try hunting!"
On the eve of nightfall, Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng, who were preparing to go out, heard Xia Hong's words and their eyes widened with excitement.
In fact, during their many previous outings, the two had already seen Cold Beasts.
Of course, it was a Cold Beast sleeping on a tree.
Previously, the two had suggested trying to hunt Cold Beasts a number of times but were always refused by Xia Hong because of how strong the Cold Beasts were.
Now, Xia Hong was actively suggesting trying to hunt.
"Don't get too excited so soon. As I've told you, Cold Beasts are strong. So this time it's just an attempt, and like before, you have to listen to me outside. Great Xia currently only has you two as Logging Realm combat strength, and I don't want anything to happen to you two, understood?"
Both of them, hearing Xia Hong's serious tone, quickly nodded heavily.
After instructing the two again, Xia Hong took out two Small Torches from behind and gave them one each.
Their eyes lit up as soon as they received the torches, quietly understanding something.