Seeing that Yue Feng had realized his intention, Xia Hong was not surprised. He nodded and said, "Let’s watch the ongoing situation. I’ll be staying around here during this time. At nightfall, Xia Chuan will bring people over. I’ve left a prey at the entrance of the Arrow Bamboo Forest, take someone with you to bring it over. Later, let them take it back to the camp."
Yue Feng nodded and led three people towards the Arrow Bamboo Forest.
"Left a prey, Captain, does the leader also go out to hunt Cold Beasts?"
The three people following Yue Feng looked a bit curious. They had not been in Great Xia for long and hadn’t heard that Xia Hong would personally partake in hunting.
"Of course, he would. Our camp’s current stability is due to the leader’s early days of bringing back one Cold Beast after another. In terms of hunting ability, all our hunting teams combined likely can’t match him."
Hearing this, the three exchanged glances, a hint of doubt in their eyes.
They didn’t really doubt Xia Hong’s strength, especially after witnessing the recent events. But the issue was, hunting ability and individual strength are two different things.
Cold Beasts are no simple foes; not only do they have strength far beyond humans of the same level, they each possess special skills, and their vitality is extremely resilient.
The Earth-digging Realm is qualified to hunt, but it requires multiple people working as a team. This is the same at any camp, acknowledging the Cold Beasts’ strength.
Of course, strength is a crucial metric, but team coordination, hunting experience, and tools are equally important.
No matter how strong Xia Hong is, his hunting ability shouldn’t surpass all the combined hunting teams.
Still, doubt apart, the three wouldn’t express it openly.
Noticing their expressions, Yue Feng didn’t bother explaining. After all, they’d only been in the camp for a month. With time, they’d naturally understand.
Recalling the days of hunting with Xia Hong, Yue Feng’s face showed nostalgia and a touch of loss.
Since Xia Hong started breaking through to the Cold Resistance Level, he stopped taking them on hunts. Yue Feng knew the reason well; their abilities no longer matched the leader’s pace.
"Before the leader’s breakthrough, he could solo hunt Intermediate Cold Beasts. The next group hunt might target High-level Cold Beasts!"
Recalling what Chen Yingba just mentioned, about his encounters with He Yuanhun twice due to High-level Cold Beast hunts, Yue Feng’s expression turned serious.
There was a hidden message in that statement.
Only at the Cold Resistance Level does one qualify to cooperate in hunting High-level Cold Beasts.
"I must hasten my breakthrough, otherwise, when the leader next requires assistance for a hunt, I won’t even qualify to join."
Quickly, the four reached the Arrow Bamboo Forest entrance, at the spot Xia Hong mentioned, and found the prey after a brief search.
However, upon finding the prey, the three who had doubted Xia Hong’s hunting capability were immediately stunned.
Above the bamboo grove lay a snow-white Cold Beast around seven or eight meters long, with a massive and burly build. Its eyes were wide open, its huge paws hung powerlessly across its chest, and its entire body bore no visible wounds.
"Is this... an Intermediate... White Bear?"
"Here, on the back of the neck, come take a look."
Hearing the call, Yue Feng and the other two climbed onto the White Bear’s back, and upon seeing the wound, their pupils constricted.
At the back of the White Bear’s neck was a narrow cut over a foot in length, which seemed inserted deeply. Large amounts of blood had flowed out, staining most of its back red.
Yue Feng’s face reflected a momentary change as he examined further, spotting several footprints, leading to a deduction of the kill process.
"The leader must have kicked over the White Bear, then stabbed its back neck with a blade, severing its spine to bleed it out..."
With its spine severed, the White Bear naturally lost all ability to resist, left only to await death.
"Such a huge White Bear, and the leader could kick it down?"
"Directly sever its spine?"
"This White Bear shows no signs of a struggle!"
"And the leader doesn’t have any injuries."
The three involuntarily swallowed, and upon exchanging a glance, fully realized how laughable their doubts of Xia Hong had been.
"Don’t use common sense to gauge the leader’s strength. Compared to him, we’re like five or six-year-old children."
This time, hearing Yue Feng’s words, all three nodded, no longer daring to doubt, their hearts filled with respect and fervor for Xia Hong.
The four quickly carried the White Bear back to the edge of Jing Valley Iron Mine.
Half an hour past nightfall, a large team finally arrived.
Xia Chuan not only brought all members of his Cloud Jiao Team, but also the six-member squad including Yuwen Dao, Luo Yuan, and the three Yuan Cheng brothers.
A total of 140 people across seven squads gathered densely at the edge of the iron mine.
After everyone saluted Xia Hong, Yue Feng promptly stepped up to brief Xia Chuan and the others on the earlier situation.
Hearing that the Hive Camp harbored murderous intent, although ultimately rebuked by his elder brother, a solemn look still crossed Xia Chuan’s face.
"Chen Yingba, I know him. Cold Resistance Level strength, quite the temper, previously clashed with my father, got beaten badly once by He Yuanhun, and only Chen Yingyuan’s mediation settled it."