Endless Winter: My Camp Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 599 Sisters Reunited, A Difficult Cultivation Process

The main hall of Tianyin Hall is not large, about fifteen meters long and wide, but the various utensils and ornaments displayed inside are all top-notch.

The walls of the palace were covered with silver plaster, and were decorated with dragons and painted beams. There were goddesses floating in mid-air playing music, a scene of flowers vying for beauty, and a desolate and icy wilderness with snow and forest. Among the trees in the snow and forest, you could even vaguely see cold beasts lying on them. Every pattern was lifelike and was colored using special techniques. You could tell at a glance that it was made by the top craftsmen of the Great Xia Dynasty.

On both sides of the hall stood twelve human-sized animal bone sculptures. They were of different styles, including birds, beasts, and rare aquatic cold beasts. The key point was that all of these bone sculptures were of the color of jade, obviously made from high-grade cold beasts, that is, jade bones.

It should be noted that jade bones are an essential resource for those cultivating at the Cold Resistance level, and are even the main ingredient for refining the Bone Condensation Pill, a cultivation medicine for the Manifestation Yang level. They are considered one of the controlled resources of the Great Xia Dynasty, and private trading is strictly prohibited.

The Xia people, or more precisely, the high-level teams of the Hunting Department, could only hand over the jade bones to the Supply Department after hunting high-level cold beasts. The Supply Department set a buyback price of 5000 taels per catty.

A high-level cold beast usually yields only 3 to 5 catties of jade bones. Each of these humanoid bone carvings in the hall weighs at least 10 to 15 catties. If you include the cost of hiring craftsmen, the value of these twelve bone carvings is at least over one million taels.

In the very center of the main hall is a silver cauldron with a diameter of two meters. The coal inside the cauldron is burning brightly. Silver pipes are laid under the cauldron, connecting to various parts of the hall floor. Combined with the azure velvet carpet covering the floor, it is no wonder that the hall is so warm during the day, and you can even feel the warmth through your shoes.

This is currently the most popular heating method in the Great Xia Dynasty, but how could ordinary people afford silver tripods and silver pipes? Not to mention the blue velvet carpet on the ground. She recognized it as soon as she entered the main hall. This kind of blue carpet with fine velvet on the surface is made of frost wolf down. The color can be processed to such a deep blue, so it must be made of high-grade frost wolf down, and it is the outermost layer of the down.

High-grade Frost Wolves are only a little over a meter long, and because they can only be obtained through hunting, it is very difficult to get a whole wolf pelt. The main hall of the Heavenly Sound Palace is about 200 square meters in size. How many whole wolf pelts would it take to make such a large azure velvet carpet?
Finally, there are the six pillars inside the main hall, each one meter in diameter. Judging from their length and placement, they are clearly meant to bear weight. The pillars are made of cast iron, but the forging patterns on them are densely packed with no less than ten thousand lines, making them almost indistinguishable from the color of silver. Each pillar is carved with a red phoenix, its head facing upwards and its body downwards, its wings fully extended around the pillar, posing as if soaring upwards.

Walls, silver tripods, silver pipes, velvet carpets, jade carvings... The words "magnificent and resplendent" are no longer enough to describe the grandeur of this hall. Su Xing'er couldn't help but sigh once again that even the vassal states were no better than this.

It sounds like a long time, but it was actually just a moment. Although she didn't come from a high social class, she had seen a lot during the years she followed Xia Hong. So she suppressed the shock in her heart and quickly fixed her gaze on the location from which the zither music was coming from.

Above the main hall, a young girl was intently playing the zither, with two palace maids standing on either side of her. Although they were respectful, their eyes, which were occasionally squinting, revealed that they were also immersed in the music.

The girl playing the zither wore a sky-blue brocade dress adorned with gold thread; her long black hair was tied back with two exquisitely crafted silver phoenix hairpins; the silver dragon ornament on her forehead, upon closer inspection, was actually made of hundreds of tiny sequins the size of fish scales, which shone brightly and dazzlingly under the cold light.

She wore a milky white jade ring around her neck and two emerald green jade pendants at her waist. Although she exuded nobility, there was no arrogance between her brows. Her beautiful eyes were as calm and gentle as autumn water, yet they also carried a hint of pitiful sorrow, making people feel inexplicably sorry for her.

Although Su Xing'er has not been practicing the art of the zither for long, she is extremely talented. In addition, with the Five-Colored Demon Zither given to her by her master Xia Hong, and the guidance she received from Cai Shiqin, a master of the zither, in Linchu County for half a year, her skill in the art of the zither is already quite good.

When Su Xing'er saw Cai Shiqin again after three years, she found that although the other woman's appearance had not changed much, the gentle smile on her face had been gone, and there was a deep sorrow between her brows. Even the music she was playing at this moment was no longer as lively and playful as before, but only filled with endless melancholy and depression.

Looking up at Cai Shiqin, she felt a surge of pity.

Clang...

"Xing'er, you've kept this from me for so long!"

After a long while, the music ended. Looking at Su Xing'er in front of her, Cai Shiqin's expression changed from longing to joy, then to complexity, and finally, she seemed to have figured something out and became relieved before slowly opening her mouth.

Seeing the series of emotional changes on Cai Shiqin's face, Su Xing'er immediately understood that she already knew what she had done in Changqing Valley, and naturally a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

She instigated the people of Changqing Valley, which was essentially a rebellion against Cai Qiu. Whether it was to serve her master Xia Hong or to save the people of Changqing Valley, she had perfectly legitimate reasons for doing these things. However, she just couldn't be so righteous in front of Cai Shiqin.

Three years ago, during her time living in Linchu County, Cai Shiqin truly treated her like a younger sister. Not only did she impart all her knowledge of the zither, but when she encountered danger during the Blood Miasma Plains trial, Cai Shiqin risked her life to save her.

Cai Shiqin was a descendant of the Caiqiu Fangbo lineage, and from a certain perspective, the things he had done in Changqing Valley in cooperation with Daxia were indeed somewhat unfair to her.

"Sister Shiqin, I'm sorry..."

Su Xing'er was, after all, just a young girl not yet twenty. Feeling guilty, she didn't know what to say under Cai Shiqin's gaze. Soon, her eyes reddened and she lowered her head.

Seeing Su Xing'er's reaction, Cai Shiqin felt a pang of pity. She stood up, quickly stepped forward, took Su Xing'er's hand, and said softly, "Alright, it's all in the past. The two families have now made peace. Now that I've been married off here, I'm no longer a resident of Caiqiu. Whatever happens in Caiqiu is none of my business anymore..."

Upon hearing this, Su Xing'er felt even worse and shook her head guiltily, saying, "Sister Shiqin, I'm sorry, but I'm not Cai Qiu's person to begin with, and... Master has done me a great favor!"

Master!

Upon hearing Su Xing'er mention the word "Master," Cai Shiqin immediately recalled Hong Yu, the Crown Prince of Qin, in Linchu County three years ago. She said in a low voice, "Xing'er, is your Master's identity as Hong Yu, the Crown Prince of Qin, fake? He is my current husband, the ruler of Great Xia, Xia Hong, isn't he?"

Su Xing'er nodded gently, without offering any explanation.

The moment her identity was exposed in Changqing Valley, her master's false identity could no longer be concealed among the Four Feudatories, and Cai Qiu and Chen Cang could easily find out.

"Sister Shiqin, how did you get married into this family? Princess Tianyin, I don't remember having that title?"

Su Xing'er could tell that Cai Shiqin didn't want to talk about this topic any longer, so she tactfully changed the subject and asked about her experience of being married off and receiving a title.

She had known for a long time that Cai Qiu had sent Princess Tianyin to marry into the Great Xia. If she had known that Princess Tianyin was Cai Shiqin, she would have come to find her long ago.

"It was a special appointment made for the purpose of a marriage alliance. After Caiqiu suffered a great defeat, the women in the clan all made excuses when they heard that they were to be married off to a town-level camp. In the end, it fell to me, someone with no background. Although my parents tried their best to stop it, the shogunate had made its decision, so I had no choice but to marry into the clan."

Upon hearing this, Su Xing'er fell silent. During the half-year she lived in Linchu County, she spent a lot of time with Cai Shiqin, so she had a certain understanding of this sister.

Cai Shiqin was born into the Cai family of Linchu, but her father's talent was average, and he was only at the Cold Resistance level. She was able to become one of the five young masters of Linchu Prefecture and become a princess entirely because of her extraordinary talent and her extraordinary diligence and hard work.

Unexpectedly, after so many years of hard work and finally making it to the top, she was pushed out by Cai Qiu to marry a foreign prince to a place as far away as Da Xia.

But marrying into the Great Xia isn't necessarily all bad. With such a powerful master and the Great Xia currently thriving, establishing a vassal state in the future seems almost a certainty. Cai Shiqin's future doesn't seem so bleak after all.

First Madam!
As Su Xing'er pondered, a person suddenly popped into her mind. Then, recalling the news she'd heard about the First Madam in the outer city, especially her reputation for jealousy, she felt a pang of anxiety for her friends' future. "Sister Shiqin, have you seen... Master?"

"No, I've lived in this hall since I married into the family, and I've never seen him once..."

It's been almost three months since I married into the family, and I haven't even seen my husband yet. It must be the wife who's causing trouble.

Thinking about it this way, Su Xing'er naturally felt more sympathy for her sisters.

Little did she know that when she called out the words "Master," Cai Shiqin seemed to sense something unusual, and the look in her eyes became intriguing.

"Xing'er, I am all alone in Xia City, and now I can't even see my husband. Living in this Xia Palace, I don't know a single person. I finally found you. Will you stay by my side from now on?"

Upon hearing Cai Shiqin's invitation, Su Xing'er was taken aback at first, but then something occurred to her, and a look of interest visibly appeared on her face.

"Is this... alright?"

Although she was tempted, she did not readily agree. Instead, she asked hesitantly to confirm, and then glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Mingyue, the maid who had just led her into the Summer Palace.

She didn't know much about the Summer Palace, but when Cai Shiqin asked that question, she clearly looked at Mingyue, which is why she reacted that way.

"I would like to trouble Sister Mingyue to ask the Madam for permission. Xing'er is an old friend of mine from Caiqiu. She is now a Xia person. Letting her enter Tianyin Palace, whether as a maid or doing something else, should not be considered against the rules."

Sure enough, everything in the Summer Palace was decided by that First Madam. Even though Cai Shiqin held the title of Madam, she couldn't even arrange a maid as she pleased and had to politely ask Mingyue to consult the First Madam.

Upon hearing this, Su Xing'er immediately realized that Mingyue, along with all the other maids serving Cai Shiqin, were all Li Xuanling's people, and she naturally felt even more sympathy for her good friend's tragic situation.

"You're too kind, Madam. I'll go to the Star-Picking Palace to ask the First Madam for permission right away!"

Mingyue's seemingly casual answer actually came with a huge sigh of relief inside.

When Cai Shiqin extended the invitation to Su Xing'er, Su Xing'er's heart skipped a beat. The decision of whether or not to keep or leave all the staff in the Summer Palace was made by Madam Li Xuanling, and she was afraid that Cai Shiqin would directly ask Su Xing'er to stay.

After saying that, she didn't linger any longer and turned to walk towards the Star-Picking Palace, intending to ask Madam Li Xuanling for her opinion.

Cai Shiqin then took Su Xing'er's hand and continued chatting. They talked about their respective situations after the Blood Miasma Plains trial three years ago. After a long separation, the two had endless things to say. As bursts of laughter rang out, the originally quiet and empty Tianyin Palace quickly became more lively.

………………

"Alright, I understand. You can go now!"

Just as the sisters of Tianyin Palace were reunited.

Above the Lord's Hall, in the Star-Picking Hall, the residence of Xia Hong and his wife, outside the Star-Picking Platform, Sun Yan finally reported everything about Dongchuan City to Li Xuanling.

The Star-Picking Hall is the lord's residence, and Sun Yan is not qualified to enter. So after being brought here by Han Shuang, he stood on the outer corridor of the Star-Picking Platform the whole time, always speaking with his head down. Only when Li Xuanling's voice came from inside the hall did he bow and leave.

Inside the Star-Picking Platform, Li Xuanling slightly opened his eyes. The frost-white bone-shaped golden body behind him had already approached six zhang in length, absorbing all the surrounding medicinal power. Then, his expression became slightly somber.

"The Blood Jade Crystal has raised my Jade Bone Battle Body to another level. Now it should be at the same level as his. That means the nine-zhang golden body is no longer my limit. Six zhang is only the middle stage. Without the cultivation boost from that lotus platform, my cultivation speed has slowed down so much. To raise my golden body to more than six zhang, it will take at least another year..."

Slow, too slow!
If her husband were still alive, Li Xuanling would not be in such a hurry. But Xia Hong has been missing for almost half a year and there has been no news of him. If it weren't for the fact that Xia Hong's spirit tablet in the temple has always been normal, how could she still cultivate peacefully here?

"The progress of my Xianyang-level strength is too slow. Three years ago at the Chuishan Alliance, my basic strength was 11 jun, and I could unleash a maximum of 19 jun. Now my basic strength is barely over 20 jun. The improvement is too small. Only by breaking through my cultivation level can I achieve a significant improvement..."

This is Li Xuanling. He increased his basic strength by 9 jun in three years. Those Xianyang level cultivators in the four vassal states would never believe it even if they were beaten to death. If they knew that Li Xuanling was only at the early stage of Xianyang cultivation and was still a step away from the middle stage, they would probably shatter their Dao hearts on the spot.

"You two, what are you pretending for now that you're awake?"

As Li Xuanling frowned, she suddenly realized something, turned around to look behind her, and spoke in an annoyed tone.

It turned out that she wasn't alone on the Star-Picking Platform. Behind her were two boys who were meditating cross-legged. Who else could be on the Star-Picking Platform and cultivating with her besides Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng?

Upon hearing this, both little ones opened their eyes and looked at their mother expectantly.

"Don't look at me like that. Unless your father comes back, if you want to go out, there are two conditions: either break through to the peak of the Cold Resistance Realm, or turn fifteen and undergo the coming-of-age ceremony. Everything else is out of the question!"

Hearing their mother's harsh words, Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng obediently closed their eyes. The former was slightly better, and immediately began to continue cultivating after closing her eyes, while the latter pouted, trying to be a little temperamental.

Unfortunately, even with his eyes closed, Xia Yusheng could feel his mother's stern gaze. He quickly gave in, put down his little mouth, and followed his sister's example to continue cultivating obediently.

"In a few days, I will call your eldest brother and sister over, and the four of you will cultivate together then."

Li Xuanling eventually softened her heart. Although the two little ones still kept their eyes closed, their faces clearly showed more smiles, obviously very satisfied with their mother's decision.

"Madam, Mingyue has arrived. She says that Tianyin Palace has something to ask for instructions."

Suddenly, a cold, frosty voice rang out from outside. Upon hearing this, Li Xuanling frowned slightly. Seeing that the two younger ones had already begun cultivating, she thought for a moment, then stood up and walked outside.

(End of this chapter)