Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8274: Strange _1

Upon hearing their response, Zhao Hai’s expression shifted toward disappointment. He let out a soft sigh and remarked, "It is truly a shame. I have had a persistent feeling that something is amiss with this location. Had we possessed more knowledge regarding the Spiritual Array Sect, our path would be much clearer. As it stands, we have no choice but to brave the danger." Zhao Hai’s intuition continued to nag at him; from the moment they arrived, he felt as though he was being watched by a multitude of invisible eyes. It was a deeply unsettling sensation. Strangely, despite this feeling, he could detect no signs of life, which only added to his confusion.

Noticing Zhao Hai’s concern, Yan Bei scanned their surroundings and whispered, "What is it? Did you discover something?" Having spent enough time with Zhao Hai, Yan Bei knew he wasn't the type to make baseless claims. He was eager to understand exactly what Zhao Hai had perceived.

Zhao Hai, however, simply shook his head. "I have found nothing. In previous areas, I could identify the restrictions and navigate around them. Yet here, I see nothing at all. There isn't a single restrictive spell in sight, and that is what worries me most. Even if the defenses here were shattered, I should still see the remnants. The fact that there is a complete void of information is the most bizarre part of all."

The faces of Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji grew grim at these words. Neither doubted Zhao Hai’s assessment. While their journey so far had been devoid of attacks or traps, they knew this was purely due to Zhao Hai’s talent for evasion. His ability to guide them safely had already left a deep impression on them.

The fact that Zhao Hai could see nothing was far more terrifying than if he had seen a trap. They both understood that the unknown held the greatest terror. Consequently, they maintained a heavy silence, giving Zhao Hai their full attention without interruption.

Zhao Hai stared toward the manor and said in a low, firm voice, "If we don’t enter the tiger’s lair, we won’t catch the cub. Since we have reached this point, there is no turning back. Truthfully, even if we wanted to retreat, I doubt we could. I suspect that from the moment we crossed into this territory, we were marked. We may be moving forward, but our path of retreat has likely been severed."

He spoke quietly, without looking back, but his words sent a shock through Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji. When they finally turned around, their faces paled. A thick black fog had manifested behind them. It hadn't appeared randomly; it was a clear sign that their escape route was gone.

"Little Hai, what is our move?" Yan Bei inquired. He forced himself to remain composed. As a disciple of the Bloody Massacre Sect, he was no stranger to violence or the prospect of death. Previously, the uncertainty had left him hesitant, but now that they were cornered, a cold calm settled over him. He was ready to face whatever came next. His question wasn't about whether they should flee, but rather how they should proceed with the mission.

Zhao Hai looked back at his companions and gave a small smile. "We are already at the front door. To turn away now would be a slight to the host. Let us go inside." With that, he began walking toward the manor, with Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji following closely in his wake.

A small courtyard paved with moss-covered bluestone sat before the manor. The trio crossed the square and approached the entrance, where a broken wooden plaque lay on the ground. Just as they were about to step over the debris, the two halves of the plaque suddenly stood upright.

The original sign had been over three meters long. Now, the two pieces stood like sentinels on either side of the entrance. Slowly, the characters for "Yin" and "Yang" etched into the wood began to shift and morph. The "Yang" character transformed into the likeness of an elderly man, while the "Yin" character took the shape of an old woman.

The image of the old man on the plaque cupped his hands in a respectful greeting and spoke: "Welcome, honored guests. Please, come inside and find rest." The voice was aged and courteous, reminiscent of a loyal head butler greeting visitors. However, hearing voices emanating from wooden boards sent a shiver down the spines of the cultivators. Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji immediately tensed, their fists clenched and eyes locked on the plaques, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Zhao Hai remained unfazed, watching the boards with an amused smile. "Interesting, truly fascinating. I believe I am beginning to understand the specialties of the Spiritual Array Sect. Senior brothers, there is no need for such tension. Since the master of the house has sent an invitation, we should accept. It has been a long walk, and I could use the rest. Let us go." He stepped into the manor without hesitation. Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji were momentarily stunned by his nonchalance, but they exchanged a look, relaxed their fighting stances, and followed him. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the two boards collapsed back to the ground, the images of the elders vanishing as if they had never existed.

The group glanced back briefly but remained silent as they observed the inner courtyard. It was a peculiar sight. A training field dominated the space, split into two sides: the left was paved with black stone slabs, while the right featured white stone. In the center, a beautiful Yin-Yang fish pattern had been meticulously laid out using both colors.

As they prepared to step onto the pavement, the stones suddenly leaped up. Tiny legs and arms sprouted from the slabs as they began scurrying in all directions. High-pitched voices cried out, "Run! They’re going to step on us! Run away!" In an instant, the courtyard floor had scattered and vanished.

The three men stood frozen at the entrance, completely bewildered. They had never anticipated that the very ground beneath them possessed life. While they were trying to process the scene, two voices boomed from behind them: "You fools! Why are you running? Get back here and lie down! You are embarrassing us!"

Turning around, they saw that the two dilapidated doors had stood up. Human faces had manifested on the wood, and they were scolding the runaway stones with visible irritation. The slabs, which had been peeking out from the corners, reluctantly crawled back to their original positions and settled down, returning to their appearance as ordinary stone.

A voice then echoed from deeper within the manor: "Guests, please enter the inner courtyard. Forgive the rudeness of these children; they meant no harm." The tone was warm and grandfatherly, making it difficult to maintain any hostility.

Zhao Hai smiled and cupped his fists toward the source of the voice. "Much obliged!" He stepped onto the stones, which let out little "ouch" sounds as if they were being pinched. Zhao Hai ignored the noise and continued forward calmly, noting that despite the protests, the stones felt exactly like solid ground beneath his boots.

They moved through the training area and reached a second gate, which stood wide open. Zhao Hai led the way inside, though Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji looked increasingly unsettled. The environment was bizarre; it felt as though every plant and object possessed its own soul.

While sentient plants weren't unheard of—many flora could become demons after centuries of Cultivation—the idea of sentient stones was beyond their experience. It was an anomaly that defied their understanding of the Dao.

Upon entering the second courtyard, Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji were greeted by a lush display of various plants. These greens swayed even though there was no breeze, and some appeared to be whispering amongst themselves. Their earlier suspicions were confirmed: the vegetation here had truly attained spiritual intelligence.

In the heart of the garden was a stone-paved area featuring a table and several stools. A figure sat there, dressed in a tattered, ancient Daoist robe and a matching crown. He was focused on a book, but as they approached, he set it aside and turned to face them.

The sight caused Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji to recoil. The figure’s face was devoid of moisture, the skin stretched tight like parchment over a skull. His eyes were deep pits. This was no living man, but a dried corpse. Affixed to his chest was a strange, palm-sized mirror engraved with a Yin-Yang fish and the Eight Trigrams.

The mummified figure pulled back its lips in a skeletal grin and cupped its hands. "Greetings, fellow Daoists. After all these years, someone has finally arrived. You have truly kept me waiting." The voice was the same gentle, deep one that had invited them in.

While his companions stared in shock at the cadaver, Zhao Hai smiled and returned the courtesy. "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. We were fortunate to make it this far. To be honest, reaching this place requires a certain level of expertise, so please do not take our intrusion to heart."

The corpse looked at Zhao Hai and spoke softly, "Others have tried to come here before, but they lacked any understanding of arrays. I have no desire to host such people. However, the three of you arrived through your own merit, navigating the area without triggering a single restriction. I am genuinely impressed. Please, sit, and let us enjoy this moment together."