Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8288: Conjective_1

Previously on Living In Another World With A Farm...
After erecting a mysterious manor and a powerful defensive formation at the entrance of the spiritual array sect territory, Zhao Hai faces a confrontation with Li Ruohai and other wary cultivators. The group suspects Zhao Hai of blocking their only exit as an act of revenge, but he maintains that a growing sense of dread prompted him to create a safe haven. To prove his sincerity, Zhao Hai swears an oath to his inner demons and invites the other sects to station men within his manor. While Li Ruohai remains suspicious of these claims of a "waking danger," Zhao Hai insists that his only remaining goal is for his companions to survive the looming threat he senses throughout the region.

Upon hearing Zhao Hai’s statement, a flicker of ferocity crossed Li Ruohai’s gaze. He fixed his stare on Zhao Hai and asked in a low, heavy tone, "It appears your group has reaped significant rewards from that location?" Li Ruohai watched him intently, awaiting a response. His words were laced with malicious intent; if Zhao Hai confirmed they had gained much, it would inevitably ignite the avarice of the bystanders. Such greed would instantly turn the other cultivators into enemies of Zhao Hai’s party.

Zhao Hai met Li Ruohai’s gaze with a faint smile. "Our gains have been quite substantial. In fact, are they not right before your eyes? This Manor itself is our harvest. Senior Brother Li, you should be well aware of whether I am speaking the truth. Therefore, the next move is yours to make. Will you launch an attack immediately, or would you prefer to wait?"

Zhao Hai was fully aware of Li Ruohai’s schemes, yet he understood that killing him now was not an option. Li Ruohai served as the avatar for the Sect Master of the Corpse Demon Sect. Attempting to kill him at this stage would likely trigger the premature awakening of the demon seed, a situation Zhao Hai might not survive. He lacked the confidence to clash directly with an old monster who had been practicing Cultivation in this world for millennia.

Li Ruohai observed Zhao Hai closely. While he suspected Zhao Hai might be telling the truth, his curiosity regarding the unfolding events grew. Glancing at Zhao Hai, he spoke solemnly, "How could I possibly doubt Junior Brother’s words? I believe you. However, as we previously agreed, I shall leave a few individuals behind to reside within this Manor. I trust Junior Brother has no objections?"

"Senior Brother," Zhao Hai replied, smiling pleasantly, "please do as you please. I would not object even if you chose to stay yourself." Having said this, Zhao Hai maintained a calm demeanor. Though the smile remained, Li Ruohai recognized it as a mere habit of Zhao Hai’s, devoid of any deeper meaning.

Li Ruohai looked at him and said deeply, "Very well, it is good that Junior Brother is so agreeable. Night Demon, you and four others will remain here. The rest shall follow me." Without wasting another moment, Li Ruohai took flight toward the Spirit Array Sect, leaving the five members of the Corpse Demon Sect behind.

Turning toward the five remaining men, Zhao Hai smiled. "Shall we share a drink within my Yin-Yang Manor?" Those left behind were the same ones who had trailed them previously. Their leader appeared to be the one Li Ruohai addressed as Night Demon.

Night Demon looked at Zhao Hai and replied in a hushed voice, "We are here by the Young Master’s command, not for leisure or drink. Senior Brother Zhao, please simply provide us with a place to rest." He then led his companions toward the small square fronting the manor, keeping a steady, watchful eye on Zhao Hai.

Watching them, Zhao Hai couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine, if rest is what you desire, feel free. Please, follow me." He guided them into the second courtyard of the manor. Night Demon and his subordinates scanned their surroundings, noting the manor's extreme beauty. Having no knowledge of its prior state, they assumed it had always been this way and followed him into their assigned rooms without much thought.

Once they were settled, Yan Bei turned to Zhao Hai and asked, "Is this the peril you mentioned? Is there truly a threat here?" Yan Bei and the others had been warned of potential danger by Zhao Hai, but since they couldn't perceive it, they remained deeply curious.

Zhao Hai nodded slowly. "Yes, it is exactly that. I sense that an event is brewing within the Spirit Array Sect. I am uncertain of the timing, so we must wait patiently. There is no need for haste." Zhao Hai relied on his intuition, as he couldn't pinpoint exactly what would happen or when.

Yan Bei nodded in agreement. "We have collected enough treasures, so waiting is fine. But what about those people? Are they really staying? If a crisis occurs, won't they just cause trouble?" Yan Bei remained uneasy, considering their hostile history with the Corpse Demon Sect.

Zhao Hai dismissed the concern with a shake of his head. "Do not worry. They are on our ground now, and they cannot overhear us. They are incredibly naive to enter a grand array and expect to monitor the Array Master within his own formation; they truly do not know how to spell the word 'death.' However, my words to Li Ruohai were sincere. I am establishing this array as a safeguard. If disaster strikes, it will provide an escape route for others. We must stay here and wait for the exit to open. If we leave now and everyone else perishes while we alone survive, we will be targeted."

Yan Bei’s face paled at the implication. He whispered, "Is the situation truly that dire? Could it really claim everyone’s lives?" Despite his disbelief, he knew Zhao Hai didn't make such claims lightly. Zhao Wuji also stared at Zhao Hai, visibly shaken.

Zhao Hai looked at them both and said gravely, "The two of you should try to sense it carefully. Do not view the Spirit Array Sect as an inanimate object. Imagine it as a living entity—a person. Close your eyes and feel it."

Startled by his suggestion, they both complied, shutting their eyes. They shifted their perception, no longer seeing the sect as mere ruins but as a living creature. They visualized themselves standing before a massive, breathing being.

As they focused, they suddenly felt a crushing aura. It was as if a monstrous, predatory beast was glaring at them with pure murderous intent. Cold sweat drenched their backs; the power behind that gaze was unlike anything they had ever encountered. It felt even more formidable than the Island Lord level experts they had met. The sensation was profoundly unsettling.

Both men snapped their eyes open, their faces devoid of color and dripping with sweat. To be targeted by a presence superior to an Island Master with such hostility was enough to terrify anyone. Their reaction was entirely expected given the intensity of the pressure.

Zhao Hai observed them and spoke in a low voice, "Did you feel it? Sensing that Qi is why I chose to retreat here. That aura is terrifyingly powerful. I am not even certain we will survive this trip. Despite the preparations I have made, they might vanish like dust under a single strike from such an enemy."

Yan Bei’s expression shifted, and he turned to Zhao Hai. "What is our plan? Should we send a message to the two Elders? Should we describe what we felt and ask for a rescue?" Fear had taken hold of him now that he understood the magnitude of the threat within the Spirit Array Sect.

Zhao Hai shook his head. "It would be futile. Even if we messaged the Elders now, they wouldn't believe us. Li Ruohai is likely the only one among us who has already contacted his Elders for reinforcements. But do you think he would help us? It is better to do nothing and wait."

Zhao Wuji sighed, adding, "Little Hai is correct. We are powerless right now. Given our status, even if we called for help, there would be no response. They wouldn't come for us. Moreover, we have no guarantee our messages would even reach them."

"Exactly. That is why I am focusing on the formation here. We have to take this risk. Do you know what my biggest fear is?" Zhao Hai asked solemnly. "I worry that the spatial crack won't manifest after six months. If it fails to appear, we are truly trapped. Remember, the array here is governed by a primary Array Eye. If that aura belongs to the Array Eye, it could easily prevent the crack from opening, sealing us inside forever."

The faces of Zhao Wuji and Yan Bei twisted with renewed dread as they grasped his meaning. If the Array Eye held that much power, it could certainly keep the boundaries sealed, leaving them to rot within the sect grounds.

However, Zhao Hai soon shook his head, reconsidering. "No, perhaps that is unlikely. If it truly had the power to fully control and repair these arrays, the cracks would never have formed, and the restrictions would remain intact. Even if damaged, they would have been fixed long ago. Yet, after all this time, the restrictions remain broken. It seems the entity cannot repair them itself. If that is true, its ability to harm us might be limited. We might actually be able to withstand its assault."

Hearing this, Yan Bei and Zhao Wuji looked slightly relieved. Yan Bei remarked, "I hope your assessment is right. If not, this is our grave. But dwelling on it is useless; we have no choice but to wait."

Zhao Hai disagreed, shaking his head. "No, I refuse to simply wait for death. I will not leave the initiative to the enemy. We have half a year. With proper analysis and a solid strategy, we might be able to force a crack open ourselves. If we can do that, we regain control." This was Zhao Hai’s true intent. He refused to be a passive observer. He realized that because of the Dark Spirit, the formations here had evolved into a spiritual array, making them far more complex than anything he had previously encountered. Breaking it would require extensive calculations and careful planning.