Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8293: Establishing might (1)

Senior brother Wu sneered as he glared at Zhao Hai. "Leave? Why on earth would I leave? This territory isn't yours; you're just the one who laid claim to it. You owe me an explanation right now. If you don't provide one, don't expect me to be polite. How exactly do you know what's going to happen here?"

The rest of the group shifted their focus toward Zhao Hai upon hearing those words. Their gazes were hostile, clearly swayed by Senior Brother Wu’s provocations. A hidden glimmer of excitement flashed through Senior Brother Wu’s eyes as he watched the tension rise.

Zhao Hai threw a brief glance at Senior Brother Wu before turning his attention to Li Ruohai. The latter remained silent, standing off to the side without a word. Zhao Hai felt a wave of disappointment at Li Ruohai’s behavior. Had Li Ruohai stood up for him now, Zhao Hai would have respected him. Instead, his performance was pathetic—he was an idiot who failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.

Turning back to Wu Shixiong, Zhao Hai smiled. "You want to know why I’m occupying this place? It’s quite simple: I’m relying on my own strength, and this is my territory. If that doesn't sit well with you, you’re free to get lost—though you no longer have that option." As the words left his mouth, Zhao Hai’s blade flashed. Senior Brother Wu never anticipated an attack; his head was severed instantly. Even in his final moment, he never imagined Zhao Hai would execute him in front of everyone.

After the death of Senior Brother Wu, Zhao Hai turned his gaze toward the men standing behind the fallen man. Their faces paled instantly. They scrambled to draw their weapons, staring at Zhao Hai with newfound terror. The speed at which he had killed their companion was beyond their expectations.

Zhao Hai sneered at them, his eyes settling on one individual. "Do the rest of you share his intentions? Do you want me to 'solve' things for you as well?" While Zhao Hai didn’t typically favor the blade, he now held the Buddhist commandment knife given to him by Lei Gang.

The disciples exchanged nervous glances until one finally spoke up. "Zhao Hai, do you think it’s right to murder a fellow Sect member? Do you actually dare to strike us down too?" Despite his bold words, the man gripped his weapon tightly. It was obvious he was terrified because Zhao Hai didn't follow the usual rules of conduct; he killed whenever he saw fit.

Zhao Hai smiled at them coldly. "You all seem to have forgotten something. I have occupied this ground and established a formation here. You are currently standing within my array. While this formation is designed to keep outsiders out, I never claimed it was harmless to those inside. In fact, its power against those within is even greater. You’ve entered my formation and yet you dare to speak nonsense and question the owner? Do you have a death wish?"

The color drained from everyone's faces at his words. Even Li Ruohai’s expression shifted. He had only just realized they were trapped inside Zhao Hai's magical formation. If Zhao Hai decided to move against them, it would be effortless.

Suddenly, serpents of blood manifested from beneath the Blood Massacre Sect disciples, coiling tightly around them. Blade in hand, Zhao Hai approached them with a freezing smile. "Did you think I was blind to your schemes?" he said in a low, heavy voice. "I watched you huddle together on the way here, trying to isolate me. I tolerated it because we are fellow disciples. But now, you have the audacity to oppose me. Are you trying to seize control of this array? You are mistaken. Killing fellow disciples? Hah! Even if I slaughter you all, what can be done? Do you think being true disciples protects you? You think because there are witnesses, your Masters will seek revenge? So what? I am a core disciple. Do you think I fear you? Now, die!" With a swift wave of his hand, a blade light flashed, and their heads tumbled to the ground.

With another gesture, Zhao Hai collected the corpses. He then turned to face the survivors, but no one dared to meet his eyes. Even Li Ruohai felt a chill run down his spine under Zhao Hai's gaze. No one wanted to provoke a man who showed such ruthless disregard for his own Sect brothers; his killing intent was simply too overwhelming.

Zhao Hai scanned the group and sneered. "You had better understand that I constructed this array because I sensed something was wrong with the Spiritual Array Sect. I built this haven so everyone would have a secure location to rest and defend against their coming assault. It doesn't matter how I learned of the danger. What matters is that you are taking shelter in my creation. You will behave yourselves here. Cooperation is our only chance at survival. If you believe you can withstand the Spiritual Array Sect alone, then leave. I won't stop you. But if you stay, you obey. When I give an order, you follow it. If you slack while others work, don't expect the rest to be happy about it. Is that clear? Leave now if you wish, but if you remain, you listen to me. Otherwise, don't blame me for being heartless."

After finishing his speech, Zhao Hai sheathed his blade and walked away. Silence followed him. Despite any resentment toward his overbearing nature, no one spoke up. They knew they were dependent on his magical formation to survive the impending attack.

At that moment, a flash of regret appeared in Li Ruohai’s eyes. Truthfully, he had been involved in the unrest among the Blood Massacre Sect disciples. They wouldn't have dared to stir up trouble without his silent approval. Li Ruohai had wanted to maintain the upper hand, hoping to use the group to pressure Zhao Hai into surrendering control of the formation. That way, he would be the one in charge.

He had not expected Zhao Hai to react with such lethal violence. When Zhao Hai told those who were unhappy to leave, he had included Li Ruohai in that ultimatum. Li Ruohai remained silent, knowing that if he spoke out, Zhao Hai would genuinely throw him out. Unlike others, Zhao Hai clearly had no fear of him.

Because he understood this, he didn't dare challenge Zhao Hai. Although he wasn't kicked out, his reputation had taken a massive hit. The others would now see that even the great Li Ruohai was scolded and silenced by Zhao Hai. They would wonder why they should follow Li Ruohai when he proved useless in this situation, leaving Zhao Hai as the only one with real power.

This realization was particularly bitter for those who had initially sided with Li Ruohai. They had seen the two clash before and knew that even working together, they couldn't touch Zhao Hai. Zhao Hai gave Li Ruohai no face at all. Their previous encounter had ended in Li Ruohai's retreat, and while Zhao Hai had been polite enough to let him stay this time, it was clearly out of convenience rather than fear. Following Li Ruohai no longer seemed like the best path toward success.

However, they wouldn't abandon Li Ruohai immediately. He was still a powerful figure outside of this place, with more influence than Zhao Hai. They remained silent, avoiding any action that would offend either man.

Zhao Hai then approached Li Ruohai and cupped his fists in a respectful gesture. "Senior Brother Li, please excuse my earlier outburst. My words were directed at the others, not you. I hope you can forgive me. If we are to survive this, we must work together. We will definitely need your assistance here." By saying this publicly, Zhao Hai restored Li Ruohai's dignity. Li Ruohai’s expression softened immediately.

Li Ruohai quickly replied, "It is no trouble. Junior Brother Zhao Hai, you acted correctly. Unity is essential if we are to overcome this crisis. Everyone, listen! No one is to speak of the deaths of those disciples. If word spreads, you will answer to me, Li Ruohai. You all know Zhao Hai did this for the safety of the group, so keep your mouths shut."

The crowd responded in agreement. Seeing Zhao Hai’s politeness, they assumed he still held some wariness of Li Ruohai. Conversely, Li Ruohai’s courtesy suggested he was equally cautious of Zhao Hai. It appeared the two were evenly matched in strength. Given Li Ruohai’s typical arrogance, he wouldn't have spoken up for Zhao Hai otherwise. The disciples realized they no longer had to choose sides; the two leaders had formed an alliance, and anyone trying to drive a wedge between them would only be looking for trouble.