Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8302: Reminiscing _1

Yan Bei grasped Zhao Hai’s plan instantly. Without making any visible movements, he used a voice transmission to ask, "What are your actual intentions?" He was desperate to know Zhao Hai’s true perspective, sensing that Zhao Hai wouldn't simply assist the array spirit out of the goodness of his heart.

With a faint smile, Zhao Hai replied through a secret transmission, "In truth, what I expressed earlier reflects my genuine thoughts. I harbor no malice toward the formation spirit, provided he maintains the same attitude toward us. Our primary objective is securing a safe exit from this place, and ideally, eliminating that individual waiting outside. Helping the formation spirit refine the array and escape is merely something we can achieve along the way. Furthermore, do you believe the formation spirit would permit our departure if we didn't cooperate?"

Yan Bei was momentarily stunned by Zhao Hai’s logic and found himself without an argument. Eventually, he nodded in agreement. "Understood. I will follow your lead. I'm not of much use in my current state anyway; I would likely be dead if not for your intervention. My only wish is to return quickly and deal with those treacherous bastards."

Zhao Hai gave a slight nod. Suddenly, a vibrant crimson glow filled the main hall before vanishing. Immediately following the flash, a surge of spiritual Qi erupted from the hall and began to radiate outward. Both Zhao Hai and Yan Bei could sense the various magical formations across the Spiritual Array Sect’s territory coming to life, hungrily pulling in the dispersing energy.

After a significant amount of time, the spiritual Qi finally settled. The formation spirit elder stepped out from the hall once more, though his physical form had undergone a radical shift. Instead of a smoky apparition, his body was now composed of translucent, solid energy. He appeared much more substantial, resembling an ordinary ghost rather than a faint mist.

Approaching Zhao Hai, the formation spirit elder smiled and spoke in a heavy tone, "Young man, I owe you my gratitude. The formation you provided is exceptionally effective. I feel more powerful than I ever have before. You have done well, truly. I will certainly find a way to reward you for this."

Zhao Hai smiled back respectfully. "Senior, you are too kind. However, our work is not yet finished. There are still many steps to take, and I will require your assistance to complete them." Zhao Hai wasn't particularly concerned with a reward. Having already secured the Spiritual Array Sect’s cultivation techniques, there was little else he desired. While the energy from the upper realm was tempting, he realized the formation spirit elder guarded it too fiercely for him to obtain it.

The elder gave Zhao Hai a knowing look and smiled, choosing not to press the matter of the reward. Instead, he asked seriously, "Tell me the next phase of the plan. I am curious to see these energy threads you described." This was the old man's primary focus. If the energy threads functioned as promised, he would essentially be granted a true existence, with the Great Island serving as his physical body.

Zhao Hai explained with a calm smile, "While they are called energy threads, they are actually composed of specific talismans. Only these talismans can properly conduct this type of energy. The sequence in which they are arranged is critical. Here is the layout for the talismans, Senior. Please examine it." Zhao Hai then presented a Jade Slip to the formation spirit elder.

These energy threads were a technique Zhao Hai had mastered long ago when constructing puppets and other complex mechanisms. Through extensive trial and error, he had developed several variations. The version he provided now was a standard type, but it contained a hidden link to the energy source array he had previously given the elder. If Zhao Hai chose to trigger it, specific talismans would fail, rendering both the array and the energy lines useless.

This was a necessary precaution. As long as he didn't activate the hidden flaw, the system would function perfectly. Zhao Hai knew he had to protect himself, as the formation spirit elder possessed power far beyond his and Yan Bei’s. If the spirit turned against them, he needed a trump card to maintain leverage.

The formation spirit elder studied the Jade Slip intently, his eyes widening as he analyzed the talisman patterns. The configuration was highly unconventional. Typically, array talismans followed rigid geometric rules, usually forming circles or Eight Trigram patterns. Most cultivators believed talismans couldn't function in isolation. Consequently, the concept of an array was the only way people thought to utilize them.

The energy thread in the Jade Slip broke all these conventions. It was a linear arrangement of talismans that lacked a traditional shape. This innovative application was entirely new to the old man, and he found the concept fascinating.

After a long period of silence, the formation spirit elder looked up from the Jade Slip. He asked Zhao Hai in a low voice, "Who designed this arrangement? What was the inspiration behind such a thought?" He was genuinely impressed by the ingenuity of the design.

Zhao Hai chuckled modestly. "I hope I haven't made a fool of myself, Senior. I designed it myself. I originally created these energy threads for a different project, but I soon realized they had broader applications. You should give them a try." Zhao Hai was being truthful; the threads had indeed been a byproduct of his earlier experiments.

The elder nodded and said firmly, "These energy strands are sufficient. I can manage the rest of the process. Zhao Hai, thank you." The spirit was truly grateful, realizing that these threads would allow him to link all the island's restrictions to his central energy source. This would give him total control over the island, much like a human controlling their own limbs.

Zhao Hai didn't respond further, simply smiling as he moved to the side. After acknowledging both Zhao Hai and Yan Bei with a nod, the formation spirit elder vanished back into the hall. A brilliant red light pulsed from the building, and suddenly, countless talismans began to crawl across the ground like glowing serpents, snaking toward the various restrictions across the island.

As each array was touched by these talismans, it flared with a crimson light. Eventually, the entire island was bathed in a red glow. Even the massive mountain-protecting array began to shimmer, as a thick red mist started to swirl within its boundaries.

Outside the island, the Elder from the Blood Killing Sect noticed the sudden activity. He stood up, watching the Spiritual Array Sect’s barrier with deep suspicion. He wondered what could be causing such a dramatic change in the mountain-protecting array.

However, the red mist soon calmed, and the barrier returned to its dormant state. After observing for a while longer and finding nothing else out of the ordinary, the Blood Killing Sect Elder sat back down. The time for the spatial crack to open was approaching. He decided to wait until then to investigate with his divine sense, or leave if the opening failed to appear.

Inside the sect, the transformation was breathtaking. The dilapidated structures were being restored at an incredible speed. Before long, the Spiritual Array Sect looked exactly as it had during its glory days. Though it remained empty of people, the physical state of the sect had returned to its peak.

Once the red light faded, the formation spirit elder emerged from the hall again. The hall itself remained largely unchanged, including the hole in the roof. Zhao Hai understood that the elder couldn't fix that specific spot because it was permeated with power from the upper realm, which resisted restoration.

The elder’s appearance, however, was now indistinguishable from a living human. He appeared as a bald, elderly cultivator wearing red robes. Though his face was lined with wrinkles, his complexion was healthy and his eyes shone with clarity. He looked every bit the part of a wise, Sage-like master, hiding the fact that he was actually an array spirit.

The old man smiled at Zhao Hai. "Zhao Hai, I am in your debt. As I promised, I have a reward for you." He handed Zhao Hai a spatial bag. Zhao Hai accepted it without hesitation, bowing deeply. "My thanks, Senior."

The old man gestured toward the restored buildings with a sigh of nostalgia. "In its prime, the Spiritual Array Sect was a sight to behold. Now the houses stand ready, yet there is no one to inhabit them. Zhao Hai, I have included coordinates in that bag. You were correct; I am no longer tethered and can leave this place. I hope you will visit me when you have the chance. While I can now create my own energy lines and expand my arrays, I will likely remain hidden. I know that if other cultivators discover what I am, I will never know peace. I may be difficult to find in the future, but those coordinates will always lead you to me. Please keep them safe."

Zhao Hai nodded, understanding the elder's sentiment. The spirit had lived through the sect's rise and fall and felt a profound connection to its history. Restoring the island was his way of honoring the past. Despite being an array spirit, his newfound sentience brought with it a sense of profound loneliness, which was why he hoped for future company.