Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8311: The plan (1)

Zhao Hai possessed a significant amount of experience regarding metal puppets, having researched them extensively during his time in the lower realm. In fact, the Sea Exploration Sect had deployed vast numbers of these constructs in their previous conflicts. To be honest, Zhao Hai felt the development of arrays in this upper realm was quite lacking. Their progress was remarkably poor, falling far behind the sophisticated standards of the Sea Exploration Sect.

While the Spiritual Array Sect had mastered the technique of sealing a Yin Spirit within an array—the only method that truly piqued Zhao Hai’s interest—their other formations were hardly impressive. There were some minor merits to how they integrated arrays into the Dharma, the Dantian, and the Sea of Consciousness, but beyond that, the sect offered nothing remarkable. An organization claiming mastery over arrays that lacked even basic energy lines was hardly worth noting.

Regarding the metal puppets, even a cursory glance from afar told Zhao Hai they were flawed designs. They didn't seem particularly powerful; judging by the talismans etched onto their metallic shells, these puppets were merely low-grade commodities.

Nevertheless, Zhao Hai felt a flicker of curiosity about the secret realm Wu Ming had mentioned. It was clearly the source of these puppets, likely a location similar to the Spiritual Array Sect’s main hall. He remained uncertain, however, about the original location of that ancient sect.

Zhao Hai didn't have the luxury to dwell on such mysteries right now. His current objective was straightforward: he needed to eliminate Wu Ming. Beyond being an outer sect disciple of Blood Shadow Island, Wu Ming was a member of the Wu family and a direct subordinate of Wu Hao. If Zhao Hai’s deductions were correct, the "Young Master" Wu Ming served was none other than Wu Hao himself.

If Wu Ming were killed, Wu Hao would inevitably investigate the scene personally. That investigation would provide Zhao Hai with his opening. Consequently, Zhao Hai tracked Wu Ming as he flew out over the Sea of Blood. Once Wu Ming had put over a hundred miles between himself and the base, Zhao Hai decided it was time to strike and immediately commanded the Aliens to attack.

The strength of the Alien race was formidable, especially following their recent upgrade which had left them significantly more powerful. Although Wu Ming possessed decent Cultivation, he was no match for a coordinated assault by several Aliens. Within moments, an Alien’s tail skewered him through the chest, ending his life instantly.

Zhao Hai directed the Aliens to maul Wu Ming’s corpse until it was unrecognizable before they retreated. Meanwhile, Zhao Hai maintained a close watch on the remains and the activity on Blood Shadow Island, waiting to see if Wu Hao would take the bait. He was confident that Wu Hao would come to inspect the site himself.

Through his monitoring of Blood Shadow Island over the past few days, Zhao Hai had realized that the island was far from a unified front. It was a collection of families that, while allied, were riddled with conflicting interests. Their current unity was a fragile thing born only of their shared struggle against the Bloody Massacre Sect. Once that external pressure faded, internal strife was guaranteed to erupt.

While the oversight of the two Elders prevented major fractures, covert schemes were constant. Wu Hao, for instance, wanted the Wu family to monopolize the metal puppets to gain leverage over the other families. It was certain that the other clans harbored similar ambitions. In such an environment, underhanded tactics were expected—such as assassinating someone like Wu Ming to steal family secrets. Even though life tokens would alert others to a death, as long as the killer wasn't caught red-handed, they could get away with it.

Therefore, whether Wu Ming was killed by a rival family or something else, Wu Hao was bound to investigate. If Wu Hao concluded that a Blood Cloud Beast was responsible, he would actually be pleased, as it would signal the presence of such a beast nearby. In that scenario, no one would ever suspect Zhao Hai’s Aliens.

Precisely as Zhao Hai anticipated, news of Wu Ming’s death reached Wu Hao shortly after the event. He gathered a group of subordinates and flew straight toward the location of the body. His party consisted of over thirty people, including five cultivators in the profound cultivation realm.

Zhao Hai watched their approach, seeing them arrive above the crimson waters where the body drifted. Wu Hao commanded several cultivators to dive into the Sea of Blood to retrieve the remains. When they brought Wu Ming up, the two cultivators were visibly shaken and urged Wu Hao to inspect the corpse.

Descending toward the water, Wu Hao was stunned by the sight of the body. Wu Ming had been chewed into a bloody mess. The nature of the wounds suggested a predatory animal rather than a human attacker. Even the puncture in the chest, while made by something sharp, did not match the shape of any known human artifact or weapon. It was clear that Wu Ming had been slain by a beast.

Wu Hao turned to the cultivators beside him, asking, "Junior brothers, what are your thoughts on this?" The men he addressed were, like him, in the Spell Essence realm. Though some appeared older than Wu Hao, they addressed him as Senior Brother out of respect for his earlier entry into the sect and the significant influence of the Wu family.

A cultivator in his forties, wearing a red scholar’s robe, stroked his long beard and remarked, "Senior Brother Wu, I believe Junior Brother Wu Ming fell victim to a demon beast. However, we know typical demon beasts avoid the Sea of Blood. This leaves two options. First, a cultivator capable of beast-taming ordered an attack, but such individuals are rare. Furthermore, if it were an ambush by a cultivator, Wu Ming should have had time to raise an alarm, which he clearly didn't. That leaves only the second possibility: a Blood Cloud Beast is prowling near Blood Shadow Island!"

The others were momentarily taken aback before their expressions turned to excitement. Wu Hao’s eyes flashed with interest as he looked at the scholar. "Senior Brother Zheng, are you certain? Could there really be a Blood Cloud Beast here?" Despite their lethality, capturing a Blood Cloud Beast offered immense benefits to a cultivator, which explained Wu Hao's sudden fervor.

Senior Brother Zheng nodded. "It is the most likely explanation. Though they haven't been sighted for a long time, the depths of the Sea of Blood are vast. It is entirely possible one wandered into this area by chance."

With a glimmer in his eyes, Wu Hao immediately commanded, "Everyone, fan out and search the vicinity for any sign of a Blood Cloud Beast. If you spot it, signal the rest of us immediately. It would be a massive achievement if we could capture it. Move out!" The group dispersed in every direction, their spiritual sense sweeping through the Sea of Blood in search of the elusive creature.

After placing Wu Ming’s mangled remains into a fresh storage bag, Wu Hao chose a direction and began a slow patrol. The allure of the Blood Cloud Beast was too strong to ignore; acquiring one would bring him incredible rewards, whether he kept it for himself or offered it to his master.

Zhao Hai tracked Wu Hao's movements, waiting for the perfect moment. The group was still too clustered for him to safely execute his plan of replacing Wu Hao. He needed the man to isolate himself further. Zhao Hai knew that the prospect of finding a Blood Cloud Beast, combined with the perceived safety of being near Blood Shadow Island, would make Wu Hao reckless. Once he was far enough from his peers, the trap would spring.

Zhao Hai had already shifted his physical appearance to match Wu Hao’s in preparation for the swap. Meanwhile, the Alien known as Blood Edge trailed Wu Hao like a phantom. Wu Hao moved slowly, his spiritual sense fully extended to ensure he didn't overlook any trace of his prize.

Two hours passed, and Wu Hao had drifted a significant distance from his subordinates. Zhao Hai decided the moment had arrived. With a mental command, several Aliens in the Refinement Realm suddenly materialized and lunged at Wu Hao.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the Aliens, Wu Hao cried out. He quickly flicked his wrist, launching a flare into the sky that burst into the shape of a massive blood-red blade—a high-level warning signal. Recognizing the strength of his attackers, he didn't hesitate to call for help. As he braced himself to face them, he felt a sudden, lethal chill from behind. His face paled as he tried to dodge, lunging forward desperately.

He was a fraction of a second too slow. A sharp pain exploded in his chest as a long, whip-like tail tore through him. Wu Hao’s face went white as he coughed up blood, the light fading from his eyes until he went limp.

In an instant, his corpse vanished, and Zhao Hai appeared in the air in his place. With a gaping, bloody hole in his chest where the tail had seemingly pierced him, Zhao Hai let out a pained scream and began to plummet toward the sea. He fumbled a pill into his mouth with trembling hands just as several streaks of light appeared on the horizon, racing toward him at top speed.