Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8343: Power (1)

By the time Zhao Hai escorted the Sect Master and the accompanying party to the lower level, they discovered that the area had been transformed into a zone for refinement and meticulous assembly. Although ten production lines were present here as well, they eventually converged into a single, larger assembly line. Numerous puppets populated the space surrounding these tracks. Their forms varied; some resembled isolated hands, while others were complete entities in a state of constant rotation. As metal blocks descended from the floor above, these puppets would use their spinning limbs to polish the material, sending sparks flying in every direction. Immediately afterward, the blocks were passed to the next puppet until they reached a massive central metal platform. There, specialized puppets would fit the components together. Once the assembly was finished, the metal would emit a crimson glow, and a bizarre-looking puppet would sit up and march off the platform.

The appearance of these puppets was truly peculiar. They possessed square heads and bodies composed of five distinct segments. Most notably, the outer edges of their limbs were fashioned into metal blades resembling sword edges. They looked quite strange and almost clumsy in their design.

Upon leaving the platform, the puppets marched toward a nearby magic array. As the array pulsed with white light, a specific mark was imprinted onto the puppet's frame. Once branded, the puppet would proceed to a nearby opening, leap inside, and vanish from view.

However, the Sect Master and the others noticed a different outcome for some units. After being assembled, these puppets remained on the platform while the white light flickered and transformed into a cluster of radiance. Subsequently, a red mark appeared on their chassis. These red-marked puppets would then fly out through the room's windows and disappear into the distance.

Confused by the discrepancy, the Sect Master turned to Zhao Hai and asked, "Zhao Hai, what is the meaning of this? Why do some puppets jump into the hole while others fly out the window? What causes this difference?" He was deeply intrigued. Logically, since they were identical models, they should be processed in the same manner.

Zhao Hai replied with a faint smile, "Sect Master, because these puppets are mass-produced, some inevitably have defects. Those units fly back to the top floor on their own to be cast back into the furnace for recycling. The ones jumping into the pit are the qualified units ready for battle. The floors below serve as storage. That white imprint is a mark of quality, but it also functions as a self-destruct mechanism. Should these puppets suffer damage exceeding fifty percent, they will detonate instantly."

The Sect Master’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Let us proceed," he commanded in a low voice. "I wish to see the next level. I want to observe how these puppets are being stored." He was genuinely fascinated and eager to see the scale of Zhao Hai’s production and the sheer quantity of units available.

"As you wish," Zhao Hai answered, leading the group down to the subsequent floor. The sight there left the Sect Master stunned. Several ghosts in the form of skeletons occupied the level, each clutching an interspatial bag. Behind them stood rows of shelving units stacked with numerous other interspatial bags. As the puppets dropped down from the ceiling, they gathered in an open area. Once a specific number had accumulated, the skeletons would open a bag and store the puppets inside.

Pointing toward the undead workers, Zhao Hai explained, "These skeletons are basic ghosts I've created. They lack combat strength but possess enough intelligence to manage the storage process. The bags on the left side of those shelves are empty, while those on the right are at capacity. Every bag holds exactly 1,000 puppets."

Surveying the mountain of bags, the Sect Master smiled and remarked, "Judging by the number of bags here, you must have produced nearly 100,000 units, haven't you?" Even though the shelves on the right were not entirely full, the volume was significant. Given that each bag held a thousand, the total easily reached into the tens of thousands.

Zhao Hai nodded. "It is slightly under 100,000, but nearly there. Sect Master, would you care to evaluate their combat capabilities?" The Sect Master had witnessed the speed of manufacture, but not their actual prowess in battle. Seeing them in action would determine their true utility to the Sect.

The Sect Master nodded in agreement. "Very well, let us see what these puppets can do. I am quite curious." He wanted to know if these odd-looking machines were actually formidable or merely useless toys.

"Follow me," Zhao Hai said. He retrieved one of the interspatial bags and led the group outside. Once in the open air, he tapped the bag, releasing 1,000 metal puppets that instantly took to the sky and fell into a disciplined formation.

Zhao Hai observed the units and explained solemnly, "These puppets do not contain Yin spirits because such spirits are difficult to acquire. Without slaughtering people, it is impossible to gather them in large quantities. Consequently, I must utilize my own divine sense to command them. This presents a limitation, as a cultivator's divine sense is finite. Currently, I can manage a thousand at once. If we could integrate Yin souls into them, the number we could control would rise significantly. They would gain a degree of sentience and follow verbal commands, making them much easier to direct."

After his explanation, Zhao Hai shifted his hand seal and commanded, "Change!" At his word, the ungainly puppets suddenly contracted. Before the eyes of the astonished audience, they reshaped themselves into massive swords, each two meters long and a meter wide, resembling heavy metal doors. Zhao Hai pointed forward and barked, "Strike!"

The mass of blades surged forward with terrifying velocity. Their sheer numbers made for a frightening spectacle. Zhao Hai directed them toward a small hill. With a deafening boom, the hill was obliterated, leaving only a massive crater in its wake.

"Return!" Zhao Hai ordered. The puppets immediately flew back to his side. He continued his explanation, "Several vital magic arrays are etched into these puppets. The most critical is the control array, followed by the energy gathering and transformation arrays. They absorb the blood mist from the blood sea and convert it into internal energy, which the transformation array then turns into motive force. I kept their abilities simple: power, speed, and sharpness. While they might look clumsy in sword form, their edges are sharper than many magic tools, making them excellent for shattering defensive treasures."

Zhao Hai paused briefly before adding, "They also possess basic melee skills." He changed his hand seal again and commanded, "Transform!" The puppets returned to their humanoid shapes and extended their limbs. They began to whirl violently like spinning tops. With the blades on their arms and legs, the high-speed rotation created a lethal perimeter.

After letting them spin for a few moments, Zhao Hai stopped them. "Beyond these two modes, their offensive options are limited. However, if they are damaged beyond a certain point, their self-destruction packs a significant punch. That is our final trump card."

The Sect Master and the Elders nodded, satisfaction evident in their expressions. Though the puppets were simple and lacked complex techniques, their power was undeniable. More importantly, their ease of manufacture was revolutionary. If the Sect could produce puppets at this rate—even if they only possessed the strength of the Foundation Establishment or profound Dharma realm—they could dominate the blood sea realm through sheer numbers.

Zhao Hai was equally pleased. These units were superior to his lower-realm puppets because they were forged from higher-grade materials found in this world. Furthermore, their speed and strength were enhanced by using the energy of the blood sea. Once refined, this energy was comparable to magic power, granting the puppets formidable combat potential.

The Sect Master looked at Zhao Hai and asked softly, "Is the simplicity of their attacks due to a lack of magic arrays on their bodies?" He suspected that the puppets' straightforward behavior was a result of limited inscriptions; otherwise, they would surely be even more devastating.

Zhao Hai confirmed this with a nod. "Indeed. Because the magic arrays are essentially 'printed' onto them during the automated process, we cannot include too many. Increasing the complexity would lead to errors and a much lower success rate. Higher-tier puppets require more parts and manual labor, making mass production impossible. For this purpose, we must stick to these simpler designs using common materials."