Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8355: Conviction (1)

Upon hearing Zhao Hai’s words, the group was momentarily stunned. The leader then let out a cold snort, "What’s this? Are you suggesting you actually have the nerve to attack us?" The man was clearly brimming with confidence, certain that Zhao Hai wouldn't dare raise a hand against them. It was their belief that without the Sect Master’s token to protect him, Zhao Hai would be entirely at their mercy.

Zhao Hai looked at them while shaking his head. With a slight smile, he remarked, "Should I conclude that you have no sense of self-preservation, or are you simply foolishly brave? Do you truly possess the audacity to invade my island to assassinate me and seize the Sect Master’s token? Your boldness is staggering. I am genuinely curious as to who granted you such courage. It appears this Great Commander Han is intent on shifting the blame for the recent defeat onto my shoulders."

The Elders stared at Zhao Hai, their expressions shifting as his words sank in. The leader snorted again and declared, "Brat, you are seeking your own demise. Elder Han is the rightful commander of the frontline. Who do you think you are to try and suppress him? Had he not been forced to contend with you, he never would have committed such errors. If he does not pin the responsibility on you, the Sect Master will surely punish him. Therefore, your death is a necessity."

Zhao Hai observed the Elders and chuckled, "I suspect matters are not quite that simple. You are all Sect Elders. Even if Han Lei is an in-name disciple of the Sect Master, he shouldn't have the authority to command you like servants, correct? I doubt your backgrounds are straightforward. For you to be so subservient to Han Lei, he must have some leverage over you. Or perhaps you all share the same origins. Your true objective isn't assisting the Blood Slaughter Sect against the 13 Family Alliance, but rather helping the Alliance seize the Western Defense Line. Perhaps you are privy to the secrets of that defense line—secrets originally held by the families within the Blood Slaughter Sect? The 13 Family Alliance is composed of clans, and the rebels within our Sect were also from clans. Could there be a link? This is getting very interesting. Is it possible these families thrived despite the Sect’s suppression because of the 13 Family Alliance? And Han Lei, despite his commoner facade, might be a hidden pawn planted by those families? That would explain your loyalty. If my theory holds, this situation is far more intriguing than I thought."

The Elders' faces paled at Zhao Hai’s deduction. The lead Elder glared and barked, "Nonsense! How dare you slander Commander Han? Give it up, Zhao Hai. You won't succeed. You are coming with us immediately."

Zhao Hai smiled at the group. "First you claimed you wanted my life, and now you want to take me away. It seems you won't kill me here; instead, you plan to capture me and use various methods to force a confession. You want me to admit I was the one communicating with the 13 Family Alliance to make the charges stick, don't you? Hahaha, a clever scheme. Sadly, Han Lei picked the wrong target. He knows nothing of my capabilities or my contributions to the Blood Slaughter Sect, yet he dares to strike. You are truly reckless. I wonder what Han Lei will do if I keep you all here today? Will he actually lead an army to invade Blood Gale Island?" As Zhao Hai spoke, he watched their reactions. The flickering expressions on the Elders' faces confirmed he had struck a nerve.

Zhao Hai couldn't help but grin. "How fascinating. This Senior Brother Han Lei is certainly bold, but he lacks a clear head. What led him to believe a mere handful of people could take me down? Did he think the Sect Master would hand me a token for no reason? You are truly dim-witted."

Once he finished speaking, Zhao Hai flicked his wrist. Suddenly, a multitude of inhibition formations manifested across Blood Gale Island. These arrays glowed brilliantly before transforming into countless threads of light that lunged toward the Elders. Terrified, the Elders immediately surged forward, attempting to kill Zhao Hai in a desperate final charge.

It was futile. The silk-like threads had already ensnared them. Even when they drew their blades, they found it impossible to sever the bindings; the threads were incredibly resilient and completely ignored their weapons. Panic set in as they hacked wildly at the restraints, but to no avail. Within moments, they were bound tightly like cocoons.

The group continued to struggle. The leader, eyes burning with rage, shouted at Zhao Hai, "How dare you! You are defying Commander Han’s direct orders! He will not let this go!" He thrashed against his bonds, but the threads were far stronger than anticipated. No matter how much Qi they exerted, they couldn't break free. Their efforts were entirely useless.

Zhao Hai looked down at them with a smirk. "Hehe, I neglected to mention a habit of mine. Whenever I sense something is amiss, I prefer to document everything with a Jade Slip. Our entire conversation has been recorded and will be sent to the Sect Elders. I wonder how the Sect Master will react to your Great Commander Han then?" Zhao Hai produced a Jade Slip as he spoke. The captives' faces turned ashen. They finally realized the gravity of the situation; everything had spiraled out of their control.

The leader shot a ruthless look at Zhao Hai. He suddenly surged his dharmic powers, and with a thunderous boom, he self-destructed. The blast was so powerful that it not only killed him but also obliterated the other bound Elders nearby.

Watching the remains scatter, Zhao Hai wore a playful expression. "Interesting. They actually chose self-destruction. Quite the resolve. It seems they possess Life Tokens. The moment they died, our Great Commander Han likely received the news. He’s probably rushing here right now to finish us off."

Yan Bei’s face was grim after witnessing the explosion. He turned to Zhao Hai, asking, "Little Hai, what is our next move? If Han Lei knows, he’ll be here any second to deal with us. We need to message the Sect Master immediately." Yan Bei knew that if Han Lei attacked, he wouldn't be alone; he would bring a faction of the Blood Slaughter Sect. Even if they survived, killing fellow disciples would make them enemies of those disciples' backers, ruining their future in the Sect.

"Indeed, a report is necessary," Zhao Hai agreed. He waved his hand, and the recording Jade Slip vanished in a flash of white light. He then looked toward the horizon and said solemnly, "I didn't expect them to arrive this quickly. Big Brother Yan, come out with me to greet them."

Yan Bei was stunned. "They're here already? How can they be so fast?" He couldn't understand the speed of their arrival. Had they been lying in wait the entire time? But if they had an army ready, why send only a few Elders to capture them initially?

Zhao Hai explained, "A portable teleportation formation. They must have obtained the coordinates for this location. They used the formation to jump here directly. It seems Commander Han anticipated resistance and prepared a backup plan. As soon as the Elders perished, he moved in for the kill. Let’s go. It would be rude not to meet them." He flew toward the edge of Blood Gale Island, with Yan Bei following close behind.

The two soon reached the perimeter. Zhao Hai summoned his massive sword once more. The Undead and his puppets lined up behind him, mirroring the formation used against the Fang clan. It was a formidable sight; the sheer scale of the giant sword was enough to intimidate any onlooker.

From his position atop the sword, Zhao Hai watched as a crowd of roughly 10,000 cultivators gathered near the island. They lacked large magical artifacts, but their collective presence in the air was still a menacing sight.

Their leader was a cultivator appearing to be in his thirties. He hovered in the sky with a mask of calm, though his gaze was fixed intensely on Zhao Hai. Zhao Hai met his stare with a smile and cupped his fists. "You must be Elder Han Lei. I am Zhao Hai. Might I ask what brings Elder Han to my Blood Gale Island today?"

Han Lei snorted dismissively. "Zhao Hai, you have conspired with the 13 Family Alliance, causing the Blood Slaughter Sect to suffer grevious losses. I sent men to bring you in, yet you murdered them. What do you think your sentence should be?" Han Lei had already pronounced him guilty.

Zhao Hai looked at Han Lei and then at the soldiers behind him. He chuckled, "Elder Han, are you suggesting the Sect Master is a poor judge of character? He gave his personal token to me, a supposed traitor. You, however, claim to have a better eye for people, seeing through my 'treachery' instantly and deciding to bring me to justice? Is that it?" Zhao Hai spoke with a lighthearted tone, as if the accusations were merely a joke.

However, Zhao Hai’s retort caused Han Lei’s expression to darken. He snapped, "The Sect Master is wise, but even he can be misled by a snake like you. Zhao Hai, I possess undeniable proof that you sold information to the 13 Family Alliance. Surrender now. If you resist, do not blame us for disregarding our bond as sect brothers when we strike you down!"