Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8356: Arrival (1)

"Hahaha, we are finally reaching the heart of the matter. Elder Han, do you truly believe I would receive a warm welcome if I were to surrender? Let us dispense with these meaningless pleasantries. Go ahead and strike. Isn't that the entire reason for your appearance today? You intend to slay me and use me as a scapegoat for everything. However, you should act with haste; a message has already been dispatched to the Sect. If you fail to finish me quickly, your window of opportunity will vanish once the Elders arrive." Zhao Hai laughed as he observed the group.

The expressions of everyone present shifted upon hearing Zhao Hai’s claim. Han Lei let out a cold sneer and retorted, "Who do you imagine you are? Do you think the Sect dispatches reinforcements the moment you send a single letter? Zhao Hai, let me be clear: your life ends here today. Simply for the crime of murdering a Sect Elder, your fate is sealed."

Unfazed, Zhao Hai maintained a smile. "Fine, I have no desire to waste further breath on you. Why the delay? Start the fight. Or is it that you are feeling fearful?" Zhao Hai stared at Han Lei with a composed gaze. He was finished with idle chatter; after all, a violent confrontation was unavoidable.

Had Zhao Hai chosen to activate the full power of Blood Gale Island's defensive formations, he could have obliterated this group instantly. However, he refrained from doing so. He could not permit these individuals to set foot on the island or get too close. If there were spies from rival factions among them who uncovered the secrets of Blood Gale Island, the consequences would be dire. The fact that he was the creator of the puppets had to remain a secret known only to the Sect Elders. If other Sects discovered this, they would certainly stop at nothing to eliminate him.

Han Lei glared at Zhao Hai and hissed, "Since you are so eager for death, I shall grant it. Attack! Seize this traitor!" With a wave of Han Lei's hand, several cultivators behind him charged forward. These were all experts in the Refinement Realm, wielding Long Knives. They unleashed their most potent blade techniques, clearly intent on leaving Zhao Hai no chance of survival.

Most practitioners within the Blood Slaughter Sect favored the saber, leading to a vast array of available techniques. While the Eight Forms of Bloody Battle served as the Sect's hallmark style, it was a technique that was simple to learn but exceptionally difficult to truly master. Those with true talent could manifest immense power through it, while others found it mediocre. Consequently, while many disciples studied the Eight Forms, they often relied on alternative saber styles when facing a formidable foe, with only a select few utilizing it as their ultimate trump card.

The cultivators currently engaging Zhao Hai were utilizing these alternative styles rather than the Eight Forms of Bloody Battle. It was evident they possessed significant skill, as their blade work appeared nearly flawless.

Zhao Hai watched the approaching group with a calm demeanor. He gestured forward and commanded, "Go!" At his word, the armored puppets positioned behind him, brandishing massive sabers, surged into the air. They swung their weapons with incredible velocity toward a cultivator; the sheer scale of the blades indicated a strike of devastating power.

The faces of the attackers paled. Though the identity of these iron-clad figures was a mystery, the ferocity of the blade strikes signaled they were dangerous opponents. They were forced to raise their own weapons to parry the puppets' onslaught. Because the puppets were fully encased in iron armor, their faces and internal mechanisms were hidden. No one realized that these formidable warriors were actually metal puppets.

The possibility of them being puppets didn't even cross their minds because the movements were so fluid and natural, mimicking a human perfectly. In their experience, such flexibility was impossible for a mechanical construct.

Seeing his men stalled, Han Lei sneered once more. He signaled again, prompting another cultivator to dive toward Zhao Hai. Zhao Hai gave a slight, smiling nod. Immediately, the Undead hidden behind him rushed out. Wrapped in dark robes that concealed their forms, they also wielded long blades. However, the thick aura of Death Qi radiating from them betrayed their nature. To any experienced observer, it was clear these were ghosts.

Han Lei pointed at Zhao Hai and shouted, "You still claim you aren't conspiring with outsiders? Zhao Hai, explain where these ghosts came from if you haven't betrayed us! I will bring you down today and purge this corruption from the Sect!" As he spoke, several more cultivators joined the fray. The Battle Corpse that had been guarding Zhao Hai finally entered the battle, leaping toward the enemies. Now, only Zhao Hai and Yan Bei remained atop Zhao Hai’s massive sword.

Looking at Zhao Hai on the giant blade, Han Lei sneered, "Zhao Hai, it would be wise to give up now." He was brimming with confidence. He was backed by nearly 10,000 cultivators, while Zhao Hai stood almost alone. He refused to believe they could fail to capture the pair.

Zhao Hai smiled back at Han Lei. "Why don't you come and try? I am curious to see how many of your lives I can take!" With those words, Zhao Hai performed a hand seal, casting a spell onto the giant sword beneath him. The weapon shuddered before flying out from under his feet. The spectators were stunned; those currently fighting retreated in a panic. The sword was so colossal that a single collision would mean certain death.

As the Undead and puppets regrouped by Zhao Hai's side, the sword twisted and reshaped itself in mid-air. It transformed into a massive bronze colossus nearly a hundred meters tall. This bronze giant wore armor and a flowing cape, though it carried no weapon.

The bronze statue loomed over them, its red eyes fixed on Han Lei’s group. Zhao Hai challenged, "Elder Han, what do you think? Come and attack. Hahaha, I have nothing to fear from your strikes." This was the debut of the giant sword’s bronze statue form. Zhao Hai knew its strength well; it would be nearly impossible for Han Lei’s forces to even touch it.

Han Lei’s face darkened as he stared at the colossus. He hadn't anticipated the sword possessed a transformation ability. If it had remained a sword, they might have evaded it due to its sheer size and slower speed compared to smaller blades. However, this bronze statue would likely possess far greater agility.

Han Lei spoke in a low, threatening tone, "Zhao Hai, do not be arrogant. I doubt you have the courage to slaughter us all. If you truly kill everyone here, your own life is forfeit!" Han Lei was banking on the fact that even if Zhao Hai were innocent, killing such a large number of disciples would make him an enemy of countless factions within the Blood Slaughter Sect, ensuring his execution.

Suddenly, a voice rang out through the air, "Is that so? I can promise he will not die. Do you doubt me?" Several figures descended from Blood Gale Island. Leading them was the Blood Blade Demon, Dao Qianzhan, the Sect Master of the Blood Slaughter Sect. He gazed at Han Lei with a face devoid of emotion.

Han Lei’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Dao Qianzhan. He had been an inner disciple under the Sect Master for years and knew him well. The more stoic Dao Qianzhan appeared, the more furious he actually was. That specific look usually preceded a killing spree.

Zhao Hai and Yan Bei immediately offered their salutes to Dao Qianzhan. Han Lei and his followers followed suit. The cultivators with Han Lei were those he had recruited since becoming a commander. He had brought them today with the malicious intent of forcing a conflict with Zhao Hai. He wanted to ensure that no matter the outcome, a blood feud was established, binding these men to him so they couldn't abandon him if things went south.

He never expected Dao Qianzhan to appear so abruptly, before any major blood had been spilled. Furthermore, it was obvious the Sect Master was siding with Zhao Hai. Han Lei’s stomach churned. He couldn't understand how Dao Qianzhan arrived so fast, or why Zhao Hai was held in such high regard by the Sect's leadership.

Dao Qianzhan gestured for Zhao Hai to stand down, then turned a freezing gaze toward Han Lei. "Han Lei, who authorized you to strike at Zhao Hai? While the 13 Family Alliance besieges our Blood Slaughter Sect, you aren't focused on repelling those mongrels. Instead, you are here screaming for Zhao Hai’s head. Tell me, where did you get the audacity?"

Han Lei bowed deeply, sweat pouring down his face. His companions were equally terrified. He stammered, "Master, we received definitive proof that Zhao Hai is conspiring with the 13 Family Alliance. We only came to apprehend him. I beg you to examine the evidence, Master."

Dao Qianzhan let out a cold laugh. "Definitive proof? Very well, present it. I wish to see exactly what you have gathered." His voice was calm, yet the underlying chill made Han Lei feel as though his very soul was being pierced.

Han Lei quickly answered, "Yes, Master. Look here. This is a communication Jade Slip between Zhao Hai and the Alliance. We have also captured several of their members. Under questioning, they confessed that Zhao Hai leaked the Blood Slaughter Sect’s troop positions on the Western defense line. The Elders who conducted those interrogations have already been murdered by Zhao Hai!"