Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8358: 335-request for help (1)

“Hahahaha, excellent! It has been years since a disciple dared to negotiate terms with me. You are the very first. Fine, I accept. Bear in mind, the Western Defense line is yours to manage as you see fit. I will judge you by the final results once the conflict concludes. If any remnants of the 13 Family Alliance remain in our territory, you shall face punishment.” The Sect Leader erupted into laughter upon hearing Zhao Hai’s words. This was a genuine smile, a sharp contrast to his usual cold mask, signaling his true delight.

“I will not fail you, Sect Leader. However, what if my goals extend beyond merely purging the 13 Family Alliance from the Blood Massacre Sect? What if I intend to launch a full-scale counter-offensive against them? If that happens, I might need to request the assistance of the Sect’s Island Lord level experts!” Zhao Hai replied with a grin. He was being sincere; simply holding the line was never his intention.

“If you truly manage to use the Western Defense forces to push back into the 13 Family Alliance's territory, I shall personally arrive with the God-killing blade to support you!” It was the Great Elder, Du Wan Sha, who spoke this time, watching Zhao Hai with an approving smile.

Zhao Hai performed a respectful bow toward the Sect Leader and the Great Elder. “I understand. Rest easy, Sect Leader and Elders. I shall give this task my all.” Zhao Hai already possessed some knowledge regarding the history of the Western Defense line. With the information contained in the Jade slip provided by the Sect Leader, he felt confident in organizing the front in record time.

The Sect Leader gave Zhao Hai a final nod before turning to fly back toward Blood Gale Island. Ha Jing, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, drifted over to Zhao Hai’s side. He studied the young man and said gravely, “Boy, stand by your words. If you actually bring the fight to the thirteen families, I will be there to assist. Take this Pearl; it contains three of my sealed attacks. Use it if you face a foe beyond your strength. Its activation will also serve as a signal to me.” After handing the Buddha bead to Zhao Hai, Ha Jing followed the others back to Blood Gale Island.

Once they had departed, Zhao Hai turned to the remaining group. He smiled and announced, “Everyone, I have been appointed as the commander of the Western Defense line. I look forward to your cooperation. Our destination is Blood Bone Island. Use your portable teleportation arrays; we leave immediately.” A flash of white light enveloped Zhao Hai, and in an instant, he, Yan Bei, the bronze statue, and his legions of puppets and ghosts vanished.

The cultivators who had originally come to confront Zhao Hai exchanged hesitant glances. Soon, they too vanished in flashes of white light. They recognized that the power dynamics of the Western Defense line had shifted. Zhao Hai, despite being a seemingly minor True Disciple, clearly held more favor with the Sect Leader than Han Lei ever did. Realizing Zhao Hai was far more formidable than he appeared, they decided it was best not to provoke him.

Meanwhile, chaos had gripped Blood Bone Island. The Sect Leader had already dispatched messages to the local leadership, decreeing that Zhao Hai was now the supreme commander of the Western Defense. The order was absolute: anyone who defied him would be executed. It was at this moment of tension that Zhao Hai arrived.

As Zhao Hai and Yan Bei materialized on the island, the gathered disciples stared at him. No one offered a bow; instead, their faces were etched with confusion. They couldn't understand how this man, whom Han Lei had branded a spy for the 13 Family Alliance, had suddenly been promoted to lead them.

The cultivators who had accompanied Han Lei to arrest Zhao Hai had also returned, spreading the news of what had transpired. They described how Zhao Hai had been granted command, and as the word traveled through the Western Defense's largest hub, the inhabitants looked at Zhao Hai with newfound awe. The sheer level of authority granted to him by the Sect Leader was unprecedented.

Zhao Hai made his way to a newly constructed hall on the island. Built specifically for the war effort, the hall was designed for the commander to deliberate with deputies and high-ranking cultivators. Zhao Hai wasted no time and walked straight to the entrance.

In the square outside the hall stood numerous cultivators of the Dharma Refinement realm—the Elders of the Western Defense line. Among them were two Deputy Commanders appointed by Han Lei and confirmed by the Sect. Both were veteran cultivators in their fifties who preferred meditation over administration, serving largely as figureheads.

Upon seeing Zhao Hai, they cupped their fists and greeted him solemnly, “Greetings, Commander!” While the rank was temporary for the duration of the war, no one dared show disrespect. They had heard the rumors: Zhao Hai had the full backing of the Sect Leader and Elders. It was said he had the authority to execute anyone who disobeyed, even if it meant wiping out the entire defense force.

While the idea of Zhao Hai killing everyone was likely an exaggeration, it underscored the Sect Leader’s absolute trust in him. Offending him was a death wish. If even Han Lei, a named disciple of the Sect Leader, could be struck down, they knew they stood no chance. The speed with which the Sect Leader had responded to Zhao Hai’s summons proved their close connection.

Zhao Hai returned the gesture with a polite smile. “There is no need for such formality. I am merely a junior. Let us head inside to discuss our plans.” He entered the hall, followed closely by the others. He took the high seat at the front of the room without hesitation. Yan Bei stood firmly behind him; despite Zhao Hai’s invitation to sit, Yan Bei insisted on maintaining his role as a guard.

As the others took their seats—arranged by status with the most ornate chairs in the front—Zhao Hai noted that several people present had participated in Han Lei’s earlier attempt to capture him. He looked over the crowd and spoke calmly, “There were some misunderstandings between us previously, but those were the result of Han Lei’s interference. I am letting those matters drop; we shall not speak of them again.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, though many remained wary. They didn't know Zhao Hai's true temperament and feared he might be the type to harbor secret grudges despite his words.

Zhao Hai continued, his tone turning serious, “I will not be shuffling your current positions. However, our operational strategy must change. While you have been preparing for war, there seems to be a lack of direction. Simply gathering disciples is insufficient. We must reform our approach.”

The room remained silent. They knew Zhao Hai was asserting his new authority. Having already alienated him once, they were not about to challenge him now.

“War consists of two parts: offense and defense,” Zhao Hai stated firmly. “As we are currently the defenders, we must solidify our position before we even dream of a counter-strike. Han Lei was a traitor who purposefully left our defenses porous and likely leaked our weaknesses to the 13 Family Alliance. We are in for a difficult period. Once the enemy realizes Han Lei is dead, they will strike back with a vengeance. Our immediate priority is to patch the holes in the other islands' defenses and prepare to consolidate our forces back to the main islands. I am assigning tasks now. Elder Xu Zeqing, Elder Zong Tao, Elder Song Yuchen, and Elder Zuo Jiangshan—take these lists and contact the island commanders immediately to coordinate their withdrawal.” With a flick of his wrist, four Jade slips landed before the front-row elders.

The elders stood, accepted the slips, and resumed their seats. Zhao Hai then addressed the rest of the room. “The rest of you must mobilize every disciple with knowledge of magical formations. Distribute the necessary materials from our war stockpiles for immediate repairs and upgrades. Those without such skills are to remain on high alert, ready to deploy for battle at a moment's notice!”

Just as the group voiced their compliance, the sound of sprinting footsteps echoed through the hall. A frantic cultivator rushed in and bowed deeply to Zhao Hai. “Reporting to the Commander! The 13 Family Alliance has launched simultaneous assaults on over ten of our islands! We are receiving urgent pleas for reinforcements from every direction. Here are the reports!” He presented a stack of Jade slips to Zhao Hai.