Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8365: A warning _1

The enemies facing the Blood Slaughter Sect weren't limited to the 13 families. Furthermore, the sect had more than just the Western line of defense to maintain. Consequently, there were numerous fronts that required protection. If they failed to station sufficient forces, chaos could erupt elsewhere. To make matters worse, the Blood Slaughter Sect's current military strength was severely depleted following the heavy casualties of the recent rebellion.

Fortunately, Zhao Hai proposed the utilize of puppets, which ensured the Western Defense line didn't appear understaffed. Even so, it was impossible for the Blood Slaughter Sect to send reinforcements to that area. This lack of support was the primary reason for the pessimism among the local defenders. Believing their numbers were less than a fifth of the enemy's, they assumed the sect had abandoned the Western line. These fears made them susceptible to the various rumors circulating.

However, the atmosphere had shifted significantly. Zhao Hai’s leadership in the recent counterattack proved to the men that the sect had not forsaken them. They realized that if the sect intended to give up, Zhao Hai never would have led such a charge. This realization brought them immense joy, and the massive victory served as a powerful morale booster for the Blood Slaughter Sect’s cultivators.

Once the troops returned to Blood Stone Island, Zhao Hai called for another assembly. Although the island was small, it could accommodate 100,000 people; however, because of the existing structures, Zhao Hai instructed everyone to take to the skies. Standing atop his massive sword, he surveyed the gathered crowd.

All eyes were on Zhao Hai. Everyone sensed he had something important to declare, and their curiosity grew as they waited. Looking out over the assembly, Zhao Hai spoke in a heavy tone, "We have secured a great victory today, and everyone has reason to celebrate. But I must warn you, this is merely the beginning. Our counteroffensive has just started. Rest today, for tomorrow we lead our army to reclaim every island that belongs to our Blood Slaughter Sect!"

The crowd erupted in a thunderous response to Zhao Hai’s declaration. Excitement surged through them; they had waited a long time for the chance to strike back. When Zhao Hai raised his hand, the noise gradually died down as they focused on him once more.

Zhao Hai addressed them again, his voice echoing, "You have all witnessed the utility of the puppets in this battle. Understand this: those puppets are our sacrificial soldiers. They are designed to be expended, to take the enemy down with them. Even if it takes five puppets to kill one enemy, we still come out ahead. Therefore, in the future, do not hesitate or feel regret. Use the puppets to crush them."

"Yes!" the cultivators shouted in unison. They now understood the true combat potential of the puppets. While their individual defense might be lacking, their offensive power was formidable. They were the perfect cannon fodder.

Zhao Hai continued loudly, "However, you must exercise more precision when deploying them in the future. Your control over the puppets must be flexible. Furthermore, if I order you to retract the puppets so we can engage personally, you must do so instantly. If anyone fails to put away their puppets quickly and hinders the battle, do not expect me to be lenient. Is that understood?"

The crowd was taken aback by this. Confused murmurs broke out as they looked at Zhao Hai, wondering why he would want them to fight personally instead of relying on the puppets. They remained silent, waiting for an explanation.

Zhao Hai looked at them sternly and said, "Do not forget that we are disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect. We are cultivators of this sect, and our path is built upon killing aura. If we rely solely on puppets to do the fighting, how will we ever temper our killing aura? Moreover, excessive use of puppets breeds dependency. Relying too much on external objects is detrimental to your progress. Puppets are merely tools. If you lean on them too heavily, your Cultivation will suffer a massive impact."

The disciples were stunned for a moment before their expressions turned grave. They fully grasped Zhao Hai’s meaning. If they became accustomed to puppet warfare, they would lose their edge and their courage for close-quarters combat. A disciple of the Blood Slaughter Sect who lacked the will to fight personally could not truly cultivate killing intent. Without that intent, their overall strength would stagnate.

This was a danger they hadn't considered, and Zhao Hai’s warning shook them to the core. Cultivation was the foundation of their existence; any external aid was secondary. While tools could assist in battle, making them the primary force would stunt a cultivator’s growth for a lifetime, potentially preventing any further breakthroughs.

Zhao Hai concluded in a deep voice, "Alright. I have said my piece. Return and prepare yourselves. Remember, we depart tomorrow. No one is to be absent without cause, or you will face the full weight of military law!" The crowd shouted their assent before dispersing.

Once the main force had left, Zhao Hai gathered the managers to provide specific instructions. After dismissing them, he took Yan Bei back to his quarters. He produced a jar of spirit wine, and the two began to drink together.

After a few rounds of wine, Yan Bei let out a long sigh and laughed. "Wonderful, this is truly wonderful. We’ve been forced to retreat for so long that the men were becoming restless. This strike was executed beautifully. Wiping out tens of thousands of their troops in one go... we’ve been playing it far too safe until now."

"Big brother Yan, have you been gathering Dark Souls?" Zhao Hai asked with a grin. "Collect as many as you can and let them nourish for a while. When the time is right, give them to me, and I’ll craft a few guards for you." The guards Zhao Hai mentioned were his metal puppets—beings that were more like metal life forms than simple machines. They were fearless and powerful, making them invaluable in a fight.

Yan Bei nodded enthusiastically. "Don't worry, I remembered what you said and have collected many Yin souls this time. But why haven't you collected any? With your prowess, you could have gathered far more than I did, yet you didn't lift a finger for them."

Zhao Hai chuckled, "There's no need. I have no use for a vast number of Dark Souls. The guards I have are sufficient. I don't want to become overly reliant on such things. In the future, I prefer to rely on my own strength in battle. I keep these guards as a last resort to save my life; they aren't meant for daily use."

Yan Bei didn't press the issue further. He simply nodded and asked, "What is the plan for tomorrow’s counterattack? I’ve heard the enemy has already established defensive arrays on those islands. They also outnumber us. A direct assault might not go in our favor."

"Don't worry, you’ll see tomorrow," Zhao Hai replied with a smile. He then encouraged Yan Bei to drink more. Seeing that Zhao Hai had already formulated a plan, Yan Bei dropped the subject, knowing it was useless to ask further.

The following morning, everyone rose early, awaiting Zhao Hai’s commands. Zhao Hai was already prepared. Once the group assembled, he asked, "Managers, have you completed the task I assigned yesterday?"

One manager stepped forward and reported, "Commander, everything is ready. We have selected 10,000 elites, including the majority of our puppet users. We await your orders." This was the elite force Zhao Hai had requested the previous evening.

Zhao Hai nodded. "Yan Bei, you and the other managers will command the 90,000-man main force. The selected 10,000 will board my sword and move with me. Today’s strategy is as follows: we will use portable teleportation formations to appear outside an island and launch a feint to draw the enemy's focus. Once their attention is fixed there, I will lead my 10,000 to strike a different island, while the rest of you follow Yan Bei to keep the pressure on the primary target. I will now reveal today's objective."

The crowd was momentarily stunned before the brilliance of the plan sank in. It was a classic diversionary tactic, though difficult to pull off. No one objected; they all signaled their readiness.

Zhao Hai pulled Yan Bei aside for a brief, whispered conversation. Yan Bei nodded and went to coordinate with the other managers. Meanwhile, Zhao Hai brought the 10,000 elites into the space within his sword. Once the preparations were complete, Zhao Hai announced to the army, "The target for our strike is Blood Eye Island!" The men roared in response and began activating their portable teleportation arrays.

In the Blood Sea Realm, portable teleportation formations were rarely used because fixed arrays between islands were cheaper and more convenient. However, portable versions couldn't bypass island restrictions and could only drop users outside the defenses. But in times of war, their strategic value was undeniable, much like how the Thirteen Family Alliance had used them to launch their assault on Blood Stone Island the day before.