Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8370: The plan (1)

Looking at Pan Qianlong, Yi Xuanming remarked, "Junior Brother, our swift conquest of half the islands along the Blood Slaughter Sect’s Western Defense line was primarily due to our understanding of their array vulnerabilities. We bypassed their defenses effortlessly because we knew how to dismantle them. Under those conditions, we could strike directly, ignoring the protective formations entirely. Combined with our superior numbers, the Blood Slaughter Sect was at a distinct disadvantage. They recognized this, which is why they avoided a frontal confrontation and surrendered nearly half their territory to buy time for recovery."

Yi Xuanming paused before continuing, "They utilized that breathing room to overhaul the formations on the remaining islands. Breaking in like we did before is now an impossible task, and they have begun their counter-offensive. If they apply the same logic to the islands they reclaim, we will be in a difficult position. While it has become harder for us to seize their territory, if they truly possess Formation Masters capable of dismantling our defenses with ease, it means they can replicate our initial success. Having our own protective arrays rendered useless during an assault is a grave concern."

Pan Qianlong was momentarily stunned by Yi Xuanming’s analysis. His expression shifted as he replied, "If the situation is truly that dire, it will be incredibly challenging. What is our next move? Without a solid strategy, I fear the Blood Slaughter Sect’s Western Defense line will remain out of our reach."

Yi Xuanming stared at Pan Qianlong, momentarily speechless. Capture the Western Defense line? They were lucky to even hold the islands they currently occupied, yet his junior brother was still dreaming of a total conquest. In a low, serious tone, Yi Xuanming said, "Junior Brother, the goal is no longer about seizing their defense line. It is about whether we can even defend the ground we have already taken."

Pan Qianlong froze, his face twisting in confusion. "Is it really that critical? Despite their recent gains, what can they actually do to us with their current military strength? Reclaiming a few islands is one thing, but surely they aren't a true threat." Pan Qianlong hadn't been overly worried about a major counter-attack; his primary fear was facing punishment from the Sect, which is why he had sent his report. He had never considered that they might be the ones on the defensive, believing they still held the upper hand in raw power.

Shaking his head, Yi Xuanming explained, "The dynamics have shifted. Previously, we won because we exploited their flaws. Now that we can no longer easily breach their islands, they have established a secure rear. They can use that foundation to advance methodically, one step at a time. Every island they reclaim will be fortified so heavily that we won't be able to take it back. Gradually, they will systematically recover everything."

The weight of these words finally hit Pan Qianlong, and his face paled. He looked at Yi Xuanming and asked urgently, "Senior Brother, what should be done? If the Blood Slaughter Sect follows through with such a plan, we are in serious danger. If we fail to secure the Western Defense line, our entire strategy collapses, and the Sect will surely punish us all."

Yi Xuanming nodded in agreement. "Indeed, without a solution, we will face the Sect's wrath. However, we possess one advantage the Blood Slaughter Sect lacks: sheer manpower. We outnumber them significantly and have access to constant reinforcements. Following their internal rebellion, the Blood Slaughter Sect lost a massive number of low-level disciples. Furthermore, while their ruthless tactics managed to fracture the previous Alliance, they are now isolated and surrounded by enemies. They must keep their remaining forces spread thin to guard against other Sects, meaning they cannot send significant support to the Western Defense line. Their limited numbers here are our greatest asset. If we turn this into a war of attrition, we can simply exhaust them."

After a short silence, Yi Xuanming added, "Currently, the Blood Slaughter Sect’s greatest fear is losing more disciples. Here is the plan: I will return to the Sect to request additional reinforcements. We must keep these extra troops hidden from the enemy. They will undoubtedly attack us again to push us off the Western Defense line. We will use that aggression against them. When they think they have us cornered, our hidden reinforcements will launch a devastating surprise strike. Once their core strength is broken, they will no longer be able to resist us."

Pan Qianlong’s eyes brightened at the suggestion. He nodded enthusiastically, saying, "Excellent. Senior Brother, that is a brilliant strategy. We must deal the Blood Slaughter Sect a crushing blow this time. If we can eliminate their disciples, it won't matter how powerful their defensive arrays are; there will be no one left to power them. We can then systematically dismantle their islands one by one."

Yi Xuanming smiled thinly. "Precisely. I will depart immediately to coordinate with the Sect and ensure the other allied Sects contribute their fair share of disciples. After all, they stand to benefit from the Blood Slaughter Sect's downfall as well."

Pan Qianlong nodded firmly. "Understood. Leave the front lines to me, Senior Brother. Go and secure those reinforcements. Once they arrive, we will show those Blood Slaughter Sect fools that throwing their lives away won't save them. Their desperation is ultimately futile."

Resentment dripped from Pan Qianlong’s voice. During the last major conflict involving the seven Great Sects, the Blood Slaughter Sect had used suicidal, "shameless" tactics to survive. While many high-level Cultivators viewed these methods with contempt, others were secretly impressed by their resolve. In contrast, the failure of the seven Great Sects to finish the job had been an embarrassment.

To put it simply, the Blood Slaughter Sect was willing to fight to the death. If their opponents weren't prepared to do the same, they were forced to retreat. The seven Great Sects, unwilling to sacrifice their foundations against a group of "lunatics" who had nothing left to lose, had chosen to back down. This was a logical choice for the leadership, but it made them look weak in the eyes of the world.

To the broader cultivation world, the disciples of the seven Great Sects were seen as cowards who folded the moment the Blood Slaughter Sect showed any backbone. These rumors stung the pride of disciples like Pan Qianlong, fueling his intense desire to humiliate and destroy his enemies.

Yi Xuanming looked at his junior brother and offered a final warning: "I’m going now, but stay vigilant, Junior Brother. The people of the Blood Slaughter Sect are formidable and won't fall easily. Do not engage them in a head-on struggle for now. If the pressure becomes too great, prioritize preserving our strength. We can always reclaim lost islands once the reinforcements are in place." Pan Qianlong gave his word, and with a nod, Yi Xuanming departed.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hai remained unaware of the specific conversation occurring on Blood Mountain Island. While he had successfully monitored the island in the past, doing so now was much more difficult. His spatial surveillance had limitations; it struggled in areas with highly chaotic spiritual Qi or locations protected by massive formations with intense energy fluctuations. The island's current defenses created too much interference for clear observation.

However, he didn't feel the need to obsessively track the 13 Family Alliance. He simply needed to execute his own strategy. This time, Zhao Hai intended to lead his entire force into battle rather than relying on diversions. Such tricks only worked a limited number of times before the enemy caught on.

After several days of recuperation, his troops were refreshed. The island formations had been restored and staffed with capable cultivators. Ready to begin the next phase, Zhao Hai assembled his force of approximately 100,000 men. He stood before the massive gathering, observing the ranks.

The crowd stared back at him. The group was a mix of those in the Dharma-use realm and the more advanced Dharma-refinement realm. Almost every face showed a degree of respect, yet there was a lack of true fervor among the general rank-and-file. In the Blood Slaughter Sect, respect was earned through displays of raw power. Most had only seen Zhao Hai’s skill with arrays, not his combat prowess. They trusted his leadership, but they didn't worship him.

However, a specific group of elite cultivators looked at Zhao Hai with genuine fanaticism. These were the ones who had served directly under him. They hadn't just seen his tactical mind; they had witnessed his strength and benefited from his guidance, which had allowed them to reach new heights in their Cultivation. To them, he was an idol.

Zhao Hai remained indifferent to these varying levels of devotion. He addressed the assembly, his voice booming across the field: "We successfully captured ten islands in a single stroke. While that is a cause for celebration..."