Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8373: Ambush (1)

Chapter 8373: Ambush (1)

Blood Hawk Island served as a mid-sized outpost within the Western Defense Line of the Blood Massacre Sect. Originally, this territory was overseen by a disciple in the Refinement Realm; though it was of significant size, its strategic position on the front lines defined its importance. Following the consolidation of the larger islands, its status was officially designated as a medium-sized Island.

At this moment, a fierce conflict was unfolding upon Blood Hawk Island. The Blood Slaughter Sect acted as the aggressors, while the 13 Family Alliance fought to hold their ground. Standing upon the island's soil, Pan Qianlong observed the advancing Blood Slaughter Sect disciples. A breach had been torn into the defensive formation of Blood Hawk Island, and while the attackers surged toward the gap, the 13 Family Alliance disciples held the line. The two factions were locked in a grim stalemate.

Zhao Hai watched the chaos with a composed expression before gesturing for Chang Jun to approach. "Chang Jun, stay here and take charge of the disciples' assault on Blood Hawk Island. I will personally lead the Blood Ghost Team to strike Clear Blood Island. Capturing that location will make this entire operation a success."

The island Zhao Hai targeted was a major stronghold within the Blood Massacre Sect’s Western Defense Line, ranking among the five primary islands of that sector. Even though it was considered the least of the five, its scale dwarfed that of standard islands. Securing it would grant them dominance over four of the five major western hubs, leaving only Blood Mountain Island under enemy control—a move that would devastate the 13 Family Alliance's morale.

Chang Jun, however, expressed his apprehension: "Commander, the conduct of the 13 Family Alliance is peculiar today. Usually, they would have retreated by now under such pressure, yet they remain and fight. I sense that something is amiss."

Zhao Hai replied in a heavy tone, "I am also aware that this is abnormal. This is likely the trap by the 13 Family Alliance I suspected recently. Nevertheless, the more they plot, the more we must press forward. I want them to exhaust every resource and scheme they have. Only when they reveal their hand can we truly dismantle them; if they remain passive, we remain in the dark, which puts us at a disadvantage. Do not fret over the Blood Ghost Team. Each member carries 100 puppets, ensuring their safety. You, however, must be cautious; despite the puppets, you face a vast number of foes. If the situation becomes untenable, you are authorized to retreat without seeking my prior approval. Do you understand?"

After Chang Jun acknowledged the order, Zhao Hai nodded and performed a hand seal, manifesting an Outer Binding Seal. He shouted, "All!" As the word left his lips, a perfect duplicate of Zhao Hai appeared behind every man, while the true Zhao Hai vanished.

Moments later, Zhao Hai reappeared in the Blood Sea surrounding the target island. He immediately deployed Xenomorphs to scout the area. Being a primary stronghold, it was garrisoned by 50,000 troops. The defensive arrays were fully active, and every disciple was on high alert, prepared for a massive confrontation. Outwardly, everything seemed standard.

Zhao Hai smirked, curious to see the enemy's next move. He released a swarm of Aliens to keep watch over the perimeter while commanding his sword to rise from the Blood Sea. The moment Zhao Hai and his team emerged, the island's defenders spotted them. Strangely, the cultivators did not panic. Upon a signal from their commander, they drew their magical tools with cold efficiency. To Zhao Hai’s surprise, they even deployed several puppets they had previously looted from the Blood Massacre Sect, appearing ready to fight to the bitter end.

Unfazed, Zhao Hai felt a flicker of anticipation. Their strange behavior signaled that a major event was imminent. He did not hold back; with a mental command, his giant sword transformed into a massive colossus. The giant gripped the island’s protective shield, wrenching it open to create a tear. The giant then thrust its head through the gap, its body turning into a fluid state to pour directly onto Clear Blood Island.

Suddenly, the formation master on the island deactivated the protective barrier entirely, making Zhao Hai's forceful entry redundant. In that instant, the island's disciples roared and lunged toward Zhao Hai.

With a smile, Zhao Hai reverted to his giant sword form and opened its maw, allowing countless cultivators to pour out, who immediately deployed their own puppets. Simultaneously, Zhao Hai received a mental alert from his Aliens. Brilliant white lights erupted outside the island as a massive force from the 13 Family Alliance appeared. Leading this reinforcement was a cultivator dressed in a sky-blue scholar's robe, charging directly at them.

Expecting a trap, Zhao Hai commanded, "Gather and release the puppets!" This was the pre-arranged signal for the Blood Ghost Team. Upon his word, they rallied around him and unleashed their mechanical horde.

With 10,000 men each controlling 100 puppets, a staggering one million puppets flooded the area. The sheer volume of constructs blotted out the sky, with Zhao Hai and his elite team standing at the heart of this mechanical legion.

As the puppets were deployed, the 13 Family Alliance forces halted. The man in the sky-blue robes hovered upon a matching cloud and gazed at Zhao Hai. He called out loudly, "You are Zhao Hai, correct? You are cornered now, so why not surrender? Our Sect Master holds you in high regard; if you yield, he is willing to accept you as an in-name disciple. What is your answer?"

The speaker was Yi Xuanming, representing the most powerful figure in the Blood Sea Realm, the Demonic Corpse Old Man. Zhao Hai was unaware of the stranger's identity, as Yi Xuanming usually operated from the shadows and held no formal rank in the Alliance Army. His lack of fame meant the Blood Massacre Sect lacked any intelligence on him.

Zhao Hai looked at Yi Xuanming with genuine interest and asked, "Who is this Sect Master of yours? I am a Core Disciple, yet you offer me only the status of an in-name disciple. That hardly seems like a sincere proposal." Zhao Hai had no fear of his team doubting him; their loyalty was absolute, and they knew he would never truly defect.

Yi Xuanming chuckled. "Zhao Hai, you have a sense of humor. How can a Legacy Disciple compare to being the in-name disciple of the Grandmaster? Even the leader of your Blood Massacre Sect would show him respect. I cannot openly speak his name." He placed a heavy emphasis on the word "Old Man," and Zhao Hai immediately deduced his master's identity.

Zhao Hai stared at Yi Xuanming and said, "You mean that Old Man, don't you? I didn't realize you belonged to that Sect. You shouldn't have involved yourself in this mess. Even if you have us surrounded, do you truly believe you can win? If we are counting heads, I believe the numbers are in my favor." Zhao Hai was correct; between the 50,000 on the island and the 100,000 reinforcements, the enemy totaled 150,000. Zhao Hai commanded a million puppets. He saw no reason to fear, let alone surrender.

Yi Xuanming smiled thinly. "Sir, you must be joking. We have captured your puppets before. Did you think we wouldn't analyze them? We discovered they are simple to produce, with most of their arrays exposed. While convenient for manufacturing, it leaves them with a glaring vulnerability. These external arrays are easy to disrupt. Look at this." Yi Xuanming produced a talisman. It appeared to be made of common paper, yet Zhao Hai did not recognize the markings.

Noticing Zhao Hai's confusion, Yi Xuanming explained, "You don't recognize this? It’s understandable, as it was once considered useless. This is an Interruption Talisman. Its sole purpose is to break formations by severing the flow of energy. While ineffective against massive, high-output arrays, it is the perfect counter for these puppets. We have tested them; they work perfectly. So, Mr. Zhao Hai, we have prepared a vast quantity of these. If you refuse to surrender, we will activate them, and your puppet army will become nothing more than scrap. Do not blame us for what follows."

Zhao Hai’s expression darkened. He hadn't realized such a specific counter-talisman existed in the Blood Sea Realm. If Yi Xuanming was telling the truth about disrupting energy transmission between formation seals, his puppets were in grave danger.

Nevertheless, he remained defiant. "You think a few slips of paper can intimidate me? Stop dreaming. Let us see if your talismans actually work. Attack!" With a decisive wave of Zhao Hai’s hand, the Blood Ghost Team commanded their million puppets to charge toward Yi Xuanming’s forces.