Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8381: Opportunity (1)

Zhao Hai sat calmly within an undamaged side hall on the island. The fierce previous battle had left many structures there in ruins. Although the island's defensive formation stood restored, the buildings themselves remained untouched. He saw no reason to divert effort toward them at this point—it simply wasn't urgent. Waiting until the full Western Defense Line lay reclaimed would be wiser. Handling such rebuilds right now would only squander precious time.

In the main hall, Yan Bei, Chang Jun, and the rest of the stewards gathered, their eyes sparkling as they fixed on Zhao Hai. They fully grasped the situation: with the protective arrays now active on Clear Blood Island and Blood Hawk Island, the path forward demanded strikes against the other islands.

Glancing over the assembled group, Zhao Hai declared, "Now that we've restored the defensive arrays on Clear Blood Island and Blood Hawk Island, it's time to advance to the following phase. We'll assault and reclaim every island under the Bloody Massacre Sect's control. As I mentioned earlier, Yan Bei will lead this offensive, with the Chang Army providing support. Any disagreements among you?"

Silence fell over the room, with not a single voice raised in protest. Zhao Hai's authority had solidified beyond question—his words carried the weight of command, and none dared challenge them. Seeing the lack of response, he pressed on, "Good to hear there's no opposition. Then launch the operation tomorrow. This round, we'll concentrate our full might on one island at a time, without dividing forces. Before the Thirteen Family Alliance rushes aid to the Western Defense Line, seize as many islands as possible. I won't join the fray personally. Once you've claimed an island, I'll head there straightaway to erect a fresh formation. With an array in place on any island, it's effectively ours once more."

The group voiced their assent. Turning his gaze to them, Zhao Hai added, "The bronze statue will accompany your ranks. Entrust the task of dismantling enemy formations to him. Once he shatters the barriers, charge in and eliminate the foes. But hold back some personnel to harvest the dark souls—these will prove invaluable to our sect down the line."

A chorus of affirmations echoed back. Zhao Hai then addressed Zhang Zhiheng directly, "Zhiheng, the bloodsucker team stays intact. They form the ultimate safeguard for the Western Defense Line. You'll oversee them from here on, but avoid over-relying on killing aura. Should you ever form a second killing aura blood cloud, disband immediately and never deploy it again. Once the slaughter begins, self-control slips away. I'm concerned you might descend into madness."

Zhang Zhiheng rose swiftly to his feet and acknowledged the order. Zhao Hai went on, "Heed this warning well. The bloodsucker team has forged remarkable unity and emerged as a formidable unit. If nurtured further, they'll rival the Hall of Crimson Blade in power, serving as yet another ace up the sect's sleeve. Squander their strength through recklessness, and you needn't return—end your life instead."

Zhao Hai's stark declaration left the room in stunned hush, before all eyes turned to Zhang Zhiheng with fervent gleam. Excitement flushed his features. The mere mention of the Hall of Crimson Blade stirred their blood—that elite force epitomized the sect's might, unleashed only by the highest echelons to showcase unyielding power. Yet here was Zhao Hai proclaiming the bloodsucker team could ascend to match its prowess. The revelation hit them like thunder.

Even reaching a fraction of the Hall of Crimson Blade's caliber would elevate the bloodsucker team to sect-wide esteem in time. Cultivating ties with such a rising power promised boundless advantages for their own paths ahead.

Thrill coursed through Zhang Zhiheng like fire. Should Zhao Hai's vision hold true and the bloodsucker team earn the sect's favor, the rewards flowing his way would defy imagination. Though Zhao Hai held nominal command, his endless duties left Zhang Zhiheng as the true field leader, issuing directives and maintaining cohesion. In that role, any surge in the team's status would shower him with unforeseen gains—his connections alone would forge an empire of opportunity.

Voice trembling with zeal, Zhang Zhiheng replied, "Yes, rest assured, Commander. I'll safeguard my brothers fiercely. No mishaps will occur. Should trouble brew, I'll report to you without delay!" He recognized the golden chance before him all too clearly—failing to seize it would mark him a fool.

With a nod, Zhao Hai surveyed the faces around him and intoned gravely, "Dismissed. Return and make ready. The assault launches at dawn. The islands you reclaim will be the ones we hold firm. Snatch them all, and we'll expel the Thirteen Families from Bloody Massacre Sect lands entirely."

A resounding "Yes!" thundered from the group. They rose as one, offering deep bows to Zhao Hai. He dismissed all but Yan Bei, who lingered as the others departed. Once alone, Zhao Hai cautioned, "Brother Yan, tread with utmost caution this time. Don't drop your vigilance just because we've slain Pan Qianlong. Such complacency could prove fatal."

Yan Bei inclined his head in agreement, a grin crossing his face as he met Zhao Hai's eyes. "You're handing me all the glory here—truly a boon. No need for concern." He understood Zhao Hai had swept away nearly every hurdle in his path; fumbling now would be an unforgivable blunder.

Shaking his head, Zhao Hai countered, "This isn't about glory. The operation carries real peril, especially leading alone. Stay sharp—the Thirteen Family Alliance won't yield lightly. They could dispatch elite experts against us, so vigilance is key."

His warning gave Yan Bei pause, surprise flickering in his expression. "What's the issue? Would they truly risk unleashing an Island Lord-level powerhouse? Wouldn't that invite the sect's full wrath?" He couldn't fathom the enemy daring such a move; provoking the Bloody Massacre Sect meant courting merciless retribution, and they showed no quarter to foes.

In a solemn tone, Zhao Hai replied, "Before our sect strikes back, they might gamble on a slim chance. Better to err on caution's side. If a true expert appears, send word to me at once. Meanwhile, deploy the bronze men to engage. They may not overpower an Island Lord, but they can stall long enough."

Nodding firmly, Yan Bei placed faith in Zhao Hai's insight. Though he doubted the foe would go that far, prudence demanded preparation. After all, his life hung in the balance—carelessness wasn't an option.

Zhao Hai offered a few final pointers before Yan Bei took his leave. As interim commander of the Western Defense Line, he bore the duty to brief his forces thoroughly. Any failure would not only jeopardize sect interests but also tarnish Zhao Hai's reputation, given his endorsement of the role.

At first light the following day, Zhao Hai positioned himself with the Hall of Arrays members on the island, ready for action. Deep in hostile territory, his presence ensured formations rose swiftly, thwarting any sabotage. Meanwhile, Yan Bei had mobilized with a vast contingent, all pausing to salute Zhao Hai before departure.

With the troops gone, Zhao Hai faced the array specialists and inquired, "Did you finish the assignment from yesterday? What's your take on the new compass?" The prior day, he'd distributed simple green jade compasses to each—tools that not only erected and dismantled formations but also performed computations. This all-in-one artifact stunned the Hall of Arrays veterans, who had encountered nothing like it. Precisely because of its novelty, Zhao Hai tasked them with mastering it first. He knew its value to dedicated formation masters all too well.

The array masters' eyes lit with enthusiasm at his question. One spoke up, "Commander, we've delved into it thoroughly. This compass is a marvel. Armed with it, formation setup becomes effortless."

Zhao Hai met their gazes steadily and warned in a serious voice, "Don't assume this compass solves everything. It's merely an instrument, a magical tool at best. We wield the true power. Spot a formation you can't identify—how then to breach it? Tasked with arraying a site but lacking the right pattern— what good is the device? Keep your focus on array knowledge above all. Don't let the compass overshadow your studies, got it?"

"Yes, Commander, we understand," came their unified response. They held Zhao Hai in deep respect, never daring to dismiss his expertise. In just days under his tutelage, awe had taken root. His command of formations eclipsed theirs by leagues, unveiling patterns they could scarcely dream of. That one man could delve so profoundly into the art left them reeling.

Nodding approval, Zhao Hai continued gravely, "Gather every talisman needed. For each island we capture, we'll restore a dharma array. I'll assist in the rebuilding this time, but you'll handle the core work as the primary force. I'll step in only for errors. Hands-on practice cements true mastery of dharma arrays—mere observation won't suffice. Clear?"

"Yes, thank you, Commander!" they chorused, barely containing their elation. Zhao Hai's directive to lead the efforts caught them off guard, yet thrilled them to the core. As he noted, poring over jade slips offered no substitute for actual deployment. Hands must shape the arrays to truly grasp them—a chance like this was priceless.