Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8383: Locking on _1

With a joyful expression, Yan Bei gazed upon the island ahead. This particular island wasn't large in size and went by the name of Blood Luring Island. Capturing it would leave the foe with just 80 islands under their control. Such an outcome brought great relief to their side, drawing them nearer to reclaiming the Western Defense Line.

Cultivators from the 13-family Alliance stationed on this island mirrored those in other similar alliances. They fought back fiercely, yet their efforts proved futile against the relentless puppet assault. Truth be told, initially, nobody anticipated that these apparently fragile puppets possessed such formidable fighting strength.

A single puppet's power was limited to the Dharma-using realm. In a one-on-one clash with a Dharma-using realm cultivator, it would surely be defeated. Yet, once their numbers swelled to a critical mass, these puppets unleashed devastating destructive potential, particularly through their self-explosion ability.

As nearly a million puppets surged toward the adversaries, the enemies soon grasped they couldn't eliminate every last one. Realizing the puppets' capacity for self-destruction further shattered their fighting spirit. Cultivators below the Dharma cultivation realm simply couldn't endure such an onslaught; they either perished on the spot or fled in panic.

The scenario repeated itself here on Blood Luring Island. The local cultivators mounted a defense, but it amounted to nothing. Once the puppet horde advanced, their opposition crumbled swiftly. Resisters met their end, while many others bolted. Frankly, this method of warfare grew tedious after a while. The initial thrill and freshness faded, leaving only monotony, utter boredom.

Still, alternatives were scarce. Employing these puppets had drastically cut down on their own losses. From the counteroffensive's launch up to now, fatalities stayed under 5000. Reclaiming over 400 islands with such minimal casualties? Undoubtedly, it was a phenomenal achievement.

At last, all opposition on Blood Luring Island vanished entirely. Yan Bei and his comrades let out deep breaths of relief. Without delay, Yan Bei dispatched a message to Zhao Hai, urging him to arrive and secure the island while establishing a guard post. Only then would the territory truly belong to them, solidifying their reclamation.

Shortly after Yan Bei's transmission, a white glow erupted from the teleportation array on Blood Luring Island. Zhao Hai materialized alongside a compact team. Yan Bei hurried over to greet them. He felt no rush to press on to the next island, honoring Zhao Hai's advice to moderate their advance. Even though puppets handled most of the combat without fatigue, Yan Bei heeded the counsel and avoided overly hasty strikes.

Soaring to Zhao Hai's location, Yan Bei grinned and remarked, "Little Hai, you've arrived. Perfect timing. I was just about to give the troops a break before the next push. When will you begin?" All were aware of the bond between Yan Bei and Zhao Hai. Across the Western Defense Line, Yan Bei alone addressed Zhao Hai so casually. Though Yan Bei had seized most islands there, everyone recognized that Zhao Hai's groundwork made those victories possible. Thus, despite the pause in assaults, Zhao Hai's authority remained unshaken.

Meeting Yan Bei's eyes, Zhao Hai smiled faintly before murmuring, "Proceed right away and assemble the group. I need to address them all." Though his smile persisted, Yan Bei, well-acquainted with him, detected an unusual edge in his voice. This sparked Yan Bei's confusion and sharpened his vigilance. He agreed promptly and set off to rally the others.

Before long, Yan Bei had collected everyone. Yet he noticed Zhao Hai positioned directly over the bronze statue's array formation. Whether intentional or not remained unclear, but Yan Bei suspected deliberate placement. Likely, it served as a safeguard for the assembly. That implied lingering perils on the island—grave ones at that.

Suddenly, Zhao Hai called out, "Lin!" In that instant, a magic formation materialized in his grasp. Once completed, a vast blood cloud descended, shrouding every disciple. Simultaneously, the enormous bronze figure erupted from the earth, its hands weaving a mystical seal.

A tremendous aura erupted from the distance, barreling toward them. The Bloody Massacre Sect disciples, previously bewildered, jolted in alarm upon feeling it. They instantly recognized this as the signature of an Island Lord.

The bronze figure held its stance, hands locked in the Acalanatha seal. A sense of renewed vigor washed over the Bloody Massacre Sect disciples, easing their prior tension. Then Zhao Hai commanded, "Everyone, trigger your portable teleportation arrays and head to the nearest safe island. Move quickly!"

His order clicked for the group, revealing his intent. The blood cloud wasn't some boosting technique but a means to swiftly suppress local spiritual energy ripples. This enabled activation of their portable arrays. Such measures targeted an incoming Island Lord-level foe, far beyond their current collective might.

Even against one Island Lord, their hundred thousand wouldn't guarantee victory. More likely, they'd suffer devastating losses before the master slipped away unscathed. No one desired that grim prospect.

Without hesitation, all initiated their teleportation arrays. White flashes consumed them, vanishing the crowd. Solely Zhao Hai lingered. Even Yan Bei had gone. He understood his presence offered little aid; better to evacuate swiftly and alert the sect. As for Zhao Hai, Yan Bei trusted his resourcefulness. With the bronze statue's aid, escape seemed assured.

The moment the group's forms faded, a furious roar echoed. "Boy, you dare!" Accompanying it, a colossal black beam hurtled their way. At that critical juncture, their departure hung incomplete—any disruption would trap them here.

Yet the bronze figure shifted its seal and bellowed, "Soldiers!" Its hands reformed into the Great Vajra Wheel Seal. Thrusting forward, it unleashed a barrage of energy woven from myriad arrays, intercepting the incoming black radiance.

A deafening explosion rang out as the grand formation halted the black light, both dissipating together. In that same breath, five silhouettes materialized roughly three hundred feet before the bronze figure. Astonishment filled their gazes at the statue, then shifted to Zhao Hai behind it. Each exuded a terrifying presence, marking them unmistakably as Island Lord experts. Rage now burned in their stares toward Zhao Hai.

Facing the quintet, Zhao Hai offered a smile, clasping his fists in salute. "Zhao Hai extends greetings to the five esteemed seniors. All of you stand at the Dharma Condensation stage. Per our pact, your presence here violates terms. This baffles me greatly. Might the five seniors care to explain?"

Surface-level courtesy masked sharp barbs in Zhao Hai's statement, openly challenging them. Their expressions darkened further. As Island Lord powerhouses, pivotal figures in their sects, how could they tolerate interrogation from a mere Profound Qi realm disciple? Yet Zhao Hai held the moral high ground, leaving them speechless.

Still smiling at them, Zhao Hai continued, "No explanations from the seniors? Word of your arrival here has likely reached my sect's elders by now. One wonders their response. Have you made preparations?" His grin held steady, but the words sent shivers through the five. They knew the Bloody Massacre Sect's members were unhinged fanatics. Predicting madmen's actions proved impossible. Even if sect-wide retaliation stayed off-limits, personal vengeance against the five remained feasible. Regret over accepting this task now gnawed at them.

Still, retreat seemed impossible. Their mere appearance here had already provoked the Bloody Massacre Sect. Mission failure would incense their own faction too. Better to antagonize one side than both. With that resolve, the five scattered to encircle Zhao Hai from all angles, their auras pinning him down completely. His odd maneuvers notwithstanding, at this range, flight via teleportation lay out of reach. Ample opportunity existed to thwart any escape attempt.

Had the five coordinated their assault from the start, the Bloody Massacre Sect disciples might have been ensnared. But they'd misjudged Zhao Hai gravely. Just one had struck with a lone blade beam, only for the bronze figure to deflect it, securing the disciples' safe withdrawal. This disgrace burned deep, and they refused its repetition. Thus, all five fixated on Zhao Hai. No matter the bronze figure's prowess, it could counter but one at a time—not the combined might of five. This time, Zhao Hai's getaway seemed doomed.