Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8384: Escape _1

Zhao Hai was well aware of the formidable might possessed by an Island Lord-level expert. He had witnessed Ha Jing in combat before. Ha Jing surpassed even the Island Lord level. A typical Island Lord-level expert couldn't endure more than a handful of exchanges against him. The eight great elders in the Bloody Massacre Sect were ordered not by age, but by their personal power.

Yet, it was clear that Ha Jing hadn't unleashed his maximum power against the foes from the Shadow Realm. At the very least, Zhao Hai had observed Lei Gang's capabilities. Was Lei Gang more potent than Ha Jing? That seemed utterly implausible. Still, one fact stood out to Zhao Hai: an Island Lord-level expert operated on an entirely superior plane compared to them.

Prior to the Dharma Condensation Realm, the stages of the Dharma Refinement Realm, Dharma Essence Realm, Dharma Usage Realm, and Dharma Accumulation Realm all demanded the buildup of Dharma power. With superior techniques, one could amass greater quantities of it. With inferior methods, the reserves would be smaller. Nevertheless, once Dharma power reached a sufficient threshold, advancement became possible since the required strength was met.

Reaching the Dharma Condensation Realm, however, marked a profound shift. One needed to solidify their Dharma power and ultimately forge a divine spark to qualify as a Dharma Condensation Realm expert. This created a vast chasm between Island Lords and regular cultivators. Their offhand strikes proved impossible for ordinary cultivators to withstand. Moreover, the divine spark enabled them to draw in and wield Dharma power effectively. They could even harness the power of faith. Such abilities made them far from negligible.

In truth, Zhao Hai desired to depart as well. But he understood perfectly that escaping via the teleportation array was out of the question now that these Island Lord-level experts had shown up. They wouldn't permit it. Though they hadn't targeted him earlier, one certainty remained: attempting to flee then would provoke their instant assault.

That said, Zhao Hai had devised an escape plan. He glanced at the Island Lord-level experts and grinned. “Seniors, holding me back serves no purpose. Striking now would merely provoke the seniors from the Bloody Massacre Sect. In the end, it won't benefit you at all.”

The figure blocking Zhao Hai's path eyed him coldly and scoffed. “We seek no gains—we just want you dead. Do you truly believe we're clueless? The Bloody Massacre Sect reclaimed so many islands with only 100,000 troops thanks to you. It was all due to your Dharma arrays. Eliminate you, and their forces become leaderless dragons. Then, we can reclaim those islands bit by bit. Even if the rest scatter, slaying you counts as our triumph.”

Zhao Hai regarded them with a smile. “Countless souls have plotted my demise, yet none prevailed. I'm afraid ending me won't prove simple for you...” At that moment, Zhao Hai's form vanished from his position. Prompted by a surge of Qi, the group unleashed simultaneous strikes. Hailing from varied sects, their assaults differed wildly: a streak of sword Qi, a flash of saber light, a spectral claw, a vengeful spirit, and a haze of toxic fumes. All collided where Zhao Hai had stood. But he was gone. None had caught his method of disappearance.

As astonishment gripped the attackers, a blood lotus bloomed where Zhao Hai had vanished. While they hesitated, the bronze statue pivoted and seized the blood lotus. Abruptly, another bronze statue dissolved into liquid and seeped into the earth. Shock rippled through them, and they bombarded the bronze statue without delay.

A thunderous explosion shattered the bronze figure into fragments, and the blood lotus vanished. Simultaneously, the debris scattered across the ground. Yet the bronze statue persisted in its broken state, appearing utterly demolished by the impact.

Their expressions remained grim, for they knew Zhao Hai had slipped away. They never imagined a Profound Qi Realm disciple could evade five of them. It was both astonishing and enraging.

But reality confirmed it: Zhao Hai had escaped. This left them bewildered. In the end, they exchanged glances and sighed. They resolved to return to their sects and report the fiasco. They recognized their mission's utter failure. Worse, retribution from the Bloody Massacre Sect loomed. The thought induced a pounding headache. No one relished facing a lunatic's vengeance. They didn't either. Yet confrontation was inevitable—their greatest torment.

The group shared looks of resignation. With no alternatives, they flashed away from the island. They realized messaging the Thirteen Families Alliance to claim the island would prove futile. Failing to eliminate Zhao Hai complicated matters further. Retaliation from the Bloody Massacre Sect was certain, though its form remained unknown.

Once they departed, a blood lotus gradually emerged from the island's soil. It expanded, and Zhao Hai materialized atop it. His face, however, betrayed unease. He settled into a cross-legged position on the blood lotus and gestured. A glob of bronze fluid landed on the statue's shards. The pieces stirred to life, merging into flowing liquid that roamed the island before reassembling the bronze statue.

Now, Zhao Hai meditated cross-legged on the blood lotus, eyes shut, clearly recovering. Though he'd retreated into the blood lotus—an extension of himself—the onslaught from those experts had jarred it severely, inflicting grave wounds on him. He was mending them now.

Luckily, Zhao Hai's physique was exceptionally robust, accelerating his recovery. After just an hour in meditation, his injuries had nearly vanished. Only then did he rise. He eyed the bronze statue at his side and nodded. “Good. Scout the surroundings.” “Yes, sir!” The bronze statue replied and soared off.

When the bronze statue's form was wrecked, Zhao Hai worried the foes might detect its inner spirit. Thus, he drew the core into the blood lotus and burrowed underground. That's how the Island Lord-level experts overlooked both him and the spirit. The statue's swift reformation stemmed from the intact core.

With the bronze statue gone, Zhao Hai dispatched a message to Yan Bei, urging him to dispatch troops to secure Blood Luring Island. Soon after, Yan Bei arrived personally with his forces. Upon landing, he hurried to Zhao Hai, scrutinizing him closely. Then, in a grave tone, he asked, “You okay? Have those bastards left?”

Zhao Hai nodded. “They're gone. Dodging them was no small feat.” “By the way, did you notify the sect? This demands the sect master's and elders' attention. It's beyond us.” Naturally, Zhao Hai meant the enemy's Island Lord-level experts, not the Western Defense Line. Never one to shrink back, he had no intention of halting the assault on the Western Defense Line. That push would continue, but vengeance fell to the sect leader and others.

Yan Bei nodded. “I've informed the sect, and they've acknowledged it. I believe the sect master will seek reprisal this time. It's not solely because they dispatched an Island Lord-level expert, but also due to Pan Qianlong's use of the Ghost Bone of Ten Thousand Infants. Though Pan Qianlong acted alone, the Corpse Demon Sect owes us answers.”

Zhao Hai smiled. “Excellent. Informing them is enough. We leave the rest to them and focus on our duties. First, erect the island's protective formation around Blood Luring Island. Then we address other matters.” Zhao Hai paid little mind to the sect master's retaliation, as it lay beyond his sway. He simply aimed to fulfill his role.

Evidently, though, the sect master wouldn't let Zhao Hai slide so lightly. While Zhao Hai and his team reconstructed the island's protective formation, Ha Jing arrived personally at Blood Luring Island. Zhao Hai was midway through the formation's rebuild when a white gleam flashed on the teleportation array, and Ha Jing materialized.

Spotting Ha Jing, everyone on Blood Luring Island bowed in respect. Ha Jing merely nodded without a word. He turned to Zhao Hai, who was also saluting, and gestured dismissively. “Enough, Little Hai. Come with me. I need to discuss something.” He then darted aside, and Zhao Hai trailed after him.

Much of Blood Luring Island's structures lay in ruins, none habitable. So they sought a secluded spot. Ha Jing then conjured a barrier around them with a wave, ensuring privacy. Once set, he addressed Zhao Hai. “Little Hai, the sect master approves of your efforts this time, but I want your take on avenging ourselves against the thirteen families. Shall we limit reprisals to those few sects? No demand for them to pull back from the Western Defense Line?”

Zhao Hai grasped Ha Jing's implication at once. The sect master planned not just to punish those sects, but to leverage the chance for the Thirteen Families Alliance to withdraw from the Western Defense Line. It would reclaim the line bloodlessly, achieving dual victories.

Yet Zhao Hai opposed this. He shook his head. “I advise against the sect master pursuing that. We'll strike back directly at those sects alone. The attackers were from the Corpse Demon Sect, Yin Ghost Sect, Sharp Sword Sect, Poisonous Bug Valley, and Yin Yang Sect. I propose we raze five islands from each. That serves as retribution, without touching the Western Defense Line issue. We'll regard the Western Defense Line foes as the full Thirteen Families Alliance. Thus, after expelling their army ourselves, we retain cause to march on the alliance. Demanding withdrawal now strips our pretext for assaulting them later. It would close the chapter, leaving us without justification—and giving them fodder to protest.”