Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8416: The plan (1)

Right after Du Wan Sha finished speaking, all gazes shifted straight to Zhao Hai. Shangguan Jinyang and his two companions stood there in bewilderment. They had no clue why the crowd was fixating on Zhao Hai like that. What made this Zhao Hai stand out so much? He was simply a true disciple. Sure, he might enjoy some favoritism, but staring at him wouldn't change a thing, would it?

The trio remained unaware that tales of Zhao Hai's incredible formation along the Western line of defense had already buzzed across the entire Blood Slaughter Sect. Every member of the Blood Slaughter Sect was aware that the formation Zhao Hai deployed at the Western line of defense allowed parts to support one another seamlessly. This setup mirrored the layout across the 36 islands of the Thirteen Families Alliance. Precisely for this reason, everyone's attention locked onto Zhao Hai, eager to hear if he held any clever solutions.

Du Wan Sha glanced over at Zhao Hai, then scanned the group, before flashing a grin at Zhao Hai. "Little Hai, looks like the whole room's pinning their hopes on you. So, spill it—what ideas do you have?" Naturally, Du Wan Sha was well-informed about the exact type of array Zhao Hai had arranged, which explained his pointed question.

A wry smile tugged at Zhao Hai's lips upon hearing this. Yet, he pressed on anyway. "Great Elder, I'm not entirely certain about this formation's details, but it shares one key trait. These setups let energies bolster one another, though they can't hold up indefinitely. Flooding a formation with massive energy over time risks its total breakdown. Thus, breaking it boils down to two approaches. The first targets the primary formation hub, likely hidden on the central island among the 36, making it tough to reach. The other is a brute-force tactic: hammer one island relentlessly to force its array into overdrive. Soon enough, that array will crumble on its own, shattering the entire one-heart formation without further strikes."

Du Wan Sha nodded thoughtfully at Zhao Hai's explanation, but then he fixed his gaze on him once more. "Little Hai, your points make solid sense, but have you considered something crucial? Like the setup at the Blood Slaughter Sect's Western line of defense. Doesn't it resemble the core 36 islands? What happens if the foes one day turn that very strategy against us?"

Zhao Hai shook his head firmly. "No need to fret, Great Elder. The Western Defense line differs vastly from the core 36 islands. Those islands form a unified grand array, whereas our Western Defense line consists of standalone arrays linked by a master array plate I introduced. Think of it this way: the core 36 islands operate as one massive formation, but our Western Defense line acts like a cluster of independent arrays, all governed by that central disc. You could strike an array eye on the 36 islands and unravel the whole thing. But targeting the Western Defense line? Forget it. Hit one spot, snag its array disc, and that location instantly becomes the new heart of the system—nearly impossible to shatter completely. You're only dismantling a single array while the rest stay operational, ready to link up via the disc anew. In short, cripple one eye on their setup, and the entire array fails. Even if enemies breach one array on our line, the remaining ones barely lose strength. They'd have to tackle each fortress individually. The core 36 islands resemble a sprawling city—breach one wall, and you're inside. Assaulting the Western Defense line is like storming a chain of bastions; conquer one, and you still face the next in sequence. The challenge levels are worlds apart."

Du Wan Sha's satisfied nod followed Zhao Hai's detailed response. "Indeed, the distinctions are clear. Excellent. The Thirteen Families aim to rely on this formation as their final stand—we won't let them. We'll launch a full assault tomorrow, though we must plan the island strike with precision first."

Du Wan Sha pulled out a jade slip and channeled his spiritual power into it. Instantly, a projected map of islands materialized before the assembly. Though not enormous, this map captured the layout of the core 36 islands, displaying every single one in detail.

On the map, the central island loomed largest, encircled by numerous smaller ones that served as vigilant sentinels. These outlying islands stood close enough to aid one another, forming an impenetrable shield around the massive core. Clearly, this illustrated the defensive posture of the core 36 islands. No path existed to slip past these guardians and strike the heart directly.

Du Wan Sha studied the map intently before speaking gravely. "As you all observe, the 36 islands are positioned just so on this map. Your thoughts? We ought to zero in on that key island to dismantle the Thirteen Families Alliance in the swiftest manner possible." With Du Wan Sha's suggestion hanging in the air, eyes darted across the map as everyone pondered which target would lead to the quickest downfall of the Thirteen Families Alliance.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Jinyang and his allies wrestled with tangled emotions. They had once belonged to the Thirteen Families Alliance, even as its third strongest house. Now, they stood opposed to it, stirring a whirlwind of intricate, bittersweet feelings within them.

Yet Du Wan Sha had no time to dwell on their inner turmoil. He addressed the group directly. "Come on, everyone—speak up." Still, silence prevailed. No one could pinpoint a prime first target, as they felt the outcome would mirror no matter the starting island.

At that moment, Du Wan Sha's gaze settled on Zhao Hai again, his tone firm. "Little Hai, your turn." Immediately, all focus snapped back to Zhao Hai. He paused in surprise before giving a reluctant nod. Spotlights weren't his preference, but with Du Wan Sha calling him out, he had little choice. Deep down, he recognized this as praise from the elder, though truthfully, he disliked the attention—yet he steeled himself to proceed.

With that in mind, Zhao Hai stepped up to the map and declared solemnly. "I suggest we divide into two teams. One, under the Great Elder's command, charges straight at Meteoric Island. There, have the Great Elder unleash the God-Slaying Blade to shatter Meteoric Island's heart formation, drawing every enemy eye in the area. For the second team, I'd propose Elder Li and Elder Tu lead the way to strike Lone Mountain Island. This spot lurks behind the enemy's core main island, where defenses likely slacken—something the Great Elder has probably spotted already."Their defenses hinge on layers of islands blocking our path. These outposts echo support to one another, so piercing one only reveals another in its wake. Breaking through won't come easy. Lone Mountain Island stands apart, positioned rearward of the main island. Though separated by some distance, nothing lies between them—a wide-open gap. Seize it, and we advance unchecked toward the enemy's heart. Panic will grip them then, caught in a pincer from front and rear. Claiming the main island becomes far simpler after that. Once the core falls, the surrounding guard islands lose their menace, falling to us with ease."

The group absorbed Zhao Hai's strategy while eyeing the two islands he indicated. As he wrapped up, realization dawned in their stares. They weren't fools, but lacking formal battle tactics, their strategic insight fell short. Zhao Hai's breakdown illuminated the targets perfectly. The Meteoric Island he highlighted was the nearest to their position—Flowing Light Island served as the outermost barrier of the 36 core islands. Beyond it lay additional layers. As Zhao Hai noted, assaulting from there meant conquering Flowing Light Island, then battling through at least two more defenses to reach the core—a grueling endeavor.

Lone Mountain Island, by contrast, guarded the core from behind. The gap to the main island wasn't negligible, but no barriers filled the void. Thus, Lone Mountain Island acted as the initial rearward shield; breaching it opened a direct route to the enemy's nucleus—the most efficient path by far.

Zhao Hai's scheme boiled down to basics: Du Wan Sha's force hits Meteoric Island head-on to pull enemy focus, while Li Daya and Tu Ling circle to claim Lone Mountain Island rapidly. From there, they surge toward the core. A straightforward feint maneuver, yet devastatingly potent.

A gleam sparked in Du Wan Sha's eyes as he scrutinized the map, then he erupted in hearty laughter. "Splendid, splendid—this is a brilliant plan! Hahaha, Old Li, Old Tu, your verdict? Zhao Hai's handed you the prime assignment and the biggest glory. Up for it?"

The pair chuckled at Du Wan Sha's remark. Li Daya's name belied his sturdy frame—his teeth weren't notably large, but his build was imposing and robust. He boomed with laughter. "Fine lad, he's got a heart after all. Count me in. Old Tu, you game?"

Elder Tu, shorter in stature but exuding a rugged ferocity, rasped a laugh in his gravelly voice. "You'd pass on a golden opportunity like this? What else could top it? I'm taking the job too!"

"Perfect! It's settled then. We rest today and divide forces tomorrow!"