Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8433: Small city (1)

A gentle stream wound through the landscape, accompanied by the songs of birds and the vibrant display of blooming flowers. Nearby stood a charming little bridge over the gently flowing water. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. But in Zhao Hai's gaze, this enchanting panorama felt profoundly odd. He had never anticipated encountering such a picturesque vista right before him. The unexpected beauty left him genuinely astonished.

Zhao Hai had been wrong on that count as well. Actual birds did inhabit this space. Several of them glided across the heavens, emitting occasional chirps that infused the dim areas with a spark of liveliness. Yet Zhao Hai understood perfectly that this liveliness was entirely artificial, since he had already detected the birds as mere illusions.

The water appeared crystal clear and inviting, though Zhao Hai suspected it was fabricated. The same went for the small bridge. Likely, the whole setup concealed deadly snares. It looked like this was the second trial. He just couldn't predict what dangers lurked ahead for him.

With that in mind, Zhao Hai scanned the surroundings with utmost caution. Three streams crisscrossed the area, along with six small bridges, twenty-four trees, thirty-six birds, and one hundred and eight blossoms in assorted hues. Plus, twelve colorful little boats bobbed in the streams. The whole expanse spanned over fifty mu.

Zhao Hai grinned and advanced at a measured pace. Before long, he neared the first tree. Perched on it was a tiny bird, hopping along the branches and twittering endlessly. In truth, Zhao Hai held deep respect for the mechanical prowess of the Divine Secrets Sect. Their creations were so lifelike they rivaled the real thing. It was a remarkable feat.

Truth be told, achieving such realism through mechanics alone was no small accomplishment. Zhao Hai felt genuine admiration, yet he had no time to delve into it. His goal was to shatter this illusion swiftly, lest Elder Ha Jing grow impatient and charge in again. That could cause the entire secret realm to crumble.

Zhao Hai passed directly by the first tree without triggering any assault. This piqued his curiosity. He wondered when the initial onslaught would strike. Even without immediate threats, Zhao Hai remained hyper-vigilant. He watched the ground under his boots and every inch around him.

As Zhao Hai approached the first bridge, a small boat abruptly floated his way. His pulse quickened at the sight, and he locked his attention on it. In that instant, a chilling gust rose from beneath his feet. Moments later, he was hurled airborne. Glancing down, Zhao Hai spotted long spears thrusting up from where he'd stood seconds before. His face twisted in shock. "Who the hell designed this trap?" he muttered in fury. That guy's downright vicious—if I weren't clad in liquid silver armor, I'd probably be skewered already. Way too ruthless; better not let me discover the culprit.

While he grumbled, a massive net launched from the river's boat, aiming straight for Zhao Hai's head. Flight was impossible for him now, but his mastery over force was unmatched. Twisting mid-air, he evaded the net's reach. Right then, two piercing sensations struck his back. Zhao Hai's features hardened. He spun around and swung his arm to strike behind him.

Two sharp cracks echoed. Behind him flew two birds, hurtling like deadly arrows. Their pointed beaks had targeted his back, but Zhao Hai's slap made them burst apart simultaneously. The explosive force shoved Zhao Hai back several steps.

By now, Zhao Hai's foot touched the bridge. A thick, adhesive substance coated it. He froze in surprise. Abruptly, the bridge began to coil toward him. Getting ensnared like that would trap him like a rodent on glue paper.

Though Zhao Hai feared no such thing, the sticky mess would still be unpleasant. With a cold huff, he gestured sharply. A fierce wind erupted around him, swirling into a colossal tornado in seconds. The vortex grew immense, drawing in all nearby objects. Zhao Hai directed it onward with a flick, and instantly, the bridge soared skyward. The river and boats vanished into its fury as well.

The tornado rampaged through the terrain, demolishing everything in its path. Traps abounded, and structures stood sturdy, but the storm's might was overwhelming. Its raw force leveled the edifices, lifted all the water aloft, and even uprooted the metallic trees. Zhao Hai sensed trouble as the trees toppled.

Each tree hid an intricate device inside. They were hollow, linked by myriad gears and chains. No formations were present, however. Zhao Hai recognized the elaborate machinery within, though its purpose eluded him.

The tornado finally dissipated after some time. Zhao Hai surveyed the devastation and saw total ruin. Only scattered traps remained intact. Surprisingly, the enveloping fog lingered unaffected. Yet it began to recede gradually. A smile crept across Zhao Hai's face at this. He realized he'd conquered the second challenge.

True to form, the mist rose steadily into the air, forming clusters of dull clouds. They drifted high above, distant from Zhao Hai. The secret realm's true layout lay bare before him. The revelation left him utterly stunned.

Only now did Zhao Hai grasp the secret realm's vast scale. His current spot was merely the periphery. Pressing on would lead to a sizable settlement. Though not a grand metropolis, it qualified as a modest town, capable of sheltering around ten thousand souls. Towering walls encircled it, and atop them loomed a gateway inscribed with two bold characters: Shen Ji.

Zhao Hai stood roughly ten miles from the town. Beyond the wreckage he'd wrought lay a protective ditch. Then came the settlement itself. Its interior remained hidden from view, so he pressed forward without restraint. In moments, he crossed the destroyed zone and reached the ditch's edge.

Halting by the moat, Zhao Hai examined its depths closely. It stretched about 200 feet across, its surface serene like a motionless pond. To his astonishment, he spotted underwater vegetation and swimming fish within.

Zhao Hai glanced about but found no bridges or vessels. Puzzled, he pondered briefly, then summoned water from the moat into his space with a motion. He aimed to analyze its nature, checking if it matched the stream's liquid from earlier.

The stream's water Zhao Hai had faced was toxic—a dense, chilling variant. Incredibly heavy, it sank ordinary objects unless crafted from rare substances. It carried an intense, bone-piercing cold that could freeze anyone on contact.

These findings prompted Zhao Hai to unleash the tornado for total destruction. Step-by-step progress would drag on too long. Still, he needed to inspect the moat. Should its waters prove identical, he'd reassess the Divine Secrets Sect's might. This wasn't natural water but a refined product. Producing such quantities marked them as formidable indeed.

Soon enough, Zhao Hai confirmed his suspicions. The moat's water mirrored the stream's—same heavy cold composition. His expression darkened at this. The Divine Secrets Sect's ability to amass so much implied vast resources. Even in this realm, such abundance hinted at their past dominance. Caution was essential now. Plus, crossing this moat wouldn't be straightforward.

The plants and fish in the moat were surely engineered constructs. At this thought, Zhao Hai's eyes gleamed. He let out a chilly laugh and declared, "If you'd faced anyone else, breaking through might've been tough. Too bad it's me you're dealing with." With that, his hand shifted, forming a seal. A bubble materialized in his grasp. He released it toward the moat, where it hovered and whirled rapidly. The water below responded as if pulled by an invisible force, surging from the ditch into the bubble and vanishing inside.

Shortly, the moat stood empty. Even the plants and fish had vanished, leaving a barren channel. Zhao Hai eyed the dry bed with a smirk. He stored the bubble in his space with a wave, then leaped across. The gate lay just a dozen meters ahead.

The gates remained shut. From his vantage, the walls rose over 30 meters high. Such stature impressed but didn't faze Zhao Hai. He strode toward the entrance, eager to uncover the Divine Secrets Sect's next ploy.

As he neared the gate, it creaked open. A figure emerged slowly from within the city. Zhao Hai paused to observe. Upon recognizing the newcomer, he froze briefly. But realization dawned quickly—the one stepping out was a puppet.