Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8436: Control _1

As soon as number one issued the command, the remaining puppets came to a sudden halt. They swiftly lifted their weapons, gearing up to strike at Zhao Hai. Yet, just an instant later, number one materialized once more at Zhao Hai's side. The puppets froze in place right away. Afterward, number one inclined his head toward Zhao Hai and declared, "Young master, I’ve thought it through."

Zhao Hai gazed at number one and asked, "Have you really thought it through?" Becoming part of the dead spirit race means that, while you can shift into human shape, your peak battle strength will always shine brightest in your dead spirit form. True, you'll gain the ability to cultivate and achieve immortality, but you'll remain forever bound to the dead spirit race.

"Yes, young master. I’ve truly considered it carefully. I’m ready to join the dead spirit race. At the very least, they can pursue cultivation. In my present condition, cultivation is impossible for me. I’m a cultivator at heart—I must cultivate," number one replied in a solemn tone. Though his voice stayed as rigid as ever, his reasoning now carried more clarity. He no longer clung desperately to the dream of eternal life like before.

In truth, number one had long fallen prey to his inner demons. As Zhao Hai had pointed out, he initially rejoiced upon entering the puppet's frame, thrilled at the chance to endure. To bolster his soul further, he had merged it even tighter with the puppet's core array hub.

But soon enough, he realized his grave error: escape from the puppet's shell was now beyond him. He had planned to use the iron-soul wood to nurture his Yin soul, paving the way for full possession later on. Now trapped inside the puppet forever, what path lay ahead?

Ultimately, he resorted to endless self-persuasion, framing this existence as a form of longevity. Gradually, he deluded himself into belief. In time, he poured every ounce of focus into mastering mechanical puppetry, which birthed all the wonders of the secret realm.

Yet, once Zhao Hai drew him into the space, it swiftly tamed him. It banished his inner demons in the process. Zhao Hai presented him with a fresh option: transformation into an undead race member. Though the undead were spectral beings, Zhao Hai's version showed no trace of horror—they resembled ordinary humans, capable of marriage, raising families, and even cultivation. This revelation prompted his swift decision. He yearned to join the dead spirit clan. That's why he uttered those words moments ago.

Zhao Hai gave a nod. "Very well, your decision stands. It's settled now. You may return." With a casual flick of his hand, Zhao Hai stored puppet number one away. Inside the dimension, its soul would be drawn out, granting it a reborn existence in the hell dimension. There, cultivation awaited. Zhao Hai planned to retain the original puppet shell. Truth be told, that body offered little beyond its superior craftsmanship from fine materials. Still, those materials proved exceptional. Iron-soul wood served as a soul-nurturing variety, one Zhao Hai recognized well. High-quality soul-raising woods like it were scarce. He had no personal need, but gifting them remained viable.

Naturally, iron-soul wood existed within his interspace too. The interspace paid no mind to whether the wood had dried out or undergone refinement. Extract a single cell, and replication followed. Zhao Hai would never face shortages of such items going forward.

With number one's affairs resolved, Zhao Hai couldn't resist glancing toward the small town. It brimmed with snares, exactly as he had foreseen. Yet, unlike his predictions, no hidden tunnels lurked below. The builders from the divine Secrets sect had all perished during construction.

Zhao Hai had gleaned these details straight from number one. Knowing the full story, he let out a heavy sigh. The divine Secrets sect's final bastion—their secret realm—might have safeguarded some legacy of their lineage. Instead, one of their own had shattered it utterly.

Zhao Hai shook his head ruefully. Nothing proved more fickle than the human heart. That's precisely why he placed utmost faith in Ding Chunming. A soul mark bound Ding Chunming eternally, ensuring no betrayal. He trusted the rest too, yet vigilance never wavered. He couldn't be faulted for caution; the heart's depths defied all prediction.

At present, number one had revealed every trap's secret, along with the puppets' command protocols. He had even commanded all puppets to obey Zhao Hai without question. Thus, Zhao Hai harbored no fear of their assault. In essence, the city's mechanisms and the secret realm's defenses now bowed to his will.

Zhao Hai surveyed the area and breathed a sigh. Frankly, number one had been a prodigy in life. Even in death, his brilliance endured. Pushing mechanisms and puppet arts to such heights marked him as extraordinary. Consider this: he achieved it all single-handedly. Such feats were exceedingly uncommon.

This compact city would aid him immensely. Indeed, it promised vast benefits to the entire bloody massacre sect. The traps woven here wielded tremendous might. Even an Island Lord-tier powerhouse would struggle fiercely if ensnared within. Their potency was undeniable.

That said, Zhao Hai spotted numerous ways to refine these mechanism arts further. Integrating them into the Sen Luo Treasure Hall would surely amplify its offensive prowess dramatically. For the blood slaughter sect, this spelled pure fortune.

Zhao Hai advanced steadily into the city. Gaining entry demanded precise steps. Rash entry would unleash the traps upon him. Thus, he proceeded with caution, step by measured step. Four hours passed before he reached the towering structure at the city's heart, shaped like an eight-trigram compass.

Zhao Hai examined the edifice closely. It functioned as the city's nerve center, number one's quarters, and the vault for his prized possessions. Here rested every cultivation technique Jade slip from the divine Secrets sect, plus all resources the sect had managed to salvage back then. Admittedly, number one had depleted most supplies, yet ample stores lingered. A sect's hoard was never trivial, after all.

Zhao Hai ascended first to the building's summit, disarming every trap across the city. Only then did he exhale in relief. Candidly, he grasped the traps' layouts but hadn't delved into their workings yet. A single misstep could spell chaos, so relief washed over him only after neutralizing them all.

After a moment's reflection, Zhao Hai chose not to linger. He would summon Ha Jing from outside, brief him on the discoveries, and let Ha Jing witness the city firsthand. The handling would fall to Ha Jing thereafter. With that in mind, Zhao Hai gestured sharply. A intricate array shimmered into being nearby. The instant after, Zhao Hai vanished within its glow.

Upon emerging outside, Zhao Hai found Ha Jing deep in meditation. Sensing the array's ripple, Ha Jing snapped his eyes open and spotted Zhao Hai. Surprise flickered across his face—he hadn't anticipated Zhao Hai's swift return from the secret realm. Had dangers been absent entirely?

Stepping from the array, Zhao Hai promptly saluted Ha Jing with cupped fists. "Greetings, Grandmaster. The secret realm's traps are now neutralized. I hold the coordinates too. Once the array is prepared, we can venture inside together."

Ha Jing rose and eyed Zhao Hai. "What lies within? Did perils arise after your entry?" Genuine bewilderment colored his voice. Had the divine Secrets sect's secret realm lacked all defenses? How else to explain Zhao Hai's rapid exit?

Ha Jing's query drew a sigh from Zhao Hai. Then, he recounted his secret realm experiences—from entry to encountering number one. He shared even the words exchanged with number one. Since number one offered no denial, Zhao Hai's deductions rang mostly true. Number one had slain the divine Secrets sect's remnants and gradually forged that small city. Sharing this with Ha Jing now felt entirely justified.

Ha Jing's face tightened subtly at Zhao Hai's account. He let out a sigh and murmured deeply, "Amitabha. To think the divine Secrets sect's final lineage would conclude so tragically. This defies all expectation. Have you disposed of that puppet?" Zhao Hai had omitted his handling of number one, prompting the question.

Zhao Hai affirmed with a nod. "Indeed, I've dealt with him. Rest easy, master. I drew out his soul and applied a soul-searching technique, revealing the inner workings. Drawing from that, I seized command over every trap and puppet in the secret realm. With traps disarmed, dangers are gone. The puppets obey fully. I suggest senior brother enters to inspect it himself."

Ha Jing nodded in agreement. "Alright, a visit makes sense. But as you described, the space is quite confined. Such minor secret realms lack fully formed laws and maintain loose ties to the main space. Their grasp of main space laws stays incomplete. Lingering too long as one like me, with my potent energy, risks outright collapse. Still, a brief look poses no issue. Afterward, we'll inform the sect and await their guidance on proceedings."

Sudden understanding dawned on Zhao Hai. The secret realm bore a unique vulnerability: prolonged presence by powerhouses like Ha Jing could trigger its downfall. No surprise, then, that the ancient teleportation array beyond enforced strength limits—to avert just such a realm-shattering catastrophe.