Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8458: Hard work (1)

Indeed, once the Ghostwind bandits were wiped out, a flood of tales began circulating. The most captivating story claimed that the Ghostwind bandits had stashed away a massive hoard of riches. All these valuables had been plundered by the Ghostwind bandits from numerous locations. Unable to utilize them, the bandits concealed the bounty. Whoever managed to uncover this fortune would instantly become wealthy beyond measure.

This particular tale gained widespread acceptance back then. Numerous individuals endorsed it, including several sects that strongly backed the notion. They believed the story rang true since the Ghostwind bandits and the Severe Sword Sect had nearly wiped each other out, yet the Severe Sword Sect never claimed any of the Ghostwind bandits' spoils. So, what happened to all the loot the Ghostwind bandits had seized over the years? It surely hadn't vanished into thin air, which fueled the spread of this rumor.

Back in those days, a massive Ghostwind treasure hunt swept through the Blood Sea Realm. Throngs of people dove headfirst into the quest for the Ghostwind hoard, with even some sects mobilizing their forces. The ten great sects dispatched teams of disciples to probe the mystery. Yet, despite all efforts, the search yielded zero results.

With the passage of time, the frenzy gradually faded away. Folks lost interest in the pursuit. Whispers even emerged suggesting the Ghostwind bandits hadn't looted as much as rumored. They supposedly put every stolen item to good use themselves. That explained their formidable strength and the possession of such potent magic tools. Gradually, the matter slipped from people's minds, and no one chased after it anymore.

Yet, Feng Xin and his companions stood apart. As direct victims of the Ghostwind bandits, they could never let go of this grudge. Erasing it from memory was impossible. Driven by a thirst for vengeance, they also yearned to reclaim what was rightfully theirs. For these reasons, they delved into the affair over time, probing the Ghostwind bandits' surviving kin and tracking down that elusive cache of treasures.

Their persistence eventually bore fruit. After nearly a century of sleuthing, they unearthed vital leads. The Ghostwind bandits indeed had survivors lingering on, though their hidden base remained a mystery. These heirs of the Ghostwind bandits had all entered the Blood Sea Realm via the teleportation array. Afterward, they seldom ventured back.

Moreover, these Ghostwind bandit descendants wielded tremendous power. Even Feng Xin and his group couldn't overpower them. Thus, they operated covertly, shadowing these heirs to uncover their schemes. Their vigilance paid off in a big way. The Ghostwind bandits' offspring continued their legacy of slaying and looting. But they appeared to be safeguarding a secret. Periodically, they led groups away, always heading the same way. Upon return, those who departed with them vanished without a trace.

This pattern sparked deep suspicions. Prior to the Ghostwind bandits' arrival there, Feng Xin's team had dispatched scouts, but nothing turned up. Unbeknownst to them, the old Daoist had fooled their eyes. By then, the old Daoist's essence had been drained heavily into the Ghostwind Ghost Flag, leaving him frail. Naturally, he avoided easy detection. That's why the scouts only spotted the Ghostwind bandits' descendants and missed everyone else. Consequently, Feng Xin's forebears overlooked the canyon entirely.

Years rolled on, and the Ghostwind bandits' followers dwindled in numbers, their prowess waning steadily. Strangely, Feng Xin and his allies suffered a similar decline in might. Nowadays, they resembled typical rogue cultivators in nearly every way. Their edge over other independents lay mainly in their lineage, but otherwise, they mirrored those lone wanderers. As a result, the power gap between the two factions stayed perpetually narrow.

The key distinction was that the Ghostwind bandits' heirs remained oblivious to their watchers. They assumed their true natures stayed hidden from all. Little did they know, their secrets had been laid bare long ago. The observers simply lacked the assurance to strike, holding back for the right moment.

Generations came and went like this, persisting until Feng Xin's era. At last, their collective strength edged out that of the Ghostwind bandits. Still, they held off against Fang Weijia's crew. Sure, their superiority existed, but it was slim. Tackling the Ghostwind bandits demanded precision; one slip could spell disaster. Losing their final threads of intel would be catastrophic. Hence, they kept tabs on Fang Weijia and his lot, biding time for the perfect chance.

To their shock, after Fang Weijia and his group lured Zhao Hai and others away, only Zhao Hai returned. Fang Weizhou and the rest never showed. This twist left them stunned. It prompted Feng Xinxin to reach out to Zhao Hai, hoping to glean some insights from him. Ideally, they'd uncover useful details, but if not, they'd shadow Zhao Hai discreetly, awaiting his departure from the island. Then, they'd seize a moment to confront him.

That approach carried risks, though, given the teleportation array on Blood Lake Island. Should Zhao Hai stay put and teleport out instead of sailing away, tailing him as before would prove tricky. Using the array to pursue might tip him off. Weighing this, they stuck to their current plan: Have Feng Xinxin befriend Zhao Hai, foster trust, and eventually rope him into a joint mission. Lure him off Blood Lake Island, and that's when they'd strike.

Though Feng Zhongxin warmed to Zhao Hai, their long lives had built toward this singular purpose. With everything hinging on Zhao Hai now, releasing him wasn't an option. Thus, Feng Zhongxin quashed his hesitation and settled in to cultivate.

Feng Xinxin and his crew practiced an array of paths. Sword cultivators mingled with body refiners, standard Qi practitioners, and talisman specialists. Their diverse origins—from varied sects and lineages—meant their methods and tools differed widely.

Feng Zhongxin followed the way of the sword. Zhao Hai's sharp gaze had pegged him right. As the inheritor of a minor sword sect in the Blood Sea Realm, Feng Zhongxin paled next to the Severe Sword Sect's might, yet he was undeniably a swordsman. Though he now roamed as a loose cultivator, his sword Qi barely detectable, Zhao Hai spotted his sword path essence instantly.

Inside his chamber, Zhao Hai sat calmly. He refrained from using his spatial power to spy on Feng Zhongxin, having gauged the man's modest strength. Posing no threat to Zhao Hai, constant surveillance seemed unnecessary. Besides, deploying spatial monitoring might alert the island's powerhouses, drawing unwanted scrutiny.

The Blood Lake Island bazaar had showered the Blood Slaughter Sect with immense gains. Fresh off their clash with the thirteen allied clans years back, the sect had alienated most of the ten great sects—save the Giant Demon Sect and Rahu Sect—prior to the conflict. Now, with the market booming, envy from rivals was inevitable. Should jealousy spark invasions on Blood Lake Island, chaos would ensue. Vigilant as ever, the Blood Slaughter Sect fortified the twelve-island market robustly.

Aware of these tensions, Zhao Hai treaded cautiously. He was Zou Xiao now, not the Blood Slaughter Sect's premier disciple, Zhao Hai. Any slip revealing his true self could provoke the sect's wrath. As one of their own, he had no desire to turn them into foes.

Relaxing in his quarters, Zhao Hai extended his spiritual sense toward the Cold Wind Ghost Flag and the soft sword stowed in the Hell Space. The soft sword simply required nurturing to amplify its might over time. The Cold Wind Ghost Flag, battered from prior battles and yet to fully mend, demanded repairs.

Zhao Hai quickly saw that the Cold Wind Ghost Flag ranked as a top-tier artifact, on par with the God-Slaying Saber. Restoring it demanded vast Yin Qi, and it guzzled the stuff far quicker than the soft sword.

Thankfully, Hell Space brimmed with inexhaustible Yin Qi. Even at a hundredfold pace, the Cold Wind Ghost Flag couldn't deplete it. Zhao Hai stayed unconcerned. He figured the flag's wounds would heal rapidly, as it not only drew in Yin Qi but also vast quantities of stray soul energy—the most nourishing element for its recovery.

Having checked on the Cold Wind Ghost Flag and the pliable sword with no notable shifts, Zhao Hai retracted his spiritual sense. He shifted to the Spatial Villa to check on Laura and the others' activities. Witnessing their pursuits, Zhao Hai could only offer a wry smile. Laura and her group were tinkering with mechanisms, revamping the Spatial Villa. Their aim: Evolve it into a trap-filled fortress. Someday, they'd lounge effortlessly in their rooms, issuing commands—the villa handling all tasks, delivering needs right to them.

Beholding Laura and the others' thrilled expressions, like kids with shiny new gadgets, Zhao Hai just grinned without interrupting. Though they roamed freely in the vast space, the Blood Sea Realm barred their entry. This limitation filled Zhao Hai with remorse toward them. So, spotting their joy in these pursuits warmed his heart.

Finally pulling back his spiritual sense entirely, Zhao Hai eased his eyes open. A spark ignited in his gaze. He resolved to push harder, for his Golden Lotus Nine Changes Sutra had evolved anew. Mastering this shift and boosting its potency was essential. Only then could he stand against the realm's titans, fear no adversary, safeguard himself, and free Laura and the others from the medium—without a soul daring to object.