Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8473: Start of action (1)

Da Jiuzhi stared in disbelief at Liu Feizhou's corpse. The idea that Liu Feizhou would end his own life had never crossed his mind. It was utterly beyond what he had anticipated. Only after quite some time did Da Jiuzhi snap out of his daze. With a complex look on his face, he gazed at Liu Feizhou's body, then let out a sigh. "What a devoted and honorable fellow. Go on, take him away and ensure he gets a fitting burial!" The servant standing behind him responded right away and headed toward Liu Feizhou's remains. Upon reaching it, rather than stuffing the body into the space-teleportation device, he straightened the clothes and lifted the corpse before spinning around and heading out. His movements revealed deep respect for Liu Feizhou. Regardless of the situation, a faithful person always earned admiration, even if their choices seemed foolish at times. Yet, that very loyalty made them deserving of the highest regard.

Watching the servant bear Liu Feizhou's body off, Da Jiuzhi heaved a deep breath and whispered, "Junior Brother Wen, setting aside your power for the moment, you've truly secured an exceptional servant. I wonder if I'll ever have the fortune to discover someone like Liu Feizhou in my lifetime. Should I find such a loyal aide, it would be a divine gift." After uttering those words, Da Jiuzhi shut his eyes, not reopening them until much later. His gaze then settled on the Jade slip clutched in his hand, and he murmured, "It appears this affair is probably genuine. Things are about to get fascinating."

Following that, Da Jiuzhi rose to his feet and stowed the Jade slip. He turned his attention to the four strikes and mumbled, "It's been ages since I ventured off the island. High time I stepped out for a glimpse around. Hehe, the Ghostwind bandits' hoard. Who would've guessed that tale held truth? Fascinating, truly fascinating!" Though his words claimed intrigue, he had already exited the chamber. As he proceeded, the eerie buzz of venomous bugs echoed occasionally from the sealed yards, sending chills down the spine.

Bold Zhang worked as a rogue cultivator, though he lacked much cleverness. His folks had been rogue cultivators too. Once they passed, he survived solo. He traveled alongside childhood companions. They gathered herbs and traded them for Jingshi to advance their Cultivation. The technique he practiced was quite basic, typical of the humblest rogue cultivators.

On that particular day, he trailed his companions to their usual herb-gathering spot to collect plants. No rare herbs thrived there, but the common ones sprouted quickly. They could harvest batches periodically and swap them for Jingshi. It served as a reliable livelihood. Moreover, their group numbered several, so they'd harvested here safely for a while.

While Bold Zhang gathered herbs, he spotted a Jade slip hidden among the foliage. He froze in surprise. Jade slips abounded in the cultivation world, yet they weren't scattered everywhere like weeds. Still, curiosity gripped him. He scooped up the Jade slip and inspected it closely. It seemed like a plain one, its secrets unknown. With his daring nature, Bold Zhang promptly directed his mental power into it. The Jade slip's information flooded his thoughts swiftly.

Yet, upon absorbing the Jade slip's message, Bold Zhang's eyes snapped wide, and he let out a startled cry. His outburst drew the eyes of his fellow travelers. They rushed over at once. Spotting the Jade slip in Bold Zhang's grasp, they regarded him with puzzled stares, unsure of the commotion.

Just then, a voice rang out. "What the heck? How'd you end up here? Why yell like that? You gave us a fright—we figured you were in trouble. What's this thing? Hand it over." Before Bold Zhang could recover, the man grabbed the Jade slip and probed it with his mental power.

The instant he accessed the Jade slip's details, the man's expression shifted dramatically. He whipped around to Bold Zhang and demanded, "Where on earth did you find this Jade slip?" His tone quivered. Clearly, the discovery stunned him, as he'd never imagined stumbling upon such fortune.

Though Bold Zhang felt a pang of regret for his slow reaction that let another glimpse the contents, the deed was done. He simply replied, "It was right here, buried under these herbs. No clue who dropped it. Boss, you reckon it's legit?"

The one Bold Zhang addressed as boss led this band of rogue cultivators. His power had climbed to the Profound Qi realm, topping the group's strength. Plus, his upright character won their trust, making him their chief. He bore the surname Lei—Lei Quan. He hailed from a minor clan that later crumbled, forcing him into rogue cultivation. But his clan roots gave him some knowledge of the Ghostwind bandits from over a millennium back. He recalled bits about their notorious treasure that stirred chaos. This surprise deepened; he hadn't expected to encounter a Jade slip hinting at the Ghostwind bandits' treasure in this spot.

Hearing Bold Zhang's words, Lei Quan's eyes flickered with murderous intent. But spotting the curious gazes around him, he quelled the urge. With a heavy sigh, he faced the group and spoke gravely, "Folks, check this out for yourselves. We'll discuss once you've read it." He then handed the Jade slip around. The others accepted it eagerly and pored over the text with care.

Once they'd scanned the Jade slip, shock rippled through the group. They all turned to Lei Quan, faces alight with joy. From his demeanor, it was clear he grasped more. Lei Quan managed a wry grin at their expressions. Truth be told, he'd briefly considered keeping the secret for himself. But with so many witnesses, that plan was doomed. Had he slain Bold Zhang then to claim it alone... well, these companions would sense something amiss in the Jade slip. They weren't saints; they'd turn on him without mercy. A beating would be the least of it. Thus, he opted to share the revelation and plot next steps together.

Noting their expectant stares, Lei Quan declared solemnly, "I'm familiar with the Ghostwind bandits. Over a thousand years past, a fierce bandit crew emerged in the Blood Sea Realm. Their might was immense. They plundered endless rogue cultivators and hit numerous small-to-medium Sects. Ultimately, they crossed the Severe Sword Sect and got wiped out by them. Yet, post their demise, whispers spread that these bandits had seized vast riches. But they hadn't carried them off, and the Severe Sword Sect claimed none. Folks believed they'd stashed the loot in some hidden lair unknown to all. This tale sparked frenzy a millennium ago. Myriad searchers scoured the lands for the Ghostwind bandits' treasure, but none succeeded. The buzz faded only after decades."

Pausing there, Lei Quan surveyed the group. Excitement burned in their eyes, the allure of 'treasure' clouding judgment. Anyone blocking their path would face drawn weapons and fierce battle.

Clearing his throat softly, Lei Quan continued gravely, "I caught wind of this tale by chance once, dismissing it as mere legend. Never dreamed I'd find this Jade slip today. Its sudden emergence feels off—I can't vouch for its authenticity. Still, we ought to investigate. After all, it points to just one target. True or not, we snag that fellow and grill him. Thoughts?"

"Sounds good, Boss Lei. Let's roll with that. We'll track it down, rough up the guy, nab him, and pry the truth. If the treasure's real, we're set for life." The speaker was a team member. The rest nodded vigorously in support.

Lei Quan had no qualms. He promptly announced, "Move out. Head back to base now. Forget the herbs—chasing the treasure trumps that. Let's fly." The group agreed without hesitation, soaring after Lei Quan and vanishing in moments.

When Lei Quan and his crew reached the city, pandemonium reigned. The teleportation array teemed with crowds. As confusion mounted, snippets of "Ghostwind bandits" and "treasures" drifted from the throng. Those terms jolted Lei Quan and the others. They'd never foreseen the secret leaking so fast. It caught them off guard completely.

But their shock soured to grimness shortly. With the word out, snaring Zou Xiao and the Ghostwind bandits' treasure seemed doubtful. Given their power, could they wrest him from the masses?

Still, Lei Quan realized the wider the spread, the more credible the intel. Clearly, someone had leaked it on purpose. Whatever their motive, one fact stood: they'd tied it to the Ghostwind bandits. That suggested purpose. Since the leaker dared bait with the Ghostwind bandits' saga, the link to their treasure might hold water. Motive aside, anything Ghostwind-related demanded checking. They couldn't pass it up. For rogue cultivators like them, the Ghostwind bandits' treasure tempted beyond measure. Resources for Cultivation were their direst need. With them, progress awaited. So, they pressed on—even into evident snares.

Across the Blood Sea Realm, Lei Quan's mindset echoed in countless hearts. Rogue cultivators everywhere buzzed with fervor. Sects caught wind too. The top ten held mild disinterest in the prize. Yet smaller and mid-tier Sects eyed it keenly. In a flash, nearly every Blood Sea Realm cultivator stirred. All sights locked on one: the rogue cultivator named Zou Xiao!