Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8526: Back (1)

"Master, have they stayed in their previous spots?" Wen Butong gazed at the Withered Leaf Master, who had his eyes shut tight while probing the area around them. Moments later, he shook his head and replied, "They’ve vanished. They’ve shifted from their starting point, yet they remain close by. Allow me to probe deeper." With those words, he shut his eyes once more and carefully scanned the vicinity. Finally, he reopened them and gestured toward a specific direction. "That’s where they are, roughly 50,000 miles away from us."

Wen Butong and his companions quickly clustered around the island’s map. Upon closer inspection, their faces creased with concern. The enemies had taken position within the Xuan Qing Sect. They had relocated their full forces to the Xuan Qing Sect, drawing in reinforcements from various islands. This setup meant they had the foes boxed in. Once they pinpointed the exact spot, they could launch an assault, encircle them tightly, and wipe them out completely.

However, the adversaries had now slipped through their trap. They weren’t inside the Xuan Qing Sect or any other faction. The waters they occupied formed a barren stretch near the Blood River Sea. Encircling them there would prove far more challenging.

Wen Butong’s brow knitted as he stared at that section of ocean. "Their escape to this spot creates a real headache for us, since surrounding them isn’t feasible from here. If we simply charge ahead, they’ll slip away on the opposite flank. What do you all think? Any solid plans?"

The group studied the map intently, their expressions troubled. Abruptly, Shang Xuanzi spoke up. "Could it be they realized we’d spotted them and fled on purpose? Why else would they vanish right as the Withered Leaf Master detected them? Based on their initial setup, it looked like they were gearing up to strike us."

At those words, the others froze in surprise. Then, they all turned toward the Withered Leaf Master, eager for his take. After all, he had deployed that secret art moments ago. The Withered Leaf Master’s face tightened at Shang Xuanzi’s suggestion, and he responded, "I employed the Divine Courage of the Buddha Sect. Without the foe also mastering Buddha Sect abilities, there’s no way they’d sense my technique. Still, if they do possess knowledge of the Buddha Sect’s Divine Courage, detecting it wouldn’t be impossible. That scenario would spell serious trouble."

Wen Butong’s forehead creased deeper as he rumbled, "It looks like they’ve caught on to us. Here’s my proposal: since they’re outside any sect’s domain, let’s hold off for a couple of days and watch their next steps. Whichever sect they target, we’ll rush our forces there right away and trap them. Then, we’ll crush them decisively."

Nods of agreement rippled through the group. Clearly, Wen Butong’s strategy stood out as the sharpest. With the enemy roaming free beyond sect borders, encirclement eluded them. In this bind, striking a fatal blow remained out of reach. Should the foe flee, tracking them down would grow immensely tough. Thus, patience was key—wait for their move, lock in their position, and strike.

Noting the lack of dissent, Wen Butong pressed on. "Relay orders to the disciples: rest up fully, yet stay primed for combat. The instant we locate them, we obliterate them without mercy. Also, every sect must deploy their portable teleportation arrays. Upon discovery, we’ll teleport in and eradicate them swiftly."

Affirmations echoed from all. They understood well that regardless of the enemy’s ploy, swift elimination was essential. Letting those rascals escape would breed disaster. If they broke free from the Blood River Sea, word of their deeds might spread. That could doom them. The nine great sects would show no quarter.

Unbeknownst to them, the nine great sects likely already knew of their presence. Their inaction stemmed from a plan to strike only as the Millennium War loomed. Acting prematurely might leave survivors who’d bide their time in hiding, then lash out during the war’s chaos. Such an outcome would complicate matters gravely. Better to let them believe themselves secure, then smash them utterly when the time came. This would hobble their recovery, rendering any remnants harmless amid the Millennium War.

This very calculus kept the nine great sects at bay. They were aware of Zhao Hai and his crew’s raids on Blood River Sea sects, yet dismissed it. In their eyes, the clash between Ghostwind Bandits and Blood River Sea forces benefited them no matter the victor. Ideal results would see both sides battered. They could then swoop in and claim the spoils.

Over recent days, Zhao Hai and his team had focused on recovery. With Laura steering the ship, she selected their hideouts. Her tactical acumen outshone Zhao Hai’s in command. For this conflict, Zhao Hai intended her to direct fights among cultivators below Island Lord rank. He, alongside Chang Jun and fellow Island Lords, would confront the enemy’s elite at that level.

Though their Island Lord count hovered near 200, bolstered by the aliens, their strength swelled mightily. Zhao Hai felt assured in a direct clash, yet a brief respite was vital for all to peak in form.

Following three days of recuperation, Zhao Hai assessed the group’s readiness. Satisfied with their restored vigor, he summoned them all. As they assembled in the plaza, Zhao Hai scanned their faces and declared gravely, "The Blood Slaughter Sect has endured massive upheaval. We can no longer flaunt our true faces. In truth, we’re forced into a life of plunder to survive. But keep this etched in your minds: you hail from the Blood Slaughter Sect, a pinnacle force in the Blood Sea Realm. Never lose sight of who you are. Our current path is but a fleeting detour. It won’t define us eternally."

The assembly hung on his every word. Zhao Hai met their eyes and went on, "As members of the Bloody Massacre Sect, we’re no pushovers for casual foes. The Blood River Sea alliance targets us, believing we cower and evade open battle. Today, we shatter that illusion. We charge straight at them. We’ll make them grasp that the Bloody Massacre Sect isn’t to be trifled with. The fight will rage fiercely, but victory is ours alone. After we’ve crushed them all, our dominance will shine. The realm will learn we’re untouchable. Do you stand ready?"

"Yes! We do! Absolutely!" Roars of enthusiasm erupted, eyes blazing with zeal toward Zhao Hai. In their darkest hours, he shone as their guiding star, steering them clear of pitfalls. With Zhao Hai at the helm, no obstacle loomed insurmountable.

Zhao Hai regarded the fervent throng and intoned deeply, "Arm yourselves. Epic clashes await in the coming days. Post-victory, we’ll conquer the Blood River Sea entirely. All within shall bow to us. This marks the dawn of reclaiming the Blood Slaughter Sect’s splendor!"

A thunderous chorus affirmed his call. Zhao Hai scanned them once more and commanded, "Dismissed. Return, recharge briefly, and remain vigilant for the signal to strike!" With resounding energy, they dispersed. Zhao Hai alerted Laura, who promptly redirected the vessel toward the Xuan Qing Sect. Intelligence confirmed the Blood River Sea coalition planned a final showdown in Xuan Qing territory.

Upon Zhao Hai’s group reentering Xuan Qing Sect grounds, the Withered Leaf Master picked up on it instantly and relayed the news to Wen Butong and allies. Wen Butong’s face lit with delight at the report. He hadn’t anticipated their return—a golden opportunity indeed.

Wen Butong swiftly convened everyone in the Xuan Qing Sect’s grand hall. Though it was Xuan Qing domain, as alliance head, Wen Butong commanded respect across sects, especially in this united cause. Thus, his gatherings unfolded in the sect’s majestic assembly chamber.

Once assembled in the hall, Wen Butong addressed the Withered Leaf Master directly. "Master, their current whereabouts?" He feared another evasion, hence the query to reaffirm Zhao Hai’s location through the master’s sense.

The Withered Leaf Master probed anew, then murmured lowly, "They’ve settled back in their prior spot and halted movement. It appears they intend to assault the Xuan Qing Sect after all!" Though potent, the mind-sensing art couldn’t pierce thoughts directly. It merely detected presences via intuition. Distance drained more power from it. That explained the heavy toll during his initial detection of Zhao Hai’s forces. Subsequent checks demanded far less, merely a closed-eye focus to locate them.