Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8531: The system (1)

The term 'sweep' perfectly captured Zhao Hai's assault on the Blood River Sea. The sects within the Blood River Sea never anticipated such a crushing defeat in this conflict. Master Withered Leaf's Wen Butong perished in the fight, and their forces dispersed entirely. The all-out onslaught from Zhao Hai's crew left the Blood River Sea inhabitants in utter shock.

To their astonishment, they discovered they were utterly powerless against the enemy's advances. Whenever the foes targeted an island, no resistance proved effective. They launched several counteroffensives during this period, only to realize quickly that these efforts yielded nothing. Any direct clash with the opponents resulted in instant routs, leaving them clueless on how to proceed.

Zhao Hai's team adjusted their assault tactics accordingly. At first, their goal was to wipe out every sect and cultivator in the area. Yet, they soon noticed the resistors lacked much strength, which caught them off guard. Thus, Zhao Hai shifted his approach right away, focusing on taking captives instead. Surrenderers got to survive. This tactic further diminished the opposition's might. Zhao Hai grew even more baffled by their puzzling mindset.

Soon after, certain Island Lord-level powerhouses chose to yield. Zhao Hai and his allies grasped the reasons behind these submissions. It stemmed from numerous individuals unwilling to trail the sects back. Returning to the Cloud Sea Realm held no appeal for them. Life in the Blood Sea Realm had become their norm, complete with personal sects, influences, and significance. Venturing to the Cloud Sea Realm meant stepping into an unfamiliar world and integrating into a fresh sect. No matter how kindly the sect members acted, the sheer environmental shift unsettled many. Hence, plenty secretly opposed the journey to the Cloud Sea Realm, though prior suppression by the sects kept their voices silent.

With Zhao Hai's group dismantling all major sects, and the survivors unable to endure further assaults, this reality was plain for all to see. Opting for lone cultivator status seemed worse than aligning with Zhao Hai's side. Joining them offered clear advantages over solitary existence.

Zhao Hai found himself at a loss for words regarding these individuals. Still, he swiftly adapted his strategy. He viewed the Blood River Sea cultivators as possessing solid potential. Proper training could transform them into reliable followers down the line. Consequently, Zhao Hai established a policy: regardless of Island Lord status or common cultivator rank, surrenderers faced binding restrictions applied solely by him. This ensured that all capitulators served on the vanguard in upcoming clashes. They led the charge in every engagement. Surviving ten fights while boldly advancing upfront earned them full status in the Bloody Massacre Sect. Publicly, they were proclaimed as Ghostwind Bandits members, with full initiates also bearing that label.

The surrendered ones, upon learning these terms, felt deeply stirred. Survival drove them. The opponent's identity in future skirmishes mattered little. They would clash even against former sect comrades, knowing refusal spelled death while battling promised a prosperous future. Truly, scant few would pick demise over life in such dilemmas. Those intent on dying gloriously wouldn't have lingered this long—they'd have fallen earlier. Submission signaled a desire to endure, rendering the decision straightforward.

As a result, the yielded fighters exerted themselves fiercely in combats. Plus, thanks to the rapid pace of Zhao Hai's offensives, the ten required bouts concluded swiftly. Numerous individuals thus integrated fully into the fold. Zhao Hai claimed to lift all bindings on them, though he actually retained control. Any plot to turn against him would alert Zhao Hai instantly, leading to their swift elimination.

Such maneuvers propelled Zhao Hai's forces into rapid expansion. Upon conquering two-thirds of the Blood Sea's islands, his command swelled beyond 200,000 strong. This included 100 Island Lords. Their distance from the Blood Sea Realm's core explained the sparse populations. Islands here hosted far fewer cultivators than those nearer the heartland. Hence, Zhao Hai commanded only these 200,000, excluding Chang Jun and his core group.

Zhao Hai recognized that conventional management wouldn't suffice for their circumstances. He thus avoided standard administrative methods. His aim was dominance: instilling fear of reprisal, dread of disloyalty, and obedience to commands. Even orders for self-sacrifice would go unchallenged. This approach alone could harness such a motley force.

Zhao Hai's approach remained straightforward—a rigid hierarchy. He positioned Chang Jun and his longtime cultivator companions at the pinnacle, with himself as the sole superior. Beneath them sat the capitulated Island Lord-level figures. Yet, these lords held no sway over the bloodghost squad, ghost wind squad, or divine Arms Battalion leaders. In essence, the Island Lords shared equal footing with the bloodghost squad, ghost wind squad, and divine Arms Battalion.

Under them ranked those surrenderers who endured over ten battles, excelling in valor, leading assaults, and displaying unwavering allegiance. Zhao Hai elevated them personally. Each oversaw a thousand-strong unit as team leaders, enjoying generous privileges. Access to the hidden Pavilion's initial two tiers was granted, but the third remained off-limits. Solely the yielded Island Lords and bloodsucker team members could access the Sutra library's third tier. Even they barred from the fourth and fifth tiers; only Zhao Hai, Chang Jun, and similar elites could venture there.

The bloodsucker team members understood Zhao Hai's restriction on the Sutra library's upper floors. Those levels housed the Blood Slaughter Sect's secret arts. Exposure there would expose their true affiliation instantly, sparking complications.

None realized the surrenderers hailed from the Blood Massacre Sect. By forbidding use of Blood Massacre Sect methods, Zhao Hai kept their origins veiled. The new recruits assumed their arts derived from genuine Ghostwind Bandits legacy.

Besides the thousand-man team leaders, others who freshly tallied ten solid battles filled subordinate roles. These could lead squads of ten or a hundred. Their perks fell short of the top leaders' yet remained decent. Entry to the Sutra library's second floor was permitted.

Squad leaders oversaw ordinary members below them. These recent surrenderers had joined over five battles with strong showings. As regulars, they stood above the lowest rung. The death troops camp lurked further down.

The death warriors camp housed those in fewer than five engagements, fresh capitulators without combat experience, or those in over five fights but underperforming. Assigned there, they bore restrictions and spearheaded assaults. Strong showings after five bouts promoted them to ordinary members. Ten battles paved the way to squad leadership.

The death soldiers' camp afforded minimal rights and scant supplies. Yet, bold fighters risking all kept half the spoils from slain foes, surrendering the rest. Merely ten such trials promised advancement—a boon indeed.

At every rank, deference to superiors one level above was mandatory, enforced by penalties or execution. This ironclad hierarchy fueled ambition among the cultivators. As aspirants all, Island Lord parity was tolerable. But envision a Dharma refinement realm self bowing to a Dharma essence realm peer—not by cultivation, but by ten battle merits versus fresh surrender forcing death warrior status. Such indignity spurred relentless effort from anyone.

Beyond the hierarchy, Zhao Hai instituted the team punishment mechanism. Its premise was basic: grouping into ten-person units. Should any member flee or turn traitor without team reports, the entire squad faced identical penalties as the offender.

In early surrenders to Zhao Hai's side, casualties mounted. A massive uprising once erupted from the influx, but within the small boat's confines, Zhao Hai crushed it. Thereafter, escape or betrayal ceased entirely, especially among uprising survivors. They vigilantly monitored underlings, averse to collateral doom. Such an end seemed grossly unfair. They also witnessed Zhao Hai's merciless nature—a coldblooded killer dispatching thousands without qualms. Thus, none mustered the nerve to defy him.