Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8538: Joining _1
Capítulo 8538: Joining _1
A sharp gasp escaped everyone's lips as they whipped their heads toward Zhao Hai. They were acutely aware that he wouldn't raise this topic right now unless it directly involved them—which, in turn, linked back to him personally. Hence, he had chosen to speak of it. Still, no matter its tie to Zhao Hai, the news left them reeling in shock. Virtually all Blood Slaughter Sect disciples had perished. Even if a rare few managed to live through it, they'd never admit their sect affiliation. They couldn't risk it, with nearly every soul in the Blood Sea Realm actively pursuing Blood Slaughter Sect members.
Zhao Hai scanned their faces and grinned. Speaking in a low tone, he continued, “Looks like you've all figured it out. You're spot on. I belong to the Blood Slaughter Sect, and I'm no ordinary member. I wonder if my name rings a bell for you?” He gazed at the group and then stated his identity.
The moment Zhao Hai uttered his name, a collective sharp breath was drawn in. Answering his query, they nodded vigorously. Naturally, they'd heard of Zhao Hai. He had once been hailed as the top Pro-disciple across the entire Blood Sea Realm—not merely within the Blood Slaughter Sect. Crucially, this title came from their foes, who grudgingly acknowledged it. Zhao Hai stood as the premier Pro-disciple in the Blood Sea Realm. In essence, he was a living legend.
Zhao Hai eyed them steadily and declared gravely, “During the great upheaval, I was away on a sect-assigned task. While on that mission, I acquired the Sinister Wind Ghost Flag, adopting the Ghostwind Bandits alias to roam freely. When the catastrophe struck the Blood Slaughter Sect, I was absent from its base, which spared me from disaster. Learning of the sect's fate, I infiltrated back and saved the Bloodghost Team along with others. Using the sect's hidden reserves, I built this vessel. In the midst of it all, I advanced to the Island Lord level. Hearing that the Blood River Sea fell first after the sect's fall, I targeted it since we desperately needed more hands and supplies.”
The group absorbed Zhao Hai's explanation in stunned silence. Truth be told, they'd never imagined his real background involved the famed Zhao Hai of the Blood Slaughter Sect. The disclosure hit like a thunderbolt. Moreover, it dawned on them why he shared this now—he was binding them irrevocably.
They grasped clearly that knowing this secret today sealed their fate with Zhao Hai forever. He wouldn't permit any departure. Even in death, they'd perish beside him. Revealing such truths meant Zhao Hai could never let them go free.
Observing their reactions, Zhao Hai chuckled softly. “Even though the Blood Slaughter Sect was wiped out, its legacy endures. With this space and our growing numbers, we'll operate under the Ghostwind Bandits banner to avoid detection—no one will suspect Blood Slaughter Sect ties. Thus, our risks remain low. I've summoned you here to invite you into the Blood Slaughter Sect as the initial wave of Island Lord-level members. What do you say to becoming Island Lord-level cultivators in the Blood Slaughter Sect? Are you in?”
A bitter smile crossed their faces. Though Zhao Hai phrased it as a question, they sensed zero alternatives. Refusal might mean not surviving the cave. They doubted combining forces could overcome him. Remember, this domain was his creation—victory against him here was impossible.
Realizing this, they rose as one and called out to Zhao Hai, “Yes, my lord. We're ready to join the Blood Slaughter Sect!” Having voiced their assent, they paid homage by bowing deeply. They accepted their lack of options and chose to align with the Blood Slaughter Sect outright.
Zhao Hai regarded them and let out a hearty laugh. “Excellent, I'm glad you're on board. These are the Blood Slaughter Sect's identification tokens. Infuse a strand of your mental energy into each and add a drop of your blood. Then, store it away.” With that, he produced several tokens. A flick of his wrist sent one hovering before each person. Without hesitation, they refined the tokens using their spiritual force and marked them with blood. Simultaneously, they noted the tokens' advantages: aiding cultivation, offering some protection, and functioning as a magical artifact. This discovery delighted them, and they stowed the tokens with satisfaction.
Once Zhao Hai confirmed they'd secured their tokens, he instructed, “For the coming years, we'll likely stay put here. Focus on your training. But remember, without my command, today's revelations stay secret. No one must learn of your Blood Slaughter Sect status. That said, starting now, you may access the third and fourth floors of our Scripture Library. Dismissed.” “Understood, master!” They chorused their reply, saluted Zhao Hai, and departed.
Zhao Hai's decision to confer privately with these Island Lord-level powerhouses, disclose his background, and seek their commitment to the Blood Slaughter Sect stemmed from their elite status. For regular recruits, Chang Jun and his team sufficed—he needn't intervene personally.
Within a sect, cultivators divide into three tiers: those below Island Lord level as standard members, Island Lords themselves, and the pinnacle Six Elders experts. Ordinary types below Island Lord vastly outnumber the rest. Island Lord experts are rarer still. Take the top ten sects: thousands strong overall. Six Elders experts number even fewer—just a handful at best.
The prowess across these tiers mirrors weaponry analogies. Six Elder-level masters equate to nuclear arms: immensely potent and dominant, yet rarely deployed in conflicts. They mainly deter. Prior to the upheaval, the Blood Slaughter Sect's Six Elders seldom acted. The sect teetered on collapse then; mishandling could have doomed it entirely. Thus, the sect leader and Elders stepped in out of necessity.
Island Lord experts parallel heavy armaments like missiles, carriers, or bombers. As heavy hitters in battle, their might causes significant damage and prompts retaliation that stings the sect deeply.
Everyday cultivators wield at best light arms, their fighting strength paling against the upper echelons. Yet in major wars, these light forces often claim the most lives, emerging as key players. Light weapons tally fewer casualties than nukes in raw numbers, but in cultivation realms, ordinary disciples fell far more foes than Island Lord experts. That's the dynamic.
Consider the Blood Slaughter Sect's current state: Zhao Hai qualifies as a nuclear asset, but heavy weapons remain scarce. Their Island Lord experts— the heavies—total around a thousand now. More could exist, but purges trimmed the ranks. Though not the highest killers, these assets deliver unmatched combat and destructive force.
Beyond them, ordinary members are woefully few too. Zhao Hai's group's power matches a mid-level Blood Sea Realm sect at best, lagging far behind the top nine. Hence, he values these Island Lord experts highly, personally engaging them on Blood Slaughter Sect membership. Chang Jun's crew lacked the authority for such talks; they weren't deemed worthy.
The recent purges pained Zhao Hai deeply, yet he recognized their necessity. With their shrunken numbers, failing to secure loyalty internally would mark him as utterly inept. Worse, it'd plant a massive vulnerability nearby. Zhao Hai refused to court such risks merely for appearances of greater strength. Unthinkable.
Having concluded matters with this group, Zhao Hai understood their agreement came from survival instincts—they knew refusal meant death. But once they bonded the tokens as masters, their fates linked to him irrevocably. Escape proved impossible; a mere thought from him could end them. No concerns lingered.
Rather than restrictions, Zhao Hai imposed curses on them. He could trigger these instantly, obliterating the bearers on activation. Normally dormant, the curses aided cultivation without hindrance and brought only gains if loyalty held. Thus, Zhao Hai felt utterly secure.
Zhao Hai foresaw a phase of steady growth ahead. They required bolstering in both common cultivators and Island Lord experts. Only upon reaching sufficient power would they unveil their true faces. Otherwise, he wouldn't have exposed himself.