Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8338 - 315-in person _1

The second phase of Zhao Hai’s strategy was remarkably straightforward: the mass production of metal puppets. Having completed the defensive arrays on the island, he had effectively secured his rear, establishing an incredibly resilient stronghold. Now, he required a sharp blade—a weapon capable of striking back at his enemies.

Given Zhao Hai’s current capabilities, he had only a few reliable options. The first was his personal power. His combat strength was roughly on par with a standard cultivator in the Refinement Realm. Essentially, as long as he didn't encounter an Island Lord level powerhouse, Zhao Hai was confident he could escape any confrontation unharmed. If he unleashed his full arsenal, his potential was even greater.

His second resource was the Undead Race, which included the battle corpse taken from Li Ruohai and the remains of the Island Master. He also possessed the corpses of various other cultivators. Since his use of these methods was public knowledge, utilizing them wouldn't cause any undue suspicion.

The third option involved the Alien Race. However, Zhao Hai could not expose them just yet and had to wait for a better moment. While Yan Bei had been given an Alien and was aware of their existence, he would never betray that secret. Doing so would put Yan Bei in danger and risk others seizing the creature. Consequently, the Alien Race remained hidden for now, making this method currently unusable.

The fourth path was the creation of metal puppets, including his bronze men. Yet, standard metal puppets and bronze men were distinct entities. Although Zhao Hai possessed enough spirits to transform every puppet into a bronze man, he refrained from doing so. It was common knowledge that he didn't possess such a vast number of spirits. Producing an army of bronze men all at once would surely invite unwanted scrutiny.

Zhao Hai had previously informed Lei Gang that turning objects into bronze-statue-like entities required exceptionally potent spirits. Judging by his interactions with Lei Xuan and Guna, powerful spirits were rare; otherwise, those two would have possessed more than just a few mediocre ones. If Zhao Hai suddenly manifested a legion of bronze statues, it would be far too suspicious. Therefore, he decided to stick to ordinary puppets.

Despite having immense resources at his disposal, Zhao Hai was limited by his current standing. To put it simply, his lack of overwhelming strength prevented him from using many of his tools. Revealing them would trigger suspicion and place him in jeopardy.

However, employing standard puppets was perfectly acceptable. Zhao Hai could even set up a production line for them. With an assembly line in place, no one would question the quantity of ordinary puppets he produced. At most, he would simply have to disclose his manufacturing process.

Before Zhao Hai could begin work on the puppets, Guna sent word requesting his assistance with the defensive formations on other islands. Guna had realized that Zhao Hai’s expertise surpassed that of the Sect’s Formation Hall. Tasked with managing the entire defensive perimeter, Guna naturally wanted Zhao Hai to fortify the other islands to ensure the safety of the whole line.

Zhao Hai did not hesitate and immediately set out to install the arrays. Thanks to Guna’s messages, the inhabitants of the other islands held high expectations for Zhao Hai, ensuring he faced no resistance during his work.

While busy with these arrays, a message arrived from Lei Gang. He reported that the Sect was very interested in his waste recycling proposal and had already begun storing discarded materials in spatial equipment. Once Zhao Hai returned to Blood Gale Island, the Sect would dispatch personnel to deliver the supplies.

This was fantastic news for Zhao Hai. He had been concerned about the raw materials needed for his puppets. Even though he had plenty of resources hidden away, he couldn't use them openly. The Sect’s delivery of "useless" materials solved his supply problem perfectly. After finishing the defensive arrays for the other islands, he headed back to Blood Gale Island, where his dwelling was carved into a massive, towering tree.

In total, Zhao Hai fortified five islands in less than a month. The speed was possible because the islanders had handled the preliminary tasks, allowing Zhao Hai to focus solely on the design and construction of the arrays.

The preparation involved creating detailed maps and sorting through existing formation talismans to see what could be salvaged. They also gathered the necessary magical tools and spirits. Upon his arrival, Zhao Hai would inspect the materials and the local terrain before initiating the build.

Zhao Hai’s rapid success was due to his ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. By adapting to existing conditions, he fortified the islands quickly, granting them immediate defensive power. This feat highlighted his incredible talent—designing and executing unique, terrain-specific arrays in record time was a rare skill.

Back on Blood Gale Island, Zhao Hai contacted Lei Gang, requesting that the Sect send the waste materials immediately. He was eager to start the puppet production, knowing that war could break out at any moment.

Shortly after the message was sent, the teleportation array on Blood Gale Island erupted in white light. A figure stepped out, leaving Zhao Hai momentarily stunned. He quickly rushed over to offer a respectful salute, saying, "Greetings, Master!" It was Lei Gang himself.

Lei Gang nodded, surveying Blood Gale Island with astonishment. Though he had never visited before, he knew it shouldn't look like this. The island was now blanketed in vegetation so massive they obscured the sun, a sight Lei Gang had never anticipated.

Noticing his master’s shock, Zhao Hai quickly spoke up, "Master, please come rest in my cave. I’ve replanted the island and used a secret technique to accelerate their growth. We can talk more comfortably inside."

"Very well," Lei Gang replied deeply. "Let us go to your cave." Zhao Hai led the way, and they soon reached the giant tree. Upon entering the abode, Lei Gang’s curiosity deepened; he hadn't expected to find a Cultivation cave inside a living tree.

Once Lei Gang was seated, Zhao Hai produced two jade cups and poured a serving of spiritual wine. He explained, "Please try this, Master. It is the juice from a liquor tree fruit, which tastes much like spiritual wine." Zhao Hai wasn't making this up; the liquor fruit tree was a genuine mutation within his Space.

Lei Gang took a sip and nodded approvingly. "The flavor is quite good. I came to deliver the materials personally and to see how you were faring. I wondered if you needed assistance, but it seems there was no need to worry. You have handled things well here."

"Thank you, Master," Zhao Hai replied. "I appreciate the effort. My preparations are nearly complete. Once the materials arrive, I will commence the second stage of my experiment." Zhao Hai intended to brief Lei Gang on the puppets now to avoid having to explain himself later.

Intrigued, Lei Gang asked, "Oh? A second stage? What exactly was the first stage then?" He found himself increasingly fascinated by his disciple, whose mind seemed to hold an endless supply of innovative ideas and knowledge.

Zhao Hai explained, "Master, the first step was the modification of this island. I wasn't certain it would work, but fortunately, it was a success. The second step involves designing a puppet that is easy to manufacture yet effective in battle. These puppets need to be mass-produced using low-grade materials so we can bolster our combat strength quickly. It should be feasible."

Lei Gang was taken aback. He looked at Zhao Hai and asked, "Did you know something was going to happen? How did you find out?" While Lei Gang knew the Western Defense line was precarious, he hadn't told Zhao Hai. He had even considered bringing Zhao Hai back to Blood Drop Island for safety. Yet, here was Zhao Hai, already preparing for the coming storm.

Zhao Hai answered, "It was Uncle Guna who informed me. While I was setting up the arrays on his island, he mentioned the defense line was unstable and warned me to prepare. That is why I am rushing the metal puppets. My own Cultivation isn't very high, but the Island Lord level experts will be handled by my Seniors. I only need to ensure we aren't overwhelmed by their lower-level disciples."