Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8339: Alliance_1

Lei Gang was visibly shaken by Zhao Hai’s assessment. He was intimately aware of the Blood Slaughter Sect's precarious state. Although the insurrection within the two seas had been crushed, the victory came at a staggering cost; the island owners of those regions were entirely purged. Beyond those leaders, the death toll among the lower-level disciples was catastrophic. It wasn't just the local residents who perished, but also countless reinforcements from other seas who had fallen in the conflict.

This left the Blood Slaughter Sect’s foundation—its low-level disciples—dangerously depleted. If external wars broke out now, the casualties would only mount. Since the lower ranks serve as the reservoir for future high-level experts, a vacuum at the bottom would eventually lead to a collapse at the top. This prospect was nothing short of terrifying.

Currently, the First Elder and his peers were seeking retribution for this very reason. Rival Sects were unlikely to grant them a window for peaceful recovery; instead, they would seize every opportunity to further erode the Blood Slaughter Sect's military might. An imminent strike from enemies was a very real and troublesome possibility.

If Zhao Hai could truly deliver on his proposal, the sect's most pressing crisis would be resolved. Lei Gang’s expression sharpened with hope as he looked at Zhao Hai. "Little Hai, are you serious? Can you actually achieve this? Tell me what assistance you require."

Zhao Hai shook his head in refusal. "There is no need. I am currently in the testing phase to see if success is possible. Once I succeed, I will formally report to the Sect. For now, I have everything I need. Even if I brought others in, they lack the understanding of my specific philosophy and Puppet techniques to be of any use. They might even hinder the process. I am better off working alone."

After a moment of reflection, Lei Gang nodded in agreement. "Very well. Devote yourself entirely to your research. If you lack any resources, inform me immediately for my total support. A breakthrough here would be a monumental contribution to the Blood Slaughter Sect."

Zhao Hai offered a smile. "It is just a theory for now; success isn't guaranteed. But rest assured, if I need anything, I won't hesitate to ask." While he spoke with caution, Zhao Hai was inwardly certain of his success, though he knew better than to be overconfident out loud.

Lei Gang spoke solemnly, "Understood. I will notify your Third Uncle to look after you. You can coordinate with him directly. If the situation demands it, I will have him stationed on your island to ensure your research remains undisturbed."

"My thanks, Master," Zhao Hai replied. "I will definitely reach out to Third Uncle if trouble arises." He understood Lei Gang’s protective stance, which only confirmed his suspicion that the Blood Slaughter Sect was in a much more fragile state than it appeared on the surface.

Lei Gang stood up and placed a hand on Zhao Hai’s shoulder. "Of all my disciples, you possess the greatest talent and have caused me the least worry. Your contributions to the Sect are already numerous, and I am proud. However, remember this: your safety is the absolute priority. Nothing else matters if you are gone. As long as you live, your visions can become reality. If you fall, it all ends. Do you understand?"

Zhao Hai nodded his understanding. Lei Gang glanced toward the horizon and added, "The hour is late. Seeing that you are well, I shall depart. Take these; do not worry about waste. If you run low, I will send more immediately." He handed Zhao Hai a spatial bag which, upon inspection with spiritual power, was found to contain a vast number of smaller spatial bags filled with the requested materials.

Zhao Hai escorted Lei Gang to the teleportation array. With a flash of white light, Lei Gang was gone. Returning to the Atlas Tree, Zhao Hai began sorting through the bags. He was stunned by the sheer volume of discarded materials. He realized he had underestimated the sect's capacity for producing waste over the centuries. Given how long the Blood Slaughter Sect had existed, the accumulation of failed projects and scrap was immense. This haul would sustain his work for a long time.

While Zhao Hai was busy organizing his metal puppet assembly line, the Sect Master and the six Elders received a series of unexpected letters. The senders were high-profile figures: the leaders of the Corpse Demon Sect, Poisonous Bug Valley, Heaven Crippling Sect, Sick Man Sect, and the Yin Yang Sect. The invitations were deceptively simple, inviting the Blood Slaughter Sect’s leadership to gather for tea, chess, and a discussion of the Dao.

The Sect Master usually remained in secluded Cultivation, leaving internal governance to the Eight Great Elders—of whom only six remained. However, as the sect's ultimate power and stabilizing force, the Sect Master was forced to emerge from seclusion to address this coordinated move.

The fact that multiple major Sects had simultaneously invited their top experts to "discuss the Dao" was a transparent provocation. It was a clear show of force aimed directly at the Blood Slaughter Sect. Recognizing the gravity of this alliance, the Elders gathered at the Sect Master’s quarters to deliberate.

The Sect Master appeared as a man in his sixties with snow-white hair and a piercing gaze that flashed like cold steel. Sitting upon a futon, he addressed Du Wan Sha and the others. "I have been focused on my Cultivation and am out of touch with current events. Wan Sha, explain why these major Sects are suddenly reaching out."

Du Wan Sha bowed. "Sect Master, their intent is clear: they are applying pressure. I believe this concerns the Western Defense Line. Reports suggest the Thirteen Family Alliance is becoming restless."

"So," the Sect Master mused, "they want us to surrender the Western line to the Thirteen Family Alliance? To do so would be to hand over the territories of the West Sea and Northwest Sea. That is unacceptable."

Du Wan Sha concurred. "Indeed. Abandoning that line means losing two seas. The other Sects have smelled blood; they see us as weakened. While only five sent letters, this is likely a seven-sect coalition including the Severe Sword Sect and the Dark Ghost Sect. Those two stayed in the shadows due to their open grudges with us, but they are certainly involved. Only the Rahu Sect and the Giant Demon Sect are absent. The Giant Demon Sect is our ally, but whether they can withstand the collective pressure of the others is uncertain. At best, they will remain neutral. The Rahu Sect’s absence is standard, as they rarely interfere. Our position is quite dire."

The Sect Master’s eyes turned icy. "What are our options? The Blood Slaughter Sect does not bow. If they push too far, I will take the Blood Slaughter Saber to their front gates myself and 'talk' to them!"

This was a declaration of total war. The Blood Slaughter Saber was a supreme treasure; for the Sect Master to wield it in such a manner would mean a complete rupture of diplomatic ties. While they were a top-ten power, being besieged by seven other sects would be catastrophic. Yet, his words reflected the defiant spirit of the Sect.

Du Wan Sha spoke cautiously, "We should avoid that extreme if possible. We must first confirm their true objective. Is it truly for the Thirteen Families? If so, why? What do they gain by backing them against us? Knowing their price makes it easier to plan our move."

The Sect Master looked at him. "I agree, but what is the immediate plan? If we ignore their invitation to 'discuss the Dao,' they will escalate. Their alliance is already formed; we must react swiftly."

Du Wan Sha frowned. "It is a complex puzzle. We must determine their ultimate goal and find a way to fracture their coalition. Otherwise, we risk losing the two seas. Even if those islands are currently barren, losing that territory brings the enemy's threat directly to our core waters. We cannot allow that."

The Sect Master surveyed the room. "What are your thoughts? Should we activate our moles within those Sects? Perhaps some internal sabotage will shift the leverage back in our favor." He was referring to the deep-cover spies the Blood Slaughter Sect had spent years embedding in rival organizations.