Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8357: Backing up _1

The Sect Master fixed a steady gaze upon Han Le, his voice eerily composed as he spoke. "Is that so? You claim to have performed a great service for our Sect? You came to apprehend Zhao Hai for the murder of our Elders, asserting he deserves execution. That seems straightforward enough. However, a detail escapes me. Those Elders perished only recently, did they not? How were you able to reach Blood Gale Island with such incredible speed?"

Still bowed low, Han Le felt a surge of confusion. He couldn't grasp what had gone awry. Why was the Sect Master directing suspicion toward him instead of Zhao Hai? The situation was highly irregular. Pushing aside his doubts for the moment, he replied, "Sect Master, I utilized a portable teleportation array to arrive here, as the Thirteen Family Alliance had seized the two connecting islands during the last conflict."

The Sect Master gave a slight nod before addressing the rest of the group. "Very well, you may all stand," he commanded deeply. The cultivators offered their thanks and straightened their postures. Han Le felt a wave of relief wash over him despite his lingering unease; the Sect Master allowing them to stand felt like a sign that they might not face punishment after all.

However, one look at the Sect Master’s face told Han Le that the danger had not passed. The leader remained calm, devoid of any visible rage. Yet, Han Le knew from experience that the more tranquil the Sect Master appeared, the more peril they were in. Once again, his heart hammered against his ribs in terror.

The Sect Master continued to address the assembly. "There is a matter many of you are likely unaware of, which I shall clarify today. When I first sought a commander for the Western Defense Line, my choice was Zhao Hai. I viewed him as the most qualified candidate. However, Zhao Hai declined, claiming his Cultivation was not yet high enough to command the respect of the men. Consequently, I entrusted him with my personal token and appointed Han Le as commander instead. Before Han Le departed, I explicitly ordered him to consult with Zhao Hai and heed his counsel. Han Le, did I not give you those instructions?"

Cold sweat drenched Han Le’s back. The surrounding cultivators turned to him in shock; they knew Zhao Hai held the Sect Master's token, but they were completely unaware that the Sect Master had intended for Zhao Hai to lead, or that Han Le had been ordered to follow Zhao Hai's advice. This was news to everyone.

The Sect Master’s voice grew heavy as he looked at Han Le. "But what was your first act upon reaching the Western Defense Line? You ignored Zhao Hai entirely and conspired with others to isolate him. To ensure your authority remained unchallenged in the eyes of the men, Zhao Hai chose not to confront you or use his token to cause trouble. Even after Blood Gale Island was threatened, he sent you a formal warning which you ignored, failing to take even basic precautions. As a result, two islands fell. Now, you attempt to shift the blame onto Zhao Hai. Most egregiously, Han Le, you are a spy for the Thirteen Family Alliance. I truly did not expect this level of betrayal."

An uproar erupted among Han Le’s followers. They stared at him with expressions of pure disbelief. Han Le himself was stunned into a daze. It took a long moment for him to find his voice, and he quickly dropped to his knees in mid-air. "Sect Master, I am wrongly accused! I am innocent! How could I possibly serve the Thirteen Family Alliance? My loyalty to the Blood Slaughter Sect is absolute!"

The Sect Master looked down at him. "Is that so? Perhaps I should show you something." He produced a Jade Slip and, with a swift hand seal, infused it with his Dharma power. A massive light screen manifested in the air, visible to all. The projection showed several Elders of the Blood Slaughter Sect—the very men sent to capture Zhao Hai and known members of the Thirteen Family Alliance. They appeared to be in the midst of a tense standoff.

Zhao Hai’s voice then echoed from the screen. The spectators realized he was the one confronting the Elders. As the conversation progressed, the expressions of the onlookers shifted from surprise to horror. The recording concluded with Zhao Hai capturing the Elders, their subsequent self-destruction, and Zhao Hai’s final recorded message.

The Sect Master retracted the Jade Slip and looked at the trembling, sweat-soaked Han Le. "Han Le, what defense do you have left? I never imagined you belonged to those families or that you would conspire with the Thirteen Family Alliance. You played your part well for many years, but you made a fatal error in choosing your target. Had you framed anyone else, I might have listened. But Zhao Hai? Hahaha! You have no conception of the monumental contributions he has made to our Sect. To think you could frame him... it is truly farcical." The Sect Master’s laughter was hollow; his face remained a mask of stone, devoid of even a sneer. This robotic display of mirth caused everyone to shudder, realizing the Sect Master was consumed by a cold, lethal fury.

Han Le remained frozen on his knees. In truth, he was paralyzed; the Sect Master’s divine sense had him pinned, and a crushing wave of killing intent made him feel as though he might lose consciousness. Because this pressure was focused solely on Han Le, the others were merely surprised by his silence, unaware of the terror he was experiencing.

The Sect Master was indeed incensed. He had harbored high hopes for this in-name disciple, only to find he was a mole. The audacity to frame Zhao Hai for the very treason Han Le was committing was staggering. Han Le’s only mistake was ignorance; he didn't know Zhao Hai was the source of the Sect's new puppets or that Blood Gale Island had become a vital production hub.

If the accusation had been leveled at any other disciple, the Sect Master might have investigated. But Zhao Hai had already proven his loyalty by crafting puppets and refusing the command of the Western Defense. If Zhao Hai intended to betray them, he would have accepted the commander position to inflict maximum damage. His refusal proved his innocence beyond doubt.

The Sect Master turned his gaze toward the rest of the group. "As for the rest of you trash who followed him here to harass Zhao Hai, I shall grant you a reprieve this once. It is natural to seek favor with a superior. However, mark my words: from this moment forward, Zhao Hai is the Commander of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s Western Defense Line. His word is law. Anyone who dares to defy him will answer to me with their life." With a casual flick of his wrist, Han Le’s head was severed and flew into the Sect Master's grip. A crimson light pulsed from his hand as he searched the remains. His eyes narrowed. "I didn't realize this brat had planted so many moles across the islands. Zhao Hai, it seems you have no choice but to take command."

Zhao Hai gave his assent. Since the Sect Master had made the appointment public, there was no room for further refusal. His previous concerns about lacking authority were now moot, as the Sect Master had personally validated his position before the troops. To decline now would be a grave insult to the Sect Master's face.

The Sect Master nodded, tossing Han Le’s head to Zhao Hai. "I understand you studied the Corpse Refining techniques of the Corpse Demon Sect under Li Ruohai? Since your current puppets are impressive, I'll let you have his remains. This Jade Slip contains the details of the hidden schemes this traitor left behind. Take my token. If any disciple dares to ignore your commands, execute them. Spare no one. Do you understand?"

"I understand perfectly, Sect Master. Rest assured," Zhao Hai replied firmly. He knew the Sect Master was giving him a mandate to purge any dissent. Zhao Hai was not a man of soft heart; he would do what was necessary.

The Sect Master gave a final nod. "Good. If they disobey, kill them. Regardless of their status or numbers—even if you have to wipe out the entire Western Defense force—I will not hold it against you. Should anyone speak ill of you, we Elders will deal with them. I have only one condition: you must hold the line. If an island is lost, the responsibility is yours!" The audience was stunned. Even when Han Le was in power, he never possessed such absolute authority; he had to navigate politics and share power with Deputy Commanders and Elders. Zhao Hai had just been given the power of a dictator over the Western front, backed by the highest powers of the Sect.

"I pledge my life to the defense of the Western line," Zhao Hai declared. "However, I have one request. Until the conflict concludes, the Sect Master must not fault me if certain islands are lost. In the heat of war, I may choose to abandon specific positions for the sake of the larger strategy. I ask for your understanding in this, Sect Master."

The surrounding cultivators were speechless. Within the Blood Slaughter Sect, virtually no one—save for the highest Elders—dared to negotiate with the Sect Master in such a manner, let alone a legacy disciple. Most disciples trembled in the leader's presence; they wondered if Zhao Hai had finally lost his mind to speak so boldly.