Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8358: 335-request for help (1)

“Hahahaha, excellent! In all these years, no disciple has possessed the audacity to negotiate terms with me. You are the very first. Very well, I accept. Bear in mind, the fate of the Western Defense line rests in your hands. I shall judge the final outcome once the conflict concludes. If any remnants of the Thirteen Family Alliance remain here, you will face the consequences.” The Sect Master burst into loud laughter upon hearing Zhao Hai’s words. This time, his laughter was genuine, a stark contrast to his usual stoic mask; it was evident he was truly pleased.

“I shall not fail you, Sect Master. However, what if my ambitions go beyond merely purging the Thirteen Family Alliance from the Blood Massacre Sect? What if I initiate a full-scale counter-offensive? If that happens, I fear we will require the presence of the Island Lord level experts to provide support!” Zhao Hai replied with a confident grin. He was being sincere; simply holding the Western Defense line would never satisfy him.

“If you truly manage to launch a counter-attack against the Thirteen Family Alliance using only the forces at the Western Defense line, then I shall personally arrive with the God-killing Blade to bolster your cause!” This declaration came not from the Sect Master, but from Grand Elder Du Wan Sha, who watched Zhao Hai with an approving smile.

Zhao Hai performed a respectful bow toward the Sect Master and the Grand Elder. “Understood. Please remain at ease, Sect Master and Elders. I will dedicate my full strength to this task.” Zhao Hai possessed a solid grasp of the Western Defense line’s history. With the Jade Slip provided by the Sect Master, he was confident he could reorganize the entire operation in record time.

The Sect Master gave Zhao Hai a final nod of approval before turning to fly back toward Blood Gale Island. Ha Jing, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, flew to Zhao Hai’s side. He looked at the young man and said in a low, somber tone, “Boy, do not forget your promise. If you actually bring the fight to the thirteen families, I will support you. Here, take this Bead. It contains three of my sealed attacks. Should you encounter a foe beyond your strength, unleash it. I will be alerted the moment it is used.” Ha Jing handed a Buddhist bead to Zhao Hai, who accepted it with words of gratitude. With that, Ha Jing departed for Blood Gale Island.

Once the senior figures had left, Zhao Hai turned to the remaining group. He smiled and announced, “Everyone, I have been appointed Commander of the Western Defense line. I expect your full cooperation. We are heading to Blood Bone Island immediately. Since you all have portable teleportation arrays, let us move out.” As he spoke, Zhao Hai’s form was enveloped in a white radiance. In an instant, he, Yan Bei, the massive bronze statue, and all his puppets and ghosts vanished.

The cultivators who had originally gathered to confront Zhao Hai exchanged uneasy glances. Soon, they too vanished in flashes of white light. They understood that the power structure of the Western Defense line had shifted. Zhao Hai, once an overlooked True Disciple, clearly held more favor with the Sect Master than Han Lei, an In-name Disciple, ever had. Realizing Zhao Hai was far more formidable than he appeared, they knew better than to provoke him.

Meanwhile, chaos gripped Blood Bone Island. The Sect Master had already dispatched messages to the high-ranking officials there, decreeing that Zhao Hai was now the supreme Commander of the Western Defense line. The order was absolute: anyone who dared to defy Zhao Hai would be executed without mercy. It was at this moment that Zhao Hai arrived on the island.

As Zhao Hai and Yan Bei materialized, the disciples on Blood Bone Island stared at him. However, none offered a bow. Instead, they looked on with bewilderment, struggling to comprehend how the man Han Lei had accused of being a spy for the Thirteen Family Alliance had suddenly become their superior.

The cultivators who had followed Han Lei soon returned and spread the news of what had transpired, detailing Zhao Hai’s official appointment. The inhabitants of the Western Defense line were stunned to learn the Sect Master had granted Zhao Hai such immense authority.

Zhao Hai soon reached a newly constructed hall on Blood Bone Island. This structure had been built specifically for the war effort, designed as a command center for meetings between the Commander, Deputy Commanders, and various high-level cultivators.

Discarding any pretense of hesitation, Zhao Hai walked to the hall’s entrance. In the square outside, many Dharma Refinement realm cultivators—the Elders of the defense line—were gathered. Among them were two Deputy Commanders appointed by Han Lei and confirmed by the Sect. These two men, both in their fifties, were obsessive cultivators who generally avoided administrative duties, serving as little more than figureheads.

Upon seeing Zhao Hai, these men immediately cupped their fists and greeted him deeply, “Greetings, Commander!” Although the position was temporary for the duration of the war, no one dared slight him. Rumors had already spread that the Sect Master and Elders gave Zhao Hai the authority to execute anyone who disobeyed, even if it meant wiping out the entire defense line.

While the idea of Zhao Hai killing everyone was an exaggeration, it signaled the Sect Master’s absolute trust. Offending him was clearly a suicidal move. Even Han Lei, the Sect Master’s own In-name Disciple, had been struck down. The fact that the Sect Master appeared the moment Zhao Hai sent word proved his standing was extraordinary.

Zhao Hai returned the gesture with a polite smile and a bow. “Everyone, please, there is no need for such formality. I am merely a junior. Let us head inside to discuss our path forward.” He led the way into the hall, followed closely by the others. Inside, rows of chairs were arranged, with the most prominent seat facing the entrance—the Commander’s throne.

The seating was hierarchical, with the front rows being more ornate to signify status. Zhao Hai took the central seat without hesitation. Yan Bei took his place standing behind him; despite Zhao Hai’s offer to have him sit, Yan Bei refused to break protocol.

Once everyone was seated, Zhao Hai scanned the room, noting several people in the front who had previously joined Han Lei to arrest him. He didn’t dwell on it, instead addressing the assembly: “There were misunderstandings between us previously, but those were orchestrated by Han Lei. I am prepared to let the past go and move forward.”

A wave of relief washed over the room, though many remained tense. They didn't know Zhao Hai's character well enough to know if he was a man who harbored secret grudges. In the Cultivation world, many spoke of mercy while planning betrayal.

Zhao Hai continued, “I will not be altering anyone's current positions. However, our operational strategy must change. While you were preparing for war, there seemed to be no cohesive plan beyond simply gathering disciples. This is insufficient; we must adapt.”

Silence met his words. Everyone recognized the authority of a new leader. Having already slighted him by following Han Lei or simply ignoring him, no one wished to draw his ire now.

With a calm expression, Zhao Hai spoke firmly, “War is a balance of offense and defense. Currently, we are the defenders. We must solidify our defenses before we can dream of an assault. Han Lei was a traitor who left our flanks exposed and likely leaked our weaknesses to the Thirteen Family Alliance. We are in for a difficult period. Once the enemy learns of Han Lei’s death, they will undoubtedly strike back in revenge. Therefore, our immediate priority is to reinforce the weak points on our islands and prepare to consolidate our forces onto the primary islands. I shall now assign your duties. Elder Xu Zeqing, Elder Zong Tao, Elder Song Yuchen, and Elder Zuo Jiangshan—take these lists and contact the island commanders immediately to prepare for a strategic withdrawal.” With a flick of his wrist, four Jade Slips flew toward the frontline cultivators.

The Elders stood, caught the slips, and resumed their seats. Zhao Hai then turned to the rest. “The rest of you are to gather every disciple with knowledge of magical formations. Distribute all necessary materials from the war reserves for repairs and new installations. Those without formation skills are to remain on high alert, ready to deploy for battle at a moment's notice!”

As the assembly voiced their compliance, the sound of sprinting footsteps echoed through the hall. A cultivator rushed in, bowing urgently to Zhao Hai. “Report, Commander! The Thirteen Family Alliance has launched simultaneous strikes against more than ten of our islands! We have received urgent requests for reinforcements from every location. Here are the reports!” He presented a stack of Jade Slips to Zhao Hai.