Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8365: A warning _1

The enemies of the Blood Slaughter Sect were not limited to the thirteen families alone. Furthermore, the sect maintained more than just the Western line of defense, meaning they had numerous fronts requiring protection. If they failed to station sufficient troops across these areas, chaos could erupt elsewhere. Compounding this issue was the heavy toll the sect had paid during the recent internal rebellion, leaving their current military strength severely depleted.

Fortunately, Zhao Hai’s proposal to utilize puppets had bridged the gap, ensuring the Western Defense line did not appear undermanned. In reality, the Blood Slaughter Sect was in no position to send reinforcements to that sector. This lack of resources was precisely why the personnel at the Western line had been so despondent. Believing their numbers were less than a fifth of the enemy's, they assumed the sect had simply abandoned them. These fears made them easy prey for the rumors circulating outside.

However, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. Zhao Hai leading a counterattack proved that the sect still valued the Western line of defense. Had they been forsaken, such a maneuver would never have occurred. This realization brought immense relief to the disciples. Consequently, this significant triumph served as a massive boost to the morale of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s cultivators.

Once the forces had retreated to Blood Stone Island, Zhao Hai called for another assembly. Though the island was modest in size, it possessed the capacity to hold 100,000 people. However, due to the density of the buildings, Zhao Hai directed everyone to take to the sky. Standing atop his massive sword, he surveyed the gathered crowd.

Every gaze was fixed on Zhao Hai. They sensed he had an important announcement, and curiosity rippled through the ranks. Looking out over the multitude, Zhao Hai spoke in a resonant tone, "We have achieved a great victory today, and everyone has reason to celebrate. However, I must inform you that this is merely the beginning. Our counteroffensive has only just started. Rest well today. Tomorrow, we lead our army forward once more. We shall reclaim every single island belonging to our Blood Slaughter Sect!"

Upon hearing Zhao Hai’s declaration, the crowd erupted in an excited roar. They had endured a long wait for this moment, and the prospect of finally fighting back filled them with joy. When Zhao Hai raised his hand again, the noise gradually subsided as they waited for him to continue.

Zhao Hai addressed the crowd again, his voice deep: "Everyone witnessed the utility of the puppets during today's clash. Let me be clear: those puppets are our sacrificial pawns. They are designed to be discarded, intended to take the enemy down with them. Even if it takes five puppets to kill a single foe, it is a gain for us. In the future, do not hesitate or feel distressed over their loss. Use the puppets to crush them."

"Yes!" the disciples shouted in unison. They had finally recognized the combat potential of the puppets. While their defensive capabilities might be lacking, their raw power and offensive strength were formidable. They were the ultimate cannon fodder.

Zhao Hai continued loudly, "However, you must be more diligent when deploying them in the future. Your control over the puppets must become more fluid. Furthermore, there will be times when I command you to retract the puppets and engage the enemy personally. If anyone fails to store their puppets quickly and hinders our momentum, do not expect me to be lenient. Is that understood?"

The crowd was taken aback by these words. They stared at Zhao Hai with confused expressions, struggling to grasp his reasoning. Why would he want them to fight in person when they had puppets to do the work? Perplexed, they remained silent, waiting for an explanation.

Zhao Hai looked at them and explained firmly, "Everyone, never forget that we are disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect. We are cultivators of this sect, and our path is built upon the cultivation of killing aura. If we rely solely on puppets to do the fighting, how can we hope to temper our killing aura? Moreover, excessive use of puppets leads to over-reliance. Depending too much on external objects is detrimental to a cultivator. Puppets are merely tools. If you let tools become your crutch, your cultivation will suffer greatly."

The disciples were stunned for a moment before their faces turned solemn. They understood Zhao Hai’s warning. If they became accustomed to hiding behind puppets, they would lose their edge. If they lost the bravery required for close-quarters combat, they would no longer be worthy of the Blood Slaughter Sect. The core of their strength was the cultivation of killing intent, which could only be forged in the heat of battle. Without it, their progress would stall.

They hadn't considered this danger before, but Zhao Hai’s words struck a chord in their hearts. Cultivation was a cultivator's foundation. Any external aid was just that—an aid. While such things could assist in battle or training, they must never replace one's own power. Relying on them as a primary force could result in a lifelong plateau, leaving one unable to advance even a single step further in their Dao.

Zhao Hai surveyed the group and said sternly, "Alright, I have said what needed to be said. Return to your posts and prepare. Remember, we depart tomorrow. No one is to be absent without cause, or you will face the full weight of military law!" The crowd responded as one before dispersing.

Once the main force had left, Zhao Hai gathered the managers for a detailed briefing. After dismissing them, he invited Yan Bei back to his quarters. He produced a jar of spirit wine, and the two began to drink.

After a few rounds of spirit wine, Yan Bei finally relaxed. He chuckled and said, "This is wonderful, truly wonderful. We’ve been forced to retreat for days, and the men were becoming restless. This strike of ours was spectacular; we wiped out tens of thousands of them in one sweep. We’ve been holding back for far too long."

"Brother Yan, have you been gathering Dark Souls?" Zhao Hai asked with a grin. "Collect as many as you can and let them nourish for a while. When the time is right, bring them to me, and I’ll fashion some guards for you." The guards Zhao Hai mentioned were his metal puppets—beings that were more like metal life forms than simple constructs. They were fearless and powerful, making them invaluable in the heat of war.

Yan Bei nodded enthusiastically. "Don't worry, I remembered what you said. I’ve gathered quite a few Yin souls this time. But why aren't you collecting any? With your prowess, you could probably harvest even more than I can, yet you haven't lifted a finger for it, have you?"

Zhao Hai laughed. "There’s no need. Gathering too many Dark Souls serves no purpose for me. The guards I have are sufficient. I don’t wish to become overly dependent on such things. In the future, I prefer to rely on my own strength during combat. I’ll keep a few guards for emergencies or to save my life when necessary, but I won't use them for every skirmish."

Yan Bei didn't press the matter further. He simply nodded and asked, "What is the plan for tomorrow's counterattack? I’ve heard those fellows have already established defensive arrays on the islands. Furthermore, they still outnumber us. A direct assault might not go in our favor, right?"

"Do not worry, you will see tomorrow," Zhao Hai replied with a smile, urging him to drink more. Seeing Zhao Hai’s confidence, Yan Bei realized his friend had already formulated a plan. Knowing it was useless to probe further, he dropped the subject.

The following morning, everyone rose early, awaiting Zhao Hai’s instructions. Zhao Hai was already prepared. Once the assembly was complete, he asked, "Managers, have you completed the task I assigned yesterday?"

One manager stepped forward and reported, "Commander, the preparations are complete. We have selected 10,000 elites, many of whom are skilled in controlling puppets. We await your orders." This was the directive Zhao Hai had given the night before: to handpick 10,000 top-tier fighters, specifically those with puppet-handling experience.

Zhao Hai nodded. "Yan Bei, you and the other managers will command the 90,000-man main force. The selected 10,000 will board my sword and move with me. Today’s strategy is as follows: we will utilize portable teleportation arrays to appear outside an island and launch a feint to draw the enemy's focus. Once their attention is fixed there, I will lead my 10,000 to strike a different island, while you maintain the pressure on the primary target. I will now reveal our objective for today."

The crowd was momentarily surprised, but they quickly grasped the logic of the plan. It was a classic diversionary tactic, though execution would be the key to its success. Without objection, they all signaled their readiness.

Zhao Hai pulled Yan Bei aside for some quiet instructions. Yan Bei nodded and went to coordinate with the other managers. Meanwhile, Zhao Hai brought the 10,000 elites into the space within his sword. Once everyone was positioned, Zhao Hai declared to the remaining troops, "The target for our strike is Blood Eye Island!" The disciples responded with a thunderous roar and began activating their portable teleportation arrays.

In the past, portable teleportation arrays were rarely used in the Blood Sea Realm because the fixed arrays between islands were affordable and convenient. However, portable versions had a limitation: they couldn't penetrate an island's defensive restrictions, meaning they could only drop users into the surrounding waters. In times of war, however, their value was undeniable. Just the day before, the Thirteen Family Alliance had utilized such arrays to launch their assault on Blood Stone Island.