Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8414: Surrender (1)

Shangguan Qingfeng gazed at Zhao Hai before clasping his hands together and declaring, "Greetings, fellow Daoist Zhao Hai. Could you tell me the identity of the individual standing next to you?" His expression remained serene, without a trace of animosity, resembling a conversation with an old acquaintance after a long separation. This demeanor left Zhao Hai momentarily taken aback.

Yet Zhao Hai refrained from launching an assault right away. Curiosity drove him to listen to the man's words, so he offered a grin and replied, "This is my uncle-master, Lei Xuan." With that, he subtly shifted his stance to honor Lei Xuan. In response, Lei Xuan returned the gesture by cupping his fists toward Shangguan Qingfeng, though he remained silent.

Suddenly, Shangguan Qingfeng remarked, "So you're Daoist Lei Xuan of the blood path, renowned as one of the three heroes from the Lei family in the Bloody Massacre Sect. Greetings." Upon concluding his statement, he offered a bow to Lei Xuan. His face stayed composed, revealing neither joy nor irritation, which only heightened Lei Xuan's intrigue.

Still, Lei Xuan responded, "Daoist Shangguan, your courtesy is excessive. We're foes here. This isn't the moment for banter. Get to the point." Eager to avoid prolonged chatter with the opponent, Lei Xuan cut straight to it. His intent rang clear: as adversaries, pointless exchanges served no purpose. When battle called, they should simply clash.

With a smile, Shangguan Qingfeng continued, "That may not hold true. I come on behalf of the Shangguan family to offer our surrender. We never sought enmity with the Bloody Massacre Sect, yet over the years, alliances with other clans have bound us, draining our will to confront the Bloody Massacre Sect. Our efforts inflicted massive damages on the Bloody Massacre Sect, while our own Shangguan family disciples endured devastating losses. This round, despite our protests, the other clans pushed to assault the Bloody Massacre Sect, culminating in the fall of the Sen Luo Temple. The Shangguan family refuses to follow their lead any longer, so we seek to yield to the Bloody Massacre Sect. We demand no rank or status from the Bloody Massacre Sect—merely the preservation of our lives. Fellow Daoist Lei, Fellow Daoist Zhao Hai, kindly relay the Shangguan family's intent to the Bloody Massacre Sect."

Zhao Hai and Lei Xuan froze upon hearing this. They had geared up to annihilate the foe, only for the foe to capitulate. The twist stirred an odd sensation within them. Simultaneously, it sparked suspicion in Lei Xuan, who glanced toward Zhao Hai. Meeting his gaze, Zhao Hai turned to Shangguan Qingfeng with a smile and stated, "Prior to our arrival, our sect issued clear directives. Should the fellow Daoists from the 13 Family Alliance refrain from opposition, we shall treat you with respect. The Bloody Massacre Sect honors its commitments. That said, given these exceptional circumstances, we must employ certain unconventional methods. If your surrender to the Bloody Massacre Sect is genuine, kindly seal your cultivation bases. I assure you of our civility and vow to safeguard your well-being. How does that sound to you all?"

Lei Xuan nodded in agreement without hesitation. Zhao Hai's approach proved ideal. By binding the opponents' cultivation, they neutralized any potential disruptions. Should deceit lurk in their offer, refusal would expose it, allowing an immediate strike. If sincerity prevailed, assurance followed. This method offered the optimal path forward.

A smile crossed Shangguan Qingfeng's face at Zhao Hai's proposal. "That's hardly a challenge. All disciples, heed my command: seal your cultivation and offer no resistance." With that, he descended to the ground. Flashes of white light danced from his hands as he tapped several points on his form. Instantly, the magical energy within him vanished, and his aura faded entirely.

Witnessing this, Zhao Hai found himself momentarily speechless. He hadn't anticipated such direct compliance from the man. Sealing his cultivation on the spot filled Zhao Hai with a wave of incredulity. He shot a look at Lei Xuan, who gave a confirming nod. The message was plain: the man's cultivation had indeed been sealed.

After a brief pause, Zhao Hai spoke gravely, "Uncle-master, let's descend and unleash the bloodsucker team. Have them watch these individuals closely and inform the great elder of this development. I'll erect a defensive array right here without delay. Once the array stands complete, you can escort Shangguan Qingfeng straight to Blood Mountain Island and let the great elder interrogate him. Shangguan Qingfeng referenced the entire Shangguan family, implying this could involve their whole clan. It's beyond his solitary choice. We must handle it with utmost care."

Lei Xuan paused in surprise at Zhao Hai's words before quickly agreeing with a nod. "Very well, we'll proceed that way. If this truly reflects the Shangguan clan's stance, it'll prove immensely advantageous for us. As one of the core thirteen clans in the 13 Family Alliance, their defection could trigger widespread repercussions."

Zhao Hai gave a firm nod. He accompanied Lei Xuan down to the island. The bronze statue parted its jaws, releasing a swarm of cultivators into the air. Emerging outside, they blinked in confusion at the absence of combat. The island's cultivators stood motionless, their Dharma power utterly depleted, leaving the newcomers puzzled.

Addressing them, Zhao Hai announced, "Shangguan Island has pledged the full island's allegiance to the Bloody Massacre Sect. Your task now is to ensure their protection. Treat no one with disrespect." He then pivoted toward Shangguan Qingfeng. The man wore a neutral expression. As Zhao Hai's eyes met his, Shangguan Qingfeng returned the stare. Words escaped Zhao Hai for the moment. The completeness of Shangguan Qingfeng's submission still felt surreal to him.

Zhao Hai's directive to "protect their safety" essentially meant surveillance, phrased more diplomatically. It showed deference to Shangguan Qingfeng. The latter grasped this fully. Fresh from surrender, complete trust from Zhao Hai was unlikely, so assigning watchers made perfect sense. No cause for resentment existed.

Moreover, Shangguan Qingfeng spoke the truth this time. The Shangguan family genuinely desired to submit to the Bloody Massacre Sect. Unity had always eluded the 13 Family Alliance. As Shangguan Qingfeng noted, the Shangguan family consistently resisted the alliance's moves against the Bloody Massacre Sect. To them, challenging the Bloody Massacre Sect equated to suicide. The sect's power far outstripped theirs—victory seemed impossible.

Nevertheless, under the Yu family's lead, most clans yearned to confront the Bloody Massacre Sect. Back then, backing from the major sects fueled their ambitions. To check the Bloody Massacre Sect's expansion, those sects supplied resources and aid. They even pledged assistance against any backlash from the Bloody Massacre Sect, shielding the 13 Family Alliance.

The Shangguan family, however, steadfastly opposed involvement. Distance separated the seven major sects from the 13 Family Alliance, while the Bloody Massacre Sect loomed nearby. Befriending the distant sects over the proximate Bloody Massacre Sect struck them as folly. Aligning with the major sects to target the Bloody Massacre Sect? That courted self-destruction. How could they meddle in the clashes of titans?

Though a prominent force within the 13 Family Alliance, the Shangguan family's might never matched the others, particularly the Yu family. The latter's command of the Sen Luo Temple granted unmatched leverage, leaving the Shangguan family outclassed. Thus, they marched alongside the rest.

On this occasion, the 13 Family Alliance overreached. Seizing the Bloody Massacre Sect's vulnerability for an assault was bold enough, but roping in the seven major sects escalated the risk. Success might bring gains, but failure meant enmity from both. Even a battered Bloody Massacre Sect would retaliate fiercely, and the seven major sects would abandon them without mercy.

Hence, the Shangguan family prepared contingencies. Should the Bloody Massacre Sect strike, immediate surrender—including all their controlled islands—would follow. Such a move might even yield rewards. At minimum, it secured their survival.

Should the other sects turn hostile, they'd evacuate key disciples to surrender under the Bloody Massacre Sect's banner, abandoning their islands. In their view, yielding to the Bloody Massacre Sect outshone submitting elsewhere. Proximity favored the sect, and its treatment of allies surpassed that of distant powers. Despite the Bloody Massacre Sect's combative nature, it valued its own. Post-surrender, discretion would likely spare them further trouble.

Following the Sen Luo Temple's destruction at the Bloody Massacre Sect's hands, it became a prize on Blood Mountain Island. Realizing defeat inevitable, the Shangguan family geared for capitulation. That's why Zhao Hai encountered no vigilant defenders on their island. Combat held no appeal for them; surrender was their plan all along.

In this scenario, Shangguan Qingfeng avoided any rash actions. Zhao Hai quartered him in his quarters. The island's other disciples received orders to retreat to their rooms. With cultivations sealed, threats from them seemed nil. Confinement to quarters sufficed.

Shortly thereafter, Zhao Hai commanded the bronze men to form an island-guarding array, enveloping all of Clear Wind Island. He dispatched a message to Du Wan detailing the island's events. Meanwhile, he oversaw the restoration of the island's barriers with his team. Zhao Hai trusted his arrays more than any others', and rightfully so—none surpassed his skill.

Replies arrived swiftly after the messages. Du Wan attached utmost urgency to the news. He summoned Lei Xuan to ferry Shangguan Qingfeng to Blood Mountain Island for a direct audience and interrogation.

This outcome aligned with Zhao Hai's foresight, so he instructed Lei Xuan to convey Shangguan Qingfeng to Blood Mountain Island promptly. Zhao Hai pressed on with array construction on Breeze Island. The bloodsucker team's expertise hastened the process, erecting the mountain-shielding formation in short order. Concurrently, directives from Blood Mountain Island arrived via Du Wansha, ordering the bloodsucker team to rendezvous at the specified point without delay.