Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8433: Small city (1)

A gentle stream wound through the landscape, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds and the vibrant blooming of flowers. Nearby stood a charming little bridge over the gently flowing water. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. But as Zhao Hai gazed upon this picturesque vista, it struck him as profoundly odd. He had never expected to find such a tranquil and lovely scene awaiting him. The discovery left him genuinely astonished.

Zhao Hai had been wrong in his assumption—there were indeed birds present. Several of them soared through the air, letting out occasional calls that brought a touch of vitality to the shaded spots. Yet, Zhao Hai understood perfectly well that this semblance of life was illusory, for he had already detected the birds as mere illusions.

The water appeared crystal clear and inviting, though Zhao Hai suspected it was just another deception. The same went for the small bridge. It all felt like an elaborate setup designed to ensnare him. Clearly, this was the second trial. He simply wondered what dangers lurked ahead to challenge him.

With that in mind, Zhao Hai cautiously examined his surroundings. He counted three streams, six bridges, twenty-four trees, thirty-six birds, and one hundred and eight flowers in a rainbow of hues. Additionally, twelve colorful small boats floated along the streams. The whole expanse covered more than fifty mu.

Zhao Hai grinned and advanced at a measured pace. Before long, he neared the first tree. Perched on its branches was a tiny bird, hopping about energetically and twittering away. In all honesty, Zhao Hai held deep respect for the mechanical ingenuity of the Divine Secrets Sect. Their creations were so lifelike that they could easily pass for the real thing. It was truly remarkable craftsmanship.

Truth be told, achieving such realism through mechanics alone was no small feat. Zhao Hai was genuinely impressed, yet he had no time to delve into it now. His goal was to shatter this illusion quickly, lest Elder Ha Jing grow impatient and charge in again. That could cause the entire secret realm to crumble.

Zhao Hai passed the first tree without incident, encountering no assault. This piqued his curiosity intensely. He was eager to discover when the initial onslaught would strike. Even without any immediate threats, Zhao Hai remained on high alert. He watched the ground underfoot and scanned every inch around him.

As he approached the first bridge, a small boat abruptly drifted in his direction. Spotting it, Zhao Hai's pulse quickened, and he locked his gaze on the vessel. In that instant, a chilling gust rose from beneath his feet. Moments later, he was hurled into the air. Glancing down, Zhao Hai saw long spears thrusting up from the exact spot he'd occupied. His face darkened immediately. "Who the hell designed this damn trap?" he muttered angrily. That bastard's ruthless—if I weren't wearing my liquid silver armor, I'd probably be skewered already. Too vicious; I swear, if I find out who's behind this...

While he grumbled, a massive net launched suddenly from the boat on the river, heading straight for Zhao Hai's head. Though he couldn't take flight at the moment, his mastery over force was unmatched. Twisting mid-air, he somersaulted beyond the net's reach. Right then, two piercing sensations struck his back. Zhao Hai's features twisted in alarm. He spun around and swung his arm to strike behind him.

Two sharp explosions rang out. It turned out two birds had been trailing him, hurtling like twin arrows. Their pointed beaks had targeted his back, but Zhao Hai's slap caused both to burst apart simultaneously. The forceful blast pushed him back several steps.

By now, Zhao Hai's foot had touched the bridge. Its surface felt unnaturally tacky. He froze in surprise. Suddenly, the bridge began to coil toward him. Getting caught in that would trap him like a fly on sticky paper.

Zhao Hai wasn't truly fearful, but the idea of being ensnared still grated on him. With a cold huff, he gestured sharply. A fierce wind erupted around him, swiftly morphing into a colossal tornado. The whirlwind grew immense, drawing in everything nearby. Zhao Hai directed it forward with a flick, and in a flash, the bridge was flung skyward. The river and boats vanished into its vortex as well.

The tornado rampaged across the terrain, demolishing all in its path. Despite the numerous traps and sturdy constructions, the storm's might proved overwhelming. Its raw force leveled every structure and lifted all the water into the air. Even the metallic trees toppled over. Zhao Hai sensed something amiss as the trees crashed down.

Each tree concealed a intricate mechanism within—hollow trunks linked by gears and chains galore. No magical formations were present, however. Zhao Hai realized the trees hid elaborate contraptions, though their exact purpose eluded him.

It took some time for the tornado to finally dissipate. Zhao Hai surveyed the devastation and saw that nearly everything lay in ruins. Only a handful of traps remained intact. Surprisingly, the enveloping fog persisted unaffected by the chaos. Yet, it was gradually receding. A smile crept onto Zhao Hai's face at the sight. He knew then that he had overcome the second stage.

True to his expectation, the mist rose steadily into the heavens, condensing into wispy gray clouds. They drifted high above, far beyond Zhao Hai's reach. With the fog gone, the secret realm's full layout revealed itself to him. The sheer scale of it all left him utterly awestruck.

Only now did Zhao Hai grasp the immense size of this secret realm. The zone he'd traversed was merely its outer fringe. Pressing onward led to a sizable settlement—though not quite a grand metropolis, more like a modest town capable of holding around ten thousand souls. Towering walls encircled it, and at the main entrance, bold characters proclaimed: Shen Ji.

Zhao Hai stood roughly ten miles from the city. Beyond the wreckage he'd wrought lay a wide moat. Then came the city itself. Unable to glimpse its interior yet, he wasted no time and dashed forward. In moments, he crossed the destroyed area and reached the moat's edge.

Halting by the moat, Zhao Hai peered closely at its contents. The channel spanned about 200 feet across, its surface serene like a motionless pond. To his astonishment, he spotted underwater plants and swimming fish within.

Scanning the vicinity, Zhao Hai found no bridges or vessels in sight. Puzzled, he pondered briefly before gesturing. He drew a sample of the moat's water into his space for analysis. He aimed to determine its nature—whether it matched the stream's liquid he'd encountered earlier.

That previous stream's water had been toxic, a dense cold essence. It weighed heavily, sinking ordinary objects unless crafted from rare substances. Its profound chill could freeze anyone who touched it.

These findings had prompted Zhao Hai to unleash the tornado for swift clearance. Step-by-step progress would have dragged on too long. Still, he needed to inspect this moat. Should its water prove similar, he'd have to reassess the Divine Secrets Sect's prowess. Such fluid wasn't natural but artificially produced. Refining vast quantities like this indicated tremendous strength.

Soon enough, Zhao Hai confirmed his suspicions. The moat's water mirrored the stream's—same heavy cold composition. His expression hardened at the realization. The Divine Secrets Sect's ability to amass so much meant abundant resources. Even in this secret realm, such stockpiles hinted at their former might. He resolved to proceed with utmost caution. Moreover, crossing this moat wouldn't be straightforward.

The visible plants and fish in the moat were likely engineered illusions too. This thought sparked excitement in Zhao Hai's eyes. He let out a chilling laugh and declared, "Anyone else might struggle to crack this, but you've crossed paths with me. Bad luck." As he spoke, Zhao Hai formed a hand seal. A bubble materialized in his palm. With a toss, it soared to the moat and hovered, spinning wildly. The water below responded as if pulled by an invisible force, surging upward into the bubble and vanishing within.

Before long, the moat stood empty, its waters gone along with the plants and fish. What remained was a barren riverbed. Zhao Hai eyed it with a smirk, then stored the bubble in his space. Leaping across, he landed just a dozen meters from the gate.

The city gates remained shut. From his vantage, the walls loomed over 30 meters high. Such stature didn't faze Zhao Hai. Instead, he strode toward the entrance, eager to uncover the Divine Secrets Sect's next ploy.

As he neared the gate, it creaked open unexpectedly. A figure emerged slowly from within the city. Zhao Hai paused to observe. Upon closer inspection, he was momentarily taken aback. But realization dawned quickly—the one approaching was no living being, but a puppet.