Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8458: Hard work (1)

Indeed, once the Ghostwind bandits faced total annihilation, a flood of tales began circulating far and wide. The most captivating story claimed that the Ghostwind bandits had hoarded a vast fortune in treasures. All that wealth came from their raids across numerous locations. Unable to utilize it themselves, they concealed it away. Discovering such a bounty would make anyone immensely wealthy.

Back in those days, this story gained widespread acceptance among the masses. Certain sects even endorsed it enthusiastically. They deemed the rumor credible, given how the Ghostwind bandits and the Severe Sword Sect had nearly wiped each other out, with the sect claiming none of the bandits' spoils. So, what became of all the plunder the Ghostwind bandits had seized over countless years? It surely couldn't have vanished into thin air, could it? Thus, the legend was born.

That era saw a massive Ghostwind treasure hunt sweep through the Blood Sea Realm. Throngs of individuals dove headfirst into the quest for the Ghostwind hoard, and even sects mobilized their forces. The ten great sects dispatched teams of disciples to probe the mystery. Yet, despite all efforts, the search yielded zero results.

With the passage of time, the frenzy gradually faded away. Interest waned, and folks turned their focus elsewhere. Whispers even emerged suggesting the Ghostwind bandits hadn't amassed much loot after all. They'd expended everything they took on their own needs. Without that, they wouldn't have grown so formidable or wielded such potent magic tools. Gradually, the pursuit dwindled, and the whole affair slipped from memory.

Yet, Feng Xin and his companions stood apart. As direct victims of the Ghostwind bandits' atrocities, they refused to let it go. Vengeance burned in their hearts, alongside a drive to reclaim what was rightfully theirs. For that reason, they delved into the matter relentlessly, tracking the bandits' surviving kin and hunting for signs of that lost treasure trove.

Their persistence bore fruit. Nearly a century of probing uncovered vital leads. The Ghostwind bandits indeed left a bloodline alive, though their hidden base remained elusive. Those heirs had entered the Blood Sea Realm via teleportation arrays and seldom ventured back afterward.

Moreover, these Ghostwind descendants possessed terrifying might. Even Feng Xin's group couldn't overpower them outright. Thus, they operated from the shadows, tailing the heirs to uncover their schemes. What they observed stunned them: the Ghostwind lineage continued their legacy of slaughter and theft. But oddly, they seemed to protect some secret site. Periodically, they'd lead captives away, always heading the same way, only for those followers to vanish upon their return.

This oddity sparked deep suspicions. Prior to the bandits' arrival there, Feng Xin's forebears had dispatched scouts, but found nothing amiss. Unbeknownst to them, the old Daoist had fooled their senses. His essence had been drained heavily into the Ghostwind Ghost Flag back then, leaving him frail. Naturally, he avoided easy detection, appearing only to the Ghostwind heirs and none others. That's how Feng Xin's ancestors overlooked the canyon entirely.

Years rolled on, and the Ghostwind disciples dwindled in numbers, their power waning steadily. Strangely, Feng Xin and his allies weakened too, now barely surpassing lone wanderers in prowess. Their edge lay mainly in ancient lineages, but otherwise, they mirrored those solitary cultivators. Hence, the balance of strength between the factions stayed perilously even.

The key distinction? The Ghostwind heirs remained oblivious to their watchers. They assumed their past stayed buried, unaware their secrets had long been pierced. Only the lack of assured victory kept Feng Xin's side from striking.

Generations came and went like this, persisting until Feng Xin's time. At last, their collective might edged ahead of the Ghostwind remnants. Still, they held back from assaulting Fang Weijia's crew. Though superior, the gap wasn't wide enough to guarantee success against the cunning Ghostwind ways. A single slip could doom them, severing their final threads of intel. So, they kept tabs on Fang Weijia and his lot, biding time for the perfect strike.

But then, Fang Weijia and his group lured Zhao Hai and others away, only for Zhao Hai to return alone—Fang Weizhou and the rest nowhere in sight. This twist left them reeling in shock. Seizing the moment, Feng Xin reached out to Zhao Hai, hoping to glean clues from him. Any insight would help; if not, they'd shadow Zhao Hai covertly and strike once he departed the island.

Still, that approach carried risks, given the teleportation array on Blood Lake Island. Should Zhao Hai skip sailing out and teleport instead, trailing him would prove nightmarish. Using the array themselves might tip him off. Weighing this, they stuck to their current plan: Have Feng Xin befriend Zhao Hai, foster trust, then lure him into a joint mission. Once off Blood Lake Island, they'd pounce.

Though Feng Zhongxin warmed to Zhao Hai, decades of sacrifice for this vendetta wouldn't allow hesitation now. With everything riding on Zhao Hai, release wasn't an option. Swiftly quelling his doubts, Feng Zhongxin settled into meditation.

Feng Xin and his allies practiced a diverse array of paths. Sword cultivators mingled with body refiners, standard Qi practitioners, and talisman specialists. Hailing from varied origins with unique heritages, their methods naturally diverged.

Feng Zhongxin followed the sword path. Zhao Hai's sharp gaze had pegged him right: as the inheritor of a minor sword sect in the Blood Sea Realm. That sect paled beside the Severe Sword Sect, yet it forged true swordsmen. Though now a rogue cultivator with his sword Qi subdued, Zhao Hai spotted his roots instantly.

Inside his chamber, Zhao Hai sat calmly. He skipped using his spatial sense on Feng Zhongxin, knowing the man's modest power posed no threat. Surveillance seemed unnecessary anyway, lest it alert island powerhouses to his probing.

The Blood Lake Island bazaar had showered the Blood Slaughter Sect with riches. Fresh from battling the thirteen allied clans years back, they'd alienated most of the ten great sects—save the Giant Demon Sect and Rahu Sect. With the market booming, envy from rivals loomed large. Any jealous incursion could spell chaos, so the Blood Slaughter Sect maintained ironclad security around the twelve-island hub.

Aware of these tensions, Zhao Hai treaded with utmost caution. He was Zou Xiao now, not the Blood Slaughter Sect's top disciple Zhao Hai. Any slip revealing his true self might provoke the sect's wrath. As one of their own, he sought no rift with them.

Zhao Hai lounged in his quarters, his mind attuned to the Cold Wind Ghost Flag and soft sword within the Hell Space. The blade simply required nurturing to amplify its might over time. The flag, battered from prior clashes, demanded restoration after failed recovery.

Zhao Hai quickly grasped that the Cold Wind Ghost Flag ranked as a supreme artifact, rivaling the God-Slaying Saber. Repairing it craved immense Yin Qi, which it devoured far swifter than the soft sword managed.

Thankfully, Hell Space brimmed with inexhaustible Yin Qi. Even at a hundredfold pace, the flag couldn't drain it dry. Zhao Hai stayed unconcerned. He expected swift mending, as the flag not only drew Yin Qi but gobbled vast soul essence too—unclaimed spirits that nourished it best.

Glancing over the Cold Wind Ghost Flag and flexible sword, Zhao Hai saw no shifts. Retracting his spiritual force, he shifted to the Spatial Villa to check on Laura and the crew. Their pursuits drew a wry grin from him. Laura and the others tinkered with mechanisms, revamping the villa into a trap-laden haven. Soon, they'd command from afar, the structure handling chores and delivering needs right to their doors.

Seeing Laura and the girls' thrilled expressions—like kids with shiny gadgets—Zhao Hai just smiled, leaving them be. Though they roamed freely in the vast space, the Blood Sea Realm barred their entry. This guilt gnawed at him, so witnessing their passion for such projects brought quiet joy.

Fully recalling his spiritual energy, Zhao Hai eased his eyes open, a spark igniting within. He resolved to push harder, for his Golden Lotus Nine Changes Sutra had evolved anew. Mastering this shift would unleash greater potency, arming him to rival global titans fearlessly. With self-defense assured, he'd shield Laura and the others, freeing them from the medium without reprisal.