Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8473: Start of action (1)

Da Jiuzhi stared in astonishment at Liu Feizhou's corpse. The idea that Liu Feizhou had taken his own life stunned him completely, far beyond anything he had anticipated. It took a considerable time for Da Jiuzhi to recover his composure. With a complex gaze fixed on the body, he let out a sigh and declared, "What a devoted and honorable fellow. Go on, take him away and ensure he receives a fitting burial!" The attendant behind him responded promptly, stepping forward toward Liu Feizhou's remains. Upon reaching the spot, rather than stowing the body into a space-teleportation device, he straightened the garments and lifted the corpse gently before pivoting and heading out. His careful movements revealed deep respect for Liu Feizhou. Regardless of the circumstances, loyalty always earned admiration, even if it appeared foolish at times. Yet, that very quality made it deserving of the highest regard.

As the attendant bore Liu Feizhou's body from the room, Da Jiuzhi released a prolonged sigh and murmured, "Junior Brother Wen, setting aside your power for the moment, you've truly secured an exceptional servant. I wonder if fortune will ever smile on me with someone like Liu Feizhou by my side. Should I gain such a loyal aide, it would count as a divine favor." After uttering these words, Da Jiuzhi shut his eyes, only reopening them moments later. His gaze settled on the Jade slip he held, and he whispered, "It looks like this affair is probably genuine. Things are about to get fascinating."

Following that, Da Jiuzhi rose to his feet and stored the Jade slip safely. He then glanced at the four strikes and muttered, "It's been ages since I ventured off the island. High time I stepped out for a bit. Hehe, the Ghostwind bandits' treasure. Who would've guessed the tale held truth? Intriguing, truly intriguing!" Though his words hinted at mere curiosity, he had already exited the chamber. As he advanced, occasional hisses from venomous insects echoed from the sealed courtyards, sending chills down the spine.

Bold Zhang counted himself among the rogue cultivators, though cleverness wasn't his strong suit. His parents had been rogue cultivators too, and after their passing, he fended for himself. He traveled alongside childhood companions. Together, they gathered herbs to trade for Jingshi, fueling their cultivation. The technique he practiced was utterly basic, typical of the humblest rogue cultivators.

On that particular day, Bold Zhang trailed his companions to their usual herb-gathering spot. No rare plants thrived there, but the common ones sprouted quickly enough. They could harvest periodically and swap them for Jingshi, providing a steady livelihood. Moreover, their group was sizable, so they'd gathered there safely for quite some time.

While plucking herbs, Bold Zhang spotted a Jade slip nestled among the foliage. He froze in surprise. Jade slips abounded in the cultivation world, yet they weren't littering every corner. Curiosity piqued, he retrieved it for a closer look. It appeared as an unremarkable Jade slip, its secrets unknown. Bold Zhang's daring nature prompted him to probe it with his mental energy right away. Soon, the Jade slip's message flooded his thoughts.

But upon absorbing the Jade slip's contents, Bold Zhang's eyes snapped wide, and he let out a startled cry. The outburst drew the eyes of his companions, who rushed over at once. They noticed the Jade slip clutched in his hand and regarded him with bewilderment, unsure of the cause.

Just then, a voice rang out, "What in the world? How'd you end up here? Why the yelling? You gave us a fright—we figured you were in trouble. What's that? Hand it over, let me check." Before Bold Zhang could gather his wits, the man grabbed the Jade slip and infused it with his own mental power.

The instant he scanned the Jade slip's information, the man's expression shifted dramatically. He whipped around to face Bold Zhang and demanded, "Where on earth did you find this Jade slip?" His tone quivered with shock, for he had never imagined stumbling upon such fortune.

Though Bold Zhang felt a twinge of regret for his sluggish response that allowed another to glimpse the contents, the deed was done. He could only reply, "Right here, buried under these herbs. No clue who dropped it. Boss, you reckon it's legit?"

The one Bold Zhang addressed as boss led this band of rogue cultivators. His power had climbed to the Profound Qi realm, outstripping the rest in strength. Beyond that, his upright character won him the group's trust, securing his leadership role. Lei Quan was his name, hailing from a modest family that had fallen into ruin, thrusting him into rogue cultivation life. Yet his family roots gave him some knowledge of the Ghostwind bandits from over a millennium past. He recalled the stir their hidden treasure had caused. That familiarity amplified his astonishment at encountering a Jade slip with clues to the Ghostwind bandits' hoard in this place.

Hearing Bold Zhang's account, a flicker of murderous intent crossed Lei Quan's eyes. But spotting the curious stares from the others, he quelled the impulse. With a heavy sigh, he addressed the group gravely, "All of you, have a look. We'll discuss once you've read it." He then handed the Jade slip around. Each member took it eagerly, poring over the details with care.

Once everyone had reviewed the Jade slip, a stunned silence fell. They turned to Lei Quan, faces alight with joy. His earlier reaction suggested he understood more. Lei Quan managed a wry smile at their expressions. Truth be told, he had briefly considered claiming the secret for himself. But surrounded by so many, he realized that plan was doomed. Had he slain Bold Zhang then to keep it hidden, the others would sense something amiss with the Jade slip. These weren't saints; they'd turn on him without mercy, and a beating would be the least of his worries. Thus, he opted to share the revelation and plot their next steps together.

Noting their expectant gazes, Lei Quan spoke solemnly, "I'm familiar with the Ghostwind bandits. Over a thousand years back, a fierce band of outlaws emerged in the Blood Sea Realm. Their might was unmatched—they plundered endless rogue cultivators and even hit smaller and mid-tier sects. Eventually, they crossed the Severe Sword Sect and met their end at its hands. Yet after their demise, whispers spread that they'd amassed a fortune in loot but hadn't carried it off, nor had the Severe Sword Sect claimed it. Instead, they'd stashed it all in some secret spot unknown to all. The tale sparked massive frenzy a millennium ago, with hordes scouring the lands for the Ghostwind bandits' treasure, only to come up empty. The uproar faded gradually over decades."

Lei Quan paused there, surveying the group. Excitement gleamed in their eyes, clearly captivated by the lure of 'treasure.' Anyone blocking their path would face drawn weapons and fierce resistance.

Clearing his throat lightly, Lei Quan continued in a serious tone, "I once caught wind of this by chance, dismissing it as mere legend. Never did I expect to encounter this Jade slip today. Its sudden presence raises suspicions—true or not, we ought to investigate. After all, it points to just one target. We grab him and interrogate; fact or fiction, we'll know soon enough. Thoughts?"

"Sounds good, Boss Lei. Let's head out and track it down. We'll rough up the fellow, snag him, and grill him for details. If the treasure's real, we're set for life." The speaker was another team member, and the rest voiced their support with nods.

Lei Quan had no qualms with the plan. He declared at once, "Right, we're leaving now. Forget the herbs—hunting treasure trumps that. Move out." No one argued, and they all soared skyward with Lei Quan, vanishing swiftly.

When Lei Quan and his group reached the city, chaos reigned. Crowds swarmed the teleportation array. Perplexed, they caught snippets of "Ghostwind bandits" and "treasures" from the throng. Those terms jolted Lei Quan and the others—they hadn't foreseen the secret leaking so fast. It caught them off guard completely.

Yet their shock soured into grimaces shortly after. With the information out, snaring Zou Xiao and the Ghostwind bandits' treasure seemed uncertain. Given their power, could they wrest him from the masses?

Still, Lei Quan understood that wider knowledge often signaled authenticity. Clearly, someone had spread this on purpose. Whatever their motive, one fact stood out: they'd invoked the Ghostwind bandits. It likely wasn't baseless. Daring to weave the Ghostwind bandits into this scheme implied a real tie to their treasure. Motive aside, any link to the Ghostwind bandits demanded pursuit. They couldn't pass it up. For rogue cultivators like them, the Ghostwind bandits' treasure tempted beyond measure. Resources for cultivation were their greatest scarcity; with them, progress awaited. Thus, they pressed on, trap or no trap.

Across the Blood Sea Realm, countless shared Lei Quan's mindset. Rogue cultivators everywhere buzzed with fervor. The tale reached the sects too. The top ten showed mild disinterest in the treasure, but smaller and mid-sized ones perked up considerably. In moments, nearly every cultivator in the Blood Sea Realm stirred to action. All eyes locked on one man—a rogue cultivator named Zou Xiao!