Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8479: Annihilate the enemy (1)

The nearby cultivators had noticed Zhao Hai's formidable power by now. Timid rogue cultivators among them began readying themselves to flee, yet the bolder ones pressed on with their ascent. Witnessing their behavior, Zhao Hai let out a mocking sneer, "Divine Secrets finger, seamless knife array!" As he spoke, he thrust a finger forward. That finger dissolved right away. Suddenly, the space shifted for the cultivators encircling Zhao Hai. He vanished from sight, and they materialized in a vast expanse. Thirty-six pillars rose within this realm. Before every pillar, four towering Iron Men positioned themselves. These Iron Men guarded four cardinal directions. Standing roughly ten feet high, each clutched a massive blade. The weapon stretched about two meters and spanned as broad as a doorway. Their eyes glared with rage, rendering them utterly savage and intimidating.

While the cultivators puzzled over the strange turn of events, the Iron Men lurched into motion. They hoisted the enormous sabers overhead and brought them crashing down. Every Iron Man struck nearly in unison. With their advance, the cultivators realized the entire area was blanketed in saber light. Yet, regardless of where they sought cover, a saber would come slicing toward them. No path offered even a hint of refuge.

These were all lone rogue cultivators, utterly unfamiliar with such a spectacle. Panic gripped them as they scrambled to fend off the Iron Men's assault. But their disarray only worsened their defense against the Iron Men's strikes. The Iron Men's might proved overwhelming, shattering even their spirit artifacts on impact. A few managed to parry the initial blow, only to get caught by the sweeping follow-up. In moments, the whole scene transformed into a slaughterhouse, where the hundreds of intruders fell to the Iron Men's blades.

As the final cultivator collapsed, the space faded away, and Zhao Hai reemerged. He gazed at the fallen foes and murmured, "My grasp of the Divine Secrets finger has advanced further. Indeed, real battles offer the quickest path to gaining experience and sharpening skills."

With a flick of his wrist, a large banner materialized in his grasp. It was the Yin Wind Ghost flag. Another wave sent a puff of dark Qi bursting from the flag, swallowing up all the slain cultivators. Then, Zhao Hai stored the flag once more and whispered, "Wiped out hundreds in a single clash. Hehe, soon enough, this Yin Wind Ghost flag will boast a full legion of ghost soldiers."

Right then, a mass of dark Qi surged from the distant horizon. Zhao Hai detected it at once. He shot a glance at the approaching cloud and let out a cold huff, "Dark Ghost Sect, your pursuit knows no bounds. Chasing me solo like this? You're an easy mark, of course. Very well, I'll end you today and watch what the Dark Ghost Sect dares to do about it." He remained rooted in place, calmly awaiting the intruder's approach.

Soon enough, the dark Qi mass hovered before Zhao Hai. It pulled back, unveiling the figure within. It was Leng Feng, the same foe from their prior clash. He hovered there, banner in hand, eyeing Zhao Hai. After a couple of sniffs, he scanned the surroundings. Yet nothing caught his eye amid the lingering blood mist. Still, he fixed his gaze on Zhao Hai and remarked, "You just clashed with someone? The blood stench hangs thick in the air."

Zhao Hai eyed Leng Feng and chuckled, "Those rogue cultivators—they wouldn't heed reason. I warned them I knew nothing of the Ghostwind Bandits' treasure and urged them to leave me be, but they kept coming at me. You as well, Leng Feng. I held back at the ghost market not out of fear, but to respect the Dark Ghost Sect. Do you truly believe I'm scared of you?"

Leng Feng stared at Zhao Hai and snorted, "Such arrogance. Let's see if your power matches your bold words." He swung his banner, summoning a dark cloud that enveloped him. From within, several enormous pythons lunged out, charging straight at Zhao Hai.

Zhao Hai gave a chilly snort, then jabbed a finger outward. "Divine Secrets finger, Pear Blossom in the storm!" At his command, countless light specks rained down on Leng Feng. The specks collided with the giant pythons, producing a barrage of sizzling noises. Innumerable punctures riddled the pythons' forms. As if sensing agony, the serpents bellowed fiercely and barreled toward Zhao Hai.

"Hmph, last time I couldn't unleash the Guiluo Smoke from my dark banner, letting you slip away. Otherwise, could your little schemes really have saved you? These giant pythons arise from Guiluo Smoke, phasing between tangible and ethereal. They're the perfect counter to your techniques. Let's see you dodge this round!" Leng Feng's voice echoed from the dark cloud, icy and laced with venom.

His fury was understandable. Previously, Zhao Hai had slain several of his junior brothers right before his eyes with a mere finger strike. As the group's leader then, the sect would surely hold him accountable for their deaths. Though his rank spared him severe penalty, the disgrace would sting. Thus, he now loathed Zhao Hai utterly and burned to eliminate him.

Seeing his technique fail to faze Leng Feng, Zhao Hai showed no shock. Instead, he grinned and declared, "Guiluo Smoke is impressive, but its myriad forms make it better for ensnaring foes than slaying them outright. Fine, behold this: Divine Secrets finger, raging flames burning the heavens!" He pointed again, launching a finger shadow that erupted into a blazing inferno. The flames surged ahead. Upon clashing with the dark smoke, it ignited like a spark on oil. With a thunderous roar, the blaze intensified and accelerated, barreling toward the dark cloud!

"No, this can't be! What flame is that? How does it pierce my Guiluo Smoke?" Leng Feng's panicked shriek burst from the cloud. He acted as if facing some nightmare. Never had he imagined fire could consume his Guiluo Smoke. That substance embodied pure Yin—how could flames breach it so?

As his horrified yells rang out, the blaze engulfed the entire Guiluo Smoke. Flames leaped skyward, and a piercing wail erupted from within. The cry faded gradually. When the fire at last subsided, Leng Feng's spot lay barren. His body, his spirit artifact, his soul—all had been utterly incinerated by the conflagration.

Zhao Hai regarded the void and sighed softly, "What a shame. That Guiluo Smoke was valuable too. And all his Yin souls, lost forever—such a waste. I won't let opportunities like this slip next time." He turned toward the ghost market's direction and snorted, "Dark Ghost Sect, I sought no quarrel this round. But since you've struck at me, expect no mercy." With that, he summoned the Yin Wind Ghost flag anew. He brandished it, causing it to billow without breeze. Then, Zhao Hai gazed heavenward with a roar, flag in grip, and charged directly for the ghost market.

Zhao Hai wasn't far from the ghost market at all. Though the market served the Dark Ghost Sect and sat on the sect's fringes, it didn't hug the absolute border. Several Dark Ghost Sect islands dotted the outer reaches. This setup kept the market's defenses rather lax. Only Leng Feng and a handful of core disciples watched over it. An island lord presided, but such powerhouses rarely lingered permanently. How could they tolerate being tied to a mere trading hub? Hence, security remained modest.

Prior to this, the spot had enjoyed true peace. No matter a troublemaker's nerve, none would rashly target one of the top ten sects. Sure, audacious souls had tried striking at the top sects before, but all met grim ends at their hands. Thus, none dared provoke the top ten anymore.

That complacency left the ghost market's barriers weak. Even the island's protective array had gone dormant for years. To the Dark Ghost Sect, the market was merely a trade post, holding little strategic worth. So they paid scant attention to fortifying it.

This oversight handed Zhao Hai his chance. As he materialized beyond the ghost market, Yin Wind flag aloft, those inside remained clueless. Most had never laid eyes on him. Even those who recognized Zhao Hai stared in bewilderment, unsure of his intent.

Zhao Hai surveyed the ghost market and burst into laughter, "Weren't you all hunting me? I, Zou Xiao, have arrived!" He swung the mighty flag, unleashing a fierce gale. Unlike ordinary colorless winds, this one swirled pitch black. Phantoms of ghosts flickered through the murk, accompanied by eerie shrieks.

The ghost market's cultivators at last snapped to awareness. They grasped that Zhao Hai came not in friendship, but for assault. Hearing Zou Xiao's name stirred some thrill, yet the Yin Wind Ghost flag's onslaught stunned them. None had foreseen such madness—daring to raid the Dark Ghost Sect's own market. Shock rooted them, erasing any urge to respond.

"Hahahaha..." Zhao Hai's wild laughter boomed skyward as he proclaimed, "Didn't you all wonder if I held secrets to the Ghostwind Bandits' treasure? Hear this: the Ghostwind Bandits' Yin Wind Ghost flag is mine now. From this day, I, Zou Xiao, lead the new Ghostwind Bandits. Witness my power!" He lashed the flag harder, whipping the Yin wind into a frenzy and amplifying the spectral howls. Bearing vengeful spirits, the gale plunged into the ghost market, assailing every soul within. Amid a chorus of agonized cries, chaos engulfed the entire market, evoking doomsday's arrival.