Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8488: Rest (1)

Previously on Living In Another World With A Farm...
Zhao Hai commanded the Ghostwind bandits to relinquish all spoils from the conquered Ghost Island, insisting on distribution according to each member's effort as tracked by the Cold Wind Ghost Flag. Though most complied after his initial reminder, a few persisted in hiding items, prompting Zhao Hai to issue a final ultimatum and deploy the flag's black lines to bind the offenders. He exposed their concealed treasures—extracted directly from their storage devices—and absorbed the culprits into the flag, their screams echoing as a grim warning of the consequences for defiance. The bandits, chilled by the display, reaffirmed their loyalty to his unyielding rule.

"Good," Zhao Hai declared in a low tone. "It's excellent that you've grasped it. Now, we'll proceed to allocate the supplies." As he spoke, Zhao Hai flicked his wrist, sending numerous slender strands surging from the Yin Wind Ghost Flag. These strands swiftly separated the items scattered on the ground into numerous piles. Afterward, the strands shifted, depositing each pile directly before one of the group members.

Once all had stored their allocations, Zhao Hai pivoted to face the rest and announced, "Very well, secure your items. We'll remain here to recuperate for some time. Feel free to employ these resources for your training. No need to fret over depletion. Keep in mind, should we exhaust them, we can always raid for more."

The group chorused a resounding "Yes." Zhao Hai paid them no further heed and settled into a cross-legged position, commencing his gradual cultivation. Simultaneously, he monitored the evolving properties of the Yin Wind Ghost Flag and the transformations within Shen Ji. Furthermore, Zhao Hai pondered ways to incorporate these developments into his Nine Cycles Golden Lotus Sutra.

The companions observed Zhao Hai's demeanor but remained silent, promptly beginning their own sessions of cultivation. From the distributions received that day, they recognized Zhao Hai spoke truth. Each had indeed acquired substantial valuable items. The haul from today likely surpassed their gains over the previous several years. With Zhao Hai bestowing all this upon them, how could their enthusiasm not surge?

Admittedly, certain items among these proved unnecessary at present, like spirit stones. Crystal stones held no utility for them now, given the elixirs prepared for the tournament. Cultivation demanded reliance on elixirs alone. Spirit stones, though brimming with spiritual Qi, offered an overly concentrated and potent form. Absorption required meticulous portioning and subsequent refinement, demanding considerable duration.

In contrast, elixirs evaded such complications. Those designed to boost cultivation dissolved into unadulterated spiritual energy upon ingestion. Refining this into magical power demanded no absorption rate management; the process accelerated without inherent risks.

Thus, the entire group now cultivated via medicinal pills, eschewing spirit stones entirely. Naturally, they preserved these stones for future exchanges. Beyond crystals, various other resources appeared. Chief among them were the celestial artifacts. Their raid on the Dark Ghost Sect had yielded plentiful such tools, yet most remained unusable. These artifacts harbored excessive Yin Qi, incompatible with their practiced techniques. While operable, they failed to manifest full potency. More critically, deploying numerous Yin-attuned magical tools would instantly betray their origins, posing severe risks.

Yet this rendered the artifacts wholly worthless. Future applications awaited. In dire straits, hurling them to detonate could serve as a vital escape tactic. Moreover, having once been lone cultivators, they appreciated the superior quality of sect-sourced magical tools over many in their possession. They resolved to safeguard these treasures diligently.

Despite certain items offering no immediate benefit or current usability, ample resources proved directly advantageous. Hence, each member cultivated with utmost diligence. Concurrently, they vowed greater exertion in forthcoming assaults, securing richer spoils to accelerate their progress.

Naturally, they recognized the paramount acquisition from this venture transcended elixirs, crystals, or artifacts—it was the cultivation methods. Every island maintained its scripture repository, scale varying with the island master's amassed tomes. For rogue cultivators, what proved most elusive? Cultivation methods alone. Major sects enforced ironclad guardianship over such lore, exceeding common expectations. Acquiring advanced techniques as a lone practitioner bordered on impossibility.

This operation plundered vast troves of techniques from Ghost Island, including numerous high-tier variants. Several directly suited their needs. Possession of these elevated prospects for deeper advancement. Thus, the cultivation methods shone as the ultimate prizes.

Zhao Hai disregarded the others' training regimens, immersing in deliberate contemplation. Through recent clashes, he discerned Shen Ji's extraordinary nature as a cultivation technique. He aimed for seamless fusion with his Golden Lotus Nine Transformations Scripture, potentially adaptable to any method and wieldable via diverse weapons. Yet success hinged on profound prerequisites: vast experiential depth, broad familiarity with techniques, and masterful proficiency across them. Absent these, integration remained unattainable.

Following three days of deep meditation, Zhao Hai rose unhurriedly. Though the Ghostwind Bandits hadn't ceaselessly trained over these days, even during breaks, they restrained their activities to avoid disturbance. No one dared interrupt Zhao Hai; utmost caution prevailed.

As Zhao Hai ascended, the others mirrored him promptly. In truth, extended cultivation sessions proved unnecessary. Despite elixir availability, perpetual dependence invited pitfalls. While pill-derived spiritual Qi excelled in quality, it diverged from self-generated essence. Excessive intake muddled internal energies, compromising mana purity. Impure mana bore dire repercussions.

Precisely for this reason, post-elixir consumption necessitated intervals for energy consolidation. Only thus could medicinal essence truly assimilate into personal magical power, forging genuine strength. Over the three days, beyond initial pill ingestion and meditation on the first, the subsequent pair focused on mana refinement—a process defying hasty completion.

Occasionally, cultivation admitted no expedients. Overreliance on pills diluted prowess, akin to a facade of might. Seeming formidable with abundant resources, yet crumbling against true adversarial Dharma power. Hence, none pursued such folly. Preferring extended efforts to hone and purify mana, only this paved paths to further realms. Entangled, impure forces barred ascension to Island Lord caliber.

Observing all rise, Zhao Hai offered no remarks, merely nodding to the assembly before intoning gravely, "You've all recuperated over several days. Now advances our subsequent phase. Having struck a Dark Ghost Sect island here, this site draws their prime scrutiny. Lingering invites detection and peril. Our present might suffices not against their focused assault."

The listeners attended in silence, fully endorsing Zhao Hai's logic. A determined Dark Ghost Sect pursuit spelled genuine threat. Vigilance remained essential. Recall the Ghostwind Bandits of a millennium past—more infamous, more potent—yet annihilated by the Sharp Sword Sect. The Dark Ghost Sect rivaled that foe in might; opposition seemed futile.

Surveying them, Zhao Hai continued solemnly, "Thus, departure from this spot is imperative. Yet I intend no full withdrawal from Dark Ghost Sect domains. Their expanse is vast. Disruptions here may evade distant notice. Relocate and repeat elsewhere. Plundering a colossal entity like the Dark Ghost Sect yields far superior rewards over minor factions."

Hearing this, excitement flickered in their gazes. Zhao Hai's rationale resonated deeply. Though this single island raid brimmed with bounty, additional strikes promised cultivation sustenance for years ahead.

Zhao Hai regarded the group, withholding one detail. Within him lingered Yin Wuchang's trace, absent from proximate islands—indicating his absence. Hence the shift in venue. By voicing this to the band, despite his command, Zhao Hai sought to avert resentment. Brutal suppression alone bred inevitable backlash. Instead, pairing firmness with equity—clear explanations fostering valued inclusion—ensured loyalty and minimized future discord. Such was his approach to command.

Unbeknownst to them, Zhao Hai's thoughts remained private. Truthfully, their sentiment toward him held pure reverence, devoid of animosity. Though he'd slain some, they dismissed it lightly. Those victims bore no ties—neither kin nor comrades. Moreover, their hoarding of shares invited consequence. Demanding fuller portions, they harbored no grievance. As rogue cultivators, even formidable ones lacked security. Peril from superior foes loomed eternally; mortality weighed little. Thus, no hatred toward Zhao Hai stirred.