Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8494: The heavens changed (1)

Zhao Hai remained completely unaware of these events. Right now, he guided the Ghostwind bandits while lurking inside the Dark Ghost Sect's territory. They scoured different areas of the Dark Ghost Sect, and at present, they probed yet another spot. Still, no strikes were launched. The Ghostwind bandits couldn't fathom why Zhao Hai held back from acting, yet they lacked the courage to inquire. They feared questioning Zhao Hai himself. His style of slaying foes without a second thought had thoroughly intimidated them.

Zhao Hai grasped this situation all too well. With his intermittent raids lately, he had detected that the Dark Ghost Sect appeared to have set up some defenses. On the surface, those islands looked mostly unchanged, but through Zhao Hai's careful watch, he swiftly spotted the truth: they were lax on the exterior but heavily guarded within. Full battle preparations were underway. Striking at those islands presently would surely end in disaster. Reinforcements would likely rush in the instant they engaged. Peril would follow immediately.

After around ten days of patience, Zhao Hai picked up on an odd shift. Over the recent days, his surveillance of the Dark Ghost Sect revealed irregularities in their disciple movements. Forces seemed to be concentrating. Moreover, internal restrictions within the Dark Ghost Sect had tightened sharply. Even from their hidden positions below ground, they hesitated to stir. The reason lay in the Dark Ghost Sect deploying numerous powerhouses. These experts patrolled relentlessly across the seas under the Dark Ghost Sect's control. Reckless actions were out of the question.

Zhao Hai couldn't fully comprehend the Dark Ghost Sect's schemes. Just what were they plotting? Still, he refrained from hasty actions. Besides, returning to the Blood Slaughter Sect wasn't on his agenda. He trusted that even a joint assault by the other top ten sects on the Blood Slaughter Sect wouldn't succeed without effort. The safeguarding arrays around the Blood Slaughter Sect's islands had all received upgrades. No issues would arise. Whether the seven sects struck together, breaking through the island's protective array remained uncertain.

This assurance kept Zhao Hai utterly unconcerned about the situation. Instead, he intended to persist in concealment within the Dark Ghost Sect's domain. Should the Dark Ghost Sect truly launch an offensive against the Blood Slaughter Sect, he could launch a counterstrike and ignite chaos in their rear lines. That would force the Dark Ghost Sect into divided attention. Ultimately, withdrawal would become their only option.

Meanwhile, word had reached the Blood Slaughter Sect that the seven major sects were mustering their troops. This news stirred some tension among the Blood Slaughter Sect's members. Dao Qian Zhan summoned all six elders to Blood Slaughter Island. Inside his study, Dao Qian Zhan eyed the group and spoke gravely, "I believe you all are aware that the seven great sects are assembling their forces, so there's no need for further explanation. My only question is, what do you all think about this development?"

Du Wan Sha pondered briefly before replying solemnly, "Every protective array on our islands has been enhanced by Little Hai. I've tested them, and the might of each island's protective array is immense. Breaking through won't be simple for them. With our thorough preparations and endless supply of puppets this time, we ought to adjust our strategy."

"Explain it to us. If the seven great sects are truly targeting us now, we have to deliver a severe blow to them." Dao Qian Zhan's fury burned genuine this time. He hadn't anticipated the enemies' audacity in scheming against them. Back when the Blood Slaughter Sect was at its lowest, such plots were tolerable, but now that recovery had taken hold, their continued aggression amounted to suicide. A harsh lesson was unavoidable.

"We'll position each island as a key point and wear them down gradually. Should they fail to breach the island's protective array, we can prolong the engagement, steadily draining their resources. Thus, they'll weaken over time under our pressure. Once their power fades sufficiently, we'll unleash a full counteroffensive."

Du Wan Sha's suggestion left Dao Qian Zhan momentarily taken aback. He glanced at the others and asked deeply, "What do you think?" Deep down, Dao Qian Zhan harbored some concerns, yet Du Wan Sha's approach struck him as practical. It could effectively counter the alliance of the seven great sects.

The rest agreed with nods, and Ha Jing added, "If Little Hai truly is Zou Xiao, he must have detected the seven major sects' troop buildup, yet he hasn't returned. Clearly, he's not overly anxious about it. Plus, his presence outside benefits us greatly. As the seven major sects advance on us, their backlines will thin out. Little Hai can exploit that vulnerability then, and those foes will suffer the fallout."

Dao Qian Zhan and the group nodded in approval. Their faith in Zhao Hai remained steadfast. During their prior vulnerability, repelling the seven major sects' assaults owed much to Zhao Hai's strategies. He couldn't possibly overlook the present circumstances. His choice to stay away despite awareness signaled his own calculated moves. Under those conditions, worries were needless. They trusted Zhao Hai to select the optimal path.

With Dao Qian Zhan and the others concluding their talks, the focus shifted to implementation. Every disciple in the Blood Slaughter Sect mobilized for defense. Puppets distributed widely. The whole Blood Slaughter Sect hummed with activity.

The sole unaffected spot in the Blood Slaughter Sect was Zhao Hai's Blood Gale Island. No oversight was required there. The Blood Slaughter Sect never considered relocating the Blood Ghost Team. In their view, it served no purpose. Furthermore, Blood Gale Island housed a puppet assembly line vital to the Blood Slaughter Sect. The Blood Ghost Team's safeguard proved essential. Thus, the sect left them in place.

Though the smaller and mid-tier sects across the Blood Sea Realm lacked details on the unfolding events or the reasons behind the Blood Slaughter Sect and seven major sects' renewed mobilizations—as if a massive clash loomed—they readied themselves regardless. They recognized that any conflict among these eight sects could ensnare them in the turmoil.

Time flew by, and a month elapsed swiftly. Despite the seven major sects' disciples assembling, no trace of Ren Bao emerged. This puzzled the Blood Slaughter Sect greatly. They couldn't grasp the delay's purpose. Even Zhao Hai, concealed within the Dark Ghost Sect, felt baffled. He had no clue regarding the adversaries' intentions.

On a typical day, the Blood Slaughter Sect's members upheld their watch but had eased somewhat. Nearly a month of enemy buildup yielded zero advances. This bewilderment prompted a gradual return to routine duties among the Blood Slaughter Sect, though baseline alertness persisted.

Dao Qian Zhan alongside the six elders stayed put on Blood Slaughter Island. Uncomprehending of the foes' assembly without follow-through, they avoided total complacency. As long as the opposing forces lingered united, relaxation was off-limits. As prime targets for the seven major sects, carelessness was impossible.

Inside the study, Dao Qian Zhan and the six elders conferred on various issues. Abruptly, a thunderous boom echoed from above. Like suppressed thunderclaps, it rattled souls. The unnatural roar altered Dao Qian Zhan and the six elders' countenances. They surged from the study without delay.

Emerging outside, they beheld the once-bright sky shrouded in pitch-black clouds. Amid those clouds, innumerable lightning flashes danced wildly. Seeming like myriad serpents writhing within the gloom, the heavens plunged into darkness, mimicking night's descent.

This sight twisted Dao Qian Zhan and the six elders' features further. An ominous aura pressed upon them. Foreboding gripped their hearts. Dao Qian Zhan bellowed instantly, "Hurry, activate every island's protective formation to shield Blood Slaughter Island. Now!"

A massive compass, spanning over a meter wide, materialized in Du Wan Sha's grasp. His fingers danced rapidly, channeling incantations into the device. The compass blazed to life, emitting a radiant beam. Accompanying it, myriad runes streamed forth. These runes gradually bonded to the Blood Slaughter Sect's island-guarding formation. Blood Slaughter Island abruptly glowed like a terrestrial sun.

Thousand Blade's tension showed no easing. He commanded sharply, "Swiftly relocate him to Sen Luo Palace. I'll fetch the Blood Slaughter Blade. Wan Sha, keep your hands off the Killing God Blade. We're committing the Blood Slaughter Blade fully. If the worst unfolds, hurl the Killing God Blade into the Blood Sea. I pray it doesn't come to my fears." His form blurred and vanished. Solemnity etched Du Wan Sha and the others' faces as they fixed gazes on the overhead clouds.

At that juncture, all on Blood Slaughter Island gaped skyward in stunned silence, clueless to the cause. Then, Dao Qian Zhan's silhouette reemerged aloft. A hefty, plain broadsword now rested in his hold. Dark crimson tinted its blade. Stretching over three feet with a one-and-a-half-foot grip, a ring capped the hilt, adorned by fluttering red silk—like a blood-drenched banner whipping in the breeze.

This seemingly ordinary sword was the Blood Slaughter Blade, the sect's supreme treasure. Wielded by the Blood Slaughter Sect's founder, it endured nurturing from successive leaders, boasting unmatched potency. It stood as the Blood Slaughter Sect's mightiest artifact. Reserved for existential crises, it rarely saw use.

Clutching the Blood Slaughter Saber, Thousand Blade's stare locked onto the brooding clouds. Abruptly, realization struck, and he yelled, "Ha Jing, fast—pack all the Blood Slaughter Sect's texts and archives into space artifacts, then secure them in the secret realm. Do it without delay." Ha Jing acknowledged and vanished. Moments later, he materialized in the Blood Slaughter Sect's primary scripture vault, repository of endless tomes and documents.