Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8550 8550: Business (1)

Zhao Hai sat quietly within his quarters, accompanied by Laura, Chang Jun, and several other subordinates. The leadership capabilities of Laura and her companions had gained unanimous recognition from Chang Jun’s group. In reality, the oversight of the boundless space generally fell to Laura and the others, as Zhao Hai rarely intervened. He prioritized his own Cultivation, aiming to bolster his strength with the utmost urgency; without formidable power, the Blood Slaughter Sect had no hope of ascent.

However, whenever a matter threatened the fate of their realm, the final judgment rested with Zhao Hai alone. He served as the true cornerstone of the realm, utterly irreplaceable. His mere presence ensured that every member of the realm remained guided and focused.

Addressing the group in a grave tone, Zhao Hai stated, "We have garnered promising results from our initial trials regarding weapon-based Cultivation. Cheng Wanchun has ascended to the rank of Island Lord. Since he possesses a life-bound magical weapon integrated with a weapon spirit, while incorporating certain traits of the Spiritual Array Sect’s artifacts, his raw power likely eclipses that of a standard Island Lord. I believe it is time to progress. We shall implement this cultivation technique across the entire space, beginning with the third team. What are your thoughts?" Initially, the group had been skeptical of Zhao Hai's vision. Having spent years in the world of Cultivation, they were familiar only with the premise of nurturing magical artifacts, never the concept of a synchronized union between a cultivator and an artifact—where the tool aids the master's progress while the master simultaneously elevates the tool. Such a notion had seemed implausible.

Yet, the tangible success evidenced by Cheng Wanchun had converted them into true believers. They nodded in unison, offering no resistance. Even so, Chang Jun sought clarification, asking, "Sect Master, as we modify the armaments for the third team, what specific weapons should we assign? Shall I standardize the saber, or proceed with the spear?"

Zhao Hai deliberated before replying, "The spear is preferable. If you truly prefer the blade, it must be completely forged anew. Do not use the blood knife again, lest it compromise our identity. Spears are far better suited for coordinating with the aliens. Regardless, consult the preferences of the men first. If they find the blade more suitable, they may use it."

Chang Jun dipped his head in acknowledgment. "Understood, I will gather their input before deciding. Sect Master, do we have any long-term objectives? We have not revealed our presence in the Blood Sea Realm for some time; I fear they have forgotten us. Would it be prudent to stir things up and remind them of our existence?"

Zhao Hai dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. "There is no need for such displays," he remarked. "Our current development is steady. With our foreign trade network established and external communication paths secured, we lack no Cultivation materials. However, our intelligence infrastructure remains incomplete, and our numbers are still limited. While our ranks have grown via the faithful slaves within the space, it remains insufficient. Given my concerns regarding our current strength, it is safer to remain in the shadows."

Chang Jun retreated into silence. Zhao Hai redirected his attention to Laura. "Laura, what is the status of the trade network we initiated through the lady boss? Are we attracting more believers into our space?" Despite the influx of faithful slaves from the Blood River Sea area, Zhao Hai felt the count remained underwhelming. He required more, prompting him to utilize the lady boss as a conduit for a specialized trading firm—one that, alongside legitimate business, facilitated the acquisition of faithful slaves.

The trade of believers was entirely unprecedented. While sects possessed numerous followers, they rarely traded them, needing them for their own ends or finding no secondary market for people lacking combat strength. Buying them appeared to be a wasteful expenditure of inedia pills.

But Zhao Hai operated differently. Though he had secured many slaves, it remained inadequate. He preferred a peaceful acquisition—buying them with Jingshi—rather than raiding, which risked public exposure. With no pioneers in the slave trade, they filled the vacuum. The lady boss’s enterprise functioned in parallel to their Green Wind Trading Company, with the primary objective of testing the viability of the believer market.

For massive sects, the allocation of slaves was rarely an issue; they commanded vast territories. For smaller sects, however, faithful slaves often represented a burden. These smaller factions lacked the resources or techniques to produce many Island Lords, yet their population of believers—who did not cultivate but merely prayed—expanded rapidly. This led to overcrowding, squalor, and occasionally, devastating plagues. If the lady boss could persuade these struggling sects to divest their surplus, it would secure a reliable source for Zhao Hai.

When asked, Laura replied, "Progress is steady, though the company is new and our relations with these sects remain superficial. Talking of such sensitive matters too early would be unwise. The lady boss suggests we wait for the proper timing."

Zhao Hai agreed. "Do not rush. If they face difficulties, offer our assistance. By the way, how is our other venture progressing? Is it yielding results?"

Laura answered solemnly, "It is slow. We must operate in total secrecy, and since we cannot reveal our true identities, trust is hard to come by."

Zhao Hai considered this. "To gain credibility, we must earn a reputation through difficult tasks. Let us take on a few high-stakes contracts. Success will serve as our calling card."

Laura appeared hesitant. "Brother Hai, why enter this sphere? The assassination business brings nothing but enemies and increases the risk of exposure."

Zhao Hai explained his rationale. "I have considered various angles. Firstly, it sharpens our disciples through real combat. Secondly, it offers deep insight into the internal rivalries of the various sects, allowing us to weaken them by eliminating their most talented rising stars. That is why I have sanctioned this path."

Indeed, they were entering the field of assassination. Understanding the weight of his decision, Laura fell silent, ultimately yielding. Zhao Hai smiled reassuringly. "Do not overthink it. I refuse to believe the powers of the upper realm would strike the Blood Sea Realm at a whim. The cost would be ruinous. As long as we keep a low profile until we are fully established, we have little to fear."

Laura nodded. "Very well, I shall make the arrangements. We will target more difficult missions immediately. However, we must remain vigilant regarding the Rahu Sect to avoid retaliation."

Zhao Hai concluded firmly, "I have planned for this. No publicity, only word-of-mouth recommendations, and absolute anonymity. We will protect ourselves by remaining ghosts in the eyes of our enemies."

Laura nodded once more, allowing the discussion to conclude.``