Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8555: Intelligence (1)

Zhao Wuji felt a profound sense of melancholy settling in his chest. Clasping a wine jug, he sat perched upon a massive boulder overlooking the bleak landscape of Death Warriors Island. The memory remained vivid: when Zhao Hai first ascended, he had dedicated himself to the Blood Sea God-Killing Art. He recalled Zhao Hai venturing into the depths of the Blood Sea here, a journey from which it seemed he never returned.

By nature, Zhao Wuji was an uncomplicated man. If he held someone in low regard, he wouldn't spare them a single glance. Conversely, if he truly accepted you as a companion, he would offer his absolute loyalty. Having considered both Zhao Hai and Yan Bei his brothers, their apparent demise left Zhao Wuji struggling with a heavy, restless heart.

When he thought of it, his resentment burned with a intensity that threatened to unhinge his mind. He still recalled his reaction upon hearing that the Blood Slaughter Sect had faced catastrophe and that all its disciples had perished. In a fit of rage, he slaughtered dozens of Corpes Demon Sect disciples, drawing the ire of their elite experts. Only the timely intervention of his own Sect had saved him from meeting his end.

Yet, he harbored no regrets; he only cursed his own insufficiency in failing to avenge Zhao Hai. Consumed by this frustration, Zhao Wuji leaped to his feet and let out a bellow that echoed across the sky. The sound roared like thunder, rippling outward until it reached every corner of Death Warriors Island.

By now, no one on the island dared to cross him. They understood that his mood was volatile and that he cared nothing for status. If a disciple of the Corpse Demon Sect provoked him, he would cut them down without hesitation. Consequently, the other inhabitants took care to steer clear of his path.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the air. "Brother Zhao, you seem troubled. Why not share your burdens and let me lighten the load?" The tone was impossibly gentle, yet laced with a mocking edge. Furious, Zhao Wuji spun around, snarling, "You brat, you are looking for..."

His voice died in his throat as he laid eyes on the newcomer. Stunned, he stood motionless for a long moment before finally shaking off his stupor. "Little Hai, it’s really you!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. He quickly regained his composure, casting a wary glance around to ensure their secret remained hidden, knowing full well the repercussions if word of Zhao Hai’s survival were to leak.

Zhao Hai offered a faint smile. "Brother Zhao, follow me." With a fluid motion, he stepped into the Blood Sea, and Zhao Wuji followed without a moment's hesitation. Once they were submerged, a brilliant white light erupted from Zhao Hai’s body, instantly transporting them into a secluded courtyard.

Looking around, Zhao Wuji marveled at the arrangement of the grounds, realizing this was but one of many vast, interconnected courtyards. "Brother Zhao, this is my new home. Take a look," Zhao Hai said. He rose into the air, allowing Zhao Wuji to witness the true scale of the surrounding scenery.

Staring at the vast expanse, Zhao Wuji was speechless. Zhao Hai chuckled, "Let us descend. You shall have the chance to explore more in the future. Come, let us have a drink." They returned to the ground and entered a room, where a modest table held a few dishes and two pots of wine.

After ushering his guest to a seat, Zhao Hai spoke somberly, "Brother Zhao, the sect fell into chaos, which kept me occupied. I apologize for not reaching out sooner. Please, let us drink."

Zhao Wuji did not linger on pleasantries, taking a swift pull from his cup. Setting it down, he stared intently at Zhao Hai. "Little Hai, I was terrified. I truly believed you and brother Yan Bei were gone. Tell me, how did you survive?" He was desperate to understand the truth.

Zhao Hai smiled thinly and recounted his recent mission, the subsequent news of the sect’s disaster, and his return. He revealed his role as leader of the Ghostwind bandits without divulging the full extent of his current power.

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji let out a hearty laugh. "Good, good! I knew my judgment wasn’t wrong. You are truly formidable, brother. You are blessed by fortune indeed. The Blood Slaughter Sect will surely make its mark on the martial world, and when they do, the world will tremble. I am relieved, truly. The only regret is brother Yan." His expression darkened, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Zhao Hai stepped forward, his tone grave. "I will have my vengeance. I came to tell you I am alive and thriving. Do not worry, brother. We may not see each other often, but take this array. We can maintain contact. Guard your tongue, for if my identity is exposed, we are both doomed." He handed the formation to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji accepted the gift instantly. "Understood. I will be careful. I attracted enough trouble with the Corpse Demon Sect to get banished here, so I know the stakes. When the time comes for you to strike at them, you must call upon me."

Zhao Hai nodded. He had exposed himself to save Zhao Wuji from despair and had planted the array—a tool that served as both a bridge for communication and a monitor. He still had to remain cautious; his secret was his lifeline. If his identity were revealed, he would be hunted relentlessly.

Zhao Hai had only intended to prove his survival to stop Zhao Wuji from committing suicide by attacking the Corpse Demon Sect. Zhao Wuji’s loyalty had exceeded expectations. Witnessing that roar of grief on the island had confirmed his sincerity.

Because of this, Zhao Hai had revealed his private space to him. It was a test of trust; if Zhao Wuji abused this information, Zhao Hai would have no choice but to eliminate him. If he proved steadfast, he would be a valuable ally.

After a long night of drinking, Zhao Hai returned him to the shore. Upon returning to Death Warriors Island, Zhao Wuji appeared refreshed and purposeful, his cultivation speed increasing once his burden was lifted.

With that matter settled, Zhao Hai turned his focus toward the Tang family. Zhu Yong was already gathering intelligence, but their objective extended beyond just that family; they had multiple missions from the Ghost shadow group to conclude first.

Ten days passed in a blur of activity. Everyone understood that neutralizing the Tang family was the primary goal; it offered prestige and a strategic foothold within the Dark Ghost Sect. It was an operation that allowed no room for error.

Eventually, Zhu Yong delivered the report. Zhao Hai parsed the Jade slip carefully, his brow furrowing. "This is comprehensive, yet insufficient. The Tang family undoubtedly plants agents in other sects, just as the Yu family once did. We need total clarity. We will capture a high-ranking member of the Tang family and perform a soul search to extract the details we lack. Use these marks on the branch families to draft your plan. I will handle the soul search myself. Proceed."

Zhu Yong obeyed and departed to coordinate with Laura and Chang Jun. He understood that his intelligence network, comprised mostly of individual cultivators, struggled to penetrate the upper echelons of major families. His reliance on bribing lower-level disciples of the Yin-Yang Sect had yielded only so much.

This mission exposed a critical flaw in their intelligence capability. As their reach expanded, their methods of gathering information needed to adapt. They could no longer rely on simple observations; they had to infiltrate the true power structures of the sects.