Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8563 8563: Island building (1)

Naturally, Zhao Hai did not exert so much effort merely to acquire a few believers and a shell of a main hall. Such an objective would be far too simplistic for him. Yu Qing served as a strategic wedge inserted into the Dark Ghost Sect, and his intention was to reshape Yu Qing's island entirely. He aimed to convert the believers' quarters on the island into his own private stronghold. This base was intended to be more than a mere alternative to a main hall; he planned to utilize it as the central hub from which to manipulate the affairs of the Dark Ghost Sect. His ambitions extended further, as he intended to establish similar footholds within other Sects as well. This strategy would greatly simplify the deployment of forces against those factions when the time for conflict arrived.

Therefore, upon hearing Laura’s query, Zhao Hai offered a confident smile and replied, “Do not worry, he has agreed. When the moment is right, we shall handle the logistics. He claims he can provide us with a ten-day window. He possesses enough intellect to know that acting recklessly would result only in his own demise.”

Lola nodded, fully grasping the implications. Zhao Hai had instructed Yu Qing not to impose restrictions upon him, yet that was merely a ruse. How could Zhao Hai possibly let such a man operate freely? He had indeed planted a safeguard—specifically, a Blood Curse. From the instant Yu Qing claimed Tang Zhengchun’s head, the curse had taken hold. While it remained dormant for now, any sign of betrayal from Yu Qing would result in his immediate death.

Zhao Hai maintained that Yu Qing was clever, implying the man surely realized Zhao Hai would never leave himself vulnerable. Had Yu Qing truly believed there were no strings attached, he would have been remarkably naive. It was precisely this awareness that ensured Yu Qing would not dare to act against him.

Zhao Hai turned his gaze to Laura, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “What is the current state of the inner space? Have they all begun practicing the art of forging?” He had delegated the management of the space to Laura and her companions, relying on them to report any difficulties.

Lola nodded. “They have commenced. Most high-level practitioners have started honing the artifact-crafting technique, and we are already seeing gains in their collective strength. Brother Hai, it appears we are headed in the right direction.” Since she had collaborated with Zhao Hai and the others to pioneer this refining method, she held a strong personal interest in its success.

“We shall see,” Zhao Hai responded grimly. “I fear this technique might complicate my future ascension, though that is a concern for another time. For now, increasing our strength is the priority. See that the people in the medium transition their attire as quickly as possible. Also, maintain vigilance regarding the Yin Yang Sect. We have genuinely crossed them this time.”

Lola agreed. “Indeed, we have truly provoked the Yin Yang Sect. They will surely exert every effort to retaliate. Currently, they are scouring the area for the culprit, though they seem to lack any leads. Brother Hai, do you believe we should claim credit? It would certainly boost the reputation of our Ghost Shadow group.”

Zhao Hai shook his head. “No, we must maintain our silence. Revealing ourselves would only invite unnecessary turmoil. We must remain patient. Sooner or later, the Yin Yang Sect will uncover the truth. If we boast now, regardless of whether they believe us, it will complicate Yun Gang’s operations within the Blood Sea Realm. Never underestimate the Nine Great Sects; their network of spies is vast, and loyalties are impossible to discern. Caution is our only path forward.”

Laura nodded slowly. “Understood. We shall focus our efforts on the Dark Ghost Sect and the training of our inner space residents. By the way, Brother Hai, the Proprietress has already reached out to several smaller Sects. The inaugural faithful slave trade is imminent.”

Zhao Hai’s spirits lifted at the news. “Excellent. This trade is vital for our plans. A successful first operation will set a positive precedent. However, ensure the Proprietress remains extremely cautious. Engaging in this trade may cause others to link us to the Ghostwind bandits. Besides, those from small Sects are fickle; if forced to choose between our alliance and the dominance of the larger Sects, they will undoubtedly betray us. Instruct the Proprietress to maintain strict communication protocols, and if she senses any danger, she must abort immediately.”

Lola acknowledged his instructions. They were well aware that after destroying various Sects in the Blood River Sea, the disappearance of the faithful slaves was their most prominent lead. Any bulk trading of such servants was an obvious beacon pointing toward the Ghostwind bandits. They had to tread carefully.

While these minor sects might be willing to trade, they would likely sell any intelligence regarding the identity of the Ghostwind group to the larger Sects for the right price. The motive for these major powers wasn’t moral righteousness or the elimination of evil—it was pure greed. They were particularly covetous of the cold wind Ghost flag, a weapon that rivaled the power of a Sect’s heirloom treasure.

For the following days, Zhao Hai remained within the boundless space, observing the progress of his subordinates. Every individual was diligently practicing the weapon-refining technique. Each had forged a life-bound magical artifact, and though initial progress was slower, the long-term benefits were clear; these weapons acted as conduits that actually accelerated their cultivation.

Their technique, while bearing the name of 'weapon-refining', was vastly different from traditional magical artifacts. While old-school soul-bound weapons were powerful, they required constant maintenance from the cultivator’s own spiritual essence, draining their potential. These new weapons, once their spirits were awakened, became self-sustaining entities that absorbed Qi independently, often funneling excess energy back to the user, effectively boosting their cultivation rate.

Within the Blood Sea Realm, the third team had fully adopted these new tools. Their performance improved significantly. As per Zhao Hai’s influence, the Ghostwind team favored curved daggers, just as they always had. The Bloodsucker team, formerly masters of the saber, had transitioned to ten-foot-long spears to avoid identification; since these were life-bound, they could be adjusted in size at will. As for the Divine Arms Battalion, Zhao Hai allowed them to experiment with various artifacts, as their focus remained on logistics and technical research.

While the rest of the Bloody Massacre Sect was beginning to adopt these methods, progress was slightly hindered by the availability of suitable artifacts. Zhao Hai projected that within a few months, the entire faction would be fully equipped.

Eventually, word arrived from Yu Qing. His master had approved his relocation to build the island. Zhao Hai gave his blessing, instructing Yu Qing to finalize the construction. Once finished, the Dark Ghost Sect would install a basic protective array, and the faithful slaves would be relocated to the facility. From there, Zhao Hai would move in and refine the island to his own specifications.

Yu Qing complied without hesitation. He utilized his status within the Dark Ghost Sect to ensure the island was built with the required infrastructure and slave quarters, framing it as a standard request for a new base. Once the island surfaced in the blood sea, the Yin Ghost Sect deployed technicians to erect the preliminary protective array and relocate the slaves. This basic defense was just a placeholder; they knew that in the end, they remained responsible for their own security.