Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8661: Accident (1)

After a toast, Zhao Hai turned to Yao Jianhao and stated, "Martial Uncle Yao, those individuals from the Corpse Demon Sect have joined forces with members of other sects to oppose us. Now that our Three Talents Formation is complete, we no longer need to fear them. However, I still harbor some concerns, particularly regarding the two Almighty Beings from the upper realm. It's possible there are more than just two."

Zhao Hai paused before continuing, "Grandmaster Yin Yang and Grandmaster Yin Ghost will undoubtedly target me. In addition to them, Grandmaster Rahu should also be involved. The Rahu Sect is an adversary, and I have personally slain their Elder and confiscated their sect's most potent magical artifact, the Heavenly Silk Flying Flower Sword. This alone is sufficient motive for Rahu to confront us. Of course, there's also Grandmaster Corpse Demon, though we remain uncertain of his potential involvement. If all of them were to attack, we would have to contend with four such Grandmasters." He concluded, "This is not a predicament that can be resolved easily."

"Our Giant Demon Sect also has an Elder residing in the upper realm," Yao Jianhao responded in a deep tone. "If our Elder were to intervene, he should be capable of deterring them. You needn't fret excessively." Despite harboring a degree of apprehension about the situation, Yao Jianhao was not overly worried, as the patriarch of their Giant Demon Sect was still alive, which offered a significant measure of reassurance.

Zhao Hai, however, shook his head. "We might find ourselves facing four patriarchs this time. They could dispatch merely two individuals to keep your Giant Demon Sect's patriarch occupied. The remaining two would likely suffice to deal with us, so we must remain vigilant."

Yao Jianhao concurred, his expression growing a touch more serious. Zhao Hai then pressed on, "Yet, I am puzzled as to why they have not yet confronted us. It's quite perplexing. They ought to be making their move by now. Why the delay?"

Yao Jianhao pondered for a moment before replying, "That is difficult to ascertain. Why they haven't acted is beyond my understanding as well. Several months have elapsed since our engagement with the Yin Yang Sect and the Yin Ghost Sect, yet there has been no aggressive action from their side."

Yao Jianhao's eyes widened slightly, a sudden realization dawning upon him. His expression shifted dramatically. "Our Giant Demon Sect's Old Ancestor has not communicated with us for an extended period. Could something have transpired in the higher world? It seems unusual, given the lack of any communication from the great elders. Or, perhaps, Grandmaster Yin Yang and the others have gone to confront our Giant Demon Sect's Grandmaster?"

Upon hearing Yao Jianhao's words, Zhao Hai and the others' expressions turned solemn. Zhao Hai stated gravely, "Speculating on these possibilities is fruitless at this juncture. We should adopt a wait-and-see approach. None of us truly knows the prevailing circumstances. However, I believe it is imperative that our two sects maintain a state of complete readiness for war, commencing immediately."

Yao Jianhao lost his appetite for the wine. He nodded in agreement, "You are correct. We must dedicate all our efforts to preparing for conflict. If something has indeed befallen our Giant Demon Sect's Old Ancestor, our position will be exceedingly precarious. With him present, those Grandmasters would exhibit a degree of restraint and refrain from launching a full-scale assault. Without the Old Ancestor's influence, we would be truly vulnerable."

Zhao Hai nodded. At that precise moment, an individual rushed in from outside. Zhao Hai was taken aback upon recognizing the person. His expression altered instantly, and he inquired with a deep voice, "Zhu Yong, what has occurred? What transpired?" The individual who entered was indeed Zhu Yong, but his countenance was far from composed. His face was unnervingly pale, an evident indication that a significant event had taken place, prompting Zhao Hai's urgent question.

Zhu Yong hesitated, looking at the individuals present, uncertain whether he should speak. Zhao Hai discerned his apprehension instantly. He promptly declared, "What are you hesitating for? We are all on the same side. Speak your mind." Aside from Chang Jun and the others, only Yao Jianhao was in the room. If Zhao Hai were to prevent Zhu Yong from speaking, it might imply a lack of trust towards Yao Jianhao, potentially unsettling him and proving detrimental to their mutual interests.

Zhu Yong acknowledged the instruction and immediately declared, "Young Master, I have just discovered that we have lost contact with every single person we dispatched to the marketplace. Not one of them remains accounted for." Zhu Yong, naturally, did not dare to withhold any information from Zhao Hai. He promptly conveyed the details of his discovery, recognizing the profound significance of this matter to their current situation.

The market situated on the solitary island had never been under the dominion of any of the top ten sects. Its founder remained an enigma, though it was widely acknowledged that even the most powerful figures from the prominent sects hesitated to provoke him. This place served as the largest trading hub for rogue cultivators within the blood sea realm. Despite its significance, the cultivators frequenting this market were generally not formidable, which led the major sects to pay it little mind.

Consequently, while disciples from these large sects could be spotted within the market, they were invariably lower-ranking members. The major sects didn't typically recruit such vastly powerful or inscrutable individuals, and given the limited profit margins, they remained largely unaware of the market's intricate workings.

However, Zhao Hai and his faction operated differently. Despite their considerable current strength, they had consistently maintained a robust intelligence network within the Lone Island Market. They viewed it as a crucial location for expanding their influence and honing new recruits, thus attaching immense importance to its operations.

It was this very reason that when Zhu Yong realized he had lost contact with his operatives at the market, his immediate concern prompted him to report to Zhao Hai. Upon receiving this news, Zhao Hai himself was taken aback. While the market wasn't their most critical asset, Zhao Hai had always attached significant weight to it. He vividly recalled an unsettling feeling he experienced during his first visit, a premonition of impending misfortune, though its exact nature remained unclear.

This lingering sensation had always stayed with him, fueling his persistent concern for the island market. He had consistently instructed Zhu Yong to monitor the situation there closely. Now, hearing of a grave incident, his apprehension was palpable. "You can't reach anyone? Immediately contact our people stationed near the market," he commanded. "Instruct them to investigate the situation and ascertain what has transpired."

Yao Jianhao, who had exhibited signs of unease, visibly relaxed upon hearing Zhu Yong and Zhao Hai's exchange. The market held little significance for sects of their caliber; its value was minimal. Thus, when he learned of the incident, his immediate concern dissipated.

Zhu Yong, unperturbed by Yao Jianhao's detachment, promptly replied, "I've already mobilized them. Some individuals have been dispatched to survey the area, but the results are not promising. They report that a dense gray mist now enshrouds the market, rendering entry impossible. The cause of this phenomenon remains unknown."

Zhao Hai's posture stiffened at Zhu Yong's report. "Disseminate my orders," he declared, his voice grave. "Devote all our resources to thoroughly investigate the Lone Island Market area. I require an immediate understanding of the changes occurring there. Proceed." Zhu Yong acknowledged the command and swiftly departed to implement the necessary arrangements.

Observing Zhao Hai's intense reaction, Yao Jianhao could not suppress a chuckle. "Come now, Little Hai, there's no need for such alarm. It's merely a market on an isolated island. Do not dwell on it; even if something significant has occurred, it likely poses no major threat." Puzzled by Zhao Hai's profound anxiety, Yao Jianhao attempted to assuage his worries.

A wry smile touched Zhao Hai's lips in response to Yao Jianhao's words. He then explained, his voice resonating with deep concern, "It's far more complex than you perceive. Even before I attained the status of a true disciple, my initial visit to the island market left me with a deeply unsettling feeling, a persistent suspicion that something was amiss. While subsequent events have unfolded, I never delved too deeply into that particular unease. In recent years, despite my continuous efforts to unravel the market's mysteries, progress has been negligible. Do you realize the sheer number of operatives I've assigned to the island market? No fewer than a thousand individuals have been tasked, yet we've gleaned virtually no substantial information. Even the disciples responsible for maintaining order within the market possess minimal, if any, insight into its true workings. Their knowledge is largely confined to hearsay, which leads me to believe the market harbors a profound secret."

Zhao Hai let out a sigh and confessed, "There's one more matter I've kept hidden from everyone. While at the market on the Isolated Island, I sensed an aura. It bore a striking resemblance to an aura I'd encountered before, from an island that once belonged to our Blood Slaughter Sect. This island was known as Blood-Clotting Island. Though it might be forgotten by most now, I recall it vividly. Back then, I was merely an outer disciple. An incident occurred on that island where the island master conducted a blood shadow sacrifice upon the entire landmass. They managed to summon a battle team of ten thousand from the Shadow Realm. This contingent possessed immense combat power. While we ultimately vanquished them, our Blood Slaughter Sect sustained severe losses. The aura I detected at the Isolated Island Market bore a distinct similarity to the presence of those from the Shadow Realm. It is precisely for this reason that I've attached such great significance to the Isolated Island Market."

Upon hearing Zhao Hai's revelation, a wave of shock rippled through the assembled group. The place Zhao Hai described was utterly terrifying – the Shadow Realm, a realm shrouded in mystery and notorious for its brutality. It was natural for them to be astounded. The inhabitants of the Blood Sea Realm had always harbored a deep-seated fear of the Shadow Realm, constantly vigilant against incursions. If news spread of individuals from the Shadow Realm entering their domain, the various sects would immediately mobilize to eliminate them. In the Blood Sea Realm, unity among the sects was a rare commodity, typically reserved for two extreme circumstances: the Millennium War, where all sects would band together against the Righteous Sects of the Cloud Sea Realm, or when confronting the Shadow Realm. Only under these dire conditions would they set aside their internal conflicts. This clearly illustrates the profound apprehension the Blood Sea Realm sects held concerning the Shadow Realm."