Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8665: Method (1)
The Corpse Demon Sect released their statement, calling upon all the sects within the Blood Sea Realm to cease their animosities and unite against external threats. Their directive was clear: repel the invaders from the Shadow Realm who had breached their domain, ensuring they could not act with impunity. Though this declaration arrived slightly after the Blood Slaughter Sect's, it marked them as the second major faction to publicly advocate for such unity. Crucially, the deep-seated animosity between the Corpse Demon Sect and the Blood Slaughter Sect made this joint call significant. Their willingness to set aside intense hatred and pledge full cooperation against the Shadow Realm's forces was undoubtedly a beacon of hope for the inhabitants of the Blood Sea Realm.
Upon receiving news of the Corpse Demon Sect’s proclamation, the people of the Blood Sea Realm felt a surge of optimism. Their anxieties regarding the Shadow Realm's invasion had been substantial, but this development eased their worries. The belief was that if the ten great sects could find common ground, confronting and defeating the Shadow Realm's army would be a manageable task.
Within the grand hall of the Blood Slaughter Sect, Zhao Hai convened with the sect's senior leadership. Addressing the assembly, Zhao Hai articulated his assessment: 'The Corpse Demon Sect has also issued a statement, urging a truce and collective resistance against the invaders. Heh, their intentions are quite cunning. They aim to exploit the situation with the Shadow Realm to gauge our sect's strength. Once the Shadow Realm's forces are vanquished, they plan to turn their attention to us. I suspect they are awaiting the opportune moment when Patriarch Yin Yang and Patriarch Yin Ghost are free to join them. With potential reinforcements from the upper realm, their combined power would make eradicating us far simpler.'
Zhao Hai paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him, before continuing in a serious tone: 'What are your thoughts on the Corpse Demon Sect's recent actions?' Having navigated countless trials and battles, Zhao Hai possessed a keen insight that allowed him to decipher the Corpse Demon Sect's ulterior motives instantly. Although he had already formulated his own strategies, he sought to understand the perspectives of his trusted advisors.
A murmur of discussion passed through the assembled leaders. Chang Jun was the first to voice his opinion: 'Sect Master, the words of the Corpse Demon Sect cannot be trusted. As you rightly pointed out, their statement is a ploy against us. If we allow them to stall and await the arrival of the Almighty from the upper realm to join their assault, the ramifications would be catastrophic.'
Zhao Hai acknowledged Chang Jun's passionate response with a smile. 'Calm yourself. Are you suggesting we launch an immediate assault on the Corpse Demon Sect?' Zhao Hai was well aware of Chang Jun's history with the Blood Slaughter Sect and his deep-seated animosity towards the Corpse Demon Sect, making his strong reaction entirely predictable. Chang Jun was, logically, the least inclined to consider any form of cooperation with their long-standing rivals.
Without waiting for Zhao Hai's further prompting, Chang Jun remained standing, his conviction unwavering. 'Sect Master, I propose we mobilize our forces without delay and decisively deal with the Corpse Demon Sect first. Once they are neutralized, the other sects will hesitate to challenge us. Our primary concern then would be the potential attack from the upper realm's Almighty, rather than facing a coalition of other sects. As for the incursions from the Shadow Realm, I believe they pose little threat once the Corpse Demon Sect is dealt with. We will then become the undisputed overlords of the Blood Sea Realm, and our decree will be absolute. I have no doubt they will comply.'
'No!' Xu Gang interjected before Zhao Hai could respond. He then rose, clasping his fists respectfully towards Zhao Hai. 'Sect Master, Elder Chang's strategy is flawed,' Xu Gang stated. 'We have just issued a call for all sects to set aside their differences and unite against the Shadow Realm's army. To immediately betray that promise by attacking the Corpse Demon Sect would be to break our word to the entire Blood Sea Realm. Our credibility would be shattered, and any goodwill we've cultivated would vanish. Therefore, this course of action is untenable. I believe we must first address the threat from the Shadow Realm. By demonstrating our resolve against them, we will earn greater prestige within the Blood Sea Realm, garnering increased support from all factions.'
When Xu Gang’s words reached everyone’s ears, they all nodded in agreement, finding his reasoning sound. As members of the Blood Slaughter Sect, the foremost power in the Blood Sea Realm, repudiating their word would utterly tarnish their reputation. Building a good name was arduous, but its destruction, swift. If their reputation were ruined, how could others ever trust them again? Such a loss would make them pariahs, even with their formidable strength. In such a scenario, their eventual defeat would be all but assured, regardless of whether the Corpse Demon Sect was annihilated.
Upon hearing Xu Gang’s proposal, Chang Jun was incensed. “Are we truly considering an alliance with the Corpse Demon Sect? Sect Leader, the Corpse Demon Sect harbors an irreconcilable enmity with our Blood Slaughter Sect. How can we possibly cooperate with them? I implore you to reconsider, Sect Leader.” Chang Jun was the most vehemently opposed to any collaboration with the Corpse Demon Sect.
“Enough, cease your bickering!” Zhao Hai’s commanding voice instantly quelled the commotion in the hall. The dispute between Xu Gang and Chang Jun abruptly ceased, and all eyes turned to Zhao Hai. They understood that the opinions of Chang Jun and Xu Gang held little sway; only Zhao Hai’s decisions mattered.
Zhao Hai surveyed the assembly and declared in a profound tone, “Previously, we made a public declaration to set aside our grudges and unite against a common foe. This commitment cannot be rescinded, lest we betray our word to the world and invite universal disgrace. Should that occur, our Blood Slaughter Sect would indeed face ruin. However, setting aside our hatred does not imply forgetting it, nor does it necessitate an alliance with the Corpse Demon Sect to confront the forces of the Shadow Realm. My intention is this: until we expel the Shadow Realm army from the Blood Sea Realm, we shall refrain from taking action against the Corpse Demon Sect. Once the Shadow Realm’s forces are vanquished, we will then address the Corpse Demon Sect. In the interim, the Blood Slaughter Sect will forge an alliance with the Vast Demon Sect to jointly attack the Shadow Realm army. As for how the Corpse Demon Sect chooses to engage the Shadow Realm, that is beyond our purview.”
A wave of stunned silence washed over everyone upon hearing Zhao Hai’s decree. Subsequently, nods of approval spread through the hall. They found Zhao Hai’s strategy to be exceptionally astute. This approach allowed them to avoid cooperating with the Corpse Demon Sect while dealing with the Shadow Realm threat, reserving their confrontation with the Corpse Demon Sect for a later date.
Heeding Zhao Hai’s words, both Chang Jun and Xu Gang resumed their seats, finding merit in his proposal. They nodded in agreement, offering no further objections. Zhao Hai’s proposed course of action perfectly aligned with their individual desires. Chang Jun’s primary concern had been the potential cooperation with the Corpse Demon Sect; the timing of their eventual conflict was of lesser importance to him.
Xu Gang’s perspective was even more straightforward; he had merely stated the facts. His stance did not signify opposition to the Corpse Demon Sect, but rather an acknowledgment of reality. As a member of the Blood Slaughter Sect, he understood that the enmity between the two sects was profound and their conflict inevitable. He was not so naive as to believe the Corpse Demon Sect would spare them simply because they sought no immediate revenge—that was an impossibility. The Corpse Demon Sect would undoubtedly seek their destruction, making their own preemptive actions a necessity.
Zhao Hai addressed the assembly once more, his voice resonating with gravity, “Esteemed members, make your preparations. I shall personally meet with Sect Master Yao. Our two sects will form an alliance and advance towards the Shadow Realm army’s position. The Corpse Demon Sect’s actions are of no concern to us. Proceed with your preparations.” “Yes!” the assembled members responded in unison. They rose and turned to depart. Zhao Hai observed Xu Gang approaching Chang Jun and offered a silent nod of approval.
Despite Xu Gang’s outwardly unrefined demeanor, his foresight was exceptional. Xu Gang recognized that while Chang Jun might not possess the greatest strength among the Elders, his influence was considerable. Many of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s Elders had originally belonged to the Bloodsucker team, which Zhao Hai directly commanded. Chang Jun, as the Deputy Captain, had been instrumental in managing nearly all aspects of the team’s operations, thus commanding immense respect within it. Even as the Bloodsucker team members had matured, they continued to hold Chang Jun in high regard. Consequently, Chang Jun’s prestige within the Blood Slaughter Sect remained exceedingly high.
Previously, Xu Gang had been at odds with Chang Jun's conduct. While his assessment was purely objective, he feared he might have irked Chang Jun. Given Chang Jun's significantly higher standing within the Bloody Massacre Sect, Xu Gang was anxious to avoid incurring his displeasure. Therefore, upon witnessing Chang Jun's departure, Xu Gang promptly pursued him, determined to clarify the situation and prevent any lingering resentment.
Zhao Hai could readily surmise Xu Gang's intentions but opted not to intervene. Xu Gang and Chang Jun had been companions for a considerable duration. Although Xu Gang joined the ranks later, his unwavering loyalty to Zhao Hai since his induction had earned Zhao Hai's high regard. Fostering a harmonious relationship between them was beneficial, and thus, Zhao Hai chose to remain uninvolved.
With the general strategy established, Zhao Hai enlisted Laura's assistance to mobilize Chang Jun and his contingent for the impending conflict. Concurrently, Zhao Hai personally led Cheng Wanchun to the Giant Demon Sect. At this juncture, the Giant Demon Sect represented their sole potential ally, necessitating a formal alliance. The existing cordial relationship between their respective Sects made it imperative to extend an invitation, lest the Giant Demon Sect feel slighted by their omission.
Upon Zhao Hai's arrival at the Giant Demon Sect, he found its members actively deliberating the very issue at hand. They had already received Zhao Hai's advance warning and were poised for engagement. However, the Bloody Massacre Sect's recent proclamation had introduced an element of uncertainty. After all, a recent skirmish had occurred between the Giant Demon Sect and the Bloody Massacre Sect, leaving a deep-seated animosity. Unlike the Bloody Massacre Sect, whose ranks comprised only a few individuals originally affiliated with the Bloody Massacre Sect, the majority lacked a profound understanding of the historical enmity between the Bloody Massacre Sect and the Corpse Demon Sect. This stark difference meant that the notion of the Bloody Massacre Sect seeking to bury the hatchet was difficult for them to accept. Consequently, they were immersed in discussions regarding their next course of action.