Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8671: 648-division (1)

The esteemed elder cast a glance at Li Ruohai before giving a nod. "Precisely. I endorse the Sect Master's decision. We are the Corpse Demon Sect, the preeminent force within the Blood Sea Realm. In times past, our might was nearly unchallenged throughout this realm. However, the re-emergence of the Blood Slaughter Sect presents a grave concern. Let us not forget the irreconcilable animosity between our sects. Their return signifies the most significant threat we face. Yet, we possess an advantage: other sects also harbor grievances against the Blood Slaughter Sect, with the sole exception of the Grand Demon Sect. No other faction enjoys a cordial relationship with them. Our immediate objective is to rally these other sects to our banner and confront the Blood Slaughter Sect collectively."

The great elder paused, his words carrying weight, before continuing. "We have already made significant headway," Ye Mo stated. "Due to their own enmity with the Blood Slaughter Sect, they are disinclined to see it rise in power, as this would pose a threat to their own interests. Consequently, they are amenable to aligning with us against the Blood Slaughter Sect. However, we must not overlook a crucial detail: even if they stand with us, they may not necessarily defer to our authority. Should they agree to combat the Blood Slaughter Sect but refuse to submit to our leadership, and furthermore, wish to prevent our Corpse Demon Sect from assuming the mantle of alliance leader, this would prove disadvantageous to us. If mishandled, they might even seek to subjugate our Corpse Demon Sect. Such a scenario is entirely plausible."

A collective murmur of agreement swept through the assembly. They were acutely aware of the machinations of these other sects; none were easily managed. While they had previously appeared to acquiesce to the Corpse Demon Sect's dominance, this was largely due to the sect's formidable power. However, following the Corpse Demon Sect's defeat at the hands of the Grand Demon Sect, a subtle shift occurred, fostering a degree of disdain. This, however, was far from beneficial. The members of the Corpse Demon Sect were almost certain that their Old Ancestor had sustained injuries during the recent conflict with the Blood Slaughter Sect, rendering him incapable of intervening in the affairs of the lower realm. Their most potent backing was gone.

Conversely, the patriarchs of the other sects remained active, potentially capable of escalating conflicts to the lower realms. In essence, the leaders of the other sects likely felt more emboldened than their counterparts in the Corpse Demon Sect. Under these circumstances, if the other sects no longer held the Corpse Demon Sect in awe, ceased their fawning, or if another sect emerged to challenge the Corpse Demon Sect's position, it would undoubtedly spell trouble for them, eroding their paramount standing.

While the current position of dominance might not seem to yield immediate advantages for the Corpse Demon Sect, this was merely a superficial observation. The sect did, in fact, reap substantial benefits, albeit intangible ones. These advantages might appear insignificant at present but would manifest their true value over the long term.

As time wore on, the other sects would grow accustomed to following the Corpse Demon Sect's lead, solidifying its status as the foremost power in the Blood Sea Realm. This could potentially pave the way for the Corpse Demon Sect to gradually unify the entire Blood Sea Realm, a prospect the sect's members were determined not to relinquish.

To maintain their leadership, it was imperative to demonstrate their might and power to the other sects. This was the underlying reason for the great elder's unwavering support of Li Ruohai. Although he had previously opposed Li Ruohai, it was due to the latter being ensnared by inner demons at the time. Now that Li Ruohai had regained his composure, lending him his full backing was the natural course of action. The great elder harbored no grand ambition to assume the position of Sect Master of the Corpse Demon Sect himself.

Li Ruohai met the great elder's gaze and declared in a resonant voice, "Indeed, the esteemed elder speaks the truth. This aligns precisely with my own thoughts. We must showcase our strength to these factions, allowing them to comprehend the extent of our power. Only then can we solidify our position and enhance our influence. This is the sole path to truly uniting them under our banner and confronting the Blood Slaughter Sect. The Blood Slaughter Sect has already amassed considerable power, and we cannot afford to be complacent."

Everyone concurred with Li Ruohai's assessment. They understood all too well that the Blood Kill Sect was a formidable power, demanding their utmost caution. The Blood Kill Sect had consolidated the strength of three major sects, absorbed numerous smaller ones, and garnered the backing of the Giant Demon Sect. Consequently, their might was now on par with their own. Facing such a situation, vigilance was paramount due to the profound animosity between their forces and the Blood Kill Sect.

Li Ruohai continued, articulating his strategic vision: "What has transpired is, in fact, an opportune moment. We shall launch a full-scale assault, thereby demonstrating to all within the Blood Sea Realm that our Corpse Demon Sect reigns supreme. We alone possess the capability to safeguard them. Should our offensive prove successful, we can leverage the momentum of our victory to eradicate the Blood Kill Sect entirely, ensuring they never have the chance to resurface."

Upon hearing Li Ruohai's declaration, a wave of fervent cheers erupted from the assembly. What posed the greatest threat to the Corpse Demon Sect? The answer was unequivocal: the Blood Slaughter Sect. Their deep-seated enmity with the Blood Slaughter Sect necessitated their annihilation; otherwise, peace and tranquility would remain elusive.

Sensing the unanimous agreement, Li Ruohai declared, "Excellent. Let us commence preparations immediately. Swiftness is of the essence. The foremost priority of our strategy is the elimination of the Shadow Realm forces; without this, our plan cannot proceed. Depart." A resounding chorus of assent followed, and the gathered individuals dispersed.

Once the others had departed, Li Ruohai finally exhaled a prolonged sigh. He proceeded to the doorway, gazing into the distance, his thoughts unreadable to any observer. Only he grasped the full implications of the situation, realizing it extended beyond the Corpse Demon Sect's strategic objectives to his personal standing. Despite the Corpse Demon Sect's unification and his recognized identity as the Corpse Demon Old Man, his past missteps within the Giant Demon Sect had diminished his prestige. Any failure in this endeavor would jeopardize his position as Sect Master, making this matter a critical juncture for both the Corpse Demon Sect and his own destiny.

While the Corpse Demon Sect and its allied sects were mobilizing for an offensive against the Shadow Realm Army, the latter had already begun its own consolidation. They commenced attacks on various medium-grade sects and several smaller ones, leaving no solitary cultivators' established forces untouched and initiating a strategic division of their own troops.

Without the concealment of the gray fog this time, the scattered Shadow Realm combatants were fully exposed. This revelation solidified the certainty that their adversaries were indeed denizens of the Shadow Realm. Previously, they had only sensed the aura of the Shadow Realm inhabitants within the gray fog, but had not laid eyes upon them, leaving room for doubt. Now, with visual confirmation, their suspicions were allayed. This confirmation intensified the gravity of the situation within the Blood Sea Realm, and every member of the Blood Slaughter Sect understood implicitly that the Shadow Realm's forces represented their most significant threat.

Concurrently, within the Blood Sea Realm, smaller and medium-sized sects that had escaped attack, along with the forces of independent cultivators, promptly initiated contact with the eight major sects. They, too, perceived that the current incursion from the Shadow Realm differed significantly from past historical accounts.

Historical records indicated that upon their appearance in the Blood Sea Realm, the Shadow Realm inhabitants would launch a full-fledged assault, irrespective of the target—be it one of the Ten Great Sects or a humble minor force. Their sole objective was annihilation; they showed no discrimination. The certainty was that they would leave no one alive. Upon encountering individuals from the Blood Sea Realm, their only course of action was immediate and total extermination. This terrifying precedent had invariably instilled extreme apprehension among the sects of the Blood Sea Realm during each Shadow Realm appearance, compelling them to face the invaders with lives on the line.

However, the Shadow Realm forces present on this occasion exhibited a notable deviation. They demonstrated an apparent familiarity with the Blood Sea Realm's landscape. Their initial strategy involved occupying a neutral territory, the Lone Island Market, before proceeding to assail adjacent smaller sects, and subsequently targeting mid-level ones. Their approach seemed unhurried, employing a methodical, step-by-step progression.

An even more astonishing development soon followed. It turned out that the inhabitants of the Shadow Realm found themselves too appalled to eliminate the individuals from the attacked sects. Instead, they began taking captives. This turn of events was unequivocally grim news for the denizens of the Blood Sea Realm.

Zhao Hai's brow furrowed as the intelligence reached him. He promptly convened all members of the Bloody Massacre Sect in the assembly hall, including Tie Feng and the others. Once everyone was assembled, Zhao Hai addressed them with a grave tone, "I have just received two critical pieces of news. The first concerns the Corpse Demon Sect and their allied factions. They have commenced mobilizing their forces, and it is a certainty that the scale of this mobilization is substantial. Preliminary estimates place their numbers at over a million combatants. The count of experts at the Island Lord level alone is projected to exceed 50,000."

Upon hearing this report, a wave of stunned silence washed over the assembly, followed by sharp intakes of breath. The sheer magnitude of the forces the Corpse Demon Sect had managed to muster this time was difficult to comprehend. A million troops, complemented by over 50,000 Island Lord level experts – these figures were truly staggering. It had been an age, after all, since such a colossal army had marched across the Blood Sea Realm. The last comparable mobilization occurred during the Millennial War, when the Blood Sea Realm's inhabitants formed an allied army to contend with the sects of the Cloud Sea Realm. While that allied force was larger in number, it represented a unified front of the entire Blood Sea Realm. Now, with only a coalition of roughly half the Blood Sea Realm's sects fielding such an immense contingent, it was evident that the major sects were investing heavily in this conflict.

Zhao Hai surveyed the gathered individuals, continuing, "Their rapid mobilization suggests they will likely engage the Shadow Realm's forces before we can. This would grant them a significant advantage. We must make haste in our preparations."