Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8674: Wei Zhen_1

Before Li Ruohai stood an unfamiliar individual, yet their cultivation base was evidently potent, having already subdued a fighter in the Law Opening Realm. An imposing aura emanated from them, strongly suggesting a high status, possibly even the leader of a Sect.

“Who are you?” Li Ruohai inquired in a low tone. Upon receiving the report from his spy, he had ordered the captured individuals brought to his Army. Subsequently, he summoned the elders from other Sects and finally, the leader of the captives, the very person now before him.

The man offered a bow to Li Ruohai. “The Sect Master of the Illusionary Demon Sect, Wei Zhen, greets Sect Master Li and the esteemed elders.” He then extended his regards to the elders of the other Sects with practiced grace. Despite his current predicament, appearing akin to a prisoner, his demeanor was neither subservient nor arrogant.

Li Ruohai’s eyebrows rose upon hearing Wei Zhen’s introduction. “Illusionary Demon Sect? I believe I’ve heard of it. You were once affiliated with the Yin Yang Sect, correct? Yet, wasn’t your Sect already annihilated by forces from the Shadow Realm? How is it that you still persist?”

Wei Zhen’s expression darkened at Li Ruohai’s words, but he maintained his composure, cupping his hands. “Indeed, Sect Master Li is correct. We were once a subsidiary Sect of the Yin Yang Sect. Following the Yin Yang Sect’s destruction, we pledged allegiance to the Poison Bug Valley. However, this affiliation was known only to a select few within their leadership. Not long ago, our Illusionary Demon Sect was abruptly assaulted by the Shadow Realm’s army. Sensing grave danger, I immediately led a contingent of elders and disciples from our main hall to escape into the sea of blood aboard our Sect’s sole large-scale celestial artifact. For days, we navigated outside the Shadow Realm’s territories, rescuing some escapees from other Sects. Yet, we dared not approach the Shadow Realm Army too closely, compelling us to remain in this vicinity, which is how we encountered you.”

Li Ruohai nodded, then turned his gaze towards a cultivator clad in green seated below him. The attire of these cultivators was distinctive; predominantly green, it was adorned with intricate, colorful embroidery, presenting a visually striking appearance. This individual was Liu Caiwan, a core elder of the Poison Bug Valley.

Liu Caiwan cast a glance at Wei Zhen and acknowledged, “Such a matter indeed occurred. After the Yin Yang Sect’s demise, many of their former members sought refuge with us at the Poison Bug Valley. However, the Shadow Realm’s attack was devastatingly swift, leaving us unable to provide assistance even if we had wished to. Why did you not make haste for the Poison Bug Valley the moment you managed to escape?” As she concluded, a cold glint appeared in her eyes.

Wei Zhen met Liu Caiwan’s gaze, replying in a deep voice, “We could not proceed to the Poison Bug Valley. Since our surrender to them, they offered no tangible support. Instead, they imposed numerous demands upon us, all of which we met. Yet, during the Shadow Realm’s invasion, the Poison Bug Valley showed no inclination to aid us, as if we were utterly inconsequential. It felt as though the people of the Poison Bug Valley had never truly considered us, never treating us as allies. Under such circumstances, how could we possibly seek refuge with them? I feared that upon reaching the Poison Bug Valley, the heritage of our Illusionary Demon Sect would be irrevocably lost.”

Liu Caiwan’s expression shifted upon hearing Wei Zhen’s sentiments. She scrutinized him and retorted with a cold snort, “Do you presume to betray the Poison Bug Valley? What kind of organization do you imagine the Poison Bug Valley to be? Are we some entity that can be joined and abandoned at will?” It was evident that Wei Zhen’s words had provoked Liu Caiwan’s ire. Had they not been within the territory of the Corpse Demon Sect, she might have already retaliated physically.

Wei Zhen looked at Liu Caiwan, his voice firm. “Our Illusionary Demon Sect has been practically exterminated; fewer than a thousand souls remain. I have nothing left to fear. At most, you can annihilate the remaining members of my Sect. To be candid, our current situation is hardly superior. If you intend to strike, then proceed. I am indifferent.”

“You? How dare you!” Liu Cai Wan’s face turned ashen upon hearing Wei Zhen’s words. She had never imagined Wei Zhen would dare to retort to her in such a public setting, causing her to severely lose face. Consequently, her expression became exceedingly displeasing.

Observing Liu Cai Wan’s reaction, Wei Zhen remained unfazed. His countenance stayed calm, as if utterly disregarding the peril he faced. His composure astonished Li Ruo Hai and the others. Li Ruo Hai regarded Wei Zhen with a measure of admiration, admitting inwardly that the Poisonous Bug Valley’s conduct during this affair was truly unbecoming.

Li Ruo Hai turned his gaze towards Liu Cai Wan and stated in a grave tone, “Enough, Elder Liu. These are trying times; let us not dwell on minor grievances. Sect Master Wei, please do not hold Elder Liu and the others accountable. This incident occurred too abruptly, leaving us with no opportunity to assist. No one can be faulted for what transpired. Very well, let us move past this discussion. By the way, you were in contact with the people from the Shadow Realm. Do you have any intelligence regarding the size of their forces?”

Wei Zhen shook his head. “We truly do not know the extent of their troop numbers. When they launched their assault, a gray fog descended, obscuring our vision and preventing us from ascertaining their numbers. Subsequently, we observed individuals riding long serpents attacking us. Their offensive power was formidable, exceeding 20%, and they numbered over a thousand. Their cultivation seemed to be at the Island Lord level. The protective formation of our island could not withstand them for long. Eventually, seeing that resistance was futile, I departed.”

Li Ruo Hai nodded and inquired in a deep voice, “What about the regular Shadow Soldiers? How many were there? I am inquiring specifically about the Shadow Soldiers who attacked your sect.” This was Li Ruo Hai’s primary concern. Their current understanding of the enemy was severely lacking, and he desperately needed firsthand intelligence. Only with such information could he truly comprehend the scale of the opposing army.

“There couldn’t have been fewer than 20,000. They were all elites possessing extraordinary combat prowess. We were utterly outmatched. They moved in disciplined formations, clad in armor, and possessed the ability to turn invisible. It was impossible for us to contend with them,” Wei Zhen stated grimly.

Li Ruo Hai nodded and said with a heavy voice, “Very well, Sect Head Wei, please go and rest. With us present, no further harm will come to you. You may leave.” Wei Zhen bowed to Li Ruo Hai and turned to depart. However, Liu Cai Wan glanced at his retreating figure and emitted a cold snort. The sound caused Wei Zhen to pause momentarily, but after a brief hesitation, he continued on his way.

Watching Wei Zhen depart, Li Ruo Hai turned to Liu Cai Wan and advised, “Elder Liu, regardless of past events, now that the Illusionary Demon Sect has been annihilated, you should cease making things difficult for him. Doing so would merely portray us as petty and intolerant, which is detrimental to our image. Furthermore, Wei Zhen has provided valuable intelligence that could prove very useful.”

Liu Cai Wan let out a huff and remained silent, though her expression softened slightly. In truth, she understood the situation. They had indeed been in the wrong this time, and it was not Wei Zhen’s fault. Moreover, this was a critical juncture, and it would be unwise to seek retribution against Wei Zhen immediately. Thus, she was forced to suppress her anger.

Li Ruo Hai surveyed the assembled individuals and declared in a solemn tone, “Judging from the current circumstances, the enemy’s total force undoubtedly surpasses 100,000. Their number of experts likely exceeds our initial estimations. We previously estimated around a thousand experts, but from Wei Zhen’s account, approximately a thousand attacked their sect. I believe this is not their complete contingent. The enemy’s expert count might be closer to five thousand, and this is merely a preliminary estimate. I suspect their total military strength could reach around 200,000. This is because experts from the Shadow Realm typically command a certain number of ordinary Shadow Soldiers. With so many experts on their side, their overall military might must be substantial.”

Everyone present nodded in agreement. They found this assessment credible, as they were not entirely ignorant of the Shadow Realm. They understood that experts within the Shadow Realm generally held command positions, overseeing subordinate soldiers. This meant that each Shadow Realm expert would be responsible for a contingent of Shadow Soldiers. Given the significant number of experts who had appeared, it was logical that the number of Shadow Soldiers would be equally impressive.

Li Ruohai's voice was grave as he stated, "We must brace ourselves for the direst outcomes. Should the enemy truly command over 200,000 troops and more than 5,000 formidable experts, we shall face an arduous conflict. I believe everyone is acquainted with the combat prowess of those from the Shadow Realm. Previously, the appearance of a mere 10,000 Shadow Soldiers at the Bloody Massacre Sect had already put experts of Elder Ha Jing's caliber on high alert. Ultimately, the Bloody Massacre Sect incurred a substantial cost to eradicate those from the Shadow Realm."

"You must understand that while the members of the Bloody Massacre Sect are exceedingly bloodthirsty, their combat efficacy is not to be underestimated. From this, we can truly gauge the formidable strength of the individuals from the Shadow Realm. We must exercise extreme caution, more caution than ever."

A chorus of agreement resonated as everyone nodded. Li Ruohai's counsel held undeniable wisdom. They were all cognizant of the events that transpired at the Bloody Massacre Sect. A modest contingent of 10,000 Shadow Soldiers had been sufficient to make the sect feel as though they were confronting an overwhelming threat. The prospect of facing 200,000 such enemies meant that a straightforward victory would be far from assured. Despite commanding a million soldiers, the sheer fighting power of their adversaries was superior. Consequently, a most vigilant approach was imperative.

Observing the assembly, Li Ruohai continued in a low, firm tone, "In any event, we are drawing near to the Shadow Realm's domain. How about this proposal: we shall halt our advance and allow everyone to recuperate when we are approximately two hours away from their territory. This will ensure all disciples are restored to their peak condition before we proceed deliberately towards the outer reaches of the area controlled by the Shadow Realm. What are your thoughts on this strategy?"

All present readily concurred, with not a single voice raised in objection.