Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8704 8704: Duplicate _1

Zhao Hai continued his journey through the blood sea, his pace deliberately unhurried. Over the preceding days, he had meticulously studied the movements of the Shadow Realm inhabitants and the pervasive gray fog, intent on uncovering the fog's central control point. He was convinced that such a vast expanse of gray fog must possess a core; it was inconceivable that a single entity could refine and command the entire mass. No individual possessed the spiritual power required to exert absolute control over such immense gray fog.

Nevertheless, from his vantage point below, Zhao Hai couldn't discern the gray fog's core. He refrained from venturing into the fog or employing his will to probe its interior, recognizing it as an enemy formation. Doing so, he feared, would betray his presence. Consequently, his observations were limited to what his eyes could perceive, a method rendered ineffective by the fog's impenetrable density.

Yet, Zhao Hai had an alternative strategy: monitoring the Shadow Realm individuals to decipher their arrangements and identify areas with concentrated guard patrols. Such locations might indicate the core of the gray fog. Furthermore, he aimed to ascertain their ingress into the gray fog.

Soon, several locations with higher guard presence were noted. He prudently delayed his entry into the gray fog, prioritizing the discovery of an unobserved method to infiltrate it. Otherwise, immediate detection was a certainty.

His days were spent observing the Shadow Realm populace, noting any shifts in their energy signatures when transitioning between the blood sea and the gray fog. He discovered a recurring pattern: after approximately three days guarding the blood sea, they would rotate back into the gray fog, suggesting an inability to remain in the blood sea indefinitely. This revelation was indeed encouraging.

Through prolonged observation, Zhao Hai also identified distinct energy fluctuations emanating from the Shadow Realm individuals depending on their environment. When entering the blood sea, a unique energy signature manifested, bearing a resemblance to a protective shield's aura, yet distinct from any he had previously encountered. This indicated a specialized form of energy circulation.

Upon entering the gray fog, a different energy fluctuation emerged, one that resonated with the fog's own signature. This suggested a verification mechanism, an identification process for the gray fog. This realization immediately illuminated the pathway into the gray fog.

Having previously engaged with Shadow Realm adversaries, Zhao Hai was familiar with their typical energy signatures. The fluctuations observed upon their entry into the gray fog starkly contrasted with those he had encountered before. This confirmed it as a prerequisite for entry, implying that mimicking this specific energy fluctuation was the key.

While replicating the energy signature itself posed little challenge, the synchronized movements of the Shadow Realm cultivators presented a significant obstacle. Their organized, army-like formations rarely allowed for lone individuals. Although Zhao Hai could mimic the energy signature, posing as one of them, acting alone after eliminating others was perilous. The absence of corpses, as they dissipated into smoke, meant any disappearance would be instantly noted, rendering impersonation impossible and presenting a considerable dilemma.

One day, as Zhao Hai navigated the blood sea, a scene materialized within his monitored area. He was taken aback. A contingent of cultivators emerged from the gray fog, stealthily exiting its confines and proceeding rapidly towards the perimeter of the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses. They maintained a distance, observing the defenses from afar before returning to the blood sea and subsequently the gray fog. The entire operation appeared uneventful.

Witnessing this scene, Zhao Hai instantly grasped the situation. These cultivators were likely those who had capitulated to the Shadow Realm. Their task was to scout the defenses of the Blood Slaughter Sect. While the Blood Slaughter Sect maintained vigilance against the Shadow Realm, they were less secretive about ordinary cultivators. Many cultivators from other factions had been observing them recently, and the sect couldn't possibly alienate everyone. As long as these observers kept a reasonable distance from the defensive line, they were largely ignored. This leniency provided an opening for the Shadow Realm's agents, who dispatched cultivators to discreetly probe the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses for vulnerabilities.

A glint appeared in Zhao Hai's eyes as he observed their maneuvers. He perceived this as a potential opportunity. Since these cultivators had pledged allegiance to the Shadow Realm, he couldn't possibly pose as one of their own. However, impersonating these defectors seemed plausible. If he could successfully masquerade as one of them, it would be a significant advantage.

With this realization, Zhao Hai moved stealthily, slipping away from the shroud of gray fog. He understood that remaining within the fog offered no advantage; it teemed with Shadow Realm personnel. An overt attack on the cultivators there would undoubtedly draw attention. Therefore, his plan was to wait until these cultivators ventured out from the fog and dispersed to survey the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses. Only then would an opportunity arise for him to act.

As Zhao Hai had anticipated, the following day, the gray fog once again released cultivators. Upon emerging, they immediately proceeded to the outskirts of the fog. Forming a loose perimeter, they cautiously approached the Blood Slaughter Sect's defensive line. Their movements suggested extreme care, yet they were scattered, presenting Zhao Hai with the opening he sought.

After a period of observation, Zhao Hai pinpointed a target. This individual was not particularly powerful nor advanced in age. Zhao Hai felt confident he could subdue this person swiftly, without causing injury or allowing any distress signals to be sent. Once apprehended, he could perform a soul search to ascertain the cultivator's background, which would be crucial for infiltrating the gray fog.

Having assessed his target, Zhao Hai committed to action. The absence of other cultivators, whether from the Shadow Realm or the Blood Sea Realm, around his chosen individual marked the opportune moment. Zhao Hai moved with blinding speed, appearing directly behind the cultivator. Before the target could react, Zhao Hai acted, incapacitating him and dragging him into the blood sea.

Once submerged in the blood sea, Zhao Hai immediately initiated a soul search. His objective was to uncover the cultivator's origins, the method of entry into the gray fog, the purpose of his recent activities, and any other pertinent details that would enable a flawless impersonation.

Zhao Hai quickly acquired all the necessary information. The cultivator was a disciple of the Illusionary Demon Sect, who had followed their sect master in surrendering to the Shadow Realm. Their daily routine after pledging allegiance was rudimentary: channeling their dharmic powers into a talisman. They resided collectively, and this particular disciple had never before left the gray fog, living a monotonous existence of channeling dharmic power into the talisman, recovering, and then repeating the process. Movement was restricted to their living area, with departure forbidden. Failure to replenish the talisman's power at designated times would result in punishment.

In recent days, they had been assigned to observe the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses in shifts. Upon returning, the individual Zhao Hai targeted was tasked with documenting his observations and submitting them to the Shadow Realm personnel. Today, however, his assignment proved unlucky as he encountered Zhao Hai, being subdued in a single move and subjected to a soul search.

Upon delving into Ye Daozhen's memories, Zhao Hai detected anomalies. The method by which the Shadow Realm compelled them to channel mana into talismans struck him as peculiar. He questioned the underlying reason for such a procedure, suspecting a hidden motive. Furthermore, he noticed an altar in Ye Daozhen's recollections, situated within the gray fog. The altar appeared rudimentary, suggesting it was not a recent addition, which struck Zhao Hai as odd given its location.

Zhao Hai's eyes gleamed with excitement. He wasted no time, first taking a sample of Ye Daozhen's bloodline. Next, he extracted a portion of Ye Daozhen's soul and, with careful manipulation, guided it to possess his own body. This elaborate ruse would allow him to impersonate Ye Daozhen flawlessly. He had even copied the unique restrictions present on Ye Daozhen's person, ensuring that even if the original Ye Daozhen met his end, no one would be able to discern the deception.

Once Zhao Hai had perfected his imitation of Ye Daozhen, he swiftly ended the original's life. Having already gleaned all necessary information through a soul search, he saw no reason to prolong Ye Daozhen's suffering. He then transformed his appearance to match Ye Daozhen's and proceeded to observe the Bloody Massacre Sect's defenses. As the appointed time arrived, he plunged back into the sea of blood, making his way towards their designated rendezvous point.

Upon reaching the gathering spot, Zhao Hai found several individuals already present. Without uttering a word, he offered a respectful bow to the members of the Illusionary Demon Sect and took up a quiet position at the side. Fortunately, Ye Daozhen himself was a man of few words, meaning Zhao Hai wouldn't need to engage in extensive conversation that might reveal his disguise. His stoic demeanor naturally prevented any suspicion, and indeed, no one suspected that Ye Daozhen was not who he appeared to be. After all, a mere disciple like Ye Daozhen occupied such a low standing that few would pay him close attention.