Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8705 8705: Rune _1

The operation proceeded with unexpected smoothness, surpassing Zhao Hai's anticipations. While replicating Ye Daozhen's bloodline, Zhao Hai had detected a curse-like constraint within Ye Daozhen's being, a clear method employed by the Shadow Realm denizens for control. This very restriction was copied by Zhao Hai, who not only dismantled it completely but even engineered a superior version.

It became evident that this constraint served a dual purpose: controlling individuals and verifying their identities. Bearing this curse himself, Zhao Hai blended seamlessly upon entering the gray fog, unnoticed by others. Adhering to established methods, he fashioned a Jade slip to monitor the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses. Subsequently, he rejoined the throng returning to their quarters. Guided by Ye Daozhen's recollections, he located and occupied Ye Daozhen's room, remaining secluded within.

Upon entering Ye Daozhen's dwelling, Zhao Hai had already noticed the altar. Though visually unremarkable, its intricate patterns were meticulously duplicated. However, Zhao Hai refrained from a detailed examination. Ye Daozhen had resided there for an extended period; any belated, close scrutiny of the altar might invite suspicion. Consequently, Zhao Hai bypassed a thorough inspection and retreated to his chambers, focusing instead on the talisman within.

While Ye Daozhen remained baffled by this talisman, Zhao Hai possessed the understanding. This particular talisman differed from those Zhao Hai had previously encountered. Yet, after cross-referencing it with certain talismans observed on the altar and employing the computer for analysis and calculation, Zhao Hai acquired a partial comprehension of its function. It was, in essence, a spirit-absorbing talisman designed to siphon dhārmic powers, and remarkably potent. This explained its presence among Ye Daozhen and his cohorts. When they placed their hands upon it, their mana was expeditiously absorbed, leaving them with no recourse. In truth, Zhao Hai recognized that numerous other talismans could achieve a similar effect. To those unfamiliar with array formations, this might appear mystical, but to array adepts, it was quite mundane, as they possessed various methods to counteract the talisman's pull.

Naturally, Zhao Hai had no intention of nullifying the talisman's suction. Doing so would inevitably expose him. His objective was to impersonate Ye Daozhen, allowing the talisman to draw upon his spiritual Qi, mirroring the quantity that Ye Daozhen would typically provide. This ensured no suspicion would fall upon him.

While this feat might prove challenging for others, it presented no obstacle for Zhao Hai. His mastery over his internal spiritual energy far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators, alleviating any concerns he might have had.

Before long, the designated time arrived for interfacing with the talisman and channeling dhārmic powers. Zhao Hai placed his hand upon it, and it illuminated. He then sensed a portion of his dhārmic powers flowing into the talisman. For Zhao Hai, this amount of spiritual Qi was nominal, yet it constituted the entirety of Ye Daozhen's typical dhārmic power transfer. To maintain verisimilitude, Zhao Hai did not release all his spiritual Qi at once; rather, he did so gradually, precisely as Ye Daozhen normally would, ensuring no discrepancy could be detected.

Although Zhao Hai harbored no fear of the Shadow Realm inhabitants, confident in his ability to fight his way out of the gray fog even if his identity were compromised, he understood the cost. Such an action would irrevocably preclude him from gaining deeper insights into the gray fog's mysteries. His current priority was to maintain the guise of Ye Daozhen for a stipulated period, meticulously studying the altar. He intended to commit every talisman upon it to memory, subsequently performing reverse calculations to ultimately uncover the gray fog's central mechanism.

Following the completion of his daily mana infusion, Zhao Hai, in imitation of Ye Daozhen, retreated to his chamber to recuperate his mana. He adhered strictly to the routine. At the appointed hour for Ye Daozhen's typical mana recovery, Zhao Hai arose, paced his room a few times, and then exited. Outdoors, he merely circumambulated the building where he resided before returning to his quarters. Throughout this period, his gaze never once strayed towards the altar.

Zhao Hai was acutely aware that he was currently within the purview of the North Guard King's magical artifacts. Consequently, he recognized the imperative for extreme caution. Every action he took was potentially subject to the North Guard King's scrutiny. Any misstep that might arouse suspicion in the North Guard King would jeopardize his entire endeavor.

While the temptation to immediately obliterate the altar was strong, Zhao Hai held back. His primary goal was not simply destruction, but comprehension. He was deeply intrigued by the altar's cryptic runes and the enigmatic gray fog magic weapon it was connected to. Destroying the altar would mean the irreversible loss of this knowledge, a price he was unwilling to pay.

Though he hadn't approached the altar directly, Zhao Hai had meticulously captured all its inscribed runes within his special artifact for detailed analysis. These symbols were unlike any he had previously encountered. Fortunately, possessing the esoteric 'heaven and earth runes' gave him confidence. He was certain that with sufficient analysis, he could fully grasp and master these alien symbols.

Returning to the relative privacy of Ye Daozhen's chamber, Zhao Hai assumed a meditative posture. Beneath this facade of calm, his mind was relentlessly dissecting the collected runes. He sought to confirm his suspicion: was this altar truly the nexus of the mysterious gray fog? Even if observed, his true purpose remained hidden.

Days bled into weeks. For seven full days, Zhao Hai remained secluded within the confines of the gray fog, foregoing any excursions. His routine consisted of recuperating his 'transcendence energy' by channeling it into the talisman formation and dedicating every waking moment to deciphering the altar's runes with utmost urgency.

The complexity of this newfound runic system had surpassed Zhao Hai's initial estimations. The seven days spent in analysis, though lengthy, had finally yielded fruit. He had successfully deciphered the system, a feat that brought immense relief. His initial hypothesis was confirmed: the altar was indeed the central component of the gray fog's Dharma artifact. However, a new realization dawned upon him – there was likely more than one such altar. These other altars, potentially possessing distinct functions, could form a complete set, though their exact number remained elusive.

Furthermore, Zhao Hai felt a profound sense of vindication for not acting rashly. Had he destroyed the altar, his efforts would have been in vain. Beyond the sheer volume of runes, which defied his imagination, the altar was merely a fragment of a larger celestial apparatus. The true power lay not in the altar's material composition, but in its inscribed runes. He understood that if the opposing side possessed this knowledge, they could recreate such a destructive device with relative ease.

The notion of destroying his adversary's altar now seemed futile to Zhao Hai. He recognized that true victory lay not in dismantling their tools, but in eradicating the source of their power – the gray fog itself. He resolved to focus his strategy on dispersing this ominous mist, not on attacking the physical altar. To achieve this, he needed to dissipate the gray fog, understanding that its regeneration depended on the magic power channeled into the altar, a process that consumed valuable time.

Having fully unlocked the secrets of the runic system, Zhao Hai now possessed the knowledge to construct his own altar, potentially mirroring the capabilities of the Beiwei King. However, he entertained a more ingenious approach, opting against such a direct replication.

His immediate priority shifted to orchestrating an escape from this perilous location and returning to the fortified lines of the Blood Slaughter Sect. Once back, he could initiate his grand strategy. He had observed consistent reconnaissance missions from the Shadow Realm targeting the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses, signaling an impending assault. The timing remained uncertain, necessitating his swift return to prepare.

The primary obstacle was the inevitable detection by the Beiwei Prince should he attempt to leave prematurely. Such an event would allow his adversaries to prepare, significantly diminishing his chances of success. Yet, Zhao Hai perceived a sliver of opportunity: a scheduled departure. He had noticed a regular pattern of cultivators being dispatched to survey the Blood Slaughter Sect's defenses, likely to maintain operational security. These observers were rotated frequently, constrained by the limited number of available cultivators. Based on his calculations, an opportune moment for his own departure would arise in approximately two days, a window that would allow his plan to unfold without undue complication.

However, those two days were not spent in vain. He had already begun implementing his strategy within his blood mist dimension. His intention was to utilize these two days for the necessary groundwork, enabling him to expedite the execution of his plan once he emerged.

In reality, Zhao Hai's strategy was quite straightforward. He had already grasped the rune system inherent to the altar, which appeared to be an archaic and extensive network. Once he comprehended this system, Zhao Hai found he could directly manipulate the runes. He intended to enhance the altar's existing runes by incorporating additional ones, leveraging his superior understanding of runes compared to its creators.

Zhao Hai's objective was to refine the altar's runes, equipping it with the capability to generate its own mist. Furthermore, he aimed for it to absorb ambient mist from the surroundings and convert it into a usable form. This would allow him to rapidly establish a substantial mist apparatus. He was confident that this apparatus would be more than sufficient to counter the gray mist device belonging to the Lord of Beiwei.