Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8707 8707: Line of defense _1

Situ Jingyu surveyed his surroundings from atop a sizable spiritual artifact. The vessel, a common one, lacked significant internal capacity, able to ferry only a thousand individuals at once. Fortunately, their ample fleet of such artifacts ensured every disciple had passage, presenting an imposing visual spectacle.

However, Situ Jingyu’s mind was elsewhere, fixed on the horizon. Approximately a hundred miles distant, a dense, oppressive layer of gray mist obscured both sky and earth, instilling a palpable heaviness in the air.

Within this spectral shroud dwelled the primary adversaries of the Blood Sea Realm: the formidable forces of the Shadow Realm Army. Their objective was to establish a defensive perimeter fifty miles ahead. While perilous, this endeavor represented a deeply held aspiration for the allied forces – to contribute their might in safeguarding the entirety of the Blood Sea Realm.

At this juncture, a man approached Situ Jingyu. “Alliance Master Situ,” he began, “we are to establish our defense line in roughly forty miles. We must proceed with extreme caution this time. Lacking a method to penetrate the gray fog, our strategy will be a mobile defense. You have no objections, I trust?”

Situ Jingyu turned, recognizing Cheng Wanchun. A smile touched his lips. “No objections whatsoever. A mobile defense is precisely what we require. I shall trouble Daoist friend Cheng with this undertaking.” Situ Jingyu’s demeanor towards Cheng Wanchun had notably shifted. Recent days had offered him a stark revelation of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s prowess, particularly their innovative mastery of arrays. This unexpected display, even from a passive observation, left him astonished and profoundly impressed by the Blood Slaughter Sect’s underlying strength, fostering a newfound respect for Cheng Wanchun.

Cheng Wanchun responded with a gracious smile. “Alliance Master Situ, your words are too kind. As allies, mutual support is paramount. Without your cooperation, the establishment of this defense line would be impossible. Indeed, we are nearing our destination. Alliance Master Situ, I shall depart to make the necessary preparations.”

Situ Jingyu inclined his head, his voice resonating with sincerity. “Thank you for your efforts, fellow Daoist Cheng.” Cheng Wanchun offered a final smile, cupping his fists in a respectful gesture before turning away. Observing Cheng Wanchun’s retreating figure, Situ Jingyu let out a sigh. He finally grasped the source of the Blood Slaughter Sect’s formidable reputation. Cheng Wanchun exemplified the sect’s comprehensive vision. The Blood Slaughter Sect operated with remarkable decorum and efficiency; its members were diligently engaged in their respective duties, requiring no external prodding. Their palpable drive and ambition were undeniable. Verily, it would be an anomaly if such a sect failed to prosper.

Situ Jingyu’s experience was not limited to the Blood Slaughter Sect. He was keenly aware of the inner workings of other major sects, including the ailing Sick Man Sect. This sect, with its ancient lineage, categorized its disciples into three distinct strata. The first comprised scions of influential families within the Sick Man Sect, enjoying paramount status. These individuals, though often perceived as arrogant and powerful, lacked inherent talent, their privilege stemming from their families' significant sway. Lavishly supplied with the finest resources from youth, some disciples’ strength was artificially bolstered, their combat effectiveness a mere facade. Despite this, these heirs were destined to command key departments and, ultimately, the entire Sick Man Sect. Under their stewardship, the sect’s potential for genuine development was severely curtailed.

The second group consisted of cultivators who had joined the Sick Man Sect later in their journey. While resilient and capable of enduring hardship, they were typically cunning veterans, embodying ruthlessness and a sharp, evasive intellect when faced with adversity. Their reliability was questionable, often proving detrimental to the sect’s stability, and they inevitably devolved into mere lackeys for the ruling families.

The third and final category encompassed those elevated from the ranks of loyal retainers. These individuals exhibited unwavering diligence and conscientiousness but were invariably relegated to low-level positions or relegated to the role of cannon fodder, their prospects for advancement nonexistent. Consequently, despite its imposing appearance, the Sick Man Sect suffered from a fundamentally rotten core.

This reason emboldened him to send a delegation to question the Sick Man Sect. Previously, he hadn't possessed a deep understanding of them. However, after their stay, a greater familiarity emerged, and their apprehension towards the Sick Man Sect gradually diminished.

Situ Jingyu surmised why a sect power reshuffling occurred post every Millennium War. It was precisely because during these conflicts, decaying entities like the Sick Man Sect were purged, leading to such changes.

Yet, Situ Jingyu hadn't anticipated the Six Great Sects seizing an opportunity in this current Millennium War. The longevity of the Ten Great Sects stemmed from their comparable strength; the defeat of one inherently meant the downfall of others, creating a stalemate. They were thus unable to act against each other.

However, the situation had evolved. The Blood Kill Sect had ascended. Though previously annihilated, their resurgence from the ashes was akin to rebirth. The current Blood Kill Sect was a far cry from its past iteration. Situ Jingyu was convinced it surpassed any other major sect; even the Corpse Demon Sect would find itself in a dire predicament against such a formidable force.

Aware of the Blood Slaughter Sect's terrifying capabilities, she grasped their true ambitions. Mere leadership would not suffice. Even if all sects in the Blood Sea Realm united under their banner, they would refuse. They aspired to be sovereign rulers of the Blood Sea Realm, not merely its appointed head.

Despite understanding the Blood Slaughter Sect's ultimate goal, Situ Jing possessed no means to resist. The sect's overwhelming power left no room for defiance; any opposition would inevitably lead to destruction. This grim realization was the very reason for his courteous treatment of Cheng Wanchun.

The colossal spiritual artifacts they traversed upon had now halted. Over six hundred such devices comprised their fleet. From this multitude, one hundred detached, steering towards the periphery. They formed a defensive bulwark against the encroaching gray fog from the Shadow Realm, then slowly pivoted. Attached to the rear of each artifact was a peculiar structure resembling a short shelf. From this shelf extended a lengthy rope, tethering a circular platform approximately one hundred meters in diameter.

This platform, a Dharma Array Platform, was truly awe-inspiring. Adorned with numerous Dharma Arrays, their offensive capabilities were astonishing. He had personally witnessed the might of these platforms during experiments within his own sect, underscoring their immense value.

The rationale behind tethering these platforms to the massive spiritual artifacts via ropes was their lack of a Spirit Array Island or dedicated Array Elders. Should the Shadow Realm's forces attack, their initial line of defense would be the gray fog. Without a dedicated Array Elder to counter it, their defensive formations, if immobile, would be enveloped by the fog. This encirclement would leave them vulnerable to attacks from all sides, straining their capacity to defend only the front.

Consequently, these platforms were secured to the large spiritual artifacts. This arrangement allowed their defense line to execute a strategic retreat when enemy forces advanced. Such maneuvers would enable them to engage the enemy without succumbing to encirclement, achieving their tactical objective.

Naturally, some might question, "What if the enemy launches a sudden assault from the flanks or the rear?" Would they still be able to hold their ground? Their defensive line was optimized for frontal assaults, leaving them less fortified against attacks from other directions. Wouldn't this precarious situation invite disaster?

The truth was, the denizens of the Blood Sea Realm harbored no fear of the gray fog, but rather of the inhabitants of the Shadow Realm. Should the Shadow Realm's people emerge, they would still muster the courage to retaliate, and, in truth, the victor between them remained uncertain. Furthermore, their formation platforms possessed mobility, enabling them to reposition and engage the enemy if an assault originated from elsewhere. Their disciples, too, were formidable combatants capable of launching offensive maneuvers. Consequently, repelling attacks posed no insurmountable challenge.

Once the platforms reached their designated locations, protective shields were promptly erected. Subsequently, white energy lines seemed to bridge the platforms, signifying the completion of the defensive perimeter. A collective sigh of relief was felt by all. The disciples of the Blood Sea Alliance then boarded the platforms, commencing the calibration of the magical formations.

These individuals had only recently acquired proficiency in operating the formations atop the platforms and required further study. This urgency prompted their immediate deployment to the platforms. They aimed to deepen their understanding of the formations and their combat applications, under the tutelage of the Bloody Massacre Sect's disciples, even seeking knowledge on how to evade and dismantle these formations.

Zhao Hai was resolved to prevent the Shadow Realm from exploiting the platforms. To this end, a meticulously concealed teleportation array was integrated into each platform. This array, however, was designed for single use, functioning as a directional teleportation device. Upon activation, the platform would trigger a self-destruct sequence, obliterating itself within moments and leaving no trace for any enemy to exploit.