Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8739 - 716-repel _1

Zhao Hai's form flickered, reappearing on the spiritual array island. He observed the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples fighting with their utmost effort, yet he withheld the order to retreat. He realized the inhabitants of the Shadow Realm had been thoroughly terrified by him. Consequently, the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples' assaults posed little immediate danger. Though the area was now consumed by a gray fog, Zhao Hai was certain this mist wouldn't persist. It was a byproduct of the Northern Wei King's magic tool self-destruction, and such phenomena were fleeting. Such churning mists should soon dissipate.

While the gray fog might still pose a threat to the Blood Slaughter Sect, Zhao Hai deemed it unnecessary to intervene personally. He preferred to let his disciples handle it, hence his return to the spiritual array island. His objective was to gauge the offensive prowess of the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples.

However, just as Zhao Hai set foot back on the spiritual array island, the Formation Elder materialized beside him. Surveying the unfolding situation, the Elder stated gravely, "It appears the Shadow Realm forces are withdrawing. We may not face significant peril. What are your thoughts?" The Formation Elder, though impressed by Zhao Hai's capabilities, maintained a composed demeanor.

Zhao Hai responded with a deep voice, "The Shadow Realm inhabitants will not concede defeat. Even if they retreat now, they will return. Those adversaries are certainly not to be trifled with. However, there is no need for excessive worry. I am confident that no matter when they appear, we will be prepared to handle them. Should the opportunity arise, I will even march into the Shadow Realm myself."

The Formation Elder acknowledged with a nod, remaining silent. At that moment, a furious roar erupted from within the gray fog. The mist swirled violently, revealing a dragon-shaped beast that began to assault the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples, inflicting considerable casualties.

The Formation Elder grunted, preparing to intervene, but Zhao Hai halted him. "Allow them to manage it themselves. Neither you nor I can protect them indefinitely. Furthermore, we must prepare for future assaults from the Shadow Realm. They must learn to confront such challenges independently."

The Formation Elder observed the unfolding battle, noting that the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples had united their efforts to combat the beast. He let out a sigh of relief. While some losses were inevitable, a battle without any casualties was unrealistic. A degree of attrition was acceptable.

After more than two hours of fighting, Chang Jun appeared beside Zhao Hai and bowed. "Sect Master, the Shadow Realm forces are indeed retreating. However, they have left behind approximately 500,000 soldiers to cover their withdrawal. These individuals are formidable and seemingly fearless, fighting with utter desperation. Our assault is not progressing smoothly."

Zhao Hai glanced at Chang Jun and declared firmly, "Chang Jun, never forget our identity. We are the Blood Slaughter Sect. Disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect have never shied away from a fight to the death. Inform them that if they are intimidated by the enemy's desperation, they are unworthy of being called Blood Slaughter Sect disciples."

Chang Jun was taken aback by Zhao Hai's words. He knew well how much Zhao Hai valued his disciples' lives, yet he hadn't anticipated such an order in this critical moment. Stunned, he hesitated before relaying Zhao Hai's command.

Zhao Hai looked at Chang Jun again and continued, "Proceed. While we cherish our disciples' lives, this does not mean we shield them from every conflict. Do you truly expect us to handle every arduous battle they face? If so, our disciples will never achieve true growth. Go now; our Blood Slaughter Sect does not harbor those who fear death."

"Yes," Chang Jun responded immediately. He then turned and departed to convey the directive. Zhao Hai remained, calmly observing the ongoing engagement. His words to Chang Jun reflected his genuine conviction. The disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect must cultivate a fierce killing intent. Retreating when encountering the enemy would extinguish such resolve. This was the underlying reason for Zhao Hai's stern admonishment.

Under Zhao Hai's command, the Blood Slaughter Sect's assaults intensified, proving overwhelming even for the Shadow Realm's desperate defenders. Their lines crumbled swiftly, allowing the Blood Slaughter Sect's forces to advance inexorably. Cornered, the Shadow Realm deployed 300,000 soldiers to establish a fallback defense, aiming to secure the retreat of their main contingent. It's important to note that the Shadow Realm's entire army numbered well over three million; sacrificing eight hundred thousand for a safe withdrawal of the remainder would be a strategic victory.

The Shadow Realm stationed a significant number of their generals to impede the Blood Slaughter Sect's pursuit. However, the prolonged offensive had begun to tax the Blood Slaughter Sect's disciples, diminishing their spiritual energy and weakening their offensive momentum, leading to a tense stalemate.

Observing this development, Zhao Hai refrained from pressuring his troops. He keenly understood that the extended engagement and relentless advance had depleted the Blood Slaughter Sect's cultivators' spiritual power. Pushing them further would yield little benefit and only increase their anxiety and potential casualties.

Zhao Hai permitted casualties only in unavoidable, all-out battles. He refused to countenance losses stemming from flawed command. Consequently, he issued no further orders, leaving the disciples of the Blood Slaughter Sect and the Shadow Realm soldiers locked in a fierce, unyielding clash.

This stalemate provided the Shadow Realm's main forces the crucial window they needed to retreat. By the time the Blood Slaughter Sect finally vanquished the rear-guard forces, which included two formidable protectors of the Shadow Realm, the main Shadow Realm army had vanished. All that remained was a solitary island, the site of the former Lonely Island Market. The exact method of the Shadow Realm army's escape remained unknown.

To Zhao Hai and his companions' astonishment, the Shadow Realm army had evacuated all the cultivators who had surrendered, rather than using them as expendable cannon fodder as Zhao Hai had anticipated. This unexpected action left Zhao Hai perplexed.

Following the annihilation of the two Shadow Realm rear-guard formations, Zhao Hai ordered his forces to rest. Simultaneously, he dispatched Elder Yi to investigate the market on the isolated island. He was eager to understand how the Shadow Realm forces had managed to infiltrate the Blood Sea Realm and their subsequent departure.

However, Zhao Hai's investigation yielded little of substance. The market on the isolated island appeared sparsely furnished. Several large craters marred the landscape, presumably the aftermath of formations self-destructing. The evidence suggested that the Shadow Realm might have utilized teleportation formations to access the Blood Sea Realm, a theory that seemed plausible.

Zhao Hai felt a surge of satisfaction at decisively defeating the Shadow Realm forces in a single engagement. Though he had personally intervened, the swiftness of their victory surprised even him. Yet, Zhao Hai recognized that this conflict was far from over. The presence of only two Shadow Realm Kings, Northern Wei and Southern Wei, implied the potential existence of Eastern Wei and Western Wei, and possibly other rulers, indicating a significantly greater strength within the Shadow Realm than initially perceived.

Gazing at the vast craters within the market ruins, Zhao Hai turned to his assembled followers. "This is where the Shadow Realm forces materialized. These pits likely mark the locations where they dismantled their teleportation arrays. This is not the most concerning aspect. The Shadow Realm has seized numerous territories recently, and I suspect they have meticulously recorded the coordinates of all these regions. If they intend to launch another assault, their logistical preparations will be far simpler next time."

Zhao Hai paused, his words causing the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples to recoil in stunned silence. This strategic foresight had not occurred to them; their focus had been solely on the elation of repelling the invaders. Zhao Hai's revelation illuminated the graver implications of their victory, and they suddenly grasped the full weight of his concerns.

Previously, the Shadow Realm inhabitants might have only known the coordinates of the lone island Market, serving as their sole entry point. However, with their recent occupation of numerous locations, they would have undoubtedly memorized the coordinates of all these sites. Consequently, if they intended to assault the Blood Sea Realm in the future, they could now emerge from any point, posing a grave danger.

Zhao Hai surveyed the gathered crowd and declared with gravity, "The forces from the Shadow Realm will not concede. They could reappear at any moment, yet we cannot passively await their return; that would be futile. Therefore, our immediate course of action must be to fortify ourselves and enhance our strength. Only then can we repel them decisively before their next assault. As I've stated before, our intention to counterattack the Shadow Realm is not mere rhetoric."

"Yes!" the assembly responded in unison. The elders who had pledged allegiance to Zhao Hai placed their unwavering faith in his words. They were convinced that following Zhao Hai guaranteed invincibility, a conviction stemming from their blind trust. Their gazes, alight with fervent belief, were fixed upon him, acknowledging his formidable power.

Zhao Hai acknowledged them with a nod before continuing solemnly, "Though we have repelled the Shadow Realm's forces, do not forget that our ultimate crisis remains unresolved. A more formidable enemy looms: the Almighty experts from the Upper Realm. The ten great sects have unified, but I am certain those celestial beings will not readily accept this. They still harbor hopes for their respective orthodoxies to persist independently and for their disciples to establish autonomous sects. While their current whereabouts are unknown, should they reappear..." He paused, then added, "...and discover the true state of the Blood Sea Realm, they will undoubtedly seek retribution."

Zhao Hai voiced these concerns openly, addressing everyone present, including those from the once-rival sects who had now surrendered. He felt no apprehension in speaking his mind, as the Bloody Killing Sect had effectively assimilated nearly all other sects. Should any hidden dissent arise, Zhao Hai was confident in his ability to neutralize it swiftly. Thus, he had no fear in articulating his strategy to these individuals, assured of his control over them and their inability to foment any trouble.