Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8740: Development (1)
Previously on Living In Another World With A Farm...
Furthermore, Zhao Hai harbored another thought. He deemed the likelihood of those Almighty experts returning to be quite slim. The Shadow Realm had launched a massive invasion into the Blood Sea Realm this time, yet those Almighties remained inactive. Had they intervened, they certainly wouldn't have permitted the six major sects to act with such impunity. The sole plausible reason for their inaction was their inability to act, likely being held back by the Shadow Realm's forces. Their fear of annihilation by the Shadow Realm prevented them from making a move, a possibility Zhao Hai considered more probable.
Zhao Hai's expression remained placid as he addressed the assembled individuals. "Even if the exalted realm's mighty figures refrain from intervening, it's probable that the exalted realm's mighty figures from the Shadow Realm will still target us. Therefore, we must remain prepared. Very well, I shall say no more. Now that we have repelled the Shadow Realm's forces, we have no immediate pressing matters. We must dedicate all our efforts to developing the Blood Slaughter Sect. As for this location, I shall leave some puppets to maintain the defenses. The rest shall return to the Blood Slaughter Sect without delay."
Everyone readily agreed. Following Zhao Hai's commands, they departed for the Blood Slaughter Sect in stages. The Blood Slaughter Sect was already prepared; upon their return, they were immediately redeployed in groups. Zhao Hai gathered all the individuals from the six major sects. Using the former territories of the Yin Ghost Sect, Yin Yang Sect, Giant Demon Sect, and the Blood Sea Alliance as their foundation, they incorporated some land from the Corpse Demon Sect. These five territories were interconnected by a magical formation, creating a Five Elements Formation. Subsequently, he assigned all cultivators to reside within this area, abandoning the other territories.
Naturally, the members of the Blood Slaughter Sect offered no objection, nor did the former members of the six major sects dare to. Zhao Hai now held absolute authority over them, leaving no room for dissent. Although they still held the positions of Hall Masters in their respective branches, the circumstances were entirely different. Many of their disciples had been reassigned, and disciples from other branches had been transferred in. Furthermore, each branch now had Deputy Hall Masters and several Elders – these individuals were seasoned veterans of the Blood Slaughter Sect, implicitly tasked with monitoring the Hall Masters, ensuring they dared not act rashly.
Ever since Zhao Hai's decisive engagement with the Shadow Realm's army, the individuals from the six major sects no longer dared to underestimate him. They were all acutely aware of Zhao Hai's formidable power; even uniting their forces would not make them his match. Consequently, they instinctively refrained from any reckless actions.
Upon the successful establishment of the Five Elements Grand Formation, Zhao Hai immediately issued an order to form a new cavalry brigade. The members of this brigade were to be elite disciples selected from the original sects. After a period of rigorous training and evaluation, they were equipped with mounts and integrated into the newly formed cavalry.
However, their subsequent training as cavalry took a unique turn. Their drills diverged from those of ordinary disciples. Instead, Zhao Hai tasked them with subjugating the smaller sects and rogue cultivators who had not yet yielded. Voluntary surrender was preferred, but any who refused would face elimination.
In accordance with Zhao Hai's decree, the Blood Sea Realm plunged into a period of brutal subjugation. Those smaller sects unwilling to submit to the Blood Slaughter Sect and seeking to maintain their independence were utterly annihilated. Some acted swiftly and surrendered immediately, while others were systematically exterminated by the Blood Slaughter Sect's forces.
The situation was identical for unaffiliated cultivators. Those who capitulated to the Blood Slaughter Sect found the process considerably less arduous. Those who resisted, however, were subjected to relentless pursuit by the Blood Slaughter Sect. Zhao Hai showed no leniency whatsoever. Thus, all individuals within the Blood Sea Realm who refused to surrender found themselves facing the Blood Slaughter Sect's relentless hunt. In an instant, heads rolled; those who refused to yield were summarily executed.
Faced with such a grim reality, the members of the Blood Slaughter Sect remained silent. Neither the Elders nor the newly assimilated members uttered a word. In their collective opinion, Zhao Hai's actions were just and proper. After all, why should those who refused to surrender to the Blood Slaughter Sect be allowed to live? Refusal meant death.
With the Blood Kill Sect having thoroughly purged the entire Blood Sea Realm, save for a select few who managed to escape deeper into its depths, the remainder ultimately capitulated. These individuals were absorbed into the Blood Kill Sect, thus solidifying its dominion over the Blood Sea Realm.
Immediately following this unification, a significant reformation swept through the Blood Kill Sect. All disciples below the rank of Island Lord were subjected to a new aptitude assessment. This evaluation was designed to pinpoint their innate talents, thereby enabling the formulation of personalized cultivation methods and the allocation of resources best suited to their individual needs. Order was gradually being established.
This swift and seamless transition was largely attributable to the extensive experience possessed by Zhao Hai and his peers. Their familiarity with such processes allowed them to implement the necessary adjustments with precision, bypassing any potential pitfalls.
Zhao Hai also turned his attention to the Sea Exploration Sect, which had ascended to the upper realm some time ago. While he had previously monitored their progress, recent preoccupations had prevented him from doing so. With a moment to spare, Zhao Hai decided to re-examine their status.
The Sea Exploration Sect had encountered no major setbacks and continued its expansion. Although the pace had slowed considerably, this gradual growth ensured the sect's continued vitality. The ascended members, including Zhao Hai, were still revered by the sect's populace, maintaining their divine status in their eyes.
Consequently, Zhao Hai bestowed further boons upon the Sea Exploration Sect, ensuring their enduring remembrance of him. This also served to underscore his continued vigilance, deterring any seeds of disloyalty and securing his ongoing control over the sect.
He also initiated contact with Ding Chunming and Wen Wenhai, who were still stationed in the Cloud Sea Realm. Their alliance had blossomed to a considerable scale, with most members surviving despite some casualties. Notably, they had successfully cultivated an Island Lord, with Ding Chunming being the first, a development that filled Zhao Hai with considerable joy.
Zhao Hai issued directives to Ding Chunming and his cohort, instructing them to gather comprehensive intelligence on the Cloud Sea Realm while prioritizing their own safety above all else. He stressed the utmost importance of remaining undetected by any inhabitants of the Cloud Sea Realm, even if it meant a more protracted information-gathering process.
Ding Chunming and the others acquiesced without hesitation. Having learned of Zhao Hai's successful unification of the Blood Sea Realm, their admiration for him deepened. Achieving the status of an Island Lord was no small feat, yet Zhao Hai had already ascended to become the Sovereign of the Blood Sea Realm, highlighting the vast disparity in their current standing.
With these matters settled, Zhao Hai redirected his focus towards the Blood Sea Realm itself. The Blood Kill Sect required vigorous development, as its current combat prowess lagged significantly behind its former peak. Despite the sect's full-throttle growth, reclaiming its former strength would be a lengthy endeavor. Moreover, the looming Millennium War, less than a century away, presented an imminent threat. While Zhao Hai had strategic assets like Ding Chunming and his group in place, he could not afford complacency. Intelligence gathered from Ding Chunming revealed that the Cloud Sea Realm possessed even greater power than the Blood Sea Realm at its zenith. Under such circumstances, Zhao Hai harbored doubts about their ability to contend with the Cloud Sea Realm within the stipulated century.
Nevertheless, Zhao Hai recognized the imperative of strengthening their own forces, especially with a hostile power lurking in their rear. Failure to develop would likely result in their annihilation before the Millennium War even commenced. Thus, the Blood Slaughter Sect's advancement was non-negotiable.
To enhance the strength and combat effectiveness of the Blood Slaughter Sect disciples, Zhao Hai embarked on a novel research initiative. This endeavor focused on creating a unique magical artifact, also classifiable as a secret realm, which he termed the 'Realistic Illusion.' Its primary objective was to foster the improvement of his disciples' combat capabilities.
The concept for the Realistic Illusion was inspired by the online games Zhao Hai had encountered on Earth. However, it diverged significantly from mere entertainment, emphasizing the "real" aspect for practical disciple training rather than recreational purposes.
However, forging such a creation was no simple feat, considering its unprecedented nature. Zhao Hai proceeded with utmost caution, fully aware that a successful illusory reality would secure a perpetual training ground for the disciples of the Bloody Massacre Sect. Crucially, this virtual combat would eliminate any risk of casualties, a paramount concern for any sect. It offered disciples the chance to engage in countless simulated battles, thereby accumulating invaluable combat experience. This extensive training would prevent them from being like novices when facing real opponents in the future, ultimately bolstering the sect's overall combat prowess.
While deep in the development of the realistic illusion, Zhao Hai entrusted the administration of the Bloody Massacre Sect to Laura and the others. His involvement was limited to periodic checks before returning to his research. Nevertheless, Laura and her team managed the sect exceptionally well, ensuring smooth operations without any significant incidents.
Laura and her companions likely possessed greater expertise in sect management than Zhao Hai. He recognized his own limitations in this area and understood the importance of delegating authority. The research into the realistic illusion consumed nearly all his time, leaving him with little capacity for administrative duties. Had he not entrusted the management to Laura and the others, the sect would likely have descended into chaos. Given this, it was only natural to assign them responsibilities, allowing them to contribute meaningfully.