Cannon Fodder Cultivation Guide

Chapter 41 - I Have a Plan

As time passed, the crows seemed to sense the danger and stopped attacking Zhang Yiyi, instead choosing other targets.

With nothing bothering her anymore, she took the initiative to seek trouble with them. Such a good opportunity to practice her body techniques couldn't be missed. Additionally, helping her companions ease their burden was a win-win situation.

By the end of the battle, the massive crows, unbelievably, developed a sense of fear and retreated. A small group fled rather than continue fighting to their deaths, or else they would have faced complete annihilation.

Zhang Yiyi still had the highest kill count, but because she had already established herself as someone practicing body cultivation, it didn't draw too much attention.

"We'll leave immediately and continue forward. Once we reach a relatively safer place, we'll rest."

Learning from their previous mistakes, Mo Yan gave the order for everyone to quickly leave the battlefield.

No one disagreed, as their current stamina could hold out for a little while longer. However, if they were to encounter another attack soon and face a third consecutive battle, they would not be able to withstand it.

Their group had lost two more members, but for cultivators, life and death became easier to accept over time.

Zhang Yiyi felt little emotion about it, as she didn't know the two who had died. Naturally, she didn't waste time mourning strangers.

Mo Yan's guess and decision proved correct. Because they left in time, they didn't encounter any immediate follow-up attacks. After running for half an hour, they found a place to rest.

Of course, without spiritual power, everyone had been trudging through the unbearable heat of the desert on foot for quite some time. After experiencing two major battles along the way, both their mental and physical stamina had been pushed to the limit. Rest was no longer a choice but a necessity.

"Tired, hungry, thirsty..."

Yuan Xiaoqi slumped down next to Yuan Ying, looking at her with puppy-dog eyes, like a child.

She was Yuan Ying's cousin from the same clan, though from a more distant branch. Having grown up in the same sect as her, they were quite close.

Now that they were momentarily safe, the need to address their hunger and exhaustion became the most urgent problem.

"We're all feeling it. Just endure it for now. We'll figure something out after a bit of rest."

Yuan Ying was also weak and in poor spirits. "It's maddening. We fought so hard and killed so many beasts, yet we can't even eat a bite of their meat. It's ridiculous."

The issue of food and drink had been on her mind for some time, but the situation was extremely dire.

When they left the battlefield, she grabbed a large crow, hoping that, unlike the mutated sand rats, it wouldn't disappear if taken away in time, and that they could eat the crow meat to fill their stomachs.

Others had the same idea, and many tried the same thing. But to their dismay, after a short while, the crow meat they were holding disappeared into thin air, leaving not even a single feather behind.

"It's clear that this secret realm is like a pixiu—things can only go in, not out. Besides the immortal artifacts, outsiders can't take anything from here."

(Translator XiaoBai: In this context, comparing the secret realm to a Pixiu is a metaphorical way to describe its restrictive nature. The statement is suggesting that, much like the Pixiu's reputed inability to consume or take away anything, the secret realm operates under a rule where once items or beings enter, they cannot be taken out.)

Yuan Xiaoqi's face fell as she realized this. "At this rate, we'll have a hard time finding food here. And to make matters worse, we're stuck in a desert."

"..."

Yuan Ying fell silent upon hearing this.

Though she didn't want to admit it, most of them had already accepted Yuan Xiaoqi's words. If they couldn't use their spiritual power, they might very well starve to death in this place.

"Does anyone here have a special technique that can forcibly break open storage bags without spiritual power, just to get some food out?"

Chen Fan suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but clear enough for everyone to hear. "Or perhaps, could we think of a way to temporarily restore one person's spiritual power for even a few seconds?"

His words seemed to spark some hope. Everyone glanced at one another, but that hope quickly faded as they sank back into their previous gloom.

In this world, there were all sorts of strange techniques, and such a method probably existed somewhere. But clearly, no one among them knew how to use it.

"Brother Mo, have you heard of such techniques?"

Zhang Tongtong didn't think Chen Fan's suggestion was without merit. Sometimes, when all hope seems lost, pooling ideas together can lead to a solution.

Mo Yan's face darkened, and after a long silence, he shook his head. "I've never heard of it."

"Let's think of something else. Just knowing of a technique doesn't mean we can use it."

Yuan Ying was more pragmatic. "Maybe when we encounter another beast, we can try killing it and eating its meat on the spot. Who knows, it might work."

"Senior sister, that's too..."

The very thought of it made Yuan Xiaoqi feel queasy. Her senior sister was indeed not an ordinary person.

However, seeing the disapproving look on her face, she quickly changed her tone. "I think by the time we meet another beast, we'll be so weak from hunger that we won't have the strength to fight it. Even if we manage to kill one, the other beasts won't give us enough time to cook and eat it."

"You sure have a lot to say for someone who still seems full of energy."

Yuan Ying rolled her eyes at him but inwardly agreed with her logic.

Along the way, aside from the beasts that actively attacked them, she hadn't seen a single normal insect. It seemed the desert itself was out to trap them and wear them down.

Mo Yan from the Yunxian Sect and senior sister from the Lishan Sect were both out of ideas, and the atmosphere plunged further into despair. No one spoke for a long time.

"Well... I actually have an idea."

Seeing everyone so worried, Zhang Yiyi couldn't help but speak up.

It wasn't that she was being overly kind, but if everyone starved to death in this desert and left her alone, she wouldn't stand a chance against the next wave of beasts.

"What?"

"Really?"

...

Everyone was immediately energized, wondering if they had heard correctly.

"Sister Zhang, do you really have a solution?"

Even Mo Yan couldn't help but ask, hoping that Zhang Yiyi could indeed offer a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, there is a way to solve our food and water problem, but it will come at a price."

Zhang Yiyi nodded seriously, assuring them that they had not misheard.

"Of course, we're talking about saving our own lives. Any price is worth it."

Yuan Ying was the first to speak. "Just tell us what to do, Yiyi. We'll give it our all."

"Yes, please, Miss Zhang!"

"That's right, as long as there's a solution, we'll do whatever it takes."

Everyone chimed in, even Zhang Tongtong, who made it clear she was willing to follow Zhang Yiyi's plan.