Cannon Fodder Cultivation Guide

Chapter 61 - Completely Set Free

Seeing Yuan Xiaoqi acting playfully once again, the small team couldn't help but laugh joyfully together.

In contrast to their harmony and cheerfulness, the others couldn't muster a smile. The glaring, bright red blood once again made many realize the harsh reality before them: it was impossible to seize the bronze plate through strength alone, and instead, they would only be courting death!

Just Zhang Yiyi alone was already fearsome and hard to deal with; the remaining members of the six-person team were equally formidable, and together they were twice as dangerous.

No matter how valuable the item, one had to be alive to claim it. Once they grasped this point, there was no need for further discussion. One by one, people began to voluntarily withdraw, distancing themselves from Yuan Ying and her group, clearly indicating they no longer wanted to be involved in the competition for the bronze plate.

Originally, it was seventeen against six, but with the annihilation of the two from Wandan Valley, it became fifteen against six. Not long after, over half of the remaining fifteen had left, leaving only five, including Mo Yan, who still hadn't retreated.

"Do you want to duel or engage in a group fight? Hmm?"

Yuan Ying glanced at the remaining few with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

These few were the strongest and most difficult to deal with; otherwise, they wouldn't have the confidence to stay this long. At this moment, Zhang Yiyi had already transformed into an unassuming and non-confrontational girl, retreating among her companions, relinquishing the team leader position to her senior sister.

Every time she saw her senior sister raise an eyebrow and clear her throat, looking for an opportunity, she felt an incredible presence and charm emanating from her.

Like Zhang Yiyi, the other members of their small team tacitly acknowledged Yuan Ying's identity and status as the team leader, knowing none of them enjoyed such troublesome matters, and no one could handle them better than the leader herself.

"Senior Sister, you've misunderstood. I, Xu Mu, am self-aware and have long abandoned the thought of competing with you for the bronze plate."

The individual known as Xu Mu is a disciple from Fengxiang Palace, already at the perfected Foundation Establishment stage, which has made him quite renowned among the hundred disciples entering the secret realm this time.

Yuan Ying knew him vaguely and, seeing that his tone was fairly respectful, gave him some leeway: "Then what do you mean?"

Differentiating the Fengxiang Palace members from the other four, Yuan Ying wasn't afraid of trouble but also wouldn't provoke enemies unnecessarily. After all, once this matter was concluded and they exited the mystic realm, the survivors would become the backbone or even top-tier powers of their respective sects, and there would surely be opportunities to meet again.

"I, Xu Mu, am shallow in knowledge and completely unaware of what this bronze plate is or its purpose, so I would like to ask Senior Sister for clarification, to make this trip to the mystic realm worthwhile."

Xu Mu's words were not ill-intentioned; he simply realized that the situation was beyond salvaging. Since there was no chance to seize the bronze plate, he chose to seek information instead.

"Sorry, I don't know either, so I can't enlighten you."

Yuan Ying wasn't foolish enough to casually reveal the great secret of the Yingtai Trial to outsiders. Moreover, even if these people truly abandoned their plans to compete for the bronze plate, it didn't mean they wouldn't try to snatch it when the opportunity arose; she wasn't naïve enough to dig her own grave.

"Senior Sister, we truly just want to know what this thing is, with no ulterior motives."

Another person couldn't help but speak up, even pulling along the quiet ones to show their stance.

At this point, they could only retreat to advance, trying to gather as many clues about the bronze plate as possible, hoping that when they returned, they might gain insight from their sect elders.

In the end, even Mo Yan nodded along. However, whether due to pride or something else, he didn't make a request or say a word.

He didn't believe Yuan Ying was ignorant of everything. If she truly knew nothing, how could she have smoothly collected the bronze plate that others couldn't touch?

However, Mo Yan was also clear in his mind that the first person among them to discover the secret of the bronze plate wasn't Yuan Ying, but Zhang Yiyi, the woman who was playing both sides.

Thinking about how Zhang Yiyi had discovered the secret of the bronze plate long ago but deliberately concealed it from him, even driving him away while revealing the truth to Yuan Ying, Luo Qiheng, Chen Fan, and other outsiders, he felt a deep-seated resentment.

He couldn't help but wish he could kill her to vent his anger over the benefits she could have shared with him, but he knew he couldn't personally act against Zhang Yiyi.

"You can believe it or not, but we truly don't know what this bronze plate is."

Yuan Ying maintained her composure, firmly stating, "I accidentally discovered that using spiritual attacks on a certain spot of the bronze plate would elicit a response, so I invited a few friends to test it out, and unexpectedly, it really was collected. Furthermore..."

After a pause, she added two more sentences: "Previously, Yiyi didn't deceive you. Once this thing was collected, it didn't act according to our wishes but merged into our consciousness on its own. As of now, we don't even know how to extract it, let alone what it is or what it does. It's possible that one day it may react in other ways—maybe good, maybe bad; who knows? After all, we didn't think that much at the time; we just wanted to see if we could take it away!"

The highest realm of lying is blending truth with falsehood. By the end, even Yuan Ying almost believed herself, her expression revealing genuinely mixed feelings of joy and worry.

Whether the others believed it or not, Yuan Ying had sincerely spoken her piece. Even if they didn't believe it, they felt embarrassed to continue pressing for answers.

"I naturally believe Senior Sister's words."

After a moment, Xu Mu was the first to speak up: "This mystic realm trip indeed had many troubles and misunderstandings. If there was any offense, I hope Senior Sister will forgive me."

Xu Mu was perceptive and considerate; not only did he stop bringing up the bronze plate, but he also took the initiative to apologize to ease tensions.

In the realm of cultivation, there are no absolute friends or enemies; taking a step back isn't a loss of face.

Yuan Ying nodded slightly, smiling to acknowledge Xu Mu's goodwill.

Seeing this, the others didn't pursue the matter further, but no one else was willing to lower themselves like Xu Mu and voluntarily seek reconciliation over the prior conflict for the treasure.

Mo Yan was the first to turn and leave, his silence cold to the bone.

Unfortunately, Yuan Ying didn't care; neither did Zhang Yiyi. Chen Fan, Luo Qiheng, and Yuan Xiaoqi were equally unconcerned. Even Zhang Tongtong, who had initially held some reservations about Mo Yan, was completely indifferent.

Once Mo Yan left, the remaining few quickly followed suit.

Xu Mu was the last to leave, but as he turned to go, he suddenly asked Zhang Yiyi, "I am Xu Mu from Fengxiang Palace. May I ask for your esteemed name and which powerful figure from the Yunxian Sect you are apprenticed to?"