“Everyone, be careful. If you feel like you’ve been stung or bitten by something, come to me immediately. Some strange things have been happening in the eastern jungle lately.”
After returning to the campsite, Hua Jian shared the news she had received with her followers.
These people were precious consumables; she couldn’t let them die for no reason.
If they had to die, it should be for something valuable. Dying in a non-combat situation was simply a waste.
As she spoke, she displayed the fine needle she had found to the group.
Upon seeing that the sneak attack came from such a tiny object, the Cultivators immediately sharpened their vigilance.
No one wanted to die an inexplicable death. This discovery added another layer of caution to their hearts; in the Secret Realm, there were terrifying things other than the Forbidden Lands.
If one was careless and got sent out by something like this, there would truly be nowhere to complain.
While the others were focused on the needle, Shi Chai was marvelling at Hua Jian’s connections.
There were five Forbidden Lands, and two of them were already connected to Hua Jian. It was truly unbelievable.
How could Hua Jian’s luck be this good? Everyone she was close to had become a proctor, which instantly lowered the difficulty of conquering the Forbidden Lands for her.
In response, Hua Jian basically told him to learn from her when it came to networking, promising that he would benefit from it.
In truth, these matters weren’t that mysterious. It was simply that her talent was exceptional, so the Saint Sect Cultivators she encountered were all of relatively high status within their sect.
Those Cultivators naturally had a higher probability of participating in the Saint Sect’s various activities.
For instance, Linglong. Entering the Secret Realm as a Spirit Master and sweeping through everything was undoubtedly a way to show off the Jade Pool’s strength.
As for Xiao Qi, Hua Jian suspected that the Elder Sister had been chosen specifically because of their relationship.
‘What’s wrong with opening a little backdoor for a disciple I favor? The Wanling Sect is happy to do it!’
“However, we’ll have to stay here for the next few days. Everyone needs some time to recover.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Hua Jian pulled the Spiritual Civet off the Little Blue Dragon and took out a fire-red Storage Pouch she had obtained from the Forbidden Land.
“But that Forbidden Land belongs to us now. Other people won’t be able to bypass the mechanics anymore!”
Ordinary flames couldn’t burn the Vines on that Stone Pillar; the Storage Pouch in her hand was the only solution.
Now that she had brought it back, any Cultivators who went to that Forbidden Land later would find no way to solve the puzzle.
They could only stare at the Vines on the Stone Pillar and sigh in frustration.
With that, Hua Jian opened the Storage Pouch and took out the items inside.
There were only two things: a fragmented Array Map and a dusty, broken Spirit Stone.
The broken Spirit Stone emitted an intense heat, scaring the Spiritual Civet she had just grabbed back into running toward the Little Blue Dragon again.
However, Hua Jian, who was wearing heat-resistant gloves, felt nothing. She turned the broken gem over and over, examining it, but she still couldn’t recognize its origin.
She looked up at the people around her and saw that everyone shared her confused expression. Hua Jian knew she probably didn’t need to ask — no one knew what it was.
Putting the gem back into the Storage Pouch, Hua Jian unfolded the Array Map. This time, she finally learned the name of the formation because it was written directly on the map.
“The [Yu Huo Grand Formation]. It uses multiple Cultivators with fire-element Spiritual Power as the core, supplemented by wood-element Cultivators. By using the [Li Huo Zhu], it can release Li Huo to incinerate the Flower Demon Vines coiled around the [Earth Vein Spiritual Pillar].”
The instructions for the Array were simple and blunt, making it clear that this formation was specifically designed to deal with the boss in the Forbidden Land.
“Everyone, come take a look. Using this Array shouldn’t be too difficult.” Hua Jian beckoned the Cultivators who could still move to come and examine the map.
Since it was an Array intended for Spirit Masters, it naturally wouldn’t be overly complex.
However, there were several blurred areas on the map, which was likely another test from the Saint Sect.
If you wanted to use this Grand Array to skip the mechanics, you first had to complete the map. This required the Cultivators to have a certain foundation in Array Formations.
Presumably, the Cultivators who completed the map would receive a significant bonus in their final assessment scores.
“I don’t know much about Array Formations. Can any of you complete this?” Hua Jian pointed at the incomplete map and asked her subordinates.
The subordinates looked at each other until finally, a young girl stepped forward boldly, saying she could give it a try.
Seeing the hesitation and doubt on the face of this girl, who looked not much older than herself, Hua Jian knew it would be difficult to rely solely on her.
‘Looks like I’ll have to go out and poach some talented people.’
Someone proficient in Arrays, someone proficient in healing… Thinking this, Hua Jian felt that the time spent waiting for the main force to recover wouldn’t be too boring.
She could go recruit from those refugee Cultivators!
She believed that with her squad’s fierce battle record, those “stray dogs” of Cultivators would surely flock to them, scrambling to join the team!
That was what Hua Jian thought, but the reality seemed a bit different from her expectations.
When she found the refugees she had encountered the previous day and told them of her intent to recruit, she received only a very flat reaction.
These Cultivators seemed to have no concept of the olive branch she was extending.
“If we had that kind of ambition, we would have gone to the center or the west long ago. Why would we stay hidden in the jungle until we were forced to leave?”
A very dejected-looking Elder Sister explained to Hua Jian.
Hua Jian had actually come to the wrong place. These people were all “salted fish” who had completely given up. If she wanted to recruit, she had to go to the west.
“We all know that with our talent and strength, the probability of entering the Saint Sect is minuscule, so…” The Elder Sister shrugged.
These Cultivators had only barely passed the preliminary trial; they essentially had no chance of joining the Saint Sect.
So why work hard? To be cannon fodder?
Ambitious Cultivators wouldn’t be avoiding people and playing the game passively like them.
Hua Jian’s search for helpers here was going in the wrong direction; the west was the true base for talent.
“If you put it that way… alright.” After hearing the girl’s explanation, Hua Jian was momentarily unsure how to respond.
She wasn’t a very motivated person herself. If she put herself in their shoes, her choice might have been similar.
At most, while these people had completely given up, Hua Jian would still find a way to grab some benefits for herself.
“Well, since you’re all doing nothing anyway, how about acting as cannon fodder for me? Just consider it a way to form a good connection!” Hua Jian grinned.
“Huh?” The girl blinked, find it difficult to understand Hua Jian’s meaning.
“I’m not looking for anyone powerful. As long as you have Spiritual Power and can form an Array, that’s enough.” Hua Jian counted on her fingers as she revealed her plan.
Hua Jian didn’t lack frontline combat power, but the more people her squad had, the more stable her rear would be.
An Array formed by a few people was very different from one formed by a dozen. Although these Cultivators lacked confidence, they were still people who had passed the preliminary selection; they couldn’t be that bad.
“When people ask what you did at the Ascension Gathering, you can puff out your chest and proudly say that you conquered a Forbidden Land alongside the first-place winner, and that you played a pivotal role in the process!”
Hearing these words, the Cultivators here revealed expressions of disbelief. They felt Hua Jian was being far too arrogant.
The Ascension Gathering wasn’t even half over; how did she dare boast about being in first place?
If the one saying this were the already famous Fairy Caiyue, they might believe it, but who was Hua Jian?
Nobody knew who Hua Jian was!
She was just a Nameless Small Fry from some historical corner with no reputation at all. How could they believe her?
“You say you’re first. How do you prove it?”
“Exactly. If you can prove you’re first, then… then we’ll be your cannon fodder!”
Following the first person’s voice, the other Cultivators also began to jeer.
If Hua Jian really produced evidence, they wouldn’t mind being her cannon fodder. After all, it would give them some face to brag about later.
Dying for nothing was one thing, but dying as a subordinate of the Secret Realm’s top ranker? Comparing the two, the latter seemed better.
Hua Jian’s words weren’t wrong; helping out to gain some bragging rights for the future was a good deal.
Of course, the most important thing was that Hua Jian’s words were grounded. she didn’t paint them any grand illusions but told them bluntly that she was looking for cannon fodder.
She didn’t expect them to go up and fight; just staying in the back to form an Array and act as cheerleaders was enough.
This attitude, which was so honest it was almost naked, actually caused the Cultivators to drop some of their caution and hostility.
At least Hua Jian wasn’t lying, right?
She hadn’t given any promises. If she had to give one, it was the capital to boast in the future.
This matter… they put in a little effort and gained a little something. it fit the principle of equivalent exchange.
“It’s simple. Come with me. Of the five original Forbidden Lands on the map, I’ve already dealt with two. Right now, my team is resting in one of them.” Hua Jian took out her Token and projected the Map into the air.
Her current Map was quite different from others. The most conspicuous change was that the five large black blocks that originally covered the center of the Secret Realm had become three.
Two Forbidden Lands had indeed disappeared.
“I’ve solved two Forbidden Lands, and I already know how to solve the third. Once I take down this third one, don’t you think I’ll be in first place?”
The Cultivators looked at the Map Hua Jian had summoned. It was indeed different from theirs, and they already believed more than half of it.
And when Hua Jian once again brought up Shi Chai as her endorsement, the Cultivators completely believed her.
At the end of the day, having a famous Heavenly Talent’s endorsement made Hua Jian’s words far more persuasive.
They didn’t know how strong Hua Jian was, but they knew Shi Chai. He was someone ranked quite high on the Genius List.
Word was he was incredibly aloof and didn’t join any factions. If someone like him was willing to work for Hua Jian, how powerful must she be?
They didn’t dare think about it. Perhaps Hua Jian really was a Great One hiding in the shadows!
Just like that, although Hua Jian hadn’t found anyone who understood Arrays, she found a group of new “batteries.”
With these people joining, the next Forbidden Land conquest would surely be easier.
She would take the hits in front to draw attention, while the Cultivators in the back formed an Array to buy time for the Stone Pillar to reset.
Once the Stone Pillar was reset, everyone would charge in and kill the boss. Simple!
When she returned to the campsite with this new batch of cannon fodder, the old members who were regulating their blood and energy all showed surprised expressions.
They thought Hua Jian would only bring back a few powerful Cultivators, but she had actually brought back over ten people — almost more than half the size of the original team.
The old members were surprised, but the new members were even more shocked because they actually saw a Dragon here!
A blue, glowing Dragon bouncing on the ground!
“This was originally an enemy in this Forbidden Land. After we defeated it, it stayed here.” Hua Jian pointed at the Little Blue Dragon and introduced it briefly.
“Actually, you don’t need to think of the Forbidden Land as too terrifying. The enemies inside are all Senior Brothers and Sisters from the Saint Sect. They won’t make things too hard for you.”
After briefly explaining her understanding of the Forbidden Land, Hua Jian clapped her hands and told the old and new members to get along and not start any conflicts.
Everyone was just a battery or cannon fodder; why fight over small things? Was there any point?
The people Hua Jian labeled as “cannon fodder” couldn’t help but show expressions of shame and indignation, but they seemed unable to refute her.
Looking back at the two Forbidden Land conquests, they hadn’t been of much use. Most of the work was done by Hua Jian’s side; their greatest use was forming the Array and resetting the Stone Pillar.
And those tasks could be done by anyone; it wasn’t their exclusive privilege.
So, Hua Jian bringing in new people wasn’t about sharing their credit. After all, their credit was already quite small; it couldn’t be divided much further.
In contrast, the pressure on them had significantly decreased. After deducting the few Cultivators fixed for resetting the Stone Pillar, the addition of these new Cultivators meant the pressure on the “batteries” was suddenly halved.
That was already a massive difference.
Everyone was just there to get some leftovers after Hua Jian finished, and they had already had a few bites. They had nothing to fight about with the newcomers.
Once they realized this, the senior members also calmed their minds. What else could they do? It wasn’t like they could quit.
Given Hua Jian’s personality, they shouldn’t even think about using quitting as a threat. After all, they weren’t irreplaceable at all; Hua Jian only needed batteries and cannon fodder.
There were as many Cultivators like them in the Secret Realm as there were stars in the sky.
Hua Jian could bring back ten just by stepping out the door, and that was when the east was sparsely populated.
If she took a trip to the west and poached from the two large camps, who knew how many she could bring back at once?
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