In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 48

Chapter 48 – Have You Been Here Before?

Translation by: Weebsread👹

Jiang Qian stared at the spell formation beneath his feet, frustration evident as he covered his face with one hand. “We still managed to trigger it!”

It’s my fault. I should have warned them sooner…

He actually knew a way to avoid setting off this particular formation, but in the end, it was Chen Xiaoxiao who inadvertently activated it.

Chen Xiaoxiao turned to him, eyes wide with confusion. The moment she realized what she’d done, guilt washed over her features.

“My body… I can’t move!” Jiang Zixuan gasped, instantly realizing she was rooted in place—some invisible force binding her limbs.

A bone-chilling screech echoed through the dim chamber—“Ssshh… raaah!” From the shadows crept a Sixth-rank demonic beast: the Silverbone Moonwatch Spider. Its six silver eyes gleamed coldly, burning with a lethal intent.

Gulp.

None of them could move a muscle. They could only watch, helpless, as the monstrous spider crept closer, step by step.

Chen Xiaoxiao, who stood closest to the front, squeezed her eyes shut in despair. “This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t be trapped like this.”

Jiang Qian was about to speak, but just then, the Blue-patterned Jade Pendant at his waist pulsed with a faint glow that seeped quietly into his body.

…

…

He could move again. He wasn’t sure how, but somehow, he’d broken free.

If I can move, everything gets a whole lot easier!

Without hesitation, Jiang Qian drew the Flood Dragon Bone Sword from his back. “Mist-Seeking Cloudstep!”

The instant the words left his lips, his figure flickered and vanished from sight, reappearing in a blink beside the treasure chest nearby.

The Silverbone Moonwatch Spider instantly detected his movement, whirling around and spitting a strand of web at him!

Clang—

Jiang Qian raised the Flood Dragon Bone Sword just in time, blocking the silvery silk.

With his other hand, he smashed his fist down on the treasure chest, shattering it in one blow.

A crystal-clear gem tumbled from within.

This must be the formation core!

Without a moment’s delay, Jiang Qian grabbed the crystal and crushed it in his palm.

As the crystal shattered, the binding formation instantly dissolved.

Freed at last, Bai Piaoxue and the others wasted no time. They unleashed their attacks on the Silverbone Moonwatch Spider with all their might.

“Thousand Seals, Ten Thousand Miles Art!”

“Phoenix Fist!”

“Falling Petals!”

The three women unleashed their strongest arts, their Spiritual Essence roaring as they struck the spider with relentless force.

At the same time, Jiang Qian summoned both the Northwind Ice Wolf and the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle!

Under the combined assault of three cultivators and two formidable demonic beasts, even the sixth-rank Silverbone Moonwatch Spider couldn’t hold out for long.

With a heavy crash, the spider collapsed to the floor.

The Northwind Ice Wolf lunged forward, tearing open the spider’s abdomen and biting down on the demon core inside.

Without hesitation, it swallowed the demon core whole!

“Awooo—!” The Northwind Ice Wolf gave a spine-tingling howl. Its body began to swell, fur shedding in clumps as its eyes turned bloodshot.

In the blink of an eye—

The Northwind Ice Wolf collapsed and fell unconscious.

Even so, its body continued to shift and change.

“It’s advancing to the sixth rank!” Bai Piaoxue couldn’t help but exclaim.

For demonic beasts, advancing in rank was a perilous ordeal. They almost always fell into a deep coma while breaking through—completely defenseless, unable to attack or defend.

It was the most vulnerable moment of any beast’s life.

Without hesitation, Jiang Qian quickly recalled the Northwind Ice Wolf into his Beastmaster’s Ring—to allow it to safely undergo its transformation away from danger.

He turned his gaze toward the very center of the room. After walking a few paces, he knelt and pressed his palm lightly against a spot on the floor.

With a shimmer, another treasure chest appeared.

Jiang Zixuan stepped beside him, smiling teasingly. “Jiang Qian, you sure seem at home here. Not only did you find the formation core, now you’re pulling treasures out of thin air. Have you been here before or something?”

Jiang Qian only shrugged. “I just guessed where the core might be. As for this treasure, I noticed the ground was a bit lower here—so I thought it was worth checking.”

Guessed? Yeah right. Both traps were written out in detail in the original novel…

“Oh, and why is it that none of us could move in the formation, but you could?” Jiang Zixuan pressed.

“I honestly don’t know. Even I’m not sure how it happened,” Jiang Qian replied, shaking his head helplessly.

And that was the truth—he genuinely didn’t know why he alone had regained movement.

By then, he’d already opened the treasure chest. Inside were three sets of mid-tier Profound-grade cultivation manuals, and a blazing-red high-tier Profound-grade longsword.

《Crimson Fire Illusion Scripture》

《Wildfire Sword Art》

《Dominating Water Mirror Tome》

Well now. Two of these manuals clearly matched Jiang Zixuan’s skills and temperament—and judging by the sword’s aura, it was likely destined for her as well.

No wonder she’s the protagonist—her luck’s ridiculous!

Jiang Qian took out the items and laid them on the ground.

As expected, Jiang Zixuan immediately picked up the two manuals and the sword that suited her best.

That left one manual remaining, which nobody seemed eager to take.

Jiang Qian glanced over at Chen Xiaoxiao and offered a gentle smile. “Junior Sister Xiaoxiao, why don’t you keep this one?”

“No, I can’t! I nearly got us all killed by the Silverbone Moonwatch Spider. How could I possibly accept a cultivation manual after that?” Chen Xiaoxiao protested, guilt coloring her words.

Jiang Qian bent down, picked up the manual, and pressed it into her hands with a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. This manual doesn’t really fit me or Senior Sister Bai, and it’s not a good match for Jiang Zixuan either. You’re the only one who can truly put it to use.”

“Yeah, Xiaoxiao, you should take it,” Jiang Zixuan encouraged.

“She’s right. If you don’t, someone else will just snatch it away,” Bai Piaoxue added, nodding in support.

With both girls encouraging her, Chen Xiaoxiao finally accepted the manual—though she still looked a little embarrassed.

“If you don’t want it, we’ll happily relieve you of it!”

The mocking voice came from a group of young men approaching, each one dressed in the robes of Heavenly Fragrance Academy.

Bai Piaoxue’s eyes narrowed coldly as she snorted, “Take it off our hands? Do you really think you have what it takes?”

“Oh? We don’t? That’s funny. You—” The leader’s words died on his lips as Jiang Qian sent him flying backward with a single punch.

Jiang Qian shook out his fist, sneering. “Anyone else want to try?”

Before the rest could react, Jiang Zixuan waved her hand—and in the blink of an eye, the remaining troublemakers were frozen into solid blocks of ice.

“Keep your eyes open from now on,” Jiang Qian said cryptically, giving one last warning before leading the three girls onward to their next destination.

Hardly had they left when a Sixth-rank demonic beast materialized out of thin air.

The frozen youths could only stare in horror, trapped and powerless mere feet from the ferocious beast—unable to run, unable to fight back.

“Ssshh… It hurts, damn it! Next time I see them, I’ll definitely—” The leader who’d been punched slowly staggered back to his feet, only to come face to face with the looming demonic beast. His face instantly went pale. “Oh, hell no…”

Meanwhile, Jiang Qian and his companions had already reached the next area.

But as they arrived, all four drew to a stunned halt at the scene before them.

“Is… Hu Murui fighting Hu Murui?”