The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 510: The Child of Destiny’s Cannon-Fodder Mother 24

However, before the two had even departed, another person had already unexpectedly appeared outside the small courtyard.

"Third Uncle!"

It was unmistakably Xie Xuan, who had rushed over after receiving the news. Seeing someone familiar after many days apart, Xiao Yi was clearly delighted.

This time the visitor had deliberately brought news, or rather, the Xie Family’s decision in recent days:

"Miss Shen, my father has been planning to send word to acquainted noble families and sects. If Miss Shen does not mind, our Xie Family is willing to clear up the truth on your behalf."

After brief pleasantries, Third Young Master Xie quickly got to the point.

After all, outsiders did not know; had they not already known? Since Miss Shen descended from the mountain and up until she went out to fight the Xuanming Sect, she had essentially been a guest of the Xie Family during this entire period.

Even over these seven years, with the protective formation in place, not to mention Miss Shen herself, even the Xie family members found it difficult to leave without alerting the Family Head.

Moreover, this stretch of time was enough to prove that An Ning’s cultivation, the day she was capable of matching the Xuanming Sect’s leader, all came from her own arduous cultivation.

As for those earlier missing elite disciples, those rumors were pure nonsense.Staring straight at the familiar, clear features before him, Xie Xuan, who had roughly guessed the other side’s decision, couldn’t help but breathe a little easier, then lifted his cup and smiled:

"But now it seems, Miss Shen, you might not need any of this."

"In any case, coming here today was to convey my father’s stance: the Xie Family has always stood with you, Miss Shen."

"The Xie Family Head is considerate…"

At those words An Ning nodded lightly, accepting the gesture—or rather, the surrender.

As for the promised help to explain things, she truly did not need it, as the person in front of her had said.

Unless absolutely necessary, dragging herself into proving her innocence was a thankless, energy-consuming task, especially in the cultivation world’s near-law-of-the-jungle environment.

Proving oneself meant entering the other side’s rules, playing by their game.

When your strength is sufficient, such acts can in themselves appear as a show of weakness.

What Xie Xuan said next, however, caught her attention:

"Actually, Miss Shen, many once believed the rumors, but my father also inquired among his acquaintances recently. Whether among noble families or sects, there were people clear-eyed enough to see through the truth…"

"Huh? What does that mean?"

On the way to Tianxuan Sect to seek revenge, the system couldn’t help but ask in puzzlement:

"If there were still so many clear-eyed people, how did the Child of Destiny in the previous life end up almost universally condemned?"

"Could it be that the heavenly dao deliberately arranged it?"

At that thought, the system shivered.

An Ning: "…"

She rolled her eyes so slightly it was nearly imperceptible, and couldn’t help but retort:

"Overthinking. If the heavenly dao could intervene to that extent—directly influencing people’s thoughts—then in every world there wouldn’t be so many rebellious sons and daughters who defy destiny."

Just like my original body in previous cycles of the cultivation world, no matter what happened, they refused to perform sacrifices. They drove the heavenly dao to the point of being helpless.

I suppose in the various worlds there must be many such rebellious sons and daughters.

"Ah, then why was that?" The system, considering the magnitude of the discrepancy, couldn’t help but be curious.

"The answer is actually simple, and very practical."

Amid drifting clouds, An Ning’s tone was calm:

"To win others’ followership or secure a position, you must first stand firm yourself, harden your heart, make those who have intent cautious, and make the undecided see the possibility of you winning.

And this, a mere show of powerful strength and decisiveness alone cannot achieve…"

"Fine, put simply, it’s like ancient heirs vying for the throne. If the prince himself lacks the ruthlessness to break constraints, and is easily swayed by moral concerns, then when the situation turns dire, who would dare risk siding with him?"

Countless facts show that in the cultivation world, justice, truth, and slogans are things others can shout; you can listen to them personally if you want.

In a world where wolves dance together, taking that as a rule—unless your power towers above everyone else—there’s no easy way.

Take the previous life, for example. A-Yi’s strength was nearly heaven-defying. For big sects like Tianxuan, fine, but did the small families and minor sects initially really want to confront such a contemporary powerhouse?

Maybe not!

Aside from a few blinded by greed or jealousy, and certain so-called "men of justice," some with clearer minds knew that even if they truly killed him, those legendary skills and treasures would rarely fall into their hands.

Even if they did, they could not protect them.

Although "smearing someone to seize treasure" is a well-used righteous tactic, there are always clear-headed people in the world.

"Yet thereafter, those clear-headed people, whatever their inner thoughts, without a single exception, became one of the executioners turned against A-Yi."

In the biting morning wind, An Ning’s voice was both clear and cold:

"Why is that?"

Because the cost of provoking him was so small, while the risk his team bore was immense.

As for remaining neutral—under overwhelming momentum, how many can truly stay neutral?

"So A-Tong, it wasn’t because I was ruthless that I became the target. On the contrary, because previously I was ruthless and never held back, now people like the Xie Family can be 'rationally clear-eyed'…"

Green Rainbow in her hand, the green-clad woman holding the longsword at the nearby imposing mountain gate suddenly laughed as the crimson sun rose:

"And A-Tong, do you believe that after this, there will be more and more clear-minded people in this world?"

System: "…"

So in the end, was the Child of Destiny simply too kind?

At the same time, no one yet knew what was about to happen.

In the Tianxuan Sect’s council hall, as always the Sect Leader sat at the head wearing an immortal-crane patterned, dark-gold robe. The middle-aged man who normally wore a scholarly expression now looked full of sorrow.

Especially as he glanced down at the ranks of grieving, infuriated family members who had been wronged.

"Sigh, we only invited someone to come and properly explain, to clear a misunderstanding. We didn’t expect this Miss Shen to be so cruel, taking over a hundred lives at every turn."

"Her methods seem almost identical to that of the Xuanming Sect’s leader."

"Sigh, I regret it. Elder Supreme devoted his life to saving people and punishing evil, saved countless lives, and then there’s Sect Leader Zhou…"

Satisfied by the increasing outcry of crying and indignation below, and at those sect leaders and family heads pretending to be aggrieved but remaining silent, before Sect Leader Ren could speak again—

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently…

Before panic could spread among them, in the next moment something even more terrifying followed:

"Sect… Sect Leader, it’s bad, the mountain-protecting formation—it's… it's…"

Sadly, it was already too late. The instant that person spoke, outside the mountain gate, accompanied by An Ning’s single sword slash, the world fell silent. A cyan light, wrapped around a razor-sharp sword technique, instantly slashed toward the formation’s thinnest point at blinding speed!

Everyone instinctively looked up, and saw the mountain-protecting formation that had safeguarded Tianxuan Sect for over a thousand years utterly shatter in that moment…