Chapter 31: Tasty, But Don’t Be Greedy~

Chapter 31: Tasty, But Don’t Be Greedy~

Chen Jin could swear with his own mouth that, in his twenty-six years of life, he had never known any being called Mad God, Heavenly Fire, or the fire of vengeance.

Therefore, he could not comprehend how that lunatic was so certain in calling out his name, demanding his intervention, and in the end, he really did intervene.

Perhaps this is the extra attribute that comes naturally to a lunatic?

After all, once someone goes mad, they really won’t feel embarrassed by anything.

But Chen Jin still felt a bit uneasy, his instincts telling him he didn’t want to exchange another word with this madman.

But—

"Chen Jin! Your prayer ability is really fascinating! Hahaha, this three-headed toad got slapped by a hefty dish so hard it's questioning its existence."

"Chen Jin! Damn, this toad is vicious! Quick, quick, quick, another prayer! Make it so they can’t spray venom at me anymore!"

"Chen Jin! Damn, it's no use, the toad is regaining its strength by devouring the townspeople! I've expended too much and fear I can't last long! Pray for me to level up three times! Haha, if I level up three times wouldn’t I become a god?! Hahaha, come on Chen Jin! Let me feel the god-like power of destruction, uh? Mmm? Mmm? Mmm?!"

Strange, why did he suddenly stop talking?

Of course, it's because Chen Jin, pushed to his limit, yelled at him: "Shut up! Just focus on fighting!"

This lunatic really lacks any sense of boundaries and social awareness!

It's the first time he felt his name was so deadly, almost like a death knell.

And when the Mad God shut up, the whole world seemed to quiet down.

However, the expression on the Mad God's face was one of surprise, mixed with eagerness to try again. Chen Jin saw him, unable to make a sound but still tirelessly opening his mouth, like a mad Husky with a missing brain stem.

Chen Jin pressed his temples.

"Meow-ow!" The soft little black cat also placed its paw on his temple, seemingly offering empathetic comfort.

At this moment, the battle between the Mad God and the three-headed toad had reached an intense climax, with the sky ablaze with flames and the toad, growing larger as it attacked and devoured townspeople, exerting an indescribable pressure.

"Brother Hu, let's, let's go help the Mad God? That toad seems to be getting bigger and more formidable!"

Brother Hu shook his head: "This kind of battle is not something you little weaklings can join. You'd be swept away by that damned tongue before you even got close."

"Only level three travelers can take part," Lei Hu said with a hint of determination in his eyes: "Level three travelers, prepare. We'll split into three groups and attack it from behind!"

At this point, Bai Ling of the Mutual Aid Society shook her head: "No, someone has already scanned it; the toad's defense has reached 999, almost impenetrable from the outside.

Moreover, it's covered in huge venomous pus-filled sacs. I don't recommend physical attacks; long-distance natural or fantastical abilities would be best."

While they were discussing, suddenly a voice popped up, "Don't we have Chen Jin? Let him help with a prayer."

Just a prayer from him, and they could level up directly, wouldn’t fighting monsters become much easier then?

Besides, who wouldn't want to experience the joy of leveling up two or three times in a row?

The crowd sneakily glanced at the young man who was watching the battle.

His eyebrows and eyes still had that slightly drooping, round, and harmless look, but his face showed no sign of nervousness or change as he watched the increasingly disadvantaged Mad God.

Though his face was approachable, it exuded an extreme indifference.

"Hey, you,"

Before the person could speak, an angry Little Green Tea snapped with hands on hips: "Get lost, weakling! Don't come near my cousin! You'll make him feel disgusted!"

"Is my cousin your dad or your mom that you think of him for everything? It's laughable. I only know that in the land of the exiles, one must rely on their own efforts to survive at any time and place. Are you planning to ride on my cousin’s coattails to heaven?!"

"Let me tell you, don't take my cousin's existence and help for granted! Having led you through survival tasks, you should be kneeling in gratitude and serve him in your next life! Yet you have the audacity to ask for more, for a collective level-up, do you think your faces are bigger than the sky?!"

Angry Little Green Tea’s tirade left those looking for an easy advantage with faces turning green and red, grinding their teeth in frustration.

But because the tirade came from Chen Jin’s cousin, as annoying as it was, they dared not retaliate, swallowing all their anger instead.

At this time, Lei Hu, Bai Ling, and Yun Xia, leaders of their respective teams, along with another ten level three travelers, had gone to assist the Mad God.

However, as anticipated, physical attacks were completely ineffective against the three-headed toad. Fantastical and natural attacks initially seemed effective but were soon blocked by the tailcoat chef and his ten chefs.

"Although you've made it this far and I must commend your bravery and ability, I still have to tell you, you've vastly underestimated the power of the City of Gastronomy."

The tailcoat chef and his ten chefs behind him waved their hands in unison, and the entire City of Gastronomy shook as if the ground moved and mountains quaked.

The surviving refugees watched as countless points of light flew out from the houses of the City of Gastronomy, then these agonizingly screaming remnants of souls were merged, transformed, and shaped into dishes of delicious food.

"Croak!"

"Croak!"

"Croak!"

Each time the three-headed toad devoured a dish, its body would suddenly enlarge.

What shocked and unsettled all refugees was that during this tumultuous upheaval, they felt their own strength and consciousness becoming unstable, as if, as if their souls were being sucked away.

"There's something odd about these chefs!"

"Stop them quickly!"

Soon, everyone pinpointed the issue and various abilities were deployed.

Three hundred ability users managed to prevent the eleven chefs from continuing to capture and prepare those soul-based dishes.

But if the standoff continues, the ever-growing, tireless Glutton King will eventually devour the entire City of Gastronomy.

At this moment, the voice of the Mad God, his body aflame, once again resounded:

"Chen Jin!!!"

"What are you still watching for! Kill it—seize the core of the City of Gastronomy!"

The young man, whose left eye gleamed with a silver light and had been observing the three-headed toad, finally exhaled and began to walk towards the enormous monster step by step.

With each step, a powerful word was spoken.

"In the abode of the divine heavens,"

"At the end of the earth and sky."

"Stand the four pillars' trees, towering and majestic."

"Impervious to wind, frost, swords, and sabers, they secure the four corners of the world!"

(N-30%)

Boom, boom, boom, boom—

With each sentence the young man uttered, a significant amount of energy was consumed, and a towering tree would rise from the ground.

When all his words were spoken, four mighty trees burst from four directions, pinning the Glutton King, mountainous in its size.

"Croak, croak, croak—?!"

Yet, the young man's words were not finished.

Nor did his steps cease.

"The winds rise!"

Suddenly, he rose with the wind as if invisible wings sprouted behind him.

"My body may perish, but my anger and will shall endure forever." (N-20%)

[The text "语希圕兌Ｊ" appears to be gibberish or an error, not applicable in this context.]

"And this anger and will shall transform into the most terrifying fire of revenge, the most severe poison piercing through the intestines, incinerating everything I detest." (N-30%)

He spread his arms wide, and the flickering lights of lingering souls throughout the Gourmet Capital began to converge towards him. Instead of morphing into the shape of delicacies in his hands, these lights ignited into a blazing inferno.

"Burn all that I detest!"

（N-10%）

The young man forcefully hurled the massive soul flame from his hands down into the air.

Its target was the three-headed Glutton King, with its wide-open mouth and lolling tongues.

The flames of revenge instantly consumed the toad's three long tongues and, under the toad's finally terrified gaze, headed straight for its gaping mouth.

"Hahaha!"

"Hahahaha! I knew you were no simpleton!"

The man, engulfed in flames, laughed maniacally with joy. Then, a wildly fierce and mad expression appeared on his scarred face. His entire being, like a meteor of flames, charged towards the revenge fire that illuminated the entire Gourmet Capital like the sun. Merging with the larger fireball like a smaller one, he thrust the revenge fire into the Glutton King's mouth with both hands!

"Eat up! This time, I'll make sure you can't just walk away—"

Boom—Quack—

The immobilized Glutton King ignited from within, a towering inferno. In extreme agony, it tried to struggle but was pinned in place by four massive trees.

As it was completely engulfed by flames, its massive body began to char and shrink, a cold, mechanical announcement echoed above the Gourmet Capital.

[World mission accomplished.]

[You have begun to absorb the core's power.]

With this announcement, the entire Gourmet Capital began to tremble and collapse. Meanwhile, the energy that was nearly depleted by the recent powerful spell finally started to replenish.

[You have received the gratitude of the citizens of the Gourmet Capital, earning a gourmet recipe and a golden bowl.]

Chen Shijin, looking at the suddenly appeared recipe and golden bowl in his hands, was momentarily dumbfounded. This form of gratitude seemed a bit too grounded, didn't it?

The tuxedo-clad chef had ceased his battle with the exiles the moment the flames of revenge appeared in Chen Shijin's hands. He turned around to look at the young man who, despite lacking wings, could stand in the air. The chef then slowly revealed a smile.

His body started to become transparent and ethereal due to the collapse of the world, but this did not prevent him from approaching Chen Shijin and bowing to him with the most formal of courtesies.

"The Royal Restaurant is honored to serve you."

"You are destined for a bright future, standing at the pinnacle of the world."

[You have earned the respect of the head chef of the Royal Restaurant, receiving a Supreme Gold Card from the Royal Restaurant.]

Chen Shijin watched as the tuxedo-clad chef vanished before him, placed the recipe and golden bowl into his space, and took out the second golden card from his pocket.

He couldn't help but ponder, could collecting seven golden cards possibly summon a dragon?

Just then, a wild laugh erupted from the charred remains of the huge toad. Chen Shijin didn't even have to look down to see a nearly naked fire-man bursting forth, clutching a cookbook that couldn't be burned.

"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! I've got the cookbook! I've got the cookbook hahahaha!"

"The first step to building a city, food is secured!"

Then, this ecstatic man turned his gaze towards Chen Shijin, his eyes like a hungry wolf eyeing a supreme delicacy, and charged at him completely naked:

"Hahahaha, Chen Shijin! Come! Join me in building our city-state!"

"To establish a true, indestructible city of exiles—"

Before Chen Shijin decided to blast him away with a word, this fiery madman was directly kicked out by the collapsing world.

This prevented the pair, who had just cooperated, from turning against each other.

Yet, the words spoken by this madman were enough to change Chen Shijin's expression dramatically, as well as those of all the exiles and devourers watching this world battle from beyond the Eye of Heaven!

Building a city!

The goal of the madman, who had always been hunting down mid to high-level devourers in the land of exile, was actually to build a city!!

"Heavens! The Mad God, the Mad God actually intends to build a city?!"

"It's been a thousand years since a new city was established in the land of exile... How could he dare to be so, so" recklessly bold!

"Otherwise, why call him the Mad God?"

"Indeed, the Mad God is mad through and through. How could he possibly build a city?"

The exiles spoke with dry voices, full of disbelief in the wild ambitions of that mad fourth-level hunter.

Yet, their eyes remained fixed on the young man in the Omniscient Eye, unable to look away.

The Mad God is a lunatic who acts recklessly, without regard for friend or foe, without a second thought. But what about this young man?

This individual who arrived in the land of exile, refreshed the bounty board, initiated two world missions single-handedly, and... emerged victorious?

Would he build a city?

If he makes the choice, could a new, indestructible city rise from the ground in the land of exile?

Countless exiles fell into silence.

But in their hearts, unspoken words multiplied.

At that moment, countless angry and terrifying roars echoed over this dark land that never sees daylight.

That was the warning from the provoked sovereigns.

A gigantic crimson eye burst forth with intense energy pressure in an instant.

In the gradually collapsing Gourmet Capital, the red sun in the sky suddenly turned blood-red, and a ray of red light, carrying tremendous killing power, shot directly towards the young man in the sky without warning!

"Ah!"

"What's happening with the Omniscient Eye?!"

The exiles outside the Eye exclaimed in shock.

Meanwhile, the young man in the world and the black cat perched on his shoulder reacted almost simultaneously.

"Meow-shit—"

The black cat, with its deep blue eyes, was quicker than the young man, cursing in anger and kicking the young man away with its hind legs to dodge the dreadful attack of the red light.

And Chen Shijin, when the second scarlet beam targeted him, had energy exploding around him, all his power transformed into two words, amidst his restored sharp gaze and raised middle finger, echoing across the land of exile:

"Rebound!" N-80%

"You vision-having idiot."

Roarrrrrrr—

Accompanied by the agonized roar of the crimson Omniscient Eye, all the Eyes in the land of exile plunged into darkness.

And on the most-wanted bounty board, following Chen Shijin's bounty amount, a zero was finally added as he wished.

*

"Meow-meow~"

In the almost entirely vanished Gourmet Capital, the form of the proud cat also began to fade, stretching its pink paw pads towards Chen Shijin as if to offer him a final feline farewell.

The young man, looking at the black cat that had kicked him at a crucial moment to save him from serious injury and had favored him all along, slowly revealed an extremely tender and beautiful smile and reached out his hands.

That smile, amidst the aura of energy, appeared exceptionally beautiful and enticing to the cat.

Coupled with the increasingly delicious aroma, the excited tip of the black cat's tail couldn't help but tremble.

This time, it planned to bite a bit more!

Bite a bit more, “Ow?!”

Destiny's scruff was suddenly grasped, and the young man's previously gentle smile abruptly turned dark and fierce: “Pervert, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!”

“The same trick, you expect to use it on me a second time?!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man swiftly grabbed the black cat's plump and rounded bell.

“Explode for me!”

Meow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow shit—

“Shit!”

Amid a piercing and panic-stricken meow and a supremely irritated curse, both the young man and the black cat vanished from this world that would no longer be fragrant.

Though gourmet food is good, don't overindulge.