The exchange among the group seemed to stretch on, though it was merely a matter of two or three seconds. In that fleeting moment, the two wild boar minions tore into Bai Yue's legs, ripping away large chunks of flesh and depleting his health entirely.
In his final moments, Bai Yue managed to retrieve a vial of red potion and gulp it down, pleading desperately. It was evident that his earlier claims of "the last one" had been nothing but empty words, while Zhao Shen remained unfazed, leisurely indulging in his golden egg fried rice.
"You little rascal! If I see you outside the city, I will ensure you reincarnate at level zero to assuage my wrath!" Bai Yue exclaimed, his voice seething with anger.
"Can you believe this? What kind of person acts like this?"
"I'm at a loss for words. Is it truly impossible to form a cohesive team for even the simplest level five dungeon? Bai Yue is clearly deranged, intent on sabotaging others. And what of Zhao Shen? Couldn't he simply finish the dungeon quietly before venturing out?"
As the team's avatar icons dimmed by two, it was clear that their escapade had ended in disaster, transforming into gray avatars. Bai Yue and the other two struggling teammates hurled insults at Zhao Shen, wishing they could obliterate his entire lineage. Is there truly such a thing as duplicitous betrayal?
...
"Silence!"
A thunderous roar erupted, drowning out all other sounds and leaving everyone's ears ringing. What nonsense was that coward blabbering about?
Upon glancing at Zhao Shen, one could see his expression had turned grave and resolute; his previously relaxed demeanor had tightened, resembling a sword drawn from its sheath, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees. After two decades of honing his skills, was it truly so hard to face a mere handful of wild boars?
With a powerful push of his legs, he left imprints in the ground and swiftly approached the Crimson Lotus Wild Boar.
His chef's knife glistened with a cold light, and in a flash, two substantial red damage figures materialized between the wild boar's neck, signifying a swift kill!
The two teammates, who had been hurling curses just moments before, suddenly fell silent, as though they had swallowed a dead rat. The air was thick with their astonished gasps!
Was this truly a life profession? One with such an astonishing attack power capable of annihilating wild boar minions at level five? If so, they would immediately switch to becoming life players!
"As per usual, I only require the ingredients. Let's finish the dungeon first, and I'll take care of two wild boar minions." This was Zhao Shen's longest statement since entering the dungeon.
The two quickly dispatched the wild boar minions before them, nodding seriously as if pecking at grains, anxious not to invoke any displeasure from the deity.
"Could it be? You've betrayed us so soon? Hmph! Even if he can kill two wild boar minions, once the boss's health drops below twenty percent, its red oil will erupt, causing burn damage. Without a priest or healing items, we're doomed!"
...
"Thank you for the warning."
Healing potions were precious commodities, costing dozens of gold coins each. Bai Yue had acquired three through a hidden quest, yet they were bound to him; otherwise, he would have sold them for gold long ago.
Zhao Shen indeed lacked healing potions, but the burn effect posed little threat to him. The Ice Silkworm Dumpling could perfectly negate the burn status, so he truly appreciated Dayu's "kind" warning; without it, he could have been caught off guard and potentially burned to a crisp.
Minutes later, Zhao Shen inspected the ingredients before him, inhaling the rich, enticing aroma that permeated the air, an irresistible fragrance that captivated his senses. Just gazing at the food made his mouth water. In the presence of exquisite cuisine, one cannot help but ponder; whether observing the dish with gluttonous anticipation or savoring the flavors during the meal, food is indeed a fundamental aspect of human nature!
He tore a strip of tender meat from the spine of the Crimson Lotus Wild Boar, commonly referred to as tenderloin. The large tenderloin, connected to the ribs, was covered in sinew, while the small tenderloin, a slender muscle on the inner side of the spine, was rare and exceptionally tender.
However, the tenderloin from this wild boar exceeded all expectations.
The meat was soft and succulent, lean yet not dry, exuding an intoxicating aroma that ensnared his taste buds, delightfully smooth and delectable. Even before it reached his stomach, a wave of satisfaction washed over him.
"Delicious!"
Zhao Shen couldn't help but marvel inwardly; this meat could easily overshadow the finest Ibérico pork from Spain by a country mile, rendering brands such as Golden Casserole Pork utterly incomparable!
...
Yet, Zhao Shen felt that this meat had aged slightly. Shifting his gaze to the wild boar minions in his pack, he pondered whether he had made a mistake, as the minions bore a striking resemblance to the Crimson Lotus Wild Boar, lacking only red oil and tusks.
"Deity, if you wish to eat, you should try that wild boar minion. I've heard that the most delectable meat in Blazing Balaka is not from the wild boar king but rather from its minions…"
Zhao Shen nodded, employing the same method to extract a piece of meat from the wild boar minion and placing it in his mouth, closing his eyes to fully appreciate the explosion of flavors dancing on his palate. It was truly superb!
Ordinary meat often contained sinew that could detract from the texture, but the spine meat of this wild boar minion completely avoided that issue. In fact, it dissolved in his mouth, and with a light dip into a small amount of red oil, the rich flavor overwhelmed him, leaving him at a loss for words. Though he had already reached his satiety limit, he still felt a pang of hunger. Fortunately, in this simulated life, one could indulge without feeling bloated; there were no limits, nor the worry of gaining weight.
Rising to his feet, Zhao Shen had already chosen the meat for the king of mixed noodles. Nothing could surpass this wild boar minion as the ideal ingredient for his dish!
One must understand that the essence of mixed noodles is not solely the noodles themselves; only when paired with exquisite sauce can the true brilliance of the dish be expressed! Without high-quality noodles, the substance and satisfaction of a staple food would be lacking; and without the appropriate sauce, the guiding light of flavor would be absent!
...
The combination of exquisite sauce and top-notch noodles needed to merge seamlessly to earn the title of "King of Mixed Noodles!" Much like how many cannot go a day without rice, the staple brings an irreplaceable sense of stability; without it, even the finest dishes would feel incomplete.
Observing the two eager companions beside him, Zhao Shen understood that this was a world that revered strength. His recently displayed prowess had already won over the two novice players standing nearby.
Of course, his appeal extended beyond just these two; a crowd in the village awaited him, much like creditors seeking repayment!
"Deity, are you truly a life profession? Why is your attack power so high?"
"I see! It must be that knife! It has to be a divine weapon! Good heavens, to possess a legendary item at level five, akin to the tales of Dream Journey to the West?"
Several lines of irritation formed on Zhao Shen's forehead as he took the opportunity to promote himself: "Please recognize the Culinary God's Golden Egg Fried Rice."
He then shared the attributes of the golden egg fried rice with the party.