Dozens of saber-wielding soldiers retreated while fighting, and after suffering significant losses, they finally brought Bo Gang back to the camp.
Kitchen Area.
A corpulent mutant, clad in a pristine white chef's uniform, with a seven-inch-tall toque on its head, declared its status as the head chef.
"As expected, we've brought Lord Bo Gang back."
"Chef Tun, Lord Bo Gang is in very bad shape. We're entrusting him to you."
Chef Tun, with his fat head and large ears, looked quite comical.
However, his culinary skills were undeniable.
Looking at the severely wounded Bo Gang, he said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, my Fiery Meatballs with Cabbage and Tofu Soup are specifically for treating such severe injuries."
After everyone else left.
Chef Tun tutted in wonder, "Bo Gang, Bo Gang, I never thought you'd end up like this."
"Never mind, for the sake of our past association, I'll save your life."
The kitchen was a gathering place for the most exquisite ingredients of the Cloud Kingdom, catering to Chef Tun's every whim.
Their quality surpassed even that of the Fade-Out Immortal Palace.
Among them were over a dozen Phoenix Koi that Zhang Wei had been yearning for!
Chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, black pepper, chicken, lamb, pork...
Paired with high-purity oyster sauce, beef tallow, and a touch of cooking wine to remove any fishy odor.
These were the all-meat Fiery Meatballs, made with ingredients so premium that ordinary people would be fortunate to even catch a glimpse of them.
The Cabbage and Tofu Soup was equally lavish in its selection of ingredients, with none below level 40.
Approximately two hours later...
Chef Tun wiped the sweat from his brow and presented the food to Bo Gang.
"I even have to personally feed you; even the King of the Country wouldn't receive this treatment!"
Bo Gang was pale-faced, his chains long removed, his aura weak, not at all resembling a peak level 60 expert.
Chef Tun pried open Bo Gang's mouth and brought the dish close, blowing on it.
"Wake up... wake up... delicious food awaits you here!"
"Strange, my gourmet cells aren't reacting. Could he have already breathed his last?"
Chef Tun set down the plate and turned to fetch some strong liquor.
Suddenly!
A pair of giant hands clamped tightly over Chef Tun's mouth from behind.
A fleeting coolness swept across his throat...
Chef Tun felt his strength rapidly draining away, a strange liquid corroding his internal organs!
But no matter how he struggled, he couldn't make a sound.
The world...
Grew dim...
The one who killed Chef Tun was none other than the long-unconscious Bo Gang.
The current Bo Gang was extremely bizarre, his shoulders empty. Four robust arms and thick limbs firmly pinned Chef Tun's mouth and limbs.
A slender arm wielded a green sharp knife, slicing across Chef Tun's neck.
After Chef Tun's death, Bo Gang's form transformed.
A Skin Man doll!
This Bo Gang was a fake. Zhang Wei had used the same method as the Cloud Kingdom, having the Skin Man doll infiltrate the Cloud Kingdom in this manner!
"Chef Tun, I presume? The food effects within you are as numerous as cow hair; even the body-rotting poison couldn't finish you off instantly."
A single touch of the body-rotting poison would turn an ordinary person into pus and then vaporize them instantly.
Yet, Chef Tun, having absorbed so much, only had a ghastly green corpse with no signs of decay.
"To be safe, I'll send Master on his way properly."
Saying this, the Skin Man doll used the dagger to dismember the chef into over twenty pieces, sprinkled them with odor-concealing powder, and discarded them into the general food waste bin.
On the table, the food prepared by Chef Tun was still steaming invitingly.
The Skin Man doll swallowed, suppressing the urge to feast.
"I can't confirm the food effects of these items yet. I mustn't ruin the plan!"
Immediately after, the Skin Man doll produced something from its body.
It was a pure white gourd!
A White-skinned Great Gourd!
Produced from the Immortal Gourd Vine, it possessed the ability to inhale and exhale. Among its kind, it had the largest internal space, making it the most common gourd for transportation and storage.
Ever since obtaining the Immortal Gourd Vine, Zhang Wei had transplanted it to the side hall.
To ensure the successful transplantation of the gourd vine, Zhang Wei had expended a considerable amount of mental energy. Even most of the stored Sky-floating Algae was used as the soil base for the gourd vine.
The Skin Man doll surveyed the surroundings.
The kitchen was filled with the Cloud Kingdom's finest ingredients.
"The greatest merit in this battle undoubtedly belongs to me!"
"With these ingredients, Mr. Zhang Wei will surely be very happy!"
"Oh, and these Phoenix Koi; the Chairman's illness can be cured too!"
Knock, knock, knock~
A knock sounded at the door.
The Skin Man doll started, subtly adjusting its vocal cords.
It bellowed, "What is it? Don't you know I'm busy?"
Knock, knock, knock~
The visitor's status was not low, their attire opulent.
"Master Tun, Marshal Maka Maka has an order."
The Skin Man doll opened the door, now perfectly impersonating Chef Tun.
"You know it's my least favorite thing to be disturbed while I'm cooking, don't you?"
The visitor chuckled, "The Flying General has ordered the immediate destruction of all Phoenix Koi to prevent any opportunity for the Northern Allied Forces."
"Destroy them?"
"What a waste!"
"Their taste is quite good too. I'll stew them later for everyone's nourishment."
"You go back first. I need a few more hours to prepare."
Despite being surprised by Chef Tun's unusual diligence,
The visitor said no more and bowed in farewell.
Closing the door.
The Skin Man doll let out a sigh of relief.
"My observation time was too short. I had to guess at mannerisms and habits.
"It's sheer luck I didn't blow my cover.
"I need to get back to the team quickly."
Opening the lid of the White-skinned Great Gourd, the energy of the gourmet cells was poured into the gourd as a thought.
A suction force emanated from the bottle's opening, drawing all the ingredients in the room into it.
.........
The Cloud Kingdom's vanguard force consisted of six armies, numbering thirty thousand men.
Led personally by Maka Maka.
Within the dense fog, these troops formed over a dozen long serpents. In the recent attack, ten thousand Northern Allied soldiers had already perished by their blades.
However, these achievements also slowed their progress...
Screams continuously erupted from the outermost periphery of the formation, and personnel were diminishing!
"Flying General, we seem to be tailed by some stealthy unit. Since a while ago, over a thousand men have gone missing."
Maka Maka frowned. "A stealthy unit?"
Could it be... the Divine Stealth Assault Group has betrayed us?
"These shameless thieves, daring to betray their own country! Of course, it's also possible it's the Northerners."
"Flying General, what do we do now? An atmosphere of fear is spreading through the ranks."
Maka Maka snorted.
"Mere petty thieves!"
Saying this, Maka Maka flapped his wings and soared!
His wings expanded and grew larger in their unleashed mode, eventually spanning over eight meters!
With a beat of his wings, a fierce gale blew downwards.
The sea of clouds churned!
The mist scattered outwards!
Maka Maka grinned wickedly, "So it's the Northern rats! I've found you!"
Deprived of the fog's cover.
The Black List assassins were completely exposed on the unobstructed Sky-floating Algae, visible to all!
Just then, a furious roar echoed from afar!
"Don't you understand yet, Maka Maka!"
"It's you who are the discovered rat!"