65: The Birth of the Food Treasure Chest

On the stone throne, covered in mottled marks, the Sin of Pride's posture appeared exceptionally majestic.

He slowly raised his hand, his movements imbued with an air of unparalleled arrogance.

With a flick of his fingers, invisible ripples seemed to spread through the air.

Immediately, a series of Destiny Task Cards appeared.

The cards glowed with a mysterious luster.

Each flicker of light signified an exploration of destiny's trajectory.

The Sin of Pride's gaze roamed among the cards, constantly pondering, as if searching for something.

For a single wish, a Task Card could present thousands of possible tasks.

They were like the stars in the night sky; though emitting the same light, each led to a different path of destiny.

But the end of every path was the fulfillment of the wish.

Different paths of destiny had their own stories, their own challenges.

Some were thorny and fraught with danger.

Some seemed smooth but had hidden undercurrents.

Some appeared perilous but were actually smooth all the way.

What the Sin of Pride was doing now was to find the easiest and most convenient path within this intricate network of destiny.

He aimed to reach the destination and fulfill the wish with the least possible cost.

Although there weren't many words on each Task Card, the Sin of Pride read them very slowly, taking two or three minutes to finish one.

This was because the Destiny Task Card was a vessel of destiny's power.

Every line of text, every symbol on the card, contained an incomparably profound power of destiny.

Anyone who tried to pry into destiny would suffer destiny's backlash.

Even someone as powerful as the Sin of Pride needed to maintain reverence and caution when probing destiny's secrets, lest he be swallowed by that unseen power of destiny.

Time slowly passed, and a strange yet tense atmosphere permeated the air.

The desperate wails of the Sin of Jealousy echoed ceaselessly.

The Sin of Pride's expression was serious as he meticulously searched for the faint clues on the Destiny Task Cards before him, as if trying to capture the trajectory of the future from them.

Suddenly, the Sin of Pride's gaze deepened; the information on a certain Task Card before him had stirred his thoughts.

Then, he lightly pressed his right hand into the Void Realm, as if pressing on soft silk.

The space around him subtly rippled, and an invisible door slowly opened.

Subsequently, his hand delved into that nothingness and retrieved a slightly yellowed old photograph.

The photograph was half black and half white, with a clear dividing line.

In the black half, a figure was vaguely visible, arms outstretched forward, seemingly trying to grasp something.

The white side, however, captured the face of a young man, staring intently at the ceiling above, his eyes filled with fear.

This was, naturally, the scene where the Sin of Jealousy had previously prepared to act against Han Fei.

The Sin of Pride's gaze was primarily focused on Han Fei's face.

"What is so special about him?"

"Why did destiny warn me when the Sin of Jealousy tried to kill him?"

The Sin of Pride was riddled with doubts, gently pinching his chin, his brows slightly furrowed, as he fell into deep contemplation.

As the saying goes, a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.

The last time, in Eagle Country, a minor oversight led to the failure of a meticulously planned mission.

That lesson was profound, etched like a brand into the hearts of the Sin of Pride and other high-ranking Seven Deadly Sins.

They naturally did not want such an event to repeat.

To this end, they employed various means to find those magical items that could foretell crises and prevent trouble before it arose.

This worn photograph was one of them.

Whenever a member of the Seven Deadly Sins was about to take an action that would severely impact the mission's direction, this photograph would provide a warning.

"Why would killing him severely affect the mission?"

The Sin of Pride's gaze grew deeper, staring intently at Han Fei, as if trying to see through him.

"What is his relationship with the System treasure chest?"

The mission the Sin of Pride and others were currently undertaking was to find the System treasure chest.

This was a medium-sized series of interconnected tasks.

It consisted of hundreds of intricate tasks, each quite difficult.

Whether it was a large-scale assault on the ancient and majestic Great Wall or a silent infiltration into the bustling Tianhe City, these were just links in the series of tasks.

These tasks were closely interconnected and indispensable.

Following the instructions of the Task Card, the Seven Deadly Sins cleverly captured a high-ranking official of Dragon Country and, from the depths of his consciousness, unearthed the secret of Dragon Country's national protection array. They then used this discovery to evade everyone's notice and infiltrate Tianhe City.

After that, the four members of the Seven Deadly Sins split up and completed a series of minor side quests.

For example, infiltrating the God of Cookery Competition, leading the Garbage Monster to Tianhe City, and so on.

With the completion of each task, they got closer and closer to their goal.

But the Sin of Pride knew that the closer they got to the end, the more perilous the journey became.

At this moment, they were like walking on thin ice; one misstep could send them plunging into an abyss, all hopes and dreams turning to ashes in an instant.

Just like the protagonists in many stories, after overcoming numerous difficulties and trials, they believed they could pluck the fruit of victory.

Yet, at the moment of touching it, they encountered unprecedented challenges, ultimately dying in Yellow Springs and failing at the last hurdle.

The tasks given by the Destiny Task Card were even more so.

The closer to success, the more destiny played its tricks.

Just like that time in Eagle Country.

"What is so special about this person?"

"Could his identity be extraordinary, and killing him would attract the attention of Dragon Country's officials, leading to the exposure of our infiltration?"

"Or is he the only one who knows the whereabouts of the System treasure chest?"

"Even more so, he might have already obtained the System from the treasure chest, and killing him would lead to the complete disappearance of the System..."

The Sin of Pride's brows were tightly furrowed as he carefully pondered every possible answer.

But each hypothesis raised was like opening a new mystery box, leading to more confusion and fog.

Although he didn't know the true reason why Han Fei couldn't be killed, he understood that Han Fei was likely a critical link in their mission.

Once missing, the entire mission's blueprint would fall apart.

Just like the Yin Child who accidentally died back then.

Indispensable!

...God of Cookery Competition.

Inside the main venue.

The lights were brilliant, like daylight.

A giant screen broadcast every detail of the competition in real-time, pushing the tense yet expectant atmosphere to a climax.

At this moment, the cooking segment was nearing its end.

The air was filled with various aromas, weaving into a mouth-watering symphony of flavors.

In the audience, thousands of food enthusiasts sat or stood, their eyes eagerly focused on the stage, hoping to witness the birth of a bronze gourmet treasure chest.

The first to finish was a young chef, only in his twenties.

His face was slightly youthful, but his every gesture revealed a composure and confidence beyond his years.

He simultaneously completed three stir-fried dishes.

Each dish was colorful, bright, and enticing.

This ability to simultaneously manage multiple dishes undoubtedly proved his extraordinary physical fitness and masterful cooking skills.

As chopped green onions, minced garlic, and various selected spices were gently sprinkled, the entire venue was instantly filled with a rich aroma.

Han Fei inhaled the scent, a thoughtful expression on his face, "I always feel like something is missing."

He turned to look at Liu Yueer beside him; she, too, had a slight frown, clearly assessing the dish's shortcomings in her mind.

"It feels... like a certain step is missing," Liu Yueer said softly, with a hint of uncertainty in her tone.

Han Fei nodded gently, agreeing with her assessment, "Exactly, it should be missing the final touch."

Just as the two were conversing, the young chef suddenly displayed his unique skill.

His hands moved like dancing butterflies, with lightning speed, skillfully combining the three stir-fried dishes into one.

Then, he pulled out several unknown, secret seasoning bottles from his sleeve.

As he lightly sprinkled them, the stir-fried dishes, which originally had distinct flavors, miraculously blended into a harmonious whole, forming an unprecedented innovative dish.

This unexpected operation instantly caused a stir throughout the venue, with exclamations of amazement rising and falling.

Even Han Fei and Liu Yueer couldn't help but show surprise, captivated by this sudden creativity.

"Truly a masterpiece, the timing, the fluidity of the movements, and even the precise handling of the seasonings—every aspect is so accurate and flawless. Even a slight deviation would prevent such harmonious beauty."

Liu Yueer praised him endlessly, her words filled with recognition for the young chef's skill.

Han Fei also nodded repeatedly, his eyes gleaming with admiration, "Is this a One-Star Advanced Chef? Truly impressive."

As everyone was immersed in that unexpected culinary marvel, above the iron wok containing the three-in-one stir-fried dish, a deep black iron glow suddenly emerged.

Like the brightest star in the night sky, it silently announced the arrival of a miracle.

Soon after, a black iron gourmet treasure chest appeared before everyone.

"It transformed into a treasure chest!"

"Haha, we witnessed today's first treasure chest!"

"Amazing!"

The emotions of countless spectators were like ignited fireworks; enthusiastic cheers intertwined with thunderous applause, as if to lift the entire ceiling of the venue.

As time passed, exquisite dishes, meticulously crafted by the skilled hands of various master chefs, were presented one by one.

black iron-colored gourmet treasure chests emerged like bamboo shoots after rain, emitting alluring light and fresh aromas.

The atmosphere in the venue grew increasingly fervent as the competition progressed, with the audience's cheers rising and falling like waves, almost without any pause, pushing the competition to one climax after another.

Everyone was immersed in such a tense yet exciting atmosphere, anticipating the arrival of a bronze treasure chest.

Amidst rounds of applause, the event gradually drew to a close.

Now, only five chefs remained on the field, still racing against time.

Their figures became the focus of the entire venue; every subtle movement was gazed upon by the audience below.

All spectators widened their eyes, even their breathing became cautious, fearing to miss any detail.

Because these five individuals were the One-Star top gourmet hunters most likely to create a bronze gourmet treasure chest!

In the culinary world, creating a bronze treasure chest not only symbolized a Breakthrough in skill but also served as a stepping stone to becoming a Two-Star hunter—a coveted honor for every chef.

Suddenly, a puff of cooking smoke rose.

An old chef's pot lid was gently lifted, and a flash of black iron light instantly illuminated his face.

Another black iron gourmet treasure chest was born.

However, on the old chef's face, there was no trace of joy, only deep disappointment and helplessness.

This was his 27th time participating in the God of Cookery Competition.

For a top One-Star gourmet chef like him, participating in the God of Cookery Competition had only one goal.

That was to create a bronze gourmet treasure chest, thereby advancing to a Two-Star gourmet treasure chest hunter.

But for 27 times, he had failed.

Each time he felt he had done his best, yet he always fell just short of success.

Soon, a middle-aged chef next to him also completed his dish.

The moment the lid was lifted, what met the eye was also a black iron luster.

This chef, who had participated in 16 God of Cookery Competitions, felt not only disappointment but also confusion and unwillingness about the future.

The coveted bronze treasure chest always seemed out of reach.

The next third and fourth chefs' results also, without exception, remained at the black iron level.

However, there was not much disappointment on their faces.

After all, for them, being in their forties was still considered "young" in the world of chefs.

They believed that in the future, there would be countless opportunities to try again, and every failure was a necessary path to success, a part of growth.

Now, only the last chef remained in the entire venue.

At this moment, the entire hall seemed to stand still.

Everyone's gaze, like a spotlight, closely followed the middle-aged chef's every move.

His figure, elongated under the bright lights, appeared exceptionally proud and resolute; fine beads of sweat on his forehead shimmered in the light, reflecting his complete dedication to this dish.

The gourmet dish he was preparing was called red rockRefining lobster.

This was not just a dish name but a legend, passed down by word of mouth among diners.

This dish not only required a silver-grade premium lobster worth hundreds of thousands as the main ingredient but also needed meticulous cooking with exotic flames; even a slight mistake could turn the lobster into charcoal.

Therefore, only chefs absolutely confident in their culinary skills dared to prepare this dish.

At this moment, this middle-aged chef was only one step away from completion, but it was also the most dangerous step.

He knew that every bit of force, every inch of movement that followed, would be crucial in determining the success or failure of this dish.

Under everyone's gaze, his hands seemed to possess magic, gently and accurately manipulating the exotic flames to gradually disperse, like morning mist slowly dissipating in the sunlight, revealing the treasure beneath.

A lobster with a slightly golden-red shell, emitting an alluring aroma.

The instant the exotic flames completely withdrew, the entire space seemed to be filled with an invisible force.

An indescribable aroma suddenly erupted, making people feel as if they were in a dreamlike gourmet palace.

The spectators' eyes sparkled with wonder and admiration, unconsciously licking their lips, as if even the molecules floating in the air were filled with the lobster's deliciousness, allowing them to taste that unparalleled flavor in advance.