CFSMS -Chapter 268 When a Chef Arrived on a Mysterious Battlefield

“We’re here.”

A moment later, Jiang Yunhe, who had been leading the way, spoke up.

The mist ahead dispersed, revealing a vast expanse of ancient buildings.

Entirely wooden structures sat nestled within a valley, row upon row, arranged in a harmonious yet orderly fashion.

Looking around, one could see enormous medicinal fields surrounding the valley. Countless precious herbs grew here as if they cost nothing at all, while numerous disciples moved among them, tending to the plants.

It was a scene of thriving prosperity.

As the refreshing fragrance of medicine entered their lungs, everyone could feel the spiritual energy within their bodies becoming more active.

This was a natural paradise for cultivation.

Of course, most major sects occupied places like this.

Without profound foundations, how could a sect stand strong for thousands of years without decline?

Lu Wu was also marveling at the breathtaking craftsmanship of nature.

Just as she was about to follow Jiang Yunhe deeper into the valley, the system’s voice finally arrived fashionably late.

[Mission about to begin. Teleporting…]

Not early, not late—of all times, it had to choose now.

And it couldn’t even spare a sentence to tell the host to prepare herself.

Six-Six-Six, you’re not even pretending anymore, are you?

Lu Wu vanished.

Jiang Yunhe, whose hand was still halfway through a welcoming gesture, stared at the suddenly empty space beside him and fell into silence.

“Jiang Yunhe, what did you do? Where’s Boss Lu? Don’t tell me your Divine Physician Valley really plans to do something unspeakable to her!”

Qin Zhan exploded.

Drawing his spiritual sword, he looked ready to fight if he didn’t get an explanation.

Remembering Qin Zhan’s earlier jokes, Jiang Yunhe suddenly found himself wondering whether some elder in his family had secretly interfered.

But that was impossible.

Everyone had been watching.

Besides, this wasn’t the first time.

Qin Zhan merely waved his sword around a few times. Seeing Jiang Yunhe’s speechless and troubled expression, he sheathed it with satisfaction.

“Looks like Boss Lu ditched us and went solo again.”

Zhang Yue sighed.

Her One-Realm Communicator was vibrating—it was a message from her sect.

“I should get going.”

She had originally wanted to delay her departure and stay beside Boss Lu for a few more days to stockpile more food.

Unfortunately, plans never kept up with reality.

Without Boss Lu, the group had lost its center.

“I have to leave too. My master is calling me back.”

Shan Hanzhi sighed as well.

They weren’t idle wanderers. Most of the time, they carried responsibilities entrusted to them by their sects.

They had been away long enough. It was time to return.

If Shan Hanzhi was leaving, Long Zhang naturally followed suit.

“What about you?”

Qin Zhan glanced at Lou Xiaotian.

The latter spread his hands helplessly.

“My parents said they’ve prepared a batch of cultivation resources for me and told me to hurry home and cultivate.”

His family had been urging him for quite some time.

The only reason he had ignored them was because he couldn’t bear to leave Boss Lu.

Still, Lou Xiaotian suspected his parents were simply jealous.

After all, he had been following Boss Lu around, eating and drinking well every day, while they could only stay in town.

Rubbing his chin, Qin Zhan turned toward Jiang Yunhe.

As a sword cultivator, cultivation was important, but tempering one’s heart was equally essential.

Following Boss Lu around had become part of his cultivation.

There was no rush for him to return.

“How about I stay behind and keep you company?”

Qin Zhan grinned mischievously at Jiang Yunhe.

Divine Physician Valley had plenty of treasures.

Might as well grab some before leaving.

“Sure. We happen to be short on test subjects. Stay and help me test some medicine.”

Jiang Yunhe snorted coldly.

The next second, he was rewarded with Qin Zhan’s horrified expression.

“Then let’s all head home.”

And just like that, the Gourmet Squad disbanded on the spot.

They had barely arrived before turning around and heading back the way they came.

Leaving Jiang Yunhe standing alone on the road, rubbing his temples and wondering how he was supposed to explain Boss Lu’s disappearance to his master.

---

Meanwhile, the much-missed Lu Wu had appeared in a very peculiar place.

A gigantic battlefield.

Ahead of her, countless figures clashed in combat.

They were like gods and demons.

The techniques they unleashed were so terrifying that even the aftershocks alone could overturn heaven and earth.

The ground split apart.

Blood flowed in rivers.

After only a single glance, Lu Wu felt a sharp pain stab into her eyes.

This was not a battle she could participate in.

She quickly withdrew her gaze.

Just where had the system thrown her this time?

Any random figure here gave her an overwhelming sense of danger.

“System, where’s all that love you supposedly have for me?”

Lu Wu silently apologized for all the times she had mocked it.

When the system really made a move, even Boss Lu had to bow her head.

[Mission refreshed.]

[Current Mission: Sell food in this location for seven days.]

[No restrictions on daily operating hours, location, or food type.]

At first glance, it seemed simple.

But the simpler the mission looked, the more suspicious Lu Wu became.

She opened the system interface.

A map appeared.

One region of the map was illuminated—that was the battlefield before her.

A tiny green dot at the edge represented her current location.

Beyond the illuminated area, everything was shrouded in black fog, impossible to see through.

Lu Wu had a feeling that she was not allowed to enter those fog-covered regions.

The only good news was that she seemed to have arrived here in a state that was human, yet not entirely human.

She possessed a human form and could eat, drink, and carry out normal bodily functions.

However, she could not harm any living being here.

Likewise, nothing in this place could harm her.

No offensive capability.

But no one could break her defenses either.

At least her life was safe.

Looking at the countdown timer, she realized the mission had already begun.

The problem was, she still hadn’t decided what to sell.

Fortunately, her cave paradise had become a world unto itself.

The spirit beasts living there diligently farmed whenever they had free time.

Vegetables, fruits, and meat were all stocked in abundance.

As various recipes flashed through her mind, Lu Wu considered her options.

This place was enormous.

What she could see with her eyes was only a tiny corner of it.

Since there were no location restrictions, she decided to make this a traveling food stall.

She could wander around, sightsee, and broaden her horizons at the same time.

Not long afterward, Lu Wu made her decision.

She would sell a different food item every day.

And today’s featured guest was a beloved snack enjoyed by both elementary school students and college students alike—

French fries.

She first attached her Great Wings, granting the stall the ability to move.

Then she hung up a signboard.

“Delicious French Fries That Make the Neighbor’s Kids Cry with Envy.”

Looking at her surprisingly professional-looking setup, Lu Wu nodded in satisfaction.

She pulled out potatoes from her personal realm.

The Wind-Cutting Technique made a glorious comeback.

Peeling.

Slicing.

Under the control of her spellcraft, potato after potato was stripped clean and dropped neatly into a basin.

At the moment, Lu Wu was standing inside a giant crater.

According to her observations, it had been punched into existence by some great expert.

The uneven edges formed the unmistakable imprint of a fist.

The surroundings were fairly safe.

For now, she hadn’t seen anyone.

But this was still part of a battlefield.

Her appearance naturally attracted a few curious eyes.

“Where did that little fellow come from?”

A man dressed in purple robes and wearing a golden crown looked down from above at Lu Wu, who appeared no larger than an ant from his perspective.

He murmured softly to himself.

Just moments ago, his divine sense had swept across the area, and it had been completely empty.

Still, the little girl’s cultivation was far too weak.

Before someone of his level, the artifact she used to conceal her aura was practically useless.

To the beings who existed in this world, she was no different from a newborn infant—

young, harmless, and utterly nonthreatening.

Having successfully reverted to childhood, Lu Wu remained completely unaware of the powerful being’s gaze.

She was busy focusing on her work.

Freshly pressed cooking oil carried a natural fragrance as it poured into the wok like a waterfall.

The Glass Flame restrained its brilliance, quietly burning beneath it.

This place contained unimaginable horrors.

As for little Fire…

It didn’t dare act recklessly here.