The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 574 The Natives of the Ideal City
"Hey? How dare you talk like that!"

Hearing the other person's words, Zhao Qian's anger flared up instantly. "And I even kindly carried you all the way on Wishing Island."

“I don’t need your kindness.” Lomi crossed her arms. “You should be glad that my food spirit hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

"Otherwise... what... what are you going to do?!"

Upon seeing Zhao Qian suddenly approach, Luo Mi's expression changed slightly.

"What do I need to do?" Zhao Qian smiled sweetly. "Thank you for reminding me. I almost forgot your Food Spirit hasn't recovered yet after being defeated by Miss Qiao Yu..."

"Bubu! Agate! Take her down!"

"Hey! You're taking advantage of me... wait... not there!"

A moment later, Zhao Qian put away the paintbrush with satisfaction, looking at the scribbles on Lomi's face that she had pinned down. "That feels better now."

“You’ve drawn on my face before, this is me returning the favor.”

"You damn thing, get off me!" Lomi said through gritted teeth. "Do you know how heavy you are?! I can't breathe!"

"Tch!" Zhao Qian rolled her eyes.

“I’m not like you, little dwarf.”

She stood up from Lomi, looked at Lomi who had sat up, and said with a teasing expression, "Didn't someone say they were going to stay on the Island of Wishes and wouldn't come to the Land of Ideals?"

"How did you manage to follow me here secretly?"

"Who came with you?" Lomi rolled her eyes. "I've been here for hours, even before you guys!"

"If it weren't for finding that idiot junior, I wouldn't have..."

"So you didn't run into Liu Chuang either?" Zhao Qian looked thoughtful. "It seems my situation wasn't a coincidence."

"Different people entering this place will indeed not be in the same location."

"Probably," Lomi muttered absentmindedly, wiping her face with a wet wipe. Looking at the completely unchanged scribbles, she became annoyed.

"Damn it, what kind of oil paint pen did you use? It's completely impossible to erase."

“This is a special oil paint I prepared especially for you.” Zhao Qian grinned. “Ever since you painted me with it last time, I’ve carried it with me everywhere.”

"Never underestimate how much a girl holds a grudge."

"Don't worry, just stay here quietly for two days, and the paint will wear off."

"I see..." Lomi tossed the wet wipe aside, a meaningful smile suddenly appearing on her face. "So that's how it is..."

“You…” Zhao Qian’s smile paused slightly.

She felt that Lomi's reaction at that moment was... a little strange.

The next moment, she saw a familiar blueberry-colored food spirit quietly emerge from Lomi's star veins.

"Ray, electrocute this wretched creature and all her food spirits until they're charred black!"

"Eh?!!!"
-
"The ideal land should be just ahead."

After traversing the vast forest and gazing upon the towering city walls so close at hand, Qin Lang slowly began to speak.

"We're not too unlucky; this is right where the city gate is." Qiao Hong stood on tiptoe and squinted as he looked into the distance.

"There seem to be some figures moving around over there at the city gate."

"There should be someone."

"Someone's here?" Qin Lang's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

"Captain Joe, do you think the ideal country has indigenous people?"

"Or are the people living there all people who disappeared?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Hong turned to look at Qin Lang.

"It seems you've also noticed that we haven't encountered any other people or creatures along the way."

As he spoke, he looked towards the city gate once more. "Logically speaking, the people who built such a magnificent city should be the original inhabitants of this place, but now I'm a little unsure."

"Do you remember my previous speculation?"

"The ideal country is most likely a country that exists in another dimension."

"In that case, nothing is surprising if something happens here."

"To find the answer, perhaps all we need to do is go into the city and take a look."

"You're right." Qin Lang nodded slightly.

Without further hesitation, the two strode towards the city gate.

It was a magnificent city gate, over ten meters high, and it was open at the moment. On both sides of the gate stood a dozen or so guards in armor, holding long spears. The figures that Qiao Hong had seen earlier were them.

Qiao Hong gave Qin Lang a wink, and then the two of them moved toward the guards at the same time.

"Excuse me…"

Qin Lang, who was about to ask something, narrowed his eyes slightly and stopped speaking abruptly after seeing the face behind the guard's mask.

That face wasn't much different from an ordinary person's, except for one thing.

It is translucent.

Like a phantom from the past, the guard's face carried a strong sense of illusion and unreality, resulting in a resemblance to Lala's [Phantom Form].

Without a doubt, a normal person wouldn't be in this state.

Therefore, the guards in front of us are most likely the original inhabitants of this area.

Qiao Hong, who was standing nearby, also noticed the guard's unusual behavior and immediately fell silent.

The guard who had been questioned by the two glanced at Qin Lang and Qiao Hong before slowly saying, "Welcome, brave warriors of ideals."

"The ideal hero?" Qin Lang paused, then pointed to himself. "Are you talking about us?"

“Indeed,” the guard said calmly. “You are ideal loyal followers who have passed the test of the Isle of Wishes to get here.”

"It is also our only hope for rescue."

"Rescue you?" Qiao Hong couldn't help but ask, "What does that mean?"

The guard did not answer, but silently removed his armor and gloves, revealing a pair of hands that were so transparent they were almost invisible.

"Initially, it was the animals outside the city."

"Then, this anomaly spread throughout the city."

"All living beings belonging to the ideal country are suffering from an unprecedented mutation, and we... are slowly disappearing."

"Perhaps one day, this place will become a ghost town."

“And the ideal hero is the key to saving us.” The guard paused for a moment. “These are His Majesty the King’s words from the moment the anomaly began.”

"However, after so many years, I have seen many ideal heroes come here, but the anomaly is still not resolved."

At this point, the guard put his gloves back on and pounded his fist on the chest area of ​​his armor. "But I will always have expectations and hope."

"Therefore, please save this country."

"Boom-"

A series of muffled, synchronized thuds echoed as the other guards simultaneously pounded their chests on their armor, silently watching Qin Lang and Qiao Hong.

But in their translucent eyes, a flame of hope burned.

The guards silently made way for a path leading into the city.

Everything appeared peaceful and solemn.

(End of this chapter)