Chapter 0158

Good old Fenix stuffed Tempest’s mouth with food the minute they set foot into the camp. It wasn’t the good stuff Graden was cooking but it was still the roast meat of a level three magical beast. In other words, it was divine!

During the time Tempest was gone, Fenix was able to slow roast the meat of the level three magical beast to perfection then she seared the outside with high heat, giving the meat a crispy outer layer and a juicy inner layer. The method Fenix used also sealed in the smell and flavor of the meat.

Tempest remembered the smokehouse back on Earth. The tantalizing fragrances of their BBQ always linger around the building, drawing hungry humans to the establishment like flies to honey.

When Fenix handed Tempest the gigantic leg, Tempest pouted because she knew it wasn’t the heavenly yumminess that was Graden’s cooking. A part of her irritability was being denied the heavenly yumminess that was supposed to be Graden’s cooking. Graden’s cooking smelled like heavenly yumminess. It had to be mentioned three times.

Tempest had never tasted Graden’s cooking so she can’t comment on the taste but she was already ensnared by the fragrance wafting off of the meat so when Fenix handed her roast meat, she felt a little put upon.

Until she took a bite.

The perfect blend of seasonings and herbs coated Tempest’s mouth, sending delicious taste after delicious taste to her brain. It sizzled her synapses and sent her orgasmic overload. Good sex can not beat the taste of the supreme meat her mouth.

The seared textured of the outer layer provided a deep contrast to the juicy cooked-to-perfection inside.

Each time Tempest took a bite, she made sure to thoroughly chew the well seasoned outer layer as it provided a soothing sensation to her teeth. She didn’t know her teeth can taste food as well! It itched until Tempest made sure to grind her teeth well against crispy seared texture.

Her tongue was where the action was at. The hard outside portion of the meat sealed in the juicy and fragrance of the roast. When she bit through the crunchy layer of meat, the juice sealed inside exploded into her mouth while the missing fragrance drilled into her sinus cavity, giving Tempest an intense sensation of flavors.

“Oooohhhh. Aaaahhhh. So good.” Tempest moaned as she dug in.

Most people would have thought Tempest was consummating an illicit relationship if she wasn’t out in the open for all to see.

Once the moaning and groaning started, Tempest’s group members threaten her love if she didn’t put up a sound spell to silence the strange noise she was making.

They were all aware of the impression Tempest was giving to the other mages in the camp. They took advantage of the situation and the need for a Sound Spell to discuss their plans.

Graden told the rest of the group all the treasures Tempest mention previous. He was gratified to note their reaction was the same as his - strong fear mixed with intense greed.

The treasures Tempest mentioned were very rare, so rare that mages at the camp would kill each other for it.

Graden was also satisfied to note that although the treasures so valuable it would tempt life long friends to betray each other, none of the members in his group even thought to snatch it from each other. Graden was also wise enough to realize there was no conflict of interest in the treasure each one of them desire.

He and Fenix were both fire mages but Fenix needed items or treasure to help her control the backlash of her fire spells and, due to Tempest’s suggestion, items wind nature to help her hide her single element status. Graden wants materials that can increase the cultivation rate of his wood element.

Mages with huge differences in their affinities constantly suffer from complications due to their cultivation. Mages must balance the mana in their bodies. They can not drastically increase one type of element in their bodies while neglecting the other. Should they do so, the other element or elements in their body would go haywire and wreck everything instead of improving the mage’s cultivation.

Mages liken the issue to being an emperor with a harem or a ruler with many spouses. Should the ruler favor one spouse over the other, the neglected spouse would scheme to push down the favored spouse. The ruler needs to have the spouse live with each in harmony or his kingdom - a metaphor for his body - will suffer.

How much a ruler can favor one spouse over the other depends on the personality of the spouse. How much a mage can favor one element over another depends on the personality of the spirits and their interactions with each other.

If Graden was the emperor, then fire is his empress and wood the lowly concubine. His fire spirits overpower his wood spirits on almost every level and dominate the harem. It is only a matter of time before his wood spirits wage a war with his fire spirits. The resulting war would damage his body.

Graden needs items or treasures to strengthen his wood spirits. His interest does not clash with Fenix right now.

As for Li Ming and Tempest, well, it was Tempest who provided the information in the first place.

Everyone figured Tempest wouldn’t have a problem if Li Ming takes the treasure provided pays enough to satisfy the greedy little miser.

As for Bei Ting Mao and Starm, their interest doesn’t clash with the rest of the group.

“Can anyone sense the general location of the treasures Tempest mentioned?” Graden asked. Before they proceed, they needed to confirm if there are treasures. Mages are too notorious with their sensing abilities for them to completely believe Tempest.

“I sense high-level treasures out there, but this isn’t surprising since this is the Emblemic Mountain Range.” Bei Ting Mao can only confirm the presence of high-level treasures and their general location. He isn’t strong enough nor deft enough to pinpoint the exact location of each treasure he sensed.

“All of the treasures Big Sis Tempest mentioned are close by.” Starm’s confirmation brought the conflict to the group. On one hand, Starm always backs up Tempest. They knew Starm wants to be close to Tempest. His every act thus far has proven his brotherly interest in Tempest. They wouldn’t be surprised if he lied or mislead them to protect Tempest. On the other hand, Starm is the Son of Origin. Origin mages know the origin of all treasures. They also have various ways of finding treasures.

“How close is close?”

“Within 10,000 km.” Depending on the strength of a mage, 10,000 can be considered quite close. Since everyone in the group is a newbie red mages with low-level cultivation, 10,000 km is quite a distance.

Everyone looked at each other as they expressed their feelings through their eyes.

“Treasures like these are a dime a dozen in the Emblemic Mountain Range. We don’t need to walk into a trap for it.” Li Ming expressed her thoughts on the subject.

Strangely enough, Fenix agreed with her, “If we are by ourselves, I’d say we go for it. However, we are being used as pawns for others to reap the benefits. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to be used a cannon fodders for scheming pathetic mages who use others as their shield.”

“Great treasure always has risks associated with it. You’d never get anywhere if you avoid those risks.” Bei Ting Mao spoke in favor of getting the treasures.

“Our current situation won’t allow us to easily back out. The risks are already placed on our heads. We might as well try for the reward.” Graden backed Bei Ting Mao.

“I’ll do what Big Sis Tempest says!” Starm proudly exclaimed, to no one’s surprise.

As one, the group members turn towards little girl engaging in food porn with the roast meat. Aside from Starm, who stared adoringly at Tempest, the rest of the group members looked at each other, silently asking with their gaze, “Are we going to entrust our lives to her?”

Both sides have their merits and neither side was going to back down. Tempest had to be their tiebreaker.

Graden undertook the arduous task of soliciting Tempest’s opinion. “Uh Tempest, should we go after the treasure?”

“I need money,” Tempest said between bites. “So of course we are going after treasures. Which treasure is left for you guys to decide. After all, there are more treasures out here than the ones I’ve mentioned.”

“But those guys…”

Tempest cocked her head as if in deep contemplation when she was actually speaking to her spirits. “There is more than one group out there. They’ve spread their nets wide to drag us all in. Confront them now or confront them later, up to you.”

“Damn.” Everyone cursed.