Chapter 2695: Really turned out that way?

How fragrant, what is this smell?

Where does this fragrance come from?

Who is cooking?

The fragrance is coming from the forest.

Huoming and the others who were originally building the blockade quickly smelled the fragrance, and several Fire Spirit Tribe members were instantly attracted by this tempting aroma.

Having lived so many years and thinking I've tasted many good things, this is still the first time I've smelled such a tempting aroma.

After a bout of frantic inhaling, one of the Fire Spirit Tribe members finally fixed his gaze on the Black Mist Forest.

This fragrance was drifting out from the forest; for a moment, this Fire Spirit Tribe member, completely drawn by the scent, subconsciously stepped forward toward the Black Mist Forest.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Huoming grabbed him.

You're crazy, want to go into the Black Mist Forest to seek death? Slurp…………………

While shouting a rebuke, it was obvious that even Huoming himself smelled that aroma, his appetite was similarly stirred, and he couldn't help gulping saliva as he spoke.

This aroma is truly fragrant, but his final reason told him he couldn't enter the Black Mist Forest, and moreover this smell was obviously suspicious.

How could there be such a tempting aroma in the Black Mist Forest? Those Tree Ghosts certainly don't have this skill; needless to say, this must be a ploy by the Flame Martial Tribe.

Although I don't know what trick the Flame Martial Tribe is up to again, for Huoming, he only needs to remember one thing: don't enter the Black Mist Forest.

Just need to guard all the entrances and exits of the Black Mist Forest to the death, and the Flame Martial Tribe people will have no chance of survival.

This is a scheme by those Flame Martial Tribe people; they absolutely must not fall for it.

Having blurted out his thoughts, upon hearing this, several other Fire Spirit Tribe members indeed understood the reasoning, yet still couldn't help saying:

"We all know the reasoning, but Young Clan Chief, this aroma is really fragrant; just smelling it makes it impossible to resist."

"Yeah, this aroma keeps lingering; we can't focus on our work."

"This……………………"

What Huoming said, how could those Fire Spirit Tribe members not know? They understand it better than anyone.

But the problem is, knowing is one thing, whether they can resist is another; that aroma is truly fragrant.

Upon hearing this, Huoming also fell into silence, after all he himself could hardly resist.

He took a deep look into the depths of the Black Mist Forest, Huoming gritted his teeth and cursed.

"Damn it, even at death's door they won't quit, pulling these low‑class tricks, thinking they can lure me in like this?"

Huoming was certain the Flame Martial Tribe's move was meant to lure them into irresistibly entering the Black Mist Forest; once everyone was inside, the Flame Martial Tribe could seize the chance to break out and escape.

It's a pity Huoming couldn't possibly fall for it so easily; although the aroma is indeed tempting and hard to resist, making one want to eat.

But it's not that there's no solution at all.

After a brief thought, Huoming immediately had a few people pull the blockade back a bit.

Pulling back the distance, the fragrance naturally faded; although the distance increased, it undoubtedly gave the Flame Martial Tribe a slight chance.

But it's only a slim chance; wanting to break out remains extremely difficult.

Huoming felt that this small distance change wouldn't matter; either the Flame Martial Tribe people die in the Black Mist Forest, or they force a breakout and get surrounded and slaughtered on the spot by the Fire Spirit Tribe.

After retreating to a position almost unaffected by the scent, Huoming then had his subordinates rebuild the blockade.

Just now they almost fell for the trick; looking at the Black Mist Forest, Huoming wore a cold smile—these petty tricks are nothing short of a joke to him.

Full of confidence, thinking he had victory in the bag, yet Huoming didn't know that Ye Zhangqing's group in the forest didn't care about these at all.

Nor had they considered using this method against Huoming.

This fragrance from start to finish wasn't aimed at them, the Fire Spirit Tribe, but at the Tree Ghosts in the Black Mist Forest.

Ye Zhangqing was wholeheartedly cooking, while Qi Wu and the others were enduring so hard their teeth were about to break.

Thinking of Huoming's group outside, even though they were farther away they barely managed to hold back, finally retreating a great distance before they could barely resist the aroma's effect.

At this moment, Qi Wu and the others beside him faced an even richer fragrance; trying to resist, the difficulty was naturally greater.

If it weren't for the constant threat of death hanging over their heads, the people might not really be able to endure.

This is precisely what life‑and‑death situations do best: temper one's will.

One delicious dish after another came out of the pot, and Ye Zhangqing personally placed them on the stove.

But several plates of dishes have already come out of the pot, and still no sign of the Tree Ghosts has appeared.

Around them, besides the thick mist and eerie atmosphere, all that remained was that unsettling silence.

There was not a hint of movement; even Ye Zhangqing couldn't help feeling his mood grow heavy.

Could it be that the Tree Ghosts in the Black Mist Forest really don't eat? Is it really that absurd?

If these Tree Ghosts don't eat, then the situation becomes troublesome; the people's chance of surviving in the Black Mist Forest, according to what Qi Wu and the others said, is nearly zero.

"Even Ye Brother's cooking skills aren't working?"

"These Tree Ghosts don't eat anything, right?"

"If they truly don't eat, then no matter how good the flavor, it's wasted."

If the Tree Ghosts won't eat rice, then it's not a cooking skill issue; they simply won't, so no matter how tasty you make it, what good is it?

Seeing that even Ye Zhangqing's cooking skills seemed to have lost their effect, everyone's hearts sank straight to the bottom.

Now we're completely out of options.

Under the shroud of despair, some even threw caution to the wind.

"Since it's useless, we might as well eat ourselves; at least if we're going to die, let's die full."

"Exactly, at least before dying we can openly enjoy a meal of Ye Brother's cooking; it wouldn't be a wasted life."

"Right, if we're going to die, we should at least enjoy it once."

Who would have thought that once this was said, everyone present voiced agreement, even Qi Wu, who had been silent, seemed somewhat inclined, without clearly opposing.

Since the Tree Ghosts don't eat, then we'll eat ourselves; eat and drink our fill, and in the end we can either charge out to fight the Fire Spirit Tribe to the death, or stay in the Black Mist Forest and rest here forever.

But just as everyone was chattering back and forth, starting to discuss, with no conclusion yet.

Around them, the huge ancient trees that had originally been completely still suddenly seemed to come alive.

The black, thick trunks, like arms, began to flex and sway.

At the same time, the surrounding black mist seemed to be gradually dispelled by some mysterious power, centered on the clearing where everyone stood, and the black mist around them actually began to dissipate on its own, bit by bit.

Such changes quickly drew everyone's attention, and in an instant, everyone's faces changed.