Once upon a time there was a greedy snake.

Chapter 69 Human Refined Feed
Because they shared the same ancestor, the mountain people and the Ignivas people engaged in friendly and cordial exchanges.

Over time, the people of the mountains no longer harbored much resentment towards the Ignivas family. Moreover, the Ignivas people of today are completely different from those royal families of the past—compared to those royal families who, having mastered magic, treated them with disrespect, these Ignivas people are more like their former selves.

It's just that these Ignivas happen to possess magic, but that's not a big deal, since as people living in the mountains, they all have their own methods.

So, the mountain people naturally treated these diligent young people as their juniors, and the Ignivas people had no intention of holding back when facing their former compatriots—after enjoying the delicious food they were treated to, they even shared their techniques for extracting the essence of the food.

"That's roughly it: heat it in a pot, boil it, and then let it dry..."

To ensure no information was missing, the Fifth Akakage even personally demonstrated the specific procedures and detailed proportions.

"However, this is only a rough version. When the Fourth Akakage was still around, we had already explored something much deeper..."

The Ignivas people haven't figured out the deeper questions, such as what exactly the human body needs, and now is a good time to brainstorm ideas.

This kind of research into the essence of things has a fatal attraction for people living in the mountains.

After all, over the long course of time, they had long since developed the habit of seeking the Way. Now, they were faced with an unsolvable problem, which was like a rock blocking their path—they simply could not resist the urge to move it.

Naturally, they all threw themselves into this research.

The research process is lengthy and requires constant trial and error. Fortunately, the giants have now been driven back to the northern tundra, and without external threats, they can confidently and boldly try everything they want.

Twenty years after the Fifth Akakage ascended to the throne, the research finally yielded results.

"Is this what it is?"

The Fifth Generation Akakage stared at the small clump of white powder in front of him.

"Are you really sure this is something the human body absolutely needs?"

"This is it."

The mage who was asked nodded.

"It just looks like a white powder, but it's actually a mixture of essential materials for the human body extracted from various ingredients... We've already tested it, and everything we ingest is absorbed, so the body doesn't produce any waste."

"But this is still a bit..."

Looking at the white powder, the Fifth Generation Akakage frowned.

"Isn't this preservation method inappropriate? It'll fly away if you just blow on it... Can't it be made into small balls like food essence?"

“That would require honey, but honey also contains many ingredients that are unnecessary.”

Upon hearing what Godai Akakage said, the mage shook his head repeatedly.

"According to our latest research, one of the reasons why magicians did not live long during the Old King's era, that is, the time of David Day, was because of their unrestrained consumption of honey... Perhaps in their time, honey was the purest energy source they could find, but the impurities in it still inevitably damaged their lifespan."

"...Even honey contains impurities?"

The Fifth Akakage was taken aback, for in his memory, the clarity of the honey syrup was even higher than that of the stew left by the Third Akakage.

If this can be considered as impurities, then the current level of clarity of this powder...

"I'll give it a try." Taking a deep breath, the Fifth Akakage decided to try it himself.

But after half of the powder was poured into his mouth, the Fifth Akakage looked completely bewildered.

The reason is simple: this stuff has no taste.

He should have swallowed something, but he couldn't taste anything in his mouth, or even feel anything that could be described as having a texture—because the white powder dissolved into his saliva the moment it entered his mouth and entered his body's circulation normally.

Did I really eat something just now?

If the white powder in front of him hadn't disappeared, the Godai Akakage might have even thought he was hallucinating.

This also made him start to feel his own body immediately.

He felt a sense of fullness, yet not quite; his stomach didn't feel completely filled, but he also didn't feel strangely hungry—though he was sure he could still eat if he were to continue eating now.

"This is……"

Sensing this inexplicable and strange change, the Godai Akakage subconsciously raised his head.

The mage who was making the introduction seemed to have anticipated the reaction of the Godai Akakage, and immediately smiled.

"This is the power of new materials. Because they perfectly meet the needs of the human body, they can minimize the burden on the body... The so-called feeling of fullness is the state where the digestive burden is already too heavy. Conversely, not feeling anything at all means not feeling any burden at all."

Completely without any burden means you can eat more.

For the Ignivas, this was undoubtedly a further improvement.

Even the food essence left behind by the Fourth Akakage could eventually make one feel full, but these advanced white powders were completely impossible to fill one up with—of course, if one were to consume large quantities, one could indeed feel full, but that would be far beyond the level of food essence.

If the food essence left by the Fourth Akakage could keep a person from being hungry for a day with just one pill, and even the person with the biggest appetite could only eat a maximum of fifty-seven pills in one meal, then these white powders, although they could also keep a person from being hungry for a day with just a small bite, could easily be a hundred servings or even more for a person with a big appetite.

"This……"

After eating more than ten servings in a row, the Fifth Generation Akakage realized the problem and subconsciously clenched his fists.

It’s incredible, really incredible.

He originally thought that he probably wouldn't be able to achieve anything better in his life.

But who could have imagined that just when he himself was preparing to die and even began to look for a successor, his achievements as the Red Shadow would actually receive a new boost!
"Of course, this is also thanks to your efforts."

Looking at these hardworking mages before him, the Fifth Akakage had already chosen the Sixth Akakage in his heart.

"So, what is the cost of this?"

"As for the cost..."

The mage who had just given the introduction immediately started scratching his head.

(End of this chapter)