“Master Lu, please look at that cultivator standing in the corner, the one smiling so broadly that his eyes are barely visible. His name is Xie Qi, and he is one of the favorites to win the competition. He has never lost a single spirit chef duel!”

Ma Bin of the Pastry Ma Family, a vegetable cutter in the imperial kitchen, was doing his best to introduce various spirit chefs to Lu Yang.

Xie Qi had a medicinal pot[1] tied around his waist and smiled at everyone as if his eyes were perpetually closed. His fame spread far and wide in the spirit chef community. Even among five-star spirit chefs, there were distinctions in skill, and other five-star spirit chefs avoided meeting his gaze. This was a sign of reverence for the strong.

But Lu Yang didn’t notice that other spirit chefs were also quietly distancing themselves from Ma Bin.

Ma Bin was also a hot favorite to win!

“Oh, he's that skilled?”

“Xie Qi has an ability; it’s unknown whether it’s due to his cultivation method or an innate talent, but he can mimic others’ movements.

“In addition, his tongue is extraordinary; he is most sensitive to the flavors of food. Even the tiniest flaw will be amplified infinitely in his mouth. In every spirit chef duel, he completely imitates his opponent’s actions. After tasting the final dish, he will further improve upon it.

“As a result, his dish will always be one level better than his opponent’s!”

Lu Yang nodded. This is indeed a difficult opponent.

“Anyone else?”

“And that female cultivator in an ice-blue dress, her name is An Tong. She, too, has never been defeated. However, she relies on real abilities. Although she was born without a sense of taste, her sight, touch, smell, and hearing far surpass those of other cultivators at the same level. She can create an exceptional dish just by relying on her four senses!”

Lu Yang had seen this woman among those gathered by Jin Tan, but hadn’t known her name. “So she’s called An Tong.”

Ma Bin introduced these spirit chefs one by one, not only the five-star ones, but also those from other categories. After all, Cultivation Monthly couldn’t focus solely on the competitions in the five-star category. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

As the gong sounded, the Spirit Chef Competition officially began. The five categories started simultaneously. Lu Yang and the others entered the arena one after another. Whenever a renowned spirit chef appeared, the audience would erupt in exclamations.

“Look, that’s ‘Master Golden Knife,’ Duan Lang!”

“That’s ‘Granny Poison!’”

“That's ‘Blade of the Imperial Kitchen,’ Ma Bin!”

“That’s ‘Immortal Tongue,’ Xie Qi!”

“That’s ‘Undefeated,’ An Tong!”

Yun Mengmeng listened for a long time, but couldn’t hear anyone calling out her Second-in-Command’s name. She pouted, feeling that the audience had no eye for talent. The Second-in-Command is the successor of the immortal chef, far more impressive than any Master Golden Knife or Granny Poison.

“Th-That’s actually ‘Successor of the Immortal Chef,’ Lu Yunyang!” Yun Mengmeng stood in the stands, suddenly pointing at Lu Yang, her face filled with disbelief.

Her expression was a bit exaggerated, but fortunately, the audience’s focus was on Lu Yang’s title, and they didn’t pay much attention to Yun Mengmeng’s expression.

“Successor of the Immortal Chef? Who would dare claim such a grand title?”

“Where? Where?”

“What? You all don’t recognize him?” Yun Mengmeng was extremely surprised.

“Who is he?” The audience was all gourmands. They racked their brains, but still couldn’t think of any spirit chef who had been given such a heaven-defying title as ‘Successor of the Immortal Chef.’

Yun Mengmeng said mysteriously, “Rumor has it that Lu Yunyang received instruction from an immortal chef in his dreams, learning techniques that only immortals know. His knife skills are unparalleled, and his medicinal cuisine is peerless. His lack of fame is due to the immortal’s advice to lie low for ten years to temper his character.

“Ten years have passed, and now this sharp sword can finally be unsheathed!”

“Really? Why does it sound so fake?”

“This kid obtained the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s legacy?”

Although Yun Mengmeng’s story sounded convincing, the gourmands weren’t fools. They wouldn’t believe everything she said.

In the culinary world, flavor was everything!

Clearly, Yun Mengmeng didn’t have Lu Yang’s talent for deception.

The Spirit Chef Competition consisted of three rounds: knife skills, ingredients, and dishes. It followed a knockout format. Only by passing the previous round could one advance to the next.

All five categories competed simultaneously, with the same tests.

Song Tianjing’s forehead was covered in a sheen of cold sweat. The first round is supposed to test knife skills, but it doesn’t look like it at all.

In the two-star spirit chef category, all the spirit chefs were locked within a beast-fighting arena. As cage after cage opened, countless Foundation Establishment demon beasts emerged, baring their teeth at the two-star spirit chefs, viewing them as prey.

“What, you can’t even handle demon beasts?” Seeing that Song Tianjing was so terrified, Young Master Wu sneered. It seems he’s nothing special after all. He’ll be eliminated even without my targeting him.

Both Young Master Wu and Yu Qian’er were two-star spirit chefs here to attend this grand event.

Yu Qian’er explained to Song Tianjing, “The Spirit Chef Alliance believes that to be a qualified spirit chef, one must first overcome ingredients. If you can’t even defeat the ingredient, what right do you have to handle it?

“Hence, the first round tests how you defeat a demon beast and process it.”

With that, Yu Qian’er didn’t hold back. She charged toward a rhinoceros-like beast wearing armor. The harder the beast was to process, the higher the score in the final evaluation after the three rounds. This armored beast ranked among the top ten and was a worthy opponent.

Song Tianjing’s eyelids twitched. He was extremely confident in his knife skills, but he had little combat experience and had never fought a demon beast before.

What should I do? What should I do?

Song Tianjing inadvertently spotted Yun Mengmeng in the audience, and his heart jolted. Why is someone from the Heavenly Court Creed here?

Could the Young Creed Leader have also come here? Is he here to watch my performance?

If I perform too poorly, will he get rid of me?

The more Song Tianjing thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. I’ll go all out. Rather than be killed by the Young Creed Leader, I might as well muster my courage to fight a demon beast. After all, I’m at the Advanced Foundation Establishment Stage. I can definitely defeat a single demon beast!

Song Tianjing chose a purple marten. It stood on its hind legs, its front claws tucked against its chest. Blinking with its tiny eyes, it looked completely harmless.

Noticing that Song Tianjing had chosen it, the purple marten immediately bared its teeth, its eyes turning a ferocious red. Its claws scraped the ground, leaving deep gouges.

The audience stirred, their attention focused on the two-star spirit chef category.

“Who is that? He actually dares to choose the Purple Sky Marten?!”

“The Purple Sky Marten is the strongest among these demon beasts, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s the beast king!”

The two-star spirit chefs also noticed Song Tianjing’s choice. Snickers and jeers filled the air.

“The Purple Sky Marten carries the bloodline of an ancient great demon. Its ancestors include Transcendent Tribulation great demon emperors. It moves like lightning, impossible for spiritual consciousness to track.”

“That’s not all. Its claws are exceptionally sharp. A casual swipe can cut off a head. Picking it is suicidal.”

“The Purple Sky Marten beast king, even I wouldn’t dare choose it as an opponent.” Young Master Wu couldn’t help but laugh.

Song Tianjing quietly reached into his robe and touched the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium to bolster his courage.

But the moment he touched the book, the Purple Sky Marten, which had been prepared to attack, suddenly seemed to sense something. The red in its eyes faded, and it prostrated itself on the ground.

This was a fear etched into its bloodline, an ineradicable fear. It was the great will that demon beasts could never resist!

“What’s wrong with the Purple Sky Marten?”

“Wait, it’s not just the Purple Sky Marten. Look at the other demon beasts!”

Gasps of astonishment rose from the audience. Some spectators were so shocked that they stood up.

All the demon beasts in the arena extended their forelimbs, prostrating themselves in worship before Song Tianjing.

Yu Qian’er covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

“It’s because of the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium?” Song Tianjing immediately pieced things together. Our family’s inherited remnant has never instilled fear in demon beasts. Could it be that only this original copy possesses such power?!

Young Creed Leader Lu should be satisfied with this, right?

The commotion from Song Tianjing’s side was so huge that Lu Yang couldn’t help but notice.

Wait a minute, a book the Immortal Fairy casually gave away has this kind of effect? Then why have I never gotten such treatment?!

1. This is what a yaoguan or medicinal pot looks like. You probably have seen them in Chinese dramas. ☜