Chapter 1099: Chapter 1098: Fish Not Fish

Spirit Chef Alliance certainly didn’t have the ability to invite Ao Ling over.

Who is Ao Ling? A Dragon Clan Ancestor, the strongest Semi-Immortal, second only in prestige within the Demon Race to the Qilin Immortal, far beyond what Zhu Tian could compare to.

Lu Yang was fortunate enough to awaken Ao Ling in the East Sea, earning the qualification to meet her. The Spirit Chef Alliance did not possess such capability.

Moreover, there was no need to have Ao Ling come to verify the authenticity, as Lu Yang’s reputation and identity were enough to explain everything.

If Lu Yang said it was an Immortal Fruit, then it was an Immortal Fruit.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Lu Yang was actually a Spirit Chef as well?" The audience had yet to recover from the revelation of Lu Yang’s identity.

"Of course, have you forgotten? Sect Leader Qiu of the Five Elements Sect highly praised Lu Yang’s cooking skills!"

"Wait, do you guys remember the battle at the Sword Tower?"

"The battle between Ying Tian Corpse and the Mysterious Immortal, of course I remember, what about it?"

"I know a Sword Cultivator who participated in the Grand Sword Ceremony, according to him, before the Mysterious Immortal appeared, Lu Yang had told the Ying Tian Corpse that he had received the teachings of the Yingtian Immortal!"

"Everything matches! Lu Yang is indeed the successor of the Immortal Cook!"

The audience excitedly discussed and finally believed Mengmeng’s words. As the successor of the Immortal Cook, that identity alone gave him absolute authority in the Spirit Chef Alliance!

"See what I told you, I said he was the successor of the Immortal Cook!" Mengmeng was happy for Lu Yang as more people recognized the Second-in-command’s capabilities.

"He is indeed Lu Yang, truly extraordinary." Daoist Ming Yuan looked at Lu Yang. His original intention in inviting Lu Yang was to promote the Spirit Chef Competition, but he hadn’t expected Lu Yang to directly become a Spirit Chef.

What exactly was this half-piece of golden fruit? Liu Xing was also not sure and had to ask Daoist Ming Yuan; soon, Liu Xing returned and announced the final result.

"Poisonous Granny is eliminated, Xie Qi, Lu Yang, and An Tong advance to the last competition!"

Poisonous Granny hung her head dejectedly; she had guessed this would be the outcome as soon as Lu Yang appeared.

Two officers from Great Xia came, shackling her wrists and ankles, and escorted her back to Great Xia to continue her sentence.

"Wait a moment, brothers, can I watch the final competition?" Poisonous Granny pleaded. Despite her nickname, she too was a Spirit Chef who loved gourmet food; she insisted on seeing the pinnacle battle representing the Five Star Spirit Chefs!

The two officers from Great Xia conferred and thought that returning early would only lead to new tasks; there really was no need to rush back; they might as well stay and watch the competition before returning.

Although they didn’t understand the Spirit Chef Competition, they also wanted to witness Lu Yang’s legendary performance.

...

"Alliance Hierarch, it seems like most of the chefs entering the third round are Jin Tan’s men." Liu Xing noticed that the situation was unfavorable for Daoist Ming Yuan and spoke with concern.

"Except for Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, who will win, the situations of the other four groups seem worrisome."

Jin Tan only needed to exchange four ingredients to create his ultimate dish.

"No matter, I see a promising young fellow in the Two Star Spirit Chef Team over there." Daoist Ming Yuan smiled, seemingly unconcerned about Jin Tan.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the Five Star Spirit Chef Team, with very few noticing the competition within the Two Star Spirit Chef Team.

The Two Star Spirit Chef Team was the first to enter the third round with the dish "Fish but Not Fish".

Young Master Wu looked at the dazed Song Tianjing and secretly snickered.

Do you realize, boy, that the pufferfish you chose has been tainted with my Five Poisons? Even if you have a Poison Immune Body and aren’t affected, can the judges withstand it?

Once the time comes, your reputation as a Spirit Chef will be utterly ruined, with no chance of redemption, and I will emerge victorious and win the beauty!

Blame yourself for offending this young master!

Song Tianjing indeed realized that his pufferfish had been poisoned by Young Master Wu, but his daze was not due to contemplating how to break out of this predicament but rather pondering whether this was a dream or reality.

The events in the dream were unfolding one by one; the previous experience seemed more like a premonition of the future rather than just a dream.

Could it be that revealing possession of the "Culinary Bible" would lead to being hunted by the Spirit Chef Alliance?

Even though in the future, he would evade the pursuit, obtain the entire inheritance of the Complete Culinary Compendium, defeat the leader of the Spirit Chef Alliance, and become the new leader, during the pursuit, Qian’er would tragically be poisoned, his younger brother would take a blade for him, the elder brother, who initially pursued him but was later swayed by him, lost an arm in the battle against the Spirit Chef Alliance, and although they escaped, his sworn brothers could not evade their fated doom...

"As long as I’m not being hunted by the Spirit Chef Alliance, I can avoid all these futures!"

"I need to rewrite the future!"

"A keen look indeed," Daoist Ming Yuan remarked.

Although he didn’t understand why Song Tianjing wore a look that suggested he was ready to make a noble sacrifice.

The first recipe in the "Complete Culinary Compendium" is called Pearl Fish Soup, which primarily requires fish and Five Poisons; Master Wu’s act of poisoning the fish actually aided Song Tianjing.

The second dish, Eight Treasure Chicken Duck Fish, required the fish bones from the Pearl Fish Soup as a starter to bring out the full flavor of the dish.

But now, he couldn’t exactly follow the recipes for Eight Treasure Chicken Duck Fish, even resemblances might arouse suspicion!

By gaining the Forbidden Book, he had made himself an enemy of the Spirit Chef Alliance, a case of gaining some and losing some.

The Eight Treasure Chicken Duck Fish required thirty-six ingredients and had an extremely intricate and complex production process; he needed to boldly modify the recipe!

Oh ancestors of the Yangyuan Building, bless your descendants!

If the ancestors could use the incomplete "Complete Culinary Compendium" to recreate some dishes, then he could use the "Complete Culinary Compendium" to restore some dishes!

Why shouldn’t modern people be as good as the ancients?

In the Spirit Chef Alliance, flame control skills are divided into five levels: Beginner, Proficient, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Consummation.

As Song Tianjing’s cultivation level advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, his skill in controlling flames underwent a transformation, reaching the Proficient level!

With one hand, Song Tianjing controlled the flames, making the fish soup thick and white, while with the other, he finely chopped the ingredients to better enhance the flavors!

When the last grain of sand in the hourglass fell, Song Tianjing finally completed the Three Treasure Chicken Duck Fish.

Master Wu was the second to last to finish; he had absolute confidence in his own abilities; Song Tianjing couldn’t beat him!

He lifted the lid of the serving dish, revealing a dazzling light; as the light dissipated, what lay in front of the five judges were small golden ingots.

Some of the five judges were professional Spirit Chefs, some were gourmets, and others were ordinary people; they picked up a golden ingot, their eyes widening in amazement.

"It’s a deep-fried dumpling!"

"No, it’s more than just that; his dumpling wrapper isn’t made of flour, it’s made of fish skin!"

"The filling is a mix of squid bits and pork filling, the latter making up a small part serving as a binder!"

"Fish yet not fish; it truly is fish yet not fish!"

Master Wu, with a humble smile, introduced, "This is the Golden Fish Skin Dumpling I made!"

"Golden Fish Skin Dumplings, indeed quite impressive."

All five judges nodded in agreement; this was clearly a notch above the first three dishes!

Song Tianjing lifted his serving dish lid, revealing an entire old duck, though it lacked the luster of Master Wu’s presentation.

"This is the Three Treasures Ruyi Soup I made."

Song Tianjing sliced the old duck open to reveal the old hen wrapped inside; the fragrance was compelling, tapping into the judges’ cravings.

They hurriedly took a sip of the soup, their expressions turning to surprise; Master Wu smirked, guessing they had realized they were poisoned.

Yet, to Master Wu’s astonishment, the judges, who had only sampled a bite from the first four dishes, began to sip one spoon after another, increasingly faster!

The judges closed their eyes, savoring the soup’s impact and satisfaction.

They felt surrounded by the energetic presence of chicken, duck, and fish; even though the fish weren’t visible, the fish’s fragrance leisurely infused into the soup, spreading in their mouths, their blood turning as salty as the sea, countless fish swimming within!

The leading judge, the champion of the previous two-star Spirit Chef competition, nodded along with the four others. Not a word was needed to reach a unanimous decision.

He stood up to announce the result.

"I announce, the champion of the Two Star Spirit Chef Team is Song Tianjing!"

On the sleeve of Song Tianjing’s arm, two black stars were covered by glaring gold!