The spirit chefs looked at the golden star armband on Lu Yang’s sleeve, their eyes filled with envy. This was the supreme glory that all spirit chefs dreamed of, yet it seemed to pale in comparison to the identity of the Successor of the Immortal Chef.

If anything, had Lu Yang not obtained the golden star armband, it would have diminished the value of the armband instead.

“Xiao Yangzi, be more confident. You’re a spirit chef personally taught by this immortal. It’s only natural you’d take first place.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy preened. Lu Yang’s victory in the final round was all thanks to my Yin-Yang Tofu!

Although there had been some twists and turns, the fact remained that Lu Yang was the champion of the five-star spirit chef category.

The competition for all five categories concluded. As the winner of the two-star spirit chef category, Song Tianjing stepped onto the podium under everyone’s gaze. Yu Qian’er’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at him.

“Song Tianjing, what ingredient would you like as your reward?” Daoist Priest Mingyuan asked.

Song Tianjing had originally wanted to request Jianmu, as all three recipes in the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium listed Jianmu as the fuelwood. But Jianmu doesn’t seem to count as an ingredient, and the Spirit Chef Alliance may not have it.

“Stellar core. I would like a stellar core.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.” Daoist Priest Mingyuan handed Song Tianjing a square wooden box. Inside was a stellar core.

“Lu Yang, what ingredient would you like?” Daoist Priest Mingyuan’s attitude toward Lu Yang was noticeably gentler than toward the other winners.

“The Everlasting Immortal Fruit.”

Better to retrieve that embarrassing creation of the Immortal Fairy.

Daoist Priest Mingyuan solemnly presented the half Everlasting Immortal Fruit to Lu Yang. “Our alliance failed to recognize this immortal item, mistaking it for a spirit item. We are truly ashamed. We hope that this immortal fruit will shine in your hands.”

“It definitely will!” Lu Yang replied with equal solemnity.

The winners of the other three categories were all Jin Tan’s people. Following his instructions, they obtained three legendary ingredients from Daoist Priest Mingyuan.

“Your Excellency, we have fulfilled our mission.”

The three winners knelt before Jin Tan, presenting the three legendary ingredients.

“Bodhi Liuli Fruit, Nine-Turn Coiling Dragon Bamboo Shoot, Needlefish... still missing the one from the five-star spirit chef category...”

Jin Tan’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected that Lu Yang could use Swallowing Heaven Devouring Earth and had infiltrated their ranks.

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter even if one is missing!”

Jin Tan strode forward with the bearing of a tiger and dragon to stand before Daoist Priest Mingyuan, pointing straight at him.

“Old man Mingyuan, I challenge you for the position of alliance leader. Do you dare accept it?!”

He had lain low for three hundred years just for this day, though he hadn’t anticipated the two unexpected variables that were Lu Yang and Song Tianjing.

I’ve never been a scheming person. For the position of alliance leader, I have engaged in a battle of wits with Daoist Priest Mingyuan for three hundred years. I no longer wish to continue this struggle. Since the facade has been stripped away, I might as well fight to the end!

The dispersing crowd grew excited again.

“What, what? Jin Tan is issuing a challenge for the position of alliance leader?!”

“I heard he was badly defeated by Daoist Priest Mingyuan three hundred years ago. His making a comeback today must mean he’s prepared.”

“This will be exciting to watch!”

“Do you think Daoist Priest Mingyuan will accept the challenge?”

“Of course, he will. If he doesn’t accept, he’ll lose his authority as alliance leader, and remaining the alliance leader would be meaningless!”

Daoist Priest Mingyuan looked into Jin Tan’s determined eyes and sighed, lowering his head. “So things still came down to this. Very well, I accept the challenge.”

The crowd erupted in cheers. A duel between two eight-star spirit chefs was a spectacle that most spirit chefs would never witness in their entire lives.

“Second-in-Command, I knew you would win!” Yun Mengmeng exclaimed elatedly. With the First-in-Command personally instructing him, how could he possibly lose?

At this point, everyone was more excited than Lu Yang himself.

“Thanks,” Lu Yang replied calmly, taking a bite of the half Everlasting Immortal Fruit from four hundred thousand years ago. Hmm, it’s actually quite good. It’s plump and juicy, as if freshly picked.

“Let’s watch the competition for a while before leaving.” Lu Yang was also curious what an eight-star spirit chef duel looked like.

The judges’ platform had been temporarily converted into a cooking station. The two eight-star spirit chefs stood at their respective positions, facing off in a tense atmosphere.

As a gong sounded, the two moved simultaneously.

They slaughtered demons, sliced ingredients, extracted juices, heated their woks... The aroma soon spread throughout the venue.

“Look, there’s something behind them!” someone shouted.

Behind each of them rose a phantom—a black dragon and a white phoenix. Dragon roars and phoenix cries resounded as the phantoms battled fiercely.

“What in the world is this?” Lu Yang was dumbfounded. “Immortal Fairy, do you recognize it?”

“I’ve never seen this. Cooking wasn’t like this in ancient times.”

Just then, Ma Bin scooted over to explain to Lu Yang, saying, “According to ancient records, when the immortal chef cooked in ancient times, they were often accompanied by the shadows of a dragon and phoenix, with their dragon roars and phoenix cries echoing without cease.

“The founder of the Spirit Chef Alliance theorized that this was a sign of reaching the nine-star spirit chef realm.

“To approach the nine-star spirit chef realm, the founder created a unique spirit chef cultivation technique. After becoming an eight-star spirit chef, one’s essence, qi, and mind are infused into the dish. The dish then summons a partial phantom to fight. Whoever’s phantom wins is the one whose dish tastes better!”

“The founder of the Spirit Chef Alliance must have gone through a lot to develop such a cultivation technique...” Lu Yang couldn’t help but remark.

“Hehe, Fellow Daoist Lu Yang.” Ma Bin seized the opportunity to sidle over with a smile, rubbing his hands, only to be pushed away by Lu Yang in disgust.

“If you have something to say, just spit it out.”

“Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, as the Successor of the Immortal Chef, could you perhaps teach me a skill or two? The Pastry Ma Family would surely reward you generously!”

“I recall you’re from the imperial kitchen?”

“Yes, I’m the Blade of the Imperial Kitchen.”

Lu Yang mused. The Xia Emperor is the chancellor of the Great Dou Dynasty after all. If word spreads that he died before even taking office, it would give the impression that there is internal strife within the Great Dou Dynasty, which would reflect poorly on us.

“I won’t teach you.”

A look of disappointment crossed Ma Bin’s face. But that’s not surprising. How can the immortal chef’s skills be casually imparted to just anyone? “I have been presumptuous.”

At the moment, the two eight-star spirit chefs were locked in the most intense battle yet, completely focused, with nothing in their eyes but the purest desire for victory.

“Old man Mingyuan, the position of alliance leader rightfully belongs to me! Behold the ultimate dish I have devoted myself to creating!”

“Jin Tan, you are still too young and not steady enough. The Spirit Chef Alliance would surely decline if placed in your hands.”

“Behold my Lifeform-Devouring Knife Technique!”

“Willow Leaf Gentle Breeze Knife Technique!”

Devouring power surged forth from the kitchen knife in Jin Tan’s hand, absorbing all impurities from the ingredients as he chopped them.

Daoist Priest Mingyuan’s knife was like a gentle breeze brushing one’s face. It wasn’t intense, but it gave a feeling of comfort and ease.

“Heavenly Fire, heed my command—ignite!”

“Water of the Extreme North Ice Layer—appear!”

Dragon and phoenix clashed; water and fire dueled. Countless ripples spread through space. The dragon roars and phoenix cries could be heard even a thousand li away, startling Zhu Tian in the imperial palace.

“That scared me to death! I thought the two sisters Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi had come to my place to fight.”

“Why do these chefs cook like they’re fighting?”

If it’s a battle between two half-immortals, with one of them being Jiang Lianyi, who possesses the same Incipient Dao Fruit as I do, there’s no way I can stop them.

But two mere Transcendent Tribulation cultivators can’t stir up any waves in this Demon City I govern!