The thunderous roar of eighty thousand spectators hit the stone walls of the Imperial Arena like an physical wave.
Across the central platform, the fragrant golden steam rising from Leo’s cast-iron skillet did not dissipate. Instead, fueled by the sheer density of his dark-golden Chaos Qi, it condensed mid-air into the floating, flickering silhouette of a golden Eastern dragon that lazily circled his cooking station before settling over the wooden platter in Ling Yue's hands.
[PING!]
[Culinary Phenomenon Triggered: Dragon-Grade Aromatic Resonance!]
[Dish: Seared Ghost-Flank Steak with Garlic-Balsamic Reduction]
[Purity Rating: 100% (All Ghost-Grass Toxins Transmuted into Pure Umami Essence)]
On the neighboring alchemy platform, Young Master Duan’s face had turned pale as chalk. The red spirit flames inside his copper cauldron flickered erratically, completely destabilized by the overwhelming fragrance wafting over from Leo's stove.
"N-No! My Mind-Clearing Spirit Pill!" Duan shrieked, desperately slapping his cauldron to stabilize his fire, but it was too late. A dull, muffled BOOM echoed from inside his vessel, followed by a puff of bitter black smoke. His pill batch had burnt to ash.
"Distracted by a mere aroma?" Leo chuckled, casually tossing a clove of garlic into the air and catching it with his skillet. "Young man, if your mental fortitude is that weak, you shouldn't be near open flames. Go back to the prep line."
"You... you dirty cheat!" Duan screamed, pointing a trembling finger at Leo. "Your Highness! Judges! He used demonic arts! The spirit boar meat provided by the imperial pantry was tainted with Ghost-Grass Toxin! It's impossible to cook without creating poisonous fumes unless he used forbidden dark magic!"
A heavy, deathly silence instantly fell over the grand stadium.
High up on the judges' platform, five grand elders—representing the highest alchemy and martial authorities of the three participating empires—exchanged sharp, startled looks.
On the royal balcony, Crown Prince Zhao Zhen’s knuckles turned white where he gripped his dragon throne. His golden eyes darted toward Grand Alchemist Dan Flame, who was sweating profusely under his purple robes. Duan’s panic-stricken outburst had accidentally revealed the imperial pantry’s sabotaged ingredients in front of eighty thousand witnesses.
"Silence!"
An old, majestic voice echoed across the arena floor like rolling thunder.
An elder wearing the white-and-gold robes of the Azure-Cloud Grand Academy stepped forward from the judges' dais. Elder Yun, a peak Foundation Establishment Stage 9 powerhouse and renowned spirit reviewer, descended from the high platform, floating down onto Leo’s stage like a autumn leaf.
"Young Master Duan brings up a grave allegation," Elder Yun said, his piercing gaze scanning the sliced steak on Ling Yue's wooden tray. "Ghost-Grass Toxin is a sinister substance that corrupts the Dantian. If this dish contains even a trace of unrefined poison, not only will this participant be disqualified, but he will also be executed on the spot for treason against the conference."
Ling Yue’s grip on the tray tightened slightly, her knuckles pale. She cast a swift glance at Leo, but Leo simply stood there, his hands resting comfortably on his hips, wearing an expression of absolute, unbothered calm.
"Elder Yun," Leo said politely, making a casual chef's bow. "The proof of the pudding—or in this case, the steak—is in the eating. I invite the honorable judges to conduct a full medical and culinary evaluation."
Elder Yun narrowed his eyes. He summoned a jade silver needle—a high-grade spirit tool specifically crafted to detect over ten thousand varieties of poisons—and slowly drove it into a piece of the caramelized meat.
The entire eighty-thousand-seat arena held its collective breath. Crown Prince Zhao Zhen leaned forward, his heart pounding against his ribs, praying to see the needle turn midnight black.
The silver needle remained completely pure, glowing with a soft, translucent emerald light instead.
"W-What?!" Grand Alchemist Dan Flame gasped, standing up so fast he knocked over his tea table on the royal balcony. "The green light... that's the indicator for high-grade spirit purity!"
Elder Yun’s eyes widened in profound shock. He withdrew the needle, brought the piece of steak closer to his nose, and took a deep, lingering breath. The rich aroma of garlic, caramelized natural sugars, and deeply roasted dark meat hit his senses, causing his ancient, stagnant Qi to jump within his veins.
Without waiting for the other four judges, Elder Yun picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks, picked up the slice of meat, and placed it into his mouth.
CHOMP.
The instant his teeth bit through the seared, crispy outer crust, bursting into the tender, juicy interior, Elder Yun’s body went completely stiff.
His eyes snapped open wide, glowing with a brilliant blue light.
In his mind's eye, Elder Yun saw himself standing atop a pristine, ancient mountain peak, surrounded by a roaring storm of dark-golden lightning that washed away every speck of dirt, fatigue, and imperial corruption from his soul. The hidden injuries he had sustained thirty years ago in a dark realm began to itch warmth, his clogged meridians clearing out at a visible, miraculous rate!
"MARVELOUS!" Elder Yun roared to the heavens, his voice carrying the full weight of his Foundation Establishment Qi.
BOOM!
A soft shockwave exploded from Elder Yun's body. The old man’s grey hair vibrated, and the spiritual aura around him swelled rapidly.
"He... he broke through?!" a judge from the Iron-Blood Empire shouted in utter disbelief. "Elder Yun has been stuck at the peak of Stage 9 for over twenty-five years! A single bite of food triggered an instantaneous meridian breakthrough?!"
Elder Yun looked down at his own hands, trembling with absolute joy and reverence. Tears of deep enlightenment welled up in his old eyes. He turned toward Leo, dropped his hands, and gave the young chef a deep, ninety-degree bow of solemn respect.
"Incredible... simply unbelievable!" Elder Yun declared passionately. "The Ghost-Grass Toxin was not merely suppressed; it was completely dismantled at the elemental level and converted into a potent, purifying catalyst! This is not alchemy! This is a culinary miracle that transcends standard Daoist medicine!"
The other four grand judges dropped from the sky like falling meteorites, descending upon Ling Yue's wooden tray like starving wolves.
"Give me a piece!"
"Move aside, Old Zhang! I am the senior judge here!"
"This flavor... oh heavens, the depth of the garlic paste! It's so savory!"
Within four seconds, the wooden platter was licked completely clean. The five grandest authorities of the three empires were practically weeping on the arena floor, smacking their lips in desperate longing for another bite.
Elder Yun turned toward the imperial balcony, his voice cold and echoing like a majestic bell across the stadium:
"JUDGMENT OF THE FIVE DRAGONS! Participant Xiao Long of the Chaos Diner achieves a PERFECT SCORE OF 100 POINTS! Furthermore... we officially declare his dish to be a Tier-4 Heavenly Treasure!"
The entire stadium erupted into absolute madness. Eighty thousand people stood up, chanting Leo’s name until the very foundations of the Imperial Capital trembled under the noise.
"XIAO LONG! XIAO LONG! CHEF OF THE HEAVENS!"
On the royal balcony, Crown Prince Zhao Zhen’s face was dark as a thundercloud. He smashed his jade cup onto the floor, his teeth grinding together so hard they bled. "Useless old fools! Grand Alchemist Dan, prepare the second stage immediately! We cannot let him leave this arena alive!"
Down on the stage, Leo smirked, listening to the pleasant chiming sound echoing in his head.
[PING!]
[Public Acclaim Reached Maximum Intensity!]
[System Points Earned: +2,500 SP!]
[Current System Points: 5,720 SP]
[Reward Unlocked: Recipe — Divine Chaos Peking Duck!]
Leo looked up at the trembling Young Master Duan and smiled brightly. "Hey buddy, looks like your cauldron broke. Need me to lend you a frying pan?"
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