Chapter 231: Everyone Here is on My Side, How Can You Fight Me?
Chapter 231: Everyone Here is on My Side, How Can You Fight Me?
The next day, at the competition venue.
Chen Xiyi had seen cooking competitions online before, mostly involving flashes of golden or colorful lights and such.
But Liu Ping’s Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup was truly ridiculous. The moment the lid was lifted, the special effects were as dazzling as Ao Lü teaching next door. Golden lotuses bloomed from the ground, auspicious signs descended from the sky, and faint sounds of the world echoed.
“Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup. Please enjoy.”
Liu Ping exchanged a knowing look with Chen Xiyi sitting at the judges’ table. He was a bit curious why the cemetery caretaker had become a judge, but he didn’t ask too much.
As for Fan Mu on the other side, his special effects were underwhelming. Just one flash of golden light, and that was it.
At first glance, it was a pot of pheasant soup mixed with fresh mushrooms. But on a closer look and a sniff of its clean, refreshing aroma, it felt like stepping into a fairyland.
[You were affected by the aroma of the Exuberant Flying Dragon. You gained Tasty Hallucination. No status effects required, converted to Health Points recovery]
[Tasty Hallucination recovered 0% of your Health Points]
Alright, this wave was truly absurd. Just one whiff restored his Health Points. But since his Health Points were already full, no recovery actually occurred.
As for Fan Mu’s Phoenix and Dragon United Soup on the other side? It was far inferior, completely not on the same level.
Moreover, their culinary skills weren’t even in the same league. One had Supernatural Chef skills, the other was just proficient. There was simply no comparison.
Though both soups were bizarre, he couldn’t understand why stewing mushrooms with pheasant would produce such an effect. He could only attribute it to the unique characteristics of this world’s Supernatural Chefs.
“Let’s taste…” another judge said eagerly.
This naturally met with unanimous agreement.
“Well then, let’s try Chef Fan’s first,” another judge swallowed hard and said with some difficulty.
“Fine.”
Chen Xiyi sneered coldly. These people really had no shame.
They’d been bribed by Fan Mu. They’d still been relatively fair in the first round, but they couldn’t afford to lose the second. Fan Mu was their face-saving chef from Xianzhou. If he lost, it would be a blow to their pride.
Even if he had to lose, it needed to drag out to best of three, not lose outright in the first two rounds.
With the remaining judges echoing each other, Fan Mu’s Phoenix and Dragon United Soup was doled out.
Phoenix and Dragon United Soup was basically stewed pheasant and black chicken soup. Of course, just the broth.
Chicken stewing chicken soup. Chen Xiyi was momentarily at a loss for how to critique such a weird dish. It was a bit challenging for his worldview, as his palate was more accustomed to normal fare.
After taking a sip, Chen Xiyi found the flavor merely passable, far worse than the Hellish Demon Chef’s creations. It was honestly just average.
“Average,” Chen Xiyi took a small sip, then set it down indifferently. With his taste buds spoiled first by the System, then washed over by the Hellish Demon Chef’s top-tier skills and ingredients cultivated by Heavenly Gourmet Spirits, Fan Mu’s Phoenix and Dragon United Soup really was mediocre.
So, naturally, he gave an honest, average rating.
The other judges glanced sideways at Chen Xiyi and simply ignored his comment.
Chen Xiyi had been added as a judge last night, someone with very powerful backing – so powerful they dared not argue, could only disregard him.
Then, following procedure, they launched into their critiques. Critique? It was just blowing smoke, hype talk, whatever sounded impressive.
In the end, they unanimously gave full marks. Only Chen Xiyi gave half a point.
Next came Liu Ping’s Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup. Though the other judges were impatient, they restrained themselves, preserving some dignity. After all, they needed to save face for later when they planned to belittle this soup to boost Fan Mu’s score and win this round.
If this incredibly tasty soup scored lower than Fan Mu’s ordinary one later, their corruption would be exposed. That wouldn’t go well.
“Delicious. You win,” Chen Xiyi declared decisively after drinking the Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup, watching the fresh Game Log notifications.
[You consumed Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup. Satiety Level +200. Gained Status Effects: Refreshed & Clear Minded, Rapid Health Points Recovery, Vigorous]
[No other required status effects, converted to Health Points recovery]
[Tasty Hallucination restored 0% of your Health Points]
It was truly absurd. Besides three status effects, several other potential statuses he didn’t need simply converted into Health Points recovery.
The other judges looked displeased when Chen Xiyi directly announced the result.
Sure, you have connections, but that doesn’t mean you can flaunt your authority like this in Xianzhou.
“Young man, you clearly know nothing about the art of fine dining. Relying on connections to become a judge and pass yourself off as one? That doesn’t make you a gourmet,” one judge spoke with heavy sarcasm.
He directly labeled Chen Xiyi as a connection hire.
“I admit I haven’t deeply studied gourmet cuisine, and I did get here through connections. However, my senses of smell and taste are fully functional. I can definitely tell which dish smells better and tastes better. Unlike some judges who took bribes and are trying to rig the contest. Turn on the big screen!”
Chen Xiyi clapped his hands. A video played on the big screen – footage of the same sarcastic judge accepting money.
Very helpfully, bank transfer records associated with the transaction were also displayed.
Seeing this, that judge’s face instantly drained of color.
He absolutely hadn’t expected this person to have such far-reaching influence. The moment he gave this guy trouble, the guy destroyed his career.
“Gentlemen, you’d agree, wouldn’t you? How can someone who takes bribes to rig results be qualified to judge cuisine? It utterly tarnishes the title of gourmet! The most crucial quality for a food competition judge is fairness and integrity. Wouldn’t you agree?” Chen Xiyi stared intently at the remaining judges.
His meaning was crystal clear: side with him now or sacrifice your career.
If they hadn’t taken the bribes, Chen Xiyi might not have held such leverage. Sadly, there is no ‘what if’ in this world.
Cold sweat beaded on the remaining judges’ foreheads. They only had one choice: follow Chen Xiyi’s plan obediently. Disgrace and ruin were the only alternatives.
Trying to stubbornly stick to their original plan? Impossible. If they dared lie, Chen Xiyi would expose them next.
Even if they forcibly declared Fan Mu the winner under these circumstances, the result would likely be declared invalid anyway.
“N-Naturally! As gourmets and judges, fairness and objectivity are paramount,” a judge stammered out, forcing himself. After gulping down a mouthful of the Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup, he launched into praising it.
The soup was delicious, but given the situation, its flavor was as appealing as chewing wax.
With the first domino falling, the others quickly followed suit. Liu Ping won, unquestionably.
“I protest! It was your underhanded threats against the judges!”
After the results were announced, Fan Mu pointed furiously at Chen Xiyi and shouted sharply.
“Protest? On what grounds? The organizers, the co-organizers, the head referee, the crew, even your suppliers, your distributors, your financial backer… everyone here is on my side!”
“If necessary? Even your apprentice, your assistant… they could easily be mine too!”
“So, how exactly do you plan to fight me? With those underwhelming cooking skills of yours? Or your weak and unreliable connections?”
Chen Xiyi rose slowly and looked directly at Fan Mu.
Hearing this, the gourmet judges turned even paler.
Fan Mu, hearing this, scanned the surroundings. Only impassive stares greeted him. Just then, his assistant rushed over with a ringing phone.
Seeing the caller ID on the screen, he ignored everything else and snatched it up.
“Old Fan, concede. You can’t win,” his financial backer’s voice came over the line.
Fan Mu stood stunned, completely unprepared for the situation reaching this helpless point.
“I… I understand,” Fan Mu’s voice was hoarse. He had indeed lost this time.
He glanced at Liu Ping, utterly astonished that this kid possessed such solid connections and such powerful backing.
Hanging up, Fan Mu looked once more at the judges’ panel, then finally spoke aloud. “I’ve lost.”
Chen Xiyi grinned broadly. “Good that you admit it. If you hadn’t resorted to underhanded tricks, insisted on fair competition… well, none of this would have happened today.”
“I realize that now. I will truly reform,” Fan Mu’s voice carried suppressed fury, but cornered, he had no choice but to concede.
“As long as you understand. Wrap it up, everyone. Go about your business.”
After flashing Liu Ping a signal, Chen Xiyi motioned for him to follow outside.
Once out of the venue, Liu Ping caught up. “Uncle, thank you so much this time! But wow, Uncle, you’re really powerful!”
Liu Ping was straightforward, but not foolish. The moment Chen Xiyi projected that video of the judge taking a bribe, he understood exactly what had transpired.
He just hadn’t expected Chen Xiyi to command the situation so effectively.
“No big deal, nowhere near as good as you. That Exuberant Flying Dragon Soup you made tasted amazing!” Chen Xiyi replied with a smile. “Besides, I wouldn’t have intervened if your dish wasn’t actually better. Your effort was the key.”
“Uncle, it probably wasn’t as fantastic as you’re making it sound…” Liu Ping rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, clearly feeling the praise was excessive.
They chatted as they walked. Chen Xiyi quietly observed Liu Ping.
The description of him as the ‘reviver of Supernatural Chefs’ wasn’t an exaggeration at all.
Other chefs’ dishes only came with some basic special effects at best. But Liu Ping’s creations? Not only were the visual effects far more impressive, they actually bestowed status effects.
That meant special abilities after consumption. So far, these were only temporary, but… if his culinary skills advanced further, moving from superhuman to divine (“Skill Approaching the Dao”)? He might genuinely cook dishes with permanent effects.
In other words… it could mean the return of Supernatural Ability Users as disciples or retainers.
And if his skills truly reached ‘Approaching the Dao’? Perhaps it would be akin to the rebirth of the First God of Cuisine.
By this point, Chen Xiyi had already started seriously suspecting that Liu Ping was the reincarnation of the First God of Cuisine.
Maybe… specifically to deal with a threat like Ao Lü.
“By the way, you mentioned you’re going to compete in the God of Cookery Contest in a month, right?” Similar to his approach with Time, he had carefully elicited information during their seemingly casual chat. With Liu Ping’s lower guard around him, he managed to uncover quite a bit.
“Why?” Liu Ping asked curiously. “You’re not planning to be a judge there too, are you, Uncle?”
Chen Xiyi pondered for a second. “I’ve considered it. Might try to blend in. I have some recipes here. You can look through them, gain some varied experience.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a stack of recipes – things the Adventurer and the Xia Ke had collected. The Hellish Demon Chef had understood them after one look, so Chen Xiyi had transcribed copies into this booklet specifically to gift to Liu Ping.
Liu Ping was naturally overjoyed. “Then I won’t hold back! Thanks a lot, Uncle!”
“But… Uncle, if other chefs find out you gave me these recipes… could that cause problems for you?” Liu Ping hesitated, having just accepted the book.
After all, recipes were sacred inheritance to chefs, rarely shared outside their lineage.
If the original chefs discovered this, Liu Ping worried Chen Xiyi might face consequences.
“No worries. It’s been passed down in my family. My ancestors included a very formidable chef,” Chen Xiyi explained smoothly, choosing his words carefully to match what he knew Liu Ping could readily accept.
“Oh, I see! That puts my mind at ease,” Liu Ping answered easily. He didn’t suspect trickery here. He trusted Chen Xiyi.
[You gifted a recipe book to Liu Ping, the Chef God. Liu Ping, the Chef God’s Favorability towards you increased by 30. Current Favorability: 4 stars]
Chen Xiyi watched the refreshed Favorability log. Indeed, the rating had jumped from 3.5 stars to the full 4 stars. He had boosted it to 2.5 stars the night before. Standing up for Liu Ping during the competition had subsequently pushed it to 3.5. Now, gifting the recipes broke past the 4-star barrier.
He felt deeply gratified. At least none of his efforts had been wasted.
It might also be because Liu Ping was a young man, perhaps mentally still maturing, intensely focused on perfecting his culinary craft. As long as the approach resonated with his passion, winning his Favorability felt relatively straightforward.