Chapter 10

In Hunan's Changsha, the venue for the provincial top chef examination, although it is not as renowned for its difficulty as the top chef examination in Guangzhou, it remains an absolute dream destination for chefs.

With a week left before the top chef examination, the streets of Changsha were already filled with chefs from all over the country showcasing their culinary skills, ready to prove to the examiners that they were qualified to become top chefs once the examination began.

Leyuan, who had just completed his travels, was already fully prepared, ready for the start of the examination.

After a year of travel, his once slightly immature body had fully matured. A year of trekking through mountains and rivers had made his originally frail body stronger and more powerful, with firm and well-defined muscles, a well-proportioned and athletic physique. His waist was very flexible, and the contours of his side profile were sharp and distinct, yet not lacking in gentleness. His face, which combined the characteristics of elegance and strength, was truly unique.

Leyuan recalled his year-long journey, which had been filled with all kinds of experiences, both bitter and sweet.

During the year, Leyuan started from Sichuan, passed through Anhui's Jiuhua Mountain, and after finding the Holy Copper Vessel, he spent two weeks adjusting before heading to Shanghai. Shanghai, the international metropolis with its dazzling lights, had been impacted by world civilization, making it the largest city in China.

During his month in Shanghai, Leyuan visited several of the most prestigious restaurants in the "Great Alliance" of Shanghai, including the Longzhen Restaurant, where the main character Tang Sanjie (Ah Q) was located. Unfortunately, Tang Sanjie (Ah Q) had already left Shanghai for Guangzhou to learn his craft, which was a significant regret for Leyuan. However, the culinary skills of Tang Sanjie's (Ah Q) father still provided Leyuan with considerable inspiration.

Perhaps because it was a beginner's plot, the legendary kitchen utensil in Shanghai was not obstructed in any way. In the only bamboo forest on the outskirts of Shanghai, Leyuan easily found a small cave dedicated to the Kitchen God. By turning the statue of the Kitchen God, the legendary kitchen utensil, the Dragon Turning Pot, appeared before him. Unfortunately, it was still a nameless, attribute-less, and effect-less item.

Unnamed Copper Pot

Attack Power: None

Attributes: None

Special Effects: None

Can it be taken out of this world: No

Note: Young man, you have great talent. How about joining me in collecting scrap, no, in the recycling business?

Leyuan, who had anticipated this result, reluctantly put away the Dragon Turning Pot and prepared to leave Shanghai. At this point, Leyuan faced two choices: one was to head south to Guangzhou, where the Daxian Temple housed the Eternal Spirit Knife, a specialized tool for processing seafood that could restore the freshness of ingredients that had lost their flavor. It was also the only kitchen utensil guarded by a person. The other was to head north to Mount Tai, where the Greedy Wolf Pot was protected by nine seals. Unfortunately, it was one of the kitchen utensils whose exact location was unknown, and the core of the Dark Cooking World, Liangshan Marsh, was right next to Mount Tai, which was within the influence of Liangshan Marsh. As a disciple of Master Abe, he would likely be targeted, and his current strength might not be enough to withstand their attacks.

After careful consideration, Leyuan chose to sail south to Guangzhou, not for any other reason but to receive guidance from the top chef of Nanxian Restaurant, Master Jidi (Ding You), and the Grand Master of the Ten Perfections (Luo Tian). This trip to Guangzhou would be worth it.

When he arrived at Nanxian Restaurant and explained his intentions to Master Jidi, the master thought for a moment and agreed to let Leyuan study at Nanxian Restaurant, but with a condition.

"Let's skip the formalities. Since you are a disciple of Master Abe, let's take advantage of the fact that it's almost our mealtime! Cook a dish for us! Just stir-fry some Qingjiang vegetables... show us everything you've learned from Master Abe!"

Leyuan put down his luggage, walked to the cutting board, and instead of rushing to start cooking, he first tasted the ingredients and seasonings.

"Sure enough, there's a musty smell on the vegetables. I've already mastered the characteristics of the other seasonings, so let's get started!"

After being carefully trained by Master Abe and with the experience of his recent travels, Leyuan would not overlook the earthy smell of the Qingjiang vegetables like a novice chef.

He prepared two pots, one with boiling water and the other heated until it smoked. While the water was boiling, he prepared the oil to remove the earthy smell. Once the water boiled, he added the oil and then the Qingjiang vegetables, blanching them. After blanching, he started stir-frying, using the unique seasonings he learned from Master Abe to enhance the Sichuan flavor, making a lasting impression on everyone.

Soon, a plate of stir-fried Qingjiang vegetables was served.

Master Jidi was the first to pick up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of the vegetable, and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. His expression changed, and the people around him started to comment.

"How is it? How is the stir-fried Qingjiang vegetable?"

Master Jidi put down his chopsticks and placed the dish in front of everyone, gesturing for them to try it. The sound of chopsticks filled the air.

"Wow, I'm really surprised! This dish has such a unique flavor!"

"Who would have thought that a simple dish of Qingjiang vegetables could have such a fragrant aroma!"

"I thought Sichuan cuisine was just about spiciness, but the flavor is really good!"

...

Leyuan, looking at the empty plate in front of him, asked excitedly, "Master Jidi, can I stay?"

"Of course, look at the empty plate; that's the best answer."

"But why did you taste the ingredients before cooking?"

Leyuan chuckled.

"Well, it's a habit I developed. When Master Abe first taught me to cook, he emphasized that a chef must understand the ingredients, not just the knife skills and heat control. Only by understanding the ingredients can you choose the best cooking method, so I always taste new ingredients first."

Master Jidi smiled, "No wonder you're a disciple of Master Abe; he really knows how to teach."

After that plate of Qingjiang vegetables, Leyuan studied at Nanxian Restaurant for three months. He not only learned Master Jidi's ice carving skills but also learned the art of heat control from Grand Master Luo Tian, who occasionally visited the kitchen.

Of course, there was another gain: a promise. When he became a top chef, he would have the opportunity to compete with Rayen, who would return to inherit the legendary kitchen utensil, for the right to inherit the Eternal Spirit Knife.

In the following six months, instead of heading to Mount Tai, Leyuan went directly to Dunhuang. This was not because he had given up on the Greedy Wolf Pot on Mount Tai, but because he planned to make it his last stop before returning to Kikushido.

Dunhuang, the center of western Gansu, was very prosperous...

"Ah... How am I supposed to find it? I don't even know the exact location!!"

Leyuan's roar drew a crowd of onlookers. After a long and arduous journey to reach Dunhuang, he realized just how vast it was.

Dunhuang, like an oasis on the Silk Road, was the initial point of cultural exchange between the East and West, where various ethnic groups and religions coexisted, making it a city with a strong foreign flavor.

"Due to the prevalence of maritime trade, it may not be as prosperous as Shanghai, but as the earliest point of East-West exchange, it's still incredibly lively!"

Leyuan, while marveling at this, observed the passersby, and with the constant flow of people, he prepared for a long-term stay.

"Making money is the top priority." This was his first plan. The long journey had depleted his travel funds, and after spending the remaining money to open a small restaurant, Leyuan's wallet finally started to fill up again.

As a melting pot of various people, spices were not rare in this place. When Leyuan discovered the variety of spices, he began to research how to use them to create better seasonings. This research put his wallet in crisis again.

While earning money and learning, Leyuan did not give up on searching for the legendary kitchen utensil. He had asked many locals, and based on the characteristics of the previous sealed locations, the Spirit Treasury was likely in a shrine.

After earning enough money to continue his journey, Leyuan spent a month mapping out the area. The legendary kitchen utensil was sealed a thousand years ago, and the only shrine that fit this description was an unnamed temple near a stone tower. The face of the statue had been eroded by the wind, making it unrecognizable, but it was clear that the temple had existed for over a thousand years.

From the moment he found the temple, Leyuan focused all his attention on exploring it. Unfortunately, time had erased all traces, and he found nothing until he accidentally took out the Garuda Knife to try to break the seal. The knife occasionally flashed with light, and when he also took out the Holy Copper Vessel, the two utensils began to glow even brighter.

"Is this the resonance between the kitchen utensils?" Leyuan suddenly realized, "I almost forgot that the legendary kitchen utensils have the characteristic of resonance."

Realizing this, Leyuan took out the Dragon Turning Pot as well and started moving the utensils around the temple. When he approached the statue, the three utensils glowed the brightest, and a light appeared at the base of the statue.

Leyuan struggled to move the statue and, after some effort, brought out the Spirit Treasury hidden beneath it.

"I've got the Spirit Treasury." Leyuan felt a sense of accomplishment, like capturing a Pokémon. Looking at the Spirit Treasury in his hands, he felt that his two months in Dunhuang had not been in vain.

With the Spirit Treasury in hand, he naturally began his return journey, stopping along the way, and finally arrived in Changsha, the examination city for the Hunan provincial top chef examination, a week before it began.

"The top chef examination is just around the corner." Looking at the distant, invisible examination site, Leyuan clenched his fist, "The fate of this plot depends on this top chef examination!"

At this moment, there were 351 days, 19 hours, and 22 minutes left until the end of the extreme game.

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