Chapter 519: Food Eating Competition – Pickled Fish Sushi

The Snow Bird Arena was the largest dueling ground in Snow Bird Harbor. Previously, the dragonman youngster had slain Teng Dong Lang here, making this arena famous throughout the kingdom.

The arena owner had profited handsomely as a result, and to this day, sales of the magic footage from that duel remained exceptionally strong.

The spectator stands of Snow Bird Arena were now packed to the rafters.

The showdown between two gold level magic chefs ignited the fervor of Snow Bird Harbor's citizens, who flocked to witness the spectacle.

The arena floor had been specially modified, divided into two halves, with boilers and other culinary infrastructure set up.

Both chefs had taken their positions, standing in their respective halves and gazing at each other across the divide.

Unlike their earlier verbal sparring in Snow Bird Square, they now focused on inspecting their equipment and utensils.

The giant chef tossed aside the large pot provided by the arena, replacing it with an iron wok strapped to his back.

Ci Hai Shen retrieved a set of knives of varying sizes from his storage device, arranging them on the long kitchen counter.

As this was a contest of culinary prowess, neither of these esteemed gold level magic chefs employed sous chefs or assistants, only themselves.

Following tradition, the most influential figure among the spectators would declare the duel's commencement.

But the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord City wasted no words, announcing the start directly.

Da Dou roared with laughter: “Ci Hai Shen, this time you're doomed to lose, ha ha ha!”

Golden flames erupted from his palms, igniting instantly.

Fueled by gold battle qi, the flames roared fiercely, nearly engulfing the iron wok.

The iron wok, radiating a silver level aura, slowly turned crimson under the scorching flames.

Da Dou retrieved one coconut after another from his storage device.

A common ingredient - butter coconut.

He cracked open each coconut, pouring their full contents of coconut oil into the wok.

The iron level wok possessed spatial efficiency; the vast quantity of coconut oil poured in merely formed a gradually accumulating layer at the bottom.

The coconut oil sizzled in the scorching iron wok, quickly releasing a rich, golden aroma that billowed outward.

However, the magic formation conjured by the Snow Bird had already taken effect, isolating the scents and preventing them from drifting toward Ci Hai Shen.

Before Ci Hai Shen lay a kitchen counter laden with a vast formation of sea fish.

Each fish was plump and fleshy, their scales predominantly green, ranging from deep forest green to pale emerald. The deeper greens often clustered together, forming distinct patterns.

The staple ingredient - pickled fish.

Ci Hai Shen channeled his spirit, precisely controlling each kitchen knife.

In the next instant, over twenty knives of varying sizes floated into the air.

Swish, swish, swish...

The knives, anchored by the countertop, circled the arranged pickled fish, slicing relentlessly. Their speed created a blur of blades and light in the air.

Under this storm of knives, the pickled fish was swiftly cut into uniform slices.

Each fish slice was remarkably uniform in size and thickness. The remaining fish head and bones were mentally guided off the work surface.

Fresh batches of pickled fish continuously emerged from storage units onto the counter, where they were swiftly transformed into mountains of sashimi amidst the flashing blades.

Discarded bones, heads, tails, and scraps were promptly deposited into the trash bin beside the counter.

The audience erupted in cheers.

Even as the two gold level magic chefs engaged in the most fundamental culinary showdown, the spectacle was already breathtaking.

Both demonstrated rock-solid foundational skills.

This only heightened the crowd's anticipation for the upcoming rounds.

Tripleblade and his group sat in the front row of the spectator seats.

The goblin watched the match while inquiring about the odds.

A flurry of betting pools had opened around this magic chef duel.

Tripleblade hoped to get a piece of the action. Though he understood gambling carried high risks, he desperately needed funds. After much deliberation, he decided to take the chance!

Meanwhile, in the viewing chamber, the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord sat alongside the Sea Bird Bishop.

The magic projection before them offered far greater detail than what most spectators could see with the naked eye. Magnified, it even revealed the subtle shifts in the chefs' gazes.

This undoubtedly provided a superior viewing experience.

Besides these two gold level figures, a third silver level presence was present.

It was Mei Lan Du, the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's personal chef.

As a magic chef, Mei Lan Du was deeply intrigued by this duel. Yet his primary reason for being in the viewing room stemmed from the Snow Bird Harbor Lord's arrangement.

He required an insider like Mei Lan Du to serve as commentator when entertaining the Sea Bird Bishop.

After all, a culinary showdown differs significantly from a typical heroic duel. Often, the true brilliance only becomes apparent after the commentary.

At that moment, Mei Lan Du spoke up: “Clearly, Lord Ci Hai Shen's first dish selection is the pickled fish sushi.”

“This is an extremely popular, commonplace dish, consumed by households across coastal regions.”

"The primary ingredient is pickled fish."

"Lord Ci Hai Shen selected this dish precisely because of its familiarity. Common popularity signifies that it aligns perfectly with the masses' tastes and has consistently garnered acclaim."

"This is a culinary showdown, a battle of appetites, distinct from Lord Ci Hai Shen's previous tasting events. Frankly, tasting events often involve dishes with flavors that are hard to describe. But in this kind of contest, both sides will prepare a popular dish like pickled fish sushi."

“This approach ensures the vast audience participating in the tasting later will have no difficulty accepting it.”

“Another reason is that the preparation process for this dish is quite simple, saving Lord Ci Hai Shen a significant amount of time and effort.”

Swish, swish, swish...

The blade flashed incessantly before Ci Hai Shen.

“I didn't expect him to possess decent knife skills,” the Sea Bird Bishop remarked, watching the magic projection.

"But that's about it. At best, it's culinary artistry, hardly a lethal technique," added the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord. He cultivated not only magic but also battle qi, mastering numerous battle skills. His words carried weight in this matter.

Mei Lan Du remarked, “Lord Ci Hai Shen specializes in magic, but regardless of their path, any transcendent can become a magic chef.”

“Truthfully, many magic chefs possess exceptional swordsmanship.”

"One such figure is Hei Xia, a bearman from the Wilderness Continent. He specialized in battle qi with remarkable talent. In his prime, he participated in the campaign against an evil god, only to lose both eyes permanently. Forced into retirement, he reappeared in public later in life as an exceptionally skilled magic chef."

"His greatest strength remained his legendary blade techniques. Even blind, he could sense the vulnerabilities of any living creature. When cutting meat, he could follow the muscle fibers precisely, ensuring every slice retained its original flavor."

Upon hearing this, the Sea Bird Bishop instantly grasped the truth and blurted out, “So this Hei Xia has mastered spiritual power, harnessing spiritual energy?”

“Precisely.” Mei Lan Du paid the Sea Bird Bishop a compliment. “Lord Bishop's wisdom has reached the truth.”

“The knife skills Hei Xia wields make his attacks even more terrifying than in his prime.”

“It's akin to the eastern battle qi realm of the Sheng Ming Continent, which has long studied stillness cultivation. The purpose is for fighters to tap into the power of their own minds and spirits.”

“Of course, if a chef wields a tool like the Meat Eye, they too can instantly discern the muscle grain of any cut, glimpsing another realm of culinary artistry.”

Mei Lan Du suddenly brought up the Meat Eye, the very item Da Dou had staked as his wager this time.

Clearly, his explanation served a purpose, not idle chatter. Mentioning Hei Xia was to illustrate the Meat Eye's function.

Da Dou and Ci Hai Shen engaged in an eating contest, each staking their wager.

The former offered the Meat Eye; the latter presented the Preservation Knife.

Mei Lan Du's commentary rekindled the Sea Bird Bishop's curiosity. The Sea Bird Bishop inquired, “Explain the functions of these two kitchen tools in detail for us.”

“Certainly,” Mei Lan Du replied. "First, the Meat Eye, as I mentioned earlier, allows the magic chef to instantly master spiritual power. It enables them to discern the secrets of meat ingredients and cut them in the optimal manner. In combat, as long as the enemy possesses flesh and blood, it allows the magic chef to instantly pinpoint their weaknesses and vulnerabilities."

"As for the Preservation Knife, as its name suggests, using this blade to cut ingredients—whether meat, vegetables, or fruit—preserves their freshness at the moment of cutting. This is incredibly practical when preparing dishes! Remember, the fresher the ingredients, the more they reveal their true flavor and retain their full nutritional value.

The gold level Preservation Knife is essentially a part of Lord Ci Hai Shen's power.  Should he lose this treasured blade, his strength would inevitably plummet."

"Likewise, if Da Dou were to lose the Meat Eye, the same would hold true."

The Snow Bird Harbor City Lord suddenly inquired, "The Meat Eye serves as an excellent combat aid. But what about the Preservation Knife in actual combat? How effective is it for cutting through flesh?"

Mei Lan Du was taken aback by the question: "I honestly don't know about that. I've never heard of Lord Ci Hai Shen using the Preservation Knife to attack someone either."

He paused to think before continuing: "Truthfully, as a magic chef, it's extremely rare for us to use kitchen tools in combat.

For one thing, kitchen tools were originally designed for cooking, not fighting. Even the slightest trace of blood on a tool can irreparably ruin a dish. In truth, many kitchen implements prove unsatisfactory in actual combat."

"On the other hand, the market for kitchenware isn't as robust as that for conventional weapons or gear. The higher the grade, the rarer the item, and those who possess them treasure them dearly. Even non-magic chefs typically maintain them meticulously, aiming to trade or collect them later."

“Gold level kitchenware is already a rarity on the market.”

“That's why, after Lord Da Dou proposed the Meat Eye as a wager, Lord Ci Hai Shen was tempted and agreed to stake his own Preservation Knife.”

As the conversation reached this point, the duel arena shifted once more.

Streams of people moved in orderly lines, entering the center of the arena.

They approached rows of long tables, picked up the pickled fish sushi, and placed it in their mouths with eager anticipation.

The tasting had begun.