Chapter 533: Falling Asleep While Eating

The dragon liver extracted by Ci Hai Shen was entirely jade-green, roughly the size of a millstone.

Initially, the liver emitted no discernible aura, but as the seal was lifted, it instantly captured the audience's attention.

A gold level ingredient!

“Could it be that Ci Hai Shen intends to prepare a gold level dish?” The bishop instinctively rubbed his stomach, anticipating a feast. 

“That shouldn't be the case.” Mei Lan Du frowned slightly, puzzled.  “Given the current situation, though Ci Hai Shen is behind, his disadvantage isn't yet a losing position. He still has a chance to turn things around. Preparing a gold level dish now carries significant risk.”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord enlarged the magic projection, focusing on the dragon liver. Seconds later, his frown smoothed: “This liver is remarkably intact, but it's not from an ancient dragon. Likely some wind-type dragon beast.”

Consuming pure-blooded ancient dragons was taboo.

Slaughtering one almost invariably left a mark. Dragons within a certain radius would sense the bounty mark and pursue the killer relentlessly.

Though individually formidable, dragons, as an intelligent species, required lengthy maturation periods and reproduced far less efficiently than humans or elves.

It was precisely this bounty mark that safeguarded the dragon race to some extent.

Even though the dragon race had been in decline for ages, this bounty mark still struck fear into countless hearts.

Even if Ci Hai Shen wasn't the actual dragon slayer, his public cooking of dragon meat would still brand him an enemy of the dragon race.

Put yourself in their shoes, and you'll understand.

Imagine if another race had a chef publicly roasting and eating human hearts, how would humans react? They would naturally view the chef with hostility and, if possible, bring him to justice.

Moreover, within the Ice Sculpture Kingdom resided the white dragon clan. They dwelled at the highest peak of Ice Sculpture Island, and the Ice Sculpture Royal Family has always strived to maintain an alliance with the white dragons.

Therefore, if Ci Hai Shen publicly cooked a dragon's liver, the trouble wouldn't just fall on him—it would also drag Snow Bird Harbor City Lord into the mess.

What Ci Hai Shen presented, of course, wasn't a dragon's liver, nor even a wyvern's. It was a dragon beast.

Dragon beasts were typically hybrids between beasts and dragons, possessing the characteristics of beasts alongside dragon abilities like wings or fire breath. They were usually smaller in size, nowhere near as towering and formidable as true dragons.

Ci Hai Shen looked extremely solemn as he began preparing the dragon liver.

This ingredient had originally been prepared by Ci Hai Shen for the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's grand banquet, but unexpectedly, it was being used here ahead of schedule.

Though merely a dragon beast, its gold level status was undeniable, guaranteeing the liver's value.

Ci Hai Shen had no choice but to bring it out, only ingredients of this caliber could attract the big guy.

Under Ci Hai Shen's mental control, sharp knives methodically began peeling the dragon liver.

Next came the tendering.

Then, using the Spring Well, Ci Hai Shen continuously rinsed the dragon liver.

Once cleaned, Ci Hai Shen employed the largest cleaver at his disposal to slice it.

The liver was swiftly cut into thin, uniform portions.

He retrieved various seasonings and began marinating the liver.

Using his pocket watch, he adjusted the time to accelerate the liver's aging process.

Then he retrieved the crying face green pepper, angry face red pepper, and smiling face yellow pepper. All were silver level ingredients.

Seeing this, Mei Lan Du in the observation room felt a slight tremor in his heart: “These are emotion peppers. Using so many... I understand Lord Ci Hai Shen's plan now.”

“He doesn't intend to create a gold level dish. Instead, he aims to downgrade the dragon liver.”

His target must be that giant!"

"Ah? Why downgrade it?" the bishop exclaimed, his face clouding with disappointment.

Mei Lan Du explained, “High-grade ingredients are unfriendly to lower-tier transcendents. Thus, most high-level magic chefs possess the ability to downgrade ingredients.”

“Downgrading high-level ingredients yields low-level dishes with nutrition surpassing ordinary low-level dishes.”

“Typically, this extravagant practice is employed by great nobles to nurture their offspring.”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord sighed, “That giant truly has a palate for fine things. I've never enjoyed such treatment myself.”

That was the honest truth.

Though Snow Bird Harbor City Lord had Mei Lan Du by his side, the latter was merely silver level.

Mei Lan Du couldn't craft gold level transcendent dishes, while Snow Bird Harbor City Lord himself was gold level. For him to eat downgraded gold level cuisine meant that the ingredients required would have to be at least saint level.

This far exceeded the capabilities of both Snow Bird Harbor City Lord and Mei Lan Du.

To create dishes downgraded to silver level, one typically needed a gold level magic chef.  And to secure the long-term service of a gold level magic chef, the patron must possess at least saint level strength, or be a major noble with deep-rooted heritage and vast influence.

Mei Lan Du proved worthy of being Ci Hai Shen's chosen assistant; even in the vegetable preparation, one could discern Ci Hai Shen's purpose.

"This giant truly has a huge appetite and can eat a lot. But will Ci Hai Shen succeed?" the bishop inquired curiously.

Mei Lan Du pondered, "In my view, the chances of success are not small. According to the rules, once both magic chefs begin preparing their gold level dishes, the scent-separating formation will automatically activate. The aroma of the food alone will be enough to draw everyone in."

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord pressed, “But Ci Hai Shen intends to downgrade and prepare a silver level dish.”

Mei Lan Du nodded. “He'll execute the downgrade during the final stage, but the formation will open when he uses the gold level ingredients. Thus, the intense aroma will surge forth during the cooking process.”

“Only after he completes the downgrade will the formation close again.”

The bishop understood: “So, Ci Hai Shen exploited a loophole in the rules.”

Mei Lan Du shook his head slightly: "Actually, this isn't a loophole, it's a clever application of the rules.  When he utilized the gold level ingredient, he had already paid the full price."

“After all, every ingredient in the eating contest comes out of the magic chef's own pocket.”

As Mei Lan Du explained, Ci Hai Shen poured cold oil into the heated wok and added shredded ginger to stir-fry.

Next, he tossed in dragon liver, stir-frying until it changed color.

Then he added three colors of emotion peppers and continued stir-frying.

He retrieved a small glass bottle and carefully poured in some sand salt.

A ripple of excitement rippled through the crowd once more.

This seasoning was also of the gold level, known as time sand salt.

“This salt is crafted primarily from time sand,” Mei Lan Du stated. “The value of this single small bottle could purchase fifty portions of the dragon liver he's currently stir-frying.”

That's not all.

Ci Hai Shen then retrieved a portion of purple-black flavored oil, pouring some into the bottom of the wok.

This too was a gold level seasoning.

Neither Snow Bird Harbor City Lord nor the Sea Bird Bishop were magic chefs and couldn't identify it.

Fortunately, Mei Lan Du was beside them and revealed the truth: "This is hunger devil oil. It helps diners speed up digestion of the food they consume. Lord Ci Hai Shen isn't just attracting the giant—he's also aiding digestion. It seems he has quite high hopes for this giant."

The magic chef, Da Dou, widened his eyes.

After Ci Hai Shen retrieved the gold level dragon liver, his attention had been drawn.

When Ci Hai Shen then produced the emotion peppers, Da Dou instantly grasped the latter's plan.

“He's competing for the giant. Should I... change tactics?” Da Dou hesitated.

His approach was quite unique; he only prepared fluttering boat fried rice.

His recipe was a composite one, capable of producing ordinary, bronze, iron, and silver level fried rice simultaneously.

Of course, if he invested gold level ingredients, he could also cook gold level fried rice!

When making gold level fried rice, both his success rate and output far exceeded the norm.

This was precisely the power of Da Dou's tactic!

But now, it wasn't yet time to risk making a gold level dish.

Da Dou still held the upper hand.

Although Ci Hai Shen used gold level ingredients, he intended to downgrade his dish, so the risk he took was nowhere near that of creating a gold level dish.

Besides the big guy, others still had appetites. Moreover, people were constantly refining their battle qi, digesting the food.

Da Dou hesitated for a moment before choosing to continue with his plan.

The big guy's nostrils flared.

His stomach caved in again, roused by the intense aroma.

Unlike his earlier dazed gaze, this time he stared straight ahead, following the scent of food until he spotted Ci Hai Shen's large wok.

The big guy rose and ran toward Ci Hai Shen.

“Well then, I shall take the key to this victory.” Ci Hai Shen watched the big guy approach his half of the area, a smug smile spreading across his face.

In the final stage, the gold level aura rapidly dissipated, downgrading to silver level.

Food was served.

The stir-fried dragon liver was placed on a massive platter, then, under Ci Hai Shen's psychic control, flew directly to the big guy's front.

The big guy reached out to grab it, but the platter suddenly shot away.

The tray didn't fly fast, guiding the big guy step by step toward the long table by Ci Hai Shen's side before landing on the tabletop.

The big guy had been drooling all the way over. Excitedly, he grabbed the tray and devoured the dragon liver in two bites.

Then, his attention was drawn to the countless dishes spread across the long table.

His eyes lit up. So many delicious things here!

Nothing more to say, let’s eat!

Watching the big guy shovel dish after dish into his mouth, Ci Hai Shen wore a satisfied grin.

He began planning his next move: “Now that the giant's been lured here, we must prevent him from being drawn back.”

“Therefore, the next dish I prepare must be even more exquisite than before.”

“Giants require deep sleep to digest their food; that's valuable time we must minimize. That means creating easily digestible dishes.”

“Hmm... Decided! I'll make pine flower shark fin soup. Its exquisite flavor will leave him craving more!”

Magic spell - Clone.

Ci Hai Shen conjured over a dozen clones, each simultaneously preparing the soup.

By the time the big guy finished the table's offerings, platters of pine flower shark fin soup were already flying toward him.

At first, he tried to grab the plates with his hands, but soon, with Ci Hai Shen's assistance, all he needed to do was open his mouth, tilt his head back, and wait for the shark fin to be placed inside.

“Delicious! Delicious! So delicious!”

“Snore... snore...”

As he ate, the big guy drifted off to sleep.