Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 2394 – Culinary Competition, Green Divine Pepper

“You clearly know why. I don’t want us to be forced to make a move.” The woman didn’t favor Battle Gods, just as Battle Gods didn’t favor Demon Kings.

“Senior, you seemed to be prejudiced against me.” Qing Shui smiled.

The woman was displeased at being addressed as senior by Qing Shui. She was mature, but she didn’t wish to admit that she was old. Her tone wasn’t friendly when she replied, “Do you know who I am?”

“The boss of the Thousand Miles Waft of Fragrance!” Qing Shui feigned ignorance.

“Say, why are you feigning ignorance? You have been trying to seek out information about me before.” The woman watched Qing Shui. This man was truly thick-skinned.

Qing Shui snickered. “Actually, I’m hoping to engage with you in a culinary competition. Cooking is a hobby of mine.”

This time, the woman had utterly felt the extent of Qing Shui’s thick skin. “Not interested!”

“I’m serious. Even if our identities aren’t exactly ideal, it doesn’t mean that our first meeting would have to end in slaughter. We can try to interact with each other. Besides, I really am interested in the culinary arts, and I’ve not met my match thus far.” Qing Shui replied seriously.

“I’ve seen a number of Battle Gods, but you’re the only one who’s this sneaky. Aren’t Battle Gods open and upright? What are you playing at?” The woman sized Qing Shui up, attempting to unravel whatever he was hiding.

“You’re a Culinary Demon King, but you don’t have any demon attributes. I truly do not have any ill intentions toward you. Besides, a lifestyle Demon King like you isn’t a threat.” Qing Shui brushed off the Culinary Demon King’s abilities as if they weren’t worth mentioning.

The woman couldn’t help but laugh at Qing Shui’s derisive statement. Yes, she was a Culinary Demon King, but her abilities left many of the stronger Demon Kings gasping in awe. How would she become the Sect Leader of the Forsaken Earth Region’s city Demon Gate otherwise?

“Name it, then. How will we compete?” The woman responded.

“Let’s hold a competition first. We can decide on the stakes when it’s concluded. What do you think?” Qing Shui smiled.

“Oh, there will be stakes? What is it? Let me hear it.” The woman grew curious.

“Can we talk about it after we’re done?” Qing Shui spoke up after some pondering.

“Who would discuss stakes only after the competition? If I were to speak without thinking at that point and claim your life as stakes, do you think that would be appropriate?” retorted the woman casually.

“Alright. Since that’s the case, then let us decide on the stakes first. Should we get a judge?” Qing Shui asked.

“There’s no need for a witness. I believe we’d be able to tell which is better on our own. If you really are better than me or just on par with me, then we’ll treat it as your victory,” the woman said confidently.

Qing Shui nodded. “I won’t hide this from you. My wife is a Demon King Inheritor, and I want to know how you managed to cleanse your Demon King’s blood. I had once cleansed her from it once, but she actually has the Demon Saint Blood and the purification didn’t have any effect. I wonder if you’ll have a way?”

The woman was startled at that moment, shocked by the fact that the wife of this Battle God was a Demon King Inheritor and one with Demon Saint Blood at that. If it was the Demon Saint Blood, the Nine Continent’s Demon Gate Sect Leader had that very same bloodline, but the Sect Leader was old now. Perhaps, his wife would be the next Sect Leader of the Nine Continents Demon Gate…

The woman sighed as her own line of thoughts was preposterous. However, she couldn’t help but put her sympathetic glance toward Qing Shui…

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not pitiful…” Qing Shui was speechless.

“There’s no way to cleanse Demon Saint Blood, or at least, I can’t. So, let’s not compete anymore, I can’t help you.” The woman shook her head.

“Even so, let’s compete. I really do have a bit of culinary skills. Hmm, how about this? If there’s anything you want, I can give it to you if I lose.” Qing Shui thought about it before speaking.

“There’s nothing I need. Since you’d like to compete, then let’s do it. However, we’ll make it simpler. Choose a dish from my inn, and we’ll make one each. From there, we’ll see who made the better dish. What do you think?” The woman smiled.

“Alright!”

Arriving at the woman’s exclusive kitchen, there was hardly a spot of dust. It wasn’t a kitchen, more like a palace. All the ingredients were displayed neatly, and the kitchen’s temperature was perfect. With this environment and temperature, the ingredients could be kept for a long time. Furthermore, all the ingredients were fresh, such as meat and vegetables.

“What a great place!” Qing Shui exclaimed. Regardless of things, their grade would increase once they reached a certain level. The same went for the kitchen.

There were many sets of cutting tools, and there were all uncommon, plus utensils, ingredients, plates, and more.

The competition between them started with just a word, without judges and spectators.

Qing Shui spotted two potatoes. Many of the items in the Nine Continents were named similarly to those in his past life.

Sliced in shreds!

At Qing Shui’s level, even those without culinary skills would be able to slice them in equal portions.

Hence, unlike to his previous life, cutting skills weren’t worth a mention in the Nine Continents. It was a great selling point in the past where chefs would need to spend much time and effort practicing.

In the Nine Continents, controlling fire was the most important, as well as understanding the composition of ingredients and shapes. With a lot of spices and good ingredients, even those without culinary skills would be able to cook something delicious, but they would be drastically different from those who did know how to cook.

Qing Shui’s culinary skills went without saying. This was an ability gained from the inheritance. He would be able to maximize each use of all ingredients, along with his own unique types of spices.

Qing Shui could already smell the alluring and refreshing fragrance. With a turn of his head, he spotted the woman making Steamed Bear Paws.

Those tender bear paws had become golden in color, emitting a faint glow.

Qing Shui prepared Stir-Fry Potato Shreds, a common home-cooked dish in the Nine Continents. This was the lowest form of a dish which could be prepared decently by even common folk. Of course, for those who were truly great culinary chefs, even this simple dish was vastly different from them.

As for Qing Shui, this went without saying. He added his own spices and the specially prepared Green Divine Pepper.

This was Qing Shui’s favorite. Its taste was beyond words, and the Divine in its name was aptly given.

Once the aroma of Qing Shui’s dish flooded the room, it suppressed that of the Steamed Bear Paws completely.

The woman was shocked. Although it might not taste as great, there was a saying that suppression of smell was half the journey to winning. That was especially applicable to the fact that it was a dish of Stir-Fry Potato Shreds which suppressed Bear Paws.

The fire. Qing Shui had brought it to the point of perfection before blowing it out, then he stopped.

The woman stopped as well.

“The spices you used aren’t mine.” The woman looked over at Qing Shui.

“I used my own. As a chef, a personal stock of spices is a must.” Qing Shui smiled.

The penetrating smell filled the woman with an appetite. The potato shreds had a jade-like glow to it and placed proportionately atop its plate. There weren’t any shapes to it, but it was tidy, giving a feeling of ‘less was more’. At this point, the woman thought it was possible for this simple dish to clinch victory over any glamorous and rare delicacies.

Without even tasting, the woman speculated that she might have lost. It was a strong feeling, as a dish with such an aroma would never be bad in taste.