One might say this competition was fucking insane, or perhaps that it was truly befitting a contest hosted by the Owners of the Great Mob—as always, brimming with the crazed characteristics of Hell.
The objectives pursued here were also so unique.
If the Chef God contest is about who can make the tastiest dish, then the Chef Demon contest is...
Yes, it's about who can concoct the worst tasting dish!
According to those folks on the organizing committee—a bunch of idle, pleasure-seeking types on the verge of renouncing the mortal world from sheer ennui—so-called delicacies, no matter how hard one tries, have a limit.
—But bad taste has no limits! There's no such thing as 'the worst,' only 'worse'!
And the so-called Chef Demon contest is a competition where everyone vies to create the most repulsive dish!
Since its inception a hundred years ago, it has attracted numerous powerful contenders from the Current Circumstances, the Border, and even Hell itself, all eager to participate, leading to many 'miracles' and nightmarish outcomes.
Nowadays, standard viewing attire includes a gas mask—the kind that covers your entire head.
Originally, that wasn't necessary; a simple mask would do. But ever since the champion from nine contests ago served up a pot of 'Magic Jump Wall' in the finals, a third of the audience, upon smelling that horrific odor, plunged into severe depression and despair. They lost the will to live, and many committed suicide in the following months. The aftershocks linger to this day.
Afterward, people had no choice but to spend a little extra to protect their lives.
Even a mere regional preliminary, like this one in Dongxia's eastern district of East Asia, was teeming with hidden masters and lurking fiends of every description.
Among them, Huai Shi could only tremble. I'm going to die. How the fuck am I supposed to compete in this? I can't win! I'm doomed to lose, aren't I?
"Don't lose heart! Believe in yourself! You can definitely create a miracle!" Raven, who had somehow acquired a raven-beaked gas mask for herself, patted his shoulder, her voice muffled and deep. "I'll be cheering for you from the stands."
"What the hell!" Huai Shi was dumbfounded. "Aren't you coming with me?"
"Go with you? Why would I? It's way too stinky there! Er, I mean..." Raven coughed twice. "The competition has strict rules, they don't allow pets, and I'm just a poor, helpless little raven. I can't help you! Anyway, I've given you the tools, and you've bought the ingredients. As for what comes next... use your own creativity!"
With that, leaving Huai Shi behind, Raven flapped her wings and fled.
Leaving Huai Shi standing there alone, he tearfully entered the contestants' lounge under the menacing glares of the security guards.
Then, he froze on the spot.
Inside the contestants' lounge, Huai Shi sensed powerful auras emanating from all directions—along with body odor. Amidst dozens of glistening, bare arms, Huai Shi suddenly remembered: everyone here was a formidable figure who had once toiled shirtless in kitchens, sweating bullets!
Elites of the dark cuisine world!
These were either aunties who had cooked in school cafeterias for over a decade, chefs who had worked on the old green trains for more than five years, or Magicians who conjured nightmarish flavors from gutter oil and artificial essences...
Sensing Huai Shi's entrance, several vicious gazes turned his way. Upon seeing that the newcomer was just a pale-faced weakling with trembling legs, they snorted coldly and dismissively averted their gazes.
Several almost tangible gazes clashed in mid-air, striking sparks.
"Hmph, Old Wang, give it up! The true heritage of dark cuisine lies with the universities!"
The middle-aged woman standing with her hands behind her back at the center of the room turned her head and said coldly, "To perfect my secret recipes, I worked at Tech Uni for fourteen years! Your petty tricks today are no match for my Rotten Tomatoes Sautéed with Mooncakes!"
Persecuting innocent college students all day long, what the fuck is there to be proud of!
"TSK!" Old Wang folded his arms and sneered. "That kind of stuff is just for fooling kids! How can it compare to our dining car's hellish cuisine? The expressions on their faces, the joy that blossoms in their hearts as they fearfully swallow food in the inescapable confines of the train... Junior Sister, you'll never understand that!"
You're clearly making disgusting food, so where does all this pride come from? And what's with 'Junior Sister'? What kind of internal sect feud is this? I'm begging you, stop tormenting an innocent young man like me! Wouldn't it be better to just find a kitchen and settle this in private?
Before Huai Shi could spit out a mouthful of metaphorical blood, a sharp, scalp-numbing laugh echoed from a dark, unlit corner of the room.
"HEHEHE, why are you two youngsters just here to fill the ranks in such a hurry?" The sinister, hunched old man lifted his murky eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "This competition, we of the Mt. Emei Gold Roof Sect are destined to win! Today, you will experience the might of our renowned scenic spot cuisine! Every bite will be a heart-wrenching experience!"
What the hell is a Gold Roof Sect? Are you proud of ripping off tourists at scenic spots? Is this some kind of martial arts tournament? Would you please just put away your supernatural powers!
Huai Shi was so overwhelmed by the imposing auras that his Source Substance grew unstable; he was on the verge of madness. Just as the other two 'martial siblings' were about to retort, the main door burst open with a crash.
Amidst heavy footsteps, a resonant voice announced loudly from outside the door, "Master Liu, head chef of Dijin's authentic hundred-year-old 'Cat Ignores Buns' emporium, has arrived for the competition!"
Instantly, the room fell silent. Huai Shi perceived countless surges of combative Source Fluctuation rocketing skyward. Numerous battered pots and dented spatulas hummed in unison, and even the rotten fish in the baskets struggled desperately to leap out.
It was like the chorus of Ten Thousand Swords!
Paying homage to the grandmaster!