The banquet: The world beneath the table
"Buzz--"
The golden light lasted for about three breaths before slowly receding, like the tide retreating back into the plate.
Only then did everyone dare to slowly open their eyes, their eyes red-rimmed and their vision blurred, as they all looked at the Heavenly Rank cuisine that had finally revealed its true form.
What lay on the white jade plate was not the rare bird or beast one might expect, but two golden "bear paws".
The "bear paw" was entirely golden, as if it were carved from the purest gold, with clear lines, distinct knuckles, and even the delicate texture of the skin could be seen.
What's even more peculiar is that there seems to be a slow flow of light on its surface, emanating an indescribable life force, as if it contains some kind of mystery of creation.
An indescribable fragrance slowly spread as the golden light receded. The fragrance was neither as Qing Ya as floral scents nor as rich as meaty aromas, but rather possessed a mellow quality that struck the soul, as if it could nourish the spirit and soothe restless blood.
Taking a breath, I felt completely relaxed throughout my body. The discomfort in my eyes, which had been stung by the golden light, gradually dissipated under the soothing aroma.
"This... this is Heavenly Rank cuisine?" Lan Fuzi murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock.
Na Nali also looked solemn. She could sense that the power contained in this dish was extremely special, seemingly a fusion of multiple special attributes, yet perfectly balanced, something that could not be achieved by ordinary means.
Looking at everyone's reactions, Fors smiled knowingly, "This ' Great Heaven Creation Palm ' is made primarily of the palm of Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear with 50,000 years of cultivation."
"As you all know, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is known as the ' Earth Ripper.' Its physique is incomparably strong. An individual with 50,000 years of cultivation is already a hegemon among Soul Beast, and in terms of value, it is no less than an ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
"When cooking, it is necessary to use Ten-Thousand-Year Royal Jelly to harmonize the texture of the meat, use ten- Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Snake Fruit to stimulate its latent life essence, and then add more than a dozen kinds of rare and precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures such as Ice Crystal Lotus Seed and Red Blood Coral to neutralize its animalistic nature and bring out its mild and mellow medicinal properties."
"What's even more remarkable is that this dish requires a head chef at the Titled Douluo level to personally prepare it, using their own Soul Power as a guide to infuse Spirit Power and Soul Power into the ingredients, and then simmering it Sisi for seven days and seven nights to achieve the final product."
Fors raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to examine the contents of the plate more closely. "Its delicious taste goes without saying, but more importantly, it can strengthen the body's foundation and cleanse away long-standing ailments and impurities. For Spirit Master's cultivation, it is truly an invaluable aid. You all should try it."
Before the words were even finished, a collective gasp filled the room. The paw of a 50,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was already rare enough, but with such elaborate ingredients and cooking techniques, the value of this dish was beyond measure.
Xu Xiaoyan frowned slightly, looking at Fors with a hint of surprise. "Fors, how do you know so much about the preparation process of this dish?"
Fors's smile deepened, his tone carrying a hint of familiarity. "It's quite a coincidence, the head chef of this restaurant Liu Maoxing, and I have some connection. Some of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he needs to cook this dish were specially ordered from the Spirit Pagoda."
She changed the subject, adding seemingly casually, "Moreover, the main ingredient for this ' Great Heaven Creation Palm ' was personally sourced by Chef Liu Maoxing from the Star Dou Great Forest —after all, the Star Dou Great Forest is now under the control of the Spirit Pagoda, making things easier."
"Star Dou Great Forest... Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear..."
These two words pierced Gu Yuena's ears like ice picks. Her fingers, which were holding the cutlery, tightened slightly, and her knuckles turned slightly white.
The chill that had been slightly dispelled by that strange aroma surged back into her heart like a tide. She stared at the golden palm meat on the plate, a cold glint flashing in her eyes—these humans had once again reached out their Greed hands to the Soul Beast of the Star Dou Great Forest!
Although she and Di Tian had already begun relocating some of the Soul Beast to the Ten Thousand Beast Platform, due to the dense network of spies in the Spirit Pagoda, they could only relocate some of the weaker groups to avoid alerting the enemy.
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, countless Soul Beast still dwell. The 50,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, already a powerful figure among Soul Beast, ultimately could not escape the Fate of being hunted...
At this moment, the waiter stepped forward, holding a specially made silver knife, and carefully cut the two bear paws into more than a dozen pieces, each piece being of uniform size, with the golden cross-section of the meat subtly shimmering.
As the cutting motion continued, an even richer aroma wafted out, a fragrance that combined the richness of animal meat with the crispness of spiritual ingredients, creating a wondrous aroma that whetted the appetite.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks, and even the usually composed Nan Fusheng couldn't resist picking up a piece first.
Kiana couldn't wait any longer and took a bite. The rich juices burst in her mouth instantly, carrying a honey-like sweetness and the refreshing taste of the spiritual fruit, sliding down her throat and into her stomach.
Immediately, a gentle warmth rose from her dantian, slowly spreading to her limbs and bones, soothing her so much that she couldn't help but squint her eyes. "Delicious!" Before she finished speaking, she buried her head and swallowed it in large gulps, her eyes full of satisfaction.
"Indeed, it lives up to its reputation." Nan Fusheng nodded solemnly after carefully considering the matter.
The paws of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear are naturally tender and chewy, with perfectly distributed fat that makes them neither greasy nor greasy, but rather smooth and silky.
The flavors of more than a dozen Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures do not overpower the main dish; instead, they act like invisible threads, locking in the freshness of the meat layer by layer. Every bite offers a different level of flavor, from rich to crisp, from mellow to sweet, a transformation that is truly amazing.
With a light slice of the knife, Gu Yuena placed a piece of palm meat into her mouth. She savored the intertwined flavors and had to admit that humans' expertise in the field of "eating" was indeed unmatched by even Soul Beast.
The ultimate cooking techniques can transform the flesh and blood of Soul Beast into such a moving delicacy, even making the Berserk energy contained within gentle and mild, turning into a warm current that nourishes the body.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and swallowed the food in her mouth. Well, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was dead; pursuing the matter now would be futile.
Since this is a "masterpiece" created by humans at the cost of Soul Beast ' lives, then savor it carefully—at least remember how many Soul Beast ' cries of sorrow are hidden behind this taste.
As the lingering flavor of the heavenly dish "Great Heaven Creation Palm" faded from their tongues, everyone's appetite was thoroughly whetted.
Fors gestured for the waiter to come forward, and the people in the hall then took advantage of the previous lively atmosphere to order other dishes.
Low-level Xuan Rank: Catfish Seafood Noodles.
Low-level Mystic Rank: Dreamy Mapo Tofu.
Intermediate Xuan Rank: Seven-Star Army-Breaking Raw Cuttlefish Slices.
Intermediate Xuan Rank: Phoenix Jade Dumplings.
Advanced Xuan-level: The Great Magic Panda Mapo Tofu.
Advanced Xuan Rank: Tofu Trio.
Low-level Earth Rank: Fiery Ice Immortal Carving Mountain.
Low-level Earth Rank: Reincarnation Spring Rolls.
None of the dishes ordered by the group were below the Xuan rank. As one delicacy after another was served, the laughter and conversation in the hall grew louder, and the atmosphere became more and more lively. The shock caused by the "Great Heaven Creation Palm" was gradually replaced by the pleasure brought by the delicious food.
Just then, as Xu Xiaoyan was organizing the menu, her fingertips suddenly touched something unusually thick. She paused slightly, then pulled out a small booklet, about the size of her palm, from the menu holder.
The booklet cover has no elaborate decorations, only a line of large characters printed in gold foil:
"Congratulations to this customer for discovering the hidden menu! With this menu, you can receive a free dish personally prepared by Chef ' Master Chef ': 'Carrying a Bag of Rice Up Several Floors,' 'Creamy Baked Macaroni Dumplings,' and other special dishes."
"A secret menu?" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes flashed with curiosity as she handed the booklet to Fors beside her. "Fors, is this secret menu a specialty of this restaurant? It sounds interesting."
Fors took the booklet, her gaze sweeping over the words. A slightly complicated smile appeared on her lips, then she shook her head. "Xiaoyan, I advise you not to try this secret menu item."
"Why?" Xu Xiaoyan became even more curious. Wouldn't a hidden dish made by the head chef himself be an even rarer delicacy?
Fors lightly tapped the "Creamy Baked Macaroni Dumplings" with her fingertip, as if recalling some unpleasant experience, her tone tinged with helplessness. "You don't know, but ' Master Chef ' is actually the nickname of Chef Liu Maoxing."
"Although he is a highly skilled cook, he is always prone to sudden inspirations, and occasionally he will use this 'shortcut' method to let customers try his newly created dishes. However, his new ideas are often... a bit too far-fetched."
She paused, looking at Xu Xiaoyan's questioning gaze, and continued to explain, "Take this Creamy Baked Macaroni Dumplings for example, do you know how it's made? First, you wrap macaroni stuffed with minced garlic and spicy bean paste into dumpling wrappers, then mix it with butter and milk and bake it to make 'cream-baked dumplings'."
(PS: It's like adding cold yogurt to Cantonese rice noodle rolls and eating them as a dip. Or it's like when you're eating a scallion pancake and an Indian vendor suddenly adds cow urine to the dough, claiming it's to enhance the flavor.)
"What!" Xu Xiaoyan's curiosity froze instantly, followed by an uncontrollable chill. She shivered violently, as if she were holding a hot potato, and quickly threw the hidden menu on the table, as if the thin booklet was covered with a strange smell.
The intense flavor of the spicy fermented bean paste and the pungent kick of the minced garlic, wrapped in dumpling wrappers and then baked with the sweetness of butter and milk... Just imagining the scene of those flavors intertwining in her mouth made her stomach churn.
What kind of Demon practice is this?! Doesn't the chef at this restaurant fear being beaten to death?
Seeing her exaggerated reaction, Fors chuckled and shook his head, "Liu Maoxing's culinary skills are indeed superb; ordinary dishes are enough to impress. It's just that he sometimes goes too far in his innovations, always liking to challenge the limits of taste."
"He was originally from the Dou Ling Continent, but at a recent palace banquet, he made this Creamy Baked Macaroni Dumplings, which disgusted the Dou Ling Emperor so much that he immediately ordered him to be killed."
"Fortunately, through the coordination of the Spirit Pagoda of the Dou Ling Continent, and due to some unknown reasons, the emperor reduced his sentence, but he was subsequently blacklisted by the Dou Ling Empire."
"After a series of twists and turns, Liu Maoxing finally chose to join ' Endless Fire Territory ' and become its head chef. Tell me, if someone can disgust an emperor to the point of ordering a hunt, do you think we can easily try this hidden menu item?"
Those around who overheard the conversation exchanged knowing glances and looked at the hidden menu with increased wariness.
It seems that Chef Liu Maoxing's "innovation" is not something that ordinary people can appreciate.
Looking at the booklet, Xu Xiaoyan felt no longer curious. She was just glad she hadn't impulsively ordered anything, or she would probably be in trouble right now.
"Buzz~~"
"Um?"
Gu Yuena was just taking a bite of the "Reincarnation Spring Rolls," paused slightly, her delicate eyebrows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Just a moment ago, a faint yet incredibly familiar fluctuation swept through her senses—it was the aura of Divine Power.
This fluctuation of Divine Power was so subtle, like a speck of dust thrown into a lake, causing only the faintest ripples before dissipating. If she weren't a reincarnated Silver Dragon King with an almost instinctive keen perception of various energies, she would probably have simply dismissed it as an illusion.
What is she trying to do?
Gu Yuena's gaze swept over her side imperceptibly, a hint of doubt rising in her heart. Among everyone present, besides herself, only Kiana was also a god, had the ability to use Divine Power.
The use of Divine Power at this banquet is unusual from any perspective.
Gu Yuena's purple eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in them. She could clearly sense that something was amiss, but that sense of unease was like the moon's reflection in water or a flower in a mirror—it was right in front of her, yet she couldn't quite grasp its exact shape.
She pondered intently, trying to catch the fleeting trace of that fluctuation. She quickly discovered that the Divine Power did not seem to be the core, but rather a thin layer of disguise, its true purpose being to conceal some deeper energy flow.
"It's the Spatial Power..." Gu Yuena's mind raced, and she instantly understood, "She used Divine Power not to attack or display her strength, but as a cover to activate the Spatial Power without attracting attention. And the direction of that Spatial Power..."
Her gaze subtly shifted to where Nan Fusheng was.
Only then did they realize that Nan Fusheng had been silent since the beginning, sitting there with his back straight. However, upon closer inspection, it could be seen that his jawline was extremely taut, his face was more stiff than before, and his fingers holding the chopsticks were even slightly pale. Clearly, he was not as calm as he appeared.
What happened?
Gu Yuena's doubts grew stronger, and an inexplicable premonition drove her to seek the truth.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if by accident, and the silver spoon slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor with a clatter.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, bending down naturally to pick it up.
Just as she lowered her head, Gu Yuena took a deep breath and, under the guise of adjusting her skirt, quietly lifted a corner of the white tablecloth that was hanging on the ground.
The next second, even with her composure, she couldn't help but catch her breath, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and even her ears felt slightly hot—she saw something far beyond what she had expected.
Beneath the large tablecloth, Kiana had somehow kicked off her right purple high heel.
The small foot, encased in a pure white sock, under the cover of the silver Space Gate, landed precisely on the collar of Nan Fusheng's clothes below his abdomen, like a sliver of moonlight quietly slipping in.
The ankle, slender and delicate, peeked out from the edge of the sock, its toes slightly curled beneath the thin sock, as it leisurely dealt with the Squirtle that had just peeked out from Nan Fusheng's clothes.
Sometimes it would gently nudge its smooth neck with its toes, sometimes it would rub its head with its heel. The seemingly gentle movements contained a hint of irresistible teasing, making Squirtle cower and shrink back, yet dare not make a sound.
Before Gu Yuena could catch her breath, another scene unfolded before her eyes, causing her pupils to shrink and her heart to surge with even greater turmoil.
Besides Kiana's playful little foot, there was also a jade-like foot wrapped in a sheer black stocking, which landed on the Squirtle along with Squirtle's.
The black silk stockings accentuated the beautiful lines of her foot, with slender ankles and the stockings clinging tightly to her skin, outlining the gentle curve of her instep. The silk threads at her toes were slightly taut due to the pressure, revealing a rounded contour.
Her movements were even gentler than the white-socked little feet, yet equally interactive, sometimes intertwining with the white-socked little feet, sometimes lightly stepping on the other side of Squirtle's neck, as if cooperating in completing a secret "game".
Unlike Kiana's long-distance interaction achieved through the Space Gate, the owner of these black silk stockings and jade feet was clearly sitting right next to Nan Fusheng —judging from the angle and distance extending from under the tablecloth, the two were only a few feet apart.
Gu Yuena's gaze swept across the dining table and landed on the figures on either side of Nan Fusheng. There were only two people beside him— Qingque on his left and Nahida on his right.
Nahida wasn't wearing socks today, so it was obvious who it was.