The first Kunlun Mountain Cooking Competition had completely spiraled out of control under the extreme rivalry of the three big shots.
Taishang Laojun's medicinal cuisine route was as gentle and refined as jade, every bite containing the essence of heaven and earth.
Tongtian Jiaozhu's Aesthetics of Violence was simple and brutal, yet its aroma could drift for three thousand miles.
As for Yuanshi Tianzun, the perfectionist Second Master, he had completely embarked on a road of no return today.
It was mealtime again.
Lin Shen skillfully climbed into his exclusive baby chair, his little legs swinging as he waited eagerly for food.
Taishang Laojun served up a bowl of Star Spiritual Rice Porridge.
Every grain of rice shimmered with starlight, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
A Tai Chi Diagram had been drawn across the porridge with Nine Revolutions Immortal Fruit Jam, its black and white halves distinct, its Dao charm naturally formed.
Tongtian Jiaozhu still brought out his signature giant pot.
Inside simmered a Golden-backed Turtlefish "borrowed" from the East Sea Dragon Palace, with a tiny banner formed from sword qi planted in its back.
Five bold characters were written on the banner—"Number One Delicacy Under Heaven."
And Yuanshi Tianzun...
With a stern expression, he brought out an enormous White Jade Plate.
On the plate was actually a miniature panoramic view of Kunlun Mountain!
The miniature mountains were made from compressed Innate Spirit Stone, the flowing water was Rootless Immortal Spring, the pines were living Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Roots, and the pavilions were carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade.
The entire "bonsai" was wreathed in Immortal Qi, radiating countless rays of rosy light.
How was this a dish? It was clearly a peerless work of art!
Lin Shen tilted his little head, his huge eyes blinking, his face full of question marks.
"Yah?"
Had Second Master stopped cooking today and started playing a sandbox game instead?
Tongtian Jiaozhu leaned over to watch as well, his face full of disdain. "Second Brother, what are you messing around with? We're cooking for our disciple to eat. Why did you make a miniature mountain? Are you going to have him chew rocks?"
Taishang Laojun stroked his beard, equally unable to understand his second brother's methods.
Yet Yuanshi Tianzun ignored their doubts.
He cleared his throat, pointed at the "Kunlun Mountain bonsai," and began his introduction with a solemn expression.
"Lin Shen, look."
"This mountain is called Five Flavors Immortal Mountain."
There was an inexplicable pride in his voice.
"The forest at the mountain's foot was molded from the roots and stems of three thousand kinds of Top-tier Spiritual Vegetables using the Method of Heaven and Earth Creation."
"It represents a flavor and can clear internal heat, improve eyesight, cleanse the marrow, and temper the bones."
"The river winding through the mountain contains the refined juices of a hundred immortal fruits from the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, blended with Formless True Water."
"It represents another flavor, promoting salivation and appetite while extending one's lifespan."
"The beasts on the mountainside—qilin, white tigers, and Vermilion Birds—were made from Top-tier Spiritual Meat roasted with thousand-year Heat Control using Innate Bagua Furnace Fire."
"Crisp on the outside and tender within, they represent another flavor."
"As for the palace atop the mountain, it was sculpted from Jade Marrow Paste condensed from ten-thousand-year Stone Dripping."
"It melts in the mouth and represents the purest freshness."
Each time he introduced a section, that place emitted a faint immortal glow.
Under his explanation, the entire bonsai seemed to truly come alive.
After finishing his introduction, Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Lin Shen proudly.
The meaning in his eyes was obvious: Did you see that?
This was true cuisine!
Color, aroma, flavor, form, and meaning—none could be absent!
He had condensed all the delicacies of Kunlun into this single plate!
Lin Shen was dumbfounded.
Good grief!
Had Second Master become obsessed with cooking?
How was this a dish? It was clearly a miniature model exhibition—and an edible one at that!
This was way too competitive!
Tongtian Jiaozhu and Taishang Laojun were completely stunned as well.
They looked at the exquisitely beautiful Five Flavors Immortal Mountain, then at the porridge and stewed fish in their own hands.
For the first time, they experienced what a Dimensional Strike was.
Taishang Laojun was shaken. I merely wanted to make a health meal. Has Second Brother actually started creating a world?
Tongtian Jiaozhu was even more speechless. I only wanted to stew some meat. Second Brother actually used Pangu's Creation of the World?
Yuanshi Tianzun watched the shocked expressions of his two brothers and treasured disciple.
An unprecedented sense of satisfaction rose within him.
In cooking, I, Yuanshi, have won completely!
He picked up a pair of Mutton-Fat Jade Chopsticks and elegantly lifted the fingernail-sized "roasted qilin" from the "mountainside."
He brought it to Lin Shen's mouth.
"Come, Lin Shen. Taste Second Master's cooking."
Lin Shen opened his little mouth and swallowed the "miniature qilin."
The moment it entered his mouth—
A rich burst of meat aroma exploded across his tongue!
The saltiness was perfect, accompanied by the taste of peculiar spices.
The outer skin was crisp, while the inside was brimming with juices.
The layers of texture were unbelievably rich!
This was simply a delicacy that could not exist in the mortal world!
Lin Shen's eyes lit up at once, and he clapped his little hands excitedly.
"Yah! Yah!"
More! More!
Yuanshi Tianzun had won a complete victory.
Although his face remained stern and imposing, the smile at the corners of his eyes could no longer be hidden.
Using his jade chopsticks with elegant precision, he fed Lin Shen the various "buildings" and "creatures" on Five Flavors Immortal Mountain one after another.
Lin Shen ate with immense delight, his little mouth never stopping.
Taishang Laojun and Tongtian Jiaozhu, standing beside him, had completely become supporting props.
Tongtian Jiaozhu looked at the enormous turtlefish in his pot.
For the first time, he felt that it no longer smelled appealing.
Compared to Second Brother's plate of "immortal mountain," his pot of stew was practically pig feed.
He angrily poked at the fish with his spoon, turning his grief and indignation into appetite as he began eating it himself.
Taishang Laojun silently put away his Star Spiritual Rice Porridge.
He had made up his mind.
From this day onward, he would enter seclusion!
Not to comprehend the Dao, but to research recipes!
He was the dignified Grand Supreme Patriarch, number one in alchemy across the world. Could he really lose to his second brother in cooking?
Absolutely not!
This "arms race" initiated by Yuanshi Tianzun ended with his overwhelming victory.
But it also thoroughly ignited the competitive spirits of the other two big shots.
Lin Shen had no idea that, because of his unintentional "judgment," the future standard of meals on Kunlun Mountain was about to undergo an epic leap.
He only knew that today's meal had been especially delicious.
After eating and drinking his fill, Yuanshi Tianzun did not let Lin Shen go play as usual.
Instead, he carried him to the study in Yuxu Palace.
Brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone had already been prepared in the study.
Of course, none of them were ordinary items.
The brush was made from a Ten-Thousand-Year Purple Hair Brush, the ink was blended from True Dragon Blood and Phoenix Marrow, the paper was a Cloud Brocade Heavenly Robe woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk, and the inkstone had been polished from a Chaos Divine Stone.
Any one of those items, if brought out alone, would make the great powers of the primordial world fight until their heads bled.
"Lin Shen."
Yuanshi Tianzun's voice was incomparably gentle.
"You have already developed spiritual intelligence. It is time for you to begin learning to read and write."
"Today, Second Master will teach you to write your name."
Study?
Lin Shen's little face instantly fell.
Were the good days over?
Was a three-year-old baby like me about to start school?
In his previous life, he had suffered terribly under nine years of compulsory education and all kinds of exams. He had an instinctive resistance to studying.
He wanted to refuse, but seeing the anticipation in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes, he could not bring himself to say it.
After all, he had just eaten such an incredible meal from him.
Yuanshi Tianzun thought he had not understood, so he personally held Lin Shen's little hand.
After dipping the brush full of ink, he wrote two ancient Dao characters on the enormous Cloud Brocade paper, stroke by stroke.
"Lin." "Shen."
These two characters contained Yuanshi Tianzun's understanding of the Great Dao.
Dao charm flowed between their strokes, as though they had come alive.
Lin Shen looked at the two characters, but his mind was occupied by something else.
Writing is so boring.
How about trying my new divine ability?
A flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of the Words Manifest Reality he had just obtained.
Didn't the system say that I need to understand laws before I can use it?
Second Master just wrote these two characters. The characters themselves contain Dao charm and laws.
Could I borrow this power of law to use my divine ability?
Once that thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
He decided to take a risk.
I'm only trying it once. There shouldn't be any major problem, right?
He stared at the character "Lin" on the paper, focused his mind, and exhausted all the mana in his body.
In a childish voice, yet with incomparable clarity, he spoke a single word:
"Grow!"
Before you continue