"Master Lu, please look at that cultivator standing in the corner with the smiling face and eyes narrowed into slits. His name is Xie Qi, and he's a favorite to win this competition. He has never lost a single Immortal Chef duel!" Ma Bin of the Ma family's pastry shop, who chopped vegetables in the Imperial Kitchen, introduced the various Immortal Chefs to Lu Yang with great dedication.
Xie Qi had a medicine jar hanging from his waist and smiled at everyone as though he had never opened his eyes. He was famous throughout the Immortal Chef world. Even among five-star Immortal Chefs, there were differences in skill. Whenever the other five-star Immortal Chefs looked at him, their eyes darted away in fear. That was the awe reserved for the strong.
But Lu Yang failed to notice that the other Immortal Chefs were also quietly distancing themselves from Ma Bin.
Ma Bin was a favorite to win as well!
"Oh? He's that capable?"
"Xie Qi has an ability. I don't know whether it comes from his cultivation technique or whether he was born with it, but he can imitate other people's movements."
"His tongue is extraordinary too. He's exceptionally sensitive to the taste of food. Even the tiniest flaw will be magnified without limit in his mouth."
"Anyone who competes against him in an Immortal Chef duel will find him completely copying their movements. After tasting the finished dish, he'll improve upon it."
"That way, the dishes he makes will always be a cut above his opponent's!"
Lu Yang nodded. This was indeed a difficult opponent to deal with.
"Anyone else?"
"There's also that female cultivator in the ice-blue dress. Her name is An Tong. She's never lost either, but she relies on sheer ability. Although she was born without