Dish after dish was offered up, and dish after dish was rejected.
Only when it was the eighth contestant's turn did Xue Wa emerge from the Food-Making Hut.
"This dish of mine is called Clear Skies. Please taste it, my lord."
Xue Wa placed her finished dish on the Tasting Stage and spoke rather timidly.
Watching from a distance, Chen Lin saw that she had made a plate of pastries. They were colorful and quite beautiful, but he had no idea whether they would be selected.
To his eyes, all the preceding dishes had looked extremely appetizing, with color, aroma, and flavor all in perfect harmony. Yet their entire army had been wiped out-not one had even won a single judge's approval.
And to receive even the lowest one-star rating, a dish needed to satisfy at least three judges.
"Oh? Not bad, not bad. This deserves one star."
The first to taste it was still the Big-Mouthed Fur Ball, who ate one pastry and nodded.
Chen Lin's expression shifted. This Big-Mouthed Fur Ball was exceptionally picky. If even he awarded it one star, Xue Wa's dish should have no trouble earning a one-star rating. It might even earn two stars.
A two-star rating likewise only required approval from more than half the judges.
However, after tasting it, the second judge also awarded it one star.
The remaining judges then tasted it in turn, and all gave it a one-star rating. Even the Golden Goblet Marquis was no exception.
Although every judge approved it, they had all awarded it one star, so the dish could only receive a one-star rating.
Even so, Xue Wa was beside herself with delight. She happily accepted her rewards and returned to Chen Lin's side.
"Congratulations!"
Chen Lin greeted her with a smile.
Though it was