As they chatted, Sister Nongyu, with her swaying waist, led the group briskly to a spacious place where a large crowd had already gathered, all eagerly watching the three stoves in the center of the crowd.
The stove was fully equipped with all the cooking utensils. There were already three people preparing at the stove. To Yang Zhen's surprise, one of them was a young girl who looked to be only a teenager.
The other two burly men watched the little girl in the middle with cold smiles, their hands moving swiftly, handling various spiritual materials with practiced ease.
Yang Zhen craned his neck to look inside with curiosity, and what he saw was Xiao Ling looking anxious. When Xiao Ling saw Yang Zhen Yang Zhen, her eyes lit up and she started searching around him.
Seeing Xiao Ling's appearance, Yang Zhen picked up Lu Benwei, who was hanging his head, and made eye contact with Xiao Ling.
Lu Benwei's expression brightened for a moment, but he quickly shrank back and said with a wry smile, "Brother Dingtian, we're just two rough men, how would we know anything about spiritual cuisine and ingredients? Aren't we going to embarrass ourselves later?"
Yang Zhen glared at Lu Benwei, annoyed, and said, "You're already chickening out before it even starts. How can you face Xiao Ling for all the good things she's done for us?"
Lu Benwei glanced furtively at Xiao Ling, who was looking down shyly, and said through gritted teeth, "But, but I really don't know how to cook spirit food."
Yang Zhen patted Lu Benwei on the shoulder and said, "Just do as I say in a moment, and I guarantee you'll become a glorious kitchen handyman."
"What?" Lu Benwei's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, " The Dingtian Brotherhood's spiritual cuisine?"
Yang Zhen chuckled and said, "More than that, I'm a renowned culinary master in our village!"
"The... God of Cookery?" Lu Benwei's expression was shocked. He looked at Yang Zhen with disbelief and hesitation.
At this moment, a commotion arose in the crowd, and a group of women walked in from the doorway, all dressed in fine clothes and exuding arrogance.
The crowd parted to make way, bowing to allow the group to enter. Immediately, someone brought out stools for them to sit down.
After everyone was seated, the woman at the head of the group said loudly, "The three of you are the most skilled independent Rogue Cultivator in the vicinity when it comes to spiritual cuisine. If you can pass the test today, you will be able to enter the Spirit Learning Palace's kitchen without any special privileges. Remember, this is a great opportunity for you, and it is your only chance. You must seize it."
Upon hearing the woman's words, the surrounding crowd gasped, their faces filled with envy.
Lu Benwei looked up and suddenly exclaimed, "It's her! I didn't expect her to be here too."
Yang Zhen turned around and saw Lu Benwei staring at the little girl in the middle who was preparing spiritual materials. He asked in surprise, "You know her?"
Lu Benwei gave a wry smile and said, "She's more than just someone I know; I doubt any Rogue Cultivator in the area doesn't know her. Brother Dingtian, if anyone's looking for an assistant later, make sure you don't go to her."
"Why?" Yang Zhen asked, puzzled. "That little girl doesn't seem to have much strength?"
That's a bit strange. Why go to those two rough men instead of that young girl?
Lu Benwei's lips twitched, and he said, "It's not about strength, it's that she's too strong. The spiritual dishes she makes can sell for a very high price. In the entire Spirit Blood Mountain Range, she's probably the Rogue Cultivator has the least shortage of spirit stones, but..."
At this point, Lu Benwei gave a wry smile and said, "It's just that she has a withdrawn personality and always likes to take unconventional approaches. The more important the spiritual dish, the more she wants to innovate. If it weren't for this habit, she would have already become a spiritual chef at the Spirit Learning Palace."
Yang Zhen chuckled upon hearing this, then glanced at the young girl. This was quite interesting; no wonder the two rough men looked at her with such schadenfreude.
At this moment, the female disciple suddenly spoke up, "Since there are no objections, then... is there anyone here who would like to try the Spiritual Cuisine Assistant?"
Upon hearing this, about ten people quickly separated from the crowd, each taking four or five spots with the two rough-looking men. Even Lu Benwei chose the rough-looking man on the left and anxiously waved to Yang Zhen.
Seeing this, the Spirit Learning Palace frowned, pointed at the young girl in the middle, and asked in a deep voice, "Is no one willing to be her assistant?"
The group exchanged glances, then lowered their heads, fearing they might be chosen.
The Spirit Learning Palace gave a soft snort, about to speak, when the young girl looked up, chuckled, and said in a crisp voice, "I don't need it!"
"No need?" The female disciple was taken aback and said, "Don't be frivolous. The Spirit Learning Palace's kitchen has many rules. If you don't finish the spiritual meal within the specified time, you won't pass the assessment. Besides... are you planning to make some unconventional spiritual meals?"
The little girl bit her lip, nodded, and said, "I want to try!"
"You..." The female disciple paused, sighed, and said, "Never mind, do you really not need an assistant?"
Just as the little girl was about to speak, a strange voice rang out from the crowd. "Um... how about I give it a try?"
Yang Zhen stepped out of the crowd and swaggered towards the little girl, grinning at her.
"You?" The young girl looked at Yang Zhen suspiciously and asked, "You only have one chance. If I can't pass the test, you won't be able to enter the kitchen either. You need to think this through."
Yang Zhen shrugged and said, "Whatever, I'm just here to give it a try anyway!"
"..." The little girl looked at Yang Zhen for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the cutting board. "Alright!"
Whoa--!
Yang Zhen's actions immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding crowd, who all looked at Yang Zhen with great interest.
"Where did this kid come from, daring to be Hu Tao's assistant?"
"Why does Hu Tao have to go through all this trouble? Why not just make a simple spiritual dish? Why insist on taking a different approach? How many times has she tried and failed?"
"What do you know? Hu Tao is pushing her own limits. Once she succeeds, her mastery of spiritual cuisine will definitely advance by leaps and bounds, and she might even become the youngest spiritual cuisine master in North Isle."
"This kid can still laugh now, but let's see what his expression is like when things get chaotic later."
The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, Hu Tao ignored it, looking at Yang Zhen and asking, "Are you ready?"
Yang Zhen shook his head with a strange expression and asked, "Aren't you going to tell me what you're going to do?"
Hu Tao gave Yang Zhen a bright smile and said, "Make it however you like."
Yang Zhen's eyes suddenly widened. "Do whatever you want?"
"Yes, otherwise how could we make a breakthrough?" Hu Tao tilted her head and looked at Yang Zhen, seemingly not understanding why Yang Zhen was so surprised.
Yang Zhen snatched the kitchen knife from Hu Tao's hand, glared at her, and said, "Little girl, I'm here to join the Spirit Learning Palace's kitchen. Don't mess around and delay my business."
Hu Tao froze for a moment, then rolled up her sleeves, put her hands on her hips, and glared at Yang Zhen, refusing to budge an inch. "Kid, I'm also here to join the Spirit Learning Palace's kitchen. If you don't want to be my assistant, you can go wait over there now."
"Huh?" Yang Zhen's eyes widened again, looking down at Hu Tao: "Without a recipe, what kind of spiritual food are you going to make? Do you want to eat dead people?"
"Eating dead people?" Hu Tao jumped onto the stool, lowered her head, and glared at Yang Zhen, saying, "Am I a spiritual chef or are you a spiritual chef?"
"Huh?"
Yang Zhen suddenly paused, then asked in surprise, "This will work? You're right, this ' Sage of Saunter' really is a Spiritual Chef. Today, this ' Sage of Saunter' will show you what a true God of Cookery is!"
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