Chapter 746: Section 534: Fell Asleep While Eating
The dragon liver that Ci Haishen brought out was of a verdant green color, the size of a millstone.
At first, the dragon liver did not exude the slightest scent, but as the seal was lifted, it immediately caught the audience’s attention.
Golden Level ingredients!
"Could it be that Ci Haishen has decided to make a Golden Level dish?" the bishop muttered subconsciously touching his own stomach, feeling lucky.
Mei Landu frowned slightly, puzzled, "That shouldn’t be. Given the current situation, although Ci Haishen is falling behind, his disadvantage isn’t yet a defeat. He still has a chance to turn things around. If he starts making a Golden Level dish now, the risk is significant."
The City Lord of Snowbird Port then expanded the Magic Image, focusing on the dragon liver. A few seconds later, his brow smoothed out, "This piece of dragon liver is quite intact, but it’s not from a dragon. It should be from some kind of Wind Element Dragon Beast."
Eating a pure dragon is taboo.
Anyone who kills a dragon is almost always marked. Dragons within a certain range can sense the wanted imprint and will pursue the killer with all their might.
The Dragon Clan, though powerful individually, requires a lengthy growth period and reproduces much more slowly compared to the Human Race and Elves.
It is precisely because of such wanted imprints that the safety of dragon populations is somewhat guaranteed.
Even though the Dragon Clan has been in decline for a long time, these wanted imprints still instill fear in countless people.
Even if Ci Haishen is not the dragon slayer, by cooking in public, he would be deemed an enemy by the Dragon Clan.
Put yourself in their shoes to understand.
If there was another race whose chef publicly roasted human hearts for consumption, how would humans feel? Of course, they would view the chef as an enemy and, if possible, bring them to justice.
Moreover, in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, there exists the White Dragon Clan. They dwell on the highest peaks of Ice Sculpture Island, and the Ice Sculpture Royal Family has always strived to maintain an alliance with the White Dragon Clan.
Hence, if Ci Haishen were to cook the liver of a dragon in public, the trouble would extend beyond himself; even the City Lord of Snowbird Port would be in a tough spot.
The liver Ci Haishen brought out, of course, wasn’t that of a dragon, not even a sub-dragon but a Dragon Beast.
Dragon Beasts are usually the offspring of some beast class mixing with dragon class, possessing traits of the beasts and abilities of dragons, such as wings, Flame Breath, etc. They usually have smaller statures, far from the imposing grandeur of true dragons.
Ci Haishen’s expression was somber as he began processing the dragon liver.
This ingredient was initially prepared by Ci Haishen for the Ice Sculpture National Ceremony; he hadn’t expected to use it so soon.
Although it was just a Dragon Beast, its Golden Level status was genuine, ensuring the value of this piece of dragon liver.
Ci Haishen could not help but use it as only an ingredient of such Level could attract the Big Guy.
Under the control of Ci Haishen’s spiritual power, a series of sharp paring knives began to systematically peel the dragon liver.
Then he removed the sinews.
After that, Ci Haishen employed the Clear Spring Technique to continuously rinse the dragon liver.
Once the dragon liver was cleaned, Ci Haishen used the largest type of cleaver to cut it.
The dragon liver was quickly sliced into thin pieces.
Ci Haishen took out seasonings one by one, starting to marinate the dragon liver.
He used a pocket watch, manipulating time, to accelerate the flow of time for the dragon liver.
Then he took out the weeping green chili, the angry red chili, and the smiling yellow chili. These were all Silver Level ingredients.
Seeing this, Mei Landu in the Observation Room was startled: "These are Emotion Chilies. With so many, I understand Lord Ci Haishen’s plan."
"He doesn’t plan on making a Golden Level dish, but intends to downgrade the dragon liver."
"His target must be the giant!"
"Ah? Why should he downgrade it?" asked the bishop, expressing his disappointment.
Mei Landu still explained, "High-Level ingredients are not friendly to Low-level Transcendents. So, Advanced Magic Chefs almost always have the ability to downgrade ingredients."
"By downgrading High-Level ingredients, the resulting Low-Level dishes have nutrition that exceeds the normal Low-Level dishes."
"Generally speaking, this is an extravagant method that Great Nobles adopt to nurture their offspring."
The City Lord of Snowbird Port sighed, "This giant is indeed fortunate. I have never enjoyed such treatment."
That was the truth.
Although the City Lord of Snowbird Port had Mei Landu at his side, the latter was only Silver Level.
Mei Landu could not make Extraordinary Dishes at the Golden Level, and the City Lord of Snowbird Port being at the Golden Level, would need at least Holy Domain Level ingredients to make downgraded Golden Level dishes.
This far exceeded the capabilities of both the City Lord of Snowbird Port and Mei Landu.
Generally, to make Silver Level dishes that have been downgraded, you would need a Golden Level Magic Chef. And to have a Golden Level Magic Chef serve you long-term, the household must possess at least the power of the Holy Domain Level, or be a Great Noble with profound heritage and vast power.
Mei Landu, indeed worthy of being one chosen by Ci Haishen, saw through his purpose from the accompanying dishes.
"This giant can indeed eat a lot, but can Ci Haishen succeed?" asked the bishop curiously.
Mei Landu mused, "In my opinion, the hope of success is not small. According to the rules, as soon as both sides’ Magic Chefs start making Golden Level dishes, the Array that separates smells will automatically open. Just the aroma of the dishes alone is enough to attract everyone."
The City Lord of Snowbird Port followed up, "But Ci Haishen is planning to downgrade, to make a Silver Level dish."
Mei Landu nodded, "He will perform the downgrade at the very last stage, but the Array opens when he uses Golden Level ingredients. Therefore, during the preparation of the dish, the strong aroma will burst forth."
"Only when he finishes the downgrade process will the Array close again."
The bishop understood, "So, Ci Haishen is exploiting a loophole in the rules."
Mei Landu shook his head slightly, "Actually, this can’t be considered a loophole but a clever use of the rules. When he takes out the Golden Level ingredients, he has already paid a sufficient price."
"After all, all the ingredients used in the contest are paid out of the Magic Chefs’ own pockets."
As Mei Landu explained, Ci Haishen had already poured cold oil into a hot wok and added slivers of ginger to stir-fry.
Then, he added dragon liver to the wok and stir-fried it until it changed color.
Next, he added three colors of Emotion Chilis and continued to stir-fry.
He took out a small glass bottle and carefully poured some sand salt into it.
The audience was slightly stirred once again.
This seasoning was also of Golden Level, named Time Sand Salt.
"This is made with Time Sand as the main ingredient," Mei Landu said. "The value of this small bottle could buy fifty portions of the dragon liver he is currently stir-frying."
And that wasn’t all.
Ci Haishen then took out a bottle of purple-black seasoned oil and poured some into the base of the wok.
This was also a Golden Level seasoning.
The City Lord of Snowbird Port and the Sea Bird Bishop were not magic chefs and couldn’t identify it.
Luckily, Mei Landu was there to reveal the truth: "This is Hunger Devil Oil, which can help the diners speed up the digestion of the food they have consumed. Lord Ci Haishen is not only attracting the giant but also helping him digest. It appears he has high hopes for this giant."
Magic Chef Da Dou’s eyes widened.
Ever since Ci Haishen had taken out the Golden Level dragon liver, Da Dou’s attention had been drawn.
By the time Ci Haishen took out the Emotion Chili, Da Dou instantly understood the other’s plan.
"Is he competing for the giant’s attention? Should I... change my tactics?" Da Dou hesitated.
His strategy was quite unique, focusing solely on making Yangzhou Fried Rice.
His recipe was a composite one, capable of producing Ordinary Level, Bronze Level, Black Iron Level, and Silver Level fried rice.
Of course, if he used Golden Level ingredients, he could make Golden Level dishes as well!
When making Golden Level fried rice, his success rate and the amount served would far exceed normal circumstances.
This was precisely the strength of Da Dou’s strategy!
But now was not the time to risk making Golden Level dishes.
Da Dou was still in the lead.
Although Ci Haishen was using Golden Level ingredients, he was making lower level dishes, so the risk he was taking did not compare to making Golden Level dishes.
Apart from the big guy, there were still other Transcendents with good appetites. Moreover, people continued to refine their Fighting Energy, digesting food.
After a moment of hesitation, Da Dou decided to continue with his plan.
The big guy’s nostrils flared.
His belly had shrunk again, awakened by the intense aroma.
Different from the previous confused look in his eyes, this time he stared straight along the scent of the food to the large pot where Ci Haishen was stir-frying.
The big guy stood up and ran towards Ci Haishen.
"Well then, I’ll take the key to this victory," Ci Haishen said, unable to help the triumphant smile that spread across his face as the big guy arrived in his section.
In the final phase, the Golden Level aroma dissipated quickly, reducing to Silver Level.
It was ready to serve.
The explosively stir-fried dragon liver was placed on a huge plate, and then, under the control of Ci Haishen’s spiritual power, it flew directly in front of the big guy.
The big guy tried to grab it, but the plate swiftly flew away.
The plate was not flying fast, gently leading the big guy step by step towards Ci Haishen’s long table before coming to rest on the tabletop.
The big guy’s drool had already left a trail, excitedly lifting the plate, he swallowed the dragon liver in two gulps.
Then, his attention was drawn to the countless dishes on the long table.
His eyes sparkled, discovering that there was so much more delicious food here!
There was nothing more to say; it was time to eat!
Watching the big guy throw one dish after another into his mouth, Ci Haishen’s smile turned triumphant.
He began planning his next move: "Now that the giant has been lured here, I have to prevent him from being drawn away."
"So the dishes I make next have to be a bit more high-end than before."
"The giant needs to sleep to digest food, and all that is time, which should be minimized. So I need to make some easily digestible food."
"Hmm... I’ve decided to make Sturgeon Fish Maw next; the delicious taste will surely entice him nonstop!"
Magic — Clone Technique.
Ci Haishen created a dozen clones, all working on the Sturgeon Fish Maw at the same time.
By the time the big guy had finished the inventory on the long table, plate after plate of Sturgeon Fish Maw was already flying towards him.
Initially, he used his hands to take the plates, but soon, with Ci Haishen’s active cooperation, he only needed to open his mouth and lift his neck, waiting for the fish maw to drop in.
"Delicious, delicious, so delicious!"
"Hurrhurr..."
Munching away, the big guy eventually fell asleep.