The cheers from the townspeople grew even more fervent. After all, those were items once used by an Immortal.

And what's more, why would an Immortal need a kitchen knife? Surely the dishes cut with it would taste even better.

So the townspeople were all in a frenzy. Who wouldn't want every meal they cook to be delicious, or their snacks to taste even better?

After waiting for the townspeople to quiet down a bit, the mayor spoke again, this time about the competition rules: "The rules this time are the same as before: no cheating, no using special ingredients. But this time, there's an additional rule: the snack you make cannot be the one you sell. During registration, lots will be drawn. Whatever snack you draw is the one you must make for the competition."

"Huh? Why is it like this?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"If it's not the snack we sell, how are we supposed to make it? I can't make anything else!"

"Yeah, with only two days, we can't even learn it!"

"But what if you draw the snack you actually sell? Isn't that practically a win?"

The townspeople didn't understand why the mayor would come up with such a rule.

"I think you're all curious about why there is this new rule this year?" The mayor listened to the objections from below and then spoke,

"Yes, mayor, why is there this rule this year?"

"Exactly, what if someone draws the snack they're best at? Isn't that an instant win?"

The mayor looked at the clamoring below and tapped the ground with his cane.

Seeing the mayor about to explain, the townspeople stopped their discussions, eager to hear why the mayor had added such a rule this year.

"First, rest assured of one thing: if you draw a snack you're already skilled at, the result will be canceled and you'll draw again." The mayor paused and continued, "The reason for adding this rule is simple: don't you feel that doing the same thing every year, making the snack you're best at, is a bit dull? Year after year, with no innovation, only focusing on your own snack."

"If you haven't studied other snacks, you won't make any progress. Sticking to your little corner, what improvement can there be? Our Snack Town is called Snack Town because our snacks are exceptionally delicious, but in recent years, the number of tourists has decreased, not as many as before. Why is that?

It's because you've become lazy, believing your snacks are already tasty enough, requiring no more effort. As long as the quality doesn't drop, things can stay the same.

Wrong, that's a big mistake! Did you know, 500 kilometers northwest of us, the Big Eating Town that once mimicked our Snack Town now attracts far more tourists than we do? When they first started, we mocked them, claiming that imitation wouldn't lead to success.

But now? Big Eating Town is thriving, and although this year isn't over yet, their number of tourists is already twice ours.

And you? Still complaining about the new rules in the Snack Competition.

To tell the truth, the rules this time are borrowed from them. Back then, they copied us, made slight changes, and succeeded. This year, we're borrowing their successful tactics to see if we can reclaim our position as the snack leader.

Do you have confidence?"

The more the mayor spoke, the more excited he became, until he was almost shouting. Because of his age and limited lung capacity, he nearly lost his breath.

Upon hearing the mayor's words, the townspeople erupted.

"What? The imitator from back then is now better than us?"

"We've been surpassed?"

"Take down Big Eating Town and reclaim our title as snack leader."

"Yes, take down Big Eating Town."

Ye Tianfan saw the shop assistant next to him shouting excitedly.

Is it that necessary? So excited over just snacks. Sure, they're delicious, but it sounds like going to war.

Ye Tianfan didn't understand why they were so excited. In a way, it was like the Taichu Sect in the cultivation world. If suddenly realizing they've been surpassed by the long-standing second-place Armored Sect, even if Taichu Sect's disciples didn't get as animated as these townspeople, they'd surely feel a fire inside.

The mayor, after catching his breath, forcefully tapped the ground with his cane again. When the townspeople quieted, he pointed forward with his cane: "Townspeople, the snacks from the neighboring town have severely affected us. They're stealing our tourists, trampling on our dignity, and snatching away our livelihood! Now, we have a chance to strike back at them hard, and we can't let it go to waste. We must seize this opportunity and hit them hard. Are you willing?"

"Willing!"

The townspeople shouted wildly.

"Reclaim our title as snack leader." The mayor shouted again.

"Reclaim it!"

"We'll make that copying town shut down completely!"

"Shut down completely!"

"The registration for the competition is at the table down there. Everyone, line up to register. If anyone cuts in line or breaks the rules, as per the old rules, they'll be disqualified." After saying this, the mayor pointed to a small wooden table beside the stone platform.

Immediately, the townspeople surged toward it, but stopped about five meters away, unwilling to push forward. They quickly formed a line in front of the small wooden table.

"Excuse me, I'd like to register."

"Name, identification number, then draw a lot."

"My name is Zhang Sirui, identification number is XXXXX." As Zhang Sirui spoke, he opened the lot he drew: "Ah! I got spicy noodles with red oil."

"Okay, next!"

"My name is Li Fu..."

Seeing there was nothing more to watch, Ye Tianfan planned to head back to the inn. He noticed the shop assistant heading back too, so he walked alongside him and asked.

"Buddy, who acts as the judge in your competition?"

Ye Tianfan was curious. If possible, he wanted to apply to be a judge, so he could taste all the snacks for free. Moreover, one of the Ye Family's seventy-six techniques included a move that facilitated absorption, storing the absorbed energy.

But this move was somewhat useless in the cultivation world, where one day of cultivation could surpass a day of eating unless eating materials worth a fortune. However, using this technique here would be perfect: eating and absorbing simultaneously, not only getting to taste everything but also satisfying his craving... ah, no, and also judging.

Thinking of this, Ye Tianfan was quite looking forward to the Snack Competition coming soon.

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