A simple stove was quickly set up outside the Spirit Nurturing Pot.

The "bet" between Fan Wubing and Zhao Yangxia quickly spread, and gradually, disciples from other peaks came to watch. Among them were those who had tasted Fan Wubing's culinary skills in the Peach Branch Small Profound Realm, but most of them had low cultivation and limited insight, unable to truly determine if his skills were good. For a moment, they were unsure whether they should support him.

To help Fan Wubing cook smoothly, Senior Sister Gu Lan personally selected the ingredients.

She chose those that were the most gentle and best for cooking.

Initially intending to use ordinary firewood, she remembered how Luo Qingyao used immortal energy to ignite the fire in the Peach Branch Small Profound Realm, which was especially effective. So she said to Gu Lan,

"Senior Sister Gu, could you control the fire for me?"

Gu Lan only then realized that Fan Wubing had no cultivation, and her worry deepened. Whenever she got emotional, her waist would ache terribly. Enduring the pain, she said,

"Junior Brother Fan, how about—"

"Senior Sister Gu, everyone is watching. If I give up now, it wouldn't just be Embarrassment for me and Enlightenment Peak, but also for Nourishing Spirit Peak. I have thick skin, indifferent to rumors, and there aren't many people at Enlightenment Peak, so we're not afraid of being talked about, but Nourishing Spirit Peak... At this point, I'm already fighting for Nourishing Spirit Peak."

"Junior Brother..." Gu Lan gritted her teeth, "I will fully cooperate with you!"

She increasingly felt that this Fan Wubing was a mature child... She had seen many children his age, either being spoiled and rash or timid and fearful.

With immortal energy, a beautiful flame ignited under the boiler.

Fan Wubing rolled up his sleeves and got to work. A group of disciples stretched their necks and widened their eyes, wanting to see clearly how this so-called immortal cuisine was made.

But after observing Fan Wubing's preparation work...

This is just an ordinary chef cooking, right! How could it be related to high and mighty immortal cuisine?

Those who had seen Fan Wubing's skills sighed inwardly... They also didn't understand how Fan Wubing was able to cook such delicious and extraordinary immortal cuisine in such a plain and simple manner.

Once the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill was fully activated, Fan Wubing entered a state of focus. Previously, when making immortal cuisine, he was casual, not meticulous about the preparation and selection of ingredients, but this time, since there was a wager, he had to be especially serious.

However, even in a focused state, he could still sense a trace of disdain.

It wasn't coming from Elder Zhao Yangxia and the group of disciples, but rather... from the Spirit Nurturing Pot beside him.

Fan Wubing thought, how much disdain do you have for mortal food! Don't you understand that food is the most important to people?

Despite his discontent, his hands didn't falter one bit. Cleaning the ingredients, preparing them, seasoning, cooking, simmering... What Fan Wubing was making was the Water-Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili he had discreetly learned from Immortal Crane Tower. Of course, it had been optimized by the "Tongue Desire" from "Swallowing Stars and Chewing the Moon," retaining the innate Dao charm of the ingredients while other aspects better adhered to the "pleasing to the palate" concept.

In simple terms, the flavor profile became richer, more tantalizing to the taste buds.

Zhao Yangxia stood steadily by the side, watching Fan Wubing's operation, entirely unconvinced that this was any sort of immortal cuisine cooking method, because he couldn't sense any flow of the innate Dao charm in the ingredients, as if it was locked in place.

However, as an Artifact Refiner with a significant level of cultivation, he could feel that although Fan Wubing had no cultivation, there was an exceptionally resilient qi mechanism flowing gently within his body. Throughout his operation, he displayed a natural and harmonious aura.

It made one suspect if Fan Wubing had been a chef for decades.

Although he admired Fan Wubing's unique qi mechanism, without cultivation, there was indeed no way to mobilize the innate Dao charm in the ingredients. Unable to refine the innate Dao charm into a directly absorbable level, how could he be termed as an Immortal Chef, and how could his dishes be called immortal cuisine?

He shook his head secretly, thinking, it probably wouldn't work. As someone who cherished talent, he thought, he would only make him sweep the Celestial Craft Peak gates for a month; a year would indeed delay him too much.

Just as he was thinking this, Fan Wubing suddenly spoke,

"Senior Sister Gu, extinguish the fire, I'm about to open the pot."

"Alright!"

Gu Lan withdrew the immortal energy flames.

Fan Wubing was about to open the pot but paused, looked at Zhao Yangxia, and with a smile, bowed,

"Elder Zhao, since it's our bet, why not you personally open the pot?"

Zhao Yangxia was puzzled, wasn't it just an ordinary pot of Water-Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili, why add a sense of ceremony?

"Alright, I'll open it."

With a wave of his hand, a precise and powerful gust swept over, shaking nothing else, only lifting the pot lid.

Steam billowed out, carrying with it a lively aura, rushing outwards. Instantly, the fragrance spread, invading the noses of everyone present... Sour, fragrant, spicy, numbing, coupled with the cold water fish specially raised by Nourishing Spirit Peak, and the various auxiliary ingredients... The highly layered flavor profile stimulated the olfactory senses, immediately stirring the brain, inducing a strong appetite.

Water-Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili, a very common and seen dish. But this aroma was surprisingly good, so good that it didn't even seem like Water-Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili, or rather, not like any Water-Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili they had ever eaten.

If the crowd of disciples were merely captivated by the unparalleled rich flavors, Zhao Yangxia stood frozen in place, his expression stiff but his eyes exceptionally exhilarated.

He was the one who opened the pot himself, and no one understood better than him that the moment the pot was opened, an innate and exquisite Dao charm was etched out in the steam, depicting a scene of a fish swimming freely in water.

It was,

Innate Dao Charm!

The term "Innate Dao Charm" may sound intimidating, yet it is actually contained within all things and beings, a unique Dao charm that has existed since the beginning of the object itself.

A hallmark of an immortal cuisine is the overflowing of innate Dao charm upon serving. This signifies that the celestial energy and Dao charm contained within the ingredients have been forced out, proving it to be a qualified immortal cuisine. The clearer and richer the manifestation of innate Dao charm, the higher the level of the immortal cuisine.

What left Zhao Yangxia in a trance was the water-boiled spicy fish cooked with ordinary culinary techniques, which surprisingly exuded such a lively innate Dao charm upon serving! It was as if the cooked fish had suddenly come back to life.

Unbelievable, unbelievable!

Fan Wubing bowed and smiled,

"Please, Elder Zhao, taste it and see if it qualifies as immortal cuisine."

A dish's status as immortal cuisine is already decided at the moment the pot opens. Zhao Yangxia, unaffected by losing the bet, burst out in hearty laughter, releasing a surge of energy that echoed grandly through him,

"Well done, young man! Well done, young man! I keep my word, I'll put my current work aside and first craft a set of kitchenware customized for you!"

Fan Wubing picked a piece of fish, placed it in a dish, and handed it to Zhao Yangxia,

"I thank Elder Zhao for your great kindness."

Zhao Yangxia, after savoring it with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, his eyes gleaming, full of spirit, praising thrice,

"Good, good, good! The fish is extraordinarily delicious. The flavors of the various ingredients thoroughly blend yet maintain a clear layering. From the sour and spicy, to the fragrant and numbing, to the salty and savory, to the elusive hint of sweet lingering on the tip of the tongue, it is certainly a gourmet delicacy! A gourmet delicacy indeed!"

Zhao Yangxia, the Peak Master of Celestial Craft Peak, is renowned as an epicurean. Seeing him comment this way made the surrounding disciples involuntarily swallow.

Fan Wubing laughed,

"As long as Elder Zhao is satisfied."

He then served a portion to Gu Lan, thanking her for her help.

Gu Lan, not as versed in culinary arts as Zhao Yangxia, only knew it was delicious—so delicious it almost brought her to tears, more so from witnessing Fan Wubing's recognition perhaps.

Subsequently, Fan Wubing, without holding back, shared the pot of fish with the fellow onlookers, having tasted just a small piece himself.

[You have supplemented with "Water-Boiled Spicy Fish," estimated life value limit +0.7]

Amazing!

Just a small piece, and it added 0.7? Imagine if it were a whole fish, wouldn't it directly add twenty to thirty points? Moreover, the fish Gu Lan chose, among the many immortal culinary ingredients, was of relatively low grade.

This is what the immortal cuisine made from true immortal ingredients is like? Far superior to ordinary ingredients!

Fan Wubing was even more eager for the role of the main chef of the feast.

Hmm? He suddenly sensed an odd aura...

Where's this sour smell coming from?

It definitely wasn't the sour aroma from the spicy fish, rather... he turned to look at the Spirit Nurturing Pot.

It was this pot, seemingly wanting to express something.

At this time, the Flying Sword Peach Blossom within his Purple Mansion suddenly conveyed to him that the Spirit Nurturing Pot acknowledged his skills a bit and was willing to reluctantly give him an opportunity.

Reluctantly?

Then don't bother!

Fan Wubing immediately grinned broadly and said,

"Just an ordinary person like me, how could I possibly be worthy of such a prestigious spirit-grade treasure pot of yours, never mind, never mind, a simple iron pot hammered out by a blacksmith matches my identity just fine."

Instantly, a wave of resentment emanated from the Spirit Nurturing Pot, causing a group of disciples nearby to think someone around was dissatisfied with them.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.