Calling the Chinese Recipe Collection an ancient inherited sect-protecting treasure—Sect Leader Jun was truly shameless.

Liu Wanshi believed it.

On the road to Tianyu Royal City, she constantly studied the recipe book, utterly amazed by every dish and every procedure in the eight major cuisines.

“Sect Leader!”

Liu Wanshi said excitedly, “With this recipe book, I’m even more confident about the culinary competition!”

There were many dishes in the Chinese Recipe Collection she’d never seen before.

As long as she mastered the heat and seasonings, making them during the competition would definitely achieve good results!

Jun Changxiao said, “You must win first place and raise the prestige of my Iron Bones Sect!”

“Yes!”

Liu Wanshi nodded vigorously.

“However.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Before that, you also need to practice more.”

Liu Wanshi smiled. “What dish does the Sect Leader want to eat? I can try making it!”

“Uh.”

After brief consideration, Jun Changxiao said, “How about sweet and sour carp first?”

This was Lu cuisine, and also his hometown dish.

…

Boom!

In the small river, water suddenly surged up, and various species of fish were directly blasted out, then fell onto the ground.

Jun Changxiao put away his AMW sniper rifle. “Dudu, see if there are any carp.”

System: “…”

Using a gun to blast fish for a meal—this operation was truly outrageous!

Liu Wanshi ran over, picked up a large carp, and smiled brilliantly. “Sect Leader, there are several!”

“Collect them all.”

“Got it!”

They had the fish. Liu Wanshi began setting up the stove and preparing seasonings.

“Sect Leader, there’s no white sugar.”

“This…”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes shifted. “Using honey as a substitute works too.”

Saying this, he released his spiritual sense, successfully locked onto a beehive in the distance, then swaggered over.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Bees flew out, sensing danger approaching, and immediately attacked.

Unfortunately, facing Sect Leader Jun whose entire body was covered in armor, they couldn’t cause any damage at all.

The System completely collapsed.

Using Spirit Armor to take honey—this was really making a mountain out of a molehill!

“I’m happy to.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Does it concern you?”

This guy not only used a gun to blast fish, Spirit Armor to resist little bees’ attacks, but also used Exquisite Fire to control the heat under the pot.

In one word: extravagant!

…

Whoosh whoosh!

Exquisite Fire burned under the stove. Liu Wanshi tied on an apron and began cooking attentively according to the recipe.

Serious women are the most beautiful.

Serious lolis are even cuter.

Shortly after.

The golden-colored sweet and sour carp came out of the pot.

Because he worried readers might learn it, the author encrypted Liu Wanshi’s cooking process and every procedure.

Want to learn? Go look it up yourself.

Jun Changxiao tasted it and savored it carefully.

“How is it?” Liu Wanshi blinked her eyes, full of anticipation.

Jun Changxiao praised, “Crispy outside, tender inside, sweet and sour, fragrant and delicious—not bad, not bad!”

Actually, it was different from the sweet and sour carp he’d eaten before. The difference was in lacking that bit of hometown flavor.

Very normal.

A person from another world, even if they mastered the method for sweet and sour carp, might not be able to make authentic Lu cuisine with soul.

“I wonder if in this lifetime I’ll ever be able to eat the most authentic hometown dishes again.”

Jun Changxiao was homesick again.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi said, “During the culinary competition, I’ll use this dish to compete with them!”

“Perfect.”

Jun Changxiao smiled. “The championship is in the bag.”

Liu Wanshi said, “The culinary competition is like the sect competition—you have to go through several rounds of competition. Relying on just one dish won’t work.”

“Then choose several more from the recipe book.”

“Yes.”

…

Jun Changxiao and Liu Wanshi continued toward Tianyu Royal City. Because they specifically took side paths and didn’t enter cities to sightsee, their travel speed was actually faster.

Ten days later.

The two entered Tianyu Royal City’s territory.

Indeed worthy of being Southwest Yang Province’s showcase—the official road was built very grandly. Several carriages could travel side by side without issue.

The pedestrians on the road all had deep cultivation.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao exclaimed, “Wuzongs everywhere, Wushis as common as dogs.”

The System said, “Are there more rich people in small county towns or in the city?”

“Of course in the city,” Jun Changxiao said without hesitation.

The System said, “So in this kind of royal city territory, seeing Wuzongs everywhere is very normal.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Southwest Yang Province is just ordinary in the Starfall Continent. If we went to a stronger province, would there be Wuhuangs everywhere and Wuwangs as common as dogs?”

“If the host wants to be a dog so badly, should I cooperate and say yes?” the System said.

“Go to hell!”

Clop clop clop!

On the official road behind them, dozens of martial cultivators in tight uniforms came galloping on horses.

These horses were tall and robust, completely red, with flames under their feet—they looked truly majestic!

“Crimson Flame Soldiers!” someone exclaimed.

The pedestrians’ expressions changed, hurriedly making way, their gazes filled with wariness.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi transmitted her voice. “These are Tianyu Royal City’s Imperial Guards. We should quickly move aside.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao responded.

They’d just moved to the side when dozens of soldiers riding flame-footed horses galloped past.

Just as Sect Leader Jun had turned around, the leader passed by him, intentionally or unintentionally turning her head, and in that brief moment, their eyes met.

It was a woman.

Wearing crimson battle armor, black hair flying in the wind, very heroic and valiant.

The two only had brief eye contact, then separated.

If this were a TV drama, it would definitely use various camera angles and slow motion, lasting dozens of seconds, to show how a man and woman confirmed each other with their eyes in a chance encounter.

“My heavens!”

“That was Princess Red Lotus who just rode by!”

“Isn’t Princess Red Lotus cultivating at Tianyu Academy? How could she appear outside the city?”

The pedestrians immediately started discussing, their gazes filled with admiration.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi was extremely excited. “That was Princess Red Lotus who just passed by!”

“Is she impressive?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Princess Red Lotus is the daughter of Tianyu Royal City’s City Lord and possesses the Fire Spirit Body. She’s one of the top geniuses in our Southwest Yang Province and even across the entire Starfall Continent!” Liu Wanshi’s eyes were full of worship.

“Fire Spirit Body?”

Jun Changxiao murmured, “No wonder the Exquisite Fire inside me got a bit restless just now.”

Liu Wanshi said, “Moreover, Princess Red Lotus is also a great beauty. It’s said she ranks second on the Peerless Beauty Rankings!”

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

If it wasn’t the Outstanding Heroes Rankings, it was the Peerless Beauty Rankings—how idle and bored did someone have to be to create these!

If they had the ability, they should make a Handsome as Jade Sect Leader Rankings.

If I don’t take first place, I’ll immediately commit suicide in front of the world!

System: “…”

“However.”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin. “That woman is quite pretty. If… she could join my Iron Bones Clanging Sect, that would be nice.”

Princess Red Lotus, this kind of person with background, talent, and looks—a rich and beautiful woman—normal men would think if they could marry her, they’d definitely reach the peak of life.

Sect Leader Jun actually thought about recruiting her into the sect.

Truly beyond help!

“Dudu.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Your eldest senior sister’s talent is no weaker than hers. How come I don’t see you worshipping her like this?”

“Eh?”

Liu Wanshi froze, patting her small head. “Right! Eldest senior sister is also very impressive. How come I didn’t think of her!”

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

So the little girl only saw outsiders as outstanding, completely ignoring that her fellow sect members were actually more outstanding.

…

Tianyu Royal City was very large and very grand. When Jun Changxiao arrived at the city gate and merely looked at that towering city wall, his mouth fell open.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi said in a low voice, “Everyone’s looking at you.”

“Uh.”

Jun Changxiao recovered from his stunned expression, straightened his posture. “Let’s go in.”

“Ahhh!”

Just then, Liu Wanshi screamed, “Sect Leader, look, it’s Princess Red Lotus, it’s Princess Red Lotus!”

Jun Changxiao shook his head secretly. “Total little fangirl.”