Liu Wanshi won the championship of the Culinary Arts Competition. Logically, the competition should have ended and everyone should have dispersed, but the martial artists watching the event still hadn’t left.

Because there was still one more segment—during the finals stage, the dishes made by the participants would be publicly auctioned, and the highest bidder could taste one bite.

That’s right.

Just one bite!

The ten judges gave such high praise to the Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs, so many martial artists were naturally itching with curiosity and wanted to try it for themselves.

All nine dishes from the Ouyang Family scored zero points. Even if they were paid to eat them, no one would try them.

Sect Leader Jun, who had originally planned to leave with Liu Wanshi, heard Ouyang Jun mention there was still this segment and became quite interested, standing in place to wait.

Before long.

An elder from the Shen Family walked onto the stage again and announced loudly: “I believe everyone is already eagerly anticipating this. The dishes made during the finals will now be officially auctioned, with a starting price of ten thousand taels!”

Ten thousand taels?

Jun Changxiao asked in astonishment: “Who has money to burn, spending a spirit stone’s worth just to eat one bite of food?”

Poverty limited Sect Leader Jun’s imagination.

When the auction began, many martial cultivators from great families competed frantically to bid, and in a very short time the price shot up from ten thousand to one hundred thousand taels!

“…”

Sect Leader Jun’s mouth twitched.

One hundred thousand taels to eat one bite of food—these wealthy people in the Royal City were truly ostentatious!

Under normal circumstances, no one would be willing to spend 100,000 to eat one bite of food, but Liu Wanshi was a contestant who scored perfect marks in all three rounds.

The ten judges were all experts in food appreciation. Given such high praise, the food she made was absolutely a delicacy of the mortal realm. Spending a large sum to eat one bite was definitely worth it!

The first martial cultivator obtained the qualification to taste the Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs for 100,000 taels.

He took a small spoon and ate one bite. The entire person stood frozen in place, his soul seemingly flying to the ninth heaven!

“My heavens!”

After a moment, that martial artist shouted loudly: “It’s absolutely too delicious—”

Was this too exaggerated?

No, no, no!

Next auction, they must win the bid to see what was so extraordinary about this championship dish!

And so, the wealthy martial cultivators continued competing with their bids.

In the end, one plate of Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs was tasted by over ten people in turns, bringing in a total of over two million taels.

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

Dudu’s cooking was so popular—she could definitely open a restaurant.

More than just popular.

Every martial cultivator who tasted it was amazed beyond words, endlessly savoring the taste, and all agreed that spending money to eat just one bite was truly—super worth it!

Seeing that Liu Wanshi’s dishes had such profitable value, the organizers took out her previous home-style dish and Sweet and Sour Carp to auction again.

The first two dishes had already gone cold, so the texture and flavor were definitely not as good as before, but many martial artists still enthusiastically competed in the bidding, just to personally taste the delicacies made by the champion!

…

“Sect Leader Jun.”

The Shen Family elder brought over a spatial ring and said: “According to the Culinary Arts Competition rules, dishes made by the champion are auctioned off, with profits split fifty-fifty with the organizers. Here are the three million taels your disciple deserves.”

In other words.

Liu Wanshi’s three dishes sold for a total of six million taels.

Even her everyday home-style cooking sold for one million taels.

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched as he said: “Dudu cooks at the sect every day. According to these prices, wouldn’t my disciples and I be eating through several billion per meal?”

No, no, no.

Opening a restaurant—this must be seriously considered!

Liu Wanshi won the championship of the Culinary Arts Competition with perfect scores in all three rounds, and her three dishes sold for astronomical prices. In a short time, the news spread throughout the Royal City.

Without a doubt.

This eleven or twelve-year-old girl would leave a heavy mark in the culinary history of Southwest Yangzhou.

The Ouyang Family, which had been in the cooking business for generations, unfortunately became a foil. Their nine direct descendants receiving zero points would also become a laughingstock for others to discuss.

First their establishment was trashed, then they were thoroughly defeated in their own area of expertise.

The Ouyang Family had taken a complete tumble.

…

The next day.

Martial artists throughout the city were still hotly discussing yesterday’s Culinary Arts Competition.

Sect Leader Jun, at dawn, left the Royal City with Liu Wanshi and Ouyang Jun.

Having participated in the competition for half a month, it was time to return to the sect.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi asked in confusion: “Didn’t you say you wanted to recruit disciples at the academy? Are you leaving without recruiting even one?”

Jun Changxiao said: “Don’t force anything, let everything follow fate.”

“Oh.”

Liu Wanshi understood.

The three of them walked along the street toward the city gate.

Along the way, many martial artists cast respectful and awed glances their way.

This sect master from a ninth-rank minor commandery had accomplished things in just a few days in the Royal City that earned their profound admiration.

“Teacher Jun!”

Just then, a shout came from behind. Huo Ling was rapidly catching up.

Jun Changxiao stopped and asked: “No classes today?”

Huff, huff!

Huo Ling stopped, hands on his knees, bending over and breathing heavily. He said: “Teacher… Teacher Jun, I… I want to join the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!”

The surrounding martial cultivators’ eyes flashed with surprise.

This was a direct descendant of the Huo Family, one of the Royal City’s eight great families. In terms of strength, they were absolutely no weaker than fourth or fifth-rate sects. Who would have thought he would actively apply to join a sect!

“Why do you want to join?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Huo Ling gradually calmed his rapid breathing, then shouted loudly: “Following Teacher Jun, I can learn real skills!”

“What else?”

“Following Teacher Jun, I can become strong!”

“What else?”

“Following Teacher Jun… I can eat good food!”

“Pfft.”

Liu Wanshi covered her mouth and laughed.

Jun Changxiao said seriously: “Joining the Iron Bones Sect is not impossible, but no matter how noble your status, once you enter the sect you’re just an ordinary disciple.”

“Understood!” Huo Ling shouted loudly.

He had the idea of joining the Iron Bones Sect yesterday and deliberately returned to his family to discuss it with his father, insisting on his opinion. No matter what, he wanted to join, even if just as a menial disciple!

“You’re currently an academy student.”

“Teacher Jun, I’ve already applied to the principal for early graduation!”

Such an operation existed?

Jun Changxiao said: “Since that’s the case, then follow this seat back to the Iron Bones Sect.”

“Yes!”

Huo Ling immediately clasped his hands toward Liu Wanshi and said: “Little Senior Sister, this junior disciple pays his respects.”

This kid really knows how to butter people up!

“Teacher Jun!”

Another shout came from within the city gate. The students from Gathering Excellence Hall all came running over, shouting loudly: “We also want to join the Iron Bones Sect!”

Among them was even Chu Xiunan!

He initially refused, but yesterday his father called him home and threatened him with a leather whip, saying: “My son, you must join the Iron Bones Sect.”

The direct descendants of the Royal City’s great families with outstanding talent collectively shouted about wanting to join the Iron Bones Sect, leaving the passersby dumbfounded.

“Why do you want to join?”

“Following Teacher Jun, we can rise above others!”

The Gathering Excellence Hall students shouted in unison.

“Since that’s the case.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Why aren’t you lining up properly!”

Swish! Swish!

The thirty-nine Gathering Excellence Hall students formed ranks.

Jun Changxiao looked toward the Royal City, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he said: “Principal Situ, this seat is taking your students away.”

Within the academy, Situ Haoyun helplessly shook his head.

They asked him to be an honorary instructor to teach the students, but after teaching for just a few days, he’d led all the students away.

“Family heads of the various families!”

Jun Changxiao continued: “This seat is taking your direct descendants back to the sect to train and discipline. If they cannot rise above others in the future, you can come to the sect to settle accounts with Jun at any time!”

“Sect Leader Jun.”

A deep voice came from within the city: “My son has an arrogant temperament. In the future, please take extra care with him.”

“It’s Family Head Chu!” Everyone exclaimed in unison.

“Farewell!”

Jun Changxiao cupped his hands and, leading the direct descendants of the Tianyu Royal City’s great families, marched back to the Iron Bones Sect in grand fashion.

Although the family heads of the various great families didn’t come to see them off, they also released their spiritual awareness, watching their family’s direct descendants gradually disappear. In their hearts they thought: “I hope this decision is the right one.”