A ninth-rank Array King coming to join—Sect Master Jun’s sense of achievement exploded.
But then he was instantly slapped in the face, because this person wasn’t coming for the sect’s reputation at all, but for Liu Wanshi.
Recently in Southwest Yang Province, the most widely discussed topic was the Tiegu Sect, yet someone actually learned about the Culinary Arts Competition that had concluded in the Royal City not long ago from among all this news.
Who?
This ninth-rank Array King!
He had already lived for several hundred years and only had two great passions.
Researching array formations.
Tasting all the world’s delicacies!
Learning that a Tiegu Sect disciple named Liu Wanshi had scored perfect marks in all three rounds of competition and successfully won the championship, he immediately became extremely interested.
He had attended Culinary Arts Competitions before, but left disappointed.
Because his palate was so refined, even eating the champion’s dishes, he could pick out a pile of flaws.
The reason he came to the Tiegu Sect was to see for himself how the food that girl made could earn perfect scores from all ten judges.
For food, he joined the Tiegu Sect.
This ninth-rank Array King really had quite the personality!
Elderly people were all a bit abnormal—no need to make a big fuss about it.
However, our Sect Master Jun’s heart was wounded.
Could it be that the Tiegu Sect this seat painstakingly built has less appeal than Dudu’s cooking?
It hurts.
My heart really hurts!
“Wait a minute.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Dudu is also my disciple. Her ability to attract a ninth-rank Array King to join is also my achievement!”
After explaining it to himself this way, he immediately perked up.
“Senior.”
Walking to the table, he picked up the admission form: “May I ask your honored name?”
The sect was still one person short. This was also a ninth-rank Array King—naturally they’d recruit him without hesitation.
As for whether he’d leave?
Sorry, once you enter my Tiegu Sect, you’re a Tiegu Sect person for life.
The old man said with his back turned, proudly: “Zhen Dejun.”
Hearing this name, Jun Changxiao’s facial muscles instantly froze.
Liu Wanshi’s father was called Ouyang Jun—that was acceptable. But this fellow being ‘Really Handsome’ was a bit much. Why not be even more shameless and call yourself Zhen Deshuai?
“So it’s Senior Zhen Dexiu. Pleasure to meet you, pleasure to meet you!”
“Zhen Dejun!”
“…”
The Sect Master’s seal stamped down on the paper: “Elder Zhen, from today forward, you’re a member of my Tiegu Sect!”
Zhen Dejun said: “Sect Master, this old man would like to meet that girl who won the Culinary Arts Competition.”
Old man, do you know how much psychic damage this statement causes Sect Master Jun? Can’t you show an expression of genuine elation at joining the Tiegu Sect!
—
*Whoosh!*
The Lightning Gathering Array was withdrawn.
Ning Duxing and Ning Duzui lay on the ground completely blackened, their hairstyles turned into explosive afros.
To make two high-rank Martial Kings so miserable—one could see just how terrifying an offensive King-level array was!
—
“Sect Master.”
Liu Wanshi wiped her small hands on her apron, then walked into the main hall asking: “Why did you call for me?”
Jun Changxiao said: “This senior who just joined the sect wants to taste your food.”
Liu Wanshi looked at Zhen Dejun and pouted: “Sect Master, it’s almost mealtime. I still need to get busy.”
The Tiegu Sect now had nearly ten thousand disciples. Though Ouyang Jun helped, the workload for each meal was still enormous—how could she have time to demonstrate her culinary skills for others?
“That’s true too.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Go get busy first. We’ll talk after you’re done.”
“Okay.”
Liu Wanshi returned to the dining hall.
“Elder Zhen.”
Jun Changxiao smiled: “It’s almost mealtime. You can eat with everyone else.”
Zhen Dejun shook his head: “A culinary master cooking is like this old man setting up arrays. Just now I set up the array so casually—though it was still a Lightning Gathering Array, the power would certainly be less than if I set it up seriously.”
Heh!
This meant the earlier Lightning Gathering Array was just casually made, and he could set up even stronger versions?
Jun Changxiao smiled: “Elder Zhen doesn’t know—Dudu’s pursuit of food is extremely exacting. Even when making large-pot dishes, they can be called culinary delights.”
“Is that so?”
Zhen Dejun said: “Then this old man will have a taste.”
From his eyes, one could see he was very skeptical.
After all, with so many disciples in a sect, the workload for cooking was massive. Food made in a rush couldn’t possibly have soul.
—
The dining hall.
Because there were more and more disciples, Li Qingyang had expanded it multiple times. By now it could accommodate ten thousand disciples.
Currently, the widest and largest building in the Tiegu Sect was this one.
When mealtime arrived, disciples rushed in, their faces showing genuine smiles.
Cultivating martial arts was undoubtedly tedious and boring. Being able to eat a delicious meal could sweep away all fatigue and troubles.
Jun Changxiao had reformed the dining hall, modeling it after cafeterias in his previous world’s work units and schools. Disciples had to take their own plates and queue up to receive their food.
Zhen Dejun had arrived early.
Seeing the rice buckets and food dishes placed on the serving counter, he shook his head.
Clearly, all this food was made together in large pots.
The more it was like this, the less soul it had, so he could only give it a ‘failure’ evaluation.
“Elder Zhen.”
Jun Changxiao came carrying a plate and smiled: “Since this is your first time joining the Tiegu Sect, this seat will personally serve your food.”
This showed just how eager for talent a superior was, how much he cared for his subordinates… whether you believe it or not, I can’t keep this up anymore.
Zhen Dejun glanced at the rice and three dishes plus soup, shaking his head: “Food without soul—eating it will only make this old man lose hope in life.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
This old man really was quite arrogant.
“Elder Zhen.”
Jun Changxiao smiled: “The quality of food can’t be judged just by appearance. Only after truly tasting it can one give a fair evaluation.”
“Very well.”
Zhen Dejun picked up his chopsticks: “This old man will reluctantly have a taste.”
Speaking thus, he picked up a piece of eggplant, then very unwillingly brought it to his mouth, tasting it with the mentality of an extremely refined customer.
Slowly chewing.
Slowly savoring.
Shortly after, Zhen Dejun put down his chopsticks, his hands trembling: “What… did I just eat?”
Definitely not something disgusting.
*Swish!*
He dropped his pretense, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating the eggplant!
That eating manner, that eating speed—he didn’t look at all like someone with a refined palate, but rather like someone who hadn’t eaten in days!
“Senior Brother.”
Su Xiaomo said quietly: “Is the Sect Master being kind-hearted and taking in a beggar who hasn’t eaten in days?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Li Qingyang said: “This is a ninth-rank Array King.”
“What?”
Su Xiaomo’s eyes widened.
She didn’t know much about arrays, but she had heard of Array Kings.
Weren’t such incredible figures supposed to be immortal-looking masters? How could they eat like this—less refined than even a rough person like herself?
Other disciples were also whispering among themselves.
They didn’t know that Zhen Dejun hadn’t gone days without eating—it was because he had encountered food so delicious that he simply couldn’t control himself.
Though Su Xiaomo and the others could tell that Liu Wanshi’s cooking was heavenly delicacy, that was all—they didn’t dig deeper.
Zhen Dejun was different.
He was a foodie, a true foodie.
After finishing all three dishes and soup completely clean, Zhen Dejun looked up and sighed: “After eating, every inch of skin, every hair on my body seems to resonate with heaven and earth. This is soul—the soul this old man has been searching for!”
“To have the fortune to taste this—no regrets in this life!”