“Sect Master Jun.”

After returning to the City Lord’s residence, City Lord Han said helplessly, “You’re really making things difficult for me.”

Although he was the lord of a city with the authority to disregard rules, there were so many people watching. Forcibly showing favoritism to the Myriad Manifestations Sect was truly somewhat improper.

“It won’t happen again.” Jun Changxiao said apologetically.

He and City Lord Han were business partners after all, so he deliberately held back just now. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have just been making Purple Scale Demon King go crash into something.

“Two more commercial families have obtained advertising rights. You’ll still need to handle the advertising side.” City Lord Han said.

At the mention of business, this Martial Saint powerhouse immediately became all smiles. Clearly, what happened earlier was a small matter, while making money was the important thing!

“No problem.” Jun Changxiao said.

After chatting with City Lord Han for a while longer, he returned to the courtyard where he was temporarily staying. He saw Liu Wanshi sitting alone in the pavilion, her little face full of worry.

“What are you thinking about?” Jun Changxiao sat down.

Liu Wanshi came back to her senses and said with her head lowered, “Sect Master, I’m sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Because…” Liu Wanshi said, “My identity has brought shame to the Sect Master.”

“Silly girl.”

Jun Changxiao gave her a head pat and smiled, “Your identity is a disciple of the Myriad Manifestations Sect. How could that be shameful?”

“My… my other identity.” Liu Wanshi said.

Jun Changxiao frowned and said, “This Seat has always emphasized that others may look down on you, but you must look up to yourself. Otherwise, you’re truly beyond help.”

Liu Wanshi wanted to look up to herself, but this identity as an illegitimate daughter—every time people mentioned it, it pained her heart.

“Look.”

Jun Changxiao pointed toward Purple Scale Demon King, who was sitting at the entrance of the main hall happily eating fried rice, and said, “He’s a king of the Beast Clan with an extremely noble status. He condescended to become a disciple of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, yet isn’t he still happy and carefree?”

Liu Wanshi: “…”

“Why is he happy? Because he ate fried rice!”

Jun Changxiao said, “A supremely noble king can bow down before your culinary skills. This proves that status is completely useless—it’s nothing but certain idiots deliberately demeaning others to elevate themselves.”

Hearing the Sect Master explain it this way, Liu Wanshi seemed to understand something. Especially looking toward Purple Scale Demon King who was eating fried rice, her brow relaxed as she smiled and said, “This disciple seems to understand now.”

“The competition is approaching.”

Jun Changxiao said, “So what you need to do now is adjust your mindset and bring the championship trophy back for the Myriad Manifestations Sect!”

“Yes!”

Liu Wanshi nodded heavily.

Jun Changxiao waved his hand and produced a set of brand new white clothing, saying, “This is a chef’s uniform once used by the ancestor who created the Chinese recipes. Wear it to promote our sect’s prestige!”

System: “It was clearly bought from the store!”

It didn’t understand that Jun Changxiao was motivating Liu Wanshi, rather than letting her become less confident due to her identity.

“Smack, smack.”

Sitting at the entrance of the main hall, Purple Scale Demon King ate his fried rice completely clean, then looked toward the small pavilion thinking, “What are they whispering about?”

…

The nineteenth.

The weather was fine with gentle winds and bright sunshine.

Martial artists from various states and provinces came to the Western District and entered the relatively decent spectator stands.

Jun Changxiao also came to watch, bringing Purple Scale Demon King and Yao Mengying.

“Sect Master Jun.”

Just as they sat down, Tang Ren walked over, cupped his hands and said, “This younger brother came especially to cheer for your sect’s disciple.”

“Many thanks!”

Jun Changxiao returned the gesture.

The central area of the circular spectator stands was a rather wide platform with many stoves and tools for cooking arranged on it.

That’s right.

This was the venue for the God of Cooking Competition.

Once the competition began, culinary geniuses from all over would compete on this platform, vying for the trophy engraved with the words ‘God of Cooking’.

The projection formation’s camera, from an overhead angle, transmitted the arena’s images across the entire continent. Martial artists who couldn’t come in person had already prepared snacks like melon seeds and peanuts to watch the upcoming large-scale food livestream.

Of course.

Because it wasn’t blood-pumping combat, the atmosphere was relatively calm.

“Boom boom boom… Boom boom boom!”

Just as everyone eagerly awaited the contestants’ entrance, the light screen suddenly changed to an advertisement for Tang’s Pill Store.

No way!

The God of Cooking Competition was about to start, and they were still frantically running advertisements!

However.

What made everyone even more devastated was this:

Once the advertisements started, they simply wouldn’t stop!

Only after more than ten advertisements did the image return to the main venue.

Was this the God of Cooking Competition with commercial breaks, or commercials with God of Cooking Competition breaks!

“Everyone.”

Just then, a middle-aged man appeared on the arena and announced loudly, “Welcome to observe the Fiftieth God of Cooking Competition. I am Huang Jinduan, one of the organizers.”

“Fiftieth?” Jun Changxiao was stunned.

Tang Ren, sitting beside him, asked, “Sect Master Jun, is there a problem?”

“Wasn’t it the forty-ninth?”

“That was the last one.”

Jun Changxiao immediately frowned.

Qian Buduo, who had left after entering the Imperial City, had clearly written the forty-ninth session on his token, and Jun Changxiao had always believed it was the forty-ninth.

Wait, wait!

If this was the fiftieth session, what use was being a chief judge of the forty-ninth!

“Elder Brother Tang.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Do you know Qian Buduo?”

“I do.”

Tang Ren said, “A fat-headed, big-eared nouveau riche whose family has mines and real estate.”

Fat-headed and big-eared?

Just from this description, Jun Changxiao immediately realized that the Qian Buduo he had met was definitely not the Qian Buduo that Tang Ren was talking about!

“What the hell!”

Jun Changxiao inwardly collapsed, “Why do I feel like I’ve been scammed!”

“It’s not ‘feel like’.”

System said, “You really were scammed.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

Someone who had always tricked others never expected to be fooled by a little brat!

However, there wasn’t really any loss, and what’s more, he’d made so much money and spirit stones.

Still.

What puzzled Jun Changxiao was this:

If the little guy wasn’t Qian Buduo, then who was he?

An ordinary family’s youth definitely wouldn’t have that much money, and wouldn’t casually give it to others.

Just as Jun Changxiao was pondering, Huang Jinduan had already finished recounting the glorious history of the God of Cooking Competition, then loudly announced, “Now, please welcome the contestants!”

“Whoosh!”

Just when everyone had finally waited for the contestants to enter, the light screen once again displayed Tang’s Pill Store advertisement, nearly making them stand up and curse!

…

After the advertisement ended, under everyone’s eager anticipation, culinary geniuses from all over came out one after another.

Liu Wanshi was among them.

She wore the chef’s uniform the Sect Master had given her, along with a tall hat, making her very conspicuous in the crowd.

The clothing was one thing, but what was truly eye-catching was that among the hundred-plus contestants entering in succession, she was the only female!

“I didn’t expect there would be a girl among the contestants!”

“This girl is a disciple of the Myriad Manifestations Sect!”

“No way?”

Everyone’s faces showed surprised expressions. They obviously hadn’t expected that the sect that had been in the spotlight recently would actually send a disciple to participate in a culinary competition!

“Go Junior Sister (Senior Sister) Liu!”

Inside the Myriad Manifestations Sect, Li Shangtian, Cui Bujian, and others shouted loudly.

Although the person involved couldn’t hear them, as fellow sect members, they naturally felt duty-bound to cheer for her!

The entrance of God of Cooking Competition contestants wasn’t as grand as Dragon-Tiger Struggle. The on-site audience didn’t even show any emotional change, giving the feeling they were purely watching for fun.

“Next.”

Suddenly, Huang Jinduan announced loudly, “Please welcome the disciple of the God of Cooking!”

At these words, everyone immediately became interested and looked toward the entrance.

Martial artists across the entire continent were very curious about what this mysterious heavily favored championship candidate looked like.

“Swish!”

Under everyone’s expectation, a person walked out from the darkness.

He wasn’t tall, wasn’t old, with an innocent and naive smile on his face.

“What the hell…”

After clearly seeing that guy’s appearance, Jun Changxiao’s eyes immediately widened.

Liu Wanshi also covered her mouth in shock, “It’s him?!”

Who?

Qian Buduo, who had left upon entering the city!

“Step!”

The little guy walked onto the high platform, stopped in front of Liu Wanshi, revealed his white teeth, and smiled, “Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Song Bao, disciple of Food as Heaven, one of the contestants in this God of Cooking Competition.”

Disciple of the God of Cooking.

Heavily favored championship candidate.

He actually took the initiative to introduce himself to a contestant?

In an instant.

All the contestants present turned to look at Liu Wanshi, their gazes flashing with astonishment.

Song Bao said seriously, “Miss Liu’s culinary skills are very strong. I may not necessarily win, but since I’m participating in the God of Cooking Competition, I will definitely go all out!”

At these words, the entire venue was in an uproar.

The disciple of the God of Cooking actually said this girl had strong culinary skills and that he might not win!