Chapter 2220: Challenge

The Immortal Chef of San Shi San Lou refused very straightforwardly.

Just seeing the dishes Ye Zhangqing prepared, he directly shook his head, indicating he wasn't a match.

Hearing that, the shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, but didn't say more, and immediately told the youth beside him.

Then you come.

In response, the youth expressionlessly nodded.

As the people from San Shi San Lou appeared, shortly after, Ye Zhangqing, who was in the backyard, also came to the main hall.

Looking at the group from San Shi San Lou, he asked calmly.

Fellow Daoists, what brings you here?

Daoist Ye, I am the shopkeeper of San Shi San Lou; we are all peers. We haven't yet come to congratulate you on the canteen's opening, so I came specially today.

His tone calm, upon hearing this, Ye Zhangqing smiled slightly.

However, the shopkeeper quickly shifted the topic and continued.

However, in Wuji Xiancheng, opening a restaurant isn't something just any cat or dog can do. I, the unworthy San Shi San Lou, wish to challenge Young Ye today.

Without beating around the bush, he stated his purpose directly. As the shopkeeper's words fell, the youth beside him stepped forward—clearly he is the challenger.

But seeing this, Ye Zhangqing frowned, wondering about the Ancestor Realm cultivation?

Although I don't know his cooking skill, challenging me with Ancestor Realm cultivation seems a bit childish, doesn't it?

Furthermore, from the San Shi San Lou shopkeeper, Ye Zhangqing sensed no hostility; the other party didn't look like trouble‑makers, which was strange.

The surrounding diners, seeing this, all showed expressions of 'as expected'—San Shi San Lou truly lives up to its reputation of welcoming guests with ill intent.

However, since the challenge was open and aboveboard, no one stepped forward to stop it.

The challenge is fine, but how shall we decide the winner?

If you lose, San Shi San Lou's treasury is yours; if you win, it proves Daoist Ye's cooking is unskillful, so he isn't qualified to open a restaurant in Wuji Xiancheng, and this canteen will naturally close.

The shopkeeper said this without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed expression.

Many diners' faces darkened: 'Closing the canteen? Isn't that cutting off people's food supply?'

They had just topped up their cards; if the canteen closes, where will they eat?

Especially people like Wang Yu from the major forces, who now stared coldly at the San Shi San Lou shopkeeper.

This guy harbors ill intentions.

However, for now no one plans to act, after all Ye Zhangqing might not lose—in fact, his chances of winning are great.

After all, everyone present has eaten Ye Zhangqing's cooking many times and knows his skill well.

Across the entire Immortal Realm, there won't be many Immortal Chefs capable of defeating Ye Zhangqing.

This is assuming Ye Zhangqing hasn't yet broken through to Immortal Chef; once he does, it's estimated that in the Immortal Realm, no one will rival him in the culinary arts.

The diners weren't too panicked, but the Bliss Palace Elder hidden in the crowd, upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, also wore a complex expression.

However, his thoughts were completely different from everyone else's.

Because he heard the shopkeeper say they would use San Shi San Lou's treasury as a stake, which wasn't part of their earlier plan.

Moreover, aren't there many of Bliss Palace's treasures still stored in San Shi San Lou's treasury?

Previously, due to the auction, Bliss Palace had indeed deposited many of its treasures temporarily in San Shi San Lou's treasury.

After all, since taking over Wuji Xiancheng, the relationship between Bliss Palace and San Shi San Lou has been quite good.

First, San Shi San Lou lies within Bliss Palace's territory; second, Bliss Palace indeed needs a local power.

Thus the two sides quickly grew close; those treasures hadn't yet been retrieved, and the Bliss Palace Elder hadn't thought of this earlier.

But now, hearing the shopkeeper's words, he inexplicably felt a bit uneasy.

But after a moment's thought, he consoled himself.

It should be fine; I suppose it's also meant to lure this Ye into taking the bait. After all, one who is unwilling to spend will not catch the wolf—if we don't invest heavily, this kid might not agree.

Furthermore, even if he loses, the kid must still be alive to claim the prize.

Seeing that San Shi San Lou didn't send out their Immortal Chef, the Bliss Palace Elder knew they were already employing their second plan.

That is, to perish together with Ye Zhangqing—naturally, there's nothing to worry about.

Even if he loses, once Ye Zhangqing dies, what treasures could he possibly take?

Thinking this, the Bliss Palace Elder steadied his mind, feeling untroubled, as everything remained under control.

Unaware of the hidden details, Ye Zhangqing didn't think much of it.

After sizing up the youth from head to toe, he simply nodded in agreement.

Good.

Rushing here to deliver treasures, there's no reason to refuse.

Besides........................

Before he could speak, Ye Zhangqing heard Huang Lao's mental transmission.

Kid, there might be fraud here; the Bliss Palace people are also present, just outside the crowd.

Huang Lao naturally noticed the Bliss Palace individuals right away and immediately sent a secret mental message to Ye Zhangqing.

Upon hearing it, Ye Zhangqing glanced at the outside crowd without changing his expression, indeed seeing the Bliss Palace people, but paid no mind and replied via mental transmission.

Aren't you here, Old One? Can't you even protect the kid? The treasures in San Shi San Lou's treasury are plentiful.

With Huang Lao secretly protecting him, Ye Zhangqing had no worries.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing nod, the Bliss Palace Elder couldn't help but smirk.

You fool, even if you have treasures, do you have the life to enjoy them?

In his view, Ye Zhangqing daring to nod means he's already a dead man; he truly thinks the Blazing Heaven Talisman is a joke.

Immediately, a group of people came to the backyard, and no outsiders disturbed them.

In the backyard compound, the two fire rooms had long been ready; Ye Zhangqing looked at the shopkeeper of San Shi San Lou and asked.

"You choose the dishes."

In competitions between spirit chefs, normally they first decide on the dishes, then restrict to the same ingredients, and only then begin cooking.

Then they judge the final outcome based on color, aroma, and taste.

It's not complicated; Ye Zhangqing was very confident and let San Shi San Lou choose the dishes.

Upon hearing that, the shopkeeper of San Shi San Lou didn't refuse, nodded, but the chosen dish left Ye Zhangqing stunned.

"Then let's have braised noodles."

Huh???

As soon as that was said, Ye Zhangqing froze—braised noodles? Are you serious?

This is my signature skill; I've made it countless times even in the canteen—surely the people of San Shi San Lou couldn't possibly not know about it.

Didn't they investigate at all before the challenge? How arrogant can they be?

Without hesitation they chose braised noodles, which Ye Zhangqing hadn't expected; he had thought they'd pick one of San Shi San Lou's signature dishes.

After all, those dishes are original creations of San Shi San Lou; Ye Zhangqing may know how to make them, but he's not proficient, so it would definitely be more advantageous for San Shi San Lou.

Yet San Shi San Lou picked the very dish he was best at.