Chapter 176

However, he also underestimated his own cooking skills—throughout the Three Realms of Honghuang, cultivation has always been the mainstream.

The pursuit of food has been overly crude, and some delicacies are merely superficial.

As Sun Wukong followed Chen Nuo in diligently practicing cooking for ten years, although he still lags far behind Chen Nuo, compared to the culinary development level of these Three Realms, he has already far surpassed them.

Such culinary skill naturally enables these gods who have never seen the world to flock to it—going from frugal to extravagant is easy, but from extravagant to frugal is hard, and this is a true portrayal of the heavenly gods.

Having grown accustomed to the ultimate enjoyment of Sun Wukong's dishes, who would still bother to taste the humble cooking of the Food and Stove Gods?

Unless their skills are also raised to the same level.

"Peach Blossom Chef!" Suddenly, a god tilted his head, discovered Sun Wukong's arrival, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Great Chef Sun Wukong?!

The gods were startled in their hearts, hurriedly turning to look.

Upon seeing Sun Wukong, their faces instantly lit up with ecstatic joy, and they surged forward in a crowd, surrounding him.

"Great Chef Sun Wukong, you've finally returned! I've been missing your dishes so much I've lost appetite for tea and rice!"

"Great Chef Sun Wukong, you must give me a portion of Mapo Tofu today—I'm about to drool to death!"

"Jiao Mu, look at your pathetic prospects!" Jiao Wood Dragon of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, seeing this, couldn't help but mock.

Immediately extending two fingers, he boldly declared: "I want two portions!"

The gods chattered among themselves, undoubtedly expressing their longing for Sun Wukong's dishes and placing orders.

Most of those who came here are Taiyi immortals or those below that realm; Great Luo and Prepared Saint are considered Immortal Ascension Realm beings, possessing their own prestige, and none have arrived.

However, the gods' official positions come with subordinate relations—though they didn't come in person, their minor officials basically all showed up.

Seeing the gods' fervent enthusiasm, Sun Wukong felt not only helpless but also deeply moved.

As a chef, having his dishes recognized by more people is itself an honor.

Clearing his throat slightly, showing a hint of apology on his face, Sun Wukong loudly said: "Everyone, Old Sun had matters to attend to earlier, so I left for a few days—please forgive me!"

"Great Chef Sun Wukong is joking—who doesn't have some affairs? This is only natural for gods; we can understand!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

The gods echoed in agreement, each wearing a friendly, appeasing smile, as if they hadn't just been criticizing the Food and Stove Gods.

"Old Sun is now returning to the Imperial Kitchen to cook for you!"

"Want anything? Just order directly!"

Sun Wukong waved his hand grandly, full of heroic spirit—aside from other things he's not good at saying, isn't cooking just a matter of reaching out and grabbing it?

The gods instantly beamed with joy.

"That's wonderful!!"

"We're about to die of impatience! Great Chef Sun Wukong, your dishes make one's heart itch unbearably if not eaten for a day!"

They've been waiting here this long—aren't they just waiting for now?

After saying that, they all voluntarily stepped aside to make a path to the kitchen door for Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong strode forward into the interior.

After walking a few steps, seeing the crowd still piled up, Sun Wukong turned and scanned around, saying: "Everyone, can't you form a line? That would also make it easier for me to serve you!"

"Got it!" The gods nodded repeatedly.

Immediately, they began openly and secretly competing for positions.

"I was sent by Emperor Gouchen—I'm definitely first!"

"I was sent by Emperor Qinghua!"

Everyone wants to be at the front—after all, with so many people, those at the back don't know how long they'll have to wait!

Paying no attention to how the gods were lining up, Sun Wukong strode straight and pushed open the gate, and the two gods originally blocking the doorway were instantly shoved aside, landing on their buttocks.

"Don't hit,

Don't hit! Great Chef Sun Wukong, he's sure to return soon!"

"Once he returns, he'll surely cook!"

The Stove and Food Gods clutched their heads, shut their eyes, and shouted while looking both wronged and comical.

A trace of helplessness flashed across Sun Wukong's face as he shut the door with one hand.

"You guys hurry up—it's me!"

Familiar words came from his ears, making the two gods tremble all over.

Seeing the comer was Sun Wukong, their bluish-purple faces instantly filled with joy, they scrambled to their feet and rushed to his side.

"Great Chef Sun Wukong! You've finally returned!"

"If you were even one or two days later, we'd have nothing left!" the Stove God lamented weakly, full of grievance.

The Food God also nodded in agreement: "Yes."

Originally thinking there was no big problem, the result was that no one bought what they made—ultimately leaving the entire heavenly court's gods dissatisfied.

Today, even the Heavenly Emperor personally led a scolding against them—though he held back his strength, his kick only caused slight pain.

But they couldn't withstand so many gods imitating them—after all, they're merely minor Earth Immortals; how could they endure this?

Even if they held back, they couldn't withstand one blow each.

Exchanging a glance, the two gods forced bitter smiles—they really had it too hard!

Seeing the two gods in such a miserable state, Sun Wukong also felt uneasy—after all, it was due to his own clone's mistake, so he couldn't blame them.

Waving his hand, Sun Wukong separately infused a spell into each of the two gods.

Immediately, the injuries on the two gods began to heal visibly to the naked eye; after a few breaths, the bluish swellings on their faces completely disappeared.

Feeling the change in their bodies, the two gods' faces lit up with excitement, and they hurriedly began to bow in thanks.

Sun Wukong shook his head and laughed: "It was my momentary carelessness—sorry to you two, no need to thank me."

"Next, I'll also trouble you to lend a hand; at least we can get through these immortals today."

The two gods nodded: "Yes!"

Sun Wukong walked toward the back kitchen, but after just a few steps, he stopped again.

Turning around, Sun Wukong asked doubtfully: "I heard Brother Mo Lishou say the Heavenly Emperor came in person today—where is he?"

He just came over and didn't even see anyone in the Imperial Kitchen courtyard.

Upon hearing this, the two gods' faces turned bitter: "The Heavenly Emperor came during the previous mealtime, dissatisfied with our dishes, he scolded us severely, then left and didn't stay here any longer."

These little immortals—how could they possibly keep track of the Heavenly Emperor's whereabouts?

Just thinking of the Heavenly Emperor, their already-healed backs still ached faintly.

So that's how it is, Sun Wukong nodded.

"Then let's cook properly!"

Gently brushing past the Food God's stove behind him, Sun Wukong spoke earnestly: "Watch me cook—you too should hone your culinary skills, don't cause such a mess again next time."

Next time?!

Recalling his own miserable state just moments ago, the two gods shivered.

"Great Chef Sun Wukong, rest assured—we will definitely study our culinary skills diligently!!!"

At this moment, in the Lower Realm, Guanjiangkou.

"Xiao Tian! You're so slow! Finished cleaning up yet?"

"We should set off!" Yang Chan, dressed in a plain skirt, stood at Xiao Tian's door urging him on.

Yang Chan's voice carried frustration, her pretty face also somewhat displeased—her brother truly is something, their mother just woke up and already demanded the Precious Lotus Lantern back, even sending her here to call Xiao Tian.

Really infuriating!

Yang Chan tapped the door again.

"Xiao Tian, have you recovered yet? How long has it been?"

Inside the house, Xiao Tian stared blankly at the door: "You won't wait a bit longer? This old man is almost done!"

After saying that, Xiao Tian went to a corner of the wall and began digging a hole.