Chapter 208

At first, subordinates and immortal attendants were sent to purchase, but in the end, to prevent anyone from personally coming to cut in line using influence, more and more immortals came themselves.

Sometimes, over the issue of who eats first and who eats later, they could even start fighting.

Three meals a day, never missed.

Previously, excuses affecting cultivation were all nonsense—what's wrong with eating poorly? Clearly, it's just not delicious enough.

Once Sun Wukong took his post, everyone was genuinely delighted.

Today, the Imperial Kitchen remains bustling as ever.

Since Sun Wukong had been away for a few days, the heavenly deities were craving intensely; upon his return, the scene of deities queuing before the Imperial Kitchen was even worse than before.

Seeing this, Haotian twitched the corner of his mouth—this lot of greedy goods, after finishing morning court, they rush over to eat dry rations, not knowing to return to their duties? What kind of order is this!

Haotian, quite self-aware, overlooked his own similar behavior, ignoring the queue writhing like a dragon dance, and prepared to stride inside.

Just as he passed the last person in line, a dissatisfied voice had already risen.

"Any manners at all? Isn't it all regulated that cutting in line is forbidden?!" The immortal at the very back of the queue, face displeased, instinctively shouted.

Since the dishes made by Great Chef Sun Wukong are truly too delicious, too popular.

These immortals have self-regulated: regardless of identity or status, cutting in line is not allowed. But the premise is, one must come in person to queue.

If someone maliciously sends a subordinate to cut in line early, they will be mobbed and forced to queue at the very end.

But when he carefully examined Haotian's side profile and attire, his expression suddenly changed, stammering: "Your, Your Majesty!"

Your Majesty?

All immortals who heard this were stunned, turned their heads to look back, and indeed it was!

Their hearts trembled, for a moment, voices continued without cease.

"Paying respects to Your Majesty!!"

"Rise." Haotian, already accustomed to such situations, lightly raised his hand.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Haotian glanced over, looking at the immortal who had just spoken.

"How so? You're asking Me to queue?"

"No, no!" That immortal broke out in a cold sweat on his back, kept shaking his head, and a sheepish smile appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, please go ahead!"

This is about right. Haotian almost imperceptibly nodded, then turned to the crowd: "What opinions do you all have?"

"No, no!" The immortals spoke in unison.

Though very unwilling, after all, this is the Jade Emperor, their direct superior—rules cannot reach his head no matter how they try.

"Wait a moment after finishing your meal, then return to your posts promptly!" Haotian displayed the aura of the Imperial Court, speaking sternly.

The immortals all replied in unison: "Yes!"

In their hearts, however, they felt somewhat uneasy.

These days, for morning, noon, and evening meals, they have always been punctual—basically, aside from normal cultivation, most of their time is spent queuing.

They also don't know whether His Majesty will hold it against them in the future.

Without another word, Haotian strode forward, and then Tai Bai Jin Xing followed closely behind.

Tai Bai Jin Xing nodded and smiled at the queuing immortals: "Everyone's here?"

"Old Immortal, you've come to eat too?"

"You've come quite late, haven't you!"

"Tai Bai Lao Xian, you'd better wait a while—we have so many people, it might be a while before your turn comes."

The immortals also responded with cheerful laughter, some even good-naturedly teasing a few remarks.

Tai Bai Jin Xing treats everyone kindly; his relationships in the Heavenly Court are truly not bad.

Laughing heartily, Tai Bai Jin Xing responded to each in turn, unknowingly having walked past the queue.

At this moment, the immortals also reacted.

"Damn! This old brat actually cut in line! This damn thing—can it be tolerated?"

Haotian cutting in line they don't mind, but Tai Bai Jin Xing is different.

"Tai Bai Lao Xian! Well done, you old brat—you actually dared to cut in line!"

"I thought we were on good terms,

I never expected you to be such a person!"

The immortals one by one began to denounce and condemn.

Tai Bai Jin Xing scratched his head, smiling apologetically: "Sorry, everyone! This old fellow is accompanying His Majesty, so I didn't dare be negligent!"

Having said that, Tai Bai Jin Xing cheerfully walked inside, leaving a crowd of immortals staring dumbfounded in place.

"Damn!" An immortal couldn't help but speak out.

This old brat is too cunning—just to eat a meal, he actually used His Majesty as a pretext.

Although every face showed a hint of contempt, what they thought was how great it would be for themselves.

Deep down, they all secretly began to calculate.

This trick is truly brilliant—next time I come to eat, I must definitely try to get His Majesty to come along first.

Haotian pushed open the gate and stepped directly inside.

"Imperial Kitchen restricted area—no entry." The Food God and Stove God, while preparing dishes, spoke without turning back, their words full of vigor.

Since Sun Wukong the Great Chef returned, their spines have straightened too!

"How so? Is there still a place in the Heavenly Court that I cannot go?" Haotian clasped his hands behind his back, speaking in a deep voice.

The Stove God and Food God furrowed their brows—this voice... how could it be so familiar?

In unison they turned their heads, and upon seeing Haotian in that instant, the Food God and Stove God couldn't help but shiver.

They stammered: "Your, Your Majesty!"

The two deities instantly felt that the two kicks Haotian had given them a couple of days ago were aching faintly again.

"Where is the Great Chef Sun Wukong?" Haotian asked directly.

Considering these two had still put in decent effort preparing the ingredients, Haotian didn't bother to quarrel over anything.

"Great Chef Sun Wukong?" The Stove God was dazed, then quickly replied: "Great Chef Sun Wukong is currently cooking inside."

With so many immortals waiting outside, how could there be any idle time?

Haotian nodded, strode forward, pushed open the back kitchen door, and a waft of cooking oil smoke mixed with the aroma of food reached his nostrils.

Only to see Sun Wukong having split into several clones, each lighting a stove to cook, his movements orderly and extremely skilled.

Hearing the door open, Sun Wukong's main body turned his head to look back, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes, and Sun Wukong spoke: "Your Majesty? How did you come here?"

Although he was speaking, the motion of his stir-frying didn't pause in the slightest—this was the result of continuous effort and refinement over ten years, and the guidance of Chen Nuo.

"I came here to have a meal with you; I obtained the hot pot base and ingredients from your master!" Haotian explained with a smile.

Out of respect for Chen Nuo, Haotian's perception of Sun Wukong was elevated beyond a mere tier.

Moreover, Sun Wukong's conduct also gave him a sense of unexpectedness.

He had originally thought this monkey would be an extremely troublesome nature, but he hadn't expected him to be so diligent and responsible.

However, he was somewhat lacking in respect toward him; as the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, this monkey had never once performed a great salute before him.

But out of consideration for Chen Nuo's reputation and the monkey's habit of not causing trouble, he wouldn't hold it against him—after all, Chen Nuo's cultivation was so profound that even he, a late-stage Prepared Saint, couldn't see through it.

He also regarded Chen Nuo as a senior in his heart; this monkey, he would reluctantly consider as being on the same level as himself!

"Master?!" Sun Wukong's eyes lit up instantly, and the motion in his hand also paused.

But he immediately reacted, unleashing divine power with myriad threads, and created another clone; Sun Wukong yielded his position, and the clone instantly took over.

Approaching Haotian, Sun Wukong scratched his head and asked: "Your Majesty, did you go to my master's place?"

"No."

Haotian paused: "I had Tai Bai purchase it, but he only bought the ingredients, no pot, so I plan to come here to eat."

So that's how it is, Sun Wukong understood clearly.

"I'll go get it for Your Majesty right away." Sun Wukong patted the wrinkles on his robe sleeves.