Chapter 66: Second Update

Sang Yu was looking at Cong Xiaqi's draft.

Since there was a camera, he could openly peer at her notes.

Cong Xiaqi had drawn 'Qingfeng Sect Canteen Flatbread Set.' Seemed simple at first glance, but the challenge was exactly that 'simplicity.' Others glanced and knew the general design direction — like that demon race snack.

Cong Xiaqi saw the public dish name and had a rough idea — cold dish!

She could use black and red tones, add some hair-like seaweed or black fungus cut into strips to create a black bird's nest, maybe a skull shape.

Then a red sauce — sweet and spicy or sour and spicy — to cut the richness.

But this canteen set... just tasty, no other hints.

Big problem standing out.

Everyone in the competition wants to make something impressive, premium-looking at first glance.

Cong Xiaqi hesitated.

Not moving because the flatbread had barely any room for creativity.

And being too anxious, she was the first to hear the staff member sniff.

Faintly hearing movement next door, Cong Xiaqi couldn't help but worry about the progress.

The dishes that made the selection earlier took shortcuts — borrowing inspiration from her daughter's 'childish doodles.' Once the competition started, the truth showed.

Sigh.

Cong Xiaqi helplessly decided to throw caution to the wind — her daughter wasn't participating, she couldn't nail the design, so she'd refine the flavor instead.

This half-baked chef getting to record a show was amazing enough — she'd take the appearance fee home and make a big meal!

Sang Yu watched her go from dejected to motivated, writing and drawing on paper.

Soon she stood up and raised her hand.

Heading to the ingredient vault.

Oh wow.

Pretty fast, Sang Yu.

Then carrying the camera to film another contestant's draft — huh?

No sketches, just a list of ingredients to use.

Confident?

Cong Xiaqi wasn't the first to the ingredient vault — someone got there earlier, the contestant who drew 'Due Spirit Stone Shard.' So once the schedule picked up, some hidden chaos started. [This scene really reminds me of college entrance exams — when the person next to me turns the page, my fragile cultivation heart shatters] [Don't do this to me] [Got flashbanged...] [Anyone else feel me?

That spirit stone design was too abstract, I didn't get it, and Cong Xiaqi's info is too sparse] The observation room wasn't idle either — after submissions came in, they had the guests discuss those dishes and try designing them.

Several people grabbed cardboard to draw.

Yu Zhitao was the fastest.

Her idea for 'Due Spirit Stone Shard': layers of sugar.

The outermost layer — a filled shell with glitter inside, looking like shimmering spirit power flowing.

The middle layer — golden sugar threads, stretched thin then bent into shapes, forming rune patterns.

Then the innermost sugar heart, also liquid spirit power — a fruit jam to cut the sweetness.

Make them small — one bite should be a light dessert.

The comments exploded. [Whoa, did Aurora Entertainment really leak the answers to Yu Zhitao?!] [Imagined it — actually works!] [Fans, stop hyping.

This idea is simple and off-topic — spirit stone shards need cracking like sunflower seeds, right?] [Didn't see fans hyping — some people got triggered by a random compliment from a passerby.

Who, I won't say] [I actually think Yu Zhitao's design looks pretty good, has thought behind it] [What if you bite open the sugar shell without cracking it?] [...Feelings went up.

Seems like Yu Zhitao isn't an empty-headed 208w] Sang Yu had no thoughts.

Waiting for food.

Because there were many contestants, early ingredient selection had one cameraman per person for scheduling convenience.

Sang Yu followed Cong Xiaqi to the warehouse — also a cold storage using fresh-keeping tech to ensure ingredient quality.

Gotta say, carrying the camera was tiring.

Couldn't hold up anymore — wearing a wig and hat, sweating from the heat.

Finished this segment, had someone take over.

Sang Yu thought, looked at the fresh-looking fruits nearby... ate.

Later had someone cut him some fruit.

Wait — he's the only boss.

Since he's eating, why can't he eat directly? ...Right.

Sang Yu had an image.

A successful entrepreneur's image.

After Cong Xiaqi picked her ingredients, Sang Yu could gracefully exit — someone took over.

On the way back, when the live camera wasn't on Cong Xiaqi, someone passed Sang Yu a bottle of water, from the fridge.

'Drink up?' Cong Xiaqi glanced at his hands.

'Oh, do you have a free hand?

Can you drink?' Sang Yu took it: 'Oh?

I can.' Fine.

Mood +1.

Sang Yu decided — this kind person who repays love — regardless, he'll buy the recipe from this auntie.

Cong Xiaqi, lacking confidence, made a flatbread set that couldn't escape the 'vegetable + meat + flatbread' formula.

Just more refined ingredient handling, prettier, slightly two-dimensional.

A Bite Of The Immortal Continent's competition allowed semi-finished products — things like cured meat, sausage — but not flatbread skin.

So Cong Xiaqi started from kneading dough.

While preparing, other contestants also finalized their designs, rushing at full speed toward the warehouse to pick ingredients.

'The battle' was about to erupt.

Camera cuts, contestants' hurried steps, tense faces — they genuinely created the tension of a competition show.

Cong Xiaqi's dough-kneading was clean and crisp, especially解压.

The kneading pressure varied — light then heavy, palm pressing the dough forward, pulling back.

The movements showed years of practice.

Zhao Jia, who drew 'Rotting Bones and Decayed Wood,' got fermented beans, fermented bean curd, and dried plum vegetables.

The fermented bean curd was sifted once, pressed smooth with the back of a spoon, through a fine strainer — becoming a silky, almost cream-like texture.

Seems like Western technique meets Eastern cuisine.

Turned around — someone had boiled pebbles. [What are they doing?] [Stone soup?] [Aren't disinfecting the stones?

I remember some cuisine where you pour boiling water on stones to cook] [Using it as a pan?] Several scenes filmed like this — 'Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their magic!' Everyone watched, hooked, more focused.

Unknowingly, time passed.

A contestant presented the first dish.

The portions were slightly larger because they needed to keep samples — seemingly for that — besides keeping samples, they set aside a big portion for Director Sang to taste.

So the first dish, at its peak state, was sent to the nearby room, Sang Yu's dining table.

Watching the livestream while eating.

Not doing mukbang?

Sang Yu scooped sauce over his rice and ate big bites!

The 'All Things Have Spirits' was quite fresh, good for rice.

The first chew made Sang Yu squint. ...Happiness.JPG.

Background seemed to have bgm chanting 'Hallelujah—' No wonder most chefs can't keep their figure.

If they did, half the dish would be gone the moment it left the pan.

This show was well done.

Next time, do another.

This theme was only 'Qingfeng Sect,' but there were others to develop.

Sang Yu decided — one scenic spot, one show.

Run season after season, get to eat many times. ...Sang Yu snapped back — save room.

There were Shiyi dishes.

After two dishes, Cong Xiaqi's flatbread.

At first glance — this flatbread.

After baking, the oil was absorbed by the skin, forming a glossy layer, then transforming into a restrained, matte golden yellow.

Cong Xiaqi placed it in a bamboo food box, her plating倒数 among all contestants.

Plain, simple, not at all fairy-like.

Not the dark aesthetics of 'Crying Grief Silk Threads,' nor the yin-yang harmony art of 'Black Ginseng White Jade Soup.' Just... ordinary.

Comments drifted a few lukewarm evaluations when it was brought to the judging platform: [Looks确实 like a canteen flatbread] [Nothing special... contestant giving up?] [Actually this flatbread is pretty good — if it was at my neighborhood breakfast stall, I'd definitely buy it.

Well-cooked] Sang Yu took a bite— The layers naturally puffed, the crust breathable.

The moment teeth touched, the fragrance climbed up.

First met the flatbread's韧性 — not hard, that 'need to bite with some force to break through' perfect point.

Then the skin broke — mushroom碎's taste.

Inside, moist, fat just right, a hearty meat patty.

The meat's fat melted during baking.

Meat juices soaked the slightly chewy flatbread skin — not too much, just right.

Absolutely no soggy texture Sang Yu hated.

The vegetables had no vegetable taste — Sang Yu couldn't describe it, but especially hated lettuce in burgers or folded cakes, the vegetable taste was too strong.

But here, only sweetness and crispness.

The sauce inside was slightly sour, glistening between vegetables and meat, like a bridge connecting all textures, making them one.

Not the slightest bit jarring.

The fused texture was amazing.

As Sang Yu chewed, his eyes lit up: ...How is it so delicious!

If he could have eaten one in the canteen, his student days wouldn't have made him a dried bitter melon.

Sang Yu gave instructions: 'This flatbread tastes good.

Later notify them — buy this recipe.' The auntie gave a surprise, worth more than the price!

Didn't advance?

What?

And like the imperial food eunuch in the palace, Qi Zong — who was secretly observing Director Sang's reaction — subtly signaled his assistant.

Don't eliminate this person first!

Qi Zong nervously found someone, tested: 'That contestant should advance, right?

No — does Director Sang like flatbread?' 'Advanced early?

I like them all.

But others might not.' 'Then you're buying the recipe?' 'It's tasty.' Sang Yu somewhat got Qi Zong's confusion — thinking the dish wasn't fairy enough, a bit off-theme for the scenic area.

Sang Yu ate happily, had leisure to explain: 'The scenic area serves people.

All big dishes, ignoring different tourist tastes?' That won't do.

Others don't eat — Sang Yu eats!

Doesn't like fake beef-flavored duck meat skewers, doesn't like assembly-line stinky tofu — doesn't mean he doesn't like snacks and street food.

This flatbread is suitable.

Could set up a stall.

Sigh — thinking about it, Cong Xiaqi going to the scenic area as NPC plus chef seemed more and more realistic.

Could work.

Before, collected some recipes, flipping through — a whole小吃 street at Qingfeng Sect's foot, mortal realm.

As for whether Cong Xiaqi stays — depends on the judges' decision.

Qi Zong, who signaled early: ...What — don't go, return?!

In the studio, the judges were正好 discussing this matter.

'Cong Xiaqi's dish — fire, taste, appearance, all good, but a bit perfunctory for this competition.' 'Exactly, missing some essence.' 'Qingfeng Sect, a cultivation sect.

The canteen is a sect canteen, flatbread for disciples.

Where's the 'immortal' in that?' Yu Zhitao raised her hand.

'I have a different view.

I actually think Contestant Cong's is on-topic.' Huh?

Everyone looked. [Don't — Yu Zhitao, an amateur, going to oppose professional chefs?

That's some nerve] [Don't try to stand out, just sit there and eat] [208w opens mouth, I worry it'll be nonsense] Yu Zhitao smiled: 'Based on my understanding — don't immortals at a certain realm practice fasting?

So would they eat at the canteen?' [...?] [Oh?!] 'I remember in the cultivation lore, ordinary people join the outer sect, the sect provides meals.

Maybe it's for outer sect disciples.' They haven't reached fasting state, so they need to eat.

The sect also assigns them tasks growing spirit rice.

'My speculation's evidence — "learned sword-flying" in the basic lore probably refers to the effort to rush the canteen?' Just like students competing for the good food window.

'Sword-flying is also a relatively高端 skill.

Not learning it before also represents the diners being new.' Yu Zhitao said this, and the comments momentarily froze.

Yu Zhitao gave the final summary: 'For newcomers, tasty is the top priority, right?

Needs to be filling!' After all, they have work to do.

Can't fill up? [Oh?!] [Whoa, seems to make sense!] [Student body resonated] Sang Yu: ?

No, not this.

Made up.

Yu Zhitao so convincingly debated for Cong Xiaqi.

Even judges who thought it was perfunctory re-examined.

If so, then it's indeed not wrong...

Following Director Sang's near-genius style, he really might hide the puzzle in the question for others to read comprehension.

The assistant already hinted, um.

Then made an 'X' gesture.

What does that mean?

Keep or not.

Don't speak in riddles!

The host was pushing.

'Judges, please score!' Sang Yu watching the livestream: ?

Is this hard?

Because the livestream was ongoing, several people were rushed to give in or out opinions.

No choice, had to follow their hearts! ...Results announced — three stay, three go, entering the elimination zone.

Sang Yu: Woohoo?

Nice!

Later had Cong Xiaqi make a few more flatbreads, brought them home personally.

Too bad dogs can't eat heavily seasoned food — brought some flatbread skin.

Look, such a responsible pet owner!