Chapter 2312: Chapter 2313: Culinary Contest

Unlike Xiao Ji and Ah Mu, Cotton’s creation ability isn’t particularly strong, or rather, the special summon objects created by its Creation Finishing Move aren’t as sturdy as Ah Mu’s creations, nor do they possess special abilities like Xiao Ji’s.

But this doesn’t mean Cotton’s creations have no advantages. Its agile movements are like those of a graceful cat, nimbly navigating the battlefield. Even if the opponent keeps chasing, it dodges like an experienced hunter, patiently waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow.

"This kind of dawdling fighting style doesn’t suit me."

Watching Dou Yanlan’s battle, Feng Yuan commented, and Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan helplessly and said,

"Not everyone can be as strong as you."

Dou Yanlan’s combat style has always been like this, and the opponent can’t crush with brute force like Feng Yuan, can’t be helped, lacking in strength, it’s impossible.

"Hehe, that’s true, but Cotton’s strength isn’t weak either."

Watching the puppet dodge attacks agilely, Feng Yuan said. The summoning and creation Ultimate Moves mastered by Cotton mainly focus on interference, naturally not having strong lethality. However, against opponents who also use creations, it might not necessarily break through the defense.

"Yeah...but..."

Thinking of himself and Dou Yanlan in the parallel world, Qi Chen felt they weren’t that strong. Of course, Qi Chen also understood the age difference between himself and his parallel world self, though they seem similar, the other side clearly has experienced a lot.

Dou Yanlan from the parallel world is even more so...

Qi Chen has also wondered what his parallel world self has gone through, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to ask, and he felt his parallel world self wouldn’t tell him either.

He knows himself best. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he knows he wouldn’t tell himself something impossible just to add to his troubles.

After a while, Cotton seized the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow and successfully ended the battle.

Upon stepping off stage, Dou Yanlan saw the two of them. She wasn’t surprised by this, knowing that Ah Mu, under Qi Chen’s command, is inherently strong in creation power. After all, Ah Mu’s summoned creatures sometimes directly act as shields to block damage for it; though less flexible, they are thick-skinned and have strong attack power. Even when facing Cotton, the outcome is unpredictable.

No choice, the opponent can let you attack freely, but once caught, you’re done for.

Every attack could reveal a flaw, so in such challenges, Dou Yanlan least wants to face opponents like Ah Mu.

As for something like Xiao Ji, its attack power might be strong, but its durability isn’t high, just a few attacks can dismantle it.

Completely different from those summoned creatures by Ah Mu that require constant attacks.

"Next, how about we visit the Stray Spirit Beast Paradise?"

Glancing around at the people, Feng Yuan suggested. Although no out-of-town tourists have arrived, the local Beastmasters alone are already nearing the carrying capacity limit of Data Square.

As for the Stray Spirit Beast Paradise, not many go there; mainly, it’s inaccessible, as the place is a sanctuary for the stray spirit beasts in Maomu City, it’s naturally off-limits to tourists randomly intruding.

Feng Yuan, however, could bring people in, considering his identity here, and not to mention Veronia, who has a good relationship with the Stray Spirit Beasts.

"Forget it, let’s go check out the Commercial Zone instead."

After thinking it over, Qi Chen said. Scratching his head, Feng Yuan asked,

"The Commercial Zone, do they have events there too? Or are you thinking of finding another challenge?"

"Xiao Shuang said they seem to be holding a culinary competition there."

With a glance at Feng Yuan, Qi Chen directly explained. Hearing this, Feng Yuan no longer hesitated and immediately decided to go there.

Dou Yanlan and Qi Chen exchanged glances and chuckled, shaking their heads. Feng Yuan’s love for food remained unchanged.

The Commercial Zone was bustling, as the New Year was approaching. Many people had already returned from afar, especially traveling Beastmasters. Upon returning home, many came to the newly opened square to stroll around.

Occasionally, they reminisced about the old square with their Beasts, but they felt this brand new square was perhaps even better.

After all, the space is spacious enough that except for large spirit beasts, almost all can be released.

Businesses in the Commercial Zone were warmly soliciting customers, not just dining establishments but also those selling other goods. Feng Yuan noticed that many stores that were once only in the Department Store had opened here.

"I didn’t expect this place to develop so quickly. This might steal quite a few customers from the Department Store."

Looking at these stores, Feng Yuan couldn’t help but remark. Qi Chen thought for a moment and said,

"It seems less convenient than the Department Store."

In Qi Chen’s eyes, having similar types of stores grouped together in a Department Store made finding things easier for him, unlike here where stores are mixed together except for the dining area; a clothing store could be next to a souvenir shop.

"Hmm, it feels okay. If there’s no specific goal, I think there’s not much difference."

Thinking for a moment, Feng Yuan said. To him, this design wasn’t too troublesome as he planned to browse anyway, it didn’t matter where the stores were located.

Qi Chen smiled but said nothing. He wasn’t fond of aimless strolling, but aside from being a bit cumbersome, he felt there wasn’t much issue with this place.

The culinary competition was taking place in the dining area, specifically targeting businesses operating there; mobile stalls around the small square by the lake weren’t participating, which slightly disappointed Feng Yuan.

After all, those snacks were an indispensable part of cuisine to him. However, perhaps to compete for higher rankings, the businesses here were putting their all into it.

Apart from having their spirit beasts draw customers, some also hired people to perform and promote their food.

As for offering discounts or temporarily improving dish quality, sorry, the square management would conduct random checks. If, after the competition, they found a quality drop compared to the competition period, they’d directly revoke the ranking marks and issue warnings.

In severe cases, they might even be expelled from the square, considering that participation was voluntary, but the rankings were endorsed by Data Square, requiring fairness.

No need to mention lower prices, newly opened stores weren’t eligible to participate. They must have been open for at least a month. The square management had been preparing for this culinary competition for some time, so they were well-informed of the general details.

"There are so many rule constraints, but focusing solely on main dishes might not be fair."

Seeing the dishes offered by these restaurants, Feng Yuan couldn’t help but mutter. They focused on main dishes, but a single person can only eat so much. The evaluation looks at the reviews from the customers who have consumed the food.

Of course, after reviewing, the square also offers rebates to customers, so there’s basically no refusal to provide reviews for the food and businesses.

However, since there’s no comparison, it’s hard to say how fair these evaluations are.

"It seems there’s a scoring factor. During the competition, the more food a single customer tries in the square, the higher the weight of their score. It’s a rather clever marketing strategy."

Dou Yanlan slightly shook her head, talking. The square management naturally couldn’t overlook this issue. However, even with this, not many would be able to try everything, considering there are quite a few restaurants in the square’s dining area, and it’s all main dishes in competition.

"Whatever, let’s just pick one randomly. Hmm, how about that one? It’s not too crowded but not empty either."

After thinking, Feng Yuan suggested. Although he could try everything, he had no intention of doing so.

Because there wasn’t much point. If it were Liao Yu and them asking for help, he might consider it, but for himself, Feng Yuan wasn’t keen on making deliberate food evaluations for others.

Despite Feng Yuan’s lack of interest in doing so, they still noticed there were indeed people who were meticulously tasting and evaluating the offerings of every store. Though...

It’s likely thanks to the spirit beasts accompanying them that can handle the food, otherwise, Feng Yuan would suspect they were wasting food doing this way.

"Phew, I’m full～ How about a post-meal exercise, say a wild run outside?"

Patting his belly, Feng Yuan said contently, looking at Xiao Ji. Qi Chen rolled his eyes, exasperated, and asked,

"Are you serious?"

"Hehe, just teasing Xiao Ji～"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji voiced a dissatisfied chirp, having taken it seriously. Dou Yanlan, after looking at the advertisement board for a while, suggested,

"How about visiting the Maze of Mirror? It’s not strenuous exercise but offers a unique recreational experience."

"Hmm, alright, let’s go, and get your aura under control."

Feng Yuan said, reminding Xiao Ji. Although it’s not explicitly stated, Feng Yuan already anticipated that the Maze of Mirror would definitely have ghost series spirit beasts. Given Xiao Ji’s current situation, if its aura isn’t reigned in, some weaker ghost series spirit beasts might avoid them.