“It’s said that the Heaven Mandate Immortal compiled all his culinary knowledge into a single book, naming it the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium. Unfortunately, it has long been lost to the river of time, a truly heartbreaking loss.

“The lead pill concocter of the Pill Concoction Alliance, Clear Clouds Doyen, did find a copy of the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium, but the dishes made according to that copy were not food, but poison.

“We surmised that someone envied the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s talent and deliberately created a fake version to smear his reputation!” Liu Xing said indignantly.

Lu Yang instinctively touched his identity jade tablet. It seems that the original Comprehensive Culinary Compendium is stored inside. If I take it out, it’ll probably be dismissed as a fake.

When Liu Xing spoke of the Heaven Mandate Immortal, his eyes were filled with genuine reverence. Lu Yang hadn’t interacted much with legitimate spirit chefs before, but the sight made him realize that the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s status in the spirit chef community was terrifyingly high.

Lu Yang didn’t need to guess to know that the claim of the Heaven Mandate Immortal being the progenitor of spirit chefs was the result of historical revision. The original progenitor was supposed to be the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.

Although the Heaven Mandate Immortal was happy to be praised by later generations, he probably didn’t want to be complimented as the progenitor of spirit chefs.

Furthermore, it was highly likely that the Heaven Mandate Immortal didn’t want Lu Yang to know that he had that title. Vice Leader Liu, you’re screwing me over! Why did you have to tell me all this?!

After seeing Liu Xing off, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy floated away, proudly showing off her prestige before Lu Yang.

“Did you hear that, Xiao Yangzi? My status in the spirit chef community is publicly recognized.”

“The First-in-Command is so amazing!” Yun Mengmeng praised the Everlasting Immortal Fairy from the side. I have traveled the world in search of good food, but it turns out that the greatest immortal chef is none other than the First-in-Command!

But come to think of it, why have I never tried the First-in-Command’s cooking? Is it because I haven’t contributed enough to the Everlasting Lineage?

Yun Mengmeng resolved to continue making contributions to the Everlasting Lineage. She enjoyed her position as the Third-in-Command of the Everlasting Lineage. Granny had even warned me that the outside world is full of schemers and deceivers, urging me to be cautious. But the outside world isn’t as terrible as Granny had described. At the very least, our Everlasting Lineage is united and harmonious.

“The Immortal Fairy is so amazing,” Lu Yang said, going against his will to compliment the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.

“Let’s rest for a while.” Lu Yang yawned and lay lazily on the bed. He was exhausted from piloting the Sword-Cleansing Pond the whole way.

With outsiders present earlier, Lu Yang had to maintain the image of a dignified prodigy. But now that they were alone, he could drop the act.

He had to admit that the Spirit Chef Alliance was attentive to his needs. They arranged the best room for him, and the Spirit-Qi Gathering Array was composed of high-grade spirit stones, more than sufficient even for a Fusion cultivator. Lu Yang just had to lie there to bathe in the spirit qi, feeling his fatigue melting away.

He pressed the jade slip to his forehead and gained a general understanding of the Spirit Chef Competition.

They were still in the preparatory phase. In seven days, the Spirit Chef Exam would be held, and the Spirit Chef Competition would commence afterward.

All spirit chefs wanted to showcase their abilities and prove their culinary skills, so from the preparatory phase onward, some spirit chefs would set up stalls on the streets or rent temporary storefronts to sell their delicacies. Therefore, apart from spirit chefs, gourmands from all over the world would also flock here, jointly creating a grand feast.

“No wonder Little Zhu wanted the competition held in Demon City. This is a good opportunity to boost the city’s renown.”

Although Demon City was famous, the Demon Region previously had a poor reputation. People knew of the city but dared not come.

“The Law of the Jungle Incipient Dao Fruit really is suited for governing,” Lu Yang remarked.

With that Incipient Dao Fruit, Zhu Tian didn’t have to worry about subordinates disobeying him. He could simply enforce his will. This was precisely why the Demon Region had developed so rapidly in recent years.

“Second-in-Command, shall we go out for a stroll? When we arrived, I saw lots of delicious things being sold on the street.”

“No, too tired.” Lu Yang just wanted to lie here.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?!” Yun Mengmeng raised her beef jerky warily. If the visitor had hostile intentions, she would jab them with a stick of jerky.

“It’s me.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Lu Yang got up from the bed. “Go open the door.”

Yun Mengmeng opened the door to find a man in black robes standing outside, looking mysterious, clearly not a good person.

The black-robed man entered the room and removed his hood. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“Monarch Zhu, it has been a long time since we last met.” Lu Yang rose to greet him.

“You jest, Brother Lu. How could I deserve to be called a monarch? If you’re willing, just call me Little Zhu.”

Zhu Tian dared not act presumptuously before Lu Yang. Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi called Lu Yang “senior brother.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy resided in his body, and the Heaven Mandate Immortal had said that he thought highly of Lu Yang, addressing him as “young friend.”

In other words, Lu Yang’s seniority is on par with ancient immortals. For me to call him “brother” is already taking advantage of him.

“He’s Zhu Tian?” Yun Mengmeng put away her beef jerky and glanced at the statue of Zhu Tian’s true form outside the window, then back at the Zhu Tian in human form before her.

I’ve got to give it to the Second-in-Command. He’s truly impressive. When others come to Demon City, the most they can do is visit the Demon Emperor’s statue. But when the Second-in-Command comes, the Demon Emperor himself shows up.

“And this is?”

“Yun Mengmeng,” Lu Yang replied. Zhu Tian was one of them, so there was no need to hide anything.

Zhu Tian was stunned, trembling slightly. Isn’t Yun Mengmeng the creed leader of the Heavenly Court Creed, the immortal who engaged in an immortal battle in the East Sea and emerged victorious?!

Is it her?

Brother Lu has an immortal accompanying him when he travels?!

“Not exactly. The creed leader of the Heavenly Court Creed is my Big Senior Sister. She and Yun Mengmeng are good sisters. She wanted to help Yun Mengmeng gain fame, so she borrowed her name.”

An immortal’s sister? This status is also far above mine.

“What brings you here, Monarch Zhu?”

Zhu Tian smiled obsequiously. “I heard from my subordinates that you’ve come to Demon City. Since I have some standing here, I thought I'd fulfill the duties of a host and entertain you, Brother Lu.”

The moment he heard Lu Yang had arrived, Zhu Tian had immediately set out to greet him, hoping Lu Yang would see his sincerity.

Zhu Tian surveyed the room’s furnishings. It’s far inferior to what I can make, and the Spirit-Qi Gathering Array is only average. “Brother Lu, if you don’t mind, would you deign to move to my imperial palace? It’s somewhat better than here. You can just treat it as your home. You would have a more comfortable stay that way.”

Lu Yang waved his hand, declining Zhu Tian’s kind offer. “I prefer to keep a low profile. I’ll pass on staying in your palace. This place is fine.”

“I wasn’t thorough in my considerations.”

“Ah, Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, did you see those dancers at the entrance? They’re so beautiful; every race is represented. It looks like they’re meant as gifts for someone.” Liu Xing had returned. Seeing the door open, he walked right in, chattering about what he had just observed.

Lu Yang and Zhu Tian both looked at Liu Xing, and his voice faded to a whisper.

“Fellow Daoist, are you really not planning to visit the imperial palace? I’ve already reached out to my connections in the imperial kitchen. Uh, it seems you’ve already reached out to your own connections...”