I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The uproar that initially erupted in the city over the secret realm tokens has gradually subsided as the tokens have been distributed and the secret realms have closed.

However, today in Chuyang City, an unusual restlessness, faintly carrying the smell of gunpowder, once again permeated the air.

As always, the main hall of Baiweizhai was packed with diners, clinking glasses and filling the air with delicious aromas.

In a corner, two familiar scholars sat facing each other, sipping drinks and talking in hushed tones.

"Have you heard? Starting tomorrow, all the big restaurants in town—like Zuixianlou, Bazhenge, and Weizhongxian—are going to start offering snacks to accompany drinks!"

"Snacks to go with drinks?"

The person opposite was picking up a piece of braised, glistening, trembling spiced pig ear and putting it into their mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately.

He took another sip of the Wang family's secret brew in his cup and closed his eyes contentedly.

Finally, a look of doubt appeared on his face.

"You mean the kind sold at Baiweizhai? That's not right. Didn't they say before that this unique skill is one of a kind and can't be imitated anywhere else?"

The man who had spoken earlier also picked up his glass, took a sip, smacked his lips, and lowered his voice:

"Who says otherwise! But according to what I've heard, the Lin family hasn't cooperated with them at all. Isn't that obvious? Those other families are just jealous of Baiweizhai's booming business and have joined forces to challenge the Lin family!"

He glanced left and right, his voice even softer:

"And I've heard that the Zhou family has some influence behind these big restaurants."

"This time, the family facing off against the Lin family isn't the restaurant itself, but the Zhou family!"

"They must have gotten hold of the recipe from somewhere, or figured it out themselves, and even made a snack to go with their drinks. This is going to be quite a show!"

Similar discussions were not limited to this table.

In several places in the hall, diners were whispering among themselves, and the conversation was all about the "battle of spirit food" that would take place the next day.

After all, the advertisements from various restaurants in Chuyang City these past few days have been overwhelming, whetting everyone's appetite.

Behind the counter, Wang Yanduan, the manager of Baiweizhai, still greeted and saw off customers with a professional smile, but a trace of worry could not be hidden between his brows.

He naturally heard the diners' discussions and was aware of the commotion that had been brewing in the city these past few days.

Baiweizhai is not only the Lin family's main source of wealth, but it is also the lifeline for the Wang family's prosperity.

Thanks to the booming business of Baiweizhai, the Wang family's various spirit wines are always in short supply, and sometimes they even need to transfer goods from other familiar wineries to replenish their stock.

However, if those well-established restaurants with a large customer base also launch similar snacks to accompany drinks, they will inevitably take away a large number of customers.

At that time, the sales of the Wang family's spirit wine will surely suffer a heavy blow.

What troubled him most was the source of the goods!

Normally, the Lin family would send slightly more snacks to accompany their drinks each day than they anticipated, just in case, as a sign of their sincerity.

However, starting half a month ago, the amount of spiritual food that Liu Yunzhou, who was in charge of delivery, offered suddenly decreased sharply, almost to half of what it used to be!

This inevitably reminded him of the rumors circulating in the public some time ago.

The Zhou family cut off the supply of spirit beast cubs to the Lin family.

If the rumors are true, and the Lin family can't produce enough spirit beast meat to make appetizers, while their rivals are about to launch a large-scale invasion, then the future of their Wang family's spirit wine shop is bleak.

These past few days, he has lost his appetite and been unable to sleep at night. He has also subtly inquired about the situation from Liu Yunzhou.

But the servant Liu only vaguely told him "not to worry about it" and said nothing more.

How could he not be anxious?

At this moment, on another table in the corner of the hall, stood a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance and simple clothes.

He was pouring himself a drink, seemingly focused on tasting the wine, but in reality, he was taking in all the discussions in the hall, and his gaze kept glancing at Wang Yanduan, who was forcing a smile behind the counter.

The corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly, revealing a cold smile that carried a hint of smugness and mockery.

"The Lin family... is it truly at its last gasp, with no way to continue?"

This person is Zhou Wanhai, one of the heads of the Zhou family's spirit beast industry.

To ensure the plan went perfectly and to ascertain the true strength of the Lin family, he personally disguised himself and mingled in Baiweizhai for the past few days to observe them.

I witnessed firsthand the gradual decrease in the variety and quantity of snacks available for drinking in the counter, the subtle dissatisfaction and speculation among the diners, and the undisguised worry on the face of the shopkeeper, Wang Yanduan.

Everything is developing in a direction favorable to the Zhou family, just as the patriarch and the family's strategist predicted.

After finishing the last sip of the spirit wine in his cup, Zhou Wanhai slowly put down the glass, put his hands behind his back, and walked leisurely out of the shop.

As he passed the counter, Wang Yanduan habitually put on a smile and nodded, saying, "Please take care, sir. Welcome to visit again."

Zhou Wanhai paused slightly, then gave Wang Yanduan a meaningful smile that left him somewhat puzzled.

His figure then disappeared into the crowd of people in the streets and alleys outside the gate.

……

Shattered Star Lake, the Lin family's residence, the Ling Shan Tang in the Comprehensive District.

In recent days, this main room, which is dedicated to processing and cooking the meat of spirit beasts, has been enveloped by a complex and enticing rich aroma.

The aroma of various spices, skillfully blended and enhanced by the slow simmering of the spirit beast meat, wafts out in delicate wisps, making one's mouth water.

Inside the main room, the stove fire was burning brightly.

Lin Che, with his sleeves rolled up, stood in front of a specially made, huge jade casserole, holding a long ladle and occasionally stirring the thick, bubbling broth inside.

In the pot, chunks of Bright Moon Rabbit meat, cut into appropriate sizes, are bubbling in the broth, gradually turning a glossy, dark reddish-brown color.

Liu Yunzhou stood half a step behind him, his expression focused, listening attentively to every word of Lin Che's guidance.

"Yunzhou, look, the meat of this Moonlit Spirit Rabbit is naturally tender and contains a trace of Yin essence. The heat is especially crucial when braising it."

"It needs to be simmered over a low flame to allow the flavor and essence of the spices to slowly seep in. Avoid boiling it over high heat, otherwise the meat will become tough and the essence will be lost."

"At this moment, the bubbles in the pot resemble crab eyes, and the soup is bubbling gently without boiling, which is the perfect temperature."

Liu Yunzhou nodded repeatedly, carefully taking notes.

During this period, Lin Che and Liu Yunzhou devoted almost all their energy to the braising experiments on the meat of the four newly bred second-tier spirit beasts.

The meat's characteristics, spiritual energy attributes, and even its edible effects are significantly different from those of the original first-tier spirit beast meat.

The original braising recipe and temperature control must be adjusted accordingly.

Over the past two weeks, they have repeatedly experimented, comparing the effects of different spice ratios, braising times, and heat levels on the final product's flavor and the retention of its spiritual energy.

Today is the day to finalize the improved formula and make the final preparations for tomorrow's "battle"!

"Is it ready? Is it ready? Let me have a taste!"

A round, impatient little face peeked out from the doorway leading from the main hall to the front lounge.

It was Lin Xuanqi who was so enticed by the aroma that he couldn't sit still.

He took a deep sniff, his eyes fixed on the fragrant clay pot.

On the long table in the lounge behind him, the other six children had already gathered around, unable to contain themselves any longer, and were staring longingly at him.

Today, they have been entrusted with the important task of "Chief Tasting Officer".

"You little rascal, all you know is eating!" Lin Che turned around and scolded with a laugh.

"If one day I were to say, 'The Crown Prince is often ill; you must encourage him,' let's see if you'd still be able to laugh!"

Lin Xuanqi was taken aback by his father's seemingly nonsensical remark.

He scratched his head, then quickly put the thought out of his mind, his attention completely absorbed by the delicious food that was about to be served.

Lin Che shook his head and chuckled, no longer teasing him.

With a slight thought, her divine sense, like an invisible hand, gracefully lifted seven small celadon plates, each containing a different kind of new braised dish, and steadily placed them on the long table in the front hall.

"Come on, everyone, try some. See how it differs from what you usually eat. No grabbing, enjoy it slowly, everyone gets a share."

Lin Che wiped his hands and walked over.

Lin Xuanqi moved the fastest, his chopsticks flashing out to precisely pick up a piece of braised, glistening, trembling earth spirit pig ear slice, and eagerly put it into his mouth.

With a gentle bite, the rich, chewy texture and tender flesh burst forth in your mouth.

An unprecedented rich and mellow aroma instantly enveloped the entire taste buds, followed by a gentle yet profound earth elemental energy that warmly soothed the stomach and intestines.

His eyes widened suddenly, and he exclaimed in a muffled voice:

"So...so fragrant! This rich meaty aroma and aftertaste are so much better than before! And, it makes my stomach feel warm and comfortable after eating it!"

Seeing their elder brother's reaction, the twins Lin Xuandong and Lin Xuanjing couldn't resist either. They each picked up the Yunmengze duck gizzards and Haoyueling rabbit leg meat in front of them and carefully savored them.

The duck gizzards are crisp, tender, and chewy, with a refreshing, moist texture and the savory aroma of the braising sauce;

The rabbit leg meat is tender and juicy, melting in your mouth, with a cool, refreshing sensation that invigorates the spirit.

The siblings' eyes lit up simultaneously, and they nodded repeatedly.

Lin Xuanfeng, who had officially embarked on his cultivation journey and diligently practiced body refinement every day, was savoring a piece of Huangjing Jinyu chicken wing.

He chewed slowly and deliberately, savoring the food more deeply:

"The taste is naturally excellent, even more delicious and mellow than before, but the most important thing is..." He closed his eyes and carefully observed.

"The spiritual energy contained within not only feels more than double in total amount, but is also purer, gentler, and easier to absorb."

"After consuming it, I felt a subtle, nourishing, and soothing sensation throughout my body, which seemed to help me recover from fatigue!"

Lin Xuanjing, Lin Xuanyu, and Lin Xuanqing also gave positive reviews.

Some praised the improved meat quality, others felt the abundance of spiritual energy, and still others affirmed the lingering aftertaste.

Listening to the children's enthusiastic yet unanimous high praise, Lin Che and Liu Yunzhou exchanged a smile, both with satisfaction in their eyes.

This is Lin Che's trump card and strategy in dealing with the Zhou family's aggressive advance.

Lin Che was not surprised that the Zhou family could develop a braised dish with a rich flavor that was comparable to, or even surpassed, the Lin family's original recipe in some aspects.

If they sit idly by and watch the Lin family compete with them in the catering market, or even gain the upper hand, based solely on "snacks to accompany drinks," then Lin Che should underestimate the Zhou family.

From the very beginning, Lin Che's approach was exceptionally clear and direct.

Improve the quality of the most fundamental ingredients!

While the Zhou family may still be racking their brains to optimize the braising sauce recipe and trying to compete on "taste".

Lin Che has quietly completed a comprehensive upgrade of the ingredients.

The meat used by the Lin family nowadays is all from carefully cultivated spirit beasts whose bloodlines have been upgraded to the second tier!

The total amount and purity of spiritual energy contained in its meat, its nourishing effect on the cultivator's body, and even the taste and flavor of the meat itself are far superior to the original first-order spirit beast meat.

Not to mention, each of these four second-tier spirit beasts possesses unique bloodline characteristics that are beneficial to cultivation.

These properties can be partially preserved and utilized when cooked properly.

At the same time, the Lin family has achieved complete self-sufficiency in these four main types of meat-producing spirit beasts, completely eliminating their dependence on and the associated costs of purchasing cubs from outside.

It relies on the efficient breeding system and economical and rapid breeding management inherited from the Beast Taming tradition.

Large-scale and meticulous breeding has enabled effective control over the cost of spirit animal meat.

This means that even if the price remains unchanged or is even slightly adjusted.

Linjia Baiweizhai's appetizers will have an overwhelming advantage over similar products offered by Zhoujia-affiliated restaurants in terms of both quality and value!