Food: Randomly set up stalls, even the little guy is drooling.

The man with the crew cut shook his head, his expression conveying a sense of anger and dissatisfaction towards the competition organizers.

"Without any experience, I don't even know how many years I've studied kneading dough, and now everyone's talking about 'dough valves' and stuff like that. What's that called? A dough valve, hahaha."

Another person chimed in, "That's not all. Look at this one, a Western-style pastry chef switching to Chinese-style pastry, also jumping on the bandwagon. And this one, from a trendy restaurant, making a few desserts that young girls like, and dares to call himself a talent? Since when has our industry become so focused on online traffic?"

"The most outrageous one is this." The crew-cut man slammed his finger heavily on the roster. "Cao Jianjia, only 20 years old! A family-inherited craft, and she's already independently running a store at eighteen? A genius girl? Pshaw! This kind of national competition isn't child's play; it's all just attention-grabbing stuff."

His words elicited a chorus of soft laughter from the people around him. Clearly, they had formed a small clique, showing considerable disdain for the young contestants on the list.

"Actually, I can understand it. The organizing committee also needs sponsorships. Otherwise, who would pay for the prize money and travel expenses?" Another person concluded with a shake of the head, speaking with certainty about the so-called behind-the-scenes manipulation. "They have to promote a few popular contestants."

Lu Feng didn't stop walking. He felt that these people were a bit narrow-minded. Take the other world he had experienced, for example. Jie Lu and Jie Badan were both exceptionally talented from a young age.

However, his silence did not mean that others remained silent.

A clear female voice rang out from behind him, interrupting the laughter of the group.

"Are you experienced masters having such a lively discussion because you think your age guarantees victory?"

A girl wearing a white shirt and with neat pigtails walked over from the front desk.

Judging from her appearance, she clearly still looks like a college student, with delicate features and a graceful demeanor.

If there are no other contestants on the roster, then it can only be the so-called genius girl, Cao Jianjia.

She walked straight up to them, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, "I heard that all the masters participating this time have solid skills?"

The crew-cut men were taken aback when the person in question appeared.

The crew-cut man's face darkened, and he snorted, "So what if it is? Little girl, we're talking business, what's it to you?"

"Originally, this was none of my business," Cao Jianjia chuckled, "but with you all talking so loudly, it's hard for me to pretend I didn't hear it."

She paused, a hint of coldness in her eyes, "I, Cao Jianjia, haven't learned many skills, but I do know a little. Making pastries is all about hard work and skill. Don't spend a few years kneading dough and then start pointing fingers. Tomorrow, the competition will reveal the truth."

After saying this, she ignored what the others in the lobby thought and followed Lu Feng into the elevator.

Lu Feng took in the whole scene. This Cao Jianjia was even younger than him, yet she was sharp and confident.

That's true. Everyone standing here is an expert. How could they not have any confidence?

The elevator arrived at its floor with a soft "ding," and the doors opened. The two stepped out one after the other, heading in different directions.

Lu Feng found his room and swiped his card to enter. He put down his luggage, walked to the window, and looked at the night view of Lucheng as the lights came on. Scenes from today flashed through his mind.

Disdain and skepticism have never ceased.

It was 5:50 a.m. on Sunday morning, before dawn.

The International Convention and Exhibition Center next to the Lucheng Hotel was already brightly lit.

The venue was larger than Lu Feng had imagined.

The ceiling is at least ten meters high, and one hundred standardized stalls are neatly arranged in four rows and twenty-five columns. Each stall is the same size and layout, and is equipped with basic work tables, cooking utensils, etc., according to the requirements put forward by each person in advance.

His booth was located in the westernmost corner of the entire venue, which was also the furthest from the main entrance.

If their entire layout is equivalent to two food streets, his location is at the end of the food street.

Lu Feng looked around and discovered that Cao Jianjia, whom he had met briefly in the elevator, was among those who had been relegated to this place; she was in another corner.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a suit held a microphone, his voice audible throughout the venue, "Let me reiterate the preliminary round rules."

"Starting at 6:00, each chef can begin preparing their signature pastries, completing at least 200 samples for tasting and finished products. At 8:00, all three entrances to the venue will open simultaneously, allowing 5,000 ticket holders to enter and sample the food freely."

"The samples are available for diners to sample freely. Each diner has three votes, which can be exchanged for three different desserts. Your task is to attract as many diners as possible before 10:00 AM. The first twenty contestants to receive two hundred votes will advance directly!"

"Some contestants may feel that their positions are unfair." The middle-aged man stood on the high platform in the middle of the venue, his gaze sweeping across the entire field. "Your positions were arranged after comprehensive consideration."

Lu Feng saw this comprehensive arrangement in the rules: as one of the ten recommended players, he would need to undergo a more difficult test, which was to be given a more remote location.

The players closer to the entrance were naturally overjoyed, as it meant they had a greater advantage.

The crew-cut man felt like Lady Luck was on his side. "Hahaha, my stall is right at the entrance. Guys, if I advance ahead of time, don't blame me. Luck is also part of skill."

"Brother Gao Mian, your strength is undeniable."

The crew-cut man called Gao Mian was already the strongest among them, and now with this advantage, he felt that victory was practically assured.

Those who were assigned to the middle positions were not discouraged. For them, advancing to the next round with twenty people was a difficult task in itself, and many of them came with the mindset of broadening their horizons.

You can never broaden your horizons by staying in your own little corner of the world; only through mutual exchange can you improve.

Those who had been criticized by Cao Jianjia, in particular, made no attempt to hide their gloating expressions towards her.

Lu Feng glanced at Cao Jianjia. Cao Jianjia seemed completely unconcerned. She methodically wiped her worktable and checked the cooking utensils, her expression focused, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.

Wang Sheng and Hu Xi also cast sympathetic glances at Lu Feng, who was also in a similar precarious position.

"This kid's chances are slim," Wang Sheng sighed. "No wonder Master didn't recommend me; that recommendation was a trap. In any shopping mall, the prices of the front and back shops are at least 30% different."

"Good luck to them. This time it really is a gathering of heroes. Eighty people were eliminated in the first round." Looking at the pastry chefs all over the place, Hu Xi felt as if there were countless heroes in the world.

While they were still discussing Lu Feng, they saw Lu Feng take out a red and silver mask from his bag and put it on.

"Ultraman?!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, and all eyes around them turned to Lu Feng.