Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Shanliang, your cooking is ingenious. You use cherry charcoal, ground black pepper, rosemary and thyme, and garlic soy sauce to create a triple flavor that makes the venison steak taste rich and colorful.

　Hisako Shinto's Four Qi Returning to Origin Venison Stew makes excellent use of four medicinal herbs: cinnamon, angelica, star anise, and deer antler glue. They blend together to bring out the full flavor of the venison.

　Both of them were excellent cooks, but the theme for this meal was "deer."

　As they were talking, the word "deer" suddenly appeared on the large screen in the sky, and the audience was puzzled as to why the commander-in-chief would suddenly bring this up.

　The two of them served venison, so could there be some difference between them?

　"Don't you understand yet?"

　Seeing Hayama Akira standing there dumbfounded and somewhat confused, Nakiri Senzaemon sighed.

　"One of you chose to showcase a complex combination of aromas, while the other focuses on the purest flavor of venison. With 'deer' as the sole theme, Hisako Niito's dish is undoubtedly more suitable!"

　Senzaemon Nakiri slowly opened his mouth. The difference in their cooking skills was not that great. If it weren't for their different focuses, it would be hard to tell who would win.

　Normally, a dish should showcase the delicious fusion of spices and venison, which is what ordinary chefs do, and Hayama Akira did just that.

　However, Hisako Niito took a different approach, using spices as nutrients to enhance the aroma of the venison, thus perfectly matching the theme.

　"The triple-flavored seared venison steak uses venison fat to bring out a deeper aroma in the venison, while other spices build on this foundation to further shape the flavor of the dish, creating layers of flavor that ultimately surpass the taste of venison."

　But, to be fair, how much of the original flavor of venison is left in this?

　Looking at the silent Hayama Akira before him, Nakiri Senzaemon's voice was calm, yet it resonated powerfully, exploding in his heart like a thunderclap.

　So that's how it is. He seems to have focused too much on the proportions and flavors of the spices, thus neglecting the taste of the venison itself.

　This dish doesn't test the use of spices, but rather the ability to bring out the natural flavor of the venison; it strayed from the point from the very beginning...

　Ahhhhh!

　Can I try your cooking?

　Thinking of this, Hayama Akira looked at Hisako Shinoto beside him. There was not much change in her eyes; she just nodded slightly.

　"I originally planned to pack it up and take it home to taste, then summarize my experience and improve it next time. Since you want it, I'll give it all to you."

　As they were talking, Hisako Shinto returned to her original position, picked up the remaining venison stew from the stove, and then came to Akira Hayama.

　"Thank you."

　Upon hearing Hisako Niito's words, Akira Hayama didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded his thanks, took the venison stew from her, and picked up a piece of venison to taste.

　"Cinnamon has a warm and spicy character that brings out the natural aroma of venison, giving the meat an enticing fragrance during stewing."

　Angelica dahurica, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a unique aroma and a slightly spicy taste, which can effectively remove the fishy and muttony smell of venison.

　Star anise is known for its rich aroma and is an essential ingredient in braised meat dishes, adding a wealth of flavor to venison stew.

　Closing his eyes and savoring the flavors emanating from the depths of the venison stew, Hayama Akira seemed to see a lush and prosperous forest before him, with a herd of free-roaming deer in the forest.

　Deer forage in the forest, crossing mountains and rivers, running and playing freely.

　Wherever they go, they eat a lot of food, including the herbs and spices that Hisako Shinto used in the competition.

　"The most crucial ingredient is deer antler gelatin, which is rich in collagen and various amino acids, making the final soup thick and smooth, adding a unique nourishing flavor."

　Opening his eyes, Ye Shanliang wore a bitter smile as he looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with resentment.

　His dishes are definitely not bad in taste, but he loses out because of his understanding of the subject matter.

　"Don't we need too many spices...?"

　Hayama Akira muttered to himself, his greatest pride being his use of spices, but this time his cleverness had backfired...

　"Bring me a pen."

　Seeing Hayama Akira's expression, Nakiri Senzaemon didn't say much, but spoke to the staff member serving him.

　Before he could say anything more, the other party had already prepared the paper and then wrote down the five characters "Shinoto Hisako" on it.

　Thus, the third match came to an end.

　Hisako Shinto exhaled a breath of stale air, looked at Shirai Abyss, and gave him a bright smile. With that, she had made it into the quarterfinals.

　If we win three more games, we can win the championship. However, the one we need to watch out for the most is still that black-haired guy.

　Looking towards the audience, and seeing Kurokiba Ryo watching the scene with a calm expression, Hisako Shinoto's eyes lit up with fighting spirit.

　The opponent was the second place in the Group A qualifiers. It is said that he was in Northern Europe before coming here a month ago. He is a neighbor of Teacher Baiyuan and often went over to audit his classes.

　Even now, Kurokiba Ryo will visit him whenever there is a problem, and he dares to challenge Alice Nakiri even after she becomes a top-tier chef.

　It can be said that her opponent was the biggest obstacle to her winning the championship this time!

　"Let's go back."

　Coming to his senses, he found Bai Yuan was...

　He patted her on the shoulder, and Hisako Shinoto nodded obediently, following behind him.

　Soon, the two left the competition venue.

　"Let's go back too."

　Watching Shirai and Hisako leave, Alice Nakiri in the audience glanced at the others and then stepped away from the Moonlit Realm.

　·

　·

　Tokyo Airport, Japan.

　A young man dressed in casual clothes got off the plane. He looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, with his hands in his pockets and a nonchalant attitude. He was accompanied by an elderly man in his seventies.

　"Grandpa, is the Seven-Star Chef you're looking for really in Japan? But even if he is, you don't need to come here in person, do you?"

　Looking at the old man walking briskly ahead, the young man in casual clothes asked in confusion, "A top-level seven-star chef is very rare, but is it really necessary for his grandfather to come and visit in person?"

　"A top-tier seven-star chef is rare, but a top-tier seven-star chef in his twenties is one of a kind, even in our area."

　Besides, isn't it normal for Grandpa to come over and make some connections? If you can't even understand this, Xiao Quan, your brain is really not working properly.

　The girl with pigtails, a lollipop in her mouth, and light pink hair pouted and said somewhat speechlessly.

　"Don't call me Xiao Quan. You're three years younger than me, aren't you? How dare you call me Xiao Quan! And what are you doing here on business?"

　Looking at the young girl following behind, the man covered his face in exasperation, looking extremely helpless, and his complaints were undisguised.

　“Your mother and I are of the same generation. What do you think you should call me? What’s wrong with me calling you Xiao Quan? You’ve been a head below me since birth!”

　Upon hearing Zhou Quan's words, the pink-haired girl with pigtails couldn't help but put her hands on her hips, point her finger at his nose, and say something so arrogant that it made you want to punch her.

　"Zhou Yuyu, don't push your luck!"

　"Hehe, Grandpa, look at him, he's doing this again."

　Seeing Zhou Quan's anger, Zhou Yuyu made a face indifferently, then hid behind the old man, causing Zhou Quan to clench his fists even more.

　He vowed that one day he would teach her a lesson!

　"This time, the main purpose is to get to know him. Since his debut, he has reached the seventh level of the special grade at an astonishing speed, and this may not be his limit yet."

　Watching the two younger generation members playfully fighting in front of him, the old man smiled. For him, this was the kind of lively scene he liked best.

　"Seven-star chef isn't the limit? How could I possibly be an eight-star chef like you, Grandfather? You're the one who hosts state banquets..."

　Zhou Quan was somewhat surprised, because above the Seven Stars of the Special Grade was the true realm of gods.

　Not only must the chef be able to consistently produce shimmering dishes, but the diners must also be able to clearly feel the emotions the chef evoked while cooking the dish.

　Imbuing food with emotion is something that is neither difficult nor easy.

　What's difficult is deliberately imbuing something with emotion; what's simple is that most mothers in the world can do it—it's an expression of love for someone.

　For an average chef to grasp this on their own, a bright one might need eight to ten years, while an unwise one might never understand it in their entire life.

　Therefore, Zhou Quan reacted this way when he heard Taigong say that Bai Yuan might have the strength of a special-grade eight-star. His expression of shock was undisguised.

　"It's already quite remarkable that someone of this age can create 'flowing light cuisine,' how could he possibly be a top-tier eight-star chef?"

　Grandpa, didn't it take you a full twenty years to go from Special Grade Seven Star to Special Grade Eight Star...?

　Zhou Yuyu's mouth was slightly open, her expression also filled with disbelief. Was her grandfather's evaluation of Bai Yuan a bit too high?

　"When I was young, I was considered a genius. I reached the seventh level of the special grade before I was forty years old, but it took me more than twenty years to take the next step."

　As for the top-tier nine-star level, I estimate I'll never reach that level in my lifetime. In China, there's only one living person who has truly achieved that.

　Grandpa Zhou walked ahead, talking about his youth as he went.

　To become a master chef, one must have been a genius in their youth, but the difficulty only increases as one gets older.

　"I don't know how far that little guy can go, but I'm sure his future will be brighter than this old man's."

　At least he's young, and there's no end in sight.

　As he exited the airport and looked up at the sky, Old Zhou's voice was somber, and his eyes held complex emotions.

　If he used to consider himself a genius, after chatting with his old friend and learning about Bai Yuan's deeds, he realized his own insignificance.

　When he was twenty years old, he had just become a master chef.

　Fortunately, the chef was of Chinese descent, not a foreign one; otherwise, that once-in-a-century event that followed...

　·

　·

　A few peaceful days passed.

　The first round of eight matches has concluded.

　Soma Yukihira vs. Sugi Ueno, Soma Yukihira wins.

　Huang Mei vs. Tacki Aldini, Huang Mei wins.

　Hisako Niito vs. Akira Hayama, Hisako Niito wins.

　Liu Yu vs. Ning Feng, Liu Yu wins.

　Ryo Kurokiba vs. Wanwan Li, Ryo Kurokiba wins.

　Megumi Tadokoro vs. Yuuki Yoshino, Megumi Tadokoro wins.

　Wang Jing vs. Zhang Chen, Wang Jing wins.

　The eighth day.

　Miyo Hojo

　Zi VS Mimasaku Subaru, Mimasaku Subaru wins

　On the big screen, the red text was particularly glaring.

　With angry almond-shaped eyes, Hojo Miyoko glared at Mimasaka Subaru as he presented her with a dish that was the same as hers, or rather, a slightly improved and even better version. She was furious, but since she was no match for him, she couldn't say anything.

　"It seems I've won again, Teacher Baiyuan."

　Subaru Mimasaka waved to Shirabuchi on the stage and said something completely inexplicable. Then, ignoring Miyoko Hojo, who was kneeling on the ground because of her defeat, he left the Moonlit Realm with a flourish.

　"This guy..."

　Watching Subaru Mimasaka's departing figure, Hisako Shinoto, who was below, immediately went on stage, quickly helped Miyoko Hojo up, and a flash of anger crossed her face.

　If the opponent wins normally, it's not a big deal.

　The key point is that the opponent replicated Hojo Miyoko's dish, made slight modifications using their own methods, and won the competition, which is why it's infuriating.

　Doesn't this guy have any ideas of his own?!

　"Actually, it's because the cooking isn't precise enough. Otherwise, even if he added more ingredients, the taste wouldn't be able to surpass yours. He still needs to keep working hard."

　Seeing Hojo Miyoko stand up and walk straight to him, head bowed and silent, Shiro spoke first.

　A loss is a loss; there's no need to make excuses. Winning is simple: create a dish that Subaru Mimasaka can't replicate.

　The other party's tracking and copying is essentially imitation. To break it, you just need to push them to their limit so they can't imitate it anymore.

　"I'm sorry, Teacher Bai Yuan, it's because my skills are not good enough..."

　Miyoko Hojo stammered, clearly deeply affected by this defeat. She had actually lost to the dish she had created herself...

　"Don't say sorry, I don't like hearing that. Since you lost, go back and practice more, and you can win next time."

　Hearing what Hojo Miyoko said, Shirai raised his hand and patted her shoulder. Losing a match is not a shameful thing, as long as you can get back up.