Reborn in Japan as a Chef God

Tokyo, another quiet morning with almost no human sounds.

Xia's Shop kitchen.

Xia Yu stared at the newly mixed spice dust on the table. He didn't even have to light the spices, just using his nose, he could judge the quality of the spice mixture.

"The utilization rate of Merck Star Dust still hasn't exceeded 70%!"

Scratching his hair and almost 24 hours without proper sleep, Xia Yu just had a slight redness around his eyes.

The system communicated with him, "After assessment, the 'Xuanjing's Pseudo' recipe has its limitations. Please actively make improvements."

Improvements?

Rubbing his brow, he cursed, "Damn it, this is already a Lin-tier spice formula, and it still needs improvement?"

Indeed, over the past two days, he had suddenly realized how difficult it was to master the use of Merck Star Dust, no wonder at the Lin level, Food Tyrant Chefs began to stand out. They used their own "Taboo Resonance Ingredients" to attack another taboo, their advantage was too great.

Right!

He took a breath.

"Damn!" He cursed himself for being slow-witted, "I am, after all, a Lin Chef who possesses Taboo Resonance Ingredients, and not just one kind..."

Upon counting, wasn't that right.

The long-forgotten "Gem Meat" that had been drawing circles in the corner.

Even the second kind of resonance taboo that was activated and awakened during the Sapporo event had yet to make an appearance. If "Golden Wheat" could cry, right now it would certainly cry out in tears, "Boss, you finally came to find me!"

But Xia Yu frowned, finding things were not so simple.

Blending a Food Dominator Technique to master Merck Star Dust was no problem, but the key was whether he had the appropriate weapon on hand.

"Gem Meat", "Golden Wheat", one was a dreamy perfect meat, the other was the most ideal source of flour, sharp enough as weapons for an attack, but the problem was they were utterly useless when it came to the field of spices!

"Am I supposed to find a third type of taboo ingredient, one that resonates with the cells in my body?"

Xia Yu gave a wry smile.

Three resonance taboos, even a true Food Dominator Lin Chef might not have such a heritage. If Lei Zhe were here, hearing him talk to himself, he would surely laugh loudly and mock, "You're dreaming again during the day, kid."

The use of Merck Star Dust was related to a mission with a reward of a "Purification Stone". Only by achieving over 90% utilization could he get the full reward of three stones. Moreover, he must get the full reward for the "Jade Dragon Pot" to instantly purify.

One ring after another.

Simply put, Xia Yu was locked in a situation.

"Alright..."

First, he needed to find some things to cheer himself up, to not suffocate in his own frustration.

Since he worked out the 'Xuanjing's Pseudo' formula yesterday, Xia Yu hadn't properly looked at the reward.

The long-awaited research reward: 10 Talent Points, one "Shiny Silk-footed Fish" ingredient.

Talent Points, of course, were directly invested in the Cooking Heart. Consequently, the updated Cooking Heart information popped up, "Distance to the next Cooking Heart level—91/100."

The Talent Point frame was just missing a small central area to become completely golden!

Moreover, as it neared the gold frame, the edges of the frame had a layer of gold light that seemed to flow like a breathing light, flickering and seemingly telling Xia Yu how much it longed to break through this final step.

As for the "Shiny Silk-footed Fish"...

He summoned the ingredients from the backpack.

Whoosh.

A bowl spontaneously appeared on the kitchen counter, and a strange fish, as long as an arm, transparent and with a natural golden halo, calmly swam in the equally strange golden liquid in the bowl.

"Huh?!" His gaze swept over, and Xia Yu's heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling as if his head and shoulders were weighed down with something heavy.

He looked over and the corner of his mouth held a refreshing smile.

Ha, that Zang Ai Family style, it's been a while.

At the same time, his gaze grew a bit heavy.

Xia Yu thought to himself, what was it that had awakened the long-dormant cells within his body?

Looking at the strange fish, his heart rate was normal; there was no electrified love-at-first-sight kind of feeling, as if it was not the "Shiny Silk-footed Fish".

Then.

His steps slightly excited, he moved closer to the kitchen counter, stretching his hand towards the bowl, "What exactly is this liquid that the fish is in?"

...

Likewise, the morning.

In Shu, Jingguan City.

The elderly Xia Qing stood under the Skywell of the restaurant, looking toward the slowly rising purple sun in the east, a gentle smile on his face.

"It's time to set off!"

Then, he turned his head to gaze northwards, in that imperial city, where he and an opponent, who was also a Dragon Chef, had mutually agreed on a Food Duel. And this was just one of the dozen or so strong adversaries in Xia Qing's plans.

Xia Qing had a list in his mind, and over the half year since he returned to China, two-thirds of the names on the list had been crossed out. The remaining third consisted of outstanding Dragon Chefs; even if he had found many rare ingredients in his distant travels in Japan, it was hardly surprising that a slight misstep in a Food Duel could lead to disaster.

He stamped his feet beneath the Skywell, uncertain about this battle, yet Xia Qing felt not a trace of fear in his heart.

Nowadays, the Xia Family was down to just an old man and a young boy. There was no fear in being barefoot when you had nothing left to lose—the only option was to fight.

"In a couple of days, it'll be New Year's Day."

Xia Qing talked to himself.

Thud thud!

The sound of knocking disrupted the serene morning, and the atmosphere turned uncommonly strange.

Xia Qing was supposed to have an appointment and upon hearing the sound, he laughed out loud, "You're here!"

Opening the door.

An elegantly thin-faced and scholarly man dressed in black, much like a hermit from a Taoist temple, stood before him. Wasn't this Yan Qi, the leader of the Dark World?

"Brother Xia!"

"Brother Yan!"

The two men seemed to know each other well, laughing as they called out to each other, clasping their hands tightly together and sitting down next to a square rosewood table by the Skywell.

Just as he sat down, Yan Qi's smile faded, and his expression grew solemn, "Brother Xia, have you truly decided to challenge the White Jade Tower again?"

Xia Qing nodded.

"Below the Heavenly King in White Jade Tower, there are three Dragon Supremes. If I do not defeat those three venerables, how can I talk about ascending the White Jade Tower and challenging that person in the Sky Dome Pavilion?"

His face remained calm.

At these words, ripples surged through Yan Qi's eyes, stirring a storm within him, unable to remain at peace.

The three venerables were one thing; they were all outstanding competitors, and none feared the other.

But for Xia Qing to speak before him of challenging the exalted Heavenly King—that shocked Yan Qi deeply, for he knew the man well.

Hesitating, Yan Qi finally sighed, "Actually, it's not necessary, considering that child is almost grown up now."

"This is about destiny. If I don't fight for it, it's the Xia Family's destiny that truly ends," Xia Qing replied calmly.

"Destiny!"

Yan Qi laughed in disbelief, "It's just a matter of pride. When it comes down to it, that person and you, Brother Xia..."

Speaking of which, he seemed to recall that this was the Chinese Realm's feared taboo, and also the Heavenly King's Achilles' heel, touching upon it spelled certain death. Yan Qi's words halted, unable to continue.

"Hmph!"

The mention of it sparked anger in Xia Qing, disrupting his previously calm demeanor.

The two men fell silent for a moment.

"It's getting late; I need to catch a flight."

Xia Qing stood up, taking with him a portable case of cooking utensils and a bag of clothing.

"Brother Xia, have you seen the letter I sent a while back when I returned to the country?"

As Xia Qing walked away, taking a few steps with his back turned, he stopped.

"I have!"

His face took on a strange expression, "Brother Yan, it's not that I don't trust you, but this matter is somewhat unbelievable. That child..."

"I was present to verify it myself. Do you still have doubts, Brother Xia?"

"No, it's just..."

"There's no 'just'. Call him back to the country. With the level he has reached, staying in the stagnant Japan Realm won't advance his culinary skills much further. Bringing him back to the country is the only way he might be able to leap through the Dragon Gate in a short period."

Xia Qing didn't respond, lost in thought for a long time.

"What are you worried about?"

Yan Qi approached with a smile from behind, glancing at his old friend's worried expression and laughed heartily, "Brother Xia, you still have concerns, afraid of defeat in the Food Duel. If you lose, the entire Xia Family falls, and beneath a collapsed nest, there are no intact eggs."

Xia Qing sighed deeply, his lips moving as if he wanted to retort, but ultimately, he had nothing to counter with.

"Just go and ascend the tower with peace of mind." To Xia Qing's surprise, Yan Qi reached out and patted his shoulder, "I, Yan Qi, swear here and now, with me around to protect and escort, a bunch of old fellows won't dare to make things difficult for that boy."

Essentially, Yan Qi's words meant no more than a modern spin on "In my care, your wife and grandson shall thrive."

Xia Qing heard something in those words and stared deeply at Yan Qi, "Tower Master Yan, I think I understand what you're getting at."

The terms of address shifted from 'brother' to 'Tower Master Yan', evidencing how peeved Xia Qing felt.

"My grandson will not enter the Dark World!"

He left those words behind as he walked away, "He is the successor of the Xia Family, not some pawn for any Pavilion or Dark World!"

Yan Qi watched him disappear through the door, standing for a long time.

Finally, a sonorous laughter echoed through the old inn's deep alley.

"No wonder Xia Qing, that old man, is so reluctant to let his grandson return. He's guarding fiercely, afraid that the Xia Family lineage will be extinguished!"