The Chef's Trial

After hours of meticulously reading the book, Jiawei finally emerged from the Master Library.

He had entirely forgotten that his main mission was to find allies for the competition. Instead, he had been utterly absorbed in the book's contents, losing track of time as the words pulled him deeper into their world.

The book described Emperor Wei Chen as someone deeply invested in the health and well-being of the Aerith, the inhabitants of the Cloud Palace who were once called "humans."

It revealed that humans were originally frail beings, physically weak from living on fertile and peaceful lands since birth. Emperor Wei Chen saw this fragility not as a flaw, but as an opportunity—viewing humans as blank canvases, perfect for him to shape into his loyal army.

This is why Emperor Wei Chen took such great care in regulating their diets, ensuring that every morsel and nutrient strengthened their once-feeble bodies. His ultimate goal was to mold them into warriors capable of aiding him in his rebellion against the Grand Emperor, a bid to seize control of the Cloud Realm during that era.

"What a scum," Jiawei muttered to himself, disgust dripping from his tone as he reflected on Wei Chen's despicable actions.

Exploiting the weak for personal gain, all to seize the throne? Cruel, deceitful, inhumane, and utterly consumed by his lust for power. And on top of all that, he still dared to wear the title The Emperor of All Living Souls? Such an honorable label for someone so vile, a piece of filth cloaked in grandeur.

The tale of the emperor's betrayal was already well-known across the realms. Even children knew of it—taught by their parents as a cautionary tale, a warning to grow up righteous and avoid becoming like the treacherous ruler. But the details of his schemes and his betrayal? Jiawei only now uncovered the full depth of its horror.

Jiawei passed through the lobby, his gaze catching the sight of crowds pouring into the hotel. They looked utterly exhausted, their faces marked by weariness, their clothes rumpled and dusty.

The grand lobby, usually gleaming with an air of luxury, now felt more akin to the entrance of a hospital. The steady stream of people, moving together in clusters, transformed the space into something starkly different from its usual elegance.

"Daddy, who are they? Why do they look so worn out?" a small child asked, tugging at his father's hand as they strolled through the hotel lobby. 

From their attire and demeanor, they are likely to be one of the wealthy families of the Cloud Palace, staying at the hotel merely to spectate the Chef's Trial. "Are they the beggars from those storybooks?" the child pressed on, his tone curious.

The father shook his head gently. "No, they must be participants in the Chef's Trial, the ones who had to go through the preliminary round."

The father and son paused their steps, joining the growing crowd of hotel guests who stood to watch the exhausted competitors file in one by one. Their arrival seemed to provide some strange form of amusement to the onlookers, like an unscheduled performance.

"What do they even do in the preliminary round to end up looking so shabby?" the child asked again, his wide eyes darting between the weary faces of the participants.

Jiawei, standing nearby and as clueless as the child about the intricacies of the Chef's Trial—knowing only the most basic facts—found himself quietly eavesdropping on their conversation.

"What the public knows is that they have to submit their dishes at the reception posts in each realm. Once their food is accepted, they undergo a three-day training session," the father explained. "However, it's said that the training is brutal—so harsh that many don't survive it. It's no wonder, though, because those who do make it out see their skills and survival knowledge increase by a staggering 500%."

"That good?" Jiawei thought, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized the contestants entering one by one. "If they receive training that effective, wouldn't those of us that got in through realm scouting be at a disadvantage?"

"Not really. If we joined the training, there's no guarantee we'd survive. Besides, we were given realm scouting for a reason. The organizers must've had their considerations for not including us in the training."

Jiawei startled at the sudden response to his internal musings and turned to find a man about his age standing nearby. He blinked, confused.

"Tian Qi," the man introduced himself with a sly, lopsided grin, turning to Jiawei. "Vowspirits."

The Vowspirits are inhabitants of the Realm of Promises, fluid beings whose forms shifted according to their promises and emotions. Some chose human-like shapes, while others resembled mythical creatures. They held honesty as their highest virtue, often meditating to deepen their connection with their inner truths.

In the Realm of Promises, no animals existed. The Vowspirits were renowned for their strictly plant-based diet and their skillful preparation of plant-derived dishes.

"Vowspirits can read minds?" Jiawei asked bluntly, his confusion growing. How else could Tian Qi have answered a question he hadn't voiced?

Tian Qi nodded, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, when you think out loud, it's not exactly difficult."

Just as Jiawei was about to let out an "Ohhh," one of the contestants suddenly tripped—whether they slipped or stumbled, it was unclear—and fell flat onto the hotel lobby floor. "Ah!" they yelped as they went down.

Jiawei and Tian Qi rushed over to help the contestant back to their feet. To their surprise, as they got closer and took a good look at their face and petite frame, it became evident that this contestant was still very young—perhaps only around sixteen?

"Thank you, gege," the young one said, steadying themselves with Jiawei and Tian Qi's assistance.

"Are you alright?" Jiawei asked, concern evident in his tone.

"I'm fine! I'm just not used to being out of the water, so I got a bit clumsy," she replied with a wide grin. Her face and appearance were grimy, with several visible scrapes on their skin. Seeing her like this, Jiawei couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

"What's your name?" Tian Qi asked next.

"Jiang Xiaoting. Gege can call me Xiao Jiang!" she chirped, their voice bright despite her disheveled state.

Tian Qi nodded, gently patting the top of the girl's head. "I never expected to see an Aquarii so young participating in The Chef's Trial."