Free Web NovelChapter 1101: Fallen Into the Trap!
Dragon and phoenix phantoms circled above Demon City, creating a wondrous sight. The demons of Demon City looked up, inevitably recalling the battle between their monarch and the Phoenix Ancient Ancestor when the kingdom was just established.
Although this couldn’t compare to the scene back then, this was still considered the highest tier among Transcendent Tribulation cultivators, more than fitting as the finale for the Spirit Chef Competition.
A broad golden path extended from the imperial palace all the way to the competition venue. Eight blood-colored dragon steeds galloped along the golden path, their neighs announcing Zhu Tian’s procession.
But it wasn’t Zhu Tian inside the carriage; it carried a dharma edict instead.
The dharma edict unfurled, hovering above the competition venue, pressing down upon the firmament and sealing the heavens. A phantom of Zhu Tian appeared, suppressing the dragon and phoenix phantoms.
The phantom raised a hand, urging the two to cease their combat. “You two, stop this.”
His resonant voice reverberated through Demon City. Cries of “Your Majesty” tore through every corner of the city like roaring mountains and howling seas, each wave higher than the last. Even Lu Yang could feel the surging soundwaves.
Recognizing the dharma edict, Jin Tan immediately bowed. “Your Majesty.”
The dharma edict represented Zhu Tian’s presence and had to be treated with reverence.
Daoist Priest Mingyuan ceased attacking. “Greetings, Monarch Zhu.”
This was Zhu Tian’s territory, and propriety had to be observed.
A mere phantom and a mere five words made two Transcendent Tribulation cultivators halt, not daring to disobey him. Such was the weight of Zhu Tian’s authority.
Daoist Priest Mingyuan cupped his fists and bowed. “We have not engaged in battle for a long time and have neglected proper etiquette. Please punish us, Monarch Zhu.”
Zhu Tian waved his hand. He flicked his wide sleeves, then wrapped them around his arm as he placed his arms behind his back. “It has been a long time since I last witnessed a spirit chef duel. It reminds this monarch of ancient times. Why speak of punishment? Just make sure not to continue your contest in Demon City, lest you disturb the lives of the civilians.”
His gaze was profound, as though he was reminiscing about the ancient battle between dragon and phoenix while also observing the present lives of Demon City’s inhabitants, merging past and present in an inscrutable manner.
“Yes.”
“Thanks, Monarch Zhu.”
Zhu Tian’s phantom dissolved. The dharma edict returned to the palace by carriage, and the golden path also faded into the sky, transforming into countless specks of gold. It resembled a sky full of stars, complementing the sunset.
Throughout this process, Daoist Priest Mingyuan remained in a deep bow to show his respect for Zhu Tian, never once lifting his head.
~~~
“It’s finally over,” Lu Yang said, stretching lazily. Although he was a bit disappointed to miss the outcome of the duel between Jin Tan and Daoist Priest Mingyuan, he understood Zhu Tian’s concerns. The commotion these two caused while cooking was genuinely too much.
“Sister Mengmeng, do rest tonight. We’ll be heading back tomorrow.”
Yun Mengmeng was reluctant to part with the Spirit Chef Alliance’s delicacies, but she knew that if they stayed longer, everyone from the Spirit Chef Alliance would have departed, and there wouldn’t be much left to eat.
“How about you go back first, Second-in-Command? I would like to go say goodbye to someone.”
Lu Yang shook his head with a wry smile. “That little eatery spirit chef you chat with every evening? Go ahead, go ahead.”
“See you at the inn!”
“They seem to get along well.” Lu Yang smiled. It was the first time he had seen Yun Mengmeng so interested in an outsider.
Yun Mengmeng rushed back to the eatery, hoping to leave before the owner returned, so as not to cause Little He any trouble.
“Little He, are you busy?”
The eatery was as quiet as ever. Despite having visited so many times, Yun Mengmeng had never seen any other customers.
“Everyone’s gone to watch the competition. Who would come here?” Little He said, continuing her work. She was using a pestle to grind charred chili peppers.
“The competition’s over. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have customers!” Yun Mengmeng grinned.
“Yes, and you’ll be leaving tomorrow,” Little He replied with reluctance. It’s rare for me to find a friend I can talk to so easily, but I won’t see her again after tomorrow. I can’t help but feel that she carries a trace of the Mistress’s shadow.
Alas, I only have a blurry impression of the Mistress, as if she is shrouded in a layer of mist I can never dispel.
Noticing Little He’s low spirits, Yun Mengmeng also became downcast.
“Oh, right, why don’t you learn cooking from my Second-in-Command? He just won the championship in the five-star spirit chef category, and everyone says he’s the Successor of the Immortal Chef!”
“Successor of the... Immortal Chef?” Hearing this title, Little He’s eyes flickered strangely.
“Impressive, right? I’m not boasting; Second-in-Command has real skill. He has even fully mastered the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium!”
“Comprehensive Culinary Compendium? Wait for me!”
Little He rushed to the kitchen, rifling through cabinets and drawers in search of her own copy of Comprehensive Culinary Compendium.
Just then, the wooden door of the eatery opened. Yun Mengmeng turned in surprise. This was the first customer she had ever seen here, and she was about to help Little He.
“Welcome... Alliance Leader Mingyuan?” Yun Mengmeng was even more astonished. What is Alliance Leader Mingyuan doing here?
Daoist Priest Mingyuan didn’t answer. He simply smiled and secretly snapped his fingers.
Outside Demon City, one buried array after another lit up in succession, spreading silently to envelop the city. They could cut off all external connections, temporarily making the space of Demon City into its own small world.
“Your Excellency, everything is prepared,” Daoist Priest Mingyuan declared respectfully to the eye-shaped jade pendant hanging before his chest. fгeewebnovёl.com
This was the jade pendant he had found as a child in the East Sea. It was also the reason for his rise to prominence.
The dark figure seated on the throne of white bones rose. With a single step, he vanished from the jade pendant’s small world and reappeared before Yun Mengmeng.
The moment the dark figure appeared, Yun Mengmeng felt an overwhelming pressure, reminding her of the battle against the Heaven Mandate Corpse at the Sword Tower. The oppressive pressure felt exactly the same.
“Yun Mengmeng, you have ultimately fallen into my trap!” the dark figure said with a faint smile, though he trembled slightly with excitement, unable to control his surging emotions.
To obtain an Everlasting Incipient Dao Fruit and gain the power to flee from the Silent Annihilation Immortal, he had set his sights on Yun Mengmeng’s Everlasting Incipient Dao Fruit.
However, Yun Mengmeng was at the Dao-Seeking Sect, where Yun Zhi was. There was no way he could act there.
As such, he investigated and learned that Yun Mengmeng called Lu Yang “Second-in-Command” and shared a close relationship with him. He also discovered her love for delicacies, so he ordered Daoist Priest Mingyuan to organize the Spirit Chef Competition in Demon City and invite Lu Yang.
If Lu Yang came, Yun Mengmeng would surely come as well!
Therefore, he also instructed Daoist Priest Mingyuan to set up a great array around Demon City, turning it into its own small world to block the Silent Annihilation Immortal’s perception.
This way, I can act without restraint!
It was difficult to set up such an array; Daoist Priest Mingyuan had spent over ten days.
Everything has gone according to my plan—Lu Yang accepted the invitation, and Yun Mengmeng came along.
The Everlasting Incipient Dao Fruit is right before my eyes!
“Left Historian Immortal, why are you here?” Little He looked at the dark figure in confusion. ƒreewebɳovel.com
~~~
By evening, the glow of the setting sun dyed the clouds red.
Lu Yang walked alone through the streets, weaving through the crowd. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, children frolicking around, and crowing roosters and barking dogs in the distance filled the air. Humans and demons lived together, their faces brimming with blissful smiles. He couldn’t help but smile.
The incense power of the mundane world... perhaps this is why most cultivators choose to become secular cultivators.
Looking back on this Spirit Chef Competition, though there were many coincidences, it was ultimately a close call without any real disaster.
A peerlessly beautiful yet cold female immortal appeared at the end of the street.
Logically speaking, with her beauty, she would have elicited gasps of astonishment wherever she appeared. Yet in reality, aside from Lu Yang, no one noticed her presence at all.
The female immortal was a transcendent being, detached from the world. Just by standing there, the crowd would subconsciously steer clear of her.
She blocked Lu Yang’s path and calmly asked, “Where is the Everlasting Immortal? I want to see her.”
