Chapter 503: Chapter 502: Top Four Final Race
A division, backstage.
Xia Yu sat with his eyes closed, facing a dressing table with a mirror reflecting his youthful yet serene face. His facial features were gentle and unaffected by the faint cheers from outside the venue, seeming more like a spectator than the team’s lead contestant about to compete in the first round.
“Her previous knockout round video tapes are here, aren’t you going to watch and learn about your opponent beforehand?” Zhu Qing stood behind him with folded arms, looking into the mirror at the young man.
Hearing this, Xia Yu finally opened his eyes.
“There’s no need.”
“Do you plan to continue using that move, to imitate and surpass?”
Seeing Xia Yu’s noncommittal expression, Zhu Qing raised an eyebrow, a sly smile appearing as she said, “Last ti, your opponent was unguarded, and you easily saw through them. What will you do this ti if the opponent conceals themselves well, or, simply blocks your line of sight?”
She imdiately pointed out the flaw of “Super Vision.”
Although this god-level talent was powerful, it could not see through obstacles; as long as the line of sight was blocked, it would be ineffective.
Zhu Qing was disappointed. She stared intently at her nephew’s face but could detect no ripple of concern. The young chef who was about to compete remained calm, with only a slight upward turn of his lips, as he responded with a simple “Oh.”
“Could it be sothing other than ‘Super Vision’?” Zhu Qing wondered internally.
‘Super Vision’ alone was indeed easily countered.
But what about adding another visual talent, “Analytical Eye”? Xia Yu saw the contemplative look on his aunt’s pretty face, a hint of amusent flickering in his eyes.
His successful debut had earned him a significant amount of Fa Points. If the challenge turned out to be unfavorable or in an area he had never encountered, Xia Yu would use “Super Vision” in combination with “Analytical Eye” without hesitation, ensuring his invincibility.
He was not going to fall before defeating Tiqie Ji.
“Huh—”
He checked the character panel.
“Physical quality composite: lv45 [Gourt Cell Enhancent].”
“[Demon·Gourt Cell]: Awakening level B, requires consuming the second kind of taboo cuisine that resonates to increase awakening level. Next intensity A, physical quality lv45→lv55, hair abilities also enhanced with awakening.”
Before the awakening of the gourt cells, Xia Yu’s physical quality was at lv35; now it was lv45, having been boosted by a full 10 levels across the board!
Thanks to the increase in physical quality, particularly in ntal aspects, the duration Xia Yu could maintain “Super Vision” had increased from just over seven minutes to about half an hour. A week ago at Chuyun Shrine, Xia Yu had genuinely experienced his new resilience. If asked about his experience, it could be sumd up in one word—thrilling!
“Knock knock knock…”
The sound of knocking.
A staff mber, upon receiving a response, opened the door and bowed, “It’s ti, please Chef Xia co to the stage!”
“I’m off.”
Picking up his box filled with knives, Xia Yu walked away.
Zhu Qing watched him disappear down the corridor, chuckling to herself, “What topic will it be? A duel between the Tang’s genius and my Xia’s genius is likely to catch the attention of those old folks.”
“So… Yu, you must not disgrace the Xia Family!”
…
At the passage exit.
Xia Yu and Tang Yuqiong stood side by side, both having changed into standard chef uniforms—tops and trousers completely white—and each carrying their own box.
Outside, the female host Chiyoda Aichi was warming up the crowd.
She first introduced the five judges. In fact, the A division had two sets of judging panels, as did B division, which alternated flexibly. They were only confird and announced on the day of the competition, making it difficult to bribe them.
“The five judges are seated, so now, please welco the two contestants on stage!”
Cheers roared like waves.
According to online information, tickets for today’s A division matches had been snapped up early and scalpers were auctioning the remaining tickets for thousands of US dollars. From the fervor for tickets, one could gauge the level of interest in this intense contest.
This was the closing match of the round of eight.
With the first phase ‘Special Chef Contest’ progressing to this point, the strengths and weaknesses of A and B division were already quite clear.
In A division, the first three teams to advance to the top four were ‘Research Faction Team,’ ‘Orlando Team,’ and a relatively low-key ‘Southeast Asia Chef Alliance Team.’
Far Moon Team and Dragon Town Restaurant Tang Family were now battling fiercely for the fourth spot in the top four.
Xia Yu and Tang Yuqiong stepped onto the stage at the sa ti.
“They’re out!”
“The youngest prodigies of Zone A compete…”
“The outco mainly depends on the topic!”
The audience buzzed with discussion.
Tang’s Team and Far Moon Team, their other mbers clearly divided, sat neatly in waiting areas north and south close to the stage.
The cara panned across the guest seats, capturing familiar faces.
Additionally, not only were the three top-four teams from Group A present, but teams defeated in this or the previous rounds were also in attendance.
“Is that guy going to continue imitating?” France Academy Team’s Bernard, although looking haggard, had shaken off the despondency from his heavy defeat half a month ago and gradually stepped out of the shadows.
“If it’s a ‘killer’ recipe, I don’t think he can imitate it easily, and even if he does imitate and adds his own touch to make the recipe his own… it’s extrely difficult!”
Lin Giant from France said slowly.
Bernard fell silent, gazing at the calm young chef on stage and muttered, “Sorry, sir, I don’t think so!”
Lin Giant glanced at him.
‘Orlando Team’.
“Would you believe he actually initiated a Shokugeki with Tiqie Ji—out of madness or confidence in his own culinary skills?” Elizabeth, wearing a purple gown and her blonde hair fluttering, smiled mysteriously, “Last ti was a warm-up; this ti against Tang’s female prodigy, he’ll need sothing stark to win…”
Mars nodded: “Let’s see what he relies on to challenge Tiqie Ji!”
Lin Giant Desani also found it interesting, glanced towards the ‘Research Faction Team’ and passed his eyes over a placidly seated middle-aged man in black, murmured privately, “Soone has to stop this guy… We can’t have a second Lin Giant in the Research Faction, or the culinary factions within the cuisine world will beco unbalanced!”
“Is it you, then?”
Afterward, Desani propped his chin, his wise and profound eyes beneath gold-rimd glasses lingered on Xia Yu for a long ti.
“The key is the topic!”
IGO’s Neon Departnt Team was also present, having secured a top-four ticket in Zone B; they now had ti to co to Zone A’s venue to witness the battle of geniuses in person.
Aoki Motota said, “At equal levels, the topic decides who has the better odds of winning!”
Shinohara Shigetaro shook his head.
“These two, both skilled in Chinese cuisine, have an extrely high overlap in specialized fields; it’s nearly impossible that one is good at the topic while the other finds it a challenge…” he said.
“If it’s Japanese cuisine or curry… or maybe another niche topic, I believe he can win!” Liangzi Lina’s eyes flashed as she spoke.
Similar opinions weren’t limited to the IGO trio; all professionals were discussing it.
The topic was too crucial!
anwhile.
In a restaurant in a secluded alley in Shu, Mr. Xia Xia Qing once again shut the doors and sat down on a long bench in front of the TV. anwhile, half of China away in the Imperial Palace of Beijing, disciples of White Jade Tower bowed their heads in respect to an elder with a dragon-like stride.
Xia Yu and Tang Yuqiong stood on the stage; it was ti to throw darts at a target to select the topic, but both stood still as if telepathically connected.
“Miss Chiyoda, please.”
The two exchanged a look, and then Xia Yu spoke to the female host.
These days in Zone A, an unwritten rule had taken shape, or rather, initiated by Xia Yu and Bernard at the start which set the tempo, and subsequently, chefs that entered the contests simply entrusted the topic selection process to the female host.
Chiyoda Aichi also thus cultivated a strong heart, free from the initial nervousness.
The target spun rapidly.
Snap!
A dart shot out, embedding itself in the target, and as the target slowly decelerated, the characters of the topic beca clear—
Chinese Dim Sum!
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