Just thinking about it made Huai Shi shiver uncontrollably.

"Isn't it the same with the Current Circumstances? You can accept Coral Cloud, so why can't you accept a change in the sky?" Raven calmly retorted. "Relax a bit. At worst, just pretend it's a new texture pack."

"But why has it become like this?"

"The entire border region of Dongxia is like this. To be precise, the borders of the whole of Asia are shrouded by this endless sea. Every now and then, floods sweep in from the sky, submerging everything... and then reconstruction begins, waiting for the next deluge."

"It's even worse in Rome. It's said to have sunk into the Earth's crust, and the fires in the Middle East still haven't been extinguished. The cities of steel are built over flames and lava..."

Raven sighed. "This is the proof of departure from the Current Circumstances, Huai Shi. There's no need to worry about other dangers in such a relatively stable place like the Border, but don't think about returning to the cradle. Be tough, show some manliness. It's just a sea, right? Pretend it doesn't exist."

Though that's what was said, such a huge thing couldn't possibly be ignored.

Huai Shi almost forced himself to look down, trying to forget about it, not to worry that the ocean above might suddenly crash down, and resolutely kept walking forward.

Right beside him, a portly fellow traveler saw his rigid demeanor and couldn't help laughing. He scratched his armpit, chuckling amidst his own body odor.

"A new face, eh, young man? You look quite capable. Are you also a contestant in this session's demon extermination competition?"

"Hmm? Ah, yes."

Huai Shi carefully slowed down a bit, hoping to avoid the suffocating body odor, but soon realized that it was even worse behind him and had to grit his teeth and speed up.

"Ha, when the time comes, just bring it on!" The portly man grinned broadly, full of fervor. "I won't lose to you!"

Unfortunately, his physique didn't suggest he was capable of slaying demons or casting out evil spirits. He even carried an Iron Pot on his back, looking more like a chef.

Thankfully, soon enough, the portly man slowed down and started chatting and laughing with a few companions whose faces were shiny with grease. Their enormous bags, heavy footsteps, and robust builds all served as reminders to Huai Shi that these were formidable opponents.

It wasn't long before Huai Shi arrived near the amusement park-like lights and saw the surging crowds within the opened iron gate.

Not only were there Dongxia Men, Yingzhou People, and people from Myanmar, but one could also see plenty of Caucasians and Black people walking among them, their eyes fierce and expressions stern, vigilantly watching their fellow contestants.

However, their attire was rather odd, giving Huai Shi a sense of something not quite right.

Even more bizarrely, right outside the gate, the noisy square was filled with street stalls, where all sorts of peculiar-looking individuals loudly hawked bizarre goods.

"Look over here, check this out! Vintage thirty-year-old canned herring—disgusting to smell and to eat! Limited quantity, first come, first served!"

"Authentic soybean juice and premium folding ear roots! Come take a look, we have everything! Don't miss out!"

"Freshly rotten durian..."

"Genuine Green Hair Poison Wine, specially brewed with Goblin leg hairs, recognized as an infernal intangible cultural heritage of Hell! Drink it today, Dad, and you'll have an inheritance tomorrow!"

"Freshly cooked curry-flavored Abyss snail noodle soup!"

"..."

"My god!"

Huai Shi was struck by the oncoming stench and stumbled backward, nearly vomiting, his face pale. Raven looked at him, puzzled. "What are you dazed about? Go buy some!"

Huai Shi was dumbfounded. "Buy what?"

"Your ingredients!" Raven asked. "How can you join the demon extermination contest without fresh ingredients?"

"Are these crappy things supposed to be for exorcising demons?" Huai Shi felt he was going mad. "Do I need to chant some scriptures too?"

"..."

Raven stood still, staring blankly at him, and after a long time, uttered hesitantly, "I know what's wrong now."

"Hmm?" Huai Shi was puzzled.

"Did you misunderstand from the start?" Raven sighed. "The demon extermination contest I mentioned... the 'extermination' part... it's not that kind of 'extermination.' It's 'Chef,' as in a cook."

"What the heck?"

Huai Shi turned around in a daze, looking in the direction of the gate, at the sign.

There, on the sign, a line of strange characters kept shifting until they finally settled into Dongxia script.

[The 107th Chef Demon Contest East Asia Regional Preselections · Dongxia Event]

"Please prepare, contestants."

A deep voice boomed from the loudspeakers, laced with a trill as if from a forked tongue. "In ten minutes, entry for the competition will officially begin. Please maintain an orderly line and refrain from arbitrarily violating the safety regulations on the field. Offenders will incur a curse from the Owners of the Great Mob."

"..."

In his stunned silence, Huai Shi stiffly turned back to face Raven's innocent expression and swallowed hard. "It's still possible to leave now, right?"

"—And, due to the excessive number of contestants withdrawing this year, the organizing committee has decided that any invited individuals who fail to participate will be collectively punished."

The strange voice from the speaker shouted loudly, "These cowards will be cursed by the judges to eat dog-shit-flavored curry and curry-flavored dog shit for the rest of their lives!"

In the awkward silence, Raven looked at Huai Shi with pity.

"...I think not."

"Fuck!"

Huai Shi, utterly hopeless.

.

.

One might say this competition was fucking insane, or perhaps that it was truly befitting a contest hosted by the Owners of the Great Mob—as always, brimming with the crazed characteristics of Hell.

The objectives pursued here were also so unique.

If the Chef God contest is about who can make the tastiest dish, then the Chef Demon contest is...

Yes, it's about who can concoct the worst tasting dish!

According to those folks on the organizing committee—a bunch of idle, pleasure-seeking types on the verge of renouncing the mortal world from sheer ennui—so-called delicacies, no matter how hard one tries, have a limit.

—But bad taste has no limits! There's no such thing as 'the worst,' only 'worse'!

And the so-called Chef Demon contest is a competition where everyone vies to create the most repulsive dish!

Since its inception a hundred years ago, it has attracted numerous powerful contenders from the Current Circumstances, the Border, and even Hell itself, all eager to participate, leading to many 'miracles' and nightmarish outcomes.

Nowadays, standard viewing attire includes a gas mask—the kind that covers your entire head.

Originally, that wasn't necessary; a simple mask would do. But ever since the champion from nine contests ago served up a pot of 'Magic Jump Wall' in the finals, a third of the audience, upon smelling that horrific odor, plunged into severe depression and despair. They lost the will to live, and many committed suicide in the following months. The aftershocks linger to this day.

Afterward, people had no choice but to spend a little extra to protect their lives.

Even a mere regional preliminary, like this one in Dongxia's eastern district of East Asia, was teeming with hidden masters and lurking fiends of every description.

Among them, Huai Shi could only tremble. I'm going to die. How the fuck am I supposed to compete in this? I can't win! I'm doomed to lose, aren't I?

"Don't lose heart! Believe in yourself! You can definitely create a miracle!" Raven, who had somehow acquired a raven-beaked gas mask for herself, patted his shoulder, her voice muffled and deep. "I'll be cheering for you from the stands."

"What the hell!" Huai Shi was dumbfounded. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"Go with you? Why would I? It's way too stinky there! Er, I mean..." Raven coughed twice. "The competition has strict rules, they don't allow pets, and I'm just a poor, helpless little raven. I can't help you! Anyway, I've given you the tools, and you've bought the ingredients. As for what comes next... use your own creativity!"

With that, leaving Huai Shi behind, Raven flapped her wings and fled.

Leaving Huai Shi standing there alone, he tearfully entered the contestants' lounge under the menacing glares of the security guards.

Then, he froze on the spot.

Inside the contestants' lounge, Huai Shi sensed powerful auras emanating from all directions—along with body odor. Amidst dozens of glistening, bare arms, Huai Shi suddenly remembered: everyone here was a formidable figure who had once toiled shirtless in kitchens, sweating bullets!

Elites of the dark cuisine world!

These were either aunties who had cooked in school cafeterias for over a decade, chefs who had worked on the old green trains for more than five years, or Magicians who conjured nightmarish flavors from gutter oil and artificial essences...

Sensing Huai Shi's entrance, several vicious gazes turned his way. Upon seeing that the newcomer was just a pale-faced weakling with trembling legs, they snorted coldly and dismissively averted their gazes.

Several almost tangible gazes clashed in mid-air, striking sparks.

"Hmph, Old Wang, give it up! The true heritage of dark cuisine lies with the universities!"

The middle-aged woman standing with her hands behind her back at the center of the room turned her head and said coldly, "To perfect my secret recipes, I worked at Tech Uni for fourteen years! Your petty tricks today are no match for my Rotten Tomatoes Sautéed with Mooncakes!"

Persecuting innocent college students all day long, what the fuck is there to be proud of!

"TSK!" Old Wang folded his arms and sneered. "That kind of stuff is just for fooling kids! How can it compare to our dining car's hellish cuisine? The expressions on their faces, the joy that blossoms in their hearts as they fearfully swallow food in the inescapable confines of the train... Junior Sister, you'll never understand that!"

You're clearly making disgusting food, so where does all this pride come from? And what's with 'Junior Sister'? What kind of internal sect feud is this? I'm begging you, stop tormenting an innocent young man like me! Wouldn't it be better to just find a kitchen and settle this in private?

Before Huai Shi could spit out a mouthful of metaphorical blood, a sharp, scalp-numbing laugh echoed from a dark, unlit corner of the room.

"HEHEHE, why are you two youngsters just here to fill the ranks in such a hurry?" The sinister, hunched old man lifted his murky eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "This competition, we of the Mt. Emei Gold Roof Sect are destined to win! Today, you will experience the might of our renowned scenic spot cuisine! Every bite will be a heart-wrenching experience!"

What the hell is a Gold Roof Sect? Are you proud of ripping off tourists at scenic spots? Is this some kind of martial arts tournament? Would you please just put away your supernatural powers!

Huai Shi was so overwhelmed by the imposing auras that his Source Substance grew unstable; he was on the verge of madness. Just as the other two 'martial siblings' were about to retort, the main door burst open with a crash.

Amidst heavy footsteps, a resonant voice announced loudly from outside the door, "Master Liu, head chef of Dijin's authentic hundred-year-old 'Cat Ignores Buns' emporium, has arrived for the competition!"

Instantly, the room fell silent. Huai Shi perceived countless surges of combative Source Fluctuation rocketing skyward. Numerous battered pots and dented spatulas hummed in unison, and even the rotten fish in the baskets struggled desperately to leap out.

It was like the chorus of Ten Thousand Swords!

Paying homage to the grandmaster!

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