Shokugeki No Douluo Dalu (Patreon)

Chapter 82: Huan Shu's Obsession

The Golden Tree where the Sea God Pavilion was located was said to have been planted by the Spirits of the first generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters 5,000 years ago, personally by the Sea God Tang San. Whether this legend was true or not was hard to say, but the Golden Tree was associated with deities or, more specifically, with the Sea God.

As proof of this, each Sea God Pavilion Lord could release the Sea God's Light through the Golden Tree, a power exclusive to the Sea God. Although there were limitations, the ability to wield divine power with mortal bodies was already quite extraordinary.

The natural energy of heaven and earth within the Golden Tree was unique and richer than that outside. This natural energy was nurtured by the Golden Tree and had transformed, showing signs of advancing toward the deity level.

The faint golden color that gathered was indicative of deity-level power. However, the Golden Tree had not fully transformed yet; it could only be considered a demigod realm.

Even so, the natural energy infused with divine power, when incorporated into the Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb, brought about a qualitative transformation to this three-star dish.

Its special effect had also quietly changed.

Previously, after eating the original Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb, the next meditation session could last for twenty-four hours, but it required eating an entire serving.

Otherwise, the meditation time would be proportionally reduced. But now, things were different.

Even if you only took one bite, you could still meditate deeply for twenty-four hours.

This transformation came at a cost. The transformation of natural energy within the Golden Tree required a long time, and this phenomenon had drained about a quarter of the natural energy from the Golden Tree. To fully recover, it would take at least a month.

In response to Huan Shu's question, Win Ruoruo could understand.

This old man was of a similar age to Win Ruoruo but had a significant difference in Spirit power level. His time left in this world was limited, and he had a strong attachment.

Huan Shu's obsession was to taste the flavor of a thousand-year Dragon Scale Fish before leaving this world.

However, it was a pity that his cherished Dragon Scale Fish were still some distance away from becoming a thousand-year Dragon Scale Fish, and he feared he wouldn't live to see it.

So, in response to Huan Shu's question, Win Ruoruo was understanding. She looked at Yue Lengxin and said, "My disciple bought this dish. If you don't mind, would you like to taste it as well?"

"*Cough*" Qi Poxiao cleared his throat lightly. "Count me in, too."

In front of Win Ruoruo, Qi Poxiao dropped the facade of being the Sea God Pavilion's Lord. These two were close in age, and they had even been a couple in their youth but had separated due to certain circumstances.

"I'll have a couple of bites, too."

After Qi Poxiao spoke, the other elders behind him also chimed in.

For these elders, a dish that could stir the Golden Tree had piqued their interest. While they were Sea God Pavilion elders and lived a life of luxury, they hadn't eaten such a dish before.

However, Win Ruoruo wasn't as courteous with these elders. Her face darkened slightly, and she said, "The restaurant that serves this dish is in the city. You can go find it yourselves; I won't accompany you."

With a wave of her hand, a powerful burst of Spirit power instantly pushed the elders behind Qi Poxiao out the door and closed it in one go.

The elders were left outside, looking at each other. They made a mental note to inquire about the location of this restaurant tomorrow.

Inside the room, only Yue Lengxin, Win Ruoruo, Huan Shu, and Qi Poxiao remained.

Win Ruoruo looked at Yue Lengxin and said, "My dear, have you never tasted this dish?"

At the moment when the phenomenon occurred earlier, the surprised expression on Yue Lengxin's face was genuine.

Yue Lengxin nodded somewhat embarrassedly, "Teacher, could you allow me to taste it as well?"

Such a magical dish naturally piqued her interest, but she had packed it for her teacher, and now she had to eat two bites herself. It was a bit awkward.

Win Ruoruo smiled and said, "Go get four plates; the four of us will share this fish."

When the phenomenon occurred earlier, she observed it very carefully. At her level, there were very few things she couldn't see through.

In her view, although the phenomenon was extraordinary and rare, it was not entirely inexplicable.

As she expected, it should be that this dish itself stirred some kind of worldly law of the Douluo Continent, replaying an old scene, and it incidentally drew in the natural energy of heaven and earth into the food.

Although they didn't know where the image of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate came from, there was no doubt that absorbing such rich natural energy from the Golden Tree into this delicacy would undoubtedly be beneficial for their cultivation.

Therefore, their own disciple naturally deserved a share of it. Even if Yue Lengxin didn't mention it, Win Ruoruo would voluntarily give her a portion.

The process of serving the food was entrusted to the only junior present, Yue Lengxin. In the food box, a pair of chopsticks was ready. However, when the other three saw the chopsticks, they showed a hint of surprise.

Huan Shu and Win Ruoruo both looked a bit puzzled and surprised. Evidently, they had never seen this type of utensil before. Qi Poxiao, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows unexpectedly. "Yue Lengxin, is this utensil called chopsticks?"

‘Huh?’

Yue Lengxin nodded and said, "Lord, have you been to the small restaurant as well?"

Qi Poxiao shook his head. "A few days ago, I visited the outer courtyard and found that the disciples there were talking about a small restaurant outside the academy. They said the food there was delicious and that it had a special utensil called chopsticks, however, I didn't pay too much attention to it at the time."

There was a hint of depth in his eyes as Qi Poxiao continued, "To cook a dish that could trigger natural energy from heaven and earth, the chef at this small restaurant is not simple."

At this moment, Qi Poxiao suddenly had a curiosity about the small restaurant.

Yue Lengxin easily split open the fish belly with the chopsticks, and a richer aroma of lamb meat burst out from the fish belly, filling the nostrils of the four. The unique flavor, with a hint of lamb's gaminess, was not at all unpleasant and instead heightened their appetites.

Yue Lengxin was fine, as she had already eaten her fill at the small restaurant. The three individuals from the Sea God Pavilion exchanged a glance and lost their investigative mindset. Instead, they felt a primal desire for food.

Seeing the abundant lamb meat wrapped in the fish belly, Yue Lengxin's face revealed a hint of realization.

No wonder this dish was called "Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb." It all made sense now.

With a slight smile on her face, she spoke softly, "Teacher, Lord, and Huan Shu, this dish is called 'Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb' and is the most expensive dish at that small restaurant."

"Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb?"

The three of them nodded silently, looking at the tender lamb meat inside the fish belly. They felt that the name was particularly fitting.

Soon, Yue Lengxin divided the whole Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb into four portions, keeping the smallest portion for herself and handing the other three to the three elderly individuals.

Huan Shu took his portion and examined the lightly golden-scaled fish meat on the surface. He asked curiously, "How much does this cost?"

"1,000 Gold Coins."

"1,000 Gold Coins?"

Huan Shu fell silent.

Is this dish expensive? Considering the nutritional value of the thousand-year Dragon Scale Fish itself, this price was already considered reasonable.

But thinking about the tens of thousands of Gold Coins he had spent on raising his several hundred-year-old Dragon Scale Fish, Huan Shu sighed deeply and said, "When compared to what this dish can do, It's simply priced too cheap."