Although the meat was only quickly blanched in boiling water, the residual blood threads within were completely flushed out. During the sculpting process, the blade had already sliced fine grooves into the meat. So when the boiling water swept over it, all the internal blood threads were drawn out. What was once a dark red raw meat suddenly became translucent, emitting a luster akin to fine jade.
The radiance that emerged was like that of an exquisite work of art.
Residual blood in raw meat tarnishes its aesthetic. This blanching process was to eliminate all traces of blood, purifying the meat's appearance and quality.
Following that came a flurry of motion—various spices and ingredients expertly blended in his hands, creating the perfect seasoning mix.
He then picked up a bamboo steamer and placed it over a pot. But the pot wasn't filled with just plain water—it was enhanced with a special concoction of seasonings. He carefully plated the already-prepared dragon-shaped meat sculpture, placed it inside the steamer, and sealed it with the lid.
"Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low. Steam it for one tea's time, then switch back to high heat for another tea's time. Repeat this cycle nine times. Can you handle it?" Lai He instructed the chef responsible for managing the heat.
"I can do it," the chef replied without hesitation.
Lai He didn't stop there. He moved on to prepare the fish palm—the claw of a crocodile, an ingredient considered on par with bear paw, one of the highest-grade ingredients. When cooked well, it became a supreme delicacy. If done poorly, the taste would fall flat.
"To truly infuse flavor into the fish palm, you must alternate between heat and cold—three times hot, three times cold. This is the trial of ice and fire. First, blanch it in boiling water, then plunge it into ice water. Repeat this three times. The boiling water, infused with spices, loosens the meat and allows it to absorb flavor. The ice water then locks that flavor in, not letting it escape but fully infusing it into every fiber of the flesh. Ice and fire, over and over—the flavor accumulates and saturates the meat."
Lai He began the preparation of his second dish: Ice and Fire Braised Dragon Claw.
As he worked, more and more townspeople gathered outside, instinctively drawn in by the process. They watched intently, completely unaware of time slipping by. The experience was purely delightful—far removed from the greasy or vulgar image most associate with kitchen work. This was art.
"Cut the fire. Dishes are ready!!"
No one knew how much time had passed, but both dishes were finally completed. Their surfaces were covered with iron lids to seal in the aroma.
"Please, have a taste," Lai He said, placing the two finished dishes on a humble wooden table, then gestured politely toward Yi Tianxing.
"Perfect. Time to sample Chef Lai's skill," Yi Tianxing said, already feeling an uncontrollable eagerness. Even though he hadn't seen the dishes yet, his cells were already awake, every inch of flesh singing with anticipation.
The surrounding townsfolk stared, unblinking, at the two lidded dishes on the table. They were dying to see the final result of that godlike cooking technique. Many had already begun to swallow their saliva in secret.
"Please enjoy the first course of the Crocodile Banquet—Three Manifestations of the Cloud Dragon!"
Whoosh!!
Lai He lifted the lid from the first dish—and in that instant, it was as though light itself burst forth from within. The glow wasn't blinding, but strands of luminous brilliance undeniably radiated from beneath the cover.
"There's light! I saw light!"
"What in the world—how could food emit light? Am I dreaming?"
"The glow may be faint, but I'm not seeing things. It's really shining! Is this divine intervention? Can a chef even reach this level?"
"It's dazzling! So bright I can't see clearly—what is that?"
"A dragon! I saw a dragon!"
When the lid was removed, the glow that followed stunned the crowd. Some instinctively shut their eyes. Expressions of disbelief spread across faces. Food that emitted light—this shattered everything they thought they knew. This dish had clearly transcended the realm of normal cuisine.
And then—the true marvel.
Within the glowing mist, clouds began to swirl. A crystal dragon slithered through the vapors, its shimmering body half-concealed, half-visible. The shape of a dragon—clear, vivid, vivid down to every scale and claw. Like a real dragon hidden in clouds, only glimpses of its form were visible. The sight was breathtaking.
The light lasted only a few breaths before vanishing.
Had there not been so many witnesses, no one would've believed it was real.
"Luminous cuisine…"
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath. An exotic aroma filled his nose—one so unique, it defied words. The scent wasn't just floating in the air—it clung to the surrounding mist. On the plate, a crystal dragon lay coiled, its claws bared, poised in silent majesty. The meat was translucent like jade, flawlessly pure, like crystal.
He set out a plate, a knife, and a pair of chopsticks.
He picked up the knife, preparing to slice into the crystal dragon—but before the blade could touch it, the entire dragon sculpture dispersed on its own, separating into slices as thin as cicada wings. Each piece was translucent and clearly defined. The dragon had already been pre-sliced with such precision it defied belief.
He put down the knife, lifted the chopsticks, and picked up a single slice.
The moment it touched his tongue, a strange, intoxicating aroma exploded in his mouth—fresh, unimaginably fresh.
That freshness was so intense, it shocked every cell in his body awake.
The meat was impossibly tender—smooth, rich but not greasy. It melted instantly, sending a warm wave down his throat into his belly. His taste buds opened like blooming flowers. Every pore in his body expanded in joy. It was ecstasy.
Compared to this Three Manifestations of the Cloud Dragon, the food Yi Tianxing had made before was absolute garbage. Nothing but scraps. This—this was true cuisine. A masterpiece born from the hands of a culinary god.
"Smooth, not greasy. Melts on contact. That freshness—it spreads across the whole palate. I feel like every pore is open. This is divine," Yi Tianxing exhaled, overwhelmed by the taste. Even just breathing carried that flavor's echo back into his mouth.
This was real food.
And as he savored it, the gourmet cell within his Life Aperture—Food Cauldron—began to stir wildly, absorbing heaven and earth energy at an accelerated rate. That energy flooded his flesh, bones, and meridians.
His physical strength began to rise. Rapidly.
It was increasing by hundreds of pounds per breath. Within moments, he had gained several thousand pounds of strength.
Yet his chopsticks never paused. Like a whirlwind, he picked up slice after slice, feeding them into his mouth at high speed—but it didn't look gluttonous at all. Instead, it felt like the most natural act in the world.
In just a short time, an entire plate—enough for three or four regular people—was polished off with ease.
As the food entered his stomach, his Food Cauldron devoured it without hesitation. The three-legged, two-eared Gluttonous Cauldron flashed brilliantly, refining the essence of the food into a mist-like crystal energy, which poured through his body, nourishing him further.
The gourmet cells went mad.
Heaven and earth energy flooded toward him, but strangely, no outward phenomenon occurred. It looked completely normal.
Yet his body was clearly transforming.
Bones grew denser. Skin toughened. Muscles surged with power. Even his meridians became more resilient. A full-body enhancement.
This food had an overwhelming effect on his gourmet cells.
Every breath brought another burst in power.
Hundreds of pounds. Every. Single. Breath.
A subtle transformation was taking place in his flesh.
"Exquisite craftsmanship!" Even Yi Tianxing couldn't help but praise aloud once again.
"Please enjoy this second dish—Ice and Fire Dragon Claw," Lai He said with a confident smile as he lifted the second lid.
Once more, light erupted—this time taking the form of a dragon claw swinging through the air. Then it vanished, leaving behind the second dish: a full crocodile paw, braised to a deep red, radiating irresistible aroma. The color, the fragrance—it was a complete sensory experience.
Crocodile paw is rich in protein and juicy by nature.
Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. He set aside the chopsticks, grabbed the claw with his hand, and bit down.
Juices burst forth, saturating every inch of his palate.
Braising, done right, saturates the meat with flavor.
The moment the meat entered his mouth, his taste buds exploded again. It was too incredible.
Driven by the taste, he devoured it without reservation. The meat was impossibly tender. Every bite released a new wave of complex flavors, endlessly delightful.
Before he realized it, the entire claw was gone. Not a single shred of meat remained. Even the bones had been crunched and swallowed—so soft they melted in his mouth.