My best friend asked me if I was still doing system tasks.

As Ruan Chayan finished speaking, a noisy buzzing sound immediately erupted around them, and a barrage of offensive words crashed into their ears.

"Objective? What do you mean by objective? Does she really think her cooking can surpass that of a food cultivator?" "Are you kidding me? Food cultivators take cooking as their path. What is she doing at Shansi Garden cooking? Is she trying to compete with a food cultivator?" "Ruan Chayan is too arrogant!"

"I don't believe a beast tamer can cook better than a culinary cultivator who specializes in it!" "Exactly! If she could really cook better food than the culinary cultivators at our Shansi Garden, why wouldn't she become a culinary cultivator and instead become a beast tamer!"

"You don't know, do you? Ruan Chayan went to the Cliff of Repentance before because she was morally corrupt in the Beast Taming sect." "No wonder she was able to contract spirit beasts; it turns out she used the tricks of evil cultivators."

"I thought only the most outstanding people could summon the phoenix phantom, but there are such low-class cultivators!" "I heard these two used to be rogue cultivators. No wonder they're so ill-mannered!"

"Why would someone like that enter the Blade Demon Sect? Did they use some tricks? How did they escape the illusionary realm of the Dao Inquiry stage?"

Wen Chenrui's eyes revealed a hint of regret, as well as some emotions that the two of them couldn't understand: "Do you know what you're saying?"

Ruan Chayan felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Believe me, you may not have been to Shansi Garden, but I have. The food prepared there is just awful!"

Luo Hanying grasped Ruan Chayan's hand and stepped forward, saying, "Of course we know what we're saying. Since we've said it, let's all go and take a look after we've received our monthly disciple offerings."

If the food at Shansiyuan is bad, then it's bad. Can't people even say it's bad?

The original flavor of the ingredients is destroyed, and salt is used as the only seasoning without any innovation.

There are only a handful of medicinal dishes that can be made with elixirs, and they all taste either bitter or sour. What's wrong with saying that?

Luo Hanying's outrageous remarks made Ruan Chayan a little nervous, but she believed what Luo Hanying said. She tightly grasped Luo Hanying's hand and said, "Whether it's true or false, we have to see it with our own eyes."

If the food we make is even better than what Shansiyuan Shixiu makes, we hope Brother Wen can help us dispel the rumors about us.

Although Wen Chenrui saw that the two were confident, he did not believe that they knew more about ingredients than Shi Xiu. Besides, the conversation had come to this point, so he could not back down and readily agreed.

Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying took the disciples' monthly allowance from the disciples who were rolling their eyes, and led a large group of people to the Luanjin Pavilion's Shansi Garden.

The male cultivators traveling with them looked at the two of them and said a few discouraging things: "Junior sisters, why are you being so stubborn? If you admit your mistakes now, your senior brother might forgive you."

"That's right, I can understand that you two young ladies are shy, but when you face off against the food cultivators later, I can't lie and say that your food is delicious, can I?"

Even worse, some people directly flirted with the two of them in front of Wen Chenrui: "Why don't you beg your senior brother to talk to him and plead for you? Otherwise, based on what you said and did today, you're definitely going to the Cliff of Repentance..."

Feeling disgusted and annoyed, Luo Hanying said, "How many fathers do you have? How dare you talk like that? Did your father only teach you to talk but not to shut up?"

Because of Luo Hanying's terrible attitude, people whispered among themselves that their impression of her was getting worse and worse.

Ruan Chayan calmly said, "I hope you senior brothers will be careful with your words and actions. The moon wanes after it is full, so don't speak too absolutely."

Wen Chenrui opened his mouth, intending to reprimand the male cultivators, but when he thought of Ruan Chayan and the others' identities, as well as his purpose for coming here, he let them make a fuss.

When the group arrived at Shansi Garden, the food chefs there had already received the news.

Ji Ying, who was in the lead, stared at Luo Hanying with a complicated expression. Even now, she still refused to believe that she could have misjudged him.

How could such a well-behaved and sensible child be that kind of person?

Jiang Meiya, the second senior sister of Shansi Garden, performed a polite bow and said, "Fellow Daoist Wen, we at Shansi Garden have already heard about your purpose."

"Which two are Ruan Chayan and Luo Hanying? Our Shansi Garden is willing to accept your challenge and send two disciples to compete with you."

Ruan Chayan stepped forward, holding Luo Hanying's hand. Ruan Chayan asked, "Are there any restrictions?"

Ji Ying smiled enigmatically: "No, after all, you're not food cultivators, so we don't have any restrictions on ingredients or time. As long as the finished product is ready for everyone to taste, that's fine."

Jiang Meiya followed closely behind her master and said, "If you two need any ingredients, just tell me. As long as it's available at Shansi Garden, we won't be stingy. You can take it and use it."

We've prepared the stove for you. If you're ready, we'll head over now.

The reason why Shansi Garden dares not to set any rules is because they are confident that as food cultivators, they cannot possibly lose to Ruan Chayan and her companion.

Ruan Chayan bowed and said, "Please lead the way, senior sister."

A large group of people went to the courtyard of Shansi Garden, where they usually practiced and studied dishes. There were also many disciples learning how to make dishes from their senior brothers and sisters.

Jiang Meiya led the people to the unused stove and asked, "Are Fellow Daoist Ruan and Fellow Daoist Luo participating in this competition together?"

Ruan Chayan nodded and said, "Yes, Luo Hanying will assist me and help me prepare the ingredients."

“Alright, then we’ll send two people to participate as well.” Jiang Meiya looked at the food cultivators who were watching the excitement from the side, “Lan Suxin and Tang Chaxian, you two will represent our Shansi Garden in the battle.”

Two food practitioners, a man and a woman, stepped forward, introduced themselves, and explained the dishes they were about to prepare.

The female cultivator used a dust-removing spell to clean the flour off her body, and bowed, saying, "I am Lan Suxin, and I have heard a little about the deeds of you two fellow cultivators."

Since it was a challenge initiated by two fellow Daoists, I should naturally go all out.

I will make a dish of steamed cloud-shaped flowers for everyone to try.

The male cultivator had an infectious smile on his face: "My name is Tang Chaxian, and I plan to make my signature dish, Dragon Lake Shrimp."

Wen Chenrui asked, "What are Junior Sister Ruan and Junior Sister Luo planning to do?"

Ruan Chayan pondered for a moment and said, "Since so many people are here, Xiaoxue and I will prepare a barbecue."

"Barbecue? I've never heard of this dish before." Jiang Meiya racked her brains but couldn't come up with an answer. "I traveled down the mountain a few years ago and went to many places, but I've never seen it before. I guess I'm just ignorant."

Luo Hanying asked in a low voice, "Have you bought the medicinal herbs? They can't be used as seasoning without processing, right?"

Two days ago, Luo Hanying said she was craving barbecue. They had only eaten it once with the help of Xiange when they were in Yaoxiang Secret Realm. Ruan Chayan said she also wanted to eat it, so she said she would go to Xinglin Peak to buy some spiritual herbs to make seasonings.

Afterwards, Luo Hanying became so engrossed in the formation that she forgot to ask Ruan Chayan how the preparations were going.