57: The conference began with Master Changshan.

Inside the Black Diamond VIP lounge, the atmosphere was quiet and distinguished.

Han Fei leaned languidly against a sofa chair upholstered in 고급flannel.

He gently swayed a crystal-clear teacup in his hand.

Inside was precious fragrant tea, meticulously selected by a dedicated person and served only to VIPs.

Taking a light sip of tea, the fatigue on Han Fei's body instantly vanished.

He let his gaze drift towards the bustling venue below.

In the center of the venue, people gathered.

On every participant's face, there was a glow of anticipation and passion.

But amidst this excitement, the most eye-catching were undoubtedly the five judges, with their extraordinary demeanor, seated at the judging panel on the high platform.

They were culinary authorities hired with substantial funds by the organizers, and each of their names alone was enough to stir up a wave in the culinary world.

Among them, there was even one who could be called a doyen of the culinary world.

That was an old man with a Mediterranean-style haircut.

He was wearing an immaculate white kasaya, casually baring one shoulder.

"Wow, I didn't expect the organizers of this God of Cookery Competition to actually invite Master Shang Shan."

Liu Yueer gasped in surprise when she recognized him.

"Do you know him?" Han Fei asked curiously.

Liu Yueer nodded slightly, her eyes gleaming with reverence.

"Master Shang Shan is the president of our Western Region's Culinary Association, and he's quite famous throughout the entire culinary world!"

Upon hearing this, Han Fei carefully observed the elder, hoping to replicate powerful abilities from him.

A culinary expert of an association president's caliber must have tasted countless delicacies.

It's important to know that many high-end delicacies can potentially grant the taster special abilities, just like a magic cake.

The other four culinary experts, besides Master Shang Shan, were also very well-known in the industry.

They were either famous food critics or high-star food hunters, each with a legendary story behind them.

Han Fei's gaze moved among them, and his anticipation for the upcoming God of Cookery Competition grew stronger.

As time passed, the audience seats gradually filled with enthusiastic crowds.

The moment the clock struck 10, all the lights in the venue extinguished, like the deepest silence before dusk.

"I declare the God of Cookery Competition officially open!"

As the voice fell, dazzling lights suddenly burst forth.

The stage, at this moment, transformed into a symphony of light and shadow.

Immediately following, a series of spectacular performances took turns on stage.

There were handsome young men singing passionately, and lively Dragon and Lion Dances.

Each act cleverly revolved around the theme of "cuisine," vividly showcasing the wonderful Fusion between food, culture, and art.

After about ten minutes, the performances reached their climax and then slowly concluded, leaving the entire audience wanting more.

The lights dimmed, focusing on the center of the stage.

A Beautiful Hostess, with graceful bearing, elegantly stepped into the center of the stage.

She was dressed in a vibrant cheongsam, like a beauty stepping out of an ancient painting.

"Distinguished guests, dear culinary explorers, welcome to this incredibly glorious God of Cookery hall!"

Her clear voice penetrated every corner of the venue.

"Today, we are fortunate to gather here to jointly witness the arrival of a new God of Cookery."

"First, please allow me to introduce the five judges of this God of Cookery Competition!"

Then, she turned gracefully, and with a gentle wave of her hand, light and shadow intertwined on the huge screen behind her, and the image of one of the judges slowly emerged.

"He uses the stove as his brush, ingredients as his ink, sketching an array of timeless paintings in the Universe of taste..."

After the Beautiful Hostess introduced the four judges one by one, her expression suddenly became solemn, and an unspoken reverence quietly permeated the air.

"Next, what I am about to introduce, I believe everyone already knows."

As her words softly fell, Master Shang Shan's face appeared on the large screen.

"Here, I implore all of you to welcome this titan of the culinary world—Master Shang Shan—with the most sincere and fervent applause!"

Her passionate voice instantly ignited the enthusiasm of everyone present.

In an instant, thunderous applause, like a tide, lasted endlessly, as if it could shake the entire venue.

There was even a moment when people mistakenly thought that this continuous applause was enough to lift the roof.

Even Liu Yueer, at this moment, could not hide her excitement, her eyes shining with admiration, clapping her hands until they hurt without realizing it.

"It seems he really is famous in the culinary world."

Han Fei sighed almost imperceptibly.

He could see that the genuine admiration in the eyes of those prominent figures below was real.

After the applause faded, the Beautiful Hostess, with her passionate and charming voice, comprehensively showcased Master Shang Shan's brilliant achievements and unique style.

"Master Shang Shan is not only a shining treasure of our Dragon Country's culinary art but also an envoy who has sown the seeds of culinary culture in every corner of the world, a pioneer who never stops on the path of innovation..."

"For many years, with his unparalleled precise palate and profound culinary philosophy, he has inspired the hearts of countless gourmets, earning him the esteemed title of 'Mentor of Taste'..."

"Every one of his evaluations can make ordinary food bloom with a different brilliance, as if it can directly touch the depths of the food's Soul..."

"At the same time, he is also the honorary president of our Western Region's Culinary Association..."

The Beautiful Hostess's introduction lasted for a full minute.

Every word was powerful, every sentence emotional.

Until it finally ended elegantly with a magnetic phrase.

"Alright, that concludes the introduction."

"Master Shang Shan's glory, even if I spoke for days, I couldn't finish."

Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the venue.

"Next, as per tradition, before the official competition begins, let's start with a little taste bud game!"

Her eyes swept across the entire venue.

"The name of this game is 'Guess the Chili'!"

"We will randomly invite five lucky audience members to come on stage and, face-to-face with our culinary experts, jointly taste a mysterious dish."

"Then our lucky audience members will need to guess how many types of chili were used in this dish and in what proportions, within a specified time."

"Afterward, the Great Master will guess."

"If both the lucky audience member and the Great Master guess correctly, then the lucky audience member will receive a copy of 'Secret Realm of Taste' personally signed by Master Shang Shan!"

"If the lucky audience member guesses incorrectly, but the Great Master guesses correctly, we will also give the lucky audience member a small exquisite gift."

"But if the lucky audience member guesses correctly, and the Great Master guesses incorrectly, then the lucky audience member will receive a mysterious grand prize prepared by the organizers!"

After the Beautiful Hostess finished her introduction, a golden-edged cardboard box on one side of the stage was slowly pushed into the spotlight.

It was filled with the ticket numbers of the main venue's audience.

"Alright, now let our Great Masters personally draw five lucky audience members!"

The audience below immediately erupted.

Everyone looked towards the stage with anticipation, hoping that good fortune would fall upon them.

Just as the crowd was immersed in the lively atmosphere, the door of Han Fei's VIP room was gently knocked.

A waiter came in and asked, "Mr. Han, would you like to participate?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yueer's eyes, and her voice carried a touch of uncertainty: "This... shouldn't this be a random draw?"

Her gaze lingered between Han Fei and the waiter, appearing somewhat bewildered.

The waiter smiled slightly and explained, "For a distinguished guest like Mr. Han, we naturally have special arrangements."

Han Fei understood that this was due to his Level 3 privilege status.

Han Fei naturally nodded, "Sure."

Facing the Great Master directly would be convenient for him to perform Magical Culinary Arts.

Noticing Liu Yueer's envious gaze nearby, Han Fei asked, "Can she come along too?"

"Of course she can."

The waiter's reply was swift and clear, evidently accustomed to such requests.

Han Fei then made a more specific request: "Can I sit opposite Master Shang Shan?"

The waiter responded almost without hesitation: "Of course you can."

"Okay, thank you."

After the waiter left, Liu Yueer said in an incredulous tone, "I always thought lucky audience members were chosen randomly."

Han Fei just smiled, saying nothing.

No matter in which Universe, there were always behind-the-scenes operations prepared specifically for privileged individuals; it was just that ordinary people didn't know about them.

While waiting for the waiter's arrangements, Han Fei took a small piece of magic cake from his pocket.

He had prepared this earlier that morning.

No matter how Forbidden Magic was performed, it could potentially lead to karmic retribution.

Therefore, before performing it, Han Fei needed to use the magic cake for disguise.