66: Copy the whole thing, find gold in the trash, and perceive value!

"So delicious."

"This is my first time tasting lobster with this flavor!"

"Is this the red rockRefining lobster? It truly lives up to its reputation!"

"As expected of a two-star gourmet dish, it's incredibly delicious!"

...

Many gourmet enthusiasts in the audience, savoring the deliciousness on their taste buds, were either intoxicated or amazed, giving it extremely high praise.

This is the unique effect of two-star gourmet dishes; the aroma they emit allows people to taste the flavor of the dish on their taste buds.

After savoring the fresh and juicy lobster, the audience's applause erupted like a tidal wave, a tribute not only to the ingredients and skill but also a heartfelt gratitude for this rare experience.

And that highly anticipated lobster dish, as if sensing the lively atmosphere, suddenly flashed with a strange light, a mixture of black iron and bronze colors, like the spirit of the gourmet dancing in the air, vying for its own glory.

The light sometimes leaned towards a deep black iron hue, and at other times, towards a warm bronze luster.

Such changes made everyone present hold their breath, their hearts filled with anticipation and trepidation.

Some experienced old chefs, looking at the unpredictable play of light and shadow, unconsciously furrowed their brows.

"It seems to be a little short of bronze grade."

"If nothing more is done, I'm afraid it can only become black iron grade."

"However, even if it's black iron grade, it's definitely top-tier, and might even sell for over three million!"

What was clear to observers was naturally clear to the chef who personally created this dish.

Looking at the lobster dish, whose black iron luster was gradually gaining the upper hand, the middle-aged chef let out a soft sigh.

Then he took out a small bottle containing white powder from his bag.

He gripped the Bottleneck, seemingly in a final struggle with the turmoil deep within his heart.

Finally, after an almost inaudible sigh, he slowly unscrewed the cap and sprinkled the powder from the bottle onto the lobster.

Immediately, a whirlwind of aroma swept across the entire venue, and everyone was momentarily dazed by the whirlwind, as if immersed in a lobster gourmet paradise.

That feeling was fleeting.

When everyone awoke from the illusion, as if from another world, they saw that the lobster dish had transformed into a bronze gourmet treasure chest.

The entire venue burst into thunderous applause at this sight.

The sound was far louder than any previous one!

Han Fei in the VIP room also clapped lightly, but couldn't help but feel a little emotional, "Such a high level, yet it can only barely create a bronze treasure chest. I wonder how high the culinary skill needs to be to create a silver grade one."

A silver grade gourmet treasure chest can only be created by a two-star Advanced Gourmet Hunter.

As for two-star Advanced Gourmet Hunters, let alone Tianhe City, there aren't many in the entire Dragon Country.

They are either hidden in various gourmet secret places in the clouds, serve as deans in top Gourmet Academies, or are honored as esteemed guests by top dignitaries, serving as exclusive chefs, concocting the world's most exquisite flavors for a select few.

For ordinary people, to witness their demeanor, even once, is a great honor.

At this moment, the main venue was filled with thunderous applause, like a surging tide that lasted for a full minute before gradually subsiding.

"Let us once again give our warmest applause to Great Master Yang Yan! He not only successfully created a miracle in this competition, but also produced the only bronze gourmet treasure chest in this event!!!"

The Beautiful Hostess cheered loudly, and the venue once again erupted in deafening applause.

"I believe all of you friends present have already tasted the flavor of this gourmet dish, haven't you?"

"But I know you're definitely not satisfied."

"Would you like to taste it up close?"

The Beautiful Hostess was very good at livening up the atmosphere.

Her words seemed to possess magic, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of everyone present.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The audience could no longer contain their excitement and shouted in unison.

The cheers rose higher and higher, and the entire venue seemed about to be engulfed by this fervor.

The bronze gourmet treasure chest has a very special effect.

That is, by smelling the aroma from the treasure chest up close, one can taste the flavor of the gourmet dish in an illusion.

That feeling is almost exactly like tasting it in person.

Every time a bronze treasure chest appears at the God of Cookery Competition, all audience members are allowed to taste it up close.

It is precisely for this reason that tickets for the main venue are very expensive, and only people with a certain status can purchase them.

Looking at the increasingly lively competition venue, Han Fei unhurriedly took out a small piece of magic cake from his pocket.

"I wonder if my Magical Culinary Arts can affect the aroma of the treasure chest."

Han Fei prepared to give it a try.

Then he called a waiter and asked to be the first to taste the bronze treasure chest.

The waiter immediately nodded in agreement.

As a third-level privileged citizen, he naturally had this privilege.

Soon, the tasting session began.

The bronze treasure chest was quickly delivered to Han Fei's room.

Looking at the bronze treasure chest, shaped like a living lobster, Han Fei couldn't help but marvel.

The appearance of the gourmet treasure chest will be exactly the same as the gourmet dish it transformed from.

If it's a treasure chest transformed from fried rice, then the treasure chest will look like fried rice.

If it's a treasure chest transformed from fried chicken, then the treasure chest will look like fried chicken.

This treasure chest, having transformed from a lobster, naturally looked like a lobster.

And when opened, it will also contain the corresponding gourmet dish.

But the quantity and quality are random.

In other words, when this lobster treasure chest is opened, it might burst out with five or six steaming red rockRefining lobsters, or possibly more or fewer.

The quality of these red rockRefining lobsters will also vary.

Some are of poor quality, only barely completed.

While others are as exquisite as art, comparable to the meticulous creations of a Three-Star Gourmet Hunter.

Which level of red rockRefining lobster will be revealed naturally depends entirely on luck.

If luck is good, it might all be High Grade items.

If luck is bad, it might all be inferior items.

"Mr. Han, please enjoy your tasting."

The waiter respectfully placed the treasure chest on the table, then slowly retreated.

Han Fei, Liu Yueer, and Princess Luna all leaned in slightly in unison.

They gently inhaled the aroma gradually emanating from the treasure chest.

The aroma, like a stream, slowly flowed into everyone's sensory world.

Immediately after, an indescribable sensation, like an electric current, pierced through their bodies and minds.

Before Han Fei's eyes, plump and succulent lobsters instantly appeared, their shells as crimson as the evening glow, and their firm, tender flesh hidden within.

Han Fei subconsciously chewed lightly.

The delicate and juicy lobster meat suddenly filled Han Fei's mouth.

The perfectly balanced oil and spice intertwined, playing a beautiful symphony on his tongue, making him let out a soft moan.

Liu Yueer was the same, a blush blooming on her face, her eyes slightly closed, as if completely conquered by this lobster dish.

"Every fiber of the lobster has absorbed the essence of the sauce, melting in the mouth without much chewing. This taste... it's truly wonderful!"

Her voice carried a hint of intoxication, a praise stemming from the depths of her heart.

"The seasoning is truly spot-on, highlighting the inherent sweetness of the lobster while cleverly blending the complex layers of various spices. The precision of its creation is astonishing."

Han Fei, on the other hand, observed this experience with a more rational eye.

In contrast, Princess Luna's evaluation was simple yet appropriate: "The taste is not bad."

Having enjoyed countless rare and exotic delicacies since childhood, she naturally wouldn't be overly surprised by an ordinary bronze grade gourmet dish like this.

But even so, a subtle smile, barely perceptible, still lingered at the corner of her mouth, indicating her approval of this attempt.

A moment later, the waiter carefully stepped forward again, fearing to disturb the rare tranquility, "Mr. Han, have you finished tasting?"

Han Fei and the other two nodded gently, the aftertaste in their eyes not yet completely faded.

"It's over."

Before the waiter took it away, Han Fei subtly attempted to exert his influence on the treasure chest.

"It's a bit difficult."

Applying means to the aroma of the treasure chest is far more difficult than applying means to food.

Han Fei tried several times before barely succeeding.

Then Han Fei's gaze returned to the venue, looking at the thousands of spectators, filled with anticipation.

"I hope I can replicate some good abilities."

Watching the treasure chest being carried into the crowd by the waiter, Han Fei's expression immediately tensed, and at the same time, he concentrated, manipulating his replication ability.

The farther the distance, the more difficult it was for Han Fei to cast, and the weaker the effect.

Therefore, even though many people were smelling the aroma, Han Fei could only barely replicate a few ability fragments.

As the waiter continuously moved through the crowd, more and more ability fragments poured into Han Fei's body.

Esperanto, ancient languages, Bear Country language, gourmet color observation techniques, calligraphy, painting, boxing skills... These ability fragments were numerous and varied, many but not refined, bringing only a minuscule improvement in Han Fei's abilities.

For example, with some of the language abilities, after Han Fei acquired the ability fragments, he could only achieve a superficial understanding of that language, far from mastering it.

For instance, with the ancient language ability fragment, after Han Fei replicated the ability, he only mastered a few ancient words and could speak a few ancient sentences haltingly.

Calligraphy, painting, and other abilities were similar.

Han Fei might occasionally produce a stroke or two worthy of a Great Master, or leave a breathtaking touch in a corner of a canvas, but this was far from enough to establish him in these fields.

Therefore, the vast majority of these abilities were useless knowledge to Han Fei.

Like heavy books, piled up in his mind, with little opportunity for application.

Of course, with so many abilities, he was bound to find a few good ones by sifting through the dross.

Such as fire element sensing, martial arts Aptitude, Spiritual Root Aptitude, superhuman comprehension, and so on.

These abilities slightly improved Han Fei's various Aptitudes, and while they helped him, their impact was extremely limited.

Just as Han Fei's heart was gradually enveloped by disappointment, his eyes suddenly lit up.

A special ability fragment, like the brightest star in the night sky, suddenly captured his full attention.

'Value Perception'

This superpower had only one function: to perceive the value of any item.

However, how it perceived and how value was assessed, Han Fei was not clear.

After all, he had only replicated the tip of the iceberg of this ability, and still had a superficial understanding of its deeper operational mechanisms.

With curiosity and anticipation, Han Fei slowly moved to the window, his gaze piercing through the bustling crowd, remotely locking onto a luxuriously decorated VIP room.

This ability was replicated from someone in that VIP room.

"I really want this ability."

Han Fei narrowed his eyes, contemplating how he could get his hands on this ability.

As he pondered, all the audience members in the venue had also finished tasting the bronze treasure chest.

The Beautiful Hostess raised the microphone and said loudly: "Alright, distinguished guests, I believe you have all been immersed in these rare delicacies. Now, let's randomly invite a few audience friends to share their taste bud experiences and unique insights!"

As her words fell, the lights in the venue suddenly dimmed, creating a mysterious and expectant atmosphere.

Then, all the spotlights, as if alive, converged tacitly on one spot, locking onto an audience member.

This lucky person seemed a little flustered under the sudden light, but was quickly replaced by excitement.

"Friend, please give us a brief comment."

The Beautiful Hostess gestured for a staff member to hand over a microphone.

After receiving the microphone, this audience member quickly began to comment excitedly.

"The lobster meat is firm, yet tender, and the seasoning is subtly perfect!"

"The meat is springy, the flavors are distinct, truly an endless aftertaste."

"The dish's temperature control is just right, perfectly bringing out the purest flavor of the lobster."

After the person finished commenting, the Beautiful Hostess immediately responded with warm applause.

"What a wonderful comment! Let's find another audience member to comment."

Then, the spotlight, as if with a will of its own, slowly shifted, eventually focusing on a VIP room.

And that VIP room was precisely the one Han Fei was observing.

Han Fei's spirits immediately lifted at this sight, "Who could be inside?"

Under everyone's gaze, the floor-to-ceiling windows of the VIP room silently slid open, like a theater curtain slowly drawing apart.

Under the spotlight, a figure in a wheelchair gradually became visible.

His demeanor was calm and composed, a stark contrast to the surrounding hustle and bustle.

"It's actually him."

Liu Yueer's voice revealed incredible shock.

"Who is it?" Han Fei's curiosity was piqued.

"He's a very famous doctoral senior from our Gourmet Academy! Although he hasn't graduated yet, he's already a one-star top Gourmet Hunter!" Liu Yueer's expression was full of admiration.

"A one-star top Gourmet Hunter?"

Han Fei and Princess Luna exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling with astonishment.

"How old is he this year?"

"I don't know the exact age, but he's definitely under 25."

"A one-star top Gourmet Hunter under 25, this talent..."

Han Fei clicked his tongue slightly, almost wanting to describe the other person as a Prodigy.

One must know that in the gourmet world, being able to become a one-star top Gourmet Hunter before the age of 40 is already considered a Genius.