Chapter 289: The World Changed by Rules
Lin Bai had not been awake for long before the people around him gradually started waking up too.
Unconsciously, these people had formed a circle around Lin Bai.
Even The Northern Army in the city and the Players had walked out of the defensive formation, all staring intently at the skewers in Lin Bai’s hand.
When they regained their senses, they were in a state of panic, their fear reflected in their very expressions. A delicious meal had made them voluntarily leave the safety of their positions.
Thankfully, Lin Bai was not an enemy; otherwise, he could have trapped them all by simply cooking a meal outside the city.
Luckily, Lin Bai had previously subdued all the enemies. Otherwise, due to the difference in their Realms, the moment they stepped out of the defensive formation, they would have been doomed.
Is this the Way of Cooking? Damn, none of the Daos of Laws are easy to deal with...
The Players were in an uproar.
In the game, they possessed real senses, but being mesmerized by the aroma to the point of losing their composure was something they found incredibly astonishing. Most importantly, even after regaining consciousness, they were still salivating, eagerly looking at the grilled meat in Lin Bai’s hands, wishing they could rush up and take a bite. This was even more abnormal.
Did the game company enhance Lin Bai’s Skills by directly manipulating the Players’ sense of taste in their minds? This seemed a bit too much!
Lin Bai’s current Mahayana Realm Cultivation meant his perception was much sharper than others. He distinctly sensed that it wasn’t just the Cultivators around him. The moment the aroma wafted out, insects in the grass and animals with keen senses of smell all rushed towards his location. However, these ordinary animals were deterred by the Cultivators’ pressure. After regaining their senses, they no longer advanced but lingered, and their numbers were progressively increasing...
An uncontrolled taunt? Interesting! However, it seemed of little use in actual combat. After all, no enemy would wait for you to cook without attacking you during the cooking process... Still, the good thing was that those attracted wouldn’t attack him, and their minds seemed to be somewhat affected. All in all, there were pros and cons!
The powerful effect of his Skill made Lin Bai eagerly anticipate the upcoming task reward.
Out of caution, Lin Bai did not taste the skewers himself. Instead, he handed them to Ye Song, Cen Qing, [Silver], [Madam L], and one male and one female Demon Beast who were closest to him.
Natives, Players, Demon Beasts—Lin Bai considered every type and even separated them by gender. He wanted to thoroughly study this irresistibly fragrant food.
Seeing to whom Lin Bai was offering the skewers, Xu Longyun paused but said nothing.
The Little White Fox’s anticipation gradually turned to disappointment. She looked at Lin Bai eagerly, licking her lips. "Master, I want some too."
"I’ll give you some later." Lin Bai nodded at her and continued to grill the remaining skewers. It had to be said, mastering superb cooking skills made cooking a truly enjoyable experience.
The skewers became even more tempting once held in hand.
Ye Song and Cen Qing saw through Lin Bai’s intentions at a glance, but their Mahayana Realm willpower allowed them to resist tasting the skewers. But the Players and the Demon Beasts cared little for such restraint; the moment they got the skewers, they couldn’t wait to bite into them. The instant the skewers entered their mouths, everyone around them instinctively swallowed.
MMMM~!
Four voices, filled with extreme pleasure, unexpectedly sounded in unison.
Crispy and numbing, it pierces right to the heart...
Huh? What was happening?
Amidst the crowd’s incredulous stares, [Madam L] slowly slumped to the ground, her legs splayed, her eyes glazed over, and her face flushed. She murmured uncontrollably, "Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. The moment I bit down, the rich, savory juices exploded in my mouth like a volcano... Ah... this fragrant, mellow taste... Ah... this is... Bai, feed me..."
[Silver] wasn’t faring much better than his companion. His left hand made a grasping motion as if holding something. "...This is... this is the taste of ultimate bliss... like lying on a cloud... with the most beautiful fairy massaging your entire body..."
The two Demon Beasts instantly reverted to their true forms, emitting unintelligible sounds as they flew into the air, soaring freely...
"This..."
"This is..."
Everyone who witnessed this was stunned.
Xu Longyun’s face burned. She covertly glanced at Lin Bai, a hint of coquettish anger in her eyes. Ever since Bind the Immortal appeared, Lin Bai’s Divine Skills have become increasingly unorthodox.
The Little White Fox stared dumbfounded, swallowing hard and muttering, "Is it really that delicious?"
Jiang Qingqin’s pretty face turned red, and she lightly bit her lip.
Duke Zhenguo’s eye twitched again. The sliver of goodwill he had barely managed to cultivate for Lin Bai vanished instantly. Using such bizarre Divine Skills and still claiming not to be an Evil Spirit? Who would believe that? Heavenly Dao, pah! I must find a way to get my precious daughter away from him! Otherwise, who knows what he’ll turn my dignified and virtuous little darling into!
"This is too much!" [Dumbelldore] exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. "What did Shopkeeper Lin put in those skewers?"
"Even cartoons don’t go this far!" [Mountain Tiger] pressed his legs together, swallowing repeatedly. "Are they really eating meat skewers? Suddenly, I really want to see the Little White Fox eat one. What do I do?"
"You just want to watch the Little White Fox eat skewers? I’m already thinking of logging off and opening my private stash!" said [I’m Not an Alt Account]. "Bind the Immortal, Spring Key Skewers... What kind of bizarre Skills has the game company given Shopkeeper Lin? I feel like this game is heading in an increasingly strange direction."
"To be honest, I want to learn this Way of Cooking," said [Dragon Breath].
Ye Song and Cen Qing watched the Players and natives reacting to the skewers, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads. They held the fragrant skewers, hesitating for a moment, unsure if they should eat them.
Holy heck! The effect of the Spirit of Spring Lock! Lin Bai saw through it instantly. So that’s where the Cooking God System’s so-called ’Overwhelming Aroma’ Skill came from! The moment he saw its effect, he decided that no matter how great the difficulty, he had to complete the Cooking God System’s tasks. An illogical Skill from the ACG world—there’s no culinary art more dominant than this in the entire world!
"Go on, eat! Look how much they’re enjoying it, completely immersed in the Charm of the food. It’s not poisoned!" Lin Bai encouraged Ye Song. "Didn’t you want to become my disciple? If you don’t personally experience the Way of Cooking, how can you comprehend its laws? The Dao of Laws seeks the ultimate. If you cannot unleash your true nature and remain constrained by worldly trifles, you will never have hope of mastering any Dao of Cultivation Law."
"Ye Song, my focus has been on the Heavenly Dao and the Way of Love. I’ve only just begun with the Way of Cooking, yet it already has such astonishing effects. Don’t you want to comprehend the true Cultivation Rules of cooking, become a Kitchen God, and metaphorically ’stew the entire world in one pot’?"
We’ve tested it on ordinary people and Demon Beasts. Of course, we also need to see its effect on those in the Mahayana Realm.
"Master, if you’re not going to taste it, you can give it to me." Ye Lan, with his zombie-like face, stared intently at the skewer in Ye Song’s hand. Saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet his wooden expression remained unchanged. "I’ve been practicing the Dead Man’s Sutra and haven’t known the taste of meat for many years. But the skewer grilled by the Alliance Hierarch has actually stirred my appetite..."
"In your dreams." Ye Song glanced at [Madam L], who was still slumped on the ground, and without hesitation, shoved the skewer into his mouth.
Cen Qing hesitated for a moment. Seeing Ye Song eat the skewer, he blushed, steeled his resolve, and also stuffed the skewer into his mouth.
NGH!
MMM!
With two strange moans, Ye Song flew into the sky. Cen Qing, as if no one else was around, ripped off his already tattered outer robe, blushing as he revealed a bare shoulder...
Ye Song and Cen Qing followed the Players’ example; the willpower of the Mahayana Realm offered little more resistance to the food.
The Mahayana Realm Cultivators who were still clear-headed, including Xiao Yu, looked grim. They realized with horror that, when facing these Laws, they were becoming increasingly powerless. Their years of cultivation seemed like a joke in the face of such phenomena!
CLICK!
CLICK!
Cen Qing was a Mahayana Realm Cultivator from the Moon Spirit Sect. His destructive power was far beyond that of Players who merely customized their appearances. Players and viewers in the livestream chat immediately took screenshots. Wilderness Wolf raised his digital camera, recording this rare scene.
The battle outside Zhen City had taught the Players a great deal. A flood of comments scrolled across the screen, obscuring the view.
"I’m definitely learning the Way of Cooking! Not for anything else, just to cook for NPCs!"
"I’m learning the Way of Cooking not to cook for anyone in particular, but simply because I love cooking."
"The Way of Cooking is too low-tier. Bind the Immortal from the Way of Love suits me better."
"Combining Bind the Immortal and the Way of Cooking must be the most wonderful thing in the world!"
"If culinary school techniques had this kind of effect, I wouldn’t still be unemployed."
The immersive effect of the food varied from person to person.
Ye Song and Cen Qing, being in the Mahayana Realm after all, were the first to recover. The effects lasted less than ten seconds. Upon recovering, they showed no shame about the side effects of the delicious food. Instead, they wolfed down the remaining skewers, still looking as if they hadn’t had enough.
The two Demon Beasts recovered next. Their reaction was identical to Ye Song and Cen Qing’s; the first thing they did upon regaining their senses was to devour the remaining skewers...
Indeed, the astonishing effects of the Way of Cooking only manifested with the first bite and did not persist.
But that was more than enough.
Consider this: even Mahayana Realm experts were lost for about ten seconds. Those ten seconds of complete defenselessness could be fatal if an enemy attacked. Those were ten seconds of complete self-abandonment, far beyond what a Fox Demon’s enchantment could achieve.
The Players were the last to regain their senses. The moment they did, they were inundated with private messages in the team channel. Everyone was asking about their experience, as their expressions had looked incredibly blissful.
[Silver] glanced at the skewers Lin Bai was grilling, swallowed, and said, "Unparalleled deliciousness. It felt like every meal I’ve eaten for the past twenty-odd years was a waste. If food like this existed in reality, I think I’d spend my entire fortune to eat it. Compared to Shopkeeper Lin’s cooking, all the so-called delicacies I’ve had in the game before are utter garbage."
[Madam L] said, "It was exceptionally, exceptionally delicious, far better than, you know, *that*. It felt like countless tiny sprites were massaging every taste bud in my mouth simultaneously. The flavor spread from my mouth to my stomach—no, to every single cell! In my daze, I even imagined Shopkeeper Lin personally feeding me. There were hallucinations, like I was flying. I don’t think I can ever leave Shopkeeper Lin now; he’s completely conquered my stomach."
"Any side effects?"
"What was Shopkeeper Lin feeding you?"
"What did he use to feed you?"
"Tiny sprites? You mean Shopkeeper Lin’s tiny sprites, right?"
The conversation among the male Players was relatively normal, but the comments from the Lin Bai Support Group quickly went off the rails, with all sorts of lewd jokes and experienced old-timers chiming in. Lin Bai was utterly astounded by what he heard.
However, compared to the reserved natives, Lin Bai could gather more detailed information from the Players. The food created by the Cooking God System did indeed induce hallucinations. These hallucinations varied from person to person, manifesting as their most comforting fantasies. Afterward, one would feel extremely satisfied and joyful, both physically and mentally, with no side effects...
Having verified the effectiveness of the Cooking God System’s new Skills, Lin Bai didn’t bother to continue cooking. He quickly finished grilling the skewers he held. After creating another miracle with the Way of Cooking, he distributed the cooked skewers to the shameless Players who had been pestering him for them, letting them divide and enjoy the food as they pleased.
Then, under the Little White Fox’s disappointed gaze, he packed up the remaining ingredients and had everyone return to Zhen City. Lin Bai knew the Little White Fox was craving the food, but understanding the effects of the Way of Cooking, he certainly wouldn’t let her display such a suggestive state in public.
At worst, I can cook some food for her in private to satisfy her cravings... Besides, to be honest, I’m also quite eager to taste the dishes produced by the Cooking God System myself. But eating this food is too risky; I need to find a safe place.
Because The Northern Army had been lured out of Zhen City by the aroma of the food, returning to the city became a problem, as the activated defensive formation blocked everyone’s path.
However, this couldn’t stop Lin Bai. Qing Yu and Flower Stream each used a Card—one sent into the city, the other remaining outside. A Magpie Bridge connected the two Cards, allowing the group, holding hands, to easily pass through the supposedly impenetrable defensive formation.
Witnessing this, Duke Zhenguo’s face darkened, his heart heavy with worry. His apprehension towards the Dao of Cultivation Law intensified. The defensive formation is Taiyi Country’s final bulwark against Cultivators. But once the Dao of Cultivation Law becomes widespread, this last barrier will be rendered useless. If a Cultivator truly masters the Way of Cooking, Taiyi Country will be annihilated before they even realize what happened. The emergence of the Dao of Cultivation Law means that previous methods of warfare are now obsolete. This is truly a headache.
SIGH!
Duke Zhenguo sighed. He looked at Lin Bai, feeling it was imperative to discuss with him in depth the prohibition of the Dao of Cultivation Law’s circulation. At the very least, its study should first be restricted to their own people before being disseminated externally!
Right now, the thing Duke Zhenguo was most thankful for was that Lin Bai had first appeared in Jiamucheng and, by chance, had become acquainted with Xu Longyun. Otherwise, Taiyi Country’s situation would likely be even more dire...
「Thus, the Battle of Zhen City Concluded」
Lin Bai and his Justice League were completely victorious. The addition of Mahayana Realm Cultivators from ten sects signified that the Justice League had officially become a top-tier power, qualified to contend with the Seven Major Sects and Five Demonic Sects.
Lin Bai himself reaped the most benefits from this battle. Setting aside the powerful Skills acquired from completing System tasks, the three Mahayana Realm Puppets—Wen Ba, Gu Yi, and Qiu Liang—alone were enough to ensure Lin Bai could overwhelm other Mahayana Realm Cultivators. Wen Ba from the Demonic Sect, with the potent regenerative effects of the Sky Demon Spell, was a particularly significant asset, making Lin Bai even more formidable. After all, Lin Bai himself possessed tenfold recovery capabilities. Combined with the Sky Demon Spell, he was practically an Undying Body.