Beast Taming: I Can Bestow Entries-Chapter 221 Dream Spirit

"What kind of zongzi is Chen Mo making? It looks really tasty."

"Meat zongzi, I guess! It doesn’t seem to have any special techniques, I feel like he might be in a bit of trouble in this Food Spirit battle..."

"The simpler the delicacy appears to be, the more it actually tests the capabilities of a Spirit Chef. Huh, Tuantuan seems to have wrapped up some honey date red bean zongzi. Nice, sweet zongzi are the tastiest!"

"What?! You actually eat sweet zongzi? Those who eat sweet zongzi are heretics!"

"I just can’t stomach the savory ones, okay?"

...

Soon, a debate over sweet versus savory zongzi erupted in the comment section.

After Chen Mo and Tuantuan added the right amount of glutinous rice, they respectively mixed in pork belly or red beans with honey dates. Then, Chen Mo poured some broth into the savory zongzi and used leaves to tie them with zongzi strings before placing them into the steamer, one layer after another.

Next, Chen Mo sprinkled some spices into each layer of the steamer. These spices not only added fragrance but also acted as catalysts, allowing the aroma of the Soothing Bamboo Leaves to better permeate the glutinous rice.

The scent of the Soothing Bamboo Leaves is the essence of the homesick zongzi!

The most crucial step was up next.

Simmering on a low heat for 30 minutes, it was important to control the fire throughout.

"Hoo~"

Xiao Jiu exhaled a ball of red flame that quickly ignited the stove.

The final round of the Young Chef Competition allowed contestants to use all of their Spiritual Beasts, even those not related to food.

And Xiao Jiu could perfectly control the temperature of the flames.

While Chen Mo awaited the steaming completion of his homesick zongzi, a young Spirit Chef dressed in blue robes and appearing somewhat scholarly was the first to complete his dish.

He made fermented bean curd pork.

This is a well-known dish from the Hakka cuisine, with bright colors, fragrant and tender meat, vivid green vegetables, and vibrant red pork offering a unique charm.

Soon, the food evaluation gave its score—

[Food Name: Fermented Bean Curd Pork]

[Ingredients Used: Rare Second-Order Taihu Pork Belly, Rare First-tier Jade Green Leafy Vegetables, Rare Eighth-Order Shao Ling Wine]

[Effects: Lingering taste that wards off the cold, slightly enhances cold resistance of the consumer]

[Level: Rare 6]

[Score: 40]

"So strong! Just a bit shy of a perfect score!"

"Next, it’s up to the judges’ scores. Seems like there’s a chance to break into the top three."

"Nanfeng’s Baked Pigeon Spirit has mastered the Melting Empathy skill to an expert level; the judges’ scores won’t be low for sure."

...

This Spirit Chef named Nanfeng, with a scholarly aura, came from the central competition area, ranking third in the regional finals.

After the quality point evaluation, it was time for the judges to score.

"A bowl of hometown flavor, brings wandering hearts back home. I’ve made this fermented bean curd pork from my hometown. I hope the judges will enjoy it."

Nanfeng gracefully bowed to the judges.

"I’ve recreated the taste I loved most as a child and hope everyone will like it."

"Dream Spirit, the more the merrier!"

Chef God Jiang Yun addressed his Food Spirit.

"Meow~"

The Dream Spirit resembled a delicately patterned silver blossom, born from a dish made with sky pufferfish—Zhuang Zhou Dreams.

Each petal of Zhuang Zhou Dreams was made from the tenderest meat on the back of a sky pufferfish. Its preparation required soaking in peach blossom wine, and upon tasting, the "heart" of the flower had to be ignited, causing the petals to slowly blossom while the scent wafted far and wide, attracting thousands of butterflies to flutter around it.

Jiang Yun’s Dream Spirit was a genuine Dominator Stage Food Spirit. His culinary skill "the more the merrier," as executed by the Spirit, could perfectly replicate rare delicacies, perfectly bringing back their taste, nutritional value, and even their special effects.

Of course, this required the consumption of the essence of food.

Soon, exquisite pieces of fermented bean curd pork were placed into small bowls and presented before each judge.

Chef God Jiang Yun was the first to taste it, nodding his head soon after.

"Not bad."

This pork belly cooked in fermented bean curd is rich yet not greasy; it surely passes the taste test, but I only felt a hint of homesickness, nothing too strong.

Because Nanfeng has rarely traveled away from home since childhood, naturally he doesn’t experience much homesickness. His Food Spirit may have mastered the "Emotion Fusion" technique, but alas, his owner doesn’t quite cut it...

"3.5 points."

"The flavor is aromatic, but the taste of longing for home is a bit too light, I’ll just barely give it 4 points!"

"That’s the right taste~ pretty authentic!"

A judge who also hailed from Southern Yue admired the dish and scored it 5 points.

After the other judges had a taste, they felt different degrees of nostalgia and began to give their scores successively.

"4 points!"

"3.5 points!"

...

All ten judges onsite gave favorable comments.

"The contestant’s total score from the judges is 37.5 points, plus the quality score of 40 points, making the total score 77.5 points meow!"

Neon Cat announced the contestant’s score.

A fairly good score.

Nanfeng bowed again before slowly exiting the stage.

In the following time, contestants one after another completed their dishes.

In this final round, the majority of Spirit Chefs prepared specialty dishes from their hometowns.

Because the "Emotion Fusion" culinary technique needs to incorporate "emotion" to have an effect. Only by infusing the dish with one’s nostalgia and emotions of missing home, can one make the diners empathize.

Little Blue Bird Bing Lan was also let out by Chen Mo, and seeing the dazzling array of delicious foods, it was stunned.

So... there are so many impressive Spirit Chefs like Chen Mo out there!

The world outside is so fascinating!

The little guy flitted about everywhere, feeling satisfied just by sniffing the aromas.

Not long after, a female contestant dressed in a red skirt with a high ponytail finished her dish—a Tai’an Fish.

This was a famous Sichuan dish.

Before handing the Tai’an Fish to the staff, she deliberately swayed it in front of Chen Mo.

The female Spirit Chef was named Cheng Ling, Chief Disciple of the Sichuan Cuisine Master.

After the previous regional competition ended, there was much comparison between her and Chen Mo online.

Some said that even the Sichuan dishes Chen Mo whipped up casually could rival hers.

She was rather straightforward, so she planned to use this final competition as a chance to prove her strength!

To tell everyone that in the realm of Sichuan cuisine, she was the number one.

Unexpectedly, Chen Mo decided to make pastries.

Nevertheless, winning the championship would have the same face-slapping effect.

"Is this woman sick or what?"

Chen Mo found the actions of the high ponytail woman rather puzzling, but he didn’t take it to heart.

Let’s see the real skills at work.

Soon enough, Cheng Ling’s scores were out.

A quality score of 40 points, a rare Level Nine, just shy of an epicurean dish.

The judges scored her a high 43 points, a total score of 83, the highest to this point!

Another 5 minutes later.

Wisps of steam drifted out of the steamer in front of Chen Mo, enveloped in a delicate, elegant fragrance.

The scent wafted on the breeze and was soon picked up by other Spirit Chefs.

"It smells so good!"

The other contestants couldn’t help but exclaim.

A sophisticated fragrance that felt like it was spiritually cleansing and purifying.