The Dream Mushroom inherently possessed the strange ability to immerse people in illusions. Though harmless on its own, once fully fused into the dumplings, each bite was an ultimate indulgence. Every pore in the body exuded an indescribable sense of bliss.
Most notably, the Golden Dumplings, once consumed, released a surge of strange heat into the body, which flowed through the five viscera and six bowels.Ultimately, a large portion of it merged into the lungs, subtly tempering them—making them tougher and more resilient.
Golden Wheat, by nature, contained a unique essence of metal energy—pure and refined. Once consumed, it naturally increased the body's internal Metal Element, which was in fact a trace of Metal Origin. If one had opened a metal-element Life Aperture, then this Origin Essence would greatly strengthen it. Enhancing the fundamental source of one's power—it was undoubtedly a marvelous effect.
At that moment, Cai Yan could feel that even her breathing now drew in the world's vital energy at a much faster rate.
"As expected of dumplings made from Golden Wheat flour—these Golden Dumplings truly live up to their name. Thin skin, generous filling, juicy and tender. Truly flawless. Among all the delicacies I've tasted, this is one of the most delicious."
Yi Tianxing also nodded in secret, savoring the lingering wonder of the taste.
There was an old saying in the culinary world:
"Nothing beats dumplings!"
This saying reflected the dumpling's crucial status in the world of gourmet cuisine. Crafting a truly exquisite dumpling was not something just any chef could achieve. Many thought dumplings were nothing more than wrappers filled with meat, but in reality, every step in their making was intricate. Any mistake, however small, could lead to vast differences in flavor.
Yet the Golden Dumplings before them were perfectly executed.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing's hand reached swiftly for another dumpling.
Cai Yan was not to be outdone—her chopsticks moved rapidly as well.
Unknowingly, the entire large platter of dumplings had vanished into their stomachs.
As they ate, their physical strength surged madly. Immense amounts of world energy flowed into their flesh. Especially the dumplings, which were naturally absorbed and refined by the Food Cauldron Life Aperture, converting their essence into power and merging it with their very flesh.
At that moment, their physical strength increased explosively—by at least 30,000 catties.
Yi Tianxing's overall physical strength had now reached an astonishing 340,000 catties.
On the Food Cauldron, golden stalks of wheat began to emerge, vivid and lifelike, radiating golden brilliance. The entire cauldron seemed to undergo a transformation, receiving a tremendous infusion of energy. The source power of the Food Cauldron Life Aperture soared.
This surge in source power naturally condensed a Source Star in the sea of consciousness, signifying the Life Aperture's advancement to the second stage. It now absorbed world energy faster, and refined food essence more efficiently and purely.
"As expected of a top-grade Earth-tier spirit grain—Golden Wheat. The boost it provides far surpasses anything before. Truly, the higher the grade of the ingredients, the greater the benefit after cooking."
Yi Tianxing felt a quiet joy well up inside.
This sensation of growing stronger while eating was simply too marvelous.
"Please, my lord, taste the second dish."
Seeing Yi Tianxing and Cai Yan both fully satisfied, Lai He felt a deep, unspoken sense of fulfillment.
"Golden Soaring Dragon!!"
A head chef stepped forward and lifted the second iron cover, revealing the dish inside.
The moment the lid was lifted, golden light once again burst forth. Within the glow, vivid golden dragons could be seen intertwining, weaving together as if soaring through the air—an astonishing and majestic sight.
"This dish, Golden Soaring Dragon, was made using Golden Wheat flour and eggs from the Five-Colored Brocade Chicken. The oil used was top-grade camellia oil. The dough was prepared last night and aired in the high air currents under the night wind. During frying, we continuously stirred it with chopsticks to ensure even frying. It was lifted from the oil with a technique resembling a dragon rising from the sea. The egg's tenderness and the wheat's crispness are perfectly fused. Please enjoy."
The dish was, in fact, a type of fried dough stick—youtiao.
But it was far from ordinary.
These sticks looked like two entwined golden dragons, their heads and whiskers exquisitely detailed, nearly indistinguishable from real dragons. Glorious and divine.
There were only four of them—so lifelike that one almost hesitated to eat them.
"Color, aroma, and taste—all perfect. To achieve this level with just a fried dough stick... this culinary technique borders on the Dao."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath. The aroma wafting from the dough sticks reawakened his appetite. Without further delay, he picked one up.
The first bite delivered a crunchy, tender texture, bursting with layered, rich flavors on the palate. It was absolutely exquisite.
"Delicious!"
Cai Yan's eyes lit up after just one bite.
It was the best youtiao she'd ever tasted. The crispness, the lightness, the freshness of the Five-Colored Chicken egg—all combined perfectly, enveloping her senses in a dreamy experience. She felt as though she were soaring through the sky atop a golden dragon, immersed in bliss.
Yi Tianxing didn't speak. He simply kept eating, enjoying how his physical strength was once again skyrocketing.
Each person had two sticks. Soon, all were eaten.
This time, his strength increased further, reaching a total of 360,000 catties.
"What's the third dish?" Yi Tianxing asked with anticipation.
"The third dish is noodles—Golden Dragon Beard Noodles. These are also made from Golden Wheat flour and Five-Colored Chicken eggs. The key lies in the sauce. The soul of any noodle dish is the sauce. My special sauce is made with Dream Mushrooms as the main ingredient, complemented by ginger, scallions, and garlic, with wild mountain chicken broth as the soup base. The focus is on freshness. Please enjoy."
Lai He spoke with visible confidence.
Indeed, a bowl of noodles is only as good as its broth and sauce, which must perfectly match the noodles to achieve true excellence.
Shua!A chef removed the final iron cover.
Two bowls of Dragon Beard Noodles appeared before them.
Bathed in golden light, the noodles looked sacred and awe-inspiring.
The broth was milky white, with a garnish of bright green scallions floating on top. The fragrance was unprecedented.
The noodles looked like strands of golden dragon whiskers, floating freely within the bowl. And—remarkably—each bowl contained only a single noodle strand. That strand alone made the entire bowl. Its length was unimaginable. Yet even after cooking, the noodle remained unbroken—an incredible testament to its toughness and elasticity.
One dragon whisker, one bowl of noodles.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing picked up the noodle's head. Dragon Beard Noodles had a tradition: they must be slurped down in one breath, unbroken, from beginning to end. This was known as "Coiling Dragon." As one slurped, the flavor would build, layer by layer, until a final explosive crescendo of taste upon completion.
But not everyone could do it. Nor could every noodle hold together like that.
Only a few had ever enjoyed such a refined dish.
Ssshh!!
The noodle slid swiftly into his mouth. With every inch consumed, the flavor bloomed—layer upon layer—within his mouth. The taste continued to build, reaching a peak crescendo at the very end.
"How miraculous..."
When he finished the entire strand in one breath, Yi Tianxing felt as though a coiling golden dragon had emerged inside him, radiating brilliant golden light. A transcendent flavor spread through his very flesh and soul.
Then something incredible happened.
Within the Food Cauldron, the Dragon Beard Noodle was refined into a golden dragon, which burst forth and circled wildly before diving back into the cauldron. Within it, the golden dragon roared with vitality, drawing metallic Daoist laws from the surroundings. These laws condensed into it, causing its glow to intensify. The dragon now embodied the essence of all three dishes.
Suddenly, the dragon shot out of the cauldron and raced through Yi Tianxing's body—through his flesh, meridians, and bones. The golden light it left behind made his entire body seem cast in gold.
With a thunderous roar, the dragon dove into his lungs.
A dragon's cry echoed.
Then—the golden dragon exploded.
As it self-destructed, countless law runes formed from metallic Dao intent etched themselves onto the lungs. A golden sound of metal clashing rang out.
Countless golden runes shimmered.
And from deep within the lungs, a Metal Origin rapidly emerged.