Chapter 15: The Spice Wars Begin — An Unexpected Alliance
The victory over the Golden Wok Clan was still fresh in Lin Feng's mind. The Azure Sky Sect had claimed the title of Supreme Culinary Sect, and with that came the title of Culinary Kings of the Realm—which, Lin Feng quickly learned, also included an obnoxious amount of paperwork, a new pile of responsibilities, and an influx of visitors asking for recipes.
But something unexpected was brewing on the horizon. The victory was bittersweet because the war had only just begun. A mysterious note arrived late one evening, sealed with crimson wax and a faint scent of chili oil. Lin Feng read it aloud:
To the so-called Culinary King, Lin Feng,
The Spice Lords have been watching your progress. While you have proven yourself in dessert warfare, we have yet to see your true power in the Spicy Arts.
We challenge you to a series of battles that will shake the foundations of every kitchen in the realm. The first round begins in three days at The Inferno Spice Summit.
We await your response. Come prepared.
Signed,
The Spice Lords
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The Inferno Spice Summit: Hell in a Pan
Lin Feng stared at the note, confusion painted across his face. "Spice Lords?" he muttered, turning to his team. "I've never heard of these guys. But if they think they can out-spice me, they've got another thing coming."
Elder Mu Dan, who had been sitting across from him with a cup of herbal tea, raised an eyebrow. "Be careful, Lin Feng. The Spice Lords are no ordinary culinary faction. They wield some of the most potent, mystical spices in existence. The Chili of the Demon's Breath, the Pepper of Eternal Fire, and the Garlic of Unholy Might are just some of their weapons."
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, scratching his chin. "Chili of the Demon's Breath? Garlic of Unholy Might? Sounds like they're just overcompensating for something."
"I would advise you to take them seriously," Mu Dan said seriously. "These spices are not just for flavoring—they have actual powers. A dish cooked with Pepper of Eternal Fire can burn through dimensions."
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "Burn through dimensions? Now that's what I call a serious condiment."
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The Battle Begins
Three days later, Lin Feng and his team arrived at the Inferno Spice Summit, a massive floating platform suspended high above an active volcano. The air was thick with the scent of molten lava, and the faint heat from the fire pit below made the entire place feel like a forge.
Standing at the entrance was a tall man draped in robes made of what looked like dried chili peppers. His eyes burned with a fiery intensity, and his face was partially covered with a mask resembling a demonic skull. He was holding a ladle that emitted smoke as he swung it in slow, deliberate arcs.
"Welcome, Lin Feng," he said, his voice deep and ominous. "I am Lord Scoville, leader of the Spice Lords. You are about to experience a taste of power that you have never encountered before."
Lin Feng raised his hand, the Spatula of Unyielding Flip gleaming in the dim light. "You may have your scary spices, but I've got something far more dangerous—my cooking skills."
Lord Scoville laughed darkly. "We shall see. The first round will be a dish of Infernal Chili Con Carne—and you must incorporate our Spice Lords' sacred chili, the Chili of the Demon's Breath. Only the worthy can endure its fiery embrace."
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The Battle of Heat
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed as a massive bowl of the Chili of the Demon's Breath appeared before him. The pepper was redder than blood and pulsated with an eerie light, as though it were alive.
"Oh, this is going to be fun," Lin Feng muttered as he cracked his knuckles and grabbed his Whisk of Cosmic Whirls.
The clock began ticking.
Lord Scoville immediately began stirring his chili, his ladle twirling with precision. The air around him seemed to grow hotter, and the scent of his dish was so intense that it made Lin Feng's eyes water. Yet, Lin Feng wasn't intimidated. He was Lin Feng, the Culinary King of the Realm! He could handle any heat.
Lin Feng cracked his fingers, and with a flourish, he tossed his Chili of the Demon's Breath into the pot, accompanied by an assortment of wild ingredients—fireberry seeds, demon salt, and a pinch of ghostly garlic. As he stirred, the entire dish began to glow with an ethereal light, swirling in shades of red, orange, and gold.
"You think you can out-spice me?" Lord Scoville's voice came from behind the cloud of smoke. "Watch and learn."
He opened a jar of Pepper of Eternal Fire, which seemed to hum with its own destructive energy. As he added the pepper to his pot, the temperature spiked so dramatically that even the Inferno Spice Summit began to tremble.
Lin Feng grinned. "Okay, now that's a challenge."
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The Tasting
The clock hit zero, and both dishes were presented to the panel of judges, who were now wearing flameproof aprons and holding Fire-Resistant Forks.
The first judge, an elderly man with a beard made entirely of pickled onions, took a bite of Lord Scoville's chili. His face turned bright red, and smoke began billowing from his ears.
"Too… much…" the judge choked out, his voice singed.
Lord Scoville smiled. "Perfection."
Next, the judges turned to Lin Feng's chili. With a dramatic flourish, Lin Feng took a bite of his own dish, grinning as he awaited the reactions. The first judge hesitated, took a small spoonful, and then... his eyes widened. He reached for a second spoonful, and then a third.
"This… this is incredible!" the judge gasped. "The flavors… they don't just burn—they dance."
Lin Feng smiled. "Told you, balance is key. Too much heat, and you can't taste anything. Too little, and it's just bland. But this chili has soul."
The rest of the judges followed suit, each taking more bites, their faces lighting up with joy as the flavors melded together in perfect harmony. They started glowing faintly as if they had reached a higher plane of existence.
Finally, the head judge stood up, looking both impressed and mildly singed. "Lin Feng, you have proven yourself once again. The Chili Con Carne you made has transcended the fiery realm and entered the realm of divine cuisine. You are the victor of this round."
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The Spice War Continues
Lord Scoville stood in silence, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed like he might summon a fiery wrath, but then he lowered his ladle and bowed. "You have won this battle, Lin Feng. But the war is far from over."
Lin Feng, his face smeared with chili, grinned. "Bring it on. I've got plenty more where that came from."
As the Inferno Spice Summit drew to a close, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The Spice Lords were formidable, but this was far from the end. The culinary world was vast, and Lin Feng was ready to conquer it all—one spicy dish at a time.
The next round of the war had just begun.