Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

At first, things were fine, after all, Ling Chi was from another world and would leave sooner or later. But as some weak gods who relied entirely on the incense offerings of the people lost their divine power and suddenly perished, all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens became extremely worried, and their dissatisfaction with Ling Chi gradually turned into hostility.

One hundred days later, the Jade Emperor discovered that the resentment in the Three Realms was growing stronger, and he had no choice but to have a talk with Lingchi.

"Master Chef, even I can't protect you anymore."

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor's helpless words, Ling Chi knew it was time for him to leave.

After several days of preparation and a ruthless plunder of the Three Realms, Ling Chi vanished from this world. Although the gods and immortals of the Three Realms found their incense offerings slowly recovering, the sheer scale of Ling Chi's plunder caused many powerful beings to weep bitterly.

Chef! I'm so impressed!

(The White Snake Scroll, The End)

The Ninth Journey to the West

Chapter One: The Consecration of the Physical Body into a God

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the various schools of thought complemented each other, laying the foundation for the main ideology of Chinese civilization. Among them, a chef named Lingchi created the unconventional art of cooking, laying the foundation for the future diet of China.

Ling Chi, with his culinary skills that had spread throughout the world for decades, was personally decreed by the Jade Emperor of Heaven to be deified in his physical form, becoming the Heavenly Court's royal chef, responsible for the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother's three meals a day.

……

Heavenly Court, Imperial Kitchen.

Ling Chi split the cow bone in two with a single stroke, and sighed, "I never thought that even in a different world, I'd still be stuck with the same job. This is so tough for me."

Huang Rong and the others giggled, looking rather smug.

Ling Chi has been in this world for over a hundred years, during the Spring and Autumn Period when the Hundred Schools of Thought were contending. Confucius hadn't been born yet, but Lao Tzu had. Ling Chi had also tried to meet this great sage who was famous throughout the ages. The result was that even Ling Chi's top-tier golden recipes couldn't win over Lao Tzu's stomach. From that moment on, Ling Chi knew that this world was not the China of history.

Later, Laozi rode his green ox backwards westward out of Hangu Pass, causing purple clouds to rise 30,000 li eastward, almost scaring Lingchi to death.

A sage!

This must be a saint, no doubt about it.

Later, Ling Chi spread his culinary skills throughout the world, improving the dietary habits of the human race. While spreading his culinary skills, he also disseminated a relatively advanced philosophy of health preservation, which led to him being hailed as a great sage by the people. Even Confucius visited him, but Ling Chi served him a top-tier golden recipe, yet still failed to win him over.

Ling Chi was so scared he wet himself again.

What's wrong with this world? It's terrifying.

It wasn't until later, with a deafening roar that shook the heavens and the earth, and two golden beams shooting into the Dou Mansion, which alarmed the entire world, that Ling Chi finally realized that this world was indeed Journey to the West.

Ling Chi originally wanted to go to Flower Fruit Mountain to see the newborn Monkey King, but before he could do so, he was summoned to heaven by Taibai Jinxing, who had descended from the mortal realm: "The Jade Emperor has appointed you as the God of Cookery in Heaven, granting you physical godhood. Are you willing?"

Why wouldn't he be willing? He's very skilled at this job!

So Ling Chi went to heaven to become the God of Cookery in both worlds. The difference was that because he spread his culinary skills in one world, he earned a lot of merit. It was because of this heavenly merit that he alarmed the Jade Emperor, who then bestowed upon him a celestial official position.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Court in this world is not much different from that in the world of the White Snake. Everything that exists in the White Snake's world, this world also has. In fact, the spiritual energy in this world is even more abundant than in the White Snake's world. Furthermore, the gods in the two worlds do not look the same. The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother of this world, as well as the other celestial beings, are different from those in the previous world. In comparison, the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of this world, and the other celestial beings are superior in appearance and physique.

If the gods of the previous world were the deluxe version, then the gods of this world are the top-of-the-line version.

In the previous world, Ling Chi's appearance was already rather unremarkable, but in this world, he became truly 'plain-looking'. It's unclear whether it was because of his appearance that he was quite popular with women in the Heavenly Court of the previous world, but almost none in this world.

Of course, Huang Rong and the others were only of above-average appearance among the celestial maidens, which made Ling Chi feel much more at ease.

Ling Chi didn't think much of it, but Huang Rong and the others couldn't stand it. They were all exceptionally beautiful women, top-tier beauties in any world, yet in this world they were only considered above average? How could they tolerate that?

So they started eating all sorts of beauty-enhancing recipes again, quickly bringing their appearances to the top tier in Heaven. Ling Chi was helpless and could only follow suit, eating the beauty-enhancing dishes to reach the top tier as well.

The changes he and Huang Rong underwent quickly caused a sensation in the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West couldn't help but call them over to ask what was going on.

Ling Chi could only tell them the recipes for beauty and health-preserving dishes he knew, so the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West gave them a severe scolding: "You have such good food but you don't give it to us, and you eat it yourselves. It's simply outrageous!"

Soon after, the Jade Emperor became incredibly handsome, and the Queen Mother of the West became unparalleled in beauty.

Because he enhanced the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother's appearance, Ling Chi made a great contribution and received a very generous reward. Various kinds of immortal wines, fruits, herbs, and spirit stones were loaded onto a large cart, making Ling Chi extremely happy.

"Thank you for your generous gifts, Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

Later, Ling Chi became a favorite in the Heavenly Court. Almost all the gods came to Ling Chi to ask for dishes that would enhance their appearance. Of course, these weren't free; many spirit stones, spirit herbs, spirit pills, spirit treasures, and even spirit pets became rewards. In just one year in the Heavenly Court, Ling Chi amassed an incredibly wealthy fortune.

Ling Chi felt that even if he just lay there doing nothing, these things could last for tens of thousands of years.

Fortunately, Ling Chi is not a lazy person. Even if he is very wealthy, he still cooks for the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother! He has a clear understanding of himself, and at least before venturing into the diamond color, he will not cause trouble.

To be honest, Ling Chi has been stuck at the top gold level for many years. There's nothing he can do about it, since Shuang'er's cooking skills haven't caught up yet! Because of Shuang'er's unique importance in his heart, even if it suppresses his and Huang Rong's progress, he has to stop and wait.

Fortunately, Shuang'er is quite ambitious. Not long ago, Shuang'er finally broke through to the Golden Ordinary Wisdom Valley and then to the Golden Advanced. Although she has only just entered the Golden Advanced, it is enough to make her cooking skills on par with Huang Rong and the others.

This is the first time since Huang Rong was recruited that Shuang'er has caught up with them. Although if Ling Chi were to make a breakthrough, Shuang'er would immediately fall behind, at least she has caught up now, hasn't she?

Now, Ling Chi only hopes that Shuang'er can learn all the gold-level advanced recipes that have been revealed as soon as possible, so that she can move on to the diamond level.

To hasten this day, Ling Chi personally guided Shuang'er's culinary skills almost every night in the Culinary God Space. Although the Culinary God Space provided Shuang'er with holographic images for reference, it couldn't offer her the insights and experiences it provided. With Ling Chi's guidance based on his own experience, Shuang'er improved much faster, which made everyone very gratified and happy.

After being stuck in my cooking skills for so many years, I finally have hope of making progress again.

However, after so many years in this world, Ling Chi still only has eight assistant cooks. He doesn't know if he has run out of luck. In the hundred years of the Spring and Autumn Period, he didn't discover a single culinary genius. None of the male or female immortals in the Heavenly Court have outstanding culinary talent.

However, Ling Chi was not in a hurry. Eight kitchen helpers were enough. Adding eight more would be a waste. He would just let things take their course.

That day, Ling Chi had just finished preparing breakfast for the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother and was about to rest when a female immortal entered the imperial kitchen and said, "Master Chef, His Majesty summons you."

"Oh?" Ling Chi handed her a meat bun and asked, "What does His Majesty want with me?"

The female immortal calmly put away the meat buns and said, "Erlang Zhenjun's birthday is coming soon, so I specially asked His Majesty to borrow the God of Cookery to prepare a birthday banquet for Erlang Zhenjun at Guanjiang Estuary."

"I see." Ling Chi nodded with a smile, "Thank you."

"You're too kind, Master Chef." The female immortal blushed slightly. Ling Chi's appearance had now reached the top tier in the Heavenly Court, and coupled with his incredibly friendly smile, it naturally made her heart flutter.

If it weren't for Huang Rong and the others watching him intently, Ling Chi really wanted to talk to this female immortal about poetry and literature. In addition, he had important matters to attend to with the Jade Emperor, so he had to give up this opportunity.

……

Soon, Ling Chi arrived at the place where the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother were dining. Unlike before, there was a handsome young man with three eyes and wearing golden armor. This was obviously Erlang Shen, also known as Erlang Shen, who is widely known in folklore.

"Ling Chi greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty." After a pause, Ling Chi bowed to Erlang Shen again: "Greetings, Erlang Zhenjun."

Erlang Shen nodded with a smile: "The God of Cooking is indeed handsome and extraordinary. I've heard that these are all beauty-enhancing dishes. I wonder if it's true?"

“That is indeed true.” Ling Chi nodded and said, “I’m not afraid of making a fool of myself, Your Majesty. I used to be of average appearance and inconspicuous in the Heavenly Court. But since I ate the beauty food, my appearance has become more and more exquisite, which is why I look like this today. Moreover, His Majesty and the Empress’s changes are right before our eyes, Your Majesty must be able to see it clearly.”

"The God of Cookery is right." The Jade Emperor chuckled as he rubbed his breath. "Ever since I ate that beauty dish, my plain appearance has become quite handsome, and your aunt is even more beautiful than the rest of the world. Even Chang'e pales in comparison."

Erlang Shen nodded: "Uncle is right. I wonder if the God of Cookery could also prepare some beauty dishes for me?"

Ling Chi laughed and said, "With True Lord's appearance, even without eating him, he is still a top-tier handsome man in the Three Realms. Eating him would only be icing on the cake."

The sedan chair was carried by people, and Erlang Shen, of course, liked to hear flattery. This flattery made him feel quite comfortable, and he chuckled: "Even so, who would complain about being good-looking?" He paused, "Moreover, I want to ask for some beauty-enhancing dishes for my third sister. If my third sister can become more beautiful, I, as her elder brother, will be happy too."

"So the True Lord is asking for a beauty dish for the Third Holy Mother." Ling Chi suddenly realized and said, "That's not a problem, but the ingredients for the beauty dish are rare, so the True Lord will have to provide them himself."

"That's only right." Erlang Shen nodded, then mentioned that his birthday was approaching and he hoped the God of Cookery could prepare the dishes for his birthday banquet.

"As long as Your Majesty and Her Majesty grant permission, I have no problem with it." Ling Chi handed over the authority to grant permission to the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, which pleased the couple greatly.

This culinary master certainly knows how to handle people.

"Since it is Erlang's birthday, we cannot be careless," the Jade Emperor said. "God of Cookery, you will accompany Erlang to Guanjiang Estuary and return after the birthday banquet."

"According to the order."

Since the Jade Emperor had spoken, the Queen Mother naturally had no objections. Besides, even if Ling Chi left, there were still Huang Rong and the other kitchen helpers! Although they were a little worse than Ling Chi, they were still top-notch chefs that could not be found in the Three Realms. With them around, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother's appetites would not be diminished much.

Besides, a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth. Even if Ling Chi went to Guanjiang Estuary, he would only be back in three to five days at most. At that time, less than half an hour would have passed in heaven, not even enough time to miss lunch.

And so, Ling Chi tidied himself up a bit and then went to Guanjiang Estuary with his helper Liu An and Erlang Shen.

Guanjiang Estuary belongs to Nanzhanbuzhou, the place where the Chinese civilization took root and flourished. Since the conferment of titles upon the gods, Erlang Shen has lived here, and some people have built Erlang Temples here. Erlang Shen, who receives incense offerings from the people, will also bless the local people with good weather and a happy life. However, Erlang Shen basically leaves these matters to the minor deities; ordinary people are not worthy of Erlang Shen's divine intervention.

When Ling Chi arrived at Guanjiang Estuary, there were still three days until Erlang Shen's birthday, plenty of time. However, the Third Holy Mother was still at Mount Hua and had not arrived ahead of time.

Afterwards, Erlang Shen prepared the ingredients that Ling Chi needed, and Ling Chi began to prepare for his birthday banquet. Erlang Shen also sent his men to Mount Hua to invite the Third Holy Mother to celebrate his birthday.

Although the two siblings were the Jade Emperor's nephew and niece, their mother had violated the Heavenly Rules by going to the mortal realm to marry a mortal and have children. As the Jade Emperor's sister, she could have acted leniently, but at that time, the Investiture of the Gods had not yet been signed, and the Jade Emperor was basically a figurehead in Heaven. If he had acted this way in the early days of his makeshift regime, he would have lost his position as Jade Emperor.

Left with no other choice, the Jade Emperor had to punish his sister and brother-in-law's family, and the rest of the story is well-known. Erlang Shen's mother was imprisoned under Peach Mountain, and his father and elder brother were killed by heavenly soldiers. Only Erlang Shen and the Third Holy Mother managed to escape.

Later, Erlang Shen became a disciple of Yu Ding Zhenren, and the Third Holy Mother was temporarily protected by Nuwa. After Erlang Shen mastered his skills, he split the mountain to rescue his mother, and the family of three was reunited.

The Jade Emperor then lifted the punishment on his sister, and bestowed upon Erlang Shen the title of Erlang Manifesting Saint True Lord, and upon the Third Holy Mother the title of Huayue Third Lady. It could be said that their suffering had finally come to an end.

As for the later story of the Lotus Lantern... that's irrelevant to this world. After all, the Third Holy Mother is still the goddess of Mount Hua, living alone and not knowing Chenxiang's father. Whether they'll meet again in the future? That's hard to say.

……

The next day, the Holy Mother of the Three Kingdoms arrived at the mouth of the Guanjiang River and met Erlang Shen, who was drinking and making merry.

"Second Brother, you're drinking again." Seeing this, the Third Holy Mother walked over unhappily, snatched the wine bowl from his hand, and rolled her eyes: "How many times have I told you, drinking leads to trouble. What if an emergency suddenly occurs?"

Faced with his sister's scolding, Erlang Shen said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I won't drink anymore." He then ordered someone to clean up the table and said, "Third sister, your second brother has prepared a gift for you this time. I'm sure you'll like it."

"Oh?" The Third Holy Mother blinked and smiled, "It's clearly your birthday, Second Brother, but you're preparing a gift for your little sister. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about that?" Erlang Shen laughed. "Come, let me introduce you to someone first."

Chapter Two: The Great Demon Kong Xuan

At the mouth of the Guanjiang River, Ling Chi used his divine power of "Heaven and Earth Transformation" to transform himself into a 50-meter-tall giant. Then, he used a huge wooden stick to roast a 30-zhang-long, 10-ton wild ox, using fire magic to roast the whole ox like a roasted chicken.

Yang Jian has 1,200 grass-headed gods under his command, as well as the Howling Celestial Dog and the Meishan brothers, these 'beasts'. The amount of ingredients needed for this birthday banquet is astronomical. There is no other way but Ling Chi can reduce the number of dishes on the menu and increase the variety of dishes.

This wild buffalo had lived for over four hundred years and was enormous. It was on the verge of becoming a spirit, but Erlang Shen and his celestial hound shot it to death with an arrow, turning it into the roasted whole buffalo we know today.

Besides the whole roasted cow, Yang Jian also caught a giant sea monster from the sea and shot down many huge birds from the sky. In short, he hunted whatever was big enough to satisfy the appetite of this birthday banquet.

In addition, Yang Jian also found many rare and precious ingredients according to the menu given by Ling Chi, and Ling Chi made beauty dishes so that his third sister could become more beautiful.

Just as Ling Chi was roasting a whole cow, Yang Jian arrived with the Third Holy Mother, Yang Chan.

"Brother Ling, you're busy!"

Hearing Yang Jian call his name, Ling Chi turned his head and saw that Yang Jian had brought a girl with him. He smiled slightly and said, "True Lord's birthday is coming soon, so I dare not slack off. May I ask who this young lady is next to you?"

"Hahaha, this is my younger sister, Yang Chan, the Third Holy Mother of Mount Hua," Yang Jian laughed.

"So it is the Third Holy Mother in person. I am currently grilling meat and cannot perform the proper greetings. I hope the Third Holy Mother will forgive me," Ling Chi said.