Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Bai Yuan rushed back to the cooking station, put down the dragon-wrapped pot in his hand, and began to process the various ingredients needed to make white fermented soybean paste.

　"You're not planning to make fermented soybean paste on the spot, are you? That takes at least a month to ferment. Making it in a competition is just too outrageous!"

　Seeing Bai Yuan's actions, Kobayashi Rindou couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Even though she considered herself to be receptive to things, she was still shocked by what she saw.

　Is this guy crazy?

　"You just witnessed the wonders of the legendary kitchen utensils, so why do you think that the only legendary kitchen utensil is the Eternal Spirit Knife?"

　The "Dragon-Turning Pot" can gather cosmic energy in an instant, allowing the maturation and fermentation process to proceed at an incredibly fast speed. Just wait and see!

　As Bai Yuan spoke, he threw the various ingredients into the Dragon Spinning Pot in order, and then stirred them with a wooden stick to make the ingredients come into close contact with the pot.

　The next moment, dazzling golden light burst forth from the pot!

　Looking closely inside the golden light, one could see all the ingredients used to make the white fermented soybean paste, unfolding before them like a scroll painting!

　Chapter Ninety-Five: Eight Flavors in One! The Magical Eight-Flavor White Mapo Tofu!

　"Another legendary kitchen utensil?!"

　Looking at the golden light before him, Kobayashi Rindou couldn't help but mutter to himself.

　Isn't this a bit too exaggerated? Are there really so many legendary kitchen utensils in the world? She thought there were only one or two such amazing things in the whole world at most! Unexpectedly...

　"However, using this against Kuga is somewhat like using a cannon to kill a mosquito, since the difference in strength between you two is already quite large."

　Looking at Kuga Terunori, who was cooking in a very conventional way next to him, Kobayashi Rindou couldn't help but facepalm, somewhat puzzled as to why Hakugen was doing this.

　With Bai Yuan's strength, he could easily defeat Kuga Terunori by simply making a top-tier dish.

　If we didn't start by making tofu, this farce could have ended in less than five minutes.

　Don't you understand?

　Bai Yuan scooped out the white fermented soybean paste from the Dragon-Turning Pot, stored it properly in a small jar, and looked up at Kobayashi Rindan, whose expression was subtle, not far away.

　"What don't you understand?"

　Kobayashi Rindou was slightly puzzled.

　"Giving your all is a sign of respect for your opponent, and even more so, a sign of respect for the dish you're making. If you can't even understand this, then you don't deserve to be a chef!"

　Although he didn't really go all out, that didn't stop him from educating Kobayashi Rindou, who had a huge problem with his philosophy.

　However, he was right about one thing.

　That is, he respects his opponents, and even more so, he respects the dish he is making! Once he starts, he thinks about how to make it the best it can be!

　"Respect your opponent, respect the dish in your hand..."

　Bai Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it made Kobayashi Rindou, who was usually lively, fall silent and begin to seriously consider the true meaning of those words.

　Seeing that she was lost in thought, Bai Yuan ignored her and turned his gaze back to the snow-white tofu that had slipped through the net in front of him.

　Traditional Mapo Tofu emphasizes the harmony of six flavors:

　"Numbing, spicy, fresh, fragrant, hot, and crispy."

　Beyond this, skilled artisans continued their research, taking it even further and creating Mapo Tofu that combines eight flavors in one:

　"Spicy, hot, fragrant, crispy, tender, fresh, and vibrant."

　What Bai Yuan is making this time is a magical white Mapo Tofu that combines eight flavors!

　Prepare the vegetables by chopping scallions, ginger, and garlic.

　Then start cooking!

　Meanwhile, on the other side of the same night, Kuga Teruki added cornstarch to his Mapo Tofu to thicken the sauce, preventing it from becoming watery and soggy.

　"I finished!"

　After serving the finished Mapo Tofu, Terunori Kuga looked at Shiroyuki and, seeing that he was still making it, took two steps forward to see how it was progressing.

　However, the moment he walked up to Kobayashi Rindou and looked into the pot, a look of shock appeared on his face.

　"what?!"

　"White...white Mapo Tofu! How is this possible?! But the aroma emanating from it is definitely authentic Mapo Tofu!"

　Despite having heard Hakugen say he was going to make white Mapo Tofu, Kuga Terunori couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when he actually saw it.

　The tofu in the pot was completely white from top to bottom, yet the air was filled with a rich, spicy aroma!

　It may seem unconventional, but it is actually traditional. This dish is undoubtedly the most authentic Mapo Tofu!

　"You've done just right. My Mapo Tofu is almost done too. I'll name it 'Magical Eight-Flavor White Mapo Tofu'!"

　As Bai Yuan spoke, he scooped out the slightly thickened, white Mapo Tofu from the pot and placed it on a plate in front of the two of them.

　"Come on, have a taste!"

　The dish landed, but instead of bursting into a bright golden light as the two had imagined, it contained its golden radiance, leaving only a faint golden sheen on its surface—a result of Bai Yuan's travels.

　The process transforms a dish from its ordinary state to one bursting with golden light, and then to a continuous shimmering effect on its surface.

　These are actually bursts of flavor. The moment the dish is finished, the flavors burst forth uncontrollably, creating this unusual phenomenon.

　Now, when he is in a slightly serious state, Bai Yuan can already control the golden light, so that only a faint, continuous shimmering light surrounds the surface of the dish.

　In this way, the flavor of the dish is locked inside, and it will only be fully released the moment it enters your mouth.

　Bai Yuan also used this move when he was taking the special assessment in Guangzhou and making the wine-flavored vegetarian steak, but he didn't think too much about it at the time.

　After a year of travel, he can now prepare any type of dish to a dazzling level, and his success rate is quite high for dishes like this one, which have a subtle golden sheen and lock in the aroma.

　This method of preparation has many advantages, one of which is that it allows the flavor to remain at its best for a longer period of time.

　Secondly, it allows the flavor to explode in the mouth, bringing a wonderful impact and giving diners a stronger sense of instant happiness!

　·

　·

　"This is... a weakened version of glowing cuisine? It's just a layer of flowing light wrapped around the surface. I've never heard of this kind of cuisine before..."

　However, the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers in the air was so strong that even though the entire Mapo Tofu was pure white, it felt incredibly vibrant!

　Because he had never seen shimmering cuisine before and had a limited knowledge of it, Kobayashi Rindou couldn't help but murmur aloud when he saw the dish in front of him.

　The dish before her, radiating a shimmering light, was beyond her comprehension.

　In fact, she had never even seen a luminous dish; she had only heard that luminous dishes would emit an amazing golden light when they were made.

　And now...

　Kobayashi Rindou fell into deep thought, just as she picked up her chopsticks to taste it...

　"This is a 'Radiant' level dish, which is above a 'Glowing' level dish. However, normally, even a 'Radiant' level dish should first undergo a glowing process..."

　Erina Nakiri's voice came from the doorway, her last words revealing a deep sense of bewilderment.

　She walked over from the corridor but didn't see any golden light. She really didn't expect that there would be luminous dishes in the classroom. And who were these two people in front of her? Were they students that Teacher Baiyuan had called over?

　No! She didn't quite recognize the man, but she recognized the girl among them, Erina Nakiri. It was Rindou Kobayashi, a second-year high school student who was skilled at cooking all sorts of rare ingredients. What was she doing here?!

　"It's Erina! And the two behind her, hello~"

　Upon seeing that the visitor was Erina Nakiri, Rindou Kobayashi greeted her warmly, acting as if they were old friends.

　"What exactly are you talking about, dishes that are above the luminous level?"

　"Dishes above the luminous level are simply dishes that taste better than luminous dishes; they usually have a magical quality that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary!"

　"A dish that surpasses the glowing level..."

　Upon hearing Erina Nakiri's description, Rindou Kobayashi swallowed hard.

　My eyes were fixed on the white Mapo Tofu in front of me, and my heart was beating a little faster. What would this dish taste like?

　At the same time, the students in the classroom turned their heads and saw that not only Erina Nakiri had arrived, but Megumi Tadokoro and Yuuki Yoshino were also following behind.

　It seems they met in the classroom and then came over together.

　"Teacher Bai Yuan, we've arrived."

　"Sorry, I think I've disturbed you..."

　When her eyes met Bai Yuan's, Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but smile sheepishly, clearly feeling that she had disturbed them.

　"No, that's not true. You've come at the perfect time. Come in and try this dish."

　Hearing Tadokoro Megumi apologize, Shiro waved his hand dismissively and then pulled them in as well.

　She joined the culinary judging panel.

　At this point, no one mentioned the competition anymore, because the gap between the two was too great, like a primary school student competing with a graduate student in arithmetic.

　Even if a graduate student studies humanities, they can still completely outclass elementary school students.

　This is a difference in quality.

　"Can we eat it too?"

　Bai Yuan's words made Yoshino Yuuki's eyes light up. She then took two steps forward and looked at the white Mapo Tofu in front of her with a puzzled expression.

　"What is this? It smells so numbing and spicy, yet it looks so clean and white. The contrast between the strong aroma and the appearance is so striking..."

　Looking at the dish in front of her, Yoshino Yuuki couldn't help but sigh.

　Despite its incredibly fair and delicate appearance, it exudes a unique and alluring charm. This striking contrast is sure to pique anyone's interest.

　"If I'm not mistaken, this should be a Sichuan dish, Mapo Tofu! But isn't Mapo Tofu usually red?"

　Erina Nakiri's voice rang out from the side. She stepped forward, looking somewhat puzzled, and quickly stood in front of the Mapo Tofu.

　If it weren't for the shimmering light emanating from the dish in front of her, she would probably have thought it was a prank. Who makes white Mapo Tofu?

　"Suddenly I realized that it's all white from beginning to end, from the cornstarch slurry at the bottom of the tofu to the pure white minced meat, without a single other color. It's so pure and has such a subtle feel!"

　After a careful examination, Yoshino Yuuki noticed that the dish in front of her was completely white, without a trace of any other color!

　"What a beautiful dish."

　Megumi Tadokoro murmured softly, as if marveling at how something so beautiful could be a dish.

　"It's absolutely beautiful, it's like a work of art!"

　Erina Nakiri agreed from the side, her eyes reflecting the shimmering light emanating from the food, revealing a deep and infatuated expression.

　The aroma of the dish wasn't very strong; you could only smell it when you got close. So, unlike in the classroom, it didn't cause the people present to make a fool of themselves.

　However, as time went by, the lingering aroma stirred their hearts, giving them the urge to devour every last bit of food in front of them.

　"I can't take it anymore!"

　In less than a minute, Kobayashi Rindou's patience reached its limit, and he picked up a spoon and chopsticks and dipped them into the plate.

　She wasn't greedy; she just swallowed hard, scooped up a spoonful of tofu, picked up a few pieces of minced meat, and shoved the whole dish into her mouth.

　"hiss..."

　The rich flavor exploded in my mouth!

　The spiciness of fermented soybean paste, the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, and the aroma of garlic and ginger intertwine to create a complex yet harmonious taste experience.

　Numbing, spicy, fresh, fragrant, tender, and hot.

　This was the first thing I noticed.

　Next up is deep-fried minced soybeans and meat! It has a crispy texture, and with just a slight press with chopsticks, it can fly away like a marble!

　"The faded garlic sprouts are standing upright on the plate!"

　As Kobayashi Rindou made his movements, the originally harmonious and unified white Mapo Tofu suddenly changed.

　The faded garlic sprouts sprinkled on the dish suddenly stood upright on the plate, as if they had just been picked and chopped from the field, looking incredibly lifelike!

　And this is the final ingredient in white Mapo Tofu.

　活！

　"It feels like the tofu is jumping around in my mouth!"

　Megumi Tadokoro's cheeks flushed, and she exhaled a deep, warm breath. As she took a spoonful of tofu, she felt something ramming and churning in her mouth.

　With a slight press of the palate, a burst of spicy, numbing, and savory flavors suddenly erupts from this small piece of tofu.