The role of the orbs of life was self-evident. They were filled with flowing cold air. No doubt they would be used to cool down the participants and save lives in times of emergency.
Many shrugged off such preparations. After all, none of the participants were weak. There were even counts and a marquis among them. These people were all Chaotic Saints who stood on the top of the universe. In fact, the weakest participants were peak God Emperors.
Existences at this level possessed a very vigorous life force. Their blood could even bring a dead star to life. That was why they did not think they would be burned to death by a spicy strip.
Countess Aitang was snickering. She did not have any good impression of Bu Fang because he stole her egg!
There were three marquises in Void City. Bu Fang knew Marquis Lang Gu and Marchioness Moti, but this was the first time he had met Marchioness Ruoshui. She was slightly weaker than the other two marquises, but she was at least a marquis-level expert.
Soon, Bu Fang finished distributing the spicy strips. He pulled up a chair, sat down, leaned back, and looked at the participants.
“See the spicy strips in front of you? I won’t say any more about the rules, so prepare yourselves mentally. The challenge now begins,” he said faintly. He did not make an impassioned speech but just said that lightly.
After saying that, he took out a cup of hot tea and gently blew the steam over it.
The moment Bu Fang made the announcement, the onlookers’ eyes widened in excitement. Viscount Ash came to Nethery’s side and watched the challenge with her and Xiao Ai.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, the bronze gates of a palace slammed shut. Duchess Tianlian sat quietly in front of the gates, looking like a lotus flower that was quietly blooming.
In the palace behind her, a terrifying aura was stirring. Soul had begun her breakthrough!
…
The Death Spicy Strips were black and red in color, and each was half a meter long.
Upon hearing Bu Fang announce the start of the challenge, the participants grabbed their spicy strips. They exchanged glances and saw the grave look in each other’s eyes. Then, they put the spicy strips in their mouths.
For the sake of Chaotic Energy, they had to put up with such a strange challenge. If they could pass the challenge, they would rise to the top!
Squinting, Countess Aitang reached out her hand, grabbed the top of the spicy strip with her fingers, and then brought her nose slightly closer to it. A spicy smell immediately hit her in the face. She felt a blazing heat fill her nasal cavity, so hot that it was as if it were going to incinerate everything. The sensation seemed a little scary.
Bu Fang sipped his tea leisurely, looking like an old man in his seventies or eighties. Of course, no one was paying attention to him.
Meanwhile, the projection array descended and aimed at the participants, focusing on Countess Aitang, Marchioness Ruoshui, and the few other big shots. With their status and position, they naturally became the main attraction of this challenge.
In the previous challenges, Master Zhen Yong had always been the focus. But today, he was reduced to a supporting role. This was understandable. After all, he was only a master alchemist, and he had no status at all in front of counts and marquis.
The little girl was swinging her legs as she squinted at the spicy strip in her hand.
“I’ll start first,” said Countess Aitang. The next moment, she stuffed the Death Spicy Strip into her mouth. She did not know what a spicy strip was, but she was not afraid. She had absolute confidence in her strength.
As she bit into it, the chili sauce stained her lips. Suddenly, her eyes went as wide as saucers. For a split second, she thought she was eating lava instead of food. The burning sensation made her tongue swell instantly, and two jets of hot air came spewing out of her nostrils. The chili sauce that poured into her mouth burned her throat.
‘What is this thing?! Why is it so nasty?!’
It was the first time in Countess Aitang’s life that she had suffered such an impact. At this moment, her mind was beginning to blur.
Meanwhile, all the participants around her let out cries of surprise as they bit into the spicy strips, and their whole bodies kept shaking.
Suddenly, the orbs of life above the heads of many participants exploded. A large amount of water poured down, drenched them from head to toe. Wisps of steam rose from their skin, which had turned red. They had not even swallowed the spicy strips yet, but their whole bodies had become extremely hot.
The exploding of the orbs of life meant that these people were eliminated. In that instant, dozens of orbs burst. The scene shocked the onlookers, many of whom gasped in disbelief. Such a scene was too… beautiful.
Bu Fang took a sip of tea. He did not look surprised at all, and that put him at odds with the exclamations of the crowd.
Xiao Ai was already stunned by the incredible sight. Viscount Ash, on the other hand, was narrowing her eyes and sucking in cold air. It seemed that today’s challenge was even more terrifying than yesterday’s. She was glad that she did not take part in today’s challenge. Otherwise, she would be sitting at the table suffering right now.
In the blink of an eye, seventy or eighty people were eliminated. The remaining dozen or so participants were still trying hard.
Countess Aitang, Marchioness Ruoshui, and a few other big shots also found it hard to endure, but such a degree of torture was still within the range they could bear. However, as they looked at the half-meter spicy strips, they were left with nothing but despair inside.
Master Zhen Yong was trying his best to eat. Probably already familiar with the situation, he was not as shocked as the others. Bu Fang said that there would only be one winner in today’s challenge, and he had to be the winner! He was not going to admit defeat!
He kept biting, chewing, and swallowing. He nibbled down the spicy strip. Even though he was choking, his whole face was red, and he felt as if he had turned into a ball of fire, he still did not give up.
As the remaining participants continued to eat their spicy strips, a dark figure emerged behind each of them. It was Death, who seemed ready to take their souls away. The dish could really kill!
Tears were streaming down Countess Aitang’s face. As a count, how could she easily throw in the towel in such a challenge?
The scene, however, shocked countless people.
“Even a count cried because of that spicy strip… Is this chef’s challenge really so scary?!”
The challenge was like a raging storm, and each participant was competing against each other, like a race on the track. A few moments later, more people were eliminated. The orbs of life above them burst, and they were out. There were only a few participants left at the table. There was even one count who could not stand it and gave up.
In the end, Countess Aitang, Marchioness Ruoshui, the little girl, and Master Zhen Yong, who was still hanging on, were all the participants left at the table. Countess Aitang did not want to admit defeat, and Marchioness Ruoshui was still there because of her formidable strength.
As for the little girl, Bu Fang could not figure her out. He was amazed by her performance. She was in better shape than any of the other counts or marquis, though she was trembling from the spiciness as well. It was amazing.
Bu Fang gave the little girl an extra glance. She smiled at him. She looked so relaxed that she did not seem to be taking up a challenge. The spicy strip in her hand was getting shorter and shorter.
Except for the little girl’s spicy strip, everyone else’s spicy strip was about the same length, and even if there was a difference, it was only a few centimeters. The onlookers clenched their fists and watched as the spicy strips in the participants’ hands were slowly getting shorter.
Master Zhen Yong had not given up yet. Although his lips had swollen to the point of resembling two giant sausages, and his eyes were red and swollen from crying, he did not give up. He had failed the previous two challenges because he gave up and relaxed too early. This time, he must complete the challenge!
Countess Aitang could not take it anymore. She pushed her chair violently and took several steps back, clutching her chest. The orb of life above her head exploded, and the cold Spring of Life poured over her, making her feel very comfortable.
Such a feeling was as if she had been exposed to the blazing sun for a long time at a temperature of forty degrees Celsius and then stepped into an icy cellar all of a sudden. The feeling of being reborn made her gasp for air.
Marchioness Ruoshui also gave up. Gracefully, she was wiping her tears. Although she still had the ability to continue, she did not feel it was necessary, for she did not know whether she would fail if she continued.
People had their limits—the Death Spicy Strip seemed to be testing the limits of every participant’s life. As a marquis, she would not easily challenge the limits of her life.
Just like Countess Aitang, she was drenched by the cold Spring of Life. She exhaled deeply with an intoxicated look in her eyes. One of the happiest things in life was feeling the cold in a hot situation.
The marquis and counts’ admission of defeat caused many people to gasp.
Now, the little girl and Master Zhen Yong, who was still numbly munching on his spicy strip, were the only ones left at the table. When it came to form, the little girl was so much better than the alchemist. No one knew who the little girl was or why she had been able to hold on for so long.
The little girl glanced at Master Zhen Yong, and a faint smile brushed her lips. The next moment, she suddenly sped up. In just the blink of an eye, the whole spicy strip was in her mouth, went into her throat, and fell into her stomach.
The sight gave everyone the creeps. From the reactions of those eliminated participants, it seemed that just a hint of the spicy taste of this Death Spicy Strip was able to make people choke to death. But this little girl ate the rest of her spicy strip in one gulp.
Even Bu Fang was stunned.
Master Zhen Yong had already lost consciousness. He just kept eating the spicy strip mechanically.
Finally, after the little girl finished her spicy strip, Bu Fang declared the challenge over. It was clear who was the winner.
Poor Master Zhen Yong had failed once again. He clenched his fists bitterly. The Spring of Life poured over his head and drenched him like everyone else. But he did not feel anything. His eyes were filled with bitter tears.
The little girl shrugged, while Countess Aitang and Marchioness Ruoshui wiped their lips in the distance.
“Well… That’s the end of today’s challenge. Given the unique circumstances, there will be two winners this time.”
Bu Fang sighed and looked at Master Zhen Yong. In fact, if nothing unexpected happened, the winner of this challenge would have been this alchemist. Unfortunately, he had met this amazing little girl, who even Bu Fang could not figure out.
Master Zhen Yong’s fate could be said to be very sad. No one expected that he would meet someone who could finish the Death Spicy Strip in one gulp. Bu Fang really could not bear to see his pitiful appearance. His desperation, as if ready to commit suicide, made Bu Fang decide to count him as a winner.
As for the little girl, Bu Fang could only consider her as an accident. If she was excluded from the challenge, then Master Zhen Yong was actually the real winner.
Bu Fang’s words left everyone dumbfounded. After a long silence, a deafening uproar broke out in the pill-making workshop.
“Master!”
“Master Zhen Yong! You’ve done it!”
“You did it! You made it! We alchemists are proud of you!”
Master Zhen Yong himself was in a bit of a trance. He had come to the point of despairing. He had taken up three challenges, and each time he had come so close to success. But he failed every one of them. The blow of successive defeats on his mind was great. He could not believe that Bu Fang had actually acknowledged his success in this challenge. The belated joy hit him fiercely.
“Come with me.” Bu Fang gave the little girl a deep look, then glanced at Master Zhen Yong.
The two winners stepped into the restaurant, while the others had to wait outside, including Countess Aitang and Marchioness Ruoshui. They did not like it, but they had no choice, for they had failed in the challenge.
Bu Fang cooked a bowl of Dragon Whisker Noodles for each of the winners, which could provide a wisp of Chaotic Energy.
Master Zhen Yong trembled as he ate the noodles. As he swallowed the first mouthful of noodles, he felt as if his whole body was enveloped in softness. On the other side, the little girl had already finished eating her noodles. She put the porcelain bowl down with a thump and wiped her mouth.
“I want one more!”
She stared at Bu Fang with bright eyes. Compared with the Death Spicy Strip, the deliciousness of the Dragon Whisker Noodles deeply attracted her.
Bu Fang glanced at her and ignored her request. This made the little girl very angry.
Meanwhile, after eating the noodles, Master Zhen Yong’s aura began to fluctuate violently. At this moment, the whole Void City seemed to start shaking.
At the same time, above the Cursed Goddess Palace at the other end of District A, something unusual sprung up!
