The Western Isles chef was baking a giant spirit cake, multi-layered with cream from a unicorn's milk. It looked like a sculpture, swirling with rainbow qi. Spectators applauded the artistry.
Li Fan, in contrast, appeared almost homely in his approach. He was making fried rice. Yes, fried rice - but not just any. He called it internally the "Heavenly Homestead Fried Rice". Using the moonlit spiritual rice, diced bits of the Cloud-Iron pork belly, finely chopped wild herbs, and egg from a Golden Crow (a treat he swapped two bottles of Hellfire sauce for). This egg gave off a golden sheen.
He stir-fried everything in a large wok, the Vermilion feather held with cloth as he swirled it through the air, trailing embers to perfectly sear each grain with phoenix warmth. Each toss of the wok made the rice flash with multicolored sparks - a combination of the moonlight grains and a pinch of crushed spirit crystals he added (a risky move, but ground to powder they provided a pleasant popping candy sensation and visual dazzle).
People watched him too, drawn by the relatable aroma of comfort food elevated to spectacle. "Is he really making fried rice?" some murmured, but the smell made many stomachs rumble regardless of the dish's humble nature.
Finally, time was up. One by one, the dishes were presented to the Emperor and judges. The Pill elder's Jade Soup made the Emperor sigh contentedly as a warm wave of energy visibly flowed through him. "Impressive vitality boost," noted the critic, though another judge remarked it was more like medicine than cuisine, lacking a bit in flavor harmony.
The Western Isles cake was gorgeous; the King from neighboring land devoured it with praise, though it was perhaps too sweet for some cultivators' taste. Chef Zhu's dragon stir-fry had dramatic flair: when he lifted the lid, a dragon-shaped flame spiraled up (almost startling a guard). The taste made the critic cry tears of joy, fanning his mouth at the spice. "Exquisite wok hei!" he exclaimed.
Then it was Li Fan's turn. He presented a large porcelain bowl of his Heavenly Homestead Fried Rice. It glowed softly, as if stars were mixed in, and an irresistible savory scent wafted forth. Simplicity after such extravagance could either be a bold contrast or fall flat. The Emperor raised an eyebrow but politely took his spoon (yes, it was a spoon dish not just finger food!). The judges followed.
The first bite for each was small, curious. Chewing... eyes widening. Then a frenzy of spoonfuls. "By the heavens!" the Emperor declared with rare informality, "This is divine!" The critic was at a loss for words, scribbling then scratching out notes, finally just clapping. Chef Zhu stiffened, quickly taking a spoonful himself out of professional curiosity, and his proud expression melted into one of grudging admiration and annoyance that it was indeed that good.
The taste was comfort and wonder combined: hearty familiar flavor of home cooking, but each grain popped with a tiny burst of spiritual energy and faint sweetness of moonlight. The pork belly was caramelized to perfection, herbs giving fresh contrast, and the phoenix feather's essence imparting a lingering warmth that made one feel cozy and invigorated at once.
"I feel... I feel like I'm sitting by a warm hearth under a starry sky, completely at peace," one judge said dreamily. Another judge, who had been quiet, simply bowed to Li Fan. "This humble fried rice outshines dishes of ten thousand gold. Incredible."
Li Fan released a breath he didn't realize he held. He glanced up as the Emperor stood and proclaimed, "Winner of the Grand Banquet contest: Li Fan of Azure Sky Sect!" Cheers erupted from a good portion of the hall (especially Azure Sky table, where Pang Wei was dancing and Elder Kang thumped the table happily). Li Fan saw Lan Yin at the periphery, veil off, applauding with pride in her eyes.
He had done it. From a nobody outer disciple to champion chef of a grand tournament in just a couple of months. He felt lightheaded. Or maybe the air was literally getting lighter... The lights in the hall flickered.
A rumble was heard from above. People quieted, looking around. Another rumble, and a crack of thunder. "A storm? Indoors?" someone yelped as a flash of lightning lit up the hall. Azure Sky Sect members looked around nervously—this felt oddly like the aura of tribulation lightning when someone forms a golden core or ascends. But no one was breaking through here... except perhaps the heavenly taste buds of some judges?
Li Fan gulped, stepping back from his serving table. The air above his fried rice shimmered. Hongyan squawked and fluttered her wings uneasily. Suddenly—
CRACK-BOOOM!
A bolt of golden lightning struck directly into Li Fan's bowl, shattering it and sending glowing rice grains scattering like stars across the floor. Everyone jumped, one judge literally fell backward off his chair. Where the bowl had been, a glowing fissure in reality hung in the air, crackling with energy.
From that tear dropped a single scroll, sealed with a strange emblem of a chef's knife crossed with a thunderbolt. It landed right in the remains of the rice. The hall was silent, stunned.
Li Fan, heart pounding, gingerly picked up the scroll. The seal broke and it unfurled by itself, a commanding voice echoing from it: "Hear ye, Li Fan of the Mortal Realm. By decree of the Jade Emperor's Culinary Court, your dish has transcended mortal standards and disturbed the Heavenly Appetite. You are hereby invited— nay, summoned— to the Celestial Feast in Heaven as a guest chef. Declining is not an option. Preparations are underway."
Gasps filled the room. Li Fan's jaw dropped further with each sentence from the booming otherworldly voice. Heavenly Appetite? Celestial Feast? Summoned to Heaven?!
"I just wanted free meals..." Li Fan croaked weakly, feeling faint. Pang Wei looked ready to either faint or burst with pride that his buddy literally got an invite from Heaven. Sect Master Yao's eyes were wide as saucers; Elder Kang murmured, "I knew that boy was something, but this..."
Before anyone could react further, a figure stepped forward from the shadows near the crackling portal. It was Lan Yin, but now she cast off her blue outer robe to reveal flowing silvery-white garments that seemed woven from moonbeams. A faint aura of divine energy surrounded her. She removed her veil completely, showing ethereal features that now everyone could see.
"Honored Emperor, dear friends of the mortal realm," she spoke with a gentle, echoing authority, "Forgive the disruption. I am in truth Yuechan, a handmaiden of the Celestial Court." She gave a respectful bow toward the imperial throne (the Emperor was too shocked to do more than nod absently). "I was sent to observe if a mortal could indeed stir the heavens with cuisine. And as you witnessed, Li Fan has succeeded."
Lan Yin— or rather Yuechan—turned to the dumbfounded Li Fan, her eyes twinkling with both apology and excitement. "I've been watching over you, Li Fan, and now it's my duty to escort you above." She winked just subtly so only he noticed. "Told you you'd find out who I am soon."
Li Fan opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. "You... you're an immortal envoy? And you set me up for this?!" It came out more bewildered than accusatory.
She gave an impish grin, very mortal for a supposed celestial. "I merely scouted and perhaps nudged things along. The talent was all yours. And hey, a free trip to Heaven with unlimited gourmet food isn't a bad deal, right?"
"Free... meals? In Heaven?" Li Fan's eyes glazed as he imagined celestial kitchens and divine ingredients. For a moment, fear and shock were supplanted by awe and an involuntary drop of drool.
By now, the hall was in an uproar of whispers. An actual summons from Heaven was beyond anyone's expectations. The Emperor, regaining composure, stepped down and addressed Yuechan respectfully, "This mortal has our leave to go, if it is the Jade Emperor's will." He then turned to Li Fan, perhaps worried a bit for his subject, "Young man, do our realm proud up there." Li Fan nodded numbly.
Sect Master Yao approached, still stunned but smiling encouragingly. "Li Fan, this is unprecedented. Go, see the wonders above. Just promise you'll come back and cook for us lowly folks again." Her attempt at humor lightened the mood; a few chuckles sounded.
Hongyan chirped loudly as if objecting to being left behind. Yuechan gave the phoenix chick a polite nod, "Little one, worry not. Your friend will return once his task is done." Hongyan seemed mollified but hopped onto Li Fan's shoulder protectively.
Yuechan extended her hand to Li Fan. "Shall we? The celestial portal won't hold forever." Indeed, the rift crackled impatiently.
"I'm... I'm really going to Heaven right now?" Li Fan stammered, still trying to wrap his head around it.
She leaned in and whispered playfully, "Don't worry, I'll show you the heavenly cafeteria. Think of all the free meals." That did the trick. Li Fan straightened up, swallowed his nerves, and managed a grin.
"Alright then." He cleared his throat and raised his voice to the crowd, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Uh, thank you everyone for enjoying my food. I guess duty calls... in the skies. I'll be back— save some dessert for me!" Laughter and a few tears from Pang Wei who was sobbing that he'd miss his cooking, came in response.
And with that, Li Fan took Yuechan's hand. Hongyan gave a farewell trill and flapped off his shoulder, deciding perhaps to stay (a mortal bird, even a sacred one, might not be allowed in Heaven's realm). She landed next to Sect Master Yao, who gently patted her "On three, step through," Yuechan said, holding Li Fan firmly, he realized this was the first time they'd truly held hands, and despite everything, he blushed a bit. "One... two..." On three, they leaped into the glowing fissure.
There was a flash of light so bright everyone shielded their eyes. When it faded, the portal was gone, and so were Li Fan and the celestial envoy. Only the shattered bowl and a few twinkling grains of Heavenly Fried Rice remained on the floor as evidence that it wasn't a collective dream.
A beat of silence, and then the banquet hall exploded in chatter. Some proclaimed it the most auspicious tournament ever. Others already speculated on writing epic poems about "The Chef Who Ascended." Pang Wei blew his nose loudly into a napkin, wailing happily. Elder Kang was boasting to anyone who'd listen that he knew Li Fan had promise from day one. Chef Zhu, now completely outshone, shrugged and muttered, "Damn, I need to go back to the kitchen and up my game..." The Emperor declared the feast concluded with a most satisfying finale to which everyone heartily agreed.