Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 526 - 525: The Intense Semi-finals (Part 2)

Chapter 526: Chapter 525: The Intense Semi-finals (Part 2)

Five pairs of chopsticks fell one after another.

As they bit into the seared, fantastical meat, radiance flushed the faces of the judges, as if they were revived from the brink of death, transforming from expressionless to animated within seconds.

"Crack!"

Their ears echoed with the sound of something shattering.

Somewhere, an invisible shackle broke, a white flood surged toward a dam, and in an instant, a deluge overflowed.

This experience was entirely different from the spiritual enjoyment of Dojima Yin’s dishes.

The ’River Puffer Whale meat,’ seared to perfection, swept through their taste buds and the nerves of their mouths, overwhelming the mind and causing the judges’ bodies to freeze, as if their characters had disconnected in a game. It took several minutes for them to recover from their dazed, robotic states.

"Whew—"

They breathed out, even the exhalation tinged with a rich seafood flavor.

Afterward, the judges lapsed into silence, no one speaking.

A long moment passed.

It was the French Chief Judge who finally stood up, bowed to both Leon and Dojima Yin, and said reverently, "Both of you have traveled higher and further on the path of culinary arts than I, so my comments may be presumptuous. Please forgive me."

"You’re the judge, don’t hold back, say whatever you like," Dojima Yin replied with a refreshing smile on his face.

"Speak!"

Leon was terse, his two words conveying a direct command.

"Then let me start with Chef Dojima’s dish," the Chief Judge began. "Your ’Japanese Oyster Sauce-flavored Daikon’ primarily uses Japanese miso and sake to create its flavor, and the way you handled the ’Lily Oyster,’ a Fantasy Ingredient, can only be described as perfect."

He paused here, bowing again before continuing, "This dish is a meticulous work that has been refined over time, likely representing the pinnacle of what a royal road chef at the special chef level can achieve."

"That feeling as if it’s familiar, reminiscent—like a vague hint of an initial taste..."

As the Chief Judge spoke, a gentle smile surfaced on his face.

"In reality, however, it’s an illusion, a trick of the senses that Mr. Dojima you’ve created with your dish. No matter who sits here and tastes your dish, they would all have a similar experience, an immediate enchantment..."

"This, I believe, is the highest realm of using a Chef’s Heart in cooking. Going beyond this is the domain of the Qilin!" he said.

The other four judges nodded in unison.

"Exactly!"

Melissa’s face held an expression of sanctity.

"Chef Dojima, your dish must have fused at least two Chef’s Hearts, but I can’t figure out what they are..." she spread her hands, looking puzzled. "Despite being French, I found a taste of home, of simplicity and purity, in a dish of Japanese cuisine—isn’t that strange?"

"Nois, the North American Cowboy Judge, interjected at this point, "Ah, I tasted the flavors of North America. Truly bizarre."

As the five judges conversed, the audience exchanged bewildered looks.

Xia Yu gasped backstage in the resting lounge.

Saito Chiyokuro’s brows twitched as he laughed softly, "I think I’m beginning to understand Dojima’s technique."

"One is the Chef’s Heart of ’Travel,’ the other is likely ’Pure White.’"

Upon saying this, Saito Chiyokuro glanced at Xia Yu and Tiqie Eriina, then suddenly asked, "What color would you paint on a blank piece of paper?"

The question was as sudden as it was strange.

Eriina frowned and bit her lip.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yu’s eyes brightened.

"Tasting, what do we deeply desire in our hearts? Can we find that sought-after flavor in President Dojima’s cuisine?" he mused, drawing a breath of cold air, murmuring to himself, "The Chef’s Heart Mark of ’Travel’ is the philosopher’s stone that fulfills the taster’s wishes, while ’Pure White’ is just the spell that casts it..."

"So this is another way to use the fusion of Chef’s Heart," he was deeply moved.

At the very least, Xia Yu could confirm Dojima Yin owned the ’Heart of Travel.’

Thinking back on how he casually imprinted his own unique ’Peacock’s Dance’ Killing Recipe, Xia Yu felt abashed.

Compared to Dojima Yin’s artistic conception, his work was like childish scribble. If not for the Five Elements Mark fortuitously corresponding to the five elements of the ingredients, he might have caused a farce.

He clenched his fists tightly.

"The Heart of Travel combined with the Heart of Pure White... The President already stands on invincible ground!"

The best ingredients.

Even the most exquisite flavors.

They likely pale in comparison to that softness in the depths of one’s heart, the tenderness yearned for and cherished in dreams.

This soft feeling could come from a family member, from unforgettable friendships, or from the love of someone who has personally cooked for them... too many factors can enthrall someone. Forget judging; the story of every ordinary person’s life could fill a book thicker than a dictionary, our minds teeming with too much regret and longing.

Yet, Dojima Yin’s cuisine allows them to pick up the brush themselves, to look back at the past and to taste once again those bygone flavors.

From a spiritual, mental perspective - it’s unparalleled!

"Let’s not even talk about the Heart of Travel, the Mark of Pure White is practically a cheat code!" Xia Yu internally marveled.

"It looks like Yin has been hiding his true capabilities very well!"

Saito Chiyokuro laughed, "If I hadn’t used my half-baked Food’s Profound Meaning, it would have been difficult to beat him as well!"

In the scene.

The five judges eventually ceased their light-hearted discussion.

Leon was watching them, their genuine, heartfelt laughter being broadcast through the camera to every silent audience member. Even backstage, the Orlando Team, Mars, Madeline, and Elizabeth had nothing to say.

"Dojima Yin..."

In the guest seating, Ghost Father Tiqie Ji’s eyes showed apprehension.

"Alright!"

The French Chief Judge clapped the table.

"Now, let’s talk about Chef Leon’s dish." The Chief Judge spoke smoothly, "Your ’Boss Seafood Platter’ is also a delicacy. And I won’t say much, but just the fact that you managed to tame the ’River Puffer Whale meat’ is shocking enough. As far as I know, even some Dragon Chefs struggle to handle this Forbidden Ingredient, yet you have grasped its secrets at the special level..."

His eyes swept over the large basin in front of him, admiration showing.

"The Forbidden Dish also did not disappoint, the Phantom Taste successfully broke through the impression left by Chef Dojima’s dish, giving us a spiritual baptism from taste to body, with a supreme flavor!"

"But..."

He paused again, stopping as if unsure how to continue.

"Speak!"

Leon’s eyes were sharp as he fixed them on the Chief Judge.

"You seem to have only just begun to master the ’meat of the River Puffer Whale’," the Chief Judge said as he took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. The expressions of the other four judges were also a bit off, faintly green as if they were afraid.

"Hahahaha..."

Upon seeing this, Leon laughed aloud, "Don’t worry, even though I’ve only just begun to master it, I assure you it doesn’t contain a trace of poison. You can rest assured!"

"Then, time to vote!"

Chiyoda Aichi prompted with pursed lips.

The audience at the scene couldn’t help but stand up, realizing that the outcome of the second round was critical.

If the first round simply tilted the scales of victory, then if Far Moon were to claim another win in the second round, the scales would be infinitely tipped toward the ultimate victory.

It took a full five minutes before the first vote was cast by North American Cowboy Judge Nois.

"I’m reminded of that girl who grew up with me on the ranch!" Nois said, removing his hat to bow to Dojima Yin.

Thump!

On the big screen, Dojima Yin’s vote count jumped from "0" to "1".

"People, the older they get, the more they reminisce about the past..." the French Judge Emeritus said as he removed his glasses and wiped them with a silk cloth. It seemed a tear slid down as he put his glasses back on.

Thump!

The second vote still belonged to Dojima Yin.

Backstage, Xia Yu clenched his fists tightly, his eyes erupting with excitement, "The last vote!"

"Just one more vote, and President Dojima will win, and the semi-finals outcome will be decided!"

Eriina bit her lip as she looked at the young lecturer who was clenching his fists in excitement. She watched him with complex eyes. Zhu Qing came over to pat her on the shoulder and whispered with a sly smile, "Do you hope that Yu will win, or are you rooting for your biological father?"

Eriina hung her head, silent, her flushing cheeks clearly revealing the answer.

Her biological father had brought her an indelible shadow that lingered to this day.

But what about that young lecturer? Although he often annoyed her to the point of grinding her teeth, Eriina thought back to the memories of encountering him during spring break earlier this year, and in the blink of an eye, half a year had passed into late October. Hadn’t she harvested many memories she previously wouldn’t even dare to hope for?

"Thump, thump..."

Her heartbeat told Eriina the answer. Zhu Qing’s smile became even more mocking.

A clear prompt.

On the screen, the third vote was cast, giving Dojima Yin 3 votes!

"We won!"

The Far Moon lounge erupted in jubilation.

"We lost!"

The Orlando lounge was enveloped in gloom.

"How could this be!"

Elizabeth stood up wobbly, exclaiming loudly, "How could a Forbidden Dish lose to a mere special-class sovereign dish..."

Mars sighed and said, "We underestimated Dojima Yin!"

Madeline nodded solemnly.

"The previous matchups hadn’t pushed him to reveal his true strength; he showed his fangs in the semi-finals, and I didn’t expect it to be an invincible position!" Madeline said bitterly, "If it wasn’t a high-completion Forbidden Dish, recklessly presenting it and facing off against Dojima Yin, the chances of victory would be very low."

The rest of the team fell silent, each looking at the other in shock.

"That’s practically an invincible dish in the special-class domain!" Lin Giant Dizani remarked with a complex gaze.

"Unless we suppress it with a Qilin Forbidden Dish, even at low completion..."

As he said this, Dizani turned his head to look at the team’s number one special chef, Madeline, and said, "Prepare well for the third match. ’Shura’ Saito Chiyokuro is even more fearsome than Dojima Yin!"

Madeline’s face went pale.

Indeed!

Not to mention the young special chef who led the way for Far Moon and remained undefeated.

Their number two and three were Dojima Yin and Saito Chiyokuro, a line-up that had never changed and remained undefeated!

"Far Moon... are they aiming for the overall championship?"

Elizabeth sat down dejectedly.

The overall champion?

Dizani’s gaze sharpened slightly as he muttered to himself, "They seem to possess that strength."

...

Dojima Yin, triumphant, returned backstage.

After giving a high-five to celebrate with Saito Chiyokuro, Dojima Yin glanced around the lounge. Not finding a certain figure, he asked puzzledly, "Where’s that kid?"

Holding his chef’s toolbox, Saito Chiyokuro paused at the doorway, his expression a mix of laughter and tears.

"He said I was sure to win, and then he left."

"Left?"

"Yeah, he said he was going to the airport to pick someone up."

Waving his hand, Saito Chiyokuro closed the door behind him as he left.

Only Tiqie Zongwei and his wife, along with Roland Chapele, remained in the lounge; Zhu Qing and Eriina were also nowhere to be seen.

Dojima Yin exchanged a very speechless look with them.

...

At this time, in a commercial van, Xia Yu was checking the loot from his victory over Mars.

"You, in the ’Sapporo Legendary Cookware Conquest Semi-Finals,’ have defeated the top special chef, Mars."

"Reward has been distributed."

With another 5 Talent Points, he now had 10 Talent Points accrued.

Xia Yu’s thoughts weren’t on this. He opened his inventory and stared at a recipe that now glistened with a faint golden glow, his heartbeat