Chapter 264 Discussion
"Alas, what a pity. It was just a little bit short."

After the people from the dark cuisine world left, Elder Li said with infinite regret.

If there were a few more people, we would be able to achieve two consecutive victories.

At this time, Master Luo Tian came over and said, "Actually, we should have won this time."

"Oh? What do you say?"

Another elder from the Guangdong Chefs Association came over and said, "According to the information I received, there are people from the dark cooking world mixed in with the crowd, and many people have been bribed by them."

"Damn it! So this is what they were planning!"

Everyone who heard about this was indignant.

"Elder Li, we have to respond as well! We can't always let the dark culinary world play tricks on us, otherwise we will be too passive!"

"That's right! They have used tricks twice in these two duels! They will definitely cheat again in the next duel! If we lose the next one, it will be over."

Elder Li nodded and said, "I understand what you are saying. This is indeed something that should be carefully considered."

As they spoke, the elders of the Guangdong Chefs Association put their heads together and began to guess the conspiracy that the dark culinary world might use, and then think of ways to stop it.

Master Luo Tian walked up to Xu Qing and asked, "Xu Qing, how does it feel to lose the duel?"

"Do you feel it?"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "It feels quite novel."

Master Luo Tian heaved a sigh of relief and said frankly: "No matter what difficulties and obstacles you faced in the past, you have never lost. Sometimes victory not only brings glory, but also becomes a burden, making people afraid to face the consequences of losing."

"Master, you are right. Before, I was indeed afraid of losing. I was afraid of facing my own fragility and helplessness. I wanted to keep winning because I used to think that only winning could prove my strength. But now, I no longer need to prove myself by winning or losing."

Xu Qing said, "Losing does not mean being weak, and winning does not mean being strong. What really determines strength and weakness is not winning or losing, but your own heart."

After truly facing his own heart, Xu Qing's heart became calmer. The strength and support he gained from his heart far outweighed the glory and praise from the outside world.

It is also because of this that when all the audience were cheering for Xiang En, he could calmly do his own thing.

Even though Xu Qing was not sure about this duel, even though he knew there was a high chance that he would lose, he remained calm.

People always doubt their own abilities, and doubt leads to panic.

However, after facing this doubt and accepting your own weakness, your heart will become calm.

He treats any possibility calmly, and winning or losing no longer affects him.

Master Luo Tian said with relief: "I feel relieved that you think so. In the third match, we don't know what tricks the dark cuisine world will use. If you really lose, you don't have to blame yourself."

Xu Qing smiled and asked, "Master, the duel hasn't even started yet, and you're already considering the consequences of losing? Do you really not trust me?"

Master Luo Tian said, "It's not that I don't trust you. I'm just worried that the dark cuisine world has other backers. They are determined to get the legendary kitchen utensils and will definitely not give up easily."

Xu Qing asked: "What will they do?"

"It's hard to say. We know too little about the dark cuisine world, and they have always been hidden in the dark. We don't know how many tricks they have hidden in secret. This is hard for us to imagine."

"So how should we deal with it?"

Master Luo Tian said helplessly: "We can only fight against the enemy with our own army and block the water with earth. The only thing we can do now is to ensure the fairness of the final duel. But this is something we need to consider. You don't need to waste your energy on this. You just need to rest up and prepare for the final duel. How is your right hand recovering?"

Xu Qing slowly moved his arms and said, "It will take some time." Master Luo Tian sighed, "Time is running out."

Xu Qing asked: "Master, what is the theme of the final duel?"

Master Luo Tian said: "We each set questions for the first two duels, and we set questions together for the last duel."

"Joint questioning?"

Xu Qing suddenly remembered the cooking competition initiated by Elder Wu and asked, "Are they going to use the same rules as the top chefs again?"

Master Luo Tian said: "Almost. This time one party determines the ingredients and the other party determines the cooking method. We choose the ingredients and the dark cuisine world chooses the cooking method."

"So what are the ingredients?"

"It's still under discussion, and Elder Li has not come to a conclusion. But there aren't many seafood options for a knife showdown."

After that, Elder Luo Tian said seriously: "Xu Qing, no matter what, give it your all in the last match. I noticed that you didn't use your mind in these two duels. Why?"

Xu Qing said: "Because I want to fight purely based on knife skills."

"Is it for the Eternal Blade to see?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded and said.

"Then you should put your heart into the dish. The Eternal Spirit Sword sees with the heart, so you should open your heart to it and tell it what's in your heart."

Xu Qing said regretfully: "It's a pity that Yonglingdao can't taste the dishes himself."

Master Luo Tian said: "Although it has no mouth to taste, all dishes from the duel between knife masters before the gods will be offered in front of the Yongling Knife. If the legendary kitchen utensils really have a heart and spirit, it will taste it."

After hearing what Master Luo Tian said, Xu Qing realized that he had been thinking in the wrong direction.

He thought that the knife skills duel in front of God only tested simple knife skills, so he tried his best to eliminate other factors and show the most refined knife skills.

But at this moment, Xu Qing realized that the key point of the knife skills duel before the god is not only the knife skills, but also the god. That is, presenting the dishes in front of the Eternal Spirit Knife and letting it judge.

Although the Eternal Spirit Sword is silent, it is one of the judges of this duel, and the most important one.

Dishes are a communication of hearts, not just between chefs and diners, but also between chefs and ingredients, and between chefs and kitchen utensils.

How can it be called communication if there is no thought added to it?

Xu Qing said seriously: "Master, I understand. I will devote my whole heart to cooking for the last duel."

Master Luo Tian nodded with satisfaction, "That's good. Once your intention is revealed, you will definitely be able to crush the chefs in the dark cuisine world. The outcome of the duel between intention and lack of intention is obvious."

Xu Qing asked curiously, "Master, don't the chefs in the dark cuisine world have any intentions?"

Master Luo Tian said: "I can't be sure if everyone has no intention. But you know very well that intention is born. You have to cook with a sincere heart and sincerely feel the mood of the diners. People in the dark cuisine world are too much pursuing the ultimate in technology. They cook just to show their strength, not really cooking for the diners. It is difficult for such people to understand intention."

While Master Luo Tian and Xu Qing were discussing their thoughts, the dark cuisine world was also discussing the same topic.

Elder Huang said: "In the final duel, Xu Qing will definitely use all his strength. What's most terrifying about him is not just his strength, but he also possesses a special ability from the light cuisine world - the mind. Don't underestimate this ability, many chefs from the dark cuisine world have been defeated by the mind, even by chefs who are weaker in strength."

“So our focus is on how to deal with the mind.”

(End of this chapter)