In his mind, the light brain projected a three-dimensional image.
The entire competition venue was enclosed by a faint, transparent airflow, creating a barrier akin to a protective air dome.
This air dome appeared both natural and ingenious, not only isolating the hot air but also regulating the surrounding atmosphere. Indeed, it formed a naturally cool zone, where anyone sitting inside would not need to worry about heatstroke or similar afflictions.
While the air conditioning in their vehicle had kept them cool when they first alighted, sitting now and feeling the breeze more attentively, one could detect that these cool winds were gently warm, perfectly balanced to prevent any chill.
Overall, the arrangement of the venue was masterful, and the effort put into the setup was evident.
This was a perfect fusion of feng shui and formation techniques, a mysterious art that even Zhao Lun found deeply fascinating.
What is most popular in Hong Kong?
Some might say horse racing, due to the booming industry surrounding it, where nearly every citizen takes part in the excitement. Others might have different opinions, but Zhao Lun believed that the true trend in Hong Kong lay in feng shui and metaphysical studies. From the elderly to the young, people across all walks of life paid close attention to it.
Film productions, offerings to deities, choosing companies or building structures—all were influenced by feng shui, fortune-telling, face reading, and even numerology.
Zhao Lun had even heard that some companies in Hong Kong did not base their recruitment on educational qualifications, but rather on face reading and fate analysis.
The larger the company, the more they adhered to these principles, often spending a great deal of money every year to make decisions based on feng shui and astrology.
At present, there was even talk that the feng shui of Hong Kong had been disrupted, leading to the city's current turmoil. The cause was attributed to the colonial governor's modification of certain hills, thereby upsetting the overall feng shui.
Whether the legend was true or not, Zhao Lun didn't concern himself with it. His focus shifted to the current arrangement before him.
Although he had no specific books on this subject, he used the light brain to analyze the situation, interpreting it from a "scientific" standpoint.
According to his perception and the light brain's analysis, a three-dimensional diagram materialized before him. It revealed that the placement of certain elements had, in fact, created a clever magnetic field that regulated the entire environment of the venue, making it comfortable for all present.
The magnetic field was subtle, only strong enough to maintain the atmosphere and ensure that everyone inside remained in a state of perpetual "spring warmth."
There were many guests at the venue, and even if the number doubled, the external heat would not affect them in the slightest.
"Well, it seems I have to delve into the study of feng shui now," Zhao Lun thought, realizing the significance of this discipline.
Feng shui had been passed down in China for centuries, perhaps even from before the written word. Over time, it evolved, giving rise to practices like qi men dun jia, the five elements, the eight trigrams, and more, reaching its peak of complexity.
After the calamities a hundred years ago, much was lost, and following the founding of the nation and certain movements, many fraudulent practices emerged, making true teachings hard to come by.
The mysterious and esoteric nature of such knowledge had always made it rare, and in the present, it was even harder to find, like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The world was vast, and Zhao Lun, though not an exceptionally fortunate person, knew that good things would not come to him easily.
He was pragmatic, and he believed that the ancient books he had collected during his time in Great Britain would contain the knowledge he sought. After this experience, he resolved to intensify his acquisition of such works.
When he returned, he would collect more books and study them in depth, hoping to uncover their practical uses.
The plants in the manor were still rather unconventional, and using feng shui techniques to modify them seemed like an easier path to acceptance.
As he pondered, the competition in the venue resumed.
The primary goal of any competition was to ensure a fair environment for all participants.
This fairness, however, referred to the quality of the equipment—the stoves, utensils, and other essentials had to be in perfect condition.
Before the start of the competition, everything was thoroughly tested to ensure no issues arose.
The previous aromatic dishes served as a trial, and after testing, the dishes were offered as a treat for the food enthusiasts present, giving them the opportunity to sample the competitors' creations.
With many people and few dishes, the dishes were distributed through a lucky draw.
After the trial run, the official proceedings began.
"Please, professional inspectors, conduct the checks!"
As per the procedure, Zhou Fa invited some professionals to inspect the cooking equipment.
"All clear!"
The unanimous verdict was that everything was in order.
"Do any contestants have concerns?"
"No!"
The prepared ingredients were then brought out according to the schedule.
This round of competition required the contestants to select ingredients from those available on-site.
The process took a bit of time.
"I hereby announce the start of the 11th Culinary Master Competition!"
The procedures quickly passed, and the competition entered its main phase.
The sounds of knives chopping and the rhythmic movements of the chefs filled the air, as the audience watched in awe. The guests were able to admire each chef's knife skills through the large screen.
All the contestants in the finals were skilled chefs, and even something as simple as chopping vegetables seemed to produce a melody that delighted the audience.
For the final round, everyone was giving their all!
However, no matter how well the others performed, the gap between them and the two frontrunners was like the difference between the stars and the moon. The moon always drew the attention of all who gazed up at the night sky.
The brightest stars on the stage were the beautiful women, followed closely by the culinary masters, with the audience's gaze almost entirely fixed upon them.
Zhao Lun was seated in a prime location, and without the need for any tools, he could easily observe the competition.
"If only there were a larger screen..."
He thought, feeling a bit regretful. There was no big screen at the venue, but he still watched with rapt attention as the two masters showcased their culinary skills.
The two chefs were evenly matched, though their styles differed. If one were to judge purely on elegance, it was Mulan who stood out. Every movement she made, as she cooked, was as graceful as a dragonfly skimming the surface of water, each action akin to a dancer's fluid steps. Her elegance outshone everyone around her.
"Elegant Culinary Master!"
"Elegant Culinary Master!"
"Elegant Culinary Master!!"
Years later, this title was once again called out by the food enthusiasts in admiration.
"Is this Mulan's title?" Maria blinked, surprised.
"...Yes, it is," Zhao Lun replied, equally astonished.
He had never seen her cook before, but now, seeing it for himself, he could not deny it.
Whenever she entered this graceful state, the dishes she created always turned into exquisite masterpieces that could captivate anyone.
This was her rhythm, akin to an unstoppable state of invincibility.
As long as she remained calm, she could maintain this flow, and no one could match her.
Ma Jikun, a talented chef in his own right, still couldn't compare to Mulan. So he used his family's influence to disturb Mulan, preventing her from maintaining her composure and entering her elegant state, causing her to lose the match in a messy defeat.
Losing the competition didn't matter to Mulan; even if dirty tricks were employed, as long as they didn't cross her bottom line, she would only laugh it off. At most, she'd reclaim the victory next time.
What truly troubled her were the manipulations that had crossed her line, the underhanded tactics that had disrupted her life.
"Hmph!" Ma Jikun snorted coldly and continued his competition.
As for the previous culinary master, Ma Jikun held a deep grudge and provoked her further.
His resentment stemmed from the fact that the previous incident had not been of his own making. Being a proud man, he didn't explain himself. After several years, he believed his culinary skills had greatly improved and that he could defeat her with true ability.
Now, Ma Jikun was ready to unleash his full power!
Boom! A burst of flames erupted, drawing attention with its fierce intensity.
"The domineering Culinary Master has erupted!"