According to the scoring system, a score below fifty was average, above fifty was good, above sixty was excellent, and above seventy was genius. A score of eighty or higher could only be described as monstrously talented.
As for a score of ninety, the Void Sect hadn't seen one in several hundred years. If such a person were to appear, it would inevitably attract the attention of the Mountain and Sea Empire, unless the news was completely suppressed.
The Mountain and Sea Empire would dispatch a supreme expert to "receive" them—but in reality, it was a forced conscription.
This was one of the Mountain and Sea Empire's methods for keeping the Four Great Sects in check and preventing any unstable elements from emerging among them.
"Mo Qi, whether you pass the test or not, you're a dead man!" Fang Hua had deliberately spread the news that Mo Qi was participating in the entrance examination.
His goal was to infuriate Wang Hao. Even if Mo Qi got incredibly lucky and managed to pass the test, Wang Hao would still have him in his sights, and he wouldn't live for long.
In the Void Sect, Mo Qi was something of a minor celebrity thanks to his culinary skills.
Combined with Fang Min's astonishing performance and Wang Hao's high-profile declaration that she was his woman, countless people scented juicy gossip in the air.
"Did you hear? Chef Mo, the one whose woman was stolen by Wang Hao, is about to take the entrance examination!"
"For real? Is it that juicy?"
"The news is everywhere! Quick, let's go grab a good spot to watch the drama. This is going to be a good show!"
"Let's go, let's go! I wonder if Chef Mo can pass the test. It would be a shame if he died in there. Just thinking about his cooking makes my mouth water."
"Don't get your hopes up. Even if he passes, Wang Hao will probably toy with him until he's dead."
"That's true. What a shame."
...
The news spread rapidly throughout the Void Sect. Before Mo Qi even arrived, the location of the entrance examination was already packed with eager spectators.
When Wang Hao heard the news, he sneered. "Looks like that piece of trash still hasn't given up. Come on, let's go have a look."
He took Fang Min with him to the main peak where the examination was held, wanting to see with his own eyes how Mo Qi would meet a miserable death during the test.
The entrance examination was conducted on the main peak of the Void Sect, where a grand hall was dedicated to disciple competitions and tests.
When Mo Qi arrived, he saw such a vast sea of people that he almost thought he had come to the wrong place.
He thought back carefully. No, this was it. He had been here five years ago when Uncle Niu took the test.
"Look, Chef Mo is here!" someone recognized Mo Qi.
In an instant, the entire hall fell silent. All eyes were fixed on Mo Qi.
Mo Qi's brow furrowed slightly. He wasn't used to being stared at by so many people.
A man and a woman emerged from the crowd and came to stand before Mo Qi. It was Wang Hao and Fang Min.
"You shouldn't have come," Fang Min said softly. She was now dressed in fine clothes, her entire demeanor transformed. She was no longer the little girl who used to follow Mo Qi around all day.
"Why must you risk your life just to save some face?" Fang Min sighed, her posture condescending. "You have no talent. You can't change anything. Stop being so childish and go back. Do what a cook is supposed to do. You were born to be a cook, so don't get any wild ideas."
Fang Min pointed to the surrounding sect members. "Do you see? We are the ones who are a cut above. And you... you're as lowly as a crawling bug. Why bring this humiliation upon yourself?"
Mo Qi gave her a detached glance and said, "You're not Fang Min anymore."
"Wrong!" Fang Min's aura shifted as a powerful presence erupted from her. "I have always been Fang Min. You're the one who's stupid. You were always useless. Keeping those Elixir Pills was a waste; giving them to me was the best choice. Besides, my debt to you has already been repaid."
'Repaid?'
Mo Qi shook his head, losing all interest in continuing the conversation. To think he had actually shed tears for such a woman... he truly felt foolish.
He ignored Fang Min and found the Elder in charge of the entrance examination to register for the trial.
Seeing Mo Qi ignore her, Fang Min snorted coldly. "You don't know what's good for you. Let's just see how you die!"
At first, Fang Min had felt a trace of guilt toward Mo Qi, but now, she wished nothing more than for him to drop dead.
Wang Hao gave Fang Min a light slap on the rear. "Don't be in such a hurry, my little beauty. With trash like him, we just need to stand back and watch him destroy himself."
Fang Min squirmed, pouting coquettishly. "You're awful."
Her flirtatious charm stirred a primal urge in Wang Hao. If not for the public setting, he would have taken the little temptress right then and there.
On the second floor of the hall, a place only disciples of the highest status or Elders were qualified to set foot, two figures now stood, watching the scene unfold below.
"So that's the Mo Qi you were talking about?" The speaker was a wiry old man with a crew cut, dressed in coarse linen. His hair was graying, his gaze profound, and a piece of jerky was dangling from the corner of his mouth, which he sucked on with great relish.
"He doesn't look like much. Pretty ordinary," the old man said, curling his lip.
"Then you can stop eating the snacks he makes." Liu Ruyan snatched the jerky from the old man's mouth, huffing indignantly.
The old man gave an awkward laugh and rubbed his hands together. "My dearest granddaughter, Grandpa was wrong. I see now that this young man has the forehead of a king, walks with the grace of the wind, and is overflowing with a domineering presence! He is clearly a dragon among men, destined for greatness!"
"Hmph!" Liu Ruyan turned away, not buying it.
Liu Hong scratched his head in frustration. He had one great love in life: eating. His mouth was never idle, and he would only eat the most delicious of foods.
For this passion, he had wandered through countless lands with a young Liu Ruyan in tow, searching high and low for culinary treasures.
That was, until he met Mo Qi. After tasting his food, Liu Hong lost all interest in eating anything else.
He brought Liu Ruyan with him and joined the Void Sect, where they had now lived for five years.
For this, the bigwigs of the Void Sect were so ecstatic they nearly fainted from joy. They gave him the position of Supreme Elder and declared his residence a forbidden zone.
And who was Liu Hong? He was one of the top three Array Grandmasters in the Mountain and Sea Empire. Back in the day, the Emperor of the Mountain and Sea Empire had personally invited him, promising countless benefits, but this master had refused without even granting him an audience.
Far from being angry, the Mountain and Sea Empire had issued a decree to the entire world: wherever Liu Hong went, he was to be treated with the highest honors of an Honored Guest Elder of the Empire. Anyone who made an enemy of him was making an enemy of the Empire itself.
The Emperor of the Mountain and Sea Empire could have racked his brains until his head split and he would never have guessed that the legendary figure he had repeatedly invited but never even met would end up staying in the Void Sect for years, all because of a chef with no talent for cultivation.
Mo Qi would never have guessed it either. The little tomboy he looked after like a sister had such an incredibly badass grandfather. And he certainly would never have guessed that the snacks he prepared for Liu Ruyan all ended up in Liu Hong's stomach.
"Just watch. This entrance examination is only the first step for Brother Mo to shock the world. He'll make those who looked down on him, those who abandoned him, taste the bitterness of regret," Liu Ruyan said, her sparkling eyes never leaving Mo Qi.
'Looks like this girl has a crush!' Liu Hong thought to himself. He didn't dare say it out loud, though. Who could blame him, when his entire supply of snacks was in Liu Ruyan's hands?
"Yes, yes, you're right! I also think the boy has astonishing potential. If I wasn't worried my dear granddaughter might look down on him, this old man would have already tried to make him my son-in-law." To get his delicious food, Liu Hong was willing to throw away all his pride and dignity.
As expected, Liu Ruyan blushed deeply at his words. She grabbed a handful of jerky from her Storage Ring, stuffed it into Liu Hong's mouth, and said with a light scoff, "You bad grandpa! So improper for your age. Even this jerky can't shut you up."
Liu Hong just chuckled, closing his eyes in satisfaction to savor the delicious treat.