Night.
The shimmering waves of the Seine River embraced Paris, the "City of Romance."
At this moment, within the stone building in the Marais district on the Left Bank, stood the gourmet sanctuary—the headquarters of the Culinary Emperor International Gourmet Association.
Pushing open the door.
A vast and brilliantly lit hall unfolded before their eyes.
Inside the hall, 36 meticulously arranged crystal tables were positioned in an orderly yet dynamic layout.
Each table was adorned with exquisite silverware, gleaming brilliantly and reflecting the crystal's clarity, exuding an indescribable elegance and luxury.
Surrounding these tables were dignitaries, financial magnates, and culinary masters from 36 countries.
...
"Distinguished guests."
On the stage, the voice of Paul Bocuse, president of the gourmet association, resonated through the microphone: "Let us welcome the gold medalist of this year's Escoffier Junior Culinary Competition—Ye Chen!"
"Tonight, he will prepare for us a dish unprecedented in this world..."
"Jewel Meat!"
As his words faded.
The venue erupted instantly with thunderous applause and cheers.
Amid the eager anticipation of the crowd, a side door in the hall slowly opened, and Ye Chen finally stepped forward with confident and graceful strides, making his way to the stage.
He wore a pristine white chef's uniform, its cuffs embroidered with dark golden cloud patterns that shimmered dazzlingly under the lights.
His black hair.
Was neatly combed back.
Revealing a smooth forehead that made him appear exceptionally spirited.
His fair, youthful face was accentuated by a pair of bright, sharp eyes. Below his tall nose bridge was a slightly upturned mouth, carrying a faint, sunny smile!
His entrance immediately intensified the applause in the venue.
Finally, when he stood before Bocuse, Ye Chen bowed slightly, offering the president his most sincere respect.
Seeing this.
Bocuse quickly extended his hand with a warm smile.
Ye Chen likewise reached out both hands, firmly clasping the president's hand.
Then, Bocuse's eyes filled with anticipation: "Chef Ye, the stage is now yours!"
"Mm!"
Ye Chen simply nodded.
...
The so-called "Jewel Meat."
Was no ordinary ingredient—it earned its name from its surface, which shimmered with the radiant, colorful brilliance of gemstones.
Indeed, this rare delicacy originated from another world:
Toriko!
It was a meat chunk found within the body of a colossal mammoth known as an "Ancient Food Treasure," containing the essence of flavors from all its parts.
Ye Chen glanced around and suddenly raised his hand, snapping his fingers mid-air.
Another side door slid open silently.
There.
A slender staff member pushed a gilt food cart.
On the cart sat a peculiarly shaped ceramic plate, concealed by a cloche.
A rich aroma of meat quickly permeated the venue, tantalizing everyone's olfactory nerves and drawing curious glances from all around!
...
Immediately after.
Ye Chen reached out and placed his hand on the cloche.
The moment his fingers touched it, the entire hall fell into silence.
Everyone.
Fixed their gaze intently on him.
Even their breathing became cautious, as if afraid to miss any detail.
Finally, Ye Chen lifted the cloche, and in that instant, a dazzling light burst forth like lightning piercing the sky!
The radiance was dazzling, stinging their eyes. Everyone was astonished by this sudden spectacle, gasping repeatedly. Many instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes, their expressions filled with shock!
As the light gradually dimmed,
They eagerly lowered their hands and turned their gaze toward the serving cart.
There, the "Jewel Meat" lay quietly on the plate, shimmering with an enchanting luster under the lights.
Upon closer inspection,
Its color was vivid and vibrant.
The texture of the meat was clearly visible, surrounded by a faint mist that added an aura of mystery and fantasy.
...
"It's glowing?"
"What kind of meat is this?"
"It sparkles so brightly—from a distance, it truly looks like a gem!"
"Hmm... Not only does it glow, but more importantly, the aroma is incredibly rich. Even standing dozens of meters away, I'm nearly drooling."
"This kind of meat doesn't seem like it belongs in this world."
"I want it... I really want it!"
Who among those attending this banquet wasn't someone of high status and great renown?
One could even say that any one of them, with a mere sneeze, could send ripples through the culinary world, creating far-reaching impacts.
Yet,
When this gem-like, radiant meat came into view,
They were no different from ordinary people, their eyes gleaming with greed and desire.
Perhaps?
The instinct to seek food is deeply rooted in human nature!
...
Ye Chen
remained standing quietly.
All of this was within his expectations.
After all, in the world of "Food Wars," although the concept of "supreme cuisine" prevailed, fantasy ingredients like Jewel Meat were unparalleled by any other dish.
Then, he took a deep breath, as if drawing all the distracting thoughts floating in the air into his chest, before slowly exhaling.
The next moment,
His gaze sharpened like that of an eagle.
A flash of his blade cut through the air, carrying an unwavering resolve and precision.
...
Swish, swish, swish!
Swish, swish, swish!
The blade moved like a shadow, the meat slices flying.
Under Ye Chen's fierce and masterful knife skills, the "Jewel Meat" on the plate was swiftly sliced into translucent pieces.
Witnessing this, everyone couldn't help but exclaim in awe once more.
"So powerful!"
"It's simply reached a divine level of skill."
"Every cut is as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest hesitation. Even with all my years in the culinary world, I feel inferior."
"Indeed! This is the true unity of man and blade, the culinary realm we chefs strive for."
"Chef Ye, if I recall correctly, he's only 18, right?"
"He's so young~"
"How did he develop such incredible knife skills at this age?"
"Could there be some secret to it?"
Excitement, admiration, surprise, fear, astonishment...
All these describable emotions were vividly displayed on their faces.
After all, at the headquarters of the "Culinary Emperor International Gourmet Association," at this extravagant banquet, no one could have anticipated that Ye Chen would bring so many surprises.
...
Yet,
Ye Chen remained unmoved.
After slicing the Jewel Meat, he swiftly sheathed his kitchen knife.
"Good."
"Next is the grilling stage."
"And from this moment on, the world shall enter a brand new era!"
Gazing at the plate where he had sliced the Jewel Meat into glistening, translucent pieces, Ye Chen couldn't help but declare with a sharp intensity in his eyes.