---
On a seemingly peaceful morning, dark clouds gathered above the Supreme Soup Sect.
A single drop of water fell onto the sect's Divine Cooking Cauldron. It hissed, sizzled, then transformed into…
A floating fish. Wearing a monocle.
Pan-Pan pointed at it. "That's a fish."
The fish blinked slowly. "Incorrect, fool. I am the Sect Master of the Abyssal Goldfish Sect."
Everyone turned to Wei Yun.
Xu Liang: "This thing seems familiar…"
Mu Yao narrowed her eyes. "You flushed it, didn't you?"
Wei Yun coughed. "Okay, technically, I reincarnated him via divine toilet flushing. There's a difference."
The fish's monocle glowed. "You left me for dead. Now I lead the strongest aquatic-themed sect in the Lower Realms. I've come for battle—and maybe some soup."
---
A crack in space opened above the sect, and out floated the fishy forces:
Sword-wielding swordfish in robes.
A crab elder in a Dao wheelbarrow.
Jellyfish librarians.
And the Great Octopus Elder, who was meditating… while juggling teacups with his tentacles.
Their disciples rode in on koi-shaped flying ships, blasting theme music that sounded suspiciously like underwater jazz fusion.
Wei Yun took a deep breath. "Alright, team—time for some serious sect-versus-sect nonsense."
System popped up.
> [New Quest: Survive the Fish Sect's Culinary Duel Challenge!]
[Bonus Objective: Don't lose to a fish wearing a chef's hat.]
---
The duel was announced as a Culinary Cultivation Clash.
Rules:
Each side presents 3 dishes.
Must represent their Dao path.
Final round includes a live cooking battle—winner takes glory, ingredients, and bragging rights.
Round 1: Signature Appetizers
Abyssal Goldfish Sect presented:
"Floating Fish Flakes on Nebula Noodles"—they danced, glowed, and made you hear ocean poetry.
Supreme Soup Sect answered with:
"Emotionally Unstable Dumplings"—each bite triggered a different mood.
Judges cried tears of nostalgia and mild confusion.
Point: Draw.
---
Round 2: Main Course – Dao-Infused Dishes
Fish Sect brought: "Kraken Cutlets with Spirit Soy"
The tentacles recited motivational quotes with each bite.
Crutchy was temporarily inspired to write a poem. It was terrible.
Wei Yun's crew countered with: "Phoenix Broth of Remembered Failures"
Each sip showed a failure from your past… and then punched it in the face with spice.
Judges screamed. One reached Nirvana mid-bite.
Point: Soup Sect wins.
---
Round 3: Live Cooking Chaos
Both sides were given the same mystery ingredient:
Ethereal Eggplant of Ephemeral Enlightenment.
The fish sect summoned a whirlpool wok.
The Soup Sect ignited their Soulfire Stove (powered by sheer culinary spite).
The cooking began:
Pan-Pan wrestled a screaming onion spirit.
Xu Liang chopped while crying—again.
Mu Yao punched a spice elemental back into seasoning form.
Wei Yun summoned the forbidden Ladle of Destiny, granted only to Sect Leaders who've accidentally poisoned themselves at least once.
Suddenly, the goldfish floated over and whispered:
"Do you fear me now, human?"
Wei Yun grinned. "No. But I do pity your taste buds."
He dropped in his secret final ingredient: Liquid Laughter Qi. A spice so funny it caused temporary hiccups in spiritual flow.
---
The dishes were served.
Fish Sect: "Serene Sea Silence Soup"—it made you forget your worries... and your name.
Soup Sect: "Laughing Lotus Broth with Existential Croutons"—each bite made you laugh, cry, and question reality.
The judges howled, then floated into the air, declaring:
> "Victory… goes to the Supreme Soup Sect!"
Everyone cheered.
Except the goldfish, who began glowing ominously.
"You think this is over? My path is not done…"
He transformed. His monocle shattered.
His scales turned black.
His fin… became a sword.
> [New Entity: Abyssal Dao Slayer – Fish God Form.]
Wei Yun blinked. "I take it back. I am mildly afraid now."
---
The sky split.
A new figure descended, clapping sarcastically.
A man in full chef armor made of golden noodles and chili threads. His aura was… absurd.
> "Bravo, kids. But now it's my turn."
Wei Yun: "Who are you?!"
> "Name's Chopstick Sage Zhen. I judge the true Dao of Taste across realms. And you've just entered the Grand Tournament of Eternal Flavor."
Everyone froze.
The System dinged.
> [World Quest Unlocked: TASTE OF ETERNITY – Compete in the multiversal tournament. Prize: Supreme Ingredient of Creation.]
[Note: Failure results in being turned into garnish.]
Pan-Pan: "Well. At least we're not bored."
---
End of Chapter 8.