Chapter 363: Heavenly Phenomenon — Cloud Dancers' Soaring Grace!
Outside Han Shi, all the Titled Douluo-level powerhouses and a portion of highly gifted Spirit Douluo were waiting. At this moment, they all sensed a familiar anomaly from within Han Shi. Inside, the heavenly phenomenon brought forth by the Dinghu Shangsu had fully manifested.
As the world's elemental energy slowly gathered into fine droplets and coalesced into a familiar mist, a dreamlike lake scene unfolded before the crowd. The lake shimmered with rippling light, and faint mists rose from its surface. Golden lotuses bloomed amidst the haze, reflecting prismatic rays of light, and under their brilliance, even the moonlight was quietly concealed.
Nineteen figures emerged from illusion into tangible form—ethereal celestial maidens clad in gauzy gowns, their silhouettes graceful and delicate. They danced lightly upon the lotus petals with flawless jade feet, moving to an ethereal melody that seemed to come from nowhere.
With clear features and flowing white robes, their black hair like ink and their rainbow fans fluttering in the air, the nineteen fairies appeared as if they had stepped out of a dream—elegant and spiritual. Amidst the colorful brilliance, they raised their wrists and lowered their gazes, sometimes extending cloud-like arms in graceful arcs like brushstrokes painting a living portrait. Their jade sleeves stirred the air, alluring yet never vulgar.
A visitor startled by a heavenly vision, now becomes part of the heavenly dance.
Heavenly Phenomenon: Cloud Dancers' Soaring Grace!
Only when the radiant display faded and the celestial dancers dissolved once more into light did the crowd in the dining area begin to recover from their daze.
"What a beautiful dance…" Ji Yunruo couldn't help but whisper in awe.
"Yeah, I've never seen a dance so stunning," Fu Ya nodded, eyes sparkling with admiration.
Qi Han suddenly fell silent—he had noticed something different about this heavenly phenomenon compared to the previous ones.
Every previous phenomenon, though vivid and lifelike, remained ultimately illusory. But this time, the nineteen celestial maidens' light forms had nearly taken on physical substance. This was no longer a simple illusion.
It must be related to the quality of Dinghu Shangsu itself, which was close to reaching 4 Star recipe status.
"Ru Yi, will the heavenly phenomenon of the 4 Star dishes become fully materialized?" Qi Han asked in his mind.
"Once you reach Five Rings and learn 'Peony Fish Fillet,' you'll understand," Ru Yi replied, not giving him a direct answer.
Fair enough—he was close to Five Rings anyway.
"Lingqing, you should try a portion of the Dinghu Shangsu as well," Qi Han said as he walked toward the kitchen.
"Ah?" Ye Lingqing was still lost in the breathtaking dance, but snapped back to reality. "Teacher, I only have three levels of spirit power. I don't think I should…"
"It's because your spirit power is low that the Dinghu Shangsu will be even more effective for you."
Although the dish's special effect was to help break bottlenecks, the elemental essence infused within it had benefits beyond that.
Ye Lingqing spirit power was only at level 3. By consuming this dish, which was crafted from over twenty different hundred- and thousand-year heavenly treasures, and diligently cultivating afterward, the elemental energy alone would be enough to boost his spirit power by several levels.
"Okay, Teacher." Though Ye Lingqing, newly embarked on the path of cultivation, didn't fully understand, he instinctively chose to obey his teacher's words.
"Because your spirit power is low, if you eat the Dinghu Shangsu and spend the next few days focusing on cultivation, you can probably gain several levels," Qi Han added.
Ye Lingqing might not have grasped it, but Ying Shuang certainly did.
Seeing his confusion, she couldn't help but chime in, "Look at the menu's description. This Dinghu Shangsu uses over twenty heavenly treasures, including one that's over a thousand years old. The essence in those alone will be enough for you to make a breakthrough multiple times."
Ye Lingqing nodded in sudden realization, his expression turning grateful. "Thank you, Ying Shuang!"
"It's nothing," Ying Shuang replied, her cheeks blushing faintly. She casually tugged at her ponytail to mask her reaction. "Once your cultivation grows, you'll understand all this too."
At a nearby table, Ping Xinyan gazed intently at the neatly layered Dinghu Shangsu in front of her. Each layer was distinct, and the surface was coated with a slightly thick broth. As the savory aroma gradually filled her nose, she couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.
"Xinyan, hurry up and tell us how it tastes!" said Ji Yunruo, who sat beside her. She too had caught a whiff of that rich fragrance and urged her impatiently.
Though she hadn't planned to eat yet, Ji Yunruo was extremely curious—what would a dish made from over twenty rare spiritual ingredients taste like?
Ping Xinyan glanced at Ji Yunruo, then at the three other diners at the next table who had also turned their curious eyes her way. She gave a firm nod, then gently picked up one of the thin outer slices of the Dinghu Shangsu with her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth.
It was a bamboo shoot—one of the outermost ingredients that Qi Han had carefully arranged.
As Ping Xinyan brought the bamboo slice closer to her nose and mouth, the aroma grew even more intense and mouthwatering.
The slice was tender and slightly wobbled as she lifted it. The half not held by the chopsticks bent softly under its own weight. A thin layer of translucent, light brown vegetarian broth coated the surface, shimmering faintly under the lighting with every subtle movement.
Ping Xinyan didn't recognize what the ingredient was, but that didn't stop her from decisively placing it into her mouth. It simply looked too delicious to hesitate.
"Mmm!"
The moment the slice entered her mouth, the rich and savory flavor of the vegetarian broth—reminiscent of a deep meat-based stock—instantly conquered her taste buds. Her bright eyes sparkled, and she began to chew gently.
The bamboo shoot was crisp, but not in a brittle or crunchy way. Because it was sliced paper-thin and sat on the outermost layer of the bowl—making it the first to absorb heat—it had been exposed the longest and had softened considerably.
At the same time, being in direct contact with the poured broth, it had absorbed the flavor deeply.
As it warmed, the bamboo slice soaked up the broth and became tender. Its inherent crunch remained, but the texture had transformed into something uniquely wonderful.
Ping Xinyan bit through it effortlessly, encountering almost no resistance. Its tender-soft quality allowed for an easy bite, yet the residual crispness provided just enough feedback to make the chew deeply satisfying.
According to one study, the tactile feedback from chewing food can bring a certain level of mental pleasure.
This is why gourmet food is not just about taste—it's also about mouthfeel.
After finishing the first slice, Ping Xinyan's eyes lit up even more, and she instinctively reached for another with her chopsticks.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Ji Yunruo quickly grabbed her arm. "Aren't you going to tell us how it tastes?"
Uh…
How should she even describe it?
Ping Xinyan hesitated under the expectant gaze of the others and finally replied after a long pause, "It's delicious?"
"That's it?" Ji Yunruo's face immediately fell.
"It's really delicious!" Ping Xinyan quickly added with a nod.
Everyone: "…"
After giving her answer, Ping Xinyan eagerly resumed tasting the Dinghu Shangsu.
The fiddlehead was tender yet had a slight crunch. The golden ear was soft and sticky in a pleasing way. The vegetable bamboo was fresh and smooth. The button mushrooms were rich, juicy, and pleasantly bouncy—
Ping Xinyan had thought the bamboo slice was the highlight of the dish—but she soon realized how completely wrong she was.
Each and every ingredient, though unified by the shared savory broth, had its own unique flavor and texture. Every bite gave her a completely different and fresh culinary experience.
She couldn't help but recall the heavenly phenomenon she'd witnessed earlier.
In this moment, the harmonious and elegant presentation of the ingredients in her mouth mirrored the beautiful, graceful dance of the celestial maidens from the vision—perfectly, seamlessly overlapping.
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