Under the relentless suppression of The Xia Yus, the tide-like C-creatures ultimately failed to cross that line.
No matter which Xia Yu it was, they all possessed wide-range AOE damage; mowing down the masses was simple for them.
Zombie Xia Yu even took some time to head back and check on the progress of the Legendary Dish. The preparation was going smoothly and would likely be finished soon.
[Gourmand Dungeon]: The Legendary Dish is almost complete. I'll be counting on you guys for the next part.
Because of the ongoing battle, The Xia Yus decided to communicate through the Chat Group. This was not only discreet but also less distracting.
[do you want to cultivate immortality]: Don't worry. Once you leave, we'll return to our original worlds immediately.
[soul knight]: It's a pity these monsters don't have souls, otherwise I could have turned the tables and controlled them.
[dark souls i]: That would be a bit disgusting. You actually want to control things that are basically the same as Saya's main body?
[soul knight]: You've been to Blighttown, yet you still find these things disgusting? In comparison, the monsters in Blighttown are way more repulsive.
[dark souls i]: They're both disgusting. Stop talking, I don't want to recall my memories of Blighttown.
[Gourmand Dungeon]: Ximi's side is almost done, so I'm heading over now. You must stop puchui!
[do you want to cultivate immortality]: Rest assured. Remember to send a message when it's over so we can go back and rest up for a bit.
After sending the message, Zombie Xia Yu saw that his other selves had everything under control. He immediately stowed his weapon and dashed toward the cooking area.
The other Xia Yus immediately filled the gap he left. Compared to the initial numbers, the C-creatures' offensive had weakened considerably; their numbers were not infinite.
In a short moment, Zombie Xia Yu returned to the cooking area.
Because he and his other selves had held the line, the cooking area hadn't suffered any crises, completely avoiding the miserable state of fighting directly in the kitchen as seen in the game.
For this reason, the production speed of the Legendary Dish was not slow. Just as Zombie Xia Yu arrived, the large flaming cauldron in the center suddenly emitted a brilliant, purple starlight glow.
"Did you guys... put fluorescent agents in the food?"
Xia Yu looked at the glowing pot with a question mark over his head. This wasn't the world of 'Cooking Master Boy,' so why was the dish glowing?
"Only this is worthy of a Legendary Dish!" Ximi's eyes sparkled as she stared unblinkingly at the dish taking shape in the cauldron.
"Who would add fluorescent agents to food? That wouldn't even be edible anymore," Tangerine complained as she approached from the other side.
"There are those who add aphrodisiacs and clothes-bursting magic to dishes, so a mere fluorescent agent..."
"Huh?"
Before Tangerine could complain again, a giant cup of milk tea suddenly emerged from the purple sea of stars. The milk tea was a beautiful dark purple.
It was surrounded by white starlight like a galaxy, and then simple white lines combined to form the milk tea's facial features and limbs.
"Did we... succeed?"
Looking at this cup of milk tea, doubt appeared on Ximi's face. They had put in so many ingredients, and the final result was actually a cup of milk tea?
"What on earth is this thing?" Tangerine added, her disgust straightforward.
"Congratulations on completing the True Ancestor Monster Recipe Audit Exam. I am Universe Pearl Milk Tea, so delicious I'll make you travel through time and space! Only the highest-ranking Monster Chefs in the dungeon have the ability to bring me into this world. You have passed the test!"
"This means you have obtained the pass for the Rift Project."
The milk tea named Universe Pearl Milk Tea suddenly spoke. However, hearing the milk tea's words, everyone gathered around wore expressions of confusion.
"Rift Project? naike, do you know what that is?" Ximi asked.
"Even after obtaining higher permissions, I still haven't found any relevant information regarding this project," naike's projection appeared. "It can only be inferred that this project was carried out by the highest members of the Supreme Union."
"The Rift Project is one of the methods to deal with the destruction of the dungeon. Please make contact with me as soon as possible to obtain further information," Universe Pearl Milk Tea spoke at that moment.
"Drink me, and I will lead you into the Rift Space. There, you will find further explanations. If you are a non-human creature without the ability to eat, such as a ghost or a robot, you only need to soak yourself in my body fluids."
"Eww, couldn't you just say milk tea? Saying 'body fluids' instantly kills the desire to drink it." Disgust appeared on Xia Yu's face. He had just wanted to taste what this space-opening milk tea tasted like, but now he had no desire to drink it.
"The only thing to note is: please do not attempt to contact me during the active period of Entity Code C-00 'puchui'. That will lead to the failure of the entire Rift Project."
Universe Pearl Milk Tea gave its warning, but seeing everyone's guilty looks, its expression suddenly froze: "You guys didn't do that, right?"
In the next moment, the dungeon suddenly shook violently. Bloody and distorted arms broke through the surrounding walls, lunging toward the Universe Pearl Milk Tea in the center.
But a sudden wave of fire slammed into those arms, incinerating them instantly. Then, a green mist spread out; any arm that touched the mist withered and turned into dry branches in an instant.
"Quick! Get into the Rift Space immediately!"
Seeing puchui's arms being blocked, Xia Yu reacted immediately and urged everyone urgently.
Before the others could react, he swiftly grabbed his nearby companions and tossed them into the Universe Pearl Milk Tea.
Upon contact with the milk tea, a purple space rift shimmering with starlight was suddenly opened. The companions who touched the milk tea were sucked into the rift before they could even make a sound.
Seeing Xia Yu's actions, the others didn't dare hesitate and jumped into the Universe Pearl Milk Tea's 'body fluids' one after another. With a flash of intense light, everyone disappeared from the spot.
Seeing that everyone had disappeared, the arriving puchui froze for a moment, then began pounding the ground in a frenzy. Countless arms spread upward, completely submerging everything here.
The other Xia Yus who were still blocking the way had already returned to their own worlds the moment Zombie Xia Yu sent the message.
Meanwhile, inside the Rift Space.
"Wow, so this is the Rift Space?"
"It actually looks quite nice."
"It really is a carved-out space."
Everyone scanned the interior of the Rift Space, filled with wonder. The Universe Pearl Milk Tea that brought them here had disappeared, leaving only a tightly closed steel door in front of them.
At this moment, they were standing on a continent floating in the void. Below the continent was a bottomless, dark purple abyss.
"Alright, let's go in."
Xia Yu pressed the button at the entrance of the steel door. In the next moment, the door opened, and everyone walked in one after another.
What met their eyes was a supercomputer with a message recorded on it.
'Rift Space Research Station, founded by the world's most outstanding space magician, the Grand Commander of the Supreme Union.'
"Grand Commander?" Tangerine frowned. "To think he founded the Rift Space. But why would Uncle Zhang's Legendary Dish be used as the key to open it?"
"It's probably because of him. This opening key was decided by the two of us together," Uncle Zhang suddenly responded.
"Him?"