CHAPTER 574: CHAPTER 573: SEVEN COUNTRIES UNITED FRIED NOODLES

Phew—

The grease was exhausted, and the ring of fire finally extinguished completely after ten minutes.

The metal barrels, arranged in a circle, had been scorchingly distorted after the flames died out, while the water inside them boiled, bubbling and belching steam with a steaming mist.

People closely watched the two young chefs.

Li Han stuffed the flame-grilled noodles into the steamer.

Previously, a steamer had been set up on the stove, and at the time, neither the audience nor the judges knew what the steamer was for, but now they had a moment of realization.

"Grilled to taste too harsh and choking, so to make the flavor smoother, steam it again?"

Andrea’s voice carried through the microphone.

I see!

Many chefs nodded in agreement.

However, the focus at the Hokkaido Shrine Pavilion was not on Li Han.

Including Li Han, everyone’s attention turned to the other chef.

Xia Yu also wrapped the grilled noodles into the steamer, mimicking the process.

The HD cameras continually locked on to the noodle strands resembling braids.

"So beautiful—"

A wave of admiration.

The white little braids, after grilling, had turned golden, shimmering as if touched by "Magic," making countless audience members salivate from afar.

Click!

With the steamer lid closed, Xia Yu glanced back at the timer.

The noodles had taken about 15 minutes.

At this point, with the last quarter-hour remaining before the cooking session ended, there was enough time!

Glancing sideways at the vigorous fire under the pot, Xia Yu wiped the sweat from her forehead.

This final step was meant to make the noodles’ flavor and texture smoother. Using the "Bursting Flame" technique now would have been too much.

Though without a recipe, Xia Yu had studied the original and knew the secret behind this step.

Noticing Li Han’s gaze, Xia Yu smiled at him.

Nothing more needed to be said.

Xia Yu had fully integrated the three flame cooking skills she knew into one furnace, and as the cornerstone of the next generation of the Li Family, Li Han could naturally see what was contained therein.

Thus, the astonishment and complexity in Li Han’s eyes were something Xia Yu could understand.

Fifteen minutes later.

"Ding!"

The sound of the bell spread, followed by cheers in the venue.

"Time’s up!"

"Wow wow wow!"

When the host announced the end, Xia Yu and Li Han simultaneously lifted the lids of their steamers.

Whoosh—

Two streams of white steam surged upwards.

Li Han’s steamer harbored steam swirling above, resembling a diving flood dragon with its unique aura.

And Xia Yu’s steamer...

The entire venue watched, collectively holding their breath.

The rising steam suddenly dispersed into numerous streams, each lifting its head in a sprightly and jubilant manner. To the audience, it appeared as if the gates of Dragon Nest had opened, with countless true dragons soaring and frolicking in the sky.

Seeing this, Li Han’s eyelids twitched and his complexion changed repeatedly.

"Serve the dish—"

He muttered to himself, as he plated the steamed noodles on a super-large white jade plate.

Step, step.

With each step, his legs felt as though they were filled with lead.

Li Han had never heard his footsteps so clearly before.

The silent venue made him feel a slight fear. His steps were somewhat hurried; despite finishing at the same time, Li Han was eager to serve first, and witnessing this, many chefs quickly grasped the likely outcome.

"Overpowered in presence!"

Li Quan forced a smile and fell back into his chair, turning to the team’s second Female Special Chef, "Luo Ying, it’s all on you for the second round!"

This plain-looking auntie nodded solemnly, "I’ll give it my all!"

Bang!

The plate of fried noodles was placed on the judges’ table.

The five judges focused their attention.

It must be said, Li Han’s fried noodles also embodied the essence of "homogeneity," each strand flame-seared, uniformly golden, at first glance, looked like a plate full of gold.

Even stranger was.

This plate of fried noodles had no side dishes, not a drop of sauce; the entire jade plate was filled with nothing but noodles, yet there was no lack of color.

The previous ingredients like sea bream had turned into fillings.

And the initially tender beef sirloin was mixed with flour to become golden noodles.

"Give it a try!"

Xia Yu remained calm as he said, "After the tasting, everything will become clear!"

Each judge received a pair of chopsticks and a dining plate.

They each picked up some fried noodles with their chopsticks and placed them on their plates.

"Burning Purple Rose" Andrea couldn’t resist sucking in a strand of the steaming, golden noodles.

"Huff!"

The sensation of heat immediately exploded in her mouth.

Her cheeks quivered. Andrea bit down, and the noodles in her mouth instantly shattered; in an instant, the fillings hidden within burst forth, overwhelming her palate.

The fresh, rich flavor of the sea bream.

The ’vegetarian’ taste created by bamboo shoots, cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles mixed with the rich flavor of the sea bream.

"Ahhhh!"

The female Qilin-level judge couldn’t help but lift her pretty face, her pupils dilated as she stared blankly into the air above the coliseum, her refined cheek hidden within her purple hair immediately broke out in sweat, flushed.

"The spiral sensation!"

Masked man Sta braced one hand on the table, while the other gripped the chopsticks tightly, continuously picking up noodle strands and sending them into his mouth, his body shuddering.

Though it was clearly fried noodles, when he chewed forcefully, there were slurping water sounds, which, through the microphone, transmitted throughout the coliseum.

"What’s going on?"

The audience swallowed, growing even more curious, "Aren’t those fried noodles? There’s no sauce poured on them, but why does it feel so moist!"

"Look—"

Research authority Luther opened his eyes and lifted the remaining section of noodles on his chopsticks for the airborne high-definition camera to capture.

In the footage, the section bitten by the man’s teeth, continually exuded a thick liquid.

Upon seeing this, many chefs were shaken.

"I get it!"

"Sea bream, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage, bamboo shoots... they’ve been minced and poured into the inside of the noodle strands!"

White Jade Building Team’s waiting area.

Hearing the whispers from the coliseum, Li Quan let out a sly laugh.

"The filling in the fried noodles is nothing ordinary."

"More precisely, the pouring sauce has been injected into the hollow noodles!"

The judges ate without saying a word.

One after another, they wolfed down one plate and then reached for a second.

Soon, a large plate of fried noodles had been completely devoured.

"Huff—"

A long breath was exhaled.

"Satisfied!"

Masked man Sta touched his stomach, met Xia Yu’s gaze, and commented, "Very good!"

"The flame-seared noodles had an incredible elasticity, because the flour was mixed with beef, giving a chewiness similar to tendon balls, but far more flavorful than tendon balls!"

Andrea pursed her lips, then added, "Chewing it actually gives a refined and refreshing feeling, starkly different from the previous rugged, primal flame-seared style!"

"The noodles’ intense elasticity, mixed with the magma-like thick sauce..."

"I tasted a momentum that sweeps across the world!"

After a pause, Andrea fixed her gaze on Xia Yu and asked seriously, "Can you tell me the name of this fried noodle dish? This is the first time I have tasted such a miraculous Chinese fried noodle!"

"Seven Nations United Fried Noodles!"

Xia Yu answered.

"Seven Nations United..."

"Fried Noodles?"

The judges pondered.

Beneath the stage, figures like Tang Shan from Tang’s Team also thought quietly, "Seven Nations United? Are the so-called seven nations referring to ingredients like bamboo shoots, cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, glass noodles, sea bream, and flounder?"