Chapter 6: The Demon King Demanded Soup, So I Served Him a Celestial Hotpot?!
The sky tore open like wet paper.
Purple lightning slithered across the heavens, and a black vortex spiraled above the Crimson Cloud Mountains. Wind screamed. Spirit beasts ran for cover. Somewhere, the Enlightenment Mint began emitting nervous whispers.
In the middle of the mansion courtyard, Ayan stood holding a ladle.
Lan Yueru gripped her sword. "That's not a storm."
Mo Mo was still licking soup off her spoon. "Oops. That might be the Ancient Demon King of Nine Flames. We woke him up by accident trying to steal his soup recipes."
"You WHAT?!"
"Technically, we were trying to impress him with imitation celestial ramen. He got mad and said, and I quote: 'Only one shall boil the heavens, and it is not you.'"
Lightning struck the outer barrier. The spiritual array groaned.
Ayan sniffed the air. "Is it just me, or does that cloud smell like scorched cumin?"
Lan Yueru pointed to the sky. "HE'S DESCENDING!"
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Sky Sect – Absolute Panic
Sect Master Lan Tian was pale again. "Is that… him?!"
Elder Mei threw open a scroll. "It matches the ancient records! Crimson Crown. Six arms. Aura of soup-based malevolence. It's the Nine-Flame Gourmet King! He cooked an entire empire into ash for underseasoning!"
"Why would he come here?!"
"…Because of the radishes," another elder whispered.
Lan Tian clutched his head. "I knew we should've offered chili oil!"
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Mansion – Demon King Lands
A fireball slammed into the garden.
From the crater rose a six-armed figure wreathed in culinary-grade flame. His eyes burned like charcoal. His fork-shaped crown hissed with oil.
"I SMELL HERESY," he boomed, "AND INFERIOR STOCK."
Ayan peered over the soup pot. "Want to try mine?"
The Demon King paused.
"…You dare offer ME soup?"
"It's got spiritual radish, three-drop pepper oil, and something the turtle sneezed on. I think it's lucky now."
The Demon King sniffed. His six nostrils flared.
"…I SENSE… BALANCE."
Mo Mo leaned toward Lan Yueru. "He respects true broth craftsmanship. If Ayan impresses him, he might just leave!"
"If he doesn't?"
"Then we all become stew ingredients."
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Courtyard – Soup Showdown Begins
The Demon King extended all six arms. "A TEST. OF TASTE. IF YOUR SOUP SURVIVES MY LADLE OF JUDGMENT, YOU LIVE."
He conjured a giant obsidian ladle, crackling with spirit flame.
Ayan didn't flinch. He grabbed his plain wooden ladle and stirred calmly.
"Fine," he said. "But you don't get seconds unless you say please."
Lan Yueru backed away. "He's going to die."
Mo Mo held up a scorecard. "Ten out of ten if he lives."
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The Duel of Stew
The courtyard transformed.
The Demon King summoned a lava cauldron, throwing in chunks of Hellbone Serpent meat and volcanic lotus petals. The flames danced like angry spirits.
Ayan ladled broth into a simple clay bowl, added radish slices, then sprinkled something glowing.
"What's that?" Lan Yueru whispered.
He shrugged. "Condensed Enlightenment Mint and a pinch of Celestial Salt."
The Demon King roared. "TASTE MY INFERNAL BROTH!"
They clashed.
Ladle met ladle. Spoons snapped in mid-air. Steam rose like battle smoke. Spirit birds fainted. Somewhere, the turtle wore tiny sunglasses and played dramatic background music.
Then, silence.
The Demon King took a sip of Ayan's soup.
His eyes went wide. He shuddered. He dropped his ladle.
"…You… you boiled with… compassion."
"I just cook what tastes good."
The Demon King fell to his knees, tears rolling down his fiery cheeks.
"…You have humbled me. Please… may I have seconds?"
---
Aftermath
The sky cleared. The wind softened. Spirit trees danced.
The Demon King, now peacefully eating soup under a parasol, looked like a giant hell-themed food critic on vacation.
"I shall spread word of your cuisine across the realms. No mortal has touched my taste buds in ten thousand years."
Mo Mo offered him pickled peaches. "Dessert?"
He sniffled. "You truly understand me."
Lan Yueru turned to Ayan. "You just defeated an ancient demon by cooking. Again."
He yawned. "Yeah. I'm getting hungry now."
"You just cooked a celestial hotpot!"
"I didn't say I wanted soup. I want dumplings."
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Meanwhile – Beast Sect
"…He tamed the Demon King?"
"Yes, Elder. With soup."
"...Deploy Operation Gift Basket. Immediately."
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To Be Continued…