Chapter 376: Chapter 376: Undercurrent

After the duel between Qin Lang and Ying Chao, the remaining two elimination rounds started in sequence.

The face-off between Tantai Yue and Qu Xun ended with the victory of the former, on the other hand, the contestants ranked fourth and fifth, Yan Hu and Shu Juan, had a face-off in which the lower-ranked contestant, Shu Juan, was victorious, resulting in the elimination of Yan Hu.

With the conclusion of all four elimination rounds, the qualifiers for the ranking competition had now emerged.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” standing in the center of the venue, the Host’s voice echoed, “Let’s give them the warmest applause. Congratulations to the four contestants who have advanced!”

“They are ”

“Qin Lang, the contestant from Tianhua State who came from afar to experience more delicious food!”

“Shen Qian from Yue Hu City, preparing for the upcoming provincial-level cooking competition of Mingjing Province!”

“From our Xianyu city’s culinary family, the Tantai family’s Tantai Yue!”

“Shu Juan, who made her mark in her very first cooking competition!”

As the host announced each contestant’s name and as they walked onto the stage, the audience burst into thunderous applause.

When he finished, the four contestants advancing to the next stage were already standing behind him.

“In three days, the four contestants will enter the final round of this year’s cooking contest – the ranking competition and the final rankings will be decided!”

“So now, let Mr. Zhang Tianze, the President of the Xianyu City Spirit Chef Association, present the stage reward Starstone to the four contestants!”

Amidst the cheer and applause from the audience, Zhang Tianze holding an alloy box made another appearance on stage.

This time, he was accompanied by two formidable figures, the first-level Spirit Executors of Xianyu City.

Such a team was there just to guard the four Starstones in the alloy box.

In the audience, Zhou Tianhao slowly straightened up.

He had been waiting for this moment.

After the Spirit Chef Association demonstrated a formidable security force, would the Star Hunter make his move in advance?

He summoned his four Food Spirits in advance and sat quietly amidst the cheering crowd, ready to strike at any moment.

Too engrossed in the proceedings on-stage, he failed to notice that not too far from him, several men and women, separated in the crowd, and cheering and clapping for the contestants like the rest, stealthily exchanged glances with each other.

In the middle of the stage, the four contestants quickly absorbed the Starstone.

An expected mishap did not occur, Zhang Tianze, the president, felt an increasing heaviness in his heart.

The half-month deadline of the Star Hunter’s notice is approaching and calculating the timeline, the Star Hunter, who didn’t appear this time, has only one opportunity left to make a move, which is the ranking competition that will take place after three days!

Unbeknownst to others, Zhang Tianze put away the alloy box, and with the two first-level Spirit Executors, left the scene.

They needed to immediately strategize a more targeted countermeasure and prepare for the imminent battle.

As Zhang Tianze and the other two departed, the host’s voice echoed throughout the venue, bringing the audience’s attention back from the previous interruption, “Next, is the final part of today’s event.”

“We will divide the four contestants into two groups and determine the order of the ranking competition to be held in three days, as well as the competition’s mode and theme for each group.”

“This is the draw that could potentially affect the final rankings of the four contestants!”

“And now, please look at the big screen!”

The big screen went completely dark as the host’s voice fell.

Immediately after, the entire screen divided into four sections, on the left and right, two sections were red, and two were blue.

Inside the four zones, the contestants’ portraits started rolling.

“Next, we will draw lots to decide the Red and Blue groups; the two contestants within the Red group will compete each other in three days to decide who will advance to the winner’s and loser’s brackets, just as those in the Blue group.”

“The loser’s bracket will compete in four days to determine the third and fourth places.”

“While the winner’s bracket will compete on the same day to determine the first and the second place.”

“Now, let the draw begin!”

The atmosphere on-site suddenly thickened, as the four contestants on stage all turned to look at the electric screen.

The contestant’s portrait on the far right of the electronic screen stabilized after rapidly scrolling.

Shen Qian!

“Huh?” Shen Qian’s face tightened, and an anxious look appeared on her face.

She apparently did not expect to be the first one to get her position determined among the four.

As the second position in the red group was about to be settled, she hurriedly prayed in her heart, “Don’t be Qin Lang, Don’t be Qin Lang!”

If they were allocated to the same group, it means that either she or Qin Lang will inevitably be out of contention for the championship.

Perhaps the heavens heard Shen Qian’s prayers, the second position of the red group that was gradually fixing, finally displayed the portrait of a girl with a ponytail.

It was Tantai Yue!

Shen Qian audibly let out a sigh of relief, her face without a doubt showed signs of joy.

After the positions of the two individuals in the red group were determined, that of the two individuals in the blue group was quickly fixed.

Red Group: Shen Qian vs Tantai Yue.

Blue Group: Shu Juan vs Qin Lang.

“The draw is complete! I believe everyone has already seen the results of the draw.” The host announced, “In three days, the first round of the ranking competition will be held following the schedule of the red group in the morning and the blue group in the afternoon.”

“The next day, we will have the winners and losers bracket competition, please note, the ranking competition will be held for two consecutive days, therefore the preparation time will be relatively short, and it will be a considerable challenge for the contestants!”

As they say, one person’s happiness is another person’s sorrow.

Shu Juan, participating in the city-level cooking competition for the first time, initially looked gloomy. But then she clenched her fist and brandished it with determination.

How about being matched with a formidable opponent? Shu Juan, You can do it!

She comforted herself in her mind, a steadfast fighting spirit reflected in her eyes when she looked at Qin Lang.

On the other side, Tantai Yue, who also eased a sigh of relief because she was not matched with Qin Lang, her eyes met with Shen Qian’s in mid-air.

So you are preparing for the provincial-level cooking competition…

Tantai Yue clenched her fist slightly. Although she was still a bit far from the provincial-level cooking competition, she still wanted to see the gap in strength between them!

“Next, We’ll draw lots for the match format and theme for both Red and Blue groups. Let’s start with the Red group!” The host’s voice caused the two women, looking at each other from a distance, to instantly redirect their gazes towards the electronic screen.

In an unhurried pace, the rapidly scrolling headlines gradually settled.

[Limited Ingredient Value]

[500]

Shen Qian clenched her fist tightly.

Have she been drawn to the exact same competition format and theme as Qin Lang’s elimination competition?

She glanced at Qin Lang, chuckled, and remarked, “Like this, it’s sort of like we are competing with each other, right?”

On the other side, Tantai Yue, who was thinking the same as Shen Qian, shifted her gaze from Shen Qian to Qin Lang at the same moment.

“Good luck.” Qin Lang responded to her with a wry smile and looked up into the sky.

With the end of the Red group’s draw, it’s now the Blue group’s turn.

Under the watchful gazes of countless people on the scene, the scrolling headlines on the electronic screen gradually settled.

[Warehouse Self-Selection Ingredients]

[033]

[Contents of the No. 33 Food Material Library:

Meat Ingredients: Pork belly, Chicken breast, Lamb belly meat

Vegetables: Corn, Pumpkin, Green beans

Secondary Ingredients: Green Onion, Ginger, Garlic

Special Ingredients: Mustard]