Chapter 1582: Gluttony Perception Sacred Lord

Chapter 1582: The Master of Appetite

An hour later.

The match between Zhou Shiyu and the Wàn Xiā Mó Zhǔ had concluded.

With the entire lineage of the Ultimate Void utterly annihilated, not a single spirit of the Ultimate Void had risen again.

For these invaders who had breached their universe and harbored an obsessive faith in the Ultimate Void, the Supreme Will held absolutely no intention of negotiation or reconciliation. Only total eradication could atone for the crimes committed over such a long span of time in the highest realm of the cosmos.

And the outcome of the two divine beings' contest was, as expected.

Zhou Shiyu emerged victorious with absolute dominance.

The number of divine spirits he had slain—regardless of rank—was ten times greater than that of the Wàn Xiā Mó Zhǔ!

This was even under the condition that Zhou Shiyu had not fully exerted himself, while the Wàn Xiā Mó Zhǔ had given everything he had.

Otherwise, the gap would become even greater.

After the meeting between the two deities, the Lord of Ten Thousand Evil spirits chuckled bitterly, "From now on, I'll never compare myself to my elder brother again."

He felt as though he had brought upon himself a profound humiliation.

Zhou Shiyu smiled slightly, saying nothing.

Though the Lord of Ten Thousand Evil spirits was somewhat disheartened, he didn't dwell on it—after all, deep within his heart, he had always acknowledged the vast disparity in strength between himself and his own brother. He merely hadn't anticipated just how enormous that gap would be before the competition began.

He quickly brushed off this sense of disappointment and laughed,

"Brother, let's go."

"The banquet has been prepared for a long time."

Zhou Shiyu nodded.

There was no urgency in retrieving the fragments of the Holy Seal of False Legends—after all, even the Supreme Will hadn't detected the existence of the broken seal. Delaying a little wouldn't make any difference.

Thus, Zhou Shiyu went to join Wan Xiamo, to attend the banquet.

And indeed, as Wan Xiamo had predicted, the dishes served were not only exquisite but extraordinarily delicious—so much so that they even provided tangible benefits to Zhou Shiyu’s cultivation.

Even more astonishingly,

after simply consuming them, Zhou Shiyu felt as though, by temporarily drawing upon the power of these divine-tier culinary feats, his own strength had momentarily increased by roughly twenty percent.

Don’t let the figure of merely twenty percent deceive you.

After all, he was a being whose power approached the true essence of supreme will!

A twenty-percent boost in strength was enough to make dozens—if not hundreds—of nearly supreme will cultivators feel utterly outmatched.

It was clear how astonishing the enhancement was when these dishes were consumed.

“Indeed, a master who has ascended to the pinnacle of divinity through the path of culinary law.”

“His cooking skills—there is truly nothing to say.”

Zhou Shiyu felt a spark of astonishment within his heart.

At this level of existence, things capable of surprising him were exceedingly rare.

Clearly,

the Supreme God summoned by the Ten Thousand Evil Demons Master counted as one such anomaly.

Gazing at the sumptuous dishes laid out upon the table before him, a thought quietly stirred in Zhou Shiyu's mind.

What if I invited this being to join me as my personal chef?

Beyond any other demands,

whatever he wished—let him name it!

With the current state of the Praja of the Radiant Sun, fulfilling the needs of a Supreme God would be nothing short of effortless.

Even providing him with the opportunity to ascend to the realm of Supreme Will—given his own unparalleled lineage and inheritance—would not be beyond reach.

This Supreme God-Cook, having already enhanced his own power, surely could cultivate more military chefs to elevate the combat prowess of His troops.

Now, every action Zhou Shiyu undertakes is thoughtfully directed toward strengthening the power of His divine realm and nation.

Even when considering hiring a culinary god, He thinks first of how to disseminate that master's art throughout the entire army.

He decides to act—immediately seeking out the Master of Ten Thousand Evil Demons to discuss this matter.

Upon hearing Zhou Shiyu’s words, the Master of Ten Thousand Evil Demons burst into laughter.

“I knew from the very first time you tasted His cuisine that you’d be irresistibly drawn to bring Him into your fold.”

The Master of Ten Thousand Evil Demons chuckled, “In fact, after my very first bite of His exquisite dishes, I too felt the same desire and sent envoys to invite Him. Only to be rejected.”

Zhou Shiyu nodded.

“It was rejected.” The Master of Ten Thousand Evil Demons looked somewhat wistful, then sighed with ease, “But through that rejection, I unexpectedly became a friend of His. Now, with the goodwill of a friend, I can surely invite Him to prepare meals for me and my friends—just as we are doing now.”

He bore a touch of pride.

For a Supreme God to be able to request this Sacred Master of Taste to prepare a meal specifically for him—such a thing was exceedingly rare.

Across the vast expanse of the heavens and realms, no Supreme God possessed such dignity.

Even the Heavenly Punishment God King and the Spring-Autumn Law Master could not achieve it.

It was one of His small points of pride.

Beyond Him, perhaps only the Supreme Will Realm could casually command the Sacred Master of Taste to prepare meals for them.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shiyu could not help but feel a spark of astonishment and curiosity.

Could a Supreme God actually refuse the invitation of a Supreme Lord in reserve? Would he only accept occasional meals?

"What was the reason behind His refusal?"

Zhou Shiyu asked with genuine curiosity.

"He said he only wished to prepare meals for ordinary beings of a billion billion souls, and did not desire to serve as a private chef for some particular powerful entity, for that would go against the very essence of his culinary heart."

The Supreme Demon Master sighed in admiration, "There is a legend: once, the Solar Divine Court and the Lunar Divine Court each sent a being of Supreme Will to invite the Master of Taste to serve as their exclusive chef. Yet even under such circumstances, the Master of Taste firmly declined their invitation."

"After learning the reason for his refusal, neither the Solar Divine Court nor the Lunar Divine Court forced him to join them."

"For they understood—should this matter truly contradict the Master of Taste's original intention, then even if he were forcibly summoned to serve as a personal chef, the dishes he prepared would no longer be exquisite as before. Instead, they would merely be ordinary fare, unremarkable and mundane."

"Even more, his own power might diminish, possibly dropping down to the level of a True God."

"For it would violate his will."

"And will—this is the very source of true power for Supreme Deities and beings above them."

"To violate one's own will is to risk not only a weakening of strength, but possibly the collapse of one's spiritual core, and even death with the dissolution of one's path."

The Supreme Demon Master mused upon this.

Were it not for this very reason, the Master of Taste—whose culinary mastery was astonishing—might very well have been forcibly summoned by those beings of Supreme Will to serve as mere cooking tools for their courts.

Also fortunate, due to this very reason, the Master of Taste has retained his freedom to this day, still capable of crafting dishes that leave countless deities and even transcendent will-bound masters in rapturous admiration.

Zhou Shiyu murmured in wonder.

Now that one considers it, this Master of Taste is truly legendary.

Refusing an invitation from a transcendent will-bound master—no, not just refusing, but doing so with such calm, and yet emerging not only unharmed, but celebrated, renowned throughout the entire pantheon of deities.

Indeed.

Those transcendent will-bound masters merely wished to savor exquisite cuisine.

If the Master of Taste, by accepting their invitation, were to fail in producing something truly divine, not only would they miss the feast, but would also be tainted with the stain of having been forced into servitude by a supreme deity—causing the very heart of that deity to shatter.

Such a scenario, merely imagined, would naturally evoke a primal instinct to flee.

Yet…

Zhou Shiyu still wanted to try it.

Could the mere words of the Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons dissuade Zhou Shiliu's intent?

Then Zhou Shiliu would not be a fragment of Zhou Zhou at all.

The Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons, upon hearing this, was not surprised.

"I will go myself and summon Him."

"Otherwise, if a regular Supreme God were to invite Him, given that man's nature, he would likely simply refuse outright."

The Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons chuckled.

Then He departed immediately.

Zhou Shiliu, meanwhile, ate his food and waited.

As for Him personally going to summon Him?

That was utterly impossible.

If one were merely a solitary Supreme God, that might be acceptable—go, and do as one wished, without restraint.

But this being does not merely represent oneself; it represents the face of the Prajyā Godrealm, and even the face of the Supreme Will.

If one were to humbly petition a Supreme God to serve as one’s personal chef, only to be turned down, the repercussions would stain the honor of the Prajyā Godrealm, and even the Supreme Will itself.

The thought of it is utterly untenable.

As for why the Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons could make such an invitation—because, fundamentally, he and the Lord of Culinary Divinity are friends.

Inviting him as a friend, even if rejected, would carry no scandal; no one would speak ill of it.

Meanwhile,

the Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons had also located the Lord of Culinary Divinity.

At that moment, the Lord of Culinary Divinity was preparing a dish.

The Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons observed it, his brow furrowing slightly, yet after a deep breath, he chose not to interrupt. Instead, he remained quietly by the side, waiting in silence.

After he had spent a full minute perfecting this dish, the scent spilled forth—and without conscious effort, the Master of All Evil spirits involuntarily swallowed.

A silent, sharp breath stirred within him:

The culinary master’s skill had advanced once again!

How could a mere aroma of food stir his fourth-tier Supreme Divine Body to such a state of uncontrollable desire? Who would believe such a thing?

Then—

The Culinary Master regained his awareness, and there, before him, stood the Master of All Evil Spirits, waiting patiently for a long time.

"Anything?"

The Culinary Master asked.

"Perception," the Master of All Evil Spirits replied, "I’ll take you to meet a friend."

Awaken!

That is the true name of the Master of Taste.

"No."

The Master of Taste rejected it without a second thought.

"Give me a face, Jue."

"He is my elder brother. Just visit him once, for my sake."

"My elder brother is a wonderful person."

The Master of Universal Evil spoke earnestly.

The Master of Taste tilted his head slightly. "When did you suddenly have an elder brother?"

"Only just recognized him."

"Who is that?"

The Supreme Demon Lord lifted his chest, his face resplendent with arrogance. "That is the Supreme Sovereign, Third Reserve of the Highest Lord—Cangsheng Emperor Sovereign—who has recently gained fame across all ten thousand realms and who has established the Era of the Sovereign Nation!"

Upon hearing this, the Holy Appetite Sovereign was momentarily startled.

"Isn't the Third Reserve of the Supreme Lord supposed to be you?"

The Supreme Demon Lord chuckled. "How could it be otherwise? Just today, our rank was downgraded—announced by the Supreme Will itself. Soon, all ten thousand realms will know."

The Holy Appetite Sovereign stared at him in quiet astonishment.

The implication was clear.

If his own status had been diminished, why was he so jubilant?

The Supreme Demon Lord sensed his unspoken thoughts, yet he said nothing, offering no explanation—no need at all.

One day, when his elder brother ascends to the Second Reserve of the Supreme Lord, then to the First Reserve, and eventually to the true Supreme Lord, they will then understand the true might of that brother.

"Since the Heavenly Sovereign of the Common People has invited you, then let us go."

At that moment.

The Supreme Master of Appetite paused for a moment, then spoke.

This time, it was the Master of a Hundred Evil Demons who was left stunned.

Did he really just... so easily agree?

He had thought he would have to spend a great deal of effort to persuade him to come.

After all, this being had already refused invitations from Supreme Will Realm masters—how could he be surprised that he refused this invitation from both the Heavenly Sovereign of the Common People and myself?

I had even begun playing on emotions—yet you simply accepted it outright?

The Master of a Hundred Evil Demons felt as though he had prepared a multitude of strategies, only for none of them to prove useful.

"Maybe you should listen to me one more time?"

The Supreme Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons was not content to accept it.

Master of the Feast of Senses: "?"

I've already agreed. What's the point of your nagging?

...

The Supreme Lord of a Hundred Evil Demons swiftly led Master of the Feast of Senses before Zhou Shiyu.

"May I have the honor of addressing your Imperial Majesty, Lord of the Common People."

Master of the Feast of Senses spoke respectfully.

Though he was proud in nature, that did not mean he lacked decorum.

On the contrary.

In most circumstances, he adhered strictly to protocol.

Yet the will of His path could not make Him the exclusive possession of any single powerful being.

"Brother."

The Supreme Demon Master beamed with delight, "It seems that the Sensory Appetite Saint Master does not resent your summons at all. I hardly had to persuade Him—He came willingly."

"Oh?"

Zhou Shiyu looked at the Sensory Appetite Saint Master with a look of surprise, saying:

"This seems to contradict the very style of conduct you're said to embody."

"For different deities, one must adopt different approaches."

"Some are difficult to handle—then one must firmly reject them, even displaying ruthless methods, to avoid being ensnared by such beings."

"Others, with more amiable natures, I will gently decline, and they will not press me too hard."

"As for the Emperor…"

The Master of Gastronomy gazed at Zhou Shizhi, speaking slowly: "I once prepared meals for countless beings across the highest continents."

"They never knew my true identity, only that I was a wandering chef renowned for my exquisite dishes."

"From their words, I heard many tales about you."

"You treat your subjects with great kindness, and your Sunlight Divine Realm has become a utopia longed for by all living beings across the cosmos."

"Amidst the raging wars that have plagued the highest continents and the vast expanse of the multiverse, your Sunlight Divine Realm stands as the sole dream of peace—a land where harmony reigns."

"I once doubted the truth of these accounts."

"It was only after I personally visited the Sunlight Divine Realm and lived there for some time that I came to understand."

"The legends I had heard of the Heavenly Sovereign and the Sunlight Divine Realm reveal only a fraction of the beauty of life there."

"Your compassion for ordinary beings, and the peaceful realm you have created, has earned my profound respect."

At this moment, He bowed deeply.

"It was you who taught me that, on this tumultuous, war-torn continent of supreme dominion, there exists another realm devoted to peace and the well-being of ordinary beings."

"So when I heard the Lord of Ten Thousand Evil Demons instruct me to come see you, I immediately agreed without hesitation."

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the People, thank you for your invitation."

The Lord of Ten Thousand Evil Demons froze.

Zhou Shiyu blinked his eyes.

Then, a faint smile spread across his face.

He had always known that the matters concerning the welfare of his people—those things his true form sat upon—had never been trivial or overlooked.

In this world, there would always be certain beings who cared deeply for the lives of ordinary folk.

"Your Majesty wishes me to come and serve as a chef in our Solar Empire."

"Not merely as your personal chef, but as the chef for all the people of the entire Solar Empire."

"Would you like to?"

Zhou Shizhi asked.

"With the deepest honor,"

the Master of Appetite replied, respectfully and politely.

Zhou Shizhi nodded with a smile.

The Master of Universal Evil stared blankly again.