413, Ju Zi: What?! This isn't even the worst tasting one? [Third Update]_1

Lin Yi spoke up, "Once you lift the lid, from the very first taste, you must keep a straight face and finish quickly. The entire process must be completed within three minutes. If you exceed the time, you fail. If you show more than thirty percent of a reaction on your face, you fail."

The rules were so strict that Orange became even more worried.

Since the challenge was set up like this, it clearly meant the food would be the kind that was difficult to swallow.

But you can do it, Orange! Come on!

Staring at the floating plate, Orange walked towards it and lifted her hand to remove the cover on top.

"Ah?!"

Orange retreated in panic, quickly raising her hand to cover her nose and mouth, her complexion turning ghastly as if she couldn't accept it. Then, holding her chest, she ran to the side and started to retch.

Lin Yi: "..."

Without a doubt, it was a psychological effect. Orange hadn't even smelled the scent yet; she probably decided just by its appearance that this northeastern soybean paste was really something...

The spectators craned their necks, and simply at one glance, they instantly retreated in horror.

"Damn! Damn!"

"The first dish is this intense?!"

"Give up on the reward, Orange!"

"Blegh—"

"I'm gonna throw up!"

...

Could you at least smell it before deciding what it is?

Lin Yi was somewhat frustrated.

After retching for a while, Orange straightened up, her pretty face pale.

She really hadn't expected she would have to taste this... no, this wasn't even food!

"Senior... do I really have to eat this?!"

Lin Yi said indifferently, "First of all, this isn't what you guys imagine it to be, and secondly, I said it's food, so it's something edible. I've tasted it myself when I traveled to Blue Planet. If you don't believe me, you can come forward and smell it."

Unexpectedly, just as Lin Yi finished speaking, Gu Yuena covered her mouth and ran to the side to heave.

Oh my god, Lin Yi actually ate it! Do I still want to bite his lips tonight?!

I don't want to waste this chance!

Gu Yuena felt like crying.

Orange chose to trust Lin Yi, believing that someone of Lin Yi's status wouldn't deceive her about this.

Approaching the northeastern soybean paste cautiously, Orange held her breath at first, and then tentatively sniffed it.

Hmm? There's no stench!

Her expression changed, and she found the paste to be salty and savory.

"This! This isn't that..."

Orange immediately turned around and told everyone, as if relieved.

"Eat it first, then talk!"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted.

Orange glanced at Lin Yi and picked up the spoon next to her. Remembering the rules, she scooped up a small taste.

Hmm?? Indeed, it was salty and savory. It was her first time tasting such a sauce, and Orange found it quite novel.

Seeing Orange's demeanor, everyone more or less believed that it wasn't that thing, especially since they hadn't smelled anything foul.

But after several spoonfuls, the corners of Orange's eyes began to tremble. Although it was normal food, it was so salty... and there was still more than half a plate left to finish!

Lin Yi timely reminded, "You have one and a half minutes left."

Ah?! Eat quickly!

Can't stop!

Orange sped up her spoon, shoveling mouthful after mouthful of the northeastern soybean paste into her mouth, so salty! So salty! But she couldn't make any faces!

She kept the rules in mind, her gaze resolute, thinking she must get the upgraded reward!

Finally, after gulping down the last mouthful, Orange expressed a look of anguish as if relieved, and cried out, "So salty! I need water!"

"You can't drink water; the challenge rules say you can't drink water or use other food to help in between."

Hearing Lin Yi's merciless voice, Orange nearly burst into tears on the spot.

With a gloomy face she said, "Alright then..."

Lin Yi began the extraction for the second dish.

The screen halted, showing three oval-shaped spherical objects.

[Century Egg]

Again three of them.

Well... Lin Yi didn't have an aversion to this food, but people from outside his homeland greatly resisted it.

Take Bear Grylls, for example...

He could eat bugs, but not century eggs.

And Ju Zi wasn't even from this realm, let alone this homeland.

Once more, his right hand swept through the air, and a plate appeared there.

Ju Zi, anxious beyond measure, lifted the cover.

She suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Goose eggs!"

An immediate protest arose from the audience below.

Stomping her feet and raising her hands, Bi Ji complained, "Those are duck eggs! Goose eggs are much larger!"

Ju Zi's smile blossomed, "Duck eggs are good too!"

Lin Yi's mouth twitched... Sorry, they're called century eggs.

"The timer starts the moment you peel off the 'eggshell'."

Upon hearing Lin Yi's voice, Ju Zi nodded immediately and expressionlessly got started.

But as she chipped away a piece of the shell and saw the pitch-black color inside, she froze on the spot.

Dumbfounded for one second, two seconds, three seconds...

Unable to believe it, Ju Zi continued peeling, hoping she was mistaken, but she grew increasingly desperate as the entire egg proved to be black through and through!

Below, Bi Ji's shaking head mimicked a rattle-drum: "Neither is it a duck egg, it's not, it's not..."

Can't show expressions, mustn't show expressions, Ju Zi's gaze hollow, she rapidly finished peeling the three eggs, then stiffly stuffed one of them whole into her mouth and chewed furiously!

Suddenly, as if struck by a paralysis spell, she stood there, stiff as a board.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Everyone looked at Ju Zi with that kind of despondent gaze, filled with an intense urge to vomit, as if tasting some alien creature's excrement, full of disbelief.

How on earth could there be eggs with such a taste...

Lin Yi's cold voice rang out, "Half a minute left."

In an instant, Ju Zi sped up her gobbling, swiftly dealing with the first egg and then immediately stuffing the second into her mouth, followed by the third!

She barely paused, hoping to shorten the contact with this taste by finishing as quickly as possible!

Finished! Ju Zi immediately opened her mouth wide to signal to Lin Yi!

The next moment, she doubled over the edge of the platform, her forehead bulging with veins.

Such a weird taste! It wouldn't leave her mouth!

I'd rather eat a plate of that yellow sauce again!

Everyone looked at Ju Zi with a measure of sympathy...

Gu Yuena murmured, "All that effort for a Red Junior reward, is it really worth it?"

She could easily attain a Gold-tier advanced reward, so of course, she couldn't understand the difficulty Ju Zi faced for a Red Junior reward.

"Ugh—"

Clutching at her chest, Ju Zi's expression was one of agony, and it seemed she had an even harder time accepting the taste than Bear Grylls did.

After all, their realms were not even the same...

Lin Yi gave her enough time to rest, then raised an eyebrow and said, "At least you've succeeded in two-thirds of the challenge. The final food item will be the most difficult of the three, I wish you successful in your challenge."

Ju Zi's expression froze.

What?!

Those three eggs weren't the hardest to eat?!

Is it still not too late to regret this?

No! That's not an option! I've come this far!

Ju Zi stood up, turned to face Lin Yi, and declared with a resolute look, "Bring it on."

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