The air still shimmered with the golden afterglow of the Soul Flame as Zhang Ye stepped forward, his presence commanding absolute silence. The disciples, still recovering from the intensity of their last trial, could feel it in their bones—this was only the beginning.
"You have ignited your Soul Flame," Zhang Ye said, his gaze sharp. "But a weak flame is useless. Without refinement, it is nothing more than a flickering candle in the storm."
The disciples swallowed hard. They had struggled to awaken their Soul Flames, barely managing to keep them alight. Yet now, Zhang Ye spoke of refinement—of forging them into something stronger.
He waved his hand.
A massive iron cauldron materialized before them, its surface engraved with ancient runes that pulsed with an eerie light. Beside it, a pile of strange black stones rested atop a stone slab, glowing faintly with heat.
"This," Zhang Ye said, tapping the cauldron, "is the Cauldron of Essence—a tool used by divine chefs of the past to temper their flames."
Then, pointing to the stones, he added, "And these are Flame-Forging Stones, capable of pushing your Soul Flame to its absolute limit."
A murmur spread among the disciples. They had heard of the Cauldron of Essence in legends, but Flame-Forging Stones? That was something even elite chefs would hesitate to use.
Zhang Ye's voice cut through their uncertainty. "For the next trial, you must place a Flame-Forging Stone into your cauldron and ignite your Soul Flame beneath it. If your control is weak, your flame will be consumed. If you hesitate, the stone will shatter, and you will fail."
He paused, his eyes darkening. "And if you lose control completely… the backlash could destroy your Soul Flame permanently."
The tension in the air thickened. This was no simple cooking trial—this was a test of life and spirit.
"Begin."
Kai stepped forward first, grabbing one of the Flame-Forging Stones. The moment his fingers touched it, a burning energy rushed into his body, threatening to overwhelm him. He gritted his teeth and placed the stone into the cauldron, then took a deep breath, summoning his golden Soul Flame beneath it.
The moment his flame touched the cauldron, a powerful resistance pushed back against him. The runes on the cauldron flared, rejecting his weak flame.
Kai's hands trembled, but he refused to back down.
He focused, pouring more intent into his flame.
Zhang Ye's words echoed in his mind—A weak flame is useless.
Gritting his teeth, Kai strengthened his will. His Soul Flame intensified, pushing against the resistance. The cauldron trembled, the runes glowing brighter, and then—
Boom!
A surge of golden energy erupted, and for a moment, Kai thought he had failed. But as the light settled, he saw it—his flame had merged perfectly with the cauldron, growing steadier, more refined.
Zhang Ye nodded in approval.
One by one, the other disciples stepped forward.
Linna, hands trembling, placed her stone into the cauldron and summoned her flame. The resistance was immediate, pushing against her, but she adjusted her breathing, guiding her flame in a steady flow. Slowly, the cauldron accepted it.
Elira's turn came, and she hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of the trial. But with a deep breath, she controlled her emotions, focusing her Soul Flame until it merged seamlessly with the cauldron.
As the last disciple completed the trial, Zhang Ye exhaled, his expression unreadable.
"You have taken the first step toward true mastery," he said. "Your flames are no longer fragile embers—they are beginning to take form."
He turned away, his voice carrying an unmistakable weight.
"But there is still much to learn. The next step… will determine whether you truly have the soul of a Divine Chef."