https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-163-The-Profoundly-Unfathomable-Zhang-Yu/13686632/
Chapter 164: Gluttony
Hearing the words of the True God, the crowd of contestants were taken aback—realizing that the next exam would be a contest of eating capacity. Many immediately began mentally assessing their own strengths and weaknesses in this bizarre new arena.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, however, exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions alight with excitement. This is it—free food for the taking! they thought in unison.
“Buffet, huh?” Zhang Yu mused inwardly. “I’m gonna eat back every last penny I paid in registration fees, travel costs, and teleportation charges.”
Bai Zhenzhen, grinning mischievously, guessed: “Do you think the next round’s gonna be unlimited Pre-made Meals? That’d be amazing.”
Zhang Yu chuckled, shaking his head. “We’re taking the Foundation Establishment Exam, not some snack challenge. They wouldn’t serve Pre-made Meals. It’d have to be something high-value, hard to digest—like Demon Beast Meat. That’s what a real test should be.”
Just as they were speculating about what might be served, Yu Xinghan approached, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Here in Xian Du?” he said, voice low and dreamy. “You could easily eat dragon meat in the next exam. No big deal.”
His words sent a shiver down their spines. Even his saliva seemed to surge uncontrollably.
“Dragon meat?” Zhang Yu blurted out, stunned. “Are you serious? That’s—”
“Overkill?” Yu Xinghan laughed. “In Xian Du, dragon meat is just another meal. You think these people are ordinary? They’re all billionaires. Plain food? It wouldn’t even scratch the surface of their digestive systems.”
He nodded subtly toward Yun Jing. “See No. 11 there? A top-tier high schooler in Xian Du. Rumor has it he spends millions every month just on outsourced cultivation expenses.”
Bai Zhenzhen stared, awestruck. “These people are insane rich. Where the hell do they even get all that money?”
Yu Xinghan smirked. “They’re 1.5-layer folks. You’re still stuck on the 1-layer. Naturally, you don’t get it.”
Bai Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. “Then how the hell do you know about 1.5-layer stuff if you’re still on the 1-layer?”
“From my master,” Yu Xinghan said casually. “He’s been tracking every piece of intel from Xian Du for years.”
He gestured around. “After all, this place gathers the richest companies from Kunxu Layer 1, the most advanced tech, and the most promising cultivators. Keeping tabs on Xian Du means you’re watching the pulse of the future immortal realm.”
With a sly grin, he turned to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. “Want to subscribe to my insider updates on the immortal world? Plus, exclusive commentary from Golden Core Immortals?”
That’s right—Yu Xinghan had recently launched a new business: paid information queries. And it was paying off big time.
Zhang Yu’s interest flickered. But then he glanced at his bank balance and grimaced. “Maybe later.”
At that moment, several large barrels were rolled onto the stage, arriving under the eager gazes of Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Yu Xinghan.
But when the lids were lifted—revealing the bland, grayish Synthetic Food inside—Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen both deflated, their faces falling in dismay.
Especially the two who’d been surviving on Synthetic Food for months. The thought of having to compete in eating this stuff made their stomachs churn. Their faces turned green.
Zhang Yu seethed internally. Damn it… I paid three thousand just to register. And this is what I get?
Yu Xinghan’s expression flickered with embarrassment. How much are these True Gods siphoning off?
Meanwhile, Deng Bingding continued outlining the exam rules.
In short, the goal was simple: eat as much as possible. Synthetic Food would be served in unlimited supply.
No Spirit Roots. No Martial Energy. No external aids of any kind—essentially, only raw physical strength was allowed. Mental cultivation techniques, as they relied on the mind’s visualization and control, were considered part of the body’s internal power and thus permitted.
Any attempt to cheat—like vomiting, hiding food, or any other underhanded trick—would result in permanent disqualification from ever obtaining a Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate.
“Consumption, digestion, metabolism,” Deng Bingding stated coldly, “these are the foundations of physical strength—and a direct reflection of one’s Physical Strength Level.”
“True strength lies in a powerful internal system, precise control over the body’s inner workings, and the ability to mobilize gastrointestinal power with precision.”
“Simply put, the stronger your body, the greater your digestive capacity. The greater your capacity, the more you can eat. It’s inevitable.”
“This test evaluates your Physical Strength Level and your mastery over your own flesh.”
“If running, jumping, and lifting are the external arts of the body…”
“Then today’s exam is the internal cultivation of the physical form.”
“Do your best.”
The moment the exam officially began, the Light Screen ahead of them lit up with a new set of bar graphs, displaying contestant numbers and their food intake.
With a countdown—3… 2… 1—the bars surged upward like rockets.
A deafening roar filled the air as a massive man heaved a barrel onto his lap and began devouring the Synthetic Food like a whale swallowing water.
The relentless flood of food created a sound like a rushing river, drawing glances from nearby students.
The man was Meng Tao. In seconds, he’d finished an entire barrel. Yet, his brow furrowed.
“Tastes like dirt,” he muttered.
No seasoning. No flavor. Just bland, tasteless paste. But despite the disgust, pride swelled in his chest.
“Hahahaha! I’ve been using Gluttony Spirit Roots for years. My entire digestive system is trained for massive intake!”
“Even without the Spirit Root now, my advantage is still unmatched.”
“I might even make it to the top three… maybe even the top two!”
As he devoured more, his eyes flicked toward the Light Screen. His face twisted in surprise.
First place: No. 23
Second: No. 11
Third: No. 18
He was third. A flash of joy—then instant concern.
The gap between him and the leaders was widening fast.
He turned to look at Yun Jing and Ye Lingshao, desperate to understand how they were eating.
What he saw stunned him.
Yun Jing’s chest had split open like a cavern. Food poured directly into his body—no swallowing, no chewing. It was as if he were transferring contents from one barrel to another.
He’s abandoned taste. Abandoned swallowing altogether, Meng Tao thought in horror. To him, eating isn’t nourishment—it’s refueling.
On the other side, Ye Lingshao’s body surged with vitality. His muscles expanded, his frame ballooned. Arms, chest, throat, esophagus, belly—all stretched and enlarged, transforming him into a miniature giant.
He picked up the food barrel like a child holding a cup, pouring the Synthetic Food into his mouth with effortless ease.
He can stretch his body like that? Meng Tao’s mind reeled. Yun Jing and Ye Lingshao… are they even human? Is there any weakness in either of them?
Still… finishing in the top three is nothing to sneeze at.
Just then, Deng Bingding spoke again, calm and measured.
“Some of you may wonder—why use Synthetic Food?”
“Because it’s the easiest to digest, imposes the lightest burden, and adapts to every kind of stomach. It’s ideal for this exam.”
“I know some of you dislike the taste. But learning to endure it quickly? That’s part of the test.”
Huang Zichou, listening from the sidelines, rolled his eyes inwardly. All excuses. The real reason? Budget.
These high schoolers eat like bottomless pits. If we served real food, we’d bankrupt the entire event. Synthetic Food? Unlimited. They can eat all they want.
Meanwhile, Dai Xingzhi—chewing furiously—thought to himself: This is awful.
As a resident of the Upper City North Sixth Ring in Xian Du, Dai Xingzhi had rarely eaten Synthetic Food. To him, it was the food of poor outsiders—migrant workers from the provinces.
Now, as he forced it down, the disgust only grew.
Not only do your guts have to adapt… your mind has to too. Only someone who eats this every day could possibly get used to it.
Damn it… I’m gonna throw up…
Zhang Yu, face pale and grim, gulped down a massive barrel of Synthetic Food. His soul ached.
After months of eating this stuff, I thought I’d be used to it. Now I have to compete in eating it?
Who the hell said ‘he who endures hardship becomes a superior man’? All I’ve endured is this crap. In this exam, my past suffering is just a liability.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Excuse me, examiner!” he called out. “Can we add some seasoning?”
Deng Bingding didn’t even glance up. “No. Overcoming taste is part of the cultivation path. And it’s part of this test.”
Dai Xingzhi, watching Zhang Yu’s strained expression, scoffed inwardly. Typical rich kid. Can’t handle a little discomfort.
It’s not that bad. He must be used to gourmet meals. Too spoiled to handle anything real.
Even in Xian Du, wealthy students prioritized performance and rankings over taste. But Zhang Yu’s reaction—his utter despair—only confirmed Dai Xingzhi’s belief: These outsiders may have money, but they lack real cultivation spirit.
Hmph. Even among the wealthy, we Xian Du natives are superior.
As the students devoured Synthetic Food, chasing their rankings on the Light Screen, Huang Zichou, the little deity, observed silently.
“The second phase is beginning,” he muttered.
On the battlefield, Meng Tao suddenly slowed.
Not just him—several others who had been eating at breakneck speed also began to falter, their pace dropping.
Huang Zichou’s voice echoed through the network.
Ha. So this is what a Feast Battle really is. It’s not just about who eats fastest.
As Deng Elder said—this is about overall metabolism, digestion, the power of the gut, and the student’s mastery over their own internal systems.
(End of Chapter)
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