The two exchanged a glance, and Xiao saw only sincerity in Paimon's innocent eyes.
For a moment, Xiao wondered if Paimon had deliberately thrown him into the fire. If he didn't phrase his words carefully, it could easily offend someone.
Xiao was a very honest "person." He wasn't as natural an actor as Zhongli, who could effortlessly blend into any role. Xiao always spoke the truth.
From Xiao's perspective, Paimon's question wasn't particularly difficult to answer.
The food from the Seven Treasures Hotel was brought by Qian Renxue and her companions.
Whether it was Qian Renxue or the chefs from the Seven Treasures Hotel, none of them had any personal connection to him.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect had been upgraded to the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, but the Seven Treasures Hotel still retained its original name.
There were many reasons for this, one of which was that the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was too busy to bother with such trivial matters.
Everyone turned their gaze to Xiao, eager to hear his evaluation.
Seeing Xiao's slight hesitation, Guizhong waved her sleeve with a smile on her face.
"Xiao, it's okay. I can accept any kind of evaluation," she said.
"Of course, I don't think I'll lose!" Guizhong added with a proud expression. Just by glancing at the delicacies brought by Qian Renxue, she knew she had already won.
The world's cuisine still had much to be explored and discovered.
Guizhong was a deity with a gentle exterior but a strong will. Her competitive nature had even led her to "challenge" Morax in the past. How could she lose in such a small "contest"?
"Right, Xiao! Guizhong doesn't mind, so just say it!" Paimon chimed in with her usual innocence.
Xiao: 0.o
This Paimon really knew how to stir things up.
After a moment of silence, Xiao stroked his chin and spoke.
"From a rational perspective, the dishes made by the Lord of Dust are superior," he said.
Zhongli: "???"
Everyone else: "???"
They glanced at Xiao and then at Zhongli. If Zhongli hadn't been sitting right in front of them, they might have thought Xiao was Zhongli in disguise.
What a perfect use of "from a rational perspective." He had truly mastered the essence of it.
Moreover, as he spoke, Xiao unconsciously stroked his chin, his movements and demeanor almost identical to Zhongli's.
The beings from the Teyvat continent naturally knew that the Lord of Dust was one of Guizhong's titles, but the humans of the Douluo Continent were unaware of this.
The trio from the Spirit Hall, led by Qian Renxue, showed a mix of confusion and seriousness in their eyes.
Qian Renxue, in particular, couldn't help but glance at Guizhong. The dishes were made by Guizhong, yet Xiao referred to her as the Lord of Dust.
Zhongli, on the other hand, was the Geo Archon.
For some reason, Qian Renxue felt there was a deeper meaning behind this, something she couldn't quite grasp.
Wait, could it be?
She vaguely remembered Zhongli once mentioning that he and a close friend had established a nation together.
The Geo Archon and the Lord of Dust.
At this thought, Qian Renxue's frown deepened.
The thoughts and memories of others didn't disturb Xiao as he continued.
"Whether it's the color, aroma, or the meaning behind the dishes, the Lord of Dust's creations are more moving," Xiao said, speaking without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation.
Paimon nodded from time to time, seemingly in agreement.
Indeed, the food made by Guizhong seemed to possess a certain magic. Even the simplest home-cooked dishes had a way of making people forget the passage of time.
"As for the dishes prepared by mortals, their color and flavor are top-notch, but they are merely delicious meals," Xiao said with a serious expression, as if he truly believed it.
Hearing this, Qian Renxue felt a bit indignant. The dishes were not only prepared by the chefs of the Seven Treasures Hotel but also by a food-type Soul Douluo from the Spirit Hall.
The skills of these two were considered the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent's culinary world, surpassing even the royal chefs.
She picked up her chopsticks with grace and took a bite of Guizhong's dish.
In an instant, Qian Renxue's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Guizhong and the dishes on the table.
This...
Now she understood why Xiao had referred to the dishes prepared by the two chefs as merely "delicious meals."
The food made by the "young girl" with the large sleeves was so refreshing that it felt like her strength had increased slightly.
Was this even food?
Even in the Douluo Continent, where there were dishes that could enhance one's abilities, none had such an immediate effect.
If one ate like this every day, even Paimon could take off, right?
Paimon: "???"
"Miss, what's wrong?" Ci Xue asked, noticing Qian Renxue's unusual reaction. Could the food be poisoned?
No, absolutely not!
If the "people" in this room wanted to deal with them, they wouldn't resort to poison.
At this thought, Ci Xue's composure began to crack. As a titled Douluo, he felt he had lost all dignity.
"It's nothing," Qian Renxue said, waving her hand, but her eyes remained fixed on the dishes.
After a moment, she turned to Guizhong.
"Miss Guizhong, your skills are truly unparalleled, the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent," she said, conceding defeat.
She had thought that Xiao, being aligned with Zhongli and Guizhong, would naturally favor their side in his evaluation. She never expected this young man named Xiao to find a way to acknowledge the strengths of the two masters.
His long silence must have been him trying to figure out how to save face for them, the guests.
"It seems I've indeed won," Guizhong said with a smile. "But human ingenuity should not be underestimated. Many people's culinary skills surpass mine."
From what Paimon had said, there were many skilled chefs in Teyvat, such as Xiangling and the Raiden Shogun.
Wait, did something strange just slip in?
As if realizing something, Guizhong added with a hint of embarrassment, "Cooking is just a hobby of mine. I'm not particularly skilled, but luckily Zhongli and Xiao don't mind."
"A hobby?" The trio fell silent, feeling a pang of discomfort.
Wait, these "people" always referred to humans as "humans" in their conversations. As humans themselves, hearing others constantly refer to them as "humans" felt a bit odd.
Mortals, humans...
In a flash, they realized something astonishing.
Apart from the three of them, there wasn't a single normal person in the room.
Zhongli was a god, and this Xiao referred to humans as mortals, clearly not an ordinary human himself.
As for Guizhong, who was referred to as the Lord of Dust, she was certainly no ordinary human.
Paimon and Azahada didn't seem Mortal either.
"Are they all gods?" Qian Renxue thought to herself, clenching her fists. She suddenly felt the urge to return to the Spirit Hall and inherit the legacy of the Angel God.
Once she became a god, she could speak like them too!