SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 25, and here's Chapter 26. So, read and review. Come on guys and girls, is it so hard for you to leave a review other than put this on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: Me no own, you no sue.

Chapter 26: Ice And Fire's Impulse!

"North Star Sirius Blade!" Leon raised his knife and started slicing the fish. "Arhat Crystal Slice!"

"I can almost feel the strain of his effort." Elder Kuan remarked as the four judges approached the table.

"However..." Elder Yien added. "As far as I can see, it's the same sashimi that he made before."

"It seems age has taken its toll, honored Elders!" Leon rebuked. "Surely your tired old eyes can appreciate the sharpness of this blade through the slices!"

"Our faces..." all four elders were stunned. "Our faces are reflected in each slice!"

"Although Mao treated the fish roughly, the meat is still firm." Master Lou noted. "Not only that. It also reflects like a mirror. I can't believe such a sharp knife exists."

That bluish-white glow... Ya Xue frowned. And fearsome sharpness... and the look of agony on Leon's face... could it be... "Now I understand. The Underworld Knife, North Star Sirius Blade is... a knife completely made of ice. I remembered my father once told me about an incredible knife of ice that exists in the Underworld. It was made from ice cut from a northern glacier and constantly sharpened for many years in the cold."

"I have heard of it." Chouyu confirmed. "It's an ideal blade with a razor-sharp edge, and a coldness that prevents heat from tainting the fish meat."

With Mao, with one swing of his knife, the sea bream flesh exploded into multitudes of tiny spheres. "Good." Mao dusted his hands off.

"It's wire!" Shilou gaped when he peered closer at Mao's knife. "He's taken the Steel Wire knife and looped it around each and every hole of the Hundred-Hole Knife!"

"Boy. Did you know what you just did?" Leon snorted. "If high-quality red sea bream is minced, then its taste is ruined. How do you plan to fix it?"

"It's fine as it is." Mao replied. "The red sea bream will be reincarnated in my hand!" firing up the wok, he added the sliced bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots.

"It is done." Leon declared, finishing his dish after his ice knife shattered. The time has come. He mused. Stopping the two serving girls, he presented his dish to the judges. "The boy isn't done yet, but I'll have you taste my dish now! This is the best time for you to try it. The finest sashimi in the world! Flash-Frozen Ice Bream Mountain!" he pulled off the cloth. "It's not a mere show! Sashimi tastes best when frozen up until the moment you eat it. With sauce made from sesame oil, this sashimi will lead you to Seventh Heaven!" he poured the pot of sesame oil onto the sauce dishes. "The Secret Knife of the Underworld... North Star Sirius Blade! You will realize...its true power!"

"Above all factors, the reason for this excellent fresh taste is in the time when you completed the dish!" Master Lou gushed. "It has been six hours since the bream was killed. This is the Golden Time, the time when the meat tastes the most fresh! You have responded superbly to the most important issue. Well done, Leon!"

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting!" Mao apologized when his dish was presented.

"It took you quite a long time." Master Lou remarked.

"I'm sorry for the delay." Mao nodded. "Please." and lifted the cover of his dish to reveal a set of spring rolls. "A Liu Mao Xing Special: Reincarnation Spring Rolls!"

"We'll begin the taste test." the four judges reached for their chopsticks. "It's alive!" the judge panel was shocked. "These spring rolls contain the golden moment of freshness for the red sea bream, just like Leon's!"

But how? Master Lou wondered. The bream was cooked long after the ideal time. What gives?

I-impossible. Leon frowned when he noticed the burnt wounds on Mao's dominant hand. No way. He turned Mao's hand over. "The burns... you... you couldn't have..."

"That's right. I heated the third knife directly over fire." Mao confirmed. "With that heat, I locked in the freshness of the fish!"

"Mao-sama couldn't..." Ya Xue realized what her young master had done. "He minced the bream with the heated knife, searing the surface of the meat at the same time. This means that the minced bream was already cooked, thus locking in the freshness of the fish!"

"The third knife combined the Steel Wire Knife and the Hundred-Hole Knife, and added the effect of heat." Leon added. "You're not half-bad, kid."

"I will now give you our decision." Master Lou stepped up. "The glorious victor of the Sacred Knife Skills Contest..."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.