The story takes place in 19th century China during the Qing Dynasty, where the Emperor was weakened and the country was close to chaos. It is also during a fictitious era called "The Era of the Cooking Wars". It was an era in which top chefs with different cooking styles tried their best to improve their skills and to become the best chef in China. It is a country where insulting a high-grade chef or fooling around with cooking could land a person in a jail, and impersonating a top-chef is as good as usurpation of authority. Chefs compete with each other in order to gain respect and even power, but also with the risks of losing everything.
After the death of Mao's mother, Pai, who was called the 'Fairy of Cuisine', Mao becomes a Super Chef in order to take the title as Master Chef of his mother's restaurant. However, before he takes his mother's place as Master Chef, he continues to travel China in order to learn more of the many ways of cooking, in the hopes of becoming a legendary chef, just like his mother. During his journey, he meets great friends and fierce rivals who wish to challenge him in the field of cooking.
Mao and friends return to Yang Spring Restaurant. When Shirou serves a dish to a customer without permission, the customer becomes enraged, and Mao offers to serve whatever dish the customer would like.
A strange invitation bearing the mark of absolute obedience arrives for Zhou Yu, Meili, and Mao. The three accept the invitation and attend the dinner party being held at a Western-style mansion.
When Zhou Yu becomes unable to participate in the contest after being stung by a hidden scorpion, Mao takes on the masked chef. Their contest so far is one to one.
Mao and Lei En begin their knife skills contest to determine the true heir to the legendary utensil. Their ingredient is sea bream! Mao battles Lei En's Seven Star Knives with his steel wire and Hundred Hole Knife forged by Xie Lu.
Mao and Lei En's knife skills contest is concluded! When Mao grasps the legendary utensil "Ever-Soul Knife," the dragon mark signifying that he is the successor appears on the blade.
Lei En swears to make as many people happy using his Seven Star Knives. With the third round approaching, Mao's opponent is revealed to be a man with whom he shares history!
