Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The First Step as a Spirit Chef, Glowing Dishes
“The Sect Leader is here.”
Long Tianxing noticed Ye Feng and immediately shouted.
Li Jiaojiao lifted the basket of vegetables, “Sect Master Uncle, I think the Divine Vegetables left by Han San are quite good; they should help me take the first step as a Spirit Chef. For tonight’s dinner, I’m planning to cook with these.”
Ye Feng reached out and picked up a lettuce.
“System, what are Divine Vegetables?”
“Divine Vegetables are a kind of vegetarian food cultivated by the Divine Race, containing pure Spiritual Energy. After consumption, they benefit one’s Cultivation Level and Bloodline, serving as spiritual objects used by the Divine Race in their daily spiritual practice.”
“I see!”
Ye Feng put down the lettuce and told Li Jiaojiao, “Alright, we’ll use these for dinner tonight, and we’ll all come to taste.”
“Great!” Li Jiaojiao, carrying a basket of vegetables and accompanied by several female disciples, ran off and squeezed into the kitchen.
Since Qiao Jiaxi was still doing frog jumps at the peak, Ouyang Feng was helping wash the vegetables, and Huo Yunjie was out for training, only Long Tianxing and Shi Lei remained in the Miniature Cave Heaven World.
The two went to Lin Village to ask a carpenter to cut timber and process it into material to be delivered in a few days.
Ye Feng looked around and noticed that Long Tianxing and Shi Lei had already dug out foundations near the wooden building, ready to construct new houses.
As for the further areas, they were surrounded by Jia Yulan and Yan Ruyu, who were preparing to cultivate them into the first herb field.
The Spiritual Medicine Chamber at the back of the peak, on the other hand, was designated for breeding specifically; the Spirit Seeds would first be cultivated into seedlings before being transplanted into the herb field.
At that moment, Li Jiaojiao hurried back, displaying the “Binding Spirit Rope” to take an eight-pound Spirit Fish from the pond, then ran off again to prepare dinner.
Ye Feng walked to the edge of the pond, took out a bag of Lower Rank Spirit Beast Feed, and scattered it into the water. The Spirit Fish immediately scrambled for it as if they hadn’t eaten for hundreds of years.
“With the Divine Vegetables and Spirit Fish from the Divine Race, our Misty Sect’s meals will be much improved, aiding cultivation. The pity is that we have not yet gained the cultivation methods of the Divine Race,” he mused, scattering Spirit Beast Feed and imagining that eating plenty of Spirit Fish and Divine Vegetables would make him stronger, which brought a smile to his face.
In the kitchen.
Li Jiaojiao took out the special set of kitchenware that Ye Feng gave her, knocked out the Spirit Fish, scraped off the scales, removed the gills, split open the stomach, cleared out the entrails, rinsed it clean, then cut it into pieces and marinated it with salt and shredded ginger.
The others were washing vegetables on the side.
Mo Ying stood at the kitchen door, looking down at a pot on the ground, and frowned, “Is my task to scrub the pot?”
After some thought, Mo Ying wrapped a Binding Spirit Rope around the pot scrubber and used her rarely practiced Sword Combat Technique. She went around inside the pot a few times, successfully scrubbing it clean, albeit nearly puncturing it in the process.
“Senior Sister, that’s enough, if you keep scrubbing, there’ll be no pot left…” Qiu Ju quickly ran over and took the pot away.
Once everything was ready, Li Jiaojiao stood in front of the stove with a spatula, looking at the heated pot and then at the dozen or so plates of vegetables beside her, seeming very nervous.
“Senior Sister, is this fire strong enough?” Long Tianxing crouched on the ground, extended one hand beneath the pot, and used the rising heat waves from the “Fiery Cloud Palm” as a substitute for firewood.
“Yes, just keep it like this,” Li Jiaojiao nodded.
Sizzle!
As the pot heated up, Li Jiaojiao immediately poured in peanut oil, followed by the fish pieces and scallions and garlic to stir-fry, then added cooking wine and a bit of Spirit Spring Water, and covered it with the lid.
“Senior Sister Jiaojiao, what’s the name of this dish?” Long Tianxing heated the pot with one hand, while the other hand cracked open some melon seeds, spitting the shells into the fire to burn.
“I haven’t thought of a name yet, how about we call it Stir-Fried Fish Cubes?” Li Jiaojiao pondered for a moment before replying.
“It smells so good!”
Ye Feng, enticed by the aroma, instantly appeared outside the kitchen, watching Li Jiaojiao cook and noticing the other disciples also standing by, their faces filled with anticipation.
“I wonder if Jiaojiao can make it successfully,” Ye Feng stood still, quietly watching.
“Tian Xing, make the fire stronger!” Li Jiaojiao called out at that moment.
“You got it!” Long Tianxing increased his effort, and the flames from his palm soared. Accompanied by a crackling sound, the pot shattered, flames shot up to the sky, nearly catching the ceiling on fire.
The whole scene went silent in astonishment!
Ye Feng was dumbfounded.
Li Jiaojiao cried.
Realizing something was wrong, Long Tianxing turned to run, but suddenly noticed Jia Yulan standing in front, blocking his way.
“I was wrong!” Long Tianxing was on the verge of tears.
Ye Feng looked at the shattered pot and the fish chunks scattered on the ground, still emitting a faint glow, and it was a pity. He said, “Change to a new pot, let’s start over, don’t be discouraged.”
Li Jiaojiao clenched the spatula tightly, quickly blinked her eyes to stop the tears from falling, and then nodded firmly, “Yes, I’ll start over!”
Long Tianxing felt guilty and personally cleaned the pot, then cautiously controlled the fire.
This time, Li Jiaojiao still stir-fried the spirit fish, her movements a bit more skilled than before, while Long Tianxing meticulously controlled the fire with both hands, his face full of seriousness, fearing that the flame would suddenly surge and burn through the iron pot.
Ten minutes later.
“It’s ready to be served.” Li Jiaojiao took off the lid, saw that the added spirit spring water had evaporated, then quickly added some peanut oil and stir-fried for a few times before scooping the fish chunks onto an oval ceramic plate.
“Eh, why can’t I smell the fragrance?”
Jia Yulan took the chopsticks, approached the steaming fish chunks, waved her hand but still couldn’t smell the fragrance.
However, the fragrance was clearly there while stir-frying.
“Did it fail?” murmured Ouyang Yu.
Li Jiaojiao picked up the chopsticks and said, “I don’t know if it’s a success or a failure, but I have to try it first.”
As the fish chunks were too large, Li Jiaojiao had to cut one with her chopsticks. Before she could eat it, dazzling spiritual light burst forth, and rich meaty aroma immediately followed, spreading in all directions.
No fishiness, just pure fragrance!
“Wow!”
“The dish that glows!”
“Could this be the legendary spirit dish?”
The disciples widened their eyes in amazement, inhaling the pleasant aroma, their chopsticks moving involuntarily.
Other fish chunks, when poked by chopsticks, all radiated brilliant light, with twinkling stars around them, looking very mystical, like the legendary delicacy that only Holy Gods were worthy of enjoying.
“It’s delicious!”
Jia Yulan was the first to eat, the savory taste spreading in her mouth, with pure spiritual energy flowing through her body, continuously nourishing herself.
“Let me try it.” Ouyang Feng took a bite and immediately widened his eyes, feeling as if he were soaking in a hot spring, his entire body relaxed, wishing he could take the whole plate of fish chunks and devour them all.
“It’s so tasty!”
The disciples took turns picking up the dish.
Mo Ying tasted a piece, and even she felt a wonderful sensation, immediately giving Li Jiaojiao a thumbs up.
Ye Feng noticed that the system did not prompt that Li Jiaojiao’s task was complete, and furrowed his brow, wondering how such a well-received dish could not be considered a spirit dish.
“Sect Master Uncle, please try it too.” Li Jiaojiao picked up a glowing piece of fish meat and brought it to her mouth.
Ye Feng hesitated for a moment, then took a bite.
Savory, tender, and leaving an endless aftertaste.
“This dish is exceptional!” Ye Feng praised.
“Ding, Outer Sect Disciple Li Jiaojiao has made a dish that can increase cultivation level, successfully taking the first step towards becoming a Spirit Chef, and is now eligible for promotion to Inner Sect Disciple.” The system’s prompt finally resounded.
Ye Feng suddenly realized, “So, I had to taste the dish Jiaojiao made before the assessment could be considered passed.”
Thinking this, Ye Feng took out the Inner Sect Disciple Identity Token he had prepared earlier and placed it in front of Li Jiaojiao, solemnly stating, “Congratulations, Jiaojiao, for being successfully promoted to Inner Sect Disciple.”
Upon hearing this, the entire place erupted in cheering.
“Thank you, Sect Master Uncle!” Li Jiaojiao grabbed the token, gently touched the raised words “Inner Sect Li Jiaojiao” feeling overwhelmed by the sudden happiness.
“Ugh!”
Just as everyone was celebrating, the sound of someone vomiting came from outside the door, which caused the disciples’ expressions to change, and they quickly went out to see what was happening.
There, Brother Flathead lay on the grass, his belly churning repeatedly, his expression one of discomfort. After a lengthy build-up, he finally vomited a storage ring.
After vomiting, Brother Flathead finally felt better, lazily returning to the side of the spiritual spring, crossing his front paws as a pillow, and falling into a deep sleep.
Ye Feng noticed the storage ring on the ground and used Heroic Spirit Power to draw clear spring water to rinse off the ring, revealing the engraved words “Han San,” attracting everyone’s attention.
“This is Han San’s storage ring!”
Ye Feng picked up the storage ring, broke Han San’s Divine Sense Power imprint with Heroic Spirit Power, and emptied the contents inside.