Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 850 The Soul of the Cauldron is Overjoyed: The True Taste of Life
The next morning.

The doors of the Amazing Pavilion were wide open.

Immediately, a steady stream of customers poured in.

Besides the guests, Yang Jun and Tang Xuan, who came to see Xiao Ran on behalf of the company, were also there.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't in Ruzhou yesterday. I didn't expect such a big thing to happen."

Tang Xuan was very humble. Upon entering, he immediately apologized to Xiao Ran. As one of the three supervisors in Ruzhou, his failure to appear in Ruzhou immediately could be considered a dereliction of duty.

However, Xiao Ran didn't have any objection to this, and was even a little embarrassed: "No need to say that, in fact I was the one who was presumptuous."

After Xiao Ran invited the two to sit down, Tang Xuan took out a special box from his spatial storage and placed it on the table.

"This is the ashes of your little girl. She was a very cute girl and never panicked when something happened."

Xiao Ran's expression changed slightly upon seeing the ashes, and she placed her hand on the urn with a hint of apology.

There was a black cloth on the urn. After Xiao Ran tore it open, he saw Qiu Kui's figure slowly emerge from the urn.

She first glanced around with her eyes, then looked warily at Yang Jun and Tang Xuan.

The little girl didn't turn around until Tang Xuan pointed behind her.

"Owner!!"

Upon seeing Xiao Ran sitting in the back, Qiu Kui immediately jumped out of the urn and threw herself into Xiao Ran's arms.

Xiao Ran placed her hand on Qiu Kui's head and gently stroked it a few times; "I'm sorry, I didn't expect anyone to have designs on my home. I'm sorry you were frightened. Are you alright?"

"No."

Okra pursed her lips, nuzzled her head against Xiao Ran's chest a few times, and then looked up and said, "After those people rushed in, Bai Xu conjured up a lot of cats. They couldn't catch them no matter which way they looked, so they burned the house down."

"Yeah, don't worry, I'll find those guys sooner or later and beat them up to avenge you."

"Okay. We must beat them up badly, especially the woman among them who is wearing a hat, we must beat her up badly."

Okra raised her little fist, looking indignant.

Xiao Ran maintained his smile, but his eyes turned cold in an instant. He knew that Qiu Kui must have a reason for saying that.

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. Next time they meet, Xiao Ran will definitely take special care of this woman.

"By the way, where's Bai Xu?"

Xiao Ran looked up at Tang Xuan, who shook his head: "After our people arrived, they didn't see any other creatures."

“I know, Bai Xu… is gone. Shortly after that group set the house on fire, they were scared away by a young lady. Bai Xu left when that young lady arrived.”

Bai Xu left. Xiao Ran was not surprised by the news. Cats are, by their very nature, animals that cannot be tamed.

Moreover, Bai Xu has already become a spirit. Now that the Lost City has landed, it can go anywhere and naturally won't stay obediently at home.

"It's okay. Bai Xu is gone, but there's still a big cat at home. It's obedient and well-behaved."

As Xiao Ran spoke, her gaze shifted, and she tapped her finger on the table.

The back gate was pushed open, and the tiger demon walked in from behind, swaying its head. It squatted down next to Xiao Ran, sticking out its tongue, its pure and innocent eyes as clear as those of a recent college graduate.

"Big tiger!"

Okra's eyes widened, and she immediately hid behind Xiao Ran.

"Don't be afraid, this guy is very well-behaved, look." Xiao Ran reached out and pinched a tuft of fur on the tiger's head, twisting it left and right. The tiger demon stuck out its tongue, looking like it was being tortured with a happy expression, making it seem like it wasn't a tiger, but more like a dog.

Seeing that the big tiger was indeed as obedient as its owner had described, Okra became bolder and tried to hug the tiger's neck. After a while of touching it, she immediately started to smile.

"Go on, ride this tiger to find the Golden Toad. Later, they'll take you to find some good food."

Xiao Ran placed the okra on the tiger demon's back, patted the tiger demon's bottom, and made the tiger demon carry the okra and run around the yard.

After Okra left, Xiao Ran turned around and said seriously, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Yang Jun and Tang Xuan immediately said it was alright.

Yang Jun then took out a file folder and handed it to Xiao Ran.

After opening it, Xiao Ran squinted and peered inside.

"An official document with a red header and the official seal of the state?"

Xiao Ran took out the document and looked at it; it was indeed the decision to punish Yang Zhendong and others.

The details were few: Yang Zhendong's entire family, including his school-aged children, were all detained and placed on the Interpol Red Notice list.

Once discovered, they will be killed without exception.

After carefully reading the contents, Xiao Ran asked, "Isn't this a bit too much? It's wrong to involve family members. If their family members are not involved, they should be released. There's no need to go through all this."

As Xiao Ran spoke, her gaze lowered slightly, but her spiritual power enveloped the two of them invisibly, in order to judge whether there were any changes in their emotions.

To Xiao Ran's disappointment, neither Tang Xuan nor Yang Jun showed any unusual reaction to her suggestion.

"This is the company's decision. If his family members have no problems, I don't think the company will make things too difficult for them. However, confinement is unavoidable. The company is doing this to minimize the impact as much as possible."

Tang Xuan explained to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran didn't insist; "Since it's the company's decision, I have no objection."

"Dong Dong Dong!!"

Just then, the sound of drumming came from outside. Xiao Ran looked up and smiled, "You two, since you're here, let's go join in the fun."

“Great! When I arrived, I saw the big pot at the entrance of Zhen Ding Wei. Are you preparing to advance to the B-level Inspiration Chef?” Yang Jun stood up and asked Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran smiled without saying a word, clearly not intending to reveal the truth in advance.

The three entered [Zhen Ding Wei] through a side door.

On this special day, Zhen Ding Wei does not accept guests, and Xiao Ran and her group had their best private room reserved well in advance.

The rooms on the top floor of Zhen Ding Wei offer a direct view of the activity in the plaza below.

When the three of them arrived at the room, they found that the old man and the others had already arrived.

Xiao Ran introduced Yang Dong and Tang Xuan to the old men one by one. Although they didn't recognize them, they all got along very well because of Xiao Ran.

In particular, after Tang Xuan learned about the special circumstances of Xiao Zhenye and Zhao Qingming, he immediately said to the two old men, "Gentlemen, you have nothing better to do than to have a new biological body. The company has recently developed a new biological body, which is directly shaped using 4D printing technology. It is lighter than the human body and is specially designed for use by spirits. I can apply for one for you two."

Zhao Qingming and Xiao Zhenye were confused. Xiao Ran, sitting to the side, asked, "What's the difference between this and a normal body?"

"Yes, the difference is huge. It can achieve 80% of the five senses and six senses. It's not good for normal fighting, but it's perfect if it's just for parasitizing souls."

Tang Xuan even took out his phone and showed Xiao Ran the confidential photos inside.

At first glance, this thing looks almost no different from a normal person, and its appearance can be customized to suit different needs.

"If the two gentlemen have files from their youth, we can make them based on their appearance back then. The company has gradually opened up the channels, so once the products are made, they can be delivered in just a few days."

"Then let's have two sets."

Xiao Ran said directly to Tang Xuan, "Give me the price later, or you can trade other items from the Amazing Pavilion if you need them."

Xiao Ran can directly create physical bodies, and with his current skill level, he can easily create zombies with the strength of a professional.

But a corpse is still a corpse. Not only does it have a strong odor, but more importantly, a spiritual being like Zhao Qingming could never easily enter a corpse, lest the corpse's energy pollute his spirit.

Now that the company has this kind of thing, Xiao Ran naturally won't be polite.

"No need. I'll give these two bodies to the old man as a gift for their first meeting." Tang Xuan waved his hand generously, wanting to take the matter upon himself.

"We can't accept something for nothing. How could we, two old folks, possibly accept such a thing?" Xiao Zhenye immediately refused.

Zhao Qingming also stated his position: "Child, I appreciate your kind intentions, but we don't need these things yet, so let's not let the country waste resources on us."

Although the two old men hadn't experienced the beating from a certain penguin, they knew that there were no free lunches in the world; they had simply marked the price in the shadows long ago.

Seeing that the two old men refused, Tang Xuan quickly changed his tone: "No, no, no, old men, actually I also have a little selfish reason to ask you for help."

After saying that, he glanced at Xiao Ran, and seeing that she didn't say anything, he tentatively said:

“These gentlemen are all highly skilled, possessing unique expertise. What the company needs most right now are experienced masters like you. How about you become a contracted master within the company?”

If the company has promising talents who fit your line of work, could you please lend a hand and offer some guidance?

Tang Xuan's words were not false.

The company is indeed recruiting experienced and skilled individuals from all over the world. Some of these seniors may be over seventy years old and have no intention of becoming beginners, so they can simply register their names with the company and receive a monthly allowance.

On the other hand, they also hope to pass on their skills.

For example, beginners who want to learn real knife skills can find experienced masters at the company. They can simply go to the master's office to learn from them.

"That's not bad."

Xiao Zhenye, Zhao Qingming, Li Qing, Zhou Shang, and Yang Fengchui are all veteran craftsmen, true old hands. It's actually quite nice for them to take on a few apprentices to play with in their spare time.

The five people exchanged glances and readily agreed.

In fact, Tang Xuan unwittingly helped Xiao Ran in this matter, allowing these old men to find their own place to belong.

With the company's support, these old men could live a carefree life even without the Amazing Pavilion.

Tang Xuan's face beamed with a smile as bright as a flower. He winked at Yang Jun beside him, thinking to himself, "These old gentlemen are quite important. I've really hit the jackpot this time."

Tang Xuan had no idea that these old men were at least "not insignificant." Leaving aside the methods used by Zhao Qingming and Xiao Zhenye...

Li Qing himself came from Yemaoshan and possessed unparalleled skills in using hidden weapons.

Xiangyang and Zhou the Paper Dolls are renowned and prestigious brands.

If these five old men were to fight together, even a professional would probably be no match for them.

More importantly, this is tantamount to an extremely strong bond, binding the company and Xiao Ran even more closely.

What is Xiao Ran's current position in the company's evaluation system?
Tang Xuan recalled Zhong Yi's meaningful look and comment before he left: "There's probably no one in the country below B-level who can consistently suppress him."

Recruiting several of his close relatives, who were like teachers and fathers to him, was undoubtedly the most effective way to express his sincerity and build long-term trust.

Yang Jun nodded with a smile, his eyes also filled with undisguised excitement.

"Mr. Tang, Mr. Yang, thank you for your trouble." Xiao Ran raised her teacup. "From now on, we'll have to trouble the company to take care of the elders. But let me make this clear from the start,"

He changed the subject, half-jokingly and half-seriously teasing, "My elders are all straightforward and have high standards. If they think some of the younger generation isn't cut out for it, they can be quite fierce when they scold them. The company shouldn't be too lenient or protective."

His words made the old men, Tang Xuan, and Yang Jun laugh.

"Hahaha, don't be afraid!"

Tang Xuan quickly waved his hand, "Jade must be carved to become a gem! To receive guidance from these seniors is a blessing they've accumulated over many lifetimes! They should be scolded if they deserve it, and even beaten if they deserve it..."

As the group chatted and laughed, the boisterous noise from the plaza below suddenly rose in volume.

A tremendous wave of cheers and exclamations surged up the tall building as if it were a tangible force, instantly drawing the attention of the people on the rooftop.

"here we go!"

Xiao Ran put down her teacup, her eyes lit up, and walked to the huge viewing window of the private room.

The enormous stove was already burning with scorching flames, raising the temperature of the entire square.

All eyes in the square were focused on the stove, on the huge bronze cauldron.

As the flames rose, a unique fragrance began to emanate from the cauldron.

"It smells so good!" Okra sat on the tiger's neck, took a deep sniff, and the strong fragrance made her drool.

"This smell..."

Yang Jun sniffed. "Very fresh."

"Hmm, it smells like hot pot." Tang Xuan sniffed. He was from Sichuan and preferred strong flavors, so the smell made him even more excited.

Xiao Ran and the other old men had actually tasted the delicious dish last night, but they still looked very expectant, wanting to see what other tricks Wu Man could come up with.

And the number of people gathering below is also increasing.

If climbing wasn't strictly prohibited here, people would probably have already been eager to climb onto the roof to see what was going on.

"I heard that the owner of Zhen Ding Wei is about to advance to Rank B. This is a special advancement ceremony. I wonder what's being stewed in such a huge cauldron?"

"Grade B!! A master chef with inspiration??"

"correct."

"Holy crap, B-rank? I'm only D-rank now, and I haven't even figured out how to advance yet, and someone's already going to advance to B-rank??"

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, causing Tang Xuan upstairs to worry: "Will there be a problem with so many people?"

"Don't worry, the deployment was completed last night. The Skynet system can accurately identify everyone's identity information. As long as a dangerous person is detected, they will be arrested by our people before they even enter the square."

Since what happened yesterday, the level of martial law in Ruzhou City is now unprecedentedly high.

If it weren't for Xiao Ran, Wu Man's event would probably have been canceled.

At this moment, a raging fire licked the massive bronze vessel beneath the cauldron, emitting a deep "hum," as if a sleeping ancient beast was gradually awakening.

The sound of the soup bubbling inside the pot was initially as faint as a drizzle, but as the temperature continued to rise, it quickly turned into a powerful "gurgling" sound, like a surging river, stirring up the noise of the entire square.

The unique aroma is no longer just a monotonous "freshness" or "fragrance." It seems to have been given life, beginning to sprout, grow, and transform.

At first, it was the sea breeze sweeping over the reefs, bringing the salty yet incredibly appetizing scent of the sea; in an instant, it transformed into the crisp, refreshing fragrance of grass and trees after the first rain in the mountains, as mushrooms sprouted from the soil.

The next moment, a complex aroma, a blend of more than ten spices bursting forth in the hot oil, suddenly exploded out, domineeringly sweeping into everyone's nasal cavity.

“It smells so good!!”

"What is this smell... ah, it feels so good to take a whiff of it."

"Holy crap, my Spirit attribute has increased by two points!" Someone in the crowd screamed at this moment. Everyone looked and sure enough, their Spirit attribute had inexplicably increased by 2 points.

This isn't a temporary boost, it's a permanent one. Just smelling the aroma increased it by two points. I wonder what the effect would be if I actually tasted it.

Now, everyone's faces showed a mixture of surprise and confusion.

The steam rising from the cauldron, like an invisible hand, easily plucked the strings of everyone's memory, drawing out the most familiar and warmest taste imprints hidden deep in their hearts.

It was no longer the separation of the "Nine Grades of Precious Immortals" that Wu Man had mentioned yesterday, where each tasted its own flavor. Instead, it truly integrated hundreds of kinds of human life into this one cauldron, allowing everyone to clearly capture their own sense of resonance.

Beside the tripod, Wu Man's figure appeared somewhat blurred in the heat.

Looking at the boiling soup inside the large cauldron, Wu Man carefully took out two small glass bottles.

【The Tears of Lovers】, 【The Redemption of Sufferers】.

These two materials were glowing with fluorescence and were key to Wu Man's advancement to B-level. Wu Man opened the glass bottle and carefully poured in the two drops of liquid.

The boiling soup pot suddenly became quiet.

Wu Man stared wide-eyed as the soup in the cauldron began to shimmer with golden light, growing stronger until the entire cauldron was tinged with a golden hue.

Wu Man had only seen this state once before.

"The spirit of the cauldron is overjoyed!!"

This is the ultimate state of the Ten Thousand Food Cauldron. The last time I saw it was in the City of All Beings.

This time, the [Ten Thousand Food Cauldron] is clearly in a much stronger state than before.

The cauldron trembled, and the golden light grew stronger and stronger.

"Boom!!"

At this moment, it was as if a red-hot iron had been thrown into the cauldron, emitting a violent sizzling sound! An even more magnificent and indescribable mixed aroma soared into the sky!

Instantly, the fragrance seemed to gain weight, condensing into a visible pale golden column of energy that shot straight into the sky. At the top of the column, light and shadow shifted, vaguely resembling the shadows of mountains and rivers, the waves of lakes and seas, and the shimmering of the starry sky.

This scene left everyone speechless.

Even Xiao Ran and the others were quite surprised. Xiao Ran even felt that this dish was no longer made by Wu Man, but rather touched the Dao in the dark, which was blessing Wu Man.

"Attaining enlightenment is a natural process, as if aided by the gods."

At this moment, Jin Chanzi suddenly spoke, accurately pointing out Wu Man's current state.

"Incredible! Although there are several C-level Desire Chefs in the company, this is the first time I've seen a B-level Inspiration Chef," Yang Jun exclaimed.

If the abilities of a C-level professional are enough to stir up a storm, then the strength of a B-level professional is enough to suppress all misfortune; each one is an extraordinary treasure.

But this Wu Man...

The first thing that came to Yang Jun and Tang Xuan's minds was Wu Man's previous actions as recorded in the company documents.

To be honest, if it weren't for Xiao Ran, the two of them would have already made a move and would have stopped Wu Man from advancing successfully no matter what.

However, because of Xiao Ran, they believed that Xiao Ran could keep Wu Man in check.

At this moment, the golden light gradually faded, and the color of the soup in the cauldron began to change from clear to a rich, honey-like amber gold.

Wu Man suddenly opened her eyes, and her entire demeanor seemed to have changed completely. Xiao Ran, standing to the side, could clearly see that Wu Man had undergone a complete transformation.

Although the final promotion has not yet been completed, he has already qualified as a B-level professional.

Wu Man took a deep breath, focused her energy, and shouted loudly. Her voice clearly echoed throughout the square and reached the ears of everyone upstairs:

"A cauldron of flavors, the everyday life of mortals! Gentlemen...!"

He paused, looking at the fragrant membrane trembling slightly on the golden broth, his eyes filled with unparalleled confidence and understanding, before uttering the last three words.

"Dinner's ready!!"

"Roar!!"

The people below couldn't wait any longer and started banging their bowls and chopsticks together.

Wu Man held up a huge soup ladle, while a long line of people had already formed.

At the very front of the line was an elderly man with white hair. It was unclear when he had started queuing; he was a homeless man on the street.

But Wu Man didn't drive him away. She picked up the soup ladle, peeled back the golden film on the soup, and filled the old man's broken bowl with a spoonful of shimmering, fluorescent soup.

The old man reverently accepted the bowl, took a deep breath of the milky aroma mixed with the rice porridge that almost transported him back to his infancy, and then eagerly and carefully sipped it.

"Buzz!"

It wasn't a tangible sound, but rather countless subtle ripples of mental energy spreading across his body!
His previously hunched back seemed to straighten up a bit!
A blush suddenly appeared on her wrinkled face, and a warm current flowed from her throat straight through her limbs!
The old man looked up, tears welling in his eyes, as if a pair of warm hands were gently supporting him. It felt like he had returned to his mother's embrace, and he exhaled with a breath of stale air.

"Ouch, wow...it's so warm!!"

(End of this chapter)