Da Zaojun

Upon hearing the mention of the twelve zodiac animals, Song Wuji immediately understood: "So the twelve zodiac animals are under the jurisdiction of my Kitchen God?"

Using this as a starting point, Song Wuji did some calculations and found that it was indeed the case.

In the sixth-rank ritual system, besides the Imperial Kitchen Chief, there is also the [Kitchen God].

These rituals, paired together, ultimately form the [Three Ranks of the Nine Heavens Eastern Kitchen Master of Fate].

Aside from the jar of good and evil, which determines the causes and effects of good and evil, the Kitchen God ascends to heaven on a cloud to report on others. He also oversees the twelve earthly branches and the twelve zodiac animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Legend has it that these twelve animals were all enlightened by the Kitchen God and ascended to heaven, and they all helped people solve their problems.

Although the Twelve Earthly Branches and their corresponding Yuan Chen are merely animals that have attained enlightenment, and cannot be compared to the Twenty-Eight Mansions which also resemble animals, they are still considered to be famous positions and roles.

The zodiac gods of the human world have been arranged and are the zodiac signs of many people. They have the title of guardian gods. People of different zodiac signs have different personalities and qualities. People of different zodiac signs will also have mutual support, mutual restraint, and mutual conflict.

This is reflected in Uncle Ying's zombie movies.

This is the sixth-rank [Kitchen God].
Each of the twelve Earthly Branches is a fifth-rank official position in the Heavenly Court, and together they constitute a third-rank position.

This Rooster lost its rank and its power declined, just like Master Xu Jia, who also lost his rank.

However, its essence remains very high. With proper training, it can subdue all poisonous insects, snakes, and demons. After killing them, it can accumulate the necessary rituals and regain its position as the Rooster.

It's just right to take it to the human realm to help people defeat all kinds of demons.

He immediately brought the Rooster along and asked, "Which of you twelve descendants of the Heavenly Stems are still in the Heavenly Palace?"

"I don't know. Old Niu, Tiger, Dragon, and Horse, those four, said they were going to do something big! They should have gone down to the mortal realm."

"The Rabbit is still hiding in the Moon Palace. It dug a rabbit hole and refuses to come out."

"The Snake went to the Jade Pool and hid at the bottom of the pool to cultivate, stealing and eating the carp in the pool."

"Brother Monkey said he wanted to learn from Sun Wukong and take advantage of the chaos to steal elixirs and imperial wine. Brother Rat went with him, but he never returned."

"Old Sheep, Old Dog, Old Pig, and I will just stay here and wait for our chance."

"Good."

Song Wuji said, "Take me to see those three first."

The Rooster nodded and said, "After we avoided the chaos, we each went into hiding."

"I transformed into a piece of iron to observe the movements."

"Old Pig hid in the Imperial Kitchen, and Old Dog huddled in the Manifestation Palace, lying in the doghouse that used to belong to Howling Celestial Dog."

"Old Yang is at Tian Hospital."

"If you want to complete the Imperial Chef's rank, go to the Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard and the Imperial Kitchen first. Many treasures of the Heavenly Palace were stolen by those mounts and attendants when they descended to the mortal world. The Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard should still have some pots and pans."

Song Wuji said, "My ritual is to invite the gods. I can still see ghosts and gods in the underworld. For example, King Yama is still holding on. Does the Heavenly Court have no gods left?"

“It’s gone,” said the Rooster. “Suddenly, the Great Dao shifted, and from top to bottom, everyone’s karmic rank was stripped away.”

"The rest are all mindless puppet warriors, unranked children, mounts... and some rare and exotic beasts, but most of them have also fallen to earth."

"It's almost impossible for you to host a banquet for the gods, but I remember one place, the Altar of Heaven and Earth, which was once the place of sacrifice in the Heavenly Court."

As they walked, they arrived at the Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard. Along the way, they could see that anything of value had been stolen.

Some flowers and plants, which are considered ordinary in Heaven, are quite remarkable on Earth.

Upon arriving at the Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard, one would find this place in utter chaos.

They were all animal footprints.

"The Heavenly Kitchen Academy captures evil dragons and demon kings, puts them on the Dragon Slaughtering Platform and Demon Slaying Platform, and then sends them here."

"The next batch of demons locked in cages escaped during the chaos, and the Heavenly Chefs here died without the protection of the Kitchen God."

"Only Old Pig, who was transformed into a stone block by the Heavenly Chef and the Pratyekabuddha of Buddhism through the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, escaped the calamity."

"He used to be a pastry chef at the Heavenly Kitchen Academy, specializing in kneading dough. His pastries were delicious, vegetarian, and he was once a guest of honor at the Jade Pool."

"Now I'm holed up in a pigsty, living a lazy and listless life."

The roosters chirped and chattered. Upon entering the Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard, Song Wuji examined the area closely and saw a water vat called the "Dragon-Raising Vat," which was specifically used to raise fish, dragons, and other creatures that had just been captured.

Beside the water vat, there is a carrying pole called "Chai Wang Dan" (firewood carrying pole), two buckets called "Jiang Shan Tong" (river and mountain buckets), a wood-splitting knife called "Lan Shan Duan" (mountain-blocking knife), and several stacks of firewood, which are laurel branches and mulberry branches.

In the corner are two rows of bricks, the color of which is bluish-black. These are called "golden bricks." The fire bricks that Laozi used to support his furnace are of this type. However, because those bricks supported the furnace and were also fueled by fire, they were able to evolve into the Flaming Mountains that stretch for eight hundred miles.

These bricks, however, were used for pounding the stove.

There were two bright red stones on the windowsill.

[Flint]

A palm-leaf fan (a type of fan) was stuck in the ground beside the stone.
Under the windowsill, there is a millstone, a grain mill.

There is a long, narrow piece of bluestone next to the millstone.

[Diamond]

Song Wuji's eyes lit up: The Seven Methods of the Kitchen God, and the corresponding treasures, are all inside.

Lighting a fire, sharpening knives, pounding the stove, boiling the pot, carrying water, chopping firewood, and fanning the flames.

They immediately collected them all.

The Rooster stared in disbelief: "I thought you wanted pots and pans or something, why do you want all this junk? What's the use of these bricks?"

Without explaining, Song Wuji went straight into the kitchen and saw pots, pans, knives, scissors, rolling pins, and all sorts of other items, none of which were ordinary.

Song Wuji took everything with him, including the cupboard, a few strings of chili peppers, the pickled vegetables, and the jars filled with salted vegetables.

It was that stove...

Song Wuji seemed to be deep in thought, then drew out the fire from the stove and poured it into the stove.

Immediately, the stove and stove book lit up.

[Zaojun Mansion].

good good!
The Kitchen God's residence, the stove I hid in the Heavenly Kitchen Courtyard, right?

Song Wuji immediately crawled inside.

Inside, there was a three-section courtyard with two lions at the entrance.

Door gods are hanging on the door.

As soon as Song Wuji entered the mansion, he sensed that there was something extremely important inside.

Following the intuition, we entered the Kitchen God's Mansion.

Pushing open the door, one could see a flame talisman floating in the courtyard.

[The Imperial Chef's Rank and Position]

Song Wuji instantly understood that "Nine Heavens Eastern Kitchen" referred to the Nine Heavens of the East, who were in charge of the culinary industry.

The Nine Heavens are: the Supreme Emperor Huangzeng Heaven, the Great Bright Jade Perfect Heaven, the Clear Bright He Tong Heaven, the Mysterious Embryo Peaceful Nurturing Heaven, the Primordial Bright Literary Achievement Heaven, the Supreme Bright Seven Luminaries Mo Yi Heaven, the Void Jade Balance Heaven, the Supreme Ultimate Obscured Heaven, and the Supreme Subtle Jade Purity Heaven.

In other words, there might be nine days of Western cuisine, nine days of Southern cuisine, nine days of Northern cuisine...

Only by accumulating the position of Imperial Chef of the Nine Heavens can one become the Nine Heavens Eastern Chef.

However, taking over these culinary powers would be useless, because there was no future in being a chef.

The Kitchen God has been transferred to the position of God of Fate.

Besides being a god of destiny, he also became the Supreme Emperor of the Taiyi, and in the future he may even become a Heavenly Venerable.

Perhaps the reason they've left here is to wait for me.

The Nine Heavens Eastern Kitchen is a fourth-rank position, the highest rank in the culinary arts.

Only with the addition of the God of Destiny can one attain the third rank of official position.

(End of this chapter)