Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 368 A New Chapter in the Book of Food and Delight

Beside Chen Xu, the Book of Food and Delight was opened.

A notification appeared: [Your method of cooking spiritual food has garnered enthusiastic praise from cultivators, triggering a spiritual opportunity and granting you the spiritual ingredient, Heavenly Mystery Jade Liquid.]

Ding Chuan's intense emotional fluctuations unexpectedly granted Chen Xu a new kind of spiritual material.

[Heavenly Jade Elixir: Using this elixir to water exotic spiritual plants can accelerate their growth rate by half.]

What are exotic spiritual plants?

Just like the Azure Lotus Seed that Chen Xu obtained because of the praise of the great Confucian scholar Wen Daoyuan, this thing is a kind of exotic spiritual plant!
Once the Azure Cloud Lotus Seeds mature, they will grow a vine that reaches straight to the heavens, forming a ladder to the sky.

Previously, Chen Xu didn't really understand what this "heavenly ladder" was, because at that time he didn't have the conditions to grow Qingyun lotus seeds.

But at this moment, after obtaining the [Heavenly Secret Jade Liquid], Chen Xu thought about the Xuan Tian Star Realm he was currently in, and suddenly he had a guess.

Could the so-called "heavenly ladder" be the path from the world in the painting to the Xuan Tian Star Realm?
Furthermore, once the Azure Cloud Lotus Seeds mature, this could even become a stable path to heaven!

In this way, the biggest obstacle for Chen Xu to travel freely between the two worlds could be resolved.

This conjecture immediately excited Chen Xu.

At this moment, Chen Xu's uplifting mood made him realize that the powerful pressure that was everywhere between heaven and earth seemed to have been reduced slightly.
good news!
It is evident that there are many ways to alleviate boundary pressure.

The sense of accomplishment made Chen Xu go from having a lot of thoughts running wild to gradually becoming focused and single-minded.

He lit a fire and started heating the pot.

Add ingredients and toss in the wok.

Although he had to constantly contend with the pressure of heaven and earth, at this moment, Chen Xu somehow rediscovered the feeling he had when he first faced that thatched hut and kitchen in Jichuan County.

At this moment, he had no desire for fame or fortune, nor did he seek recognition among the lords; all he cared about was the fire and the stove before him.

Does Chen Xu like cooking?
Actually, he didn't like it before, but he didn't hate it either.

When he first obtained the Culinary Manual, he only regarded cooking as a means of cultivation; his real goal was to become stronger.

But now, after seeing this vast world, Chen Xu suddenly realized that fame and fortune are not necessities in life, and cooking is not just for cultivation.

As he once wrote in the examination hall: "Time beyond worldly things is inherently enjoyable, and who can fathom the cycle of birth and death in the human world?"

At that time, he lamented the trials and tribulations of fame and fortune.

I only feel that fame and fortune are destroying people's hearts.

However, although he seemed to have seen through it all, he never actually stepped out of it.

Because he too was striving for fame and fortune, and was constantly enduring the trials and tribulations of fame.

Now, having completed the unprecedented feat of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in the Great Li Kingdom, he has "ascended" to this world, and his mindset is naturally very different from before.

This is the principle of "gaining" first, and then "letting go".

Having overcome his initial nervousness, Chen Xu now feels an inexplicable sense of detachment when looking at everything before him, such as Ding Chuan.

The fire was burning, the broth was boiling, and the meat and side dishes in the pot were gradually emitting a unique aroma.

Chen Xu made a steamed pork ribs with spirit rice, a braised pork belly with crystal sauce, and a stir-fried twice-cooked pork.

Sprinkle some red cinnabar on the steamed pork ribs with glutinous rice, reduce the sauce for the braised pork belly, and then toss the stir-fried pork belly high in the pan and gently bring it back down to ensure it is heated evenly.

During this time, every change in the three dishes was observed and sensed by Chen Xu.

Although his thoughts could no longer be explored and used as freely as they had been in the Great Li Kingdom.

But now, relying solely on some mysterious intuition, even without using his divine sense, his control over the heat and his perception of the changes in the ingredients seem to have become even more refined.

Finally, at the perfect moment, remove from heat and plate.

The three dishes exuded three different styles of aroma, yet were equally irresistibly enticing.

Across from him, Ding Chuan's stomach was rumbling and his mouth was watering.

Just now, when he was eating barbecue, he thought it was the ultimate delicacy in the world. But now, facing the feast in front of him, Ding Chuan felt that he had been the biggest fool in the world not long ago.

Does he even understand what real deliciousness is?

Such a narrow view is utterly laughable!
Ding Chuan almost wanted to rush over and ask if he could taste another bite of the delicacies before him.
But when he thought of the copy of "A Journey to the Immortal Path in Jizhou" that he couldn't give away, he simply didn't have the courage.

What does it mean that the senior is not accepting this book?

Suddenly, Ding Chuan had a flash of inspiration and quickly placed the book in his hand on a broken tree stump next to him.

"Senior." He chuckled, bowed slightly, and bowed in the direction he had guessed Chen Xu was, saying, "Senior, I will leave this copy here."

This... the food you just cooked..."

Before Ding Chuan could finish speaking, suddenly, a plate containing steamed pork ribs with spirit rice flew up from one of the three porcelain plates and landed directly in front of Ding Chuan.

Ding Chuan was stunned.

He looked in surprise toward the stove ahead, stammering, "Senior, senior... this... this delicacy, senior, are you perhaps going to bestow it upon me?"

The senior did not respond verbally, but the copy of "Travels of the Immortal Path in Jizhou" that had been placed on the tree stump suddenly flew up into the air.

The book was hanging in mid-air, clearly having been opened by someone.

Ding Chuan was overjoyed. Now he finally understood why the senior had refused to accept the book he had offered earlier. It turned out that the senior was unwilling to accept favors for nothing.

The other party personally prepared delicious food and delicacies in exchange for the book.

Having experienced too much deceit and treachery, Ding Chuan was somewhat moved at this moment.

He thought to himself: I've really met a good person, or a good ghost.

The other party acted with gentlemanly conduct, which allowed this scoundrel to breathe a sigh of relief. Ding Chuan confirmed one last time with a forced smile, "Senior, it would be impolite of me to refuse such a gift from you. So, I will enjoy this delicacy..."

He saw no other movement in the air opposite him, only the soft sound of pages turning.

The other party was clearly acquiescing.

Ding Chuan could no longer bear it. He picked up the porcelain plate, took the wooden chopsticks he carried with him, and began to eat with great anticipation.

A few breaths later, in this messy forest clearing, apart from the occasional sound of turning pages, faint sobbing could be heard again.

Yes, it was Ding Chuan who was crying.

He was so moved by how delicious it was that he cried.

Chen Xu made three dishes in total. He casually tasted the remaining two and then put them into the kitchen.

It wasn't that Chen Xu didn't like to eat; it was that he had eaten a lot of spiritual food to alleviate the depletion of his true energy, and he was indeed not hungry now, so there was no need to eat anymore.

Furthermore, each of the three dishes he prepared this time has its own entry.

The rest need not be elaborated upon, but the most noteworthy point is that all three dishes have additional attributes!
[You've embarked on your first attempt at cooking with ingredients from both realms, opening a new chapter in spiritual cuisine. Spiritual dishes you prepare have a chance to gain attribute bonuses, depending on the properties of the spiritual ingredients.]

【Steamed Pork Ribs with Spirit Rice: Qi and Blood +2, Fasting +3】

【Crystal Braised Pork Belly: Divine Essence +2, Fasting +1】

[Stir-fried Twice-Cooked Pork: Fasting +5]

The properties of all three dishes are quite surprising.

It's worth noting that the main ingredient in all three dishes is wild boar meat.

Wild boar meat is not inherently a spiritual ingredient; it was only by adding spiritual ingredients as side dishes that Chen Xu transformed the seemingly ordinary wild boar meat into something possessing various spiritual qualities.

Meanwhile, the information regarding Chen Xu's title in the Culinary Cauldron Heavenly Book also began to change.

[Ancestral seat: Chen Xu]

[Title: Pyrotechnic Apprentice (Advanced Hints Unlocked)]

[Tip: When your accumulated likes reach 300,000 and you can reliably produce Mantra Food, your title will advance from Firework Apprentice to Spirit Food Apprentice.]

You will unlock new talents, with one or two new talents added.

Advancing your title can unlock new talents?

This is yet another pleasant surprise.

Let's look at Chen Xu's current number of likes—

【Accumulated likes: 93270】

[Free attribute points: 40]

Ding Chuan's continuous praise just now increased Chen Xu's accumulated likes by nearly 1,800.

Thus, his free attribute points increased by another [40] points.

This is quite a gain.

However, there is still a small problem: after Chen Xu entered the third level of the Golden Core stage, the exchange ratio between the number of likes and the free attribute points changed again.

Now, 45 likes can be exchanged for 1 free attribute point.

Moreover, the same increase in attribute points now seems to have a smaller impact on Chen Xu's strength.

He needs more attribute points to feel a noticeable improvement.

However, these are not major problems, but rather natural changes that come with his advancement in cultivation.

Chen Xu focused on two points.

Firstly, it represents the advancement of a pyrotechnics apprentice.

Secondly, his accumulated likes are about to reach 100,000!
Once the score reaches 100,000 points, an old notification from the Food Cauldron Manual will take effect.

[Note: When your total number of likes reaches 100,000, the Kitchen of Fireworks will undergo a second upgrade and you will receive the title "Spiritual Stove House".]

Now, Chen Xu is just one step away from accumulating 100,000 likes.

Therefore, the way he looked at Ding Chuan at this moment was exceptionally kind.

This person can provide a daily limit of 2000 likes.

Once he has made his contribution today, he can make another contribution tomorrow.

Chen Xu, while flipping through "A Journey Through the Immortal Path of Jizhou," was preparing to leave this desolate place and go to the nearest town to see the prosperity of this world with his own eyes.

As for whether or not to enter the city, that will depend on the situation at that time.

If his current "transparent" state could continue, Chen Xu decided to enter the city.

If there are too many problems with entering the city, Chen Xu would not mind postponing it.

He had a clear conscience and knew he couldn't stay in this world for too long.

He will have to return to Dali Kingdom in three to five days at most, during which time he will try to cultivate the Azure Cloud Lotus Seed.

If one could purchase some treasures in the market of this world that would make it convenient to cultivate spiritual plants on one's own, that would be the best outcome.

The book "Travels in the Immortal Path of Jizhou" records many sights and things in this world. Chen Xu had not yet finished reading the whole book, but he already felt that his eyes had been opened.

(End of this chapter)