The delicacies of the heavens begin with obtaining gem meat.

Back at Polaris Dormitory, Jiang Yan quickly enjoyed Yukihira Soma's Yukihira-ryu Sharia Bin Steak Rice Bowl (modified).

It was indeed very delicious.

This also made Jiang Yan realize some of his own shortcomings.

His culinary talent was greatly enhanced thanks to his gourmet genes.

However, he still has a long way to go in terms of culinary experience.

They cannot be as adaptable as Soma Yukihira.

Of course, Jiang Yan was not discouraged, after all, he had only been learning to cook for a short time!

However, Jiang Yan then pulled Ibuzaki Jun back into the experiment of smoking Ligalu mammoth meat.

After several more days of repeated adjustments to the smoking mixture ratio by Jiang Yan and Ibu Saki, and countless attempts at different smoking times and temperatures, they finally figured out the most suitable solution.

First, citrus salt is fumigated with citrus wood chips to give it a smoky aroma.

The Ligaloo mammoth meat is then marinated in smoked orange salt to allow the flavor to penetrate the meat.

After marinating for a sufficient time, blanch the ingredients in boiling water to lock in the flavor, then bake them in the oven until they are semi-dry.

Finally, a slow, low-temperature fumigation process was carried out using a mixture of citrus wood chips and fresh citrus peels.

Even Jiang Yan was extremely surprised by the final product.

The rich and savory aroma of the Ligalo mammoth meat is fully brought out, with a refreshing citrus scent that perfectly balances the smoky flavor and the richness of the meat. The three elements complement each other, creating a distinct yet perfectly integrated flavor profile.

The first taste is the unique smoky aroma, followed by the rich meaty flavor, and the finish is refreshing with a hint of orange. The texture is firm but not dry, tender yet chewy.

..............................

Of course, although the final product was amazing, Jiang Yan knew in his heart that it was just the limit of his and Ibuzaki Jun's current capabilities.

Both he and Ibuzaki Shun have a long way to go in terms of cooking.

This dish is simply the pinnacle of their current skill level.

Even so, this smoked Ligalo mammoth meat is definitely a must-try dish, even though it was made by him and Ibuzaki Shun together.

After taking a bite, Jiang Yan immediately felt his food cells become active.

It should be noted that he had previously eaten quite a few Ligaloo mammoth meat dishes, and his gourmet cells had long since developed an 'immunity' to this ingredient.

Eating more is just replenishing the energy your body has used up.

This dish actually activated his culinary senses, which shows how exquisite it is.

After finalizing the method for making smoked Ligalo mammoth meat, Jiang Yan's life returned to a stable campus rhythm.

I attend cooking theory and practical classes every day as usual, absorbing various professional knowledge.

In his spare time, he would gather with the others from Polar Star Dormitory in Marui Zenji's room for banquets.

However, this leisurely daily routine was completely shattered by a sudden notification.

The first hurdle and initial hell for the first-year students of Totsuki Academy—residential training—has arrived as scheduled.

The training brochure, printed with exquisite patterns, was placed on the long table in the Polar Star Dormitory restaurant by Fumio Oomido.

Early in the morning, the people of Polaris Dormitory came to eat following the aroma. The moment they saw the booklet, the previously noisy restaurant suddenly fell silent, and everyone's expressions became solemn.

Even Jiang Yan's expression became much more serious.

"Are they here?"

Although he was quite confident in his culinary skills, the residential training program often tested precisely his shortcomings.

..............................

Everyone felt a heavy weight in their hearts, except for the completely bewildered Soma Yukihira, who was oblivious to the situation. Seeing everyone staring intently at the booklet on the table, he curiously reached out, picked it up, and flipped through it, muttering to himself.

"Huh? Residential training program?"

He quickly flipped through two pages, looked up at the crowd with their various expressions, and looked completely bewildered.

"What is this?"

"Didn't both elementary and junior high schools have those kinds of activities? Like going to a forest school for a few days, right?"

Ryoko Sakaki explained helplessly.

This immediately caught Soma Yukihira's eye.

"Huh? We actually have this kind of event here?"

In Yukihira Soma's view, Totsuki Culinary Arts is a place that teaches cooking, so he didn't expect it to have such a "leisurely" arrangement, which made him look forward to it.

Jiang Yan rested his elbows on the table, his fingertips lightly supporting his chin, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

"To be honest, I've never experienced this kind of training before, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Even though they knew that the residential training program at Totsuki Academy was not as simple as it seemed, they still couldn't suppress their sense of novelty.

After all, this was something he had never experienced before.

However, after a moment, Soma Yukihira finally realized something was wrong. His gaze fell on Megumi Tadokoro, who was not far away, and he asked in surprise.

"Hmm? Xiaohui, why are you shaking?"

At that moment, Tadokoro Megumi was trembling with nervousness, her face pale.

Looking at Tadokoro Megumi's appearance, Yukihira Soma vaguely felt that this residential training program was not what he had imagined at all.

..............................

Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and spoke in a serious tone.

"Residential training is the first hell you have to overcome to advance to the advanced level."

Yoshino Yuuki, standing nearby, offered her explanation.

"At the accommodation in the mountains, all the first-year students have to undergo a brutal cooking test every day."

"If you fail to meet the requirements, you will be expelled on the spot."

At this point, Yoshino Yuuki suddenly pointed to the brochure in Yukihira Soma's hand and couldn't help but complain.

"Look what it says here, it says 'Enhance friendships among classmates and build beautiful memories together'."

"It's actually a ruthless hell where trainees are eliminated!"

The others nodded in agreement. Indeed, judging from the warm description in the brochure, everyone would think it was a relaxing and pleasant camping trip. However, behind it all was a strict elimination mechanism.

Isshiki Satoshi's gaze swept over everyone, and he spoke in a serious tone.

"This is the competitive education of Totsuki Academy. The 'Jade Selection' mentioned by the Commander-in-Chief has officially begun from this moment."

"Only through rigorous elimination and mutual collision and polishing can it be transformed into a true piece of jade."

Daigo Aoki looked at Satoshi Isshiki, the only second-year student among them, and asked.

"Did Isshiki-senpai participate in this residential training program last year?"

Isshiki Satoshi's ability to remain at the Polar Star Dormitory suggests that he successfully completed his residential training program.

"Of course I've participated."

Isshiki Satoshi nodded, his expression filled with emotion.

"In my year, dozens of students were forcibly deported and expelled every day."

Of course, this was not a difficult task for someone with exceptional abilities, but for ordinary students, it was truly hell.

At this point, Shun Ibuzaki added.

"I heard that in the past few years, only half of the students who stayed after the training camp remained."

It is precisely because of such a high attrition rate that residential training programs are known as the initial hell.