The Legend of Fangren

The stars and moon shift and turn, eventually setting behind the western mountains.

The elder on night watch was replaced by Qian Shaoyun, but Fang Shi was still cooking something.

Looking at the first light of dawn on the horizon, Qian Shaoyun asked, "Did you find anything after cooking all night?"

"No." Dejected, Fang Shi looked back at the last bit of scraps behind him, feeling somewhat resigned.

We've tried both single ingredients and mixed ingredients, but without success.

The team had to set off as soon as it was light; there was no time for him to dawdle.

Fang Shi simply threw the last scraps into the iron bucket.

Seeing this, Qian Shaoyun said again, "When the flavors of the five elements are mixed together, the taste will be very strange."

"Yeah?"

Fang Shi looked up and asked, "What's so strange about it?"

"It's hard to describe." Qian Shaoyun twirled the ends of her hair a few times, but couldn't come up with a solution.

But this reminded Fang Shi, and he immediately opened the lid of the bucket. He saw that the boiling water was a jumble of debris, completely disordered and chaotic.

Everything in this world contains the five elements. If the monster the elder mentioned corresponds to these chaotic five elements, then what can possibly disrupt its chaos?

Mushrooms, Fang Shi still longed for his mushrooms.

According to the text, this is a formless thing called Yin Wood, which is tasteless to eat and is like an empty shell puppet, neither dead nor alive.

He threw it into the chaotic "Five Elements Water".

So what happens when an empty shell encounters the Five Elements?

Gazing at the boiling water, where chunks of meat were still churning, they no longer resembled scattered soldiers.

Chopsticks can easily separate the clumps of meat that are stuck together, and the meat is as smooth as a mushroom.

He searched again but couldn't find any mushrooms. However, the strange smell of the five elements in the pot had been suppressed. He was very curious about how the soup would taste in the end.

Since everyone else would be getting up soon anyway, he decided to simmer it slowly over a low flame until breakfast, then they could eat together.

On the other side, Qian Shaoyun touched the square pendant on her neck, took out a bag of rice, and prepared to cook breakfast porridge.

This white rice is called Golden Rice, a common food for cultivators. Because it belongs to the metal element, which is associated with condensation, it can concentrate the essence and nutrients. Moreover, since the metal energy is not strong, it can be boiled with the power of water and fire to release its essence, giving it a sweet, earthy taste. It can also replenish the trace amounts of profound energy needed for the inner circulation of qi, making it a perfect combination.

There's still some snake and python meat left from last night, so I'll mix it in to make a meat porridge. This way, the metal element will cut down the wood, and the broken wood will dissolve the metal element, making the mysterious energy more even and stable, and easier to digest.

This is a standard breakfast for those seeking immortality.

As soon as the aroma of the rice and meat wafted out of the pot, a group of girls were lured out of the hole by the smell.

"Time for breakfast."

Luohe and Qu Meichong were at the front; the former because their zodiac signs were compatible and they both liked to drink porridge, and the latter simply because they were extremely hungry.

The two of them grabbed their bowls and rushed to the porridge pot to line up. Just then, Fang Shi, who was standing next to them, also lifted the lid of his soup pot, and steam billowed out, instantly sweeping over everyone.

How exaggerated! But even more exaggerated was the aroma accompanying the steam. It was a fragrance that no one present had ever smelled before. Even Fang Shi himself was stunned. This taste was very similar to the umami taste in his memory, yet different, and even surpassed it. Just as the upper limit of other tastes surpassed the upper limit of his previous life, this umami taste also completely surpassed the upper limit of his understanding of umami taste in his previous life!

"Wow--!"

Upon smelling this aroma, one's mouth involuntarily waters, and the olfactory sensation is an ultimate pleasure.

The girls, drawn by the aroma of the rice porridge, slammed on the brakes and veered off course, arriving in front of the soup pot. Luckily, Fang Shi managed to stop them.

He suspected that if he didn't stop her, Senior Sister Qu would have plunged headfirst into the tub.

"Junior Brother Fang, I want to eat! Please give me some, I beg you~"

Without saying a word, Qu Mei grabbed Fang Shi's arm, her voice filled with sorrow, as if she would do anything to get a taste of the delicious soup.

But as a responsible person, how could Fang Shi let others eat the first thing he created? Of course, he should enjoy it himself first, or rather, test it for poison.

So she turned around, but suddenly felt a few soft things on her back. When she turned her head, she found that it was Luo He and Qu Mei. She couldn't understand why the two of them still had such childlike habits when they lost their minds. Even if they were curious, they should have formed a circle around her like the other senior and junior sisters.

But the most urgent thing right now is to taste the soup.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Fang Shi took out a spoon, reached into the bucket, scooped out the stewed minced meat and broth, and took a small sip.

"Um!"

Suddenly, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, startling the others, who quickly asked, "What's that smell?"

My mouth was watering uncontrollably; the taste seemed to whet my appetite, it was a bodily instinct.

However, Fang Shi did not answer. Still wanting more, he scooped up another spoonful of soup and stuffed the mouthful of minced meat into it.

"Ah, what does it taste like? Tell me already!"

Senior Sister Qu's tongue was practically sticking out to snatch the food when Fang Shi said, "The flavors of the five elements in the soup have been perfectly blended, unlike any other."

If we're going to use a metaphor, Fang Shi can only say that this is a pot of broth. It doesn't provide any specific flavor as the main taste, but it is an indispensable base for the whole dish. Like a foundation, any dish that adds this broth will reach a new level.

"Alright, alright, everyone disperse."

Fang Shi picked up the iron bucket and went to the porridge pot next to him, adding a spoonful to it.

"Wow—!" Another wave of astonishment at the aroma.

If the previous umami flavors were somewhat vague and undefined, then the umami flavors that now have a dominant taste have become a tangible temptation.

Ta-da... A group of girls immediately lined up with their bowls in hand, and even the two elders were attracted by the aroma and served themselves two bowls first.

After everything was packed, a junior female student couldn't wait to try it, but she burned her mouth.

Qian Shaoyun took a sip and carefully experienced the changes as the Xuan Qi entered her body.

"It's amazing! This soup has transformed the mystic energy in the porridge into a very gentle and harmonious form, making it very easy to refine and absorb. It's not only highly nourishing, but also harmless to the body."

It should be noted that a monk's diet does not necessarily have to correspond to his zodiac sign. It's just that for him, the daily requirement for other zodiac signs is not high, and only a small amount is needed.

Although spiritual plants and flesh also contain a small amount of profound energy, it is often insufficient. The amount is so small that cultivators often need to absorb the strongest aspect of profound energy and then use the five elements of the inner heaven to replenish the other aspects.

In contrast, the meat porridge in front of me has all five elements flowing smoothly and is complete. Even though one aspect of the profound energy is still a bit stronger, it is still very gentle, making one want to take a second sip as soon as possible.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~" Quickly blow on it to cool it down, or you might not be able to get a second bowl.

Luohe gulped down a bowl of porridge and was about to ask for more when Fang Shi pulled her aside, saying anxiously, "Fang Zi, after drinking this porridge, my Xuan Qi is recovering much faster. Don't pull me away!"

"Of course I know that," Fang Shi said, still holding his hand. "So you don't need to fight with them. I have plenty more here."

"Oh, right." Luo He immediately calmed down, happily took the wooden bowl, which was full of mushroom broth and strips of spirit meat, and ate it with gusto.

"It's delicious, isn't it?"

"Mmm, delicious! You're the best at making recipes." With her cheeks puffed out, Luohe nodded like a hamster.