Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

During this month, Ling Chi also got to know the monks at Jingnian Temple. No wonder, given his excellent cooking skills! He had mastered at least a hundred different vegetarian dishes, ensuring a varied meal every day. Ling Chi entered the kitchen six times in that month, completely winning over thousands of monks and producing over a thousand recipes.

There are only a little over a hundred white recipes, more than 90% of them are blue recipes, and there are more than a dozen purple recipes.

Besides Kong and the four guardian Vajras, there were actually twelve experts at the purple level.

Ling Chi was almost scared to death. Although Kong and the others were only ordinary purple-level, there were just too many of them!

With seventeen grandmaster-level experts, and considering the importance of others, Liao Kong seems to be not far from becoming a great grandmaster. Perhaps in three to five years, Liao Kong will become the fourth great grandmaster in the world.

Thankfully, Jingnian Temple doesn't get involved in political struggles like Cihang Jingzhai. Otherwise, what force in this world could withstand Jingnian Temple, which has seventeen Grandmaster-level experts and thousands of Blue-level experts as its backbone?

No wonder Jingnian Temple is as famous as Cihang Jingzhai, becoming one of the two great martial arts holy sites. Unlike the supporting characters in the original work, in terms of strength, Jingnian Temple is like Shaolin Temple in Jin Yong's martial arts world, with no one able to surpass it.

That damned Jingnian Zen Temple, it's really well hidden.

but……

Looking at his current attributes, Ling Chi felt much safer.

Host: Ling Chi

Physical strength: (6400/6400)

Energy: (3200/3200)

Power: 2348.2

Agility: 2328.8

Physical condition: 2341.6

True Qi: 205.2 years (Innate True Qi)

Lifespan: ? ? ? (years)

……

Cooking Skill: Purple (Advanced) (0.61/100)

……

Secondary Profession: Warrior

Internal Skills: (Partially hidden, only the strongest internal skills are displayed)

Tai Chi Divine Skill (Level 3): Passive skill, enhances base stats by 3000%, can strip away and absorb all energy.

Lightness skill:

Lingbo Qingyan Gong (Level 10): Active skill, increases agility by 1000%, increases evasion by 1000%, and can slowly increase internal energy during long-distance runs.

Free and Easy Flight (Level 3): Active skill. Every 10 years of innate true energy consumed, you can fly for 4 seconds and increase agility by 300%.

Moves: (Some are hidden; only moves below level 10 are shown)

Tai Chi (Level 7): Active skill, increases unarmed attack ability by 700%, increases unarmed defense ability by 1400%, and has a 70% chance to reflect damage.

Tai Chi Sword (Level 7): Active skill, increases sword attack ability by 700%, increases sword defense ability by 1400%, and has a 70% chance to disarm.

Six Meridian Divine Sword (Level 8): Active skill, sword aura attack, consumes one year's innate true qi, can shoot out a sword aura, increases attack damage by 800%, attack range 100 meters.

Life and Death Talisman (Level 9): Active skill. Those affected will experience 100% itching, 100% pain, 90% submission due to fear, and 30% genuine submission.

Tianshan Six Yang Palm (Level 9): Active skill, increases Yin attribute damage by 900%, increases Yang attribute damage by 900%, can harmonize Yin and Yang, and dispel the Life and Death Talisman.

Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand (Level 3): Active skill, 30% chance to incorporate other moves into it, the stronger the internal energy, the greater the power.

……

This upgrade not only broke through the attribute limitations, but also earned me my first red recipe as a reward.

Fire Spirit Root: (One-time use) Common red recipe. Consuming this recipe will grant you a Fire Spirit Root, making your cultivation of fire-type spells much more efficient.

Chapter Seven: The Empress of All Ages

A month later, Ling Chi walked out of Jingnian Temple and said to Liaokong, who was seeing him off, "Old monk, go back now! I'm leaving."

"Amitabha." Liaokong said reluctantly, "When I have time in the future, this humble monk will definitely visit Peach Blossom Island."

"Welcome," Ling Chi said with a smile. "Remember to bring money."

"Hehe." Liaokong chuckled, "Have a safe journey, benefactor."

"I'm leaving." Ling Chi waved and pushed the wheelbarrow away quickly.

Watching Ling Chi's departing figure, Liao Kong chanted a Buddhist prayer: "I wonder if Benefactor Ling is a blessing or a curse for the world?" Looking up at the sky, he said: "The world can't withstand any more turmoil!"

……

After leaving Jingnian Temple, Ling Chi did not immediately return to Peach Blossom Island. Instead, he went to the Luoyang Imperial Palace and 'borrowed' a pile of royal books. In order to decipher the characters in the Longevity Manual, Ling Chi didn't mind being a thief. Besides, Yang Guang would be dead in a few years, and this pile of books might be destroyed in the war. Rather than that, he might as well make use of it.

Seeing that Ling Chi had brought in all the books from the imperial library, Wang Chongyang and the others were both amused and exasperated, but said nothing. It was all for the sake of the Daoist divine skill—the Longevity Mantra.

After emptying the imperial library, Ling Chi intended to leave Luoyang immediately, but suddenly the sounds of music and drums came from inside the city. Ling Chi's habit of watching excitement kicked in again, and he pushed his wheelbarrow over to watch the commotion.

The closer he got, the more people there were, so Ling Chi had to unleash his true energy to fight his way through the crowd and reach the front.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that a woman from an official family was about to get married. However, since she was marrying far away to Chang'an, she was traveling by horse-drawn carriage instead of a sedan chair. She was escorted by dozens of family guards and was about to leave the city.

"Hey, brother," Ling Chi patted the young scholar beside him and asked, "Whose daughter is this? Who is she going to marry?"

The scholar was plain-looking and exuded an air of poverty, clearly from a humble background. He was staring intently at the carriage when Ling Chi patted him, which made him somewhat displeased. However, seeing Ling Chi's smiling face, and as the saying goes, one cannot hit a smiling face, the scholar's expression softened, and he sighed, "This woman is Miss Changsun, the daughter of the late Right Valiant Guard General. She is going to marry Li Shimin, the second son of the Li family in Chang'an."

"Oh?" Ling Chi's eyes flickered as he glanced into the carriage. Of course, he didn't have X-ray vision, so he couldn't see what the bride inside looked like.

"You look so infatuated, brother. Could it be that you're after this Miss Changsun...?"

"Shh!" The poor scholar hurriedly gestured for silence. Seeing Ling Chi smiling and remaining silent, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Miss Changsun is the kindest and most virtuous woman in Luoyang. Although she lost her father at a young age, she is strong and optimistic. Countless young talents in Luoyang admire her. It's just a pity that she has to get married at the age of thirteen. Alas!"

Ling Chi blinked and said, "Thirteen years old, isn't that too early?"

“Who says otherwise?” The poor scholar said indignantly, “It’s all Gao Shilian’s fault! If he hadn’t been involved with Husi Zheng and been demoted to the godforsaken Jiaozhi County, how could Miss Changsun have lost her support and been forced to marry at a young age?”

"Gao Shilian?"

"Hmm." The poor scholar nodded: "Gao Shilian is Miss Changsun's maternal uncle. Since Miss Changsun lost her father at the age of eight, she has been raised by Gao Shilian."

"I see." Ling Chi nodded. Although he was a liberal arts student and did well in history, it was impossible for him to remember all the figures from every dynasty. He knew Li Shimin, he knew Changsun Wuji, and of course he knew Empress Changsun, who married Li Shimin, but he really didn't know who Empress Changsun's uncle was.

Now we know it's Gao Shilian, who is currently destitute and has been exiled to Vietnam.

Yes, Vietnam has been...

Ling Chi pushed his wheelbarrow and followed the bride's motorcade.

The caravan soon left the city and headed towards Chang'an along the official road. Ling Chi followed the caravan from a short distance away, replenishing the goods for the wheelbarrows along the way. He followed them from morning until afternoon, and when the caravan stopped by a small river, he immediately pushed the wheelbarrows closer.

"Who goes there?!" Several guards on guard duty surrounded him, staring at him warily.

"Gentlemen," Ling Chi said with a smile, "I sell food. Would you like to buy some?"

"Food?" A young man in his early twenties walked out from the crowd. He was dressed simply, but had an extraordinary air about him and was very handsome. Ling Chi thought to himself: Heh, another young heartthrob.

There are just too many beautiful women and handsome men in this world. At least the men and women in Jin Yong's world are realistic, but the men and women in this world are all enhanced with beauty filters. Ling Chi is starting to hesitate, wondering if he should try all the dishes that enhance appearance and temperament from before.

He thinks it's good to be ordinary, but you can't be too average!

The young man sized up Ling Chi and asked, "What kind of food do you sell?"

"We have scallion pancakes, pickled vegetables, tea eggs, millet porridge, tofu pudding, and soy milk. For dessert, we have jam bread and twisted dough sticks." Ling Chi lifted the cotton cloth on the wheelbarrow, revealing a pile of food and drinks, and asked cheerfully, "What would you like to eat, sir?"

The young man took a deep breath as he looked at the wide variety of food and smelled the aroma.

Mmm~~~~~ It smells so good!

Everyone looked delighted, even the maid in the carriage lifted the curtain, glanced over, and turned to say, "Miss, someone's selling delicious food!"

"..."

The young man snapped out of his daze and asked, "How much are these?"

Ling Chi chuckled and said, "A scallion pancake costs one jiao and one tael of silver, a packet of pickled vegetables costs five taels of silver, a tea egg costs ten taels of silver, a bowl of millet porridge, tofu pudding, and soy milk costs one tael of silver, and bread and fried dough twists cost two taels of silver."

The young man was amused and annoyed: "You think we're being taken advantage of?"

“Of course not,” Ling Chi laughed. “The things made on Peach Blossom Island are worth the price.”

"Peach Blossom Island!?" Not only the young man, but everyone who heard it exclaimed in surprise, looking at him with great astonishment.

"Are you from Peach Blossom Island?" the young man asked, still somewhat skeptical.

“It’s the real deal.” Ling Chi smiled. “If you don’t believe me, you can go to Jingnian Temple and ask. I’ve been studying scriptures there for the past month.”

"..." The young man immediately straightened his posture, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "My name is Changsun Wuji. May I ask your esteemed name, sir?"

Changsun Wuji, the elder brother of Miss Changsun and the brother-in-law of Li Shimin, served as Left General of the Martial Guard during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. He was appointed Minister of Personnel, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Minister of Works, Minister of Education, and concurrently Grand Councilor and Grand Secretary. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao and his portrait was painted in the Lingyan Pavilion, ranking first.

Of course, not yet.

“Ling Chi.” Ling Chi smiled and said, “Ling means soaring ambition, and Chi means wine pool and meat forest. I am the master of Peach Blossom Island.”

Changsun Wuji's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "So Brother Ling is actually the master of Peach Blossom Island. My apologies for my disrespect."

"What disrespect? I'm just a lowly cook; you shouldn't deign to associate with me."

"..."

Changsun Wuji had always thought he was smarter than others, but today, he suddenly felt that his brain was not up to the task.

"Hehe, just kidding." Ling Chi chuckled and said, "Young Master Changsun is the bride's brother, isn't he?"

"Exactly." Changsun Wuji's heart tightened: Why was he asking about his younger sister?

"I wonder what advice Brother Ling has for me?"

"I don't have much to say, but I've heard that Miss Changsun is kind and virtuous, and admired by countless young talents in Chang'an." At this point, Ling Chi looked at the slightly nervous Changsun Wuji and chuckled, "I'm a very curious person, so I'd like to meet Miss Changsun."

"..." Changsun Wuji's face darkened, and he said, "My younger sister is about to marry the second young master of the Li family. I hope Brother Ling will show some respect."

"She's not married yet!" Ling Chi laughed. "Besides, I just want to see her. I won't do anything. Why is Young Master Changsun so nervous?"

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Han and non-Han peoples lived together, and the social atmosphere was not as conservative as during the Song and Ming dynasties. Free love between men and women was common, and even women's clothing was very bold. In some poor areas, men and women were so poor that they didn't even have trousers to wear. There were many men and women who covered themselves with leaves. For example, in Jiaozhi County, where Gao Shilian was demoted, there were a lot of mountain people who wore leaves.

The Hu people were not very rule-abiding and took a very casual view of love and marriage. If the Changsun family hadn't been an official family, given their Xianbei ethnicity, they wouldn't have had any strict separation between men and women. They would be together if they liked each other, and separate if they didn't, their attitude was even more casual than that of modern people.

Many modern people say that morality is corrupt and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be. In fact, many ancient dynasties were much more chaotic than modern times. The Sui and Tang dynasties were quite chaotic, not to mention the Wei and Jin dynasties. There were quite a few drug addicts. That was true 'freedom'!