Chef God of the Wuxia and Fantasy World

You're not coming home, this is my home.

Ultimately, it was a happy occasion, and Ling Chi prepared a feast of fine wine and food to entertain Sun Wukong.

"Mmm, delicious!" Sun Wukong tasted the golden dish and said, "It seems even better than before. Brother Ling, your cooking skills have improved again?"

“That’s natural.” Ling Chi nodded. There were too many monsters in this world, so gaining experience was not difficult at all. Although he had only been in the heavens for a little over a year, Ling Chi had still managed to gain enough experience to level up. Now his cooking skills had reached the top level of the gold rank, which, to put it simply, was the realm of the Taiyi Golden Immortal, just like when Sun Wukong made havoc in the Heavenly Palace.

Moreover, there are objective conditions to continue leveling up, such as the Eighteen Arhats, Erlang Shen, and the Bull Demon King, which are all experience monsters that can be farmed. However, Ling Chi plans to stop for the same reason as before: wait for Shuang'er to level up.

The leveling speed in this world is too fast. Shuang'er was already behind, and now she has fallen behind by one major level and two minor levels. For Shuang'er, who can only make high-level red dishes, reality is too cruel.

Moreover, Huang Rong and the others' levels were a bit behind. A few days ago, the women had a small meeting with him and finally decided to let Shuang'er, Ling'er, Caiyi and other assistant cooks with relatively poor cooking skills enter the God of Cooking Space and use the more than three thousand times the time flow to quickly improve their cooking skills.

As for Huang Rong and the others who have relatively high cooking skills, they only need to make good use of their evenings.

As mentioned before, red is a hurdle. After entering red cooking skill, the difficulty of upgrading will increase exponentially. If Ling Chi hadn't been able to gain experience, he wouldn't have been able to raise his cooking skill to the top gold level so quickly. Even Huang Rong can only barely make ordinary gold dishes now, not to mention the others.

So, not stopping all the time really won't work.

Anyway, these immortals, Buddhas, demons and monsters won't run away if they're left here. It's not too late to gain experience after Shuang'er and the others improve their cooking skills.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "Brother, would you like to learn the art of transformation from me?"

"Seventy-two transformations?" Ling Chi asked.

Sun Wukong laughed and asked, "Want to learn or not?"

He expected a predictable answer, but Ling Chi shook his head and said, "I won't learn."

"..." Sun Wukong's eyes widened: "Why!?"

Don't you know how awesome my 72 Transformations are? Wasn't the battle between me and Erlang Shen, where we transformed into each other, exciting enough? Or am I unworthy to be your master?!

"Because I learned the Thirty-Six Transformations from Marshal Tianpeng," Ling Chi said truthfully.

"..."

Back when Zhu Bajie was still Marshal Tianpeng, he was so captivated by Lingchi's fine wine and food that he had no way to repay her, so he passed on his Thirty-Six Transformations to Lingchi.

These Thirty-Six Transformations are not the same as the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang in the legend of Taoism. They are just a method of transformation, but they can mostly transform into some 'large objects', such as mountains and rocks. However, they can also transform into small things. For example, when Pigsy was bathing with the Spider Demon, he transformed into a fish and escaped, although that fish was quite big.

Marshal Tianpeng secured an important position in Heaven thanks to his Thirty-Six Transformations. If he hadn't gotten drunk and flirted with Chang'e, he wouldn't have been banished to the mortal realm by the enraged Jade Emperor and mistakenly reincarnated as a pig.

Fortunately, the ending wasn't too bad. The Cleansing Altar Messenger... he'll have something to eat from now on.

Sun Wukong grinned, his monkey temper flaring up: "No way! You have to learn the Seventy-Two Transformations from me, or you won't have any peace!"

"..." Ling Chi was stunned for a moment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Others wanted to learn but couldn't, but he didn't want to learn and was forced to learn.

Luck!

"Alright!" Left with no other choice, Ling Chi had to agree.

Sun Wukong chuckled: "That's right, I, Old Sun, will now teach you the Seventy-Two Transformations."

These seventy-two transformations are different from the seventy-two earthly transformations of Taoist magic. Like the thirty-six transformations, they are various transformation techniques, mainly used to avoid the harm brought by the three calamities of heavenly thunder, yin fire, and bifeng, so as to realize the wish of immortality.

However, mastering the Seventy-Two Transformations is equivalent to having seventy-two lives, which is very important. Ling Chi has mastered both the Thirty-Six Transformations and the Seventy-Two Transformations, for a total of one hundred and eight transformations, which is thirty-six more than Sun Wukong.

Chapter Seven Shocks the Three Realms

After Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, there were basically no more wars in the Heavenly Court, and the immortals of the Heavenly Court also enjoyed a long period of peace. Unbeknownst to them, the seeds planted in the farm to brew the finest wine had finally grown and borne their first batch of fruit.

The appearance of these fruits is hard to describe; they are golden, round, and have seemingly irregular yet exquisite red patterns on their skin, making them look a bit like wings.

Ling Chi suddenly realized why the Candle Dragon had called this fruit the Golden Wing Fruit; it was named after its appearance.

The ten golden-winged fruit trees produced a total of more than a thousand golden-winged fruits, which can be used to brew more than two hundred catties of fine wine.

From obtaining the seed of the Golden Wing Fruit to its fruiting, a full ten thousand years passed. Linghu Chong had spent ten thousand years learning brewing techniques in order to brew the finest nectar. With ten thousand years dedicated solely to learning brewing, his brewing skills were definitely superior to Lingchi's.

"It's up to you now." Ling Chi patted Linghu Chong on the shoulder, his face full of trust.

Linghu Chong, tears streaming down his face, exclaimed: "Do you know how hard it was for me?! Just to brew a single wine, I practiced for a full ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Is there anyone in the world more diligent than me? Anyone else would have become lazy long ago. Ah, my brain is trembling..."

However, while the effect of the elixir is to grant immortality, it has no effect on farmers and herdsmen. After all, their lifespan depends entirely on Ling Chi. As long as Ling Chi is alright, they will be alright too. But if something happens to Ling Chi, even if they drink all the elixir, it will be of no use.

Therefore, the ultimate purpose of brewing fine wine is simply to taste it; as long as it tastes good, that's enough, and any side effects are irrelevant.

It took Linghu Chong about half a year to successfully brew the Jade Nectar, totaling 223 jin, an interesting number. After the brewing was successful, Linghu Chong drank one jin of the Jade Nectar himself as payment from Ling Chi, leaving 222 jin of Jade Nectar remaining, which Ling Chi kept.

In addition, Ling Chi and Shuang'er ate all the peaches that Ling Chi obtained from the Queen Mother of the West and Sun Wukong, leaving only the peach pits to plant in the farm.

Lingchi once asked the Queen Mother of the West if the peach pits of the Immortal Peaches could grow into peaches of the same grade if planted in the ground.

The Queen Mother of the West's answer was concise: "Yes."

Ling Chi was very surprised and asked the Queen Mother, "When the Peach Banquet is held and the peaches are eaten by many immortals, aren't you afraid that they will grow them?"

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Planting peach trees is not that simple. Without peach pits soaked in the Three Lights Divine Water for a hundred days, even a nine-thousand-year-old peach pit will only produce ordinary peaches."

"I see."

The Three Divine Waters are "Golden Sunlight Divine Water, Silver Moonlight Divine Water, and Purple Starlight Divine Water".

Sunlight Divine Water: Eliminates blood essence and bone flesh

Moonlight Divine Water: Corrodes the Primordial Spirit and Soul

Starlight Divine Water: Dissolves True Spiritual Consciousness

However! When the golden Sunlight Divine Water, the silver Moonlight Divine Water, and the purple Starlight Divine Water are combined into one, they become the ultimate healing elixir! It can neutralize all poisons, even those considered "incurable." It can also heal all wounds and diseases. It can even regrow flesh and bone, and bring the dead back to life. But no one has ever imagined that the Heavenly Peaches of Immortality require peach pits soaked in the Three Lights Divine Water for a hundred days to grow.

A single drop of the Three Lights Divine Water is worth more than a three-thousand-year-old peach, comparable to a six-thousand-year-old peach, and slightly less than a nine-thousand-year-old peach. However, because the Three Lights Divine Water is so rare, it is actually more precious than other types of peaches.

Furthermore, peach pits need to be soaked for a hundred days, requiring over a thousand drops of the "Three Lights Divine Water" for even a single pit. Such high costs are beyond the reach of ordinary people. In Journey to the West, when Sun Wukong knocked down the ginseng fruit tree, Guanyin Bodhisattva only used a few dozen drops of the "Three Lights Divine Water" to revive it. Yet, a single peach pit requires thousands of drops of this water! What? Is your father "Zu Yun"?

Ling Chi obtained a total of 14 nine-thousand-year peaches, 13 six-thousand-year peaches, and 13 three-thousand-year peaches, for a total of 40 peaches. If he were to soak them all, it would require more than 40,000 drops of the Three Lights Divine Water. This really worried Ling Chi. Where was he supposed to get them?

Fortunately, he had a wide circle of friends. He first obtained more than 10,000 drops of the Three Lights Divine Water from the Old Mother of Lishan, then more than 3,000 drops from the Lingbao Daojun, and more than 1,000 drops from the Supreme Lord Laozi. In addition, he obtained a total of 20,000 drops of the Three Lights Divine Water from other gods. He simply couldn't get the other half.

Just as Ling Chi was about to plant a batch of nine-thousand-year-old and six-thousand-year-old peaches, the dog system finally came into play.

"Ding, the analysis of the production principle of the Three Lights Divine Water has been completed. The artificial cultivation method of the Three Lights Divine Water is as follows..."

Damn system, you finally did something right this time!

Ling Chi was so excited that he wanted to hug the God of Cookery System and give it a big kiss. Although he had seen the process of artificial cultivation and found it quite difficult, he was able to create it just right with the talent he currently possessed.

Afterwards, the members of the farm and ranch were mobilized, and after more than a thousand years, they finally succeeded in cultivating 20,000 drops of the Three Lights Divine Water and successfully planted 40 peach pits in the farm. Now they have sprouted and are in the growth period.

Nowadays, farms and ranches absorb the spiritual energy of the Heavenly Court, greatly improving the purity and concentration of this energy. Although they are still far inferior to the Heavenly Court, they have already reached the level of a blessed land. Simply put, the spiritual energy of farms and ranches provides a platform for crops and livestock to become spirits. If farmers or herders did not regularly harvest crops and slaughter livestock, these things would eventually become demons.

Fortunately, Lingchi has a high degree of control over the ranch and farm, so any problems can be detected and resolved in advance. In addition, by appropriately reducing production and focusing more energy on high-end breeding and development, the workload of farmers and herdsmen has been greatly reduced, and their leisure time has increased.

With their spare time, farmers and herdsmen began to ponder all sorts of random things, such as composing poems, playing musical instruments, studying clothing styles, and various etiquettes. Of course, the roughnecks would ponder various martial arts competitions, horse racing, cockfighting, or listening to music and watching plays. Some even went so far as to dance, greatly enriching the cultural and sports life of both communities.

Unbeknownst to them, the level of civilization in both spaces has been rising higher and higher. Except for the absence of brothel culture and crime, almost everything else that should have developed has been developed.

Ling Chi increasingly felt that these two spaces were more and more like the legendary utopia, an incredibly ideal and beautiful world.

The thought that this world is the result of my own hard work fills me with a strong sense of accomplishment.

Time passed day by day, and more than four years had gone by since Ling Chi came to work in the Heavenly Court. Gradually, he felt a little tired of his current life. It was true that he liked cooking, but he liked cooking for himself and the people he loved, not just being a cook working for others.

Of course, the most important reason is that he has already transplanted almost everything that could be transplanted from the Heavenly Court, and he has gained enough benefits. It's time for him to think about himself.

That day, after Ling Chi finished preparing dinner for the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, he went to the place where they were eating and stood by their side.

When the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother saw him standing there without saying a word, they knew that something must be wrong.

The Jade Emperor asked, "God of Cookery, is there something you need?"

"Your Majesty," Ling Chi bowed and said, "I have been serving in the Heavenly Court for more than four years. For more than four years, I have been responsible for Your Majesty and the Empress's three meals a day. Although it is an honor, it is also a bit tedious. Therefore, I would like to ask for leave to travel around the Four Continents and see the scenery of the Four Continents. I hope Your Majesty and the Empress will grant me permission."

After hearing this, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief. The Queen Mother chuckled and said, "I thought it was something else. It turns out the God of Cookery is just bored. In that case... Your Majesty, give him a few days off so he can relieve some stress."

"But...the God of Cookery is gone, what about our daily meals..." The Jade Emperor hesitated.

The Queen Mother rolled her eyes: "Three meals a day are just to satisfy our appetites. It doesn't matter if we don't eat for several days. But if the God of Cookery is in a bad mood and makes bad food, it will affect His Majesty's mood."

"Hmm..." The Jade Emperor stroked his beard and said, "What Your Majesty says makes sense. In that case... God of Cookery, obey my command."

Ling Chi clasped his hands and bowed.

"The God of Cookery has served me and the Queen Mother diligently for many years, and his merits are great. From today until three days before the Queen Mother's birthday next year, he is free to move about as he pleases and does not need to perform his duties." The Jade Emperor said, "However, he must return to prepare for the Peach Banquet three days before the Queen Mother's birthday next year, without fail."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ling Chi's face was full of joy. "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Alright," the Queen Mother said with a smile, "Are you satisfied now?"

"It is all thanks to His Majesty's wisdom and Her Majesty's kindness. It is my honor to serve His Majesty and Her Majesty." Ling Chi, having been granted an extra-long vacation, showered the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother with flattery, making them smile broadly and feel completely at ease.

Soon after, news spread that the God of Cookery had been given a long vacation by the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. Upon hearing this news, all the celestial officials in the Heavenly Court were filled with envy.

Why? Why? Why can the God of Cookery take a long vacation, but I can't? I want a vacation too! I want to go out and have fun too!

Since the establishment of the Heavenly Court, countless celestial soldiers and generals have been steadfastly working at their posts day after day. Everyone says that being a god is good, but who knows how hard it is for gods? Mortals can work for a few decades at most and then retire, but these gods have to work as long as they live, and they never rest for the rest of their lives. Is this the kind of work that humans can do?

Hmm? It really doesn't seem like something a human would do.

That's not important!

The important question is, why is it that even the God of Cookery gets a vacation? They ask the Jade Emperor for a long leave, and then they face his death glare? Is there no justice left? Is there no fairness left?

We bear a burden that the profession of immortals should not have to bear. How sad.

Regardless of what the gods in Heaven thought, Ling Chi had already taken leave and officially left Heaven to wander the Four Continents.

His first stop was Huaguo Mountain in Dongsheng Shenzhou. Ever since Sun Wukong became a Buddha, Huaguo Mountain has become a place that demons and monsters dare not provoke. The monkeys in the mountain lived very happily. However, because he became a Buddha, Sun Wukong had more Buddhist nature. He spent less time drinking and playing and more time comprehending the world and improving his cultivation.

The Victorious Fighting Buddha represents the highest fighting power of Buddhism. Obviously, Sun Wukong has not yet reached this level. Even for the sake of his pride, Sun Wukong does not dare to be too negligent. Now, after hundreds of years of being a Buddha, his cultivation has steadily increased. Although he is still a Great Luo Golden Immortal, his realm has been completely stabilized, and he is expected to break through to Quasi-Saint in the future.

Ling Chi's arrival at Flower Fruit Mountain delighted Sun Wukong.

"Brother Ling, hahaha, you've finally come to see your old Sun!" Upon seeing Ling Chi, Sun Wukong happily did a somersault and embraced Ling Chi arm in arm.

This was Ling Chi's first visit to Flower Fruit Mountain. Accompanied by Sun Wukong, he carefully explored the scenery. Just as described in the book, Flower Fruit Mountain commanded the vast ocean and awed the Jade Sea. Commanding the vast ocean, tides surged like silver mountains, fish retreated to their burrows; awed the Jade Sea, waves churned like snow, mirages leaped from their depths. High mounds of earth rose in the corners of water and fire, towering peaks rose in the eastern sea. Red cliffs and strange rocks, sheer walls and wondrous peaks. On the red cliffs, two colorful phoenixes cried; before the sheer walls, a lone unicorn lay. From the peaks, one could often hear the cry of a golden pheasant; in the stone caves, one could often see dragons entering and leaving. In the forest lived long-lived deer and immortal foxes; in the trees perched spirit birds and black cranes.

Rare herbs and exotic flowers never fade, green pines and cypresses remain evergreen. Immortal peaches always bear fruit, and tall bamboos always retain the clouds. A ravine is densely covered with vines and creepers, and the surrounding banks are covered with fresh grass. It is truly a pillar supporting the sky where all rivers converge, and an unshakable root of the earth through countless eons.

The abundance of spiritual energy in Huaguo Mountain was so great that it rivaled even the Heavenly Court, which completely surprised Ling Chi. He never dreamed that Huaguo Mountain would be such a good place for cultivation. No wonder the novel says that Huaguo Mountain is the ancestral vein of the ten continents and the source of the three islands.

Many people don't quite understand these two sentences. In fact, the "Ten Continents and Three Islands" refers to the three islands and ten continents in the vast ocean and universe that Taoism describes as extremely far from the mainland. These are places rarely visited by humans, where immortal herbs and lingzhi mushrooms that can grant immortality grow. Immortals live on these islands, graceful and carefree.

The ten continents are: Zuzhou, Yingzhou, Xuanzhou, Yanzhou, Changzhou, Yuanzhou, Liuzhou, Shengzhou, Fenglinzhou, and Jukuzhou; the three islands are: Kunlun Mountain, Fangzhang Mountain, and Penglai Mountain.