While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

In the kitchen, Xu Chuan quickly switched into chef mode.

The spatula flew, and oil splattered everywhere.

The sounds of chopping vegetables, stir-frying, and bubbling soup blended together in a lively cacophony.

Soon, an enticing aroma wafted out, making one's mouth water.

Dishes were brought out of the kitchen and placed all over the table.

Xu Chuan brought the last dish to the table. "Come and try it. This is a dish I learned at Wanmintang and Liuliting."

Although he claimed he learned it from others, he had only tasted those dishes a few times and then tried to recreate them.

There were no recipes, no formulas; it all depended on taste and memory.

If the taste is about 70% similar, it's already quite good.

In fact, he rarely had a moment of leisure during his time in Liyue Harbor.

Most of the time, he was dragged along by that girl Hu Tao to run business, and he even ate his meals on the road.

Now is the perfect time to try out Xiao; maybe I can even improve my cooking skills.

"If there are any parts that are not authentic, please give me more suggestions."

Xu Chuan sat down opposite him, picked up his chopsticks, and said, "I'll try to make some changes later."

Xiao tasted each dish one by one.

He ate very slowly, chewing each bite carefully, as if he were completing an important task.

After tasting it once, Xiao put down his chopsticks.

“Very good,” he said. “Your skills are just as good as your humor.”

"However, my taste is on the sweeter side, so my advice may not be very helpful."

"That's something I didn't expect." Xu Chuan paused for a moment, then smiled.

After being reminded by Xiao, he finally understood.

Whether the dishes are authentic or not is not important; the most important thing is that they suit the taste of the person eating them.

No matter how authentic a dish is, it's all for nothing if the other person doesn't like it.

That guy doesn't like greasy food; he prefers something lighter.

Use less oil and salt; the natural flavors of the ingredients should be highlighted, and seasonings should only be used as garnishes and should not overpower the main flavors.

Xu Chuan stood up, tied his apron, and started cooking again.

Following Xiao's approach, he did another round.

Stir-fried seasonal vegetables, boiled shrimp, and steamed fish.

Each dish uses minimal oil and salt, yet retains the original flavor of the ingredients to the greatest extent possible.

When plating it, he even arranged it in a special way, making it look as exquisite as if it were served in a restaurant.

Before returning to Mondstadt, he planned to make some preparations so he could give Yura a surprise.

Xiao stared blankly at the pile of food in front of him, somewhat at a loss.

He looked at the plate on the left, then at the plate on the right, and then at the pot opposite him.

Something was still cooking in the pot, bubbling and steaming.

"What, is it not to your liking?"

Xu Chuan leaned over and said, "Then I'll make some more."

"no need."

Xiao immediately refused, speaking much faster than usual, "It would be such a waste to continue."

"Don't worry, I stocked up on plenty of food when I left Liyue."

With Ningguang, a wealthy woman, paying for it, he stockpiled a lot of Liyue's specialty ingredients.

Inside the spatial ring, the food was piled up like a small mountain, enough to feed him for several months.

Xu Chuan also bought a lot of Liyue specialties as return gifts for his Mondstadt friends.

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Xiao had no choice but to start eating.

His chopsticks never stopped, but the food on the table never seemed to diminish.

Just when he thought it was the last dish, Xu Chuan would bring out a new one from the kitchen.

Xiao's forehead began to sweat.

It wasn't because it was spicy, it was because I ate too much.

Finally, Xiao couldn't take it anymore, put down his chopsticks, and stood up.

"I just remembered I have something to do. You can just call me tomorrow."

Before Xu Chuan could speak, he had already disappeared outside the portal.

That figure looked rather disheveled no matter how you looked at it.

Xu Chuan sighed as he watched Xiao's disheveled figure leave.

"If Paimon were here right now, that would be great."

He muttered to himself, "Her appetite is much better than Xiao's, and she's not picky about food."

"No matter how much is made, she can finish it all."

After finishing their meal, they would say, "It's so delicious, I want another bowl."

Two people who are far apart both spoke highly of each other at the same time.

Xu Chuan shook his head, returned to the table, put away the leftovers, and then took out the core of the cannon.

On the light blue core, the golden mark was much deeper than before.

Those golden threads, like tree roots, burrowed deep into the core, extending from the surface all the way to the interior, merging with the core itself.

Skvornugg's soul slept peacefully within it, rising and falling gently with the rhythm of the core.

The alchemical techniques and the spirit-binding and general-summoning methods were operating simultaneously.

Golden light surged from Xu Chuan's palm, enveloping the core layer by layer, like a silkworm spinning silk or a cicada forming a cocoon.

Golden threads of light coiled around it, like inscriptions carved into it, containing a special power.

The fusion continues, and Skvornugg's soul is gradually becoming one with the core.

It's not a mechanical fit or a forced binding; it's a true fusion that grows together from the very roots.

Inside the grotto, the bamboo leaves rustled.

A mountain breeze blew from afar, carrying the fragrance of bamboo leaves and the dampness of the earth, passing through the windows of the wooden house and brushing against Xu Chuan's cheek.

Xu Chuan closed his eyes and continued refining.

Golden light flowed in his palm, and the core rhythm was synchronized with his heartbeat.

One stroke at a time, steady and powerful.

Chapter 156 The Flower of Hidden Gold

Inside the cave, Xu Chuan's refining process was nearing its end.

The core floated silently in front of him, its surface wrapped in a thin layer of golden light, vaguely revealing its true appearance inside.

On the light blue core, the golden imprint is no longer a mark, but has become part of the core itself.

Skvornugg's soul slumbered within it, rising and falling gently with the rhythm of the core.

Looking at the core in front of him, Xu Chuan couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

In a few more days, this core will be completely refined.

"Skovnug, I have paved the ladder to godhood for you. Do not disappoint me."

However, Skvornugg had no way to respond to these words.

Most of his soul had merged with the core, and even his self-awareness had fallen into a strange state, unable to perceive anything happening in the outside world.

Like a seed falling into the soil, you only need to wait for it to sprout.

Seeing that the other party did not respond, Xu Chuan decisively used the Spirit Control Technique to sense its state.

Consciousness probed deep into the core, touching Skvornugg's soul.

He was relieved to find that Skvornugg's soul had not dissipated.

He has done the best he could.

Now, it all depends on whether Skvornugg can prove himself.

After settling the core, Xu Chuan left the cave.

The moment the portal closed, the bamboo leaves in the cave rustled in the wind.

The souls of the two rock dragon lizards floated up from the spatial ring and instantly straightened their backs.

They stood on either side, like two loyal guards, carefully holding the ring in their paws and presenting it to Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan took the ring and put it back on his hand.

The two rock dragon lizard souls then merged back into his body.

Nourished by his life force, they thrived like fish in water, instantly becoming much more energetic, and their originally translucent bodies solidified a bit.

"In just one night, the wear and tear on the soul is negligible."

"Perhaps next time we can try to extend the time."

Xu Chuan thought about it and decided to verify it a few more times later.

I know very little about the soul.

Taking advantage of the ability to summon spirits and command generals, we might be able to gain some unexpected benefits.

Xu Chuan was quite curious about how Dotore made the slices.

Of course, he wasn't as ruthless as Dotole, killing people without hesitation.

There's absolutely no need to try making your own slices like that guy.

If you accidentally mess up your soul, then you're really doomed.

"I remember that guy's technique for making slices seemed to have been developed from cannons."

"I wonder if True Lord Liuyun Borrows the Wind can figure out some tricks of it."

Xu Chuan then shook his head.

The True Lord of Liuyun Borrowing Wind focuses on the mechanical arts of immortals, but has almost no research on the human body.

Xu Chuan's lowest expectation was that the cannon's body could be repaired.

"I hope True Lord Liuyun and Borrowing the Wind won't give me any 'surprises'."

Clearing his mind of these distracting thoughts, Xu Chuan focused his attention back on himself.

"The souls of thirty-six rock dragon lizards are far from my limit. I need to find souls stronger than these guys."

The practice of the Golden Light Mantra has now become routine, and the growth of one's own spiritual cultivation has never stopped.

He is getting stronger every moment.

However, Xu Chuan was not entirely satisfied with this steady growth.

As he recalled his journey to becoming stronger, Xu Chuan chuckled softly.

"If you want to become stronger, you really have to take some risks."

Gazing in the direction where the sun was rising, Xu Chuan took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

“Xiao,” he called out.

A mountain wind suddenly arose.