Tian Meng's Model Worker Days Begin

After putting some distance between himself and the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Qiang did some calculations and determined that he would not need to worry about running into Huo Yuhao for the time being, nor about Electrolux suddenly taking Tian Meng away. He then arrived at a barbecue restaurant, ready to carry out the next part of his plan.

"One serving of beef, one serving of lamb, and one serving of lettuce. Thanks."

After showing his three spirit rings—two yellow and one purple—to display his status as a Soul Elder and prevent the owner from cheating him on portions, Xiao Qiang mixed up some dipping sauce and began grilling the meat.

When the lamb began sizzling and dripping with oil, he picked up a piece, dipped it in sauce, and wrapped it in lettuce. It cut through the grease while also keeping the freshly grilled lamb from being too hot.

"Not bad. The flavor works."

After confirming that this restaurant's barbecue was good, Xiao Qiang continued grilling while sinking part of his consciousness into his sea of spirit to wake Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who was still sleeping.

"Wake up, Brother Sky Dream."

"What is it?! Can't you see I'm sleeping?!"

Although Tian Meng was currently just a big bug, Xiao Qiang could still clearly see the impatience on his face after being abruptly awakened. Xiao Qiang did not care, however.

"It's like this, Brother Sky Dream. I heard you say before that when you cultivated to a Million Years, you were practically eating Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow the whole time. I've never eaten that stuff, but judging by the name, it should be some kind of ice. I'm guessing it probably doesn't taste very good."

"Thinking about how you've only eaten that one kind of food for all these years, I feel a little sor—ah, no. What I mean is, I want you to try human food. Maybe it'll suit your taste."

Tian Meng was left dumbfounded by Xiao Qiang's words. "So you woke me up just to let me taste human food?"

"Yeah. It must feel pretty miserable to eat only one thing your entire life. Even if that stuff isn't as tasteless as I imagined and is actually delicious, you'd still get sick of it eventually. So I want you to try some things I think taste great. Maybe you'll like them too."

"Uh... sorry. I misunderstood you just now." Tian Meng showed an embarrassed expression. At first, he had thought Xiao Qiang was simply making trouble for no reason.

"It's fine. Use my body to have a taste. I'm sure you'll like this flavor."

With his powerful spiritual power, Tian Meng instantly understood how to use chopsticks. Following Xiao Qiang's example, he dipped the grilled meat in seasoning, wrapped it in lettuce, and put it into his mouth. In an instant, Tian Meng's eyes seemed to shine.

"Th-this-this-this... this is way too delicious! How can something this delicious exist in the world?!"

Tian Meng shouted excitedly. He felt as though he had lived those Million Years for nothing, having never tasted anything so delicious.

"As long as you like it." Xiao Qiang spoke slowly from the depths of the sea of spirit.

Xiao Qiang had anticipated this reaction from Tian Meng. Spirit beasts were spirit beasts: spirit came first, beast came second.

And as long as they were beasts, there was one problem they could not escape: there was almost no salt in their food.

In nature, a sheep could spend thousands upon thousands of years evolving the ability to walk freely along cliffs just for a little salt on the rock face.

Among carnivores, only powerful predators got to enjoy the internal organs of their prey.

Those foods, disliked by many in the human world due to their bloody, gamey taste and a whole range of other reasons, became delicacies that only creatures at the top of the animal food chain could enjoy because of their high fat and salt content.

The reason was that the salt in internal organs was incredibly precious to animals and difficult to obtain.

Thus, the difference between a wolf and a dog was merely an egg yolk pie. All it took was a high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt food, and the food it had once eaten without salt would become almost impossible to swallow.

Once a wolf had sampled delicacies that could never exist in nature, it would obediently become a dog. This was practically a biological instinct.

Therefore, it was perfectly normal for Tian Meng to fall in love with the taste after trying human food.

"Boss, bring me five more portions of the same meat! No, ten portions! And the same amount of lettuce too!"

After Sky Dream Ice Silkworm swiftly cleared away all the meat, he still wanted more and chose to order another round. However, Xiao Qiang stopped him at this point.

"Um, Brother Sky Dream..."

"What is it?"

"It's like this. Although I also want to let you keep eating, my appetite is limited. If we add ten times the previous amount at once, my body simply can't handle it."

"This really is my problem. If only I could create a Soul Skill that enhances digestion. Unfortunately, I'm only a Soul Elder right now. Creating a Soul Skill that improves digestion is really beyond me."

Within the sea of spirit, Tian Meng fell into thought, his tiny hands supporting his enormous head. "A Soul Skill that enhances digestion? If I were to create one..."

"Hm? Brother Sky Dream, you?" In the sea of spirit, Xiao Qiang watched as Tian Meng's expression suddenly turned to one of realization.

"That's right! How could I forget about you, Brother Sky Dream?! For anyone else, even a Titled Douluo could not guarantee that they could create a Soul Skill from scratch with absolute certainty!"

"But who is Brother Sky Dream? The first Million Year Spirit Beast in the history of Douluo Continent! There was no one before you, and there will most likely be no one after you! Others might not be able to do it, but could you possibly fail to do it, Brother Sky Dream?"

"You're the only Million Year Spirit Beast on Douluo Continent! What does creating a Soul Skill amount to for you? Ordinary 100,000-year, 200,000-year, 300,000-year, or even 400,000-Year spirit beasts might not be able to do it, but you're a Million Year Spirit Beast!"

"Putting everything else aside, just the fact that you can create a Soul Skill from scratch—once word gets out, what spirit beast would dare look down on you? Who could look down on you? Create a Soul Skill unrelated to your own innate Soul Skills. Which of them could do that?"

Within the sea of spirit, Xiao Qiang spoke with deep emotion and fierce conviction. The words Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had been about to use to refuse him became lodged in his throat, unable to come out.

Tian Meng felt that if he disappointed someone who believed in him so much, he would want to slap himself twice even in his sleep.

Besides, one of Xiao Qiang's words had struck right at his heart. If he could create a Soul Skill unrelated to his innate Soul Skills, what spirit beast would dare look down on him? Who could?

He wanted others to think highly of him too! Especially that one from the Extreme North. Tian Meng practically dreamed of her thinking highly of him.

Thus, as his emotions surged, in order not to disappoint Xiao Qiang's expectations and to earn the praise of the Ice Empress of the Extreme North, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt his blood boil. It was as if nothing could stop him from creating that Self-Created Soul Skill.

"Don't worry, Xiao Qiang! Just leave it to me! I'll definitely show you the might of a Million Year Spirit Beast!"

"I knew Brother Sky Dream could do it! As expected of my Brother Sky Dream!"

The plan worked.