Unique Domain

The entire kitchen was bathed in red and blue hues, operating with methodical precision. Ingredients were processed by the Coiled Dragon Blade on the Flavor-Enhancing Cutting Board, cooked within the Universe Pot, and finally finished with a sprinkle of seasoning from the Magic Seasoning Pouch and energy pigments. A glowing plate of Stir-fried Pork with Chili was freshly served.

This dish was a new recipe she had drawn just yesterday. It was a home-style staple, stir-fried with black pork slices and mildly spicy green peppers—a top-tier dish for pairing with rice that had been a household name in her past life.

The magic-modified effect she had drawn was also quite impressive: it granted a 1x, 10x, 100x, or 1,000x speed boost to fire-element domain comprehension, depending on the dish's rank. Of course, this required one to possess a domain in the first place.

Xue Xi controlled her own domain, causing it to shrink until it became a red and blue sphere, which she then tucked away into her brow. She called this water-fire attribute domain the Chef God Domain.

Because once the domain was deployed, it not only performed perfect cooking according to the recipes she knew, but it also inflicted a powerful psychological suggestion upon enemies within its range—making them feel as though they were merely ingredients waiting to be butchered. Those with weak willpower might even give up resistance entirely, much like facing a god.

What did this mean? From now on, she, Xue Xi, had a means of self-defense. Most importantly, starting today, any recipe she learned would enter the era of automation. A joyous occasion indeed—applause!

The spicy aroma wafting from the finished dish tempted Xue Xi's taste buds. She opened the Gourmet Anchor information to appraise it: [Stir-fried Pork with Chili] (Cosmos Rank).

Xue Xi's eyes widened in pleasant surprise. It hadn't been easy; after opening the shop and cooking for so long, she had finally gained the Anchor's recognition and produced a Cosmos Rank delicacy. What a cause for celebration!

In high spirits, Xue Xi suddenly felt her appetite surge. She quickly filled a bowl of rice and began devouring the Stir-fried Pork with Chili.

As her God's Tongue activated, the delicious flavor hit her palate: "Mmm! Spicy, salty, and savory, fatty but not greasy. It's both satisfying and delicious—absolutely incredible. Is this the charm of a Cosmos Rank delicacy?"

After finishing, she felt the half of her domain corresponding to her Culinary Spirit Fire grow significantly stronger. A steady stream of insights regarding fire surged into her mind. Although the balance between water and fire had been disrupted, it didn't seem to be a major issue for now; she still had a corresponding water-element domain-accelerating delicacy in her repertoire.

Clang, clang, clang, clang! Tianfu Cola, the representative carbonated beverage brand of Huaxia, served as a calling card for Sichuan culinary culture.

Xue Xi had already memorized the production method in the Virtual Culinary Space. She immediately activated the Chef God Domain again, enveloping the kitchen and beginning to automatically select the ingredients.

The essence of Tianfu Cola lay in its selection of local herbs, such as angelica, amomum, and clove, along with over a dozen other traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, as well as natural ingredients like ginger and licorice. These herbs were carefully simmered with select spices before being mixed with carbonated water.

Finally, a large canister of crackling, fizzing Tianfu Cola appeared before Xue Xi. The fresh scent of herbs and the medicinal aroma drifted into her nostrils with the breeze.

Unable to resist, Xue Xi used her telekinesis to make a Glacier Cup from the distant rack float over. She grabbed the handle and twisted the tap at the bottom of the canister.

The dark brown liquid gold flowed out, quickly filling a large glass. Tiny bubbles popped near the rim, looking incredibly refreshing.

Feeling a bit greasy after the Stir-fried Pork with Chili, Xue Xi tilted her head back and drank. The cola slid down her throat, and the unique, explosive sensation of the carbonation combined with the chill went straight to her heart. It was exactly as they said: refreshing to the core, lifting the spirit!

First to greet you was that faint herbal aroma. With one gulp, the bubbles danced in her mouth, accompanied by the sweetness of the herbs and a hint of spice.

The refreshing taste and joyful mood made Xue Xi hum in comfort. After the delicious drink, the magical effects followed immediately.

She watched as the blue water-element domain, which had just fallen behind the red, instantly received a boost, balancing once again with the fire-element domain to form a subtle water-fire Taiji.

The domain's coverage expanded continuously, and its power began to rise in tandem. Xue Xi let out a satisfied soda-induced burp. The lingering herbal fragrance in her mouth made her feel incredibly comfortable. She dove straight back into the Virtual Culinary Space to practice other new dishes and refine old ones, striving for full automation!

The next morning, Xue Xi exited the culinary space looking refreshed. Indeed, with the support of the Chef God Domain, she had managed to elevate most of her dishes to the Cosmos Rank overnight, with the exception of the Highland Barley Wine, which required special Cosmos Rank water to brew and could only reach Hong Rank for the time being.

Some simpler dishes had even touched the threshold of the Universe Rank, but since those required special ingredients, she had to give up on them for now.

Descending to the second floor, Xue Xi gave a small wave of her hand, adding the new items to the menu and updating the old dishes to the third tier. However, she estimated that few would be able to afford them.

Xue Xi didn't mind, though. Earthly currency was no longer a necessity for her. The only reason she still charged money was to cover costs, and she didn't want to be everyone's free chef—that would be a massive loss. So, she had to charge at least a little.