S3's First Culinary God

That insight came without warning.

Ziyang sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes, beginning to absorb the feeling.

His consciousness sank into darkness, falling endlessly without ever reaching the bottom. Light filtered down from above, shattered by rippling water into fragments that swayed before his eyes.

"Did he attain enlightenment just from seeing the metal?" Zhen Hua asked.

Leng Yaoyu put away the Heaven-Refined Metal and looked at Ziyang. "I'm not sure, but we've troubled you."

"It's no trouble," Zhen Hua said.

Na'er crouched down, her silver hair falling around her as she watched Ziyang curiously with her silver eyes.

Gu Yue, meanwhile, was curious about what Ziyang had comprehended. Could it have been the law of fire within the metal? But Ziyang did not know how to use fire.

Time began moving at a different pace. Na'er sat beside Ziyang with her arms wrapped around her knees, her gaze resting on the boy's face as boredom gradually set in.

"Gu Yue, how long has it been?"

"Five minutes. That's the third time you've asked."

"Only that little time has passed?"

"Na'er, could you be a little more patient?"

The office was quiet. Only Zhen Hua continued telling Leng Yaoyu just how extraordinary Ziyang's talent for blacksmithing was.

Zhen Hua still wanted to make another attempt, but Leng Yaoyu said that Ziyang's own wishes should be respected.

Time trickled by. Outside the window, the setting sun sank inch by inch toward the horizon, burning the sky the color of molten iron.

Five hours later, Ziyang opened his eyes.

It was already dusk outside. The last sliver of daylight leaked through the clouds, like a sharp sword thrust diagonally into the office.

"Ziyang, you're finally awake," Na'er said.

Ziyang turned to look at Na'er, then at Gu Yue standing in the shadows, and finally at the sky outside that was steadily going dark.

He did not speak immediately. He merely rose slowly to his feet, his bones letting out faint crackling pops.

"What did you comprehend?" Gu Yue asked.

Ziyang remained silent for a long time. He could not make sense of that question himself. Only the pale pink energy flowing from his fingertips silently told the whole story.

Gu Yue stared blankly at the thin, faint energy in Ziyang's hand for a moment, unable to determine what it was.

It resembled the Power of Creation, but how could a human possibly wield it?

Leng Yaoyu stepped forward two paces and stopped in front of Ziyang. "Are you interested in learning blacksmithing?"

After thinking for a moment, Ziyang said, "Not for now. It won't be too late to learn after I become a Titled Douluo. I only have one brain, and I don't have the energy to learn too many things right now."

At that, Zhen Hua could only shake his head regretfully. Still, once Ziyang's cultivation rose in the future, there would be an opportunity for him to learn.

With Ziyang's talent and future cultivation, he would soon reach the level of Soul Refinement.

"Then once you become a Titled Douluo, I'll teach you blacksmithing," Zhen Hua said. With Ziyang's talent, he would surely become a Titled Douluo before turning thirty.

He was ten now. At most, Zhen Hua would only have to wait twenty years.

Thinking of it that way, his days suddenly seemed full of promise.

Zhen Hua checked the time, patted his knees, and stood up. "It's getting late. Stay for a simple meal."

Leng Yaoyu had wanted to decline, but Na'er's stomach gave a timely little growl. The girl's face reddened, and she buried it in her knees.

Gu Yue turned her face away, seemingly pretending not to know Na'er.

"Then we'll trouble you," Leng Yaoyu said.

Zhen Hua led them through the corridor and into a small dining hall.

As the president of the Blacksmith Association, the food in Zhen Hua's private dining hall naturally consisted of only the finest ingredients. Blacksmithing consumed enormous amounts of physical and mental energy, especially for a Divine Blacksmith like Zhen Hua. When it came to being particular about food, perhaps no more than a handful of people on the entire continent could surpass him.

As for wealth, Divine Blacksmiths were truly rich enough to rival nations.

The dining hall was not large, only around twenty square meters. There was a round table and simple furnishings, giving it an unadorned appearance.

"Sit," Zhen Hua said, undoing his cuffs. "Today's selection is rather plain, so don't mind it."

When the first dish was served, Ziyang understood what Zhen Hua meant by "plain."

Millennial Earth Dragon Tendon.

It was a small piece from an entire Millennial Earth Dragon Tendon, braised for an unknown amount of time until it was soft, glutinous, fragrant, and deeply flavorful. Just catching its scent made Ziyang feel his blood and qi surge, his mouth filling with saliva.

The rice was top-grade Moonlight Rice. This rice grew in the bitterly cold lands of the far north and could only be harvested once every three years, with an extremely limited yield. Each grain was shaped like a crescent moon and emitted a faint silver glow. Its fragrance was crisp and pure, while its taste was sweet. Paired with braised Millennial Earth Dragon Tendon, it could no longer simply be called delicious.

Ziyang served himself a heaping bowl of rice.

He ate quickly, but he savored every bite immensely. He knew this was the work of Legend of the Dragon King S3's first culinary god.

Na'er sat beside him, wolfing down her food.

Her appetite was like a bottomless pit.

Gu Yue sat across from them, eating slowly. Although she was half of the Silver Dragon King, her appetite was only somewhat greater than that of an ordinary Soul Master.

Gu Yue glanced at Na'er. Seeing her stuffing herself so recklessly, Gu Yue's face was full of helplessness.

The curtain over the kitchen door was lifted, and a middle-aged man walked out. He wore an apron stained with grease, his sleeves rolled to his elbows to reveal sturdy forearms.

Mu Ye, the current Sect Master of the Noumenon Sect.

His gaze fell on Na'er.

The girl's cheeks were puffed out, and her silver eyes had narrowed into crescent moons. Mu Ye watched her, his smile spreading.

This child knew how to enjoy good food.

Unlike that bastard Zhen Hua, who ate everything as though he were completing some kind of task.

He and Leng Yaoyu exchanged a glance, and both recognized the other's identity.

"Greetings, Sky Phoenix Douluo," Mu Ye said.

"Greetings, Body Douluo," Leng Yaoyu said.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mu Ye got to the point. "Are these all your students?"

"They are all my disciples," Leng Yaoyu said with a smile.

Mu Ye nodded and briefly observed Ziyang, Na'er, and Gu Yue.

The first two were brimming with blood and qi. By comparison, the black-haired little girl at the end seemed rather ordinary.

After finishing all the food in front of her, Na'er patted her belly with lingering dissatisfaction. "This is much better than the food at the Spirit Pagoda. It's just a little too little. I'm only one-third full."

Hearing that, Ziyang rubbed his stomach.

He had digested it all...

He could keep eating.

As for feeling full, he really could not tell very clearly.

Upon hearing Na'er's words, Mu Ye went back into the kitchen and brought out an enormous tray. On it lay nine red creatures. They looked somewhat like shrimp, but their size was astonishing.

The six shrimp were entirely blood-red, their crimson shells carrying a jade-like luster. Their shells had already been removed, and they did not appear to have been seasoned. Their heads were huge, and the rich aura came from their bodies.

"What day is it today? You actually brought out Red Jade Shrimp? You usually can't even bear to let me eat them!" Zhen Hua looked at Mu Ye in surprise.

"I only took them out because these two children here enjoy the food I make. I'm treating these two guests."

"Little girl, your digestive ability seems quite good. You can eat three. And you too, little fellow. You should be able to eat three as well."

Mu Ye did not mention the rest, but it was obvious that everyone else would get one each.