Spirit Food, Golden Sun Braised Rice!

"Allowed to storm the peak?" Xie Hanyan's words made Dong Hao freeze. He instinctively pressed, "What does that mean?"

"It's nothing. Star Sword Peak simply looked down on a disciple of such mediocre talent as me." Jiang Xuan's tone was utterly calm when speaking of being turned away by Star Sword Peak, as if he were talking about someone else. There was not the slightest ripple in his eyes.

After briefly explaining the matter in a few words, he looked at Xie Hanyan and said decisively, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Xie, but there's no need. I've already joined another lineage."

Xie Hanyan's expression stiffened, and she promptly apologized again. "Sorry."

Jiang Xuan could guess part of why she was apologizing. In her eyes, Star Sword Peak was one of the sect's top middle-rank lineages, far stronger than whatever lineage Jiang Xuan had hastily found.

Because of her, Jiang Xuan had missed his chance to enter Star Sword Peak. Naturally, she was full of guilt.

"If you encounter any difficulties in cultivation in the future, you can come find me."

That was the compensation she could offer. Though Jiang Xuan had no real use for it, her sense of responsibility still made him feel rather pleased.

This made Jiang Xuan chuckle. "You don't need to feel guilty. The lineage I've joined is very good, and I'm quite comfortable there. Besides, I don't think my lineage is inferior to Star Sword Peak."

Naturally, Xie Hanyan did not believe him. She only took it as polite words Jiang Xuan had said to comfort her.

Dong Hao, standing nearby, naturally did not believe that the lineage Jiang Xuan had chosen could compare to Star Sword Peak either. But the threshold for middle-rank lineages was beyond his place to comment on, so he could only pat Jiang Xuan on the shoulder and comfort him. "Actually, joining a lower-rank lineage is pretty good too. Middle-rank lineages look glamorous, but we're only probationary disciples right now. They don't need to invest many resources in us, so naturally they're easier to enter."

"But after the hundred-day assessment, when they need to formally accept us as Inner Disciples and devote themselves to nurturing us, the requirements become incomparably harsh."

"So for people like us, joining a lower-rank lineage is actually much steadier than cracking our heads trying to squeeze into a middle-rank lineage."

Jiang Xuan was left speechless by this string of consolation.

He had never felt that missing Star Sword Peak was any loss to him.

But he understood even more clearly that no matter what he said now, others would only think he was putting on a brave face. So, he simply stopped explaining.

"Fine. Think whatever you want."

As he spoke, the bell for morning lessons faintly rang out. Yet Jiang Xuan had no intention of staying—after cultivating the Nine-Breath Qi-Absorption Art to the third realm, he cultivated while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. Though he had seemed to be asleep last night, his cultivation method had in truth circulated without pause all night. His stomach was now utterly empty, and his face carried an unmistakable pallor.

In his state, he urgently needed to consume spiritual items to replenish himself.

After greeting Dong Hao and casually tossing a Purifying Heart Incantation at Cheng Xiu, Jiang Xuan left Star Daoist Academy and boarded a flying boat for Four Seasons Valley.

Yet while the flying boat sped toward Four Seasons Valley, Jiang Xuan suddenly paused, belatedly realizing something.

"Wait, Xie Hanyan and Dong Hao kept thinking I was upset and forcing myself to act tough... could it be because my blood-depleted face looks so pale?"

"..."

The thought circled through his mind for only an instant before he discarded it. What others thought had never mattered to him.

"Whoosh..."

Before long, the speeding flying boat descended outside Four Seasons Valley. To Jiang Xuan's surprise, Xia He was already waiting there. Moreover, she had specially dressed up today.

The girl who usually tied her dark hair up carelessly had loosely gathered half of it into a bun today, binding it with an icy-silk lotus-green ribbon. The rest of her long hair flowed down her shoulders and back like an inky spring.

Of course, she had not applied much makeup. There was only the faintest blush on her cheeks, her lips were cherry-colored, and shallow dimples appeared when she smiled. She was as clean and pure as freshly melted snow on a mountain peak.

The moment she spotted Jiang Xuan in the distance, she happily ran toward him. Yet this time, she possessed a young maiden's particular reserve and no longer rushed close without restraint as she had yesterday.

"I've already told Granny Blue about your situation. Shall we go over now?"

"No." Jiang Xuan shook his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "Let's eat first... You said that as long as I joined Four Seasons Valley, you'd let me eat my fill first."

"Pfft..." Xia He could not help covering her mouth and laughing, but she quickly turned serious. "Of course. In Four Seasons Valley, no matter what happens, we will never let you go hungry."

With that, she led Jiang Xuan toward Yellow Mud Village.

But unlike yesterday, Xia He did not bring Jiang Xuan into Four Seasons Valley to pick vegetables, fruits, and grains. Instead, she brought him to Wu Shan's courtyard and asked this senior brother to prepare a spiritual meal for him.

Wu Shan naturally had no objection.

Before rolling up his sleeves to prepare the ingredients, the tall and honest senior brother asked Jiang Xuan, "Junior Brother, what do you want to eat? Delicacies from the sea or treasures from the mountains?"

Jiang Xuan said, "I don't mind what it is, but I want food that can replenish blood and qi. Also, I want a lot of it. You know, I have a huge appetite."

"Hahaha..." Wu Shan slapped his chest and laughed. "Don't worry about that! When I, Wu Shan, cook, how could I ever let anyone leave hungry?"

As he spoke, he carried over a large basin of spiritual rice, then took out several spiritual fruits, a glossy black spiritual bird, and a precious fish shimmering with golden-red light.

After cleaning the ingredients, he brought out a heavy bronze cauldron as tall as a person and placed everything inside.

For the final cooking, he did not use ordinary fire—he pressed both hands against the great cauldron and activated the Sunflame nurtured by Summer Valley's Flameglory Supreme Profound Canon, heating the cauldron and cooking the food within.

As he cooked, he did not forget to instruct Jiang Xuan.

"Summer is flourishing abundance, the peak of yang. Sunflame is inseparable from the sun. Thus, Summer Valley's cultivation draws upon the supreme yang power of the great sun to nurture Sunflame."

"This fire can temper the body, refine medicine, cook food, and fight enemies... Grain in Ear: Blossoming Flame Tree is also activated with the power of Sunflame."

"At the same time, all control over fire is part of Summer Valley's cultivation."

"If you want to cultivate the cycle of the four seasons, you must understand the mysteries of summer fire... Besides practicing the sword, you should also pay attention to fire."

Jiang Xuan said, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

At the beginning of the cooking, Wu Shan still had spare energy to instruct Jiang Xuan. But midway through, he had no leisure left.

The great cauldron was immensely heavy, and Wu Shan had to exert all his strength to drive the flames through it.

Moreover, while cooking, he had to continually toss the cauldron, which weighed thousands of pounds, so that the food within would roll and heat evenly.

It could only be said that Wu Shan had truly combined cooking and cultivation. He was not merely training fire—he was tempering his physique as well.

Boom!

With Sunflame, the cooking proceeded quite quickly.

In only the time it took to burn one stick of incense, it was finished.

"Phew..."

After exhaling and wiping the sweat from his forehead with a white cloth, Wu Shan placed the great cauldron before Jiang Xuan and slowly lifted its lid.

Clang—!

The moment the lid was lifted, the first thing Jiang Xuan saw was not food, but light! Dazzling golden radiance abruptly burst from the cauldron, making Jiang Xuan instinctively raise a hand to shield his eyes.

At the same time, countless astonished thoughts rose in his heart.

"This is actually glowing cuisine."

But Jiang Xuan's astonishment came swiftly and vanished just as swiftly. One breath later, he had no time to care about it.

"Gulp..."

Along with the lifted lid, a rich, mellow, sweet fragrance of rice wafted out together with the light.

The scent was so alluring that merely smelling it sent a wave of hunger through Jiang Xuan's body and mind. His saliva began to flow rapidly.

The sight made Jiang Xuan feel somewhat embarrassed. But he soon discovered that he was not the only one losing face. Beside him, Xia He, who had already eaten her fill, let out a soft rumble from her stomach upon smelling the aroma, making her little face redden.

"Hahaha..." Senior Brother Wu Shan laughed heartily. "Don't be embarrassed. My cooking is among the best in all Four Seasons Valley. Last time Senior Sister Yingyue came over, even someone as particular about manners as her ate a full eight big bowls of rice."

As he spoke, he served the rice from the cauldron.

Cooked under Sunflame, the spiritual energy of the grain had perfectly blended with the fats of the black chicken and precious fish. Every grain of rice was dyed a warm, lustrous golden color, making one's mouth water at the sight.

"Golden Sun Braised Rice, please enjoy! Also, be careful when eating. Don't stuff yourselves too full."

After serving Xia He a small bowl, Wu Shan placed the remaining huge pot of food entirely before Jiang Xuan.

Seeing this, Xia He immediately began eating with her spoon.

After only a careful, tentative taste, Xia He's bright eyes instantly lit up, and her face became filled with intoxicated satisfaction.

Jiang Xuan, meanwhile, performed the Feast Ritual. Only after the ritual was complete did Jiang Xuan, now radiating a terrifying and eerie aura, take up a spoon and send a large scoop of braised rice into his mouth.

Boom!

The first thing Jiang Xuan felt when the fried rice entered his mouth was deliciousness. The grain's rich fragrance and clear sweetness gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

After that rich fragrance came Jiang Xuan's second sensation: warm sunlight.

Once swallowed, the golden grains of rice suddenly burst apart like tiny suns.

The exploding rice grains were not especially hot. Instead, they were extraordinarily gentle—Jiang Xuan felt as though he were standing beneath a clear sky at the turn of summer and autumn, wrapped in warm sunlight, his whole body suffused with a grounded sense of peace.

The excessive comfort and satisfaction even made him want to fall asleep at once.

Fortunately, the Feast Ritual was quite effective. Before long, it devoured and digested that lazy warmth.

And the appetite brought by the Feast Ritual left Jiang Xuan ravenous once more.

Yet after experiencing this, Jiang Xuan could not help sighing that, as one of humanity's most fundamental lineages, the Food Cultivator Lineage truly had profound methods. Senior Brother Wu Shan was also truly capable.

But that thought swiftly faded from Jiang Xuan's mind. With his heart filled entirely with food, he quickly tasted a second spoonful of Golden Sun Braised Rice.

This time, Jiang Xuan gained a new sensation.

Through the Thousand-Drawing Tongue, Jiang Xuan seemed to see the grain shooting up beneath the sunlight, see it gathering thread after thread of solar power into plump kernels, and sense his senior brother using blazing Sunflame to fully awaken the sunlight power within those grains.

He could even sense the roles of the black chicken and precious fish through the Thousand-Drawing Tongue.

"Fish wander upon the water's surface, black chickens fly through the skies, grain takes root in the earth... This is sky, ocean, and land... The cauldron is like a heaven-and-earth furnace, containing all things within. Does it symbolize a world?"

Through the Feast Ritual, Jiang Xuan sensed many things.

And through slow, thorough chewing and swallowing, every meaning Jiang Xuan sensed would be incorporated into his body and soul through his chewing and swallowing.

Thus, after every spoonful of fried rice, Jiang Xuan gained a thread of insight into warm sunlight, summer, and the sun.

The Communion with Truth of the Three Purification Incantations made this ritual even more efficient.

This perfect integration also caused Jiang Xuan himself to begin glowing as he ate.

It was not a figure of speech. He was like a gentle little sun, soft golden light radiating from his entire body—this was both the passive overflow of excess solar power from the braised rice and the radiance of Dao Resonance he voluntarily emitted after comprehending the Warm Sun Dao Resonance.

[Congratulations, player. You have comprehended the Summer Warm Sun Dao Resonance. The difficulty of cultivating related techniques will be reduced by one tier.]

[You have unlocked more professions related to summer and the sun.]

[Your Clear-Heart Sword Disciple can change profession to Sun Knight.]

[Your Daoist Acolyte profession can change profession to Sun Priest.]

[Your Qi Refiner profession has unlocked a new profession change...]

The prompts in his sea of consciousness did not affect Jiang Xuan in the slightest, but the sight before him left Wu Shan utterly dumbfounded.

"W-Warm Sun Dao Resonance? How is that possible?!"

It was no wonder he was so shocked. As a Dao Resonance that every Inner Disciple of Summer Valley had to comprehend, Wu Shan had comprehended the meaning of warm sunlight himself.

Yet precisely because he had comprehended it before, he was so astonished.

Back then, to comprehend the meaning of warm sunlight, he had sat under the sun for a full three months. His skin had been baked bronze before he barely touched the edge of yang Dao Resonance.

And even so, he had been considered highly talented among disciples of his generation.

Yet his three months—nearly one hundred days—of cultivation had been crossed in Jiang Xuan's case simply by eating one meal!

How could Wu Shan's mentality not shatter before such a heaven-and-earth difference?

"Hahaha... So comprehending Dao Resonance is such an easy thing? You don't need to sit under the sun racking your brains. You just need to enjoy a meal and you can comprehend it? Hahaha..."

"This simply defies all reason!"

While Wu Shan clutched his hair and muttered to himself, Jiang Xuan continued eating. Before long, Jiang Xuan had swallowed the entire great pot of Golden Sun Braised Rice.

When everything was over, Jiang Xuan had eaten to his heart's content and felt incomparably satisfied.

Setting down his spoon, Jiang Xuan felt comfortable all over, more fulfilled than ever before.

The hearty texture of the grain and the fully awakened solar power blended within his body, filling him from head to toe with inexhaustible strength. The pallor caused by his blood and qi deficiency had been completely swept away.

"That felt incredible... Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

He thanked him sincerely, while already beginning to consider how he could build a good relationship with Senior Brother Wu Shan so that he could eat such spiritual meals every day.

On the other side, Wu Shan was still dazed, but years of habit made him ask instinctively, "No need to thank me... What did you think of the taste?"

Asking about the flavor after a meal was an instinctive habit for many chefs.

Xia He had only two words to say. "Delicious."

After saying that, Xia He felt that she ought to praise it more, so she added, "I feel so satisfied. I feel like I'm full of strength now."

As she spoke, she flexed her slender, fair arm, trying hard to display some sense of power. Unfortunately, because of her pretty face, the gesture only made her look adorable.

On the other hand, Jiang Xuan immediately nodded in praise as well. "It was a very hearty, filling meal."

After saying that, he hesitated, but still added several more words—after changing professions into a Gourmet, Jiang Xuan's cooking had not improved, but his ability to appraise food had undergone a qualitative leap.

And in many cases, cooking skill and appraisal skill could not simply be equated.

Just like now, through the Feast Ritual and Thousand-Drawing Tongue, Jiang Xuan could detect some shortcomings in the Golden Sun Fried Rice.

"Using grain as the main ingredient, adding no unnecessary seasonings, and relying only on Sunflame to bring out the grain's own rice fragrance and solar power—Senior Brother's concept is very good, and your fundamentals are extremely solid."

"But the black chicken and precious fish added afterward feel somewhat like drawing legs on a snake. You were probably trying to combine the three powers of sky, land, and ocean to make a bowl of Golden Sun Great World Braised Rice. But using grains as the main ingredient for fusion does not work particularly well. They are too independent and have difficulty perfectly merging the three powers."

"If Senior Brother wishes to continue in this direction, I suggest using water as the core to harmonize them."

"Of course, the earth can also contain all things. Senior Brother could try grinding the grain into flour and making noodles or other wheat-based foods."

The moment those words came out, Wu Shan's two thick brows furrowed tightly.

His appearance made Xia He shoot Jiang Xuan a fierce glare. Though she said nothing, Jiang Xuan understood the meaning in her eyes.

"Senior Brother Wu kindly made you a meal, so how can you still nitpick like this!"

Jiang Xuan looked back innocently. "I'm not finding fault. I just want Senior Brother to become better."

That truly was Jiang Xuan's real thought. Many times, pointing out problems was not making things difficult for someone. It was identifying another person's shortcomings so they would have room and direction to improve.

Of course, it was also because Senior Brother Wu Shan was honest, kind, and treated him well that Jiang Xuan pointed out the slight flaws he had sensed. If it were someone else, he would not do something that might leave him toiling without thanks.

But Jiang Xuan felt that if it were Senior Brother Wu, he should be able to understand the deeper meaning behind his actions.

And very soon, Jiang Xuan learned that he had done the right thing.

But there was one thing Jiang Xuan had not expected—he had not expected Senior Brother Wu's next reaction to be so intense!