Everything for Voracity!

What was Jiang Yao doing while his companions in the Astral Express Crew were thinking of him?

Well, their talking about him certainly wouldn't make him sneeze.

He was currently carrying out the most crucial step in making his improved Qiongshi Bird Skewers—

Boiling the sugar syrup!

Or rather, the syrup for pulling sugar threads.

Yes, Jiang Yao was planning to make Pulled-Sugar Qiongshi Bird Skewers!

Deep-frying guaranteed a decent baseline for the Qiongshi Bird Skewers.

But to push them to their peak, he needed syrup.

Whether it was the syrup for ordinary Qiongshi Bird Skewers or the syrup for Pulled-Sugar Qiongshi Bird Skewers.

There were actually plenty of ways to make it.

But the most common, and the best, boiled down to four—

Dry boiling, water boiling.

And Water-and-Oil Double Boiling.

Water-and-Oil Double Boiling was the hardest, but undoubtedly produced the best results.

Since the previous pan of oil had been used to fry the Qiongshi Bird Fruit.

Jiang Yao switched to a clean pan, but even then, he wiped it down thoroughly to prevent anything from sticking and turning bitter.

Then he heated the pan, swirled oil around it, and added water and oil measured out through Precision Proportioning.

Before long, the water was sputtering and popping in the hot oil.

That was why Water-and-Oil Double Boiling was so difficult.

He added a generous amount of white sugar.

Once marble-sized bubbles rose in the pan and the sugar began to change color slightly.

Jiang Yao started stirring!

Yes, even in the Sugar Boiling stage.

He could still strive for perfection!

Technique!

It all came down to technique!

With Jiang Yao's seemingly simple yet exquisitely precise control.

The syrup became crystal clear, flowing like water, without the slightest hint of cloying sweetness.

In fact, without a close look, and if not for the way it glittered.

You wouldn't even know it was sugar!

"What kind of technique is that?!"

Gao Tang was utterly stunned.

He knew full well that boiling sugar wasn't hard, but bringing it to Jiang Yao's level, sparkling and no longer even looking like sugar.

That wasn't difficult. It was inconceivable!

The way he looked at Jiang Yao had changed.

Whether it was his control of the heat.

Or his understanding of the ingredients.

At least when it came to the snack known as Qiongshi Bird Skewers.

Jiang Yao had absolutely surpassed him!

Auntie Gao was dumbfounded too.

She had thought it would be enough if Jiang Yao could recreate the Qiongshi Bird Skewers of the past.

Who would have expected him to innovate as well?

She even believed his innovation could take Qiongshi Bird Skewers to new heights!

As for Bailu, that went without saying.

Her nose was incredibly keen.

Even keener than Peppy's.

She had caught that refreshing, heartwarming sweetness ages ago.

Most importantly!

Just looking at the syrup told her it would be wonderfully sweet without being cloying at all!

For a sugar lover like Bailu, this was nothing short of a blessing.

She pattered through the crowd slowly gathering around the snack stall.

Closing her eyes, she sniffed.

"Mmm~~~"

So sweet, so sweet.

A blissful smile spread across Bailu's face.

Stelle and March 7th really hadn't lied to me!

Even Phantylia, dressed in Tingyun's clothes, looked at Jiang Yao in surprise.

This kid really knows his stuff, huh?

Huh, why is that smell making me want a bite too?

Wait, I'm Phantylia, a Lord Ravager. I'm a heliobus!

Completely absorbed in his work, Jiang Yao was unaware of any of this.

He began the finishing touches.

Once the syrup had reached perfection.

He swiftly tipped the fried Qiongshi Bird Fruit into the pan.

Then he began tossing it.

To ensure the syrup evenly coated every inch of the Qiongshi Bird Fruit.

He put his hand to work!

Well, of course he didn't plunge it straight into the hot oil.

He could have, but there was no need.

He merely wet his hand, then observed the syrup's temperature and the condition of the Qiongshi Bird Fruit.

With a slight movement of his fingers, the water on his hand flew into the pan.

It served to regulate the temperature.

That kept the constantly heated syrup from burning.

Auntie Gao shook her head with a wry smile.

She understood what Jiang Yao had done in that step.

But what damn good did understanding do?

Her hands simply couldn't learn it!

The elders in her family all relied on experience!

Why was Jiang Yao so practiced at this?

Was he really not one of the long-life species?

But what came next was true artistry.

The heat was right.

The ingredients were right.

The technique was right.

Out of the pan.

Onto the plate.

On a pristine white plate.

Sat two Qiongshi Bird Fruits wrapped in a crystal-clear coating.

The flesh inside had been fried golden.

But the crusted outer shell remained bright red thanks to the small amount of starch and oil that hadn't been scorching hot.

It formed a vivid contrast with the white plate.

The presentation was unquestionably top-notch.

Most importantly, they were clearly coated in syrup.

Yet from the outside, you couldn't see it at all!

If not for that sparkling gleam.

No one would have known sugar had been poured over them.

Tempting.

Just how tempting?

They belonged among Idrila's adornments!

Jiang Yao was very pleased with his creation.

Of course, he wasn't finished yet.

He had said these were improved Qiongshi Bird Skewers.

Naturally, they had to go on skewers!

He threaded the Qiongshi Bird Fruit onto bamboo skewers, two to a skewer.

This was the chef's special edition!

Jiang Yao rubbed his hands together.

He was just about to taste them.

"Whoa!!!"

Bailu suddenly cried out.

She sprang into the air.

Her tiny body was exceptionally nimble.

In an instant, she was beside Jiang Yao.

She stared at him with wide eyes, swallowing her saliva.

"Hello, Jiang Yao. My name's Bailu, and I'm your companions' best friend."

"Um... could I have a skewer?"

Jiang Yao looked down at Bailu as she wiped away her drool and nodded.

"Sure."

Of course he knew Bailu.

The corners of Bailu's mouth curled even higher on her fair, tender face.

She eagerly reached out.

And then.

Under Bailu's expectant gaze, Jiang Yao.

Devoured the freshly assembled Qiongshi Bird Skewer, one fruit per bite.

Bailu's hand was still outstretched!

You've got to be kidding!

Snatching food from Voracity's mouth?

How dare you!

I haven't even eaten yet!

Jiang Yao held a Qiongshi Bird Skewer in one hand.

And pressed his other hand against Bailu's furious little face.

Bailu was on the verge of tears!

Sure, I'm a little too outgoing, and maybe I wasn't very reserved for our first meeting.

But aren't you even a little at fault?

Who told you to make something so delicious!

My nose is full of that fragrance!

I can't resist it!

As she watched Jiang Yao finish off the last "fruit of Bailu's happiness" on the Qiongshi Bird Skewer.

Bailu suddenly lost all her strength. Her fierce expression turned miserable, and she looked ready to cry.

Jiang Yao was amused.

If only the dragon of the Undying were as silly as Bailu.

I'd definitely eat it.

"All right, don't worry. There's more~"

"Watch closely. Don't blink!"

Jiang Yao was very satisfied with the taste of his improved Pulled-Sugar Qiongshi Bird Skewers.

Of course delicious food had to be shared with his companions!

And naturally, he couldn't forget to send Asta a portion.

If he wanted Asta to willingly be his Pal, he had to give her a little something sweet, didn't he?

Jiang Yao was beginning to understand Aha.

Aha really wasn't wrong to call Qlipoth a fool!

If I had your resources and your followers...

I'd long since given up trying and settled in to wait to be fed!

But that was fine.

What was yours was mine.

What was mine was still mine.

Sooner or later.

I'd make Asta—

Buy! Choose! Top up the wine! (Improvise as you please, got it?)

Whatever—(It's still your time to perform, got it?)

—(Same here, got it?)

Everything was an offering to Voracity!