Even the sect master came to chow down

Seeing how serious Chen Xin looked, Gu Rong said nothing more and pulled over a stool to sit down.

"Move over a little. Let me have a look too."

Chen Xin glanced at him but did not refuse, pushing the book toward the middle.

The two began studying at the table, though neither showed any intention of moving elsewhere while they read.

Uncle Zhou came out of the kitchen and stopped short at the sight.

He had only just finished arranging breakfast in the front courtyard and was about to return to tidy up the small stove, yet both esteemed elders were already seated here?

Fortunately, he had prepared everything yesterday. Otherwise, he really might have kept them waiting today.

Not daring to delay, Uncle Zhou greeted them and hurried to work.

By the time Chen An and Ning Rongrong arrived, a fire was already burning in the stove, the steamed rice had been spread out in a basin to cool, and even the bowls and chopsticks were laid out.

The little girl had indeed kept her word. She had gone knocking on Chen An's door first thing in the morning, yawning herself while her calls urging him to hurry grew livelier by the moment.

Now, entering the courtyard and seeing the two grandpas at the table, Ning Rongrong froze as well.

"You got here even earlier than me?"

"Your grandpa's getting old. I couldn't sleep."

Gu Rong said it perfectly naturally, but Chen An could not help glancing at the stove.

He couldn't sleep, so he came to sit in the kitchen?

Still, he said nothing more. He rolled up his sleeves, stepped onto the little wooden stool, and began preparing breakfast.

Everything was even more thoroughly prepared than yesterday. Even the other ingredients had been chopped. Chen An looked them over and checked the rice's moisture, finding no problems.

"Uncle Zhou, everything's ready. We can start frying."

Hearing this, Uncle Zhou visibly relaxed. He had spent half the night thinking about it, and the moment had finally come.

The wok formed from the Dragon-Transforming Pot went onto the small stove. Oil coated the pan, shrimp were briefly cooked, and the other ingredients were fried until fragrant. Soon, the familiar aroma spread through the courtyard.

Ning Rongrong stopped yawning too. She fetched a small stool and sat to one side, her eyes fixed on the stove.

As for the two grandpas at the table, their books remained open, but the pages were turning noticeably more slowly.

Just as the first batch of fried rice was about to leave the wok, Ning Fengzhi arrived.

The moment he entered the back courtyard, he saw his daughter stationed beside the stove, while the two elders sat at the table nearest it, empty bowls already set before them.

Ning Fengzhi was rather amused. He had thought he was early enough, only to find these people even more eager than he was.

"Dad, come over!"

Ning Rongrong waved without running to his side. The rice was almost ready; how could she spare any time for anything else?

Helpless at this, Ning Fengzhi went over and sat at the table just as Chen An dished out the fried rice.

"Uncle Ning, have a taste."

"All right."

Taking the bowl, Ning Fengzhi looked down. The grains were loose and separate, mixed with golden bits of egg. It certainly looked appetizing.

His main concern in coming today had originally been the effect Uncle Jian mentioned, but with one spoonful, Ning Fengzhi felt that last night's description had perhaps been far too simple.

No wonder these two old gentlemen had arrived before the sky was fully light.

He lowered his head and took another couple of bites before looking at Chen An with a smile.

"Uncle Ning really missed out by not joining you yesterday."

At that, Gu Rong glanced at Chen Xin, wholeheartedly agreeing.

He certainly had missed out.

Fortunately, they had arrived early today, and plenty had been prepared. At last, they would not have to cradle the final bowl and ration every bite.

Chen An smiled, served everyone else, then continued frying the next batch.

Meanwhile, a young man carrying a plate of cleaned shrimp was hurrying from the front courtyard toward the back.

His name was Chen Chuan, and he also helped in the kitchen. Once he finished his morning work, Uncle Zhou had asked him to bring over the remaining ingredients.

He naturally knew that Chen An cooked in the back courtyard. Whenever the little fellow needed something, he often came to him for help.

But today's aroma was truly different.

Before he even entered, Chen Chuan unconsciously swallowed. Once inside, his footsteps stopped dead as he saw who was sitting at the table.

The sect master, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and the little princess.

Good grief, why were they all here?

They cooked for so many people in the front courtyard every day, yet he had never seen these four come together. Today, however, they were all sitting in the back courtyard, each holding a bowl of fried rice.

Was there something special about this fried rice?

"Brother Chen, just put it here."

Chen An's voice brought him back to his senses. Chen Chuan hurriedly paid his respects to Ning Fengzhi and the others before bringing the ingredients to the stove.

"Xiao An, everything's here. Anything else you need help with?"

"Nothing for now. Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet. I'll eat out front later."

Hearing this, Chen An simply took an empty bowl and served him a portion.

"Perfect. Eat with us. We prepared plenty today."

One more person eating meant one more positive review. Besides, Chen Chuan had often helped him. What was there to hesitate over about giving him a bowl of fried rice?

Yet after taking the bowl, Chen Chuan was unsure where to sit.

The sect master and both esteemed elders were here. Wouldn't it be a little inappropriate to squat off to the side and dig in with his bowl?

Noticing his unease, Ning Fengzhi smiled and waved a hand.

"Go ahead and eat. No need to stand on ceremony here."

"Yes. Thank you, Sect Master."

Only then did Chen Chuan sit beside Uncle Zhou, though he still could not help glancing at the others as he picked up his spoon.

The little princess went without saying-she was thoroughly enjoying herself. The other three had not stopped eating either, as though this bowl of fried rice held more appeal than the books lying open beside them.

Was it really that good?

Curious, Chen Chuan scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

The next instant, his eyes lit up.

Delicious.

This was fucking fried rice?

He had worked in the kitchen for so long and made plenty himself, but compared with the bowl before him, the taste was simply worlds apart.

His earlier reserve had long since flown from his mind. Spoonful followed spoonful, until Chen Chuan finally lifted his bowl and shoveled all the remaining rice into his mouth.

Beside him, Uncle Zhou could only shake his head.

"Slow down. No one's going to snatch it from you."

Yet no sooner had he said that than he lowered his head and resumed eating, his own hands hardly any slower than Chen Chuan's.

Throughout breakfast, the courtyard was unusually quiet apart from the sounds of eating.

Once Chen An had finished too and begun cleaning the stove, Ning Fengzhi finally put down his bowl.

"Uncle Jian was right last night. It does have some nourishing effect on the body."

Having tried it himself, he now had a firm grasp of the matter. There was no hurry to tell others for now; they could see what changed after Xiao An obtained a soul ring.

Chen Xin nodded, casually closed a book beside him, and beckoned to Chen An.

"Xiao An, come have a look."

"Coming."

Chen An wiped his hands and was about to head over when Uncle Zhou took what he was holding.

"Leave it. We'll clean up the rest."

"Right, I'll wash the bowls."

Chen Chuan hurriedly rose as well, looking far more eager than when he had delivered the ingredients.

Chen An did not stand on ceremony. He fetched a small stool and sat beside Chen Xin.

The book was already open to a page depicting a winged snake with a conspicuous fleshy crest on its head.

"Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?"

Reading the text beside it, Chen An said the name softly.

"That's right."

Chen Xin pointed to the fleshy crest in the illustration and explained.

"This soul beast isn't venomous. Its crest stores nutrients, allowing it to suddenly accelerate when threatened. Its soul ring is also useful to food-type soul masters, so it could be a choice for your first soul ring."

Chen An began reading attentively.

According to the book, this creature could fly briefly at low altitudes and was extremely fast. An ordinary person might not be able to catch one even after finding it.

That, however, was not something he needed to worry about.

If a hundred-year snake could escape Grandpa Sword, it might as well stop calling itself a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and change its name to Snake God.

"Grandpa Sword, will the food I make be able to make people run faster too?"

This snake excelled at speed. If the people eating his food could gain that ability too, that would be nice. A full stomach gave them strength, and they could run fast as well. This food seemed to be getting more and more useful.

Chen Xin smiled at his question.

"The same soul beast can produce different soul skills when its soul ring is added to different martial souls. It suits food-type martial souls, and your Dragon-Transforming Pot can make nourishing meals, so we're choosing along those lines first."

"As for what soul skill you'll obtain, we won't know until you actually absorb it."

Gu Rong nodded as well. These records only helped them choose; after all, there were no existing examples of a martial soul like Chen An's.

After hearing the explanation, Chen An no longer dwelled on it.

With no precedent, he could experiment slowly. His pot was working quite well now. Surely adding a soul ring wouldn't leave it unable to cook at all.

They read the records of several more soul beasts, but ultimately kept the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent as their first choice, aiming for one as close to four hundred years old as possible.

Whether it was truly suitable would still have to be judged by Chen Xin based on Chen An's physical condition at the time.

As for where to go soul hunting, they would head to the Star Dou Great Forest.

After noting all this down, Ning Fengzhi left to handle sect affairs, and Gu Rong did not stay the whole time either. Once Chen An finished reviewing the material with Chen Xin, he continued practicing his soul power control.

With yesterday's foundation, things went considerably more smoothly today.

The morning passed like that, and near mealtime, Chen An returned to the kitchen.

Before he even entered the back courtyard, he saw that Chen Chuan had already wiped the chopping board clean. At the sight of him, a smile immediately spread across Chen Chuan's face.

"Xiao An, fried rice again for lunch?"

"Yes."

"Good, good, good. Everything's chopped, and the rice is steaming. See if anything's missing."

Chen An looked at him, then at Uncle Zhou beside him. Why did everyone who ate his fried rice start sounding more and more alike?

Still, having help was naturally a good thing.

At lunch and dinner, not one of the morning's six diners was absent. Chen Chuan even finished his work out front early, waiting to help in the back courtyard.

After three meals that day, Chen An had earned eighteen positive reviews in total, bringing the Yangzhou Fried Rice's progress to twenty-four.

[Yangzhou Fried Rice positive review progress: 24/100.]

His constitution had also increased by another eighteen points, and his arms felt stronger holding the wok than yesterday. Yet he still had to dutifully recover his spent soul power through meditation.

There was no use rushing that. Fortunately, he would be going soul hunting tomorrow.

After dinner, Chen An finished tidying up and was about to leave when Chen Chuan approached him first.

"Xiao An, what do you want to eat tomorrow morning? I'll come early to prepare."

"I won't be cooking here tomorrow morning. I'm going soul hunting with Grandpa Sword."

"Huh?"

Hearing that, the smile on Chen Chuan's face immediately stiffened.

He had only discovered how delicious this fried rice was this morning, then eaten it twice more at lunch and dinner. Just as life seemed to offer more and more to look forward to, it would be gone tomorrow?

"How many days will you be away?"

"How would I know? We have to find a suitable soul beast."

Chen An shook his head. Soul hunting was not grocery shopping, where they could pick something, pay, and leave.

Seeing Chen Chuan's disappointment, Uncle Zhou sighed too, but still patted his shoulder.

"Xiao An's cultivation comes first. We'll eat it again when he returns."

Chen Chuan naturally understood that, but it truly was a pity.

If only he had known to visit the back courtyard yesterday. Then he could have eaten it for another day.

Some things were fine if you had never tasted them. Once you had, being left longing for them was truly hard to bear.

At daybreak the next morning, Chen An followed Chen Xin to the sect's entrance.

Their travel clothes, drinking water, and dry provisions were already prepared. Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong had come to see them off, while Ning Rongrong clung to Chen An's sleeve, reluctant to let go.

"Brother Chen An, come back soon."

"We'll come back once we find a soul beast and get the soul ring."

"Will you still cook when you come back?"

"Yes."

Ning Rongrong nodded, but still did not release his sleeve.

"Then don't get hurt either."

Seeing her serious expression, Chen An smiled and ruffled her hair.

"I know. Grandpa Sword will be there. I'll make you something delicious when I get back."

Standing nearby, Chen Xin's eyes held a little more warmth. Only once the two had nearly finished talking did he beckon.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

The carriage was already waiting nearby. Chen An followed the old gentleman inside, then poked his head out the window and waved to the others.

As the wheels began to turn and the sect gradually fell behind them, Chen An finally drew back his gaze, anticipation growing within him.

After six years in this world, his very first soul ring was finally within reach.