Chapter Summaries

After awakening twin martial souls and innate full soul power, Chen An bound the Strongest Gourmet System, which rewarded him for cooking food that diners enjoyed. His first batch of Yangzhou fried rice won over Ning Rongrong and Uncle Zhou, and Chen An planned to cultivate with Grandpa Sword before cooking again that evening.

• Chen An learned that his Eternal Spirit Knife and Dragon-Transforming Pot could support a cooking-based path to strength through the system.
• Chen An used the system's recipe to make Yangzhou fried rice, and Ning Rongrong arrived and eagerly waited to eat.
• Ning Rongrong and Uncle Zhou devoured the fried rice and gave positive reviews, earning Chen An two physique points.
• Uncle Zhou asked for another batch, but Chen An declined because he had to learn cultivation from Grandpa Sword and promised to cook more that evening.
• Ning Rongrong agreed to save some for Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone, then asked Chen An if dinner could be served early.

After Chen An learned basic Soul Power control from Chen Xin, he used the Dragon-Transforming Pot to cook fried rice that seemed to restore stamina and nourish the body. The meal earned praise from the courtyard’s guests, and Gu Rong arrived at the end to find that a portion had been saved for him.

• Ning Rongrong invited Chen Xin to dinner, and Chen Xin taught Chen An how to meditate and control his Soul Power.
• Chen An practiced summoning his wok more efficiently, then returned to the kitchen to prepare several batches of fried rice with help from Uncle Zhou.
• Chen Xin, Ning Rongrong, and Uncle Zhou ate the fried rice, and Chen Xin noticed that it seemed to restore stamina and nourish the body.
• Chen Xin asked Chen An to save him a portion of dinner from then on, and the system awarded Chen An three physique points for positive reviews.
• Gu Rong arrived to find Chen Xin’s empty bowl and teased him for being lucky, while Chen Xin explained that he had been teaching Chen An to use his Martial Soul.

Chen An agreed to cook breakfast again after Gu Rong praised his fried rice, and Ning Fengzhi arranged for Chen Xin to accompany him on a soul-beast hunt for the Dragon-Transforming Pot’s first soul ring. The next morning, Gu Rong arrived early hoping to claim breakfast, only to find Chen Xin already waiting in the kitchen with a book about soul beasts.

• Gu Rong ate the last bowl of fried rice and asked Chen An to make breakfast again the next morning, while Ning Rongrong and Uncle Zhou offered to help prepare.
• Chen An received a physique point and another positive review for his fried rice from Gu Rong.
• Ning Fengzhi learned that Chen An’s food could strengthen the body and asked him to save a portion for breakfast.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen An agreed to seek a first soul ring for the Dragon-Transforming Pot, and Chen Xin was chosen to accompany him while Gu Rong stayed to guard the sect.
• Chen An cultivated before bed, while Ning Rongrong urged her maid to wake her early so she could eat breakfast.
• Gu Rong arrived at the kitchen before dawn hoping to get breakfast, but found Chen Xin already there reading information about soul beasts.

Chen An cooked Yangzhou Fried Rice for Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, Ning Rongrong, Uncle Zhou, and Chen Chuan, earning more positive reviews while the sect elders helped choose his first soul beast. The next morning, Chen An left with Chen Xin for the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a soul ring.

• Chen Xin and Gu Rong studied soul beast records over breakfast as Chen An prepared fried rice, which Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi, and the others eagerly ate.
• Ning Fengzhi confirmed that the fried rice had a nourishing effect, and Chen Xin showed Chen An records identifying the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent as a candidate for his first soul ring.
• Chen An and Chen Xin chose a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent of close to four hundred years as their leading option and planned to search the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Chen An cooked fried rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, earning eighteen positive reviews and raising its progress to twenty-four out of one hundred.
• Chen An told Chen Chuan that he would leave for soul hunting the next morning, disappointing Chen Chuan, who had grown fond of the fried rice.
• Chen An departed with Chen Xin while Ning Rongrong asked him to return safely and cook for her again.

Chen An obtained his first Soul Ring from a nearly four-hundred-year-old Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, reached rank twelve, and discovered that his First Soul Skill created BB Corn for popcorn with appetite and Soul Power recovery benefits. After Chen An and Chen Xin tested the popcorn, several Soul Beasts gathered nearby, drawn by its aroma.

• Chen Xin found and restrained a suitable Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, and Chen An killed it to obtain his first Soul Ring.
• Chen An absorbed the ring, reached rank twelve, and learned that his First Soul Skill was BB Popcorn.
• Chen An used the Dragon-Transforming Pot to make popcorn, which increased appetite and improved Soul Power recovery by thirty percent for an hour.
• Chen Xin tested the recovery effect and praised the popcorn, earning Chen An a system reward of one Constitution point.
• Several Soul Beasts appeared in the woods and stared at the popcorn in Chen Xin's bowl.

Chen An returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after gaining his first Soul Ring and demonstrated the food-making power of his Dragon-Transforming Pot. He also tested his Eternal Spirit Knife in the kitchen, while Ning Fengzhi arranged to test the popcorn’s effects with disciples the next day.

• Chen An and Chen Xin drove off the Soul Beasts drawn by their cooking, then returned to the sect, where Ning Rongrong and Gu Rong welcomed them and learned Chen An had reached level twelve.
• Chen An changed his Eternal Spirit Knife through its seven forms and used it to prepare shrimp, ham, mushrooms, and scallions for fried rice.
• Chen An made BB Popcorn for Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, Ning Rongrong, and the others; Chen Xin explained that it sped Soul Power recovery by thirty percent for an hour and helped appetite and food absorption.
• Chen An cooked fried rice, and the group enjoyed the meal; Chen Chuan found he could eat another bowl after the popcorn increased his appetite.
• Ning Fengzhi arranged to bring three disciples the next day to test the popcorn, and Chen Chuan went looking for a larger bowl to serve everyone more efficiently.

Chen An tested his popcorn Soul Skill on Fang Ming, Zhao Hai, and Lu Yuan, who confirmed it sped up Soul Power recovery before eagerly signing up to return for meals. After sharing Chen An’s fried rice and helping with chores, the three went back to practice so they could arrive early for lunch.

• Chen An made popcorn for Fang Ming, Zhao Hai, and Lu Yuan, who ate it and meditated to test its effect on Soul Power recovery.
• Chen An cooked fried rice while the three disciples tried to focus, and they later confirmed their recovery was faster for about an hour.
• Fang Ming, Zhao Hai, and Lu Yuan asked to return for meals, and Chen An agreed they could come at mealtimes as long as only the three of them came for now.
• The three disciples ate two bowls each, helped clean up, and earned Chen An nine positive reviews, bringing his Yangzhou Fried Rice progress to 39/100.
• Fang Ming, Zhao Hai, and Lu Yuan resumed Soul Skill practice, eager to finish in time to return for lunch.

Chen An’s friends helped with kitchen chores so he could cook and cultivate, while eagerly returning for every meal. After Yangzhou Fried Rice reached its review target, Chen An unlocked Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin and promised to serve it at lunch.

• Zhao Hai, Fang Ming, and Lu Yuan arrived early to help Chen An prepare lunch, then insisted on handling the cleanup so he could cultivate.
• Chen An spent the afternoon cultivating with Chen Xin and playing with Ning Rongrong while the others prepared the kitchen for dinner.
• Over the next two days, Fang Ming and the others kept returning for meals, and Chen An’s Yangzhou Fried Rice reviews reached 100.
• Chen An unlocked Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin and told Uncle Zhou to save plain rice for lunch instead of making fried rice.
• Fang Ming and the others hurried off to finish their morning work after Chen An confirmed the new dish would be served at lunch.

Chen An made sweet-and-sour pork for Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi, and the others, and its flavor and recovery benefits impressed everyone. After lunch, Chen Xin began teaching Chen An how to evade an approaching opponent, while Fang Ming practiced with him.

• Ning Rongrong refused to leave the kitchen, and Ning Fengzhi stayed to eat Chen An's sweet-and-sour pork.
• Chen An cooked the pork, and Ning Rongrong eagerly tasted it before the others joined the meal.
• Zhao Hai and Fang Ming noticed their soreness ease after eating, and Ning Fengzhi advised Chen An to learn how to coordinate with companions and retreat in battle.
• Chen Xin assigned Fang Ming to practice with Chen An, then took them to a clearing and taught Chen An to use trees and better positioning to evade an opponent.
• A disciple stopped Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan at the training grounds, spotted sauce on Zhao Hai's mouth, and asked whether Fang Ming had gone to eat something delicious again.

Chen An cooked sweet-and-sour pork for Xu Cheng, who discovered why Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan had been sneaking over for meals and asked to return the next day. After gaining eight positive reviews from dinner, Chen An left with Chen Xin to continue his cultivation.

• Xu Cheng insisted on joining Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan for dinner, and Chen An agreed after Uncle Zhou confirmed there were enough ingredients.
• Chen An practiced evading Fang Ming under Chen Xin’s guidance, then returned to the kitchen with Fang Ming and Ning Rongrong.
• Chen An cooked sweet-and-sour pork, and Xu Cheng was amazed by the meal as the others rapidly finished the food.
• Xu Cheng scolded Zhao Hai for keeping the meals secret, but Zhao Hai and the others teased him for talking instead of eating.
• Chen An gained eight positive reviews, bringing the dish’s progress to 17/100, and agreed Xu Cheng could come back the next day.
• Xu Cheng volunteered to help Uncle Zhou carry vegetables, then defended Chen An’s workload while still blaming Zhao Hai for not inviting him sooner.

Chen An cooked Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin for Ning Fengzhi’s guest, Xue Qinghe, who was impressed by the meal and invited Chen An to visit Heaven Dou City. Xue Qinghe left hinting that he would return early to try Chen An’s Yangzhou Fried Rice.

• Xu Cheng arrived early to help with deliveries, then eagerly ate Yangzhou Fried Rice for breakfast.
• Ning Fengzhi brought Xue Qinghe to Chen An’s courtyard for lunch and introduced him to Chen An and the others.
• Chen An cooked Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin, and Xue Qinghe praised the dish and asked for more rice.
• Xue Qinghe invited Chen An to look around Heaven Dou City, and Chen An agreed to go when he had time after cultivation.
• As he left, Xue Qinghe said he would come earlier next time to seek Ning Fengzhi’s guidance and try Yangzhou Fried Rice.

Chen An took Ning Rongrong and Chen Xin around Heaven Dou City, buying seasonings and trinkets before Chen Xin purchased him a Storage Soul Tool at the auction house. Back at the sect, Gu Rong asked Chen An to bring him food in the future, turning the new belt into a way to carry meals.

• Chen An told Zhao Hai he might not return for lunch or dinner, then set out after breakfast with Ning Rongrong and Chen Xin.
• Chen An bought pepper, dried chilies, and vinegar, while Chen Xin bought Ning Rongrong two flower-adorned hair ties.
• Chen Xin took Chen An to the Heaven Dou Auction House and won a three-cubic-meter Storage Soul Tool belt for forty-one thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Chen An tested the belt, then used his own money to buy tea for Chen Xin and Gu Rong.
• After they returned to the sect, Gu Rong asked Chen An to bring him portions of his cooking, and Chen An realized the belt might be used to deliver meals.

Chen An brought a meal to Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, then agreed to expand the Kitchen’s meals by six people. The new places sparked a scramble among the regulars, who worried about losing their access to Chen An’s cooking.

• Chen An cooked sweet and sour pork tenderloin and brought a portion to Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong in the Front Hall.
• Chen An told Ning Fengzhi he could cook for more people, and Chen Xin approved adding six diners first to avoid overworking him.
• Ning Fengzhi arranged for diligent disciples to join the meals and instructed Uncle Zhou to provide whatever ingredients Chen An needed at the sect’s expense.
• Uncle Zhou told the Kitchen regulars that six people would join the next morning, and Zhao Hai volunteered to move another table.
• Fang Ming hinted that Xu Cheng’s place could go to his senior brother if Xu Cheng could not attend, so Xu Cheng insisted he would be there.

Chen An’s meals helped the sect disciples recover from practice, while their positive reviews raised his Soul Power enough to reach rank thirteen. He unlocked Dongpo Pork and arranged for pork belly to be delivered, leaving Zhao Hai waiting impatiently for the new dish.

• Shao Heng and five disciples ate Chen An’s fried rice, discovered that it restored stamina, and gave him positive reviews that rewarded physique and Soul Power.
• At lunch, the disciples ate Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin and found that it eased muscle soreness; over the following days, all ten disciples came to every meal and trained harder as they recovered faster.
• Chen An’s accumulated cultivation and system rewards brought him to rank thirteen, and he asked Chen Xin to let more people eat at the kitchen.
• Chen An unlocked the Dongpo Pork recipe after its positive review progress reached 100/100 and asked Uncle Zhou to arrange skin-on pork belly for the next day.
• Zhao Hai learned that Dongpo Pork would not be served until the following evening and swallowed his complaint about the wait.

Chen An cooked Dongpo Pork for the disciples, earning positive reviews and strengthening his body as the meal nourished everyone. After learning that Ning Rongrong’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would be limited to seven Soul Rings, he recalled that it might evolve into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and asked Chen Xin for books on Martial Soul Mutation.

• Xu Cheng checked the delivery cart for pork belly, while Zhao Hai carried the meat inside.
• Chen An slowly braised and steamed the Dongpo Pork, then served it to the disciples and his family, who eagerly ate the meat and leftover sauce.
• Chen An received fifteen positive reviews, raising his Dongpo Pork progress to 15/100 and gaining small amounts of Soul Power and improvements to his constitution.
• Ning Rongrong told Ning Fengzhi she hoped to gain nine Soul Rings, and Chen Xin explained that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was limited to seven.
• Chen An asked whether the pagoda could gain more levels, recalled the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda from his past life, and requested books on Martial Soul Mutation from Chen Xin.

Chen An studied Martial Soul Mutation while settling into a routine that helped him break through to rank fourteen. He accompanied Ning Rongrong to her Martial Soul awakening, where she obtained the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and innate rank nine, then returned to the Kitchen to prepare a special meal.

• Chen An read books on Martial Soul Mutation with Chen Xin and shared fried rice with Chen Xin and Gu Rong.
• Over the next ten days, Chen An cooked, cultivated, and studied, eventually breaking through to rank fourteen.
• Chen An accompanied Ning Rongrong to her awakening, where she manifested the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
• Ning Rongrong tested at innate rank nine and briefly lamented being one rank below Chen An before beginning to learn cultivation from Ning Fengzhi.
• Chen An returned to the Kitchen to prepare squirrel-shaped mandarin fish for Ning Rongrong's special day, and Gu Rong agreed that he and Ning Fengzhi would join the meal.

Chen An prepared Squirrel Mandarin Fish to celebrate Ning Rongrong’s awakening and Shao Heng’s breakthrough to level twenty, and the dish eased mental fatigue while winning sixteen positive reviews. Shao Heng was set to leave for a soul ring hunt the next day, and Fang Ming arranged for his senior brother to take Shao Heng’s meal spot, only to realize they might miss breakfast too.

• Chen An cooked Squirrel Mandarin Fish, whose effect slightly eased mental fatigue.
• Shao Heng announced he had reached level twenty, and Ning Fengzhi confirmed the breakthrough and arranged a soul ring hunt for the next day.
• Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi praised the fish, and Chen An learned it had earned sixteen positive reviews.
• Fang Ming asked Chen An to let his senior brother take Shao Heng’s meal spot while Shao Heng was away, and Chen An agreed.
• Shao Heng asked Chen An to cook the fish again when he returned, then left for the night.
• Fang Ming told his senior brother to come with him at noon the next day, and his senior brother asked what would happen to breakfast.

Han Cheng finally got to try Chen An’s cooking and was so impressed that he joined the group expanding the kitchen. The chapter ended with the new stove ready and Han Cheng eagerly looking forward to Dongpo Pork.

• Fang Ming brought Han Cheng to Chen An’s courtyard for lunch, where Han Cheng devoured the sweet-and-sour pork tenderloin and asked how long Shao Heng would be away.
• Chen An discussed expanding the meals with Uncle Zhou and got Ning Fengzhi’s approval to add seven diners, bringing the regular group to twenty.
• Han Cheng and the others overheard the plan and quickly cleared the rear stove, found a wok, and helped prepare the kitchen.
• Chen An returned and confirmed that Han Cheng would be included among the new diners, then let the group finish setting up the stove.
• Uncle Zhou tested the cleaned firebox, and Han Cheng asked Chen An to save the Dongpo Pork sauce so he could mix it with rice.

Chen An celebrated Ning Rongrong’s successful hunt for her first Soul Ring by cooking Wensi Tofu and other dishes, then learned that he and Rongrong would go into the city with Xue Qinghe the day after tomorrow. The announcement meant the courtyard would miss lunch, and Han Cheng ended the chapter by asking whether they would be back that evening.

• Shao Heng returned with two yellow Soul Rings, and Chen An celebrated by making Squirrel Mandarin Fish.
• Over the following month, Chen An reached Soul Power rank sixteen and learned to make Wensi Tofu while Ning Rongrong trained until she reached rank ten.
• Ning Rongrong returned with a yellow Soul Ring from a Soul Beast over three hundred years old, and demonstrated her strength-boosting Soul Skill on Chen An.
• Chen An cooked Wensi Tofu and sweet-and-sour pork for the courtyard, and Ning Fengzhi told him that Xue Qinghe would take him and Rongrong around the city the day after tomorrow.
• Chen An told Uncle Zhou to prepare extra food because they would miss lunch, upsetting the others, then made Rongrong popcorn before she went home.
• Han Cheng knocked on Fang Ming’s door and asked whether Chen An and the others would return that evening.

Chen An received the Crab Roe Lion's Head recipe and went into Heaven Dou City with Xue Qinghe, Ning Rongrong, and Chen Xin to find fresh crabs. He found a seafood restaurant with promising crabs and prepared to taste them before buying ingredients.

• Chen An received the Crab Roe Lion's Head recipe after Wensi Tofu reached one hundred favorable reviews.
• Xue Qinghe arrived for the outing, and Chen An, Ning Rongrong, and Chen Xin left after their morning cultivation.
• Xue Qinghe guided the group through Heaven Dou City's markets, where Chen An sampled and bought a jar of sauce while looking for ingredients.
• Xue Qinghe brought them to a seafood restaurant with fresh crabs, and Chen An decided to try them before purchasing any.