Ning Fengzhi: Sigh, I miscalculated!

Douluo Continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

As Ning Fengzhi watched the images on the Light Screen, a helpless look crept onto his face.

"Sigh, I miscalculated!"

He had never expected that earning a chance to ask a question inside the Light Screen would require doing housework. Had he known, he would have had Ning Rongrong learn long ago.

But it had already happened, and no amount of regret would help now. He could only hope there would be other opportunities to earn a question later.

If all else failed, once Ning Rongrong returned to Douluo Continent in seven days, he would prepare some good things for her and see whether she could exchange them with Chen Shi for a chance to ask a question.

As he pondered, Ning Fengzhi studied the kitchen's layout on the Light Screen, his eyes full of curiosity.

Just how different was that kitchen inside the Light Screen from the kitchens on Douluo Continent?

The same curiosity arose inside Spirit Hall's Worship Hall.

Meanwhile, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

As Dugu Bo watched his granddaughter step forward to compete for the right to cook, a gratified look appeared on his face.

"Yan Yan really has changed quite a bit. This time, she's bound to gain plenty inside the Light Screen. Perhaps it can change his attitude toward cultivation."

"It's just..."

Dugu Bo frowned at the kitchen, a bad feeling stirring in his heart. Earning the right to cook would not be easy for his granddaughter!

Inside the Villa.

Seeing Xiao Wu claim a job, Dugu Yan and Hu Liena grew a little anxious and both took several steps forward.

"I can do the cooking!"

Dugu Yan spoke first.

Although she now lived at Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy, she had lived with her grandfather, Dugu Bo, when she was little, so she did know a little about cooking.

Most importantly, she could learn what she did not know. This was a precious chance to ask a question, one that concerned her grandfather's future. She did not want to let it slip away just like that.

"I can cook too," Hu Liena said almost at the same time as Dugu Yan.

She and her older brother, Xie Yue, were orphans who had depended on each other from childhood. Only later had they joined Spirit Hall, where Bibi Dong had taken her as a disciple.

So cooking was not unfamiliar to her. It was just that she had not touched any kitchen utensils in so many years, and she did not know whether her cooking would taste good.

But opportunities had to be fought for. She could slowly learn what she did not know, but once an opportunity slipped away, it was gone.

Dugu Yan and Hu Liena exchanged a glance. A trace of hostility showed on Dugu Yan's face, while Hu Liena narrowed her eyes slightly, refusing to give an inch.

Looking at the three before them, Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong were both a little at a loss.

Was there really nothing they could do?

Watching this scene, Chen Shi suddenly thought of something. He looked apologetically at Dugu Yan and said:

"Dugu Yan."

Hearing him call her name, Dugu Yan put away the hostility in her eyes and looked at Chen Shi with some unease.

Having her name called at a time like this was not a good thing.

Sure enough, she heard Chen Shi say with complete seriousness:

"Your Life-Bound Poison hasn't been removed yet, so you can't do the cooking. I have to think of the other tenants. What if you accidentally cut yourself and get poison into the food? What would happen if the others ate it?"

Dugu Yan froze. She had not expected this to be the reason she was ruled out.

But after thinking it over carefully, she also felt that Chen Shi had a point.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison was her Life-Bound Poison. Although it was normally suppressed, it had already become one with her body. If anything went wrong while she was cooking, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Then..."

Dugu Yan opened her mouth, then closed it again.

When it came to cooking, she really could not compete with the others, but she could not resign herself to this either!

Seeing her unhappy expression, Chen Shi comforted her again. "Dugu Yan, you don't need to be sad. If any other jobs come up later, I'll consider you first. Only if you turn them down will I let the others compete for them."

At his words, Dugu Yan's expression improved considerably. She nodded and returned to her original spot.

Seeing Dugu Yan's reaction, Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Hu Liena and said:

"Hu Liena, you don't know much about this kitchen, and you'll need to be taught how to cook here too. When I cook in a bit, stay beside me and watch. Start by helping me and learn carefully. In two or three days, you'll take charge of the cooking yourself."

Hu Liena trembled all over at his words.

She had not expected to be able to stay beside Chen Shi and learn to cook by watching him. This was a great opportunity.

After all, this kitchen had very little in common with the kitchens on Douluo Continent. There was so much she needed to learn.

Hu Liena nodded firmly to show that she understood.

"All right, that's it for now."

Chen Shi clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention:

"I'm going to start teaching Hu Liena about the things in the kitchen now. If you're interested, you can stay here and watch too, but don't disturb us, and keep some distance from us."

"Especially you, Dugu Yan. You can stay at the doorway at most. You can't come in."

At these words, everyone except Dugu Yan looked surprised.

They had not expected Chen Shi to let them watch.

So Qian Renxue, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu all went farther into the kitchen, leaving only Dugu Yan standing helplessly in the doorway.

After giving his instructions, Chen Shi paid no more attention to the others.

After all, when it came to safety, he was not the only one concerned about Dugu Yan. The others did not want anything going wrong with their bodies either, especially when they had no Soul Power.

In the kitchen, Chen Shi first began teaching Hu Liena to identify the ingredients, starting with the simplest things, such as rice and flour.

Next came the kitchen equipment: the stove, refrigerator, oven, and so on.

As Chen Shi introduced everything, Hu Liena kept her small mouth open, taking it all in with astonishment while committing everything to memory.

She had not expected such a small kitchen to hold a whole other world. The refrigerator and stove in particular broadened her horizons.

The stove could actually produce fire without firewood, and its temperature was considerably higher than that of a wood-burning stove.

As for the refrigerator, it could actually keep food fresh and even freeze it. Its temperature was lower than that of many ice-related Soul Masters' Soul Skills.

By the time he finished briefly introducing the ingredients and kitchen equipment, Chen Shi was already seeing stars. He could only cook first and teach Hu Liena the other things after eating.

So he took a case of instant noodles out of the storage cabinet, along with some eggs, sausages, vegetables, and other ingredients, preparing to make stir-fried instant noodles.

As an unsuccessful author, he was actually quite good at cooking. It was just that cooking for himself was often too much trouble, so he would rather order takeout.

Next came the part where Chen Shi did the cooking himself.

He first soaked the instant noodles in boiling water, rinsed them in cold water once they were about ready, and prepared the other ingredients. Then he lit the stove, set the wok on it, and began stir-frying.

Whoosh!

The sound of the spatula striking the iron wok rang through the kitchen, accompanied by a rich aroma.

Despite their high status, Qian Renxue and the others had never smelled an aroma like this.

Watching Chen Shi busy at the stove, they grew increasingly curious about him.

Since there were too many noodles to stir-fry in a single wokful, Chen Shi cooked three batches and divided them among six plates before finally finishing the job.