Food System in Cultivation World

On April 26th, Wu Zhengze and others embarked on their journey back to Jichuan.

Chen Xu accepted Feng Yuanbai's invitation to temporarily stay in the Feng Family's separate courtyard.

This courtyard was not large, with only two sections, and it was not far from the Prefecture City Academy. Chen Xu could attend lectures there regularly, and Feng Yuanbai could often come to teach him, giving him special attention.

On this day, Chen Xu finally wrote down his experience in the Ghost Market in a dreamlike tone.

He said, "Yu Su possesses the ability to communicate with the netherworld, often encountering ghosts in dreams. That night, the moonlight was as clear as water, I walked alone in the courtyard and unknowingly entered a market, only to see white paper lanterns and swaying shadows..."

He used a chilling yet enchanting language to describe the various scenes in the Ghost Market that were different from the Mortal World.

Such as "the long street shrouded in mist, where wandering souls linger," or "disemboweling hearts and livers, biting arms and fingers," or "the dual-faced withered and blooming, eerily beautiful beyond compare," and so on.

In short, although the previous parts were fictional, they essentially narrated his actual experiences in the Ghost Market.

After all, what fictional story in this world could be more vividly surpassing the true netherworld?

Especially when speaking of the Ghost Market, where mortals find it difficult to enter or leave, only with extraordinary verses could one open the Netherworld Road and return to the mundane world—

When the story reached its turning point, the writing style became more thrilling and full of wonders.

Should a reader be captivated by this point, it would naturally arouse intense curiosity and anticipation.

At this point, Chen Xu's objective was achieved.

He understood that although people of this era enjoyed poetry and literature, the vast majority of poems, no matter how exquisitely written, inevitably circulated only within the circles of the upper middle class.

Yet, the world's majority population is not the upper-middle-class scholars, but the seemingly mundane and nameless common folk omnipresent in the marketplaces.

Ordinary people might not be fond of reading, but they certainly love hearing strange stories and fresh narratives.

After all, it is human nature, who doesn't enjoy listening to bizarre tales?

Whether it be the high art or the folk tunes, strange stories and gossip always have angles that touch people's hearts.

This is akin to the path of dissemination followed by the two editions of Artificial Beast.

One must write about extraordinary scenes, remarkable people, and peculiar events.

Once the readers' interest is piqued, it remains to see if the story's poetry and articles can achieve the effect of "astonishing ghosts and moving mortals."

It must be "appreciated by both humans and spirits" to not let the previous wonders go in vain and truly resonate deeply.

The three poems in the Ghost Market naturally had no such issues.

This refers to the volume of Chronicles of the Strange and Mysterious that Chen Xu previously mentioned to Cui Yunqi.

He had said a few days ago that he needed to write it well and hand it to Cui Yunqi, but it got delayed, and now that it's written, it's not too late.

As he penned the final stroke, Chen Xu stored the draft in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

Afterward, relying on memory, he wrote it down a second time.

He did this because, upon completing the first draft of Chronicles of the Strange and Mysterious, Chen Xu noticed that even the manuscript was showing entries:

[A strange manuscript in its initial draft, possessing a faint Literary Qi, which might be used in preparing Literary Dao Spiritual Food.

If this work spreads widely in the future and the Literary Qi deepens, it may have extraordinary effects.]

This is indeed intriguing, and Chen Xu naturally wanted to preserve this draft.

Along with the initial drafts of the two editions of Artificial Beast and Knight's Journey, these too had similar entries.

Chen Xu currently had several poems, but the only true original in his possession was Knight's Journey.

The entry for Knight's Journey differed from previous articles.

[An original draft of a Cyan Smoke Poem with overflowing Literary Qi, though not yet devouring mountains and rivers, shines with a knight's spirit. This poem is still in transformation...]

The phrase "still in transformation" made Chen Xu feel, even though he was standing in the small courtyard of the deep alley in the Prefecture City, as if he had returned to the peak of Qihai Mountain.

From a high vantage, observing mountains and rivers, watching the wind and rain.

His heart stood high; this was the character necessary for a long-lasting journey.

But he himself stood low at the moment.

In the modest Yunjiang Prefecture, as a mere top scorer of a provincial examination, it sounded prestigious, but in reality, what could he truly grasp in his hands?

Chen Xu carefully stored the manuscript paper and left the study.

He walked past the small steps in the courtyard; Feng Yuanbai had arranged seven or eight servants in this courtyard, from the steward to cleaning tasks, everything was adequately provided.

Seeing Chen Xu walking through the small garden in the yard and heading straight for the eastern wing of the courtyard.

The cleaning servant quickly bowed and greeted, "Mr. Chen."

Then, to the amazement of everyone, Chen Xu entered the eastern kitchen.

The cook was so startled that she dropped the spatula in her hand and hurriedly said, "Mr. Chen, this kitchen is a filthy place; how could you come here yourself? Is there anything I did wrong?"

Chen Xu walked a few steps around the kitchen and found that although it was the kitchen of a separate courtyard, the precision of functional division far surpassed that of the Gaosheng Inn's back kitchen.

The range of kitchenware was also more abundant, especially in the area of pastry making.

This small kitchen had dedicated steamers, ovens, a variety of ingredients, and some items that Chen Xu couldn't even buy outside.

Chen Xu remembered what Master Hong had said: You'd never guess where the best pastry chef in the entire Yunjiang Prefecture is.

Master Hong had also said, after attending the Qihai Mountain Literati Gathering, Chen Xu would know the answer.

Actually, Chen Xu did not receive the answer at the Qihai Mountain Literati Gathering.

But at this moment, seeing the small kitchen in the Feng Family's separate courtyard, and recalling the exquisite pastries flowing on the running-water trays during the Qihai Mountain Literati Gathering.

Chen Xu suddenly had an epiphany: Where is the best pastry chef?

I suppose not among the common folk, but in the aristocratic family.

So that's how it is!

But, is it truly so?

Chen Xu could not make a definitive conclusion at this moment; he only asked the cook, "What are you best at making? Make a few for me to see."

The cook responded with an "Oh," quickly rallied her spirits, though feeling a bit puzzled by Chen Xu's instructions, she enthusiastically said, "Then Mr. Chen, please step aside; it's smoky and fiery here, and I'm afraid it might offend you.

I am best at making Glazed Jade Scrolls; the ingredients here are quite abundant, please let me know what you like or have any dietary restrictions?"

She took several small white dishes and placed Taohu white shrimp, Yunheng County water chestnut bits, mountain pine nuts, chicken mushroom rings, and winter bamboo shoot threads in sequence...

Every time she brought in an ingredient, she would introduce its origin.

All ingredients valued quality over quantity, with considerations from the place of origin, to the season, to transport, preservation, and acquisition—all had their particularities.

Although Chen Xu possessed the Food Cauldron Celestial Book and always thought of himself as someone reaching the Dao through food, he had never witnessed such a scene when creating any dish before.

And this was merely an ordinary cook in the County Magistrate's separate courtyard, yet already practiced fastidious cooking.

Chen Xu was unaware that the County Magistrate was dispatching the best, most experienced cook from his household to the separate courtyard.

The Feng Family, while no longer as prosperous as before, still had deep-rooted legacies.

As the saying goes, it takes three generations to be well-dressed, five generations to eat fine food, this was the best cook of the Feng Family, how could it be any less remarkable?

Chen Xu observed the cook's actions carefully, noting her efficient and calm composure, the well-balanced use of primary and auxiliary ingredients, nodding silently to himself.

This was a style completely different from Master Hong's, and Chen Xu watched and learned, sometimes asking a few questions.

The cook could hardly believe that this distinguished guest would actually be learning cooking from her, initially assuming he was testing her skills.

She answered every question respectfully and earnestly, utilizing all her efforts, hoping that he might speak well of her to the master.

"The key to making Glazed Jade Scrolls is not only in the filling but also in the jade ice dough," the cook enthusiastically explained. "This dough requires careful coloring and thinness; it must be as green as jade, as thin as a cicada's wings, and yet resilient."

In the small kitchen, Chen Xu gradually came forward, actively trying his hand.

Initially, the cook was a bit anxious, "Mr. Chen, each dough piece must be steamed one by one, and the thickness and timing must be accurately controlled... Oh, how come your jade ice dough is laid so evenly?"

Later, the cook prepared a stack of Glazed Jade Scrolls, and Chen Xu also prepared a stack.

"Mr. Chen, what did you put in this filling?" the cook asked curiously.

Chen Xu smiled but did not answer, only saying, "Later, Steward Sun can try it."

As soon as the words fell, a familiar laugh came from outside the door: "Xu Zhi, what insight have you gained this time? What delicacies have you made?"