Food System in Cultivation World

Chen Xu flipped open the Food Cauldron Celestial Book.

Five days ago, he handed ten jin of Cloud Frost to Cui Yunqi and Ning Xing respectively, and thereafter those two used the Cloud Frost in their respective restaurants at a meteoric speed.

In just two or three days, the number of likes Chen Xu received daily directly rose to nearly twelve to thirteen hundred.

Previously, when he published "Artificial Beast" in two volumes, the story of "Cooking a Human Demon with Raging Fire" also earned him constant likes, but the spread of a story would eventually enter a fatigue period.

Now he has opened a new path, with the unique qualities of restaurant cuisine, this number of likes will not only not decrease, but may gradually increase over time.

After all, this thing called "MSG" is merely a seasoning additive.

Chen Xu was not really a head chef at the restaurant; otherwise, the number of likes would definitely skyrocket.

However, in the long term, Chen Xu being trapped as a chef in the restaurant had too low a ceiling.

In the end, he only had a pair of hands, so it was better to widely spread the Cloud Frost for more lasting and stable benefits.

Moreover, the path of the Literary Dao cannot be abandoned.

On the Food Cauldron Celestial Book, the attributes displayed:

[Accumulated Likes: 23272]

[Free Attribute Points: 175]

[Fireworks Value: 2719]

The accumulated likes were getting closer to thirty thousand, yet the increase in free attribute points was not substantial.

This was because Chen Xu had finally broken through all his Tri-Attributes to over [300]!

Since the breakthrough of the Tri-Attributes, the conversion from likes to free attribute points changed from the previous rate of one attribute point per [20] likes to one per [30] likes.

This change was reasonable, only starting now, the growth of attribute points compared to before was a bit more difficult.

It could be anticipated that when Chen Xu had another significant breakthrough in his Tri-Attributes, the conversion between likes and free attribute points would surely shift again.

Chen Xu even imagined that he could actually suppress the growth of his Tri-Attributes to some extent.

First accumulate enough free attribute points, and then break through in one go.

But upon close reflection, this was somewhat putting the cart before the horse.

Accumulating a pile of attribute points without using them, not increasing in strength, and just keeping an eye on the numbers.

How is this any different from a miser?

Even with the current 175 free attribute points, Chen Xu felt he had hoarded too many.

The healthiest stockpile should be around a hundred points.

This way, Chen Xu could flexibly respond, ensuring sustainability without truly suppressing his strength.

Currently, each value of Chen Xu's Tri-Attributes was at [326].

His cultivation had become:

[Cultivation: Late Stage Meridian Passage Realm 23.6%]

The major breakthrough in Tri-Attributes left Chen Xu with a constant illusion of growing power in recent days.

He spent more time in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, entering it at least six times a day.

Therefore, his Fireworks Value was always insufficient.

Even though his likes increased significantly each day, and he got quite a bit as a Fireworks Value reward, who could blame him for using more?

The Fireworks Value also holds strategic significance.

At critical moments, it could allow Chen Xu to achieve an incredible time difference, so he also wouldn't easily exhaust it.

Some needs to be reserved for emergencies.

He took stock of his gains and losses, from the various data on the Celestial Book Plate to the various ingredients in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, and of course the magic skills —

Chopping Wood, Fire Control, Wind Summoning, Water Divination, Spirit Control...

Leaving those aside, the Literary Qi in the Sea of Literature had increased by three inches.

According to the scale in the Ink Pool, this was already much stronger than ordinary scholars!

Additionally, Chen Xu had been pondering over the poem "Flowers Are Not Flowers" recently.

According to what Feng Yuanbai said that day, "Flowers Are Not Flowers" possessed spatial qualities.

He even mistakenly thought that the Profound Nether Ruins created by Chen Xu using the Netherworld's Unbreakable Divine Power actually came from "Flowers Are Not Flowers"!

Of course, the Profound Nether Ruins did not come from "Flowers Are Not Flowers", but Chen Xu did gain something while pondering the poem recently.

"Flowers are not flowers, mist is not mist, arriving at midnight, leaving at dawn..."

As he repeatedly savored the poem's imagery, gradually, mist began to emerge in Chen Xu's Sea of Literature.

Amidst the waves of the Sea of Literature, that inkstone seemed like a lone boat sailing towards the other shore.

Along the vast path, mist began to slowly cover the sea.

The inkstone emerged and submerged within the misty waves, at times spontaneously generating a strange aura that felt both illusory and real.

Even Chen Xu himself occasionally found himself bewildered at certain moments, to the point of being unable to sense the presence of his own inkstone.

Of course, this illusion was only temporary.

Very soon, Chen Xu gained mastery over this mist ability, able to control it freely without confusing himself anymore.

Yet Chen Xu always felt that his application of "Flowers Are Not Flowers" was still too superficial.

The poem should hold innumerable variations waiting to be developed.

Just like the Wu Hook of "Knight's Journey", which to this day had not fully formed into substance in Chen Xu's Sea of Literature.

As for the appearance of the "Knight" Poetry Spirit, that seemed even more distant and elusive.

Perhaps, on the day he passes the imperial examination, there might be a qualitative change.

Chen Xu always immersed himself in cultivation, greatly enjoying it, even gradually feeling a sense of serene timelessness.

In just a few days, because of regular practice in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, it seemed as if a long time had passed.

This afternoon, Chen Xu emerged once more from the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

He rested and adjusted his breath for a moment, preparing to re-enter after a short break.

It was at this time that he heard the doorman report that a scholar named Lv Ji had come to visit.

Chen Xu had never interacted with Lv Ji, but he knew there was a scholar named Lv Ji living next door to the east.

After all, being neighbors, even if they hadn't met before, since residing temporarily here, how could Chen Xu ignore those around him completely?

He asked the doorman to bring Lv Ji in.

Lv Ji waited outside for a full half-hour. While half an hour wasn't long, in the eyes of someone waiting, it was long enough to turn Lv Ji's mind upside down with countless imaginings.

Just as Lv Ji was pessimistically thinking Chen Xu might refuse to see him, good news finally arrived via the doorman.

So Lv Ji hurriedly followed the doorman through a courtyard, arriving at the second garden.

In the garden pavilion, Chen Xu warmed wine in anticipation.

As Lv Ji passed through a cluster of flowers and trees, Chen Xu had just set down the wine pot.

He stepped down from the pavilion's steps, cupping his hands in greeting with a smile towards Lv Ji: "Brother Lv, your visit caught me unprepared, luckily I still have some warm wine here.

Your timing is perfect, this wine is just right for drinking together."

Lv Ji felt deeply moved, his nose tinged with sourness.

For a moment, it was as if he had stepped into the imagery of "Flowers Are Not Flowers", becoming somewhat confused, not knowing the time or date.

In a rush, he hurried forward and blurted out: "Brother Chen, that one poem "Pity the Farmer", how masterfully writ is it? Upon hearing it, I feel it cannot be surpassed in life nor in death!"

This wasn't necessary.

Chen Xu was caught a bit off guard by Lv Ji's words, though he laughed it off, while Lv Ji pulled out a new book from his sleeve.

"Brother Chen, just three days ago a new thing appeared in the realm of scholars near the capital, gathering the talents of the land within. Would you like to take a look?"