King of Beasts

“Alright, you stay here for a bit.”

“There are some books over there. You can read them to pass the time. I’ll arrange masters for the other five people first, and then I’ll come back to arrange you,” Shopkeeper Long said, pointing to a nearby shelf before swaying his hips as he left.

Lu Ran watched as Shopkeeper Long walked away, then plopped down on the bed with a slight sigh.

“Not bad luck…” was all he could say. He had thought that the Assessment in the breakthrough secret realm for culinary skills would be difficult. But to his surprise, he accidentally passed by relying on his sword intent, coming off as a genius.

Indeed, opportunities always favor those who are “prepared.”

On second thought, learning some Culinary skills wasn’t a bad idea. In Infinite City, beastmasters didn’t call this occupation “Chef” but “Nutritionist,” as the term covered a broader range.

A Nutritionist was not only an expert in food preparation but also in nutrition detection, enhancement, and evaluation. They scientifically matched and cooked food to help pet beasts or beastmasters grow more efficiently.

Chefs naturally fell under this broad occupation.

General Ha’s advanced dog food and rare dog food each contained different types of ingredients. Lu Ran didn’t just buy them randomly; he bought them based on a Nutritionist’s recommendations for wind species pet beasts.

However, even with this, General Ha’s diet wasn’t perfect. Although the nutritional balance was there, the food was all raw and usually eaten directly without any special processing.

If it could undergo superior Culinary preparation that fused all the ingredients’ nutrients into one, the nutritional value could undergo a qualitative change. This level of expertise could only be handled by a professional Nutritionist or Chef.

Generally speaking, most beastmasters wouldn’t go to such lengths, mainly because their culinary skills weren’t up to par. Using supernatural ingredients for cooking required more precise control over quantities and heat. A small mistake could waste the ingredients, resulting in dark cuisine.

But Lu Ran felt that after learning Culinary skills in this secret realm, he could attempt to process food for General Ha and even the Sudden Death King. If he could double the nutritional value, it would save a lot of money.

Lu Ran’s team often dined at a restaurant where professional Chefs handled secret realm ingredients. And he had to admit, the taste was genuinely superb.

“Why not read a book for a while?” Shopkeeper Long went off to make arrangements, leaving Lu Ran unhurried. It was still early, so he pulled a book from the shelf, lay on the bed, and began to read leisurely.

“Compendium of Basic Ingredients”

(Containing information on 912 common supernatural ingredients.)

“…” Lu Ran temporarily put this book back and picked up another one. He wasn’t in the mood to read that just yet.

“Rankings of Peerless Dishes”

Hmm? This one looked interesting.

“I’m so basic,” Lu Ran thought with a self-deprecating smile as he opened this book. For a novice, something grander was more appealing.

Rank First: Flame Dragon Roaming Nine Heavens

Creator: Yan Sizhen

Introduction: Yan Sizhen, the second generation emperor of the Beast Taming Empire, created this peerless dish using the meat of nine fire species overlord creatures combined with twelve exquisite-level ingredients. By infusing it with his own Culinary Intent, this dish was cooked to perfection. When the dish was completed, its brilliance illuminated the sky, and its fragrance transformed into a divine loong of flame that roamed the continent. This phenomenon caused countless creatures to awaken their flame powers.

Lu Ran had heard about this dish from the proprietress before. He felt that this dish was overly exaggerated and couldn’t possibly be just exquisite-level. Perhaps due to the limitations of that era, if judged by later generations, this dish’s level might even reach epic level. In the grand timeline of history, it would undoubtedly be a top-tier dish.

Rank Second: Six Wonders of the Dragon

Creator: Yan Sizhen

Introduction: Yan Sizhen, the second generation emperor of the Beast Taming Empire, cooked six Loong-type dishes using “Dragon Culinary Intent.” These dishes were used to reward the army. After the pet beasts of the Beast Taming Legion consumed them, half of them transformed into loongs on the spot, establishing the renowned Loong-type legion of the Beast Taming Empire!

Lu Ran: ???

“What is this!” Lu Ran was bewildered upon reading this. Although Shopkeeper Long had previously mentioned that some exquisite cuisine had effects similar to trait crystals and could assist in pet beast evolution, seeing the recorded effects of Yan Sizhen’s Six Wonders of the Dragon still made Lu Ran’s mind buzz.

His heart was filled with just two words: “Incredible.”

The nations of Blue Star had invested immense effort and relied on trait crystals but still couldn’t decipher the Loong-type evolution path. Yet, this Emperor Yan Sizhen achieved it with just one dish? And he did it on a large scale!

No wonder at this stage of the Beast Taming Empire, everything was inferior except for Chefs, all thanks to Yan Sizhen being so remarkable.

As expected, those who can advance the development of a world are never simple.

“If only I could grasp an artistic conception related to ‘loong’.”

“Maybe I could make two Dragon Food dishes for the Sudden Death King to eat. With the fusion of loong-type traits, it might successfully transform into a loong, becoming Blue Star’s second pure Loong-type!”

Just reading about two Exquisite Dishes made Lu Ran suddenly feel like the Blizzard Sword Intent wasn’t that appealing anymore.

If only the Blizzard Sword Intent could be replaced with Divine Loong Sword Intent. Swinging a sword to transform sword qi into a loong was secondary; the main thing was being able to masquerade as dragon culinary intent to cook…

“Dr. Gu mentioned before that to evolve into a Loong-type, you should frequently use loong-type resources. It’s probably a similar principle. Therefore, Exquisite Cuisine imbued with the true essence of loong-type food could indeed assist in Loong-type evolution!” Lu Ran felt that this trip to the secret realm wasn’t in vain and that learning Culinary skills had become promising.

Maybe this could be the key to helping the Sudden Death King transform into a loong.

Loong-type Exquisite Cuisine!

But where to find Loong-type sword intent…

Lu Ran summoned General Ha.

“Woof!”

General Ha looked up at Lu Ran after being summoned.

Looking at Lu Ran’s expression, it knew Boss Lu must have encountered some difficulty.

“General Ha…”

“Do you remember the combat video we watched on the Beast Taming Forum? A monkey shaped its fists into dragon heads and unleashed a dragon Punch imbued with the power of the dragon!”

That was a widely circulated combat video of a previous generation beastmaster who mastered the artistic conception of dragon shaping. It was hailed as a textbook example of shaping artistic conception.

“Woof?” General Ha widened its eyes at Lu Ran and nodded silently. Yes, it remembered that.

“Can you learn to imbue our sword intent with the power of the dragon?”

General Ha fell into contemplation, its gaze drifting and becoming increasingly wise as it began to evade reality…

It felt like Lu Ran was making things difficult for it!

Compared to the abstract Dragon Sword Intent, it seemed that the opposing Flame Sword Intent to the Blizzard Sword Intent might be simpler.

“Forget it!”

“I was just joking. How could a dog be smarter than a primate pet beast? Just because that monkey could learn it doesn’t mean you can…” Lu Ran said, pouting.

“Woof!!” General Ha indicated that reverse psychology wouldn’t work.

Seeing this, Lu Ran sighed inwardly. General Ha was getting smarter and harder to fool.

In the past, it would have eagerly gone to study Dragon Sword Intent.

However, Lu Ran was seriously considering it. If General Ha or he himself could learn Dragon Sword Intent, then according to the proprietress, there would be a chance to cook Loong-type Exquisite Cuisine.

So, was there any way to learn it?

Lu Ran pondered deeply and decided to ask the proprietress later. On Blue Star, he felt there wasn’t much opportunity, but on the Star-Moon Continent, there might be a chance. After all, culinary manship flourished here. Since Emperor Yan Sizhen mastered Dragon Culinary Intent, many chefs must have wanted to learn it, so there must be plenty of related information.

Rank Three…

Lu Ran continued reading and found that of the ninety-six Exquisite Dishes recorded in the book, half were cooked by Yan Sizhen…

The remaining Exquisite Dishes, although not as impressive as those cooked by Yan Sizhen, still had top-notch effects. In Lu Ran’s opinion, some were no less effective than trait crystals.

Knock, knock, knock!

Lu Ran was engrossed when the door was knocked.

The charming proprietress returned and said to Lu Ran, “Come with me. I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Hmm? Is this dog your pet beast?” Shopkeeper Long asked, looking at General Ha, who was lying on the side with a cloudy gaze.

“Yes,” Lu Ran said, putting down the book and standing up.

“It’s really not an ice-type pet beast…” Shopkeeper Long muttered to himself.

Little did he know, General Ha was still being swayed by Lu Ran and was already deep in thought about how to learn Dragon Sword Intent…

As Lu Ran put it, Dr. Yunhan had initially gone abroad to study Loong-type species.

If General Ha could research the Loong-type first, it would surely crush the opponent’s mental will.

General Ha’s eyes lit up. To avenge Dr. Yunhan, it decided to personally assist Lu Ran in researching Loong-type species, and thus began to ponder Dragon Sword Intent…

“General Ha, think about it later. Follow me first.”

Next, under Shopkeeper Long’s guidance, Lu Ran followed her to a new kitchen. This kitchen was relatively small. Upon arrival, Shopkeeper Long said, “Next, you only need to practice one dish.”

“A very simple, can’t-be-simpler dish!”

“What?” Lu Ran asked.

“A fruit platter!” Shopkeeper Long said calmly. “Moving forward, I will deliver a large quantity of fruit to you every day. Your training will involve using the Ice and Snow Knife Technique to infuse your Culinary Intent into each cut piece of fruit. Keep practicing this.”

“When your Culinary Intent can remain in the fruit platter for more than three minutes without dissipating, this training will be considered complete.”

After listening, Lu Ran thought this training task wasn’t too difficult. Shopkeeper Long had previously mentioned that his grasp of the Blizzard Sword Intent was not yet proficient. The reason was likely that he had only recently mastered this technique shortly before entering the breakthrough secret realm.

Now, the other party was essentially providing a platform for him to slowly practice Blizzard Sword Intent…

If he had ample time, Lu Ran would naturally prefer to take his time and practice slowly. However, he knew he could only stay in the breakthrough secret realm for one month, so he wanted to speed up the progress. He couldn’t afford to waste time.

“Alright, can I have my pet beast assist me in practice?” Lu Ran asked.

Practicing alone was too slow. Why not have General Ha join in?

“Woof!?” General Ha, who had been following behind Lu Ran and Shopkeeper Long and deep in thought, looked up slightly.

What’s going on? Interrupting my study of Dragon Sword Intent!

“It? How do you plan to have it assist you…” Shopkeeper Long asked, puzzled.

“Hmm…” Lu Ran looked at a fruit on the table, then at General Ha. In the next moment, General Ha immediately understood. The surrounding air currents began to flow rapidly, and a piece of fruit was lifted into the air by the wind.

Lu Ran, quick as lightning, grabbed a knife and sliced the floating fruit into four pieces.

“Have it act as my extra hands, helping to pass ingredients. This way, it can also practice its energy release control technique,” Lu Ran explained.

“Oh, suit yourself.” Seeing that General Ha could actually manipulate the airflow to lift the fruit, Shopkeeper Long nodded. It seemed that Lu Ran wasn’t exaggerating about his own strength. This pet beast’s ability to control wind energy to such an extent was indeed impressive…

“Also, my Ice and Snow Culinary Intent is something my dog can do as well. How about letting it cut the fruit with me? We have a deep bond and usually improve together… Where does this fruit end up anyway… It should be fine, right?” Lu Ran asked quietly, knowing that super beast mimicry skills are more efficiently practiced together with the pet.

Shopkeeper Long: ?

“What did you say? Say that again,” Shopkeeper Long asked, doubting her ears.

To convince her, Lu Ran silently pulled a Cleaver from the kitchen counter and placed it in General Ha’s mouth.

In the next moment…

General Ha glanced at Shopkeeper Long.

It seemed to be saying, “Hmph, woman, how ignorant.”

With that, it released its wind force again, lifting a piece of fruit, and leaped up.

Swish!

The fruit was split in two.

Caught by the wind, it landed in Shopkeeper Long’s hand, each cut surface exuding a faint chill.

Feeling this familiar coldness, Shopkeeper Long shivered, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Just as Jiang Dou’s Old Gentleman had been shocked to see General Ha’s mastery of sword momentum, Shopkeeper Long was equally stunned to see a dog grasping Culinary Intent.

“This is impossible,” she muttered in disbelief.

Lu Ran shrugged. General Ha had learned Culinary Intent—or rather, Sword Intent—through the trait of weapon mastery.

And the weapon mastery trait, this special ability, was, to be precise, a secret weapon researched by the empire a thousand years into the future.

Compared to the current historical stage, it was indeed somewhat ahead of its time… a form of dimensional suppression.

“Why…” Suddenly, Shopkeeper Long couldn’t help but speak.

“Why do I feel like its control over Ice and Snow Culinary Intent is better than yours?”

Lu Ran: ?