King of Beasts

Although it was quite surprising, Shopkeeper Long eventually had to accept reality.

A dog, holding a cleaver in its mouth, was slicing fruits and vegetables with great skill.

The most remarkable part was that it didn’t rely on any supernatural energy. Using an ordinary kitchen knife, it displayed Culinary Skill and Culinary Intent just like Lu Ran had before.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Long felt a bit dizzy.

She still found it hard to imagine a chef training a dog to master Culinary Skill and Culinary Intent.

“You two are really something special,” Shopkeeper Long said, rubbing her temples as she looked at the man and his dog.

“So, can we practice together?” Lu Ran asked.

“An excellent chef must have the assistance of a pet beast. Of course, you can practice together… Moving forward, I will have someone deliver a larger quantity of fruits every day for your practice.”

“Remember to take plating seriously. The food used for practice will be served as complimentary dishes to the customers. It must be presentable, not a mess.”

Shopkeeper Long wore a peculiar expression, unsure if what she was doing was appropriate.

If the customers at Frost Moon Pavilion knew that the complimentary fruit platters were prepared by a dog, would they still accept them?

Oh well, it doesn’t matter.

It’s not unusual for pet beasts to assist chefs. Over 90% of the time, fire-type pet beasts are used to control the heat. However, it’s not unheard of for pet beasts to help with slicing and handling complex ingredients! Yes, let’s go with that. A dog mastering culinary arts can be reasonable.

We can’t waste food; wastefulness is shameful.

Shopkeeper Long convinced herself, then proceeded to discuss the daily delivery times of ingredients, the designated training times, and the restaurant’s peak dining hours with Lu Ran, asking him to plan accordingly.

“It’s still early today. You two can continue practicing,” Shopkeeper Long said, preparing to leave. Until Lu Ran completed this stage of special training, there was no point in her constantly supervising them.

However, Lu Ran wasn’t going to let the proprietress leave so easily; he had more questions to ask.

“Shopkeeper Long, wait a moment!” Lu Ran called out. “I have one more question.”

“Hmm?” Shopkeeper Long turned to look at Lu Ran.

“I was just flipping through a book in the room and read that Emperor Yan Sizhen once used dragon culinary intent to prepare a dish exclusive to Loong-type species. If I want to learn dragon culinary intent in the future, is there a suitable way to do so?”

“Heh, you sure have big ambitions,” Shopkeeper Long rolled her eyes and said, “Is one culinary intent not enough for you?”

Lu Ran smiled slightly.

“Generally speaking, advanced Culinary Skill and Culinary Intent are inherited. For example, coming to Frost Moon Pavilion, you can only learn the skills within the normal range. To learn the true signature skills, you need to formally apprentice under a master.”

“Due to the special nature of dragon culinary intent, many chefs on the continent are indeed pursuing it. I do know of a sacred place for training where one can comprehend dragon culinary intent,” Shopkeeper Long said, touching her chin and glancing at Lu Ran.

“Although Emperor Yan Sizhen has passed away, not all of his pet beasts have died. One of his fire-type Dragon Pets still exists, slumbering somewhere like a Guardian Sacred Beast.”

“That place is filled with Dragon Might. Apart from the Dragon Pet, there are no other living creatures. Many chefs who pursue the pinnacle of culinary arts go there to feel the mental pressure from the ‘Overlord Dragon Clan’ to help them comprehend dragon culinary intent.”

“Over the years, some have succeeded, and many have failed. Those who succeed are honored in the culinary world with the title of ‘Dragon Chef.’”

Lu Ran was astonished.

“I see, thank you, Shopkeeper Long.”

“Practice well. Master your ice and snow culinary intent first, and don’t get ahead of yourself. That place is not for just anyone; only the best chefs can go there for further training. If you want to go, you at least need to pass the superior chef assessment. Moreover, dragon culinary intent is not suitable for a novice like you. If you want to go far in the culinary manship, learning a ‘flame-type culinary intent’ might be better,” Shopkeeper Long waved her hand and left for real this time.

Lu Ran then pondered over what she had just said.

Currently, in the Beast Taming Empire, chefs have been able to comprehend dragon culinary intent by cooking under the pressure of Dragon Might?!

If there’s a chance after passing the superior chef assessment, it might be worth visiting that place.

This might be a training environment that is hard to replicate on Blue Star. After all, on Blue Star, there are no purebred dragons from overlord species, and even sovereign species purebred dragons are rare, with only Dr. Gu having one.

Lu Ran couldn’t possibly ask Dr. Gu’s pet beast to train with him. As a high-ranking member of the Beast Taming Alliance, she was incredibly busy every day, and no one knew how long it would take to comprehend dragon culinary intent.

In the secret realms, although Loong-type beings could be found, they were usually in advanced secret realms, and they wouldn’t obediently release Dragon Might to cooperate. Overall, the Flame Dragon of National Protection from the Beast Taming Empire seemed to be the best option.

Quickly, Lu Ran began to outline how to use this breakthrough secret realm to achieve the most perfect benefits.

1. Daily Cooking Practice: Train himself and General Ha’s abilities, such as Blizzard Sword Intent and energy control techniques during daily cooking.

2. Superior Chef Promotion: Perfectly advance to a superior chef through the culinary skills honed during training, completing the breakthrough task.

3. Deep Exploration: If conditions allow, use any remaining time to deeply explore the world and learn from the local “Dragon Chefs,” engaging in rigorous training for dragon culinary intent. Even if he doesn’t fully master it, any progress would be beneficial.

“General Ha, let’s make the most of our time,” Lu Ran said, looking at General Ha who held a cleaver in its mouth.

Although Blizzard Sword Intent gave him a small advantage in this breakthrough secret realm, things weren’t entirely smooth for him.

For every bit of luck, there was also misfortune.

For example, before entering here, he exchanged a large amount of crystal coins for dog food, not knowing that meals were provided at Frost Moon Pavilion.

Of course, even though meals were provided, they were just ordinary meals. General Ha still needed rare dog food of rare quality. If Lu Ran had known about the situation in the secret realm earlier, he would have spent half of his savings to buy more lucid fruits to prepare for training dragon sword intent…

…

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed since Lu Ran arrived in the breakthrough secret realm.

During these three days, Lu Ran and General Ha had been in the kitchen making the simplest fruit platters. The man and the dog had sliced an untold number of fruits, and Lu Ran felt like he was evolving from a beastmaster into a fruit ninja.

“Master Wang, I’m here to pick up the new fruit platters.” After finishing several platters simultaneously, Lu Ran and General Ha were both panting heavily, their minds weighed down by the unexpected mental exertion of using sword intent to slice fruit. At that moment, a waiter pushed the door open, smiling at Lu Ran and General Ha.

“Over there, take them,” Lu Ran pointed to the few fruit platters on the table.

“Got it,” the waiter said as he carried away the platters, which were emitting a cool mist. Although these small platters of fruit weren’t highly valuable, they were given as complimentary gifts to diners on this scorching summer day, earning Frost Moon Pavilion quite a reputation.

It was the lunch rush, and the waiter moved swiftly, quickly taking the platters and delivering them to the guests.

“Dear guests, the food will take a little longer. Here’s a frozen fruit platter to cool you down,” the waiter said as he entered a private room, presenting the platter to a well-dressed young couple.

“How thoughtful,” the young woman in luxurious attire smiled slightly at the sight of the frosty fruit platter. The restaurant seemed quite creative.

On the platter, three types of fruit were arranged to form the shape of a small dog.

Dogs, being loyal creatures domesticated from wolves, were the best hunting companions in the early days of the Beast Taming Empire and carried many positive connotations.

“Thank you,” the man tossed a few coins to the waiter as a tip.

The waiter beamed with joy, repeatedly expressing his gratitude before leaving the room.

After he left, the two people in the private room began to converse. “Miss Yu, Frost Moon Pavilion is the best restaurant in Tianlan Province. You’ve had a long journey, so make sure to eat plenty of the dishes later… For now, have some fruit to whet your appetite.”

“You too,” she said.

“Alright, I’ll have some too,” the young man in luxurious clothing laughed as he picked up a piece of honeydew melon and put it in his mouth.

Mmm!

As soon as the fruit entered his mouth, he felt a refreshing coolness surge through his oral cavity. The sweet, icy juice burst in his mouth, causing him to widen his eyes and grip his chopsticks tightly.

With that bite, it felt as though he had tasted something extraordinary, his pores contracting in response.

“Ah~”

The man couldn’t help but exclaim, his eyes glazing over. For a moment, it felt as if he were in a snowy landscape, riding an ice wolf across a snowfield. The summer heat that had been stifling moments ago dissipated in an instant.

“Refreshing!” he exclaimed.

However, the man quickly regained his composure, only to find the girl across from him staring at him with a strange expression.

Blushing and embarrassed, the man stammered, “No, no, it’s not that. This fruit platter is a bit unusual. Try it…”

The girl looked at him skeptically, wondering if the family introduction had set her up with someone who had a serious issue. This was Ning Chuan’s well-known second-generation beastmaster, surely he wouldn’t have such an intense reaction to a piece of honeydew melon, right?

Miss Yu hesitantly picked up a slice of tangerine and placed it in her mouth…

The next moment…

“Mmm…” Her entire body trembled as the tangy, sweet juice burst in her mouth. She instantly felt transported to an icy tundra, a cold wind lifting her up into the sky, enveloping her in a flurry of snowflakes. The icy touch seemed to peel her clothes away, merging her with the snow, rescuing her from the sweltering summer heat.

The girl in luxurious clothing squeezed her legs together, exhaling cool breaths, feeling her whole body refreshed. This sensation…

“So delicious,” she couldn’t help but say, her eyes drifting.

In the next instant, she too snapped out of it, and the two of them exchanged awkward glances before simultaneously looking at the little dog-shaped fruit platter on the table, lost in thought.

“This fruit platter, what’s going on…” The young man in luxurious attire picked up another piece and put it in his mouth. Unfortunately, the sensation from earlier was gone, leaving him somewhat disappointed.

“It felt like a snowstorm was raging inside me…”

“This Frost Moon Pavilion is indeed impressive. Even a fruit platter can reach such a level,” Miss Yu said, unable to resist taking another piece of fruit. Unfortunately, the previous sensation did not return, leaving her equally disappointed.

“This must be the work of a skilled chef. If an ice-type pet beast were to eat this, the effect might be extraordinary,” the young man reasoned confidently. “Waiter, come here for a moment!”

This situation wasn’t unique to their private room.

The batch of fruit platters brought over by the waiter seemed to possess an extraordinary charm unlike any seen before. The bustling restaurant was now filled with exclamations of surprise.

“Damn, what’s up with today’s fruit platter? It’s incredible!”

“One bite, and I felt like I was in winter. I had to pee after drinking some wine, but now it’s frozen solid.”

“Waiter, do you have any more of these platters? Bring another one, and we’ll pay for it this time!”

Frost Moon Pavilion erupted into a cacophony as diners who had tasted the fruit platters clamored for more, eager to experience that delightful sensation again. Those who hadn’t had a chance to try it saw the intense reactions of others and also demanded the waiter bring a platter quickly.

“Oh my,” said Shopkeeper Long as he descended from the upper floor. Seeing the lively scene, he remarked with surprise, “In just three days, they’ve managed to significantly extend the retention time of Culinary Intent. Truly talented.”

“But at this rate, we’re losing money,” he mused. Previously, from kitchen to table, guests only experienced the coolness of the fruit. Now, with Lu Ran and General Ha infusing Blizzard Sword Intent into the food, guests were savoring one or two bites of exquisite flavor. Shopkeeper Long realized they could no longer afford to give the fruit away for free.

Hmm… it’s time to start charging.

“Shopkeeper, there’s a guest in one of the private rooms who wants to see you. They said… they’re from the City Lord’s Mansion,” a waiter hurriedly informed Shopkeeper Long. Nodding, the shopkeeper said, “Lead the way.”

…

Meanwhile, Lu Ran was still busy slicing fruit, exhausted like a dog.

After three days of practice, they had indeed extended the duration of Blizzard Sword Intent in the external environment.

Though it had only been three days, for Lu Ran and General Ha, it was equivalent to six days of practice, thanks to their super beast mimicry, which allowed them to share experiences.

“Culinary Intent retention, this must be a type of energy release technique!” Lu Ran had gradually figured out the principles over the past few days.

The stages of energy release techniques are: the first stage is ordinary release, the second stage is release control, and the third stage is eternal release.

It is said that the highest realm of energy release is when the released energy techniques can remain in the external environment indefinitely without dissipating. Some beastmasters who have entered the breakthrough secret realm have revealed that on the Star-Moon Continent, a beastmaster once created an artificial sun using this method. This miniature sun eternally illuminates a dark abyss, suppressing the darkness even though the beastmaster and their pet beast have been gone for decades.

Currently, Lu Ran felt that by allowing Blizzard Sword Intent to remain on the ingredients, he was training towards the realm of eternal release.

Lu Ran never imagined that something as simple as cooking could contain so many intricacies and could be combined with training his strength.

“Not bad.”

“The others who came with you have just mastered basic Culinary Skills, while you already have customers clamoring for your dishes.” As Lu Ran was immersed in his training, Shopkeeper Long’s voice came from the doorway.

“Shopkeeper Long?”

“Well done. Your Culinary Intent can now stay on the ingredients for a certain period. Though still short, it’s a commendable progress,” Shopkeeper Long said. “There were even customers who experienced dishes with Culinary Intent just now. The place is buzzing because of it.”

“Really?!” Lu Ran’s eyes lit up. He and General Ha had secretly tasted the Blizzard Sword Intent-infused fruit, and it was indeed refreshing in this summer heat.

Finally, others could experience it too!

“How’s the feedback?”

“Very positive, of course. It seems we can’t offer it for free anymore. Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin charging, and you’ll share the profit with Frost Moon Pavilion!” Shopkeeper Long laughed. “Also, you must have some incredible luck. The son of Ning Chuan City’s Lord happened to be dining here today, and he also tasted the fruit platter. In two days, there’s a celebration banquet for the City Lord’s breakthrough to become a Level 5 beastmaster. He wants to invite you to the City Lord’s Mansion to cook.”

“I told him you only know how to slice fruit, but he insisted. It’s a great opportunity, so I’ll bring you there.”

“This…” Lu Ran was taken aback. “He wants me to go just to make fruit platters?”

“Yes,” Shopkeeper Long replied. “It’s your chance to shine. The City Lord of Ning Chuan City values talent, whether in beast taming or culinary manship. The City Lord’s Mansion will also be hosting the talented youth from all over Ning Chuan. It can’t hurt for you to go and take a look.”

“Alright…” Lu Ran sighed. If the City Lord’s son personally invited him, refusing would likely cause more trouble.

…

After the lunch rush, Lu Ran took a short break in his room. He planned to continue practicing in the afternoon to avoid any mishaps at the banquet.

According to Shopkeeper Long, the City Lord of Ning Chuan City was very generous and appreciative of talent. If Lu Ran performed well, he would surely receive a substantial reward.

Hearing this, Lu Ran felt it was worth going. He needed the currency of this world. If rewarded, he could exchange it for money and see if there were any resources available to enhance comprehension and learning abilities in this world.

Then, he could purchase some to help him understand the Dragon Sword Intent.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone was at the door again. Lu Ran asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s us!” a familiar voice called out. Lu Ran was momentarily stunned and then went to open the door. It was the five people who had entered the breakthrough secret realm with him: Deer As Horse, She Pi, Bai Ling, Ibers, and the Wilderness Explorer.

“What’s up, guys?” Lu Ran asked, inviting them in.

Deer As Horse, teary-eyed, said, “How did you do it? Those fruit platters earlier today, they were your work, right?”

“We’re still learning basic Culinary Skills, and you’ve already made ‘viral dishes.’”

“Well… I can’t exactly teach you,” Lu Ran chuckled. “I utilized what Shopkeeper Long referred to as ‘Culinary Intent.’ This Culinary Intent is actually the second stage of energy shaping, specifically shaping artistic conception.”

“You probably guessed that already.”

“Sigh,” She Pi, Ibers, and the Wilderness Explorer all sighed. They had indeed guessed it.

Most likely, Lu Ran’s pet beast had mastered shaping artistic conception, and then Lu Ran, with some Special Beast Taming Skill, learned it as well.

“Sudden Death King, you’re amazing. Your pet beast has mastered shaping artistic conception. You shouldn’t be so unknown; you should be on the divine beast leaderboard,” Ibers said, puzzled.

The name “Sudden Death King” wasn’t familiar to her.

The Wilderness Explorer added, “Could it be that Classmate Wang’s pet beast is… a commander species?”

At this moment, Bai Ling couldn’t hold back any longer and said, “Are you all idiots?”

“It’s obvious that ‘Sudden Death King’ is a fake name. It was understandable not to figure it out before, but now… it’s quite clear.”

“I checked. Culinary Intent is a state of holding a Cooking Utensil that is more advanced than ordinary energy shaping. Among the First Generation, Second Generation, and Third Generation nutritionists I know, very few have mastered this technique.”

“Not to mention the Fourth Generation.”

“Moreover, the knife skills he displayed earlier aren’t for cutting vegetables but seem more like skills for clearing obstacles and chopping wild beasts. So, his identity should be quite obvious.”

“In the infinite cities, there are very few pet beasts with remarkable comprehension that can master shaping artistic conception, especially those that can infuse artistic conception into knives and swords. There’s only one.”

“Also, today’s fruit platters had dog patterns… So, you’re not the ‘Sudden Death King.’ You’re Passerby A from Infinite City No.3, right?” Bai Ling’s deduction left everyone stunned.

She stared intently at Lu Ran, trying to discern any changes in his expression.

Lu Ran, after a brief moment of surprise, merely smiled and started clapping, saying, “Impressive, Sister White Tiger, very sharp.”

“Humph,” Bai Ling pouted. She was mainly annoyed with Passerby A because he had previously gone to Infinite City No.5 and taken her Rank 1 spot.

Her analysis left the others bewildered, looking at Lu Ran in disbelief… Passerby A?

“Don’t look at me like that. I have social anxiety; otherwise, I wouldn’t choose to keep a low profile,” Lu Ran chuckled.

“So, you didn’t come here just to expose my true identity, did you?”

The Wilderness Explorer exclaimed, “You really are… Passerby A! Damn, I’m from Infinite City No.3, and I didn’t even recognize you.”

“Actually, we got some news,” She Pi began. “The City Lord of Ning Chuan City has broken through to Level 5 and is hosting a banquet to celebrate. He’s inviting all the young talented beastmasters in Ning Chuan. I heard there will be a prize-fighting segment where the City Lord’s Mansion will present some treasures for the young beastmasters to compete for. We think this could be considered a ‘side quest’ outside of the ‘superior chef assessment,’ a chance to acquire some resources.”

“We plan to find an opportunity to go and see if we can compete for some resources with our skills. We came to ask if you’re interested,” She Pi continued, though he seemed a bit resigned. Damn it, with Bai Ling and Passerby A, two Rank 1s from the divine beast leaderboard, there’s no way to compete.

Even if there are any rare resources, these two will definitely snag them.

“Well… actually, the City Lord’s Mansion has already invited me to cook on that day, so I’ll definitely be there,” Lu Ran said.

Bai Ling and the others were dumbfounded: ????

Wait, are we even playing the same breakthrough secret realm?! It feels like you’re playing a hacked version.