Chapter 78: Close to Level Up
Translator: OnGoingWhy Editor: Vermillion
With a loud clang, Bu Fang put down the steel cage within the kitchen. He stretched his body and languidly glanced toward the Blood Phoenix Chicken standing idly within the cage.
"System, if the quality of the Blood Phoenix Chicken is slightly poorer, would the effects of the Elixir Cuisine be affected?" Bu Fang puzzledly asked.
"If the quality of the ingredient is poor, the effects of the Elixir Cuisine would naturally be poor as well. This is common sense," the system solemnly said. Bu Fang was suddenly choked up by its words.
He glanced toward the Blood Phoenix Chicken once more. Coincidentally, the chicken turned its head as well and its swiveling eyes were fixated on Bu Fang.
"Well, this is an ingredient provided by that crown prince himself after all. If the effects aren't good, it's not my fault," Bu Fang indifferently thought and his conscience immediately became clear.
After closing up the store, Bu Fang did not immediately start cooking. He rested for a while and called out his system panel to have a look.
Host: Bu Fang
Gender: Male
Age: Twenty
True Energy Cultivation Level: Third Grade (Has already achieved the ability to manifest true energy outside of the body. As the God of Cooking in the fantasy world, you will definitely need to make use of true energy when cooking. Work hard, young man.)
Cooking Talents: Unknown
Skills: Level One Meteor Cutting Technique (80/100)
Tools: Fragments of God of Cooking (3/4)
God of Cooking overall rating: Apprentice Chef (You can finally cook ingredients with your true energy. Practice your cutting technique and the road to becoming the God of Cooking will open for you. Work hard, young man.)
The current turnover is three thousand six hundred crystals. True energy conversion degree: 900/1000
System Level: Three Stars (Conversion ratio is at twenty-five percent.)
As he focused on the system panel, Bu Fang's expression did not change but his mind was somewhat agitated. The turnover had already reached three thousand six hundred crystals. He only needed to earn another four hundred crystals to level up the system and his cultivation level would increase as well.
And four hundred crystals was just about his turnover for a day.
"Looks like I'll most likely level up after tomorrow's opening hours is over. Will there be any special reward for reaching fourth grade Battle-Spirit? However, I should be able to complete collecting the God of Cooking set by that time as well," Bu Fang muttered.
After resting for a while, he stood up and headed toward the kitchen. Preparing the Sage Herb Phoenix Chicken Soup needed a lot of time and also required using true energy during the cooking process, so Bu Fang did not dare to be careless.
He opened the door of the steel cage and immediately grabbed the Blood Phoenix Chicken. Even though its spirit energy was suppressed by the system, the struggle put up by a fifth grade spirit beast was not weak either.
However, Bu Fang was an experienced chef after all, and handling ingredients was an easy task for him. After a while, he finished processing the Blood Phoenix Chicken.
After taking out the Heavenly Sage Herb from within the exquisite box and some of the needed medicinal ingredients from the leather bag, Bu Fang began to prepare the Elixir Cuisine, Sage Herb Phoenix Chicken Soup.
...
King Yu was in a rather cheerful mood as he returned to his manor. Perhaps tasting delicious food and fine wine might be the reason, but Ji Chengyu felt as if he was floating as he walked.
"I didn't expect that store's dishes to be that delicious. That Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine is truly unforgettable." As King Yu recalled the captivating taste of the Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine, he could not help but lick his lips as a trace of intoxication appeared in his eyes.
Here was another fellow captivated by Bu Fang's food.
King Yu suddenly felt somewhat regretful. He would have been able to taste these delicacies at an earlier date if he had gone to Fang Fang's Little Store earlier.
Just when King Yu was thinking about the dishes cooked by Bu Fang, the head elder of Soul Sect, Hun Qianyun, appeared in front of him along with his subordinates. They were all wearing black robes and their appearances were quite sinister and terrifying.
Even though his eyes flashed with disdain for a moment, King Yu was still smiling on the outside as he looked at them.
"Did you obtain any result while visiting that mysterious store?" Hun Qianyun's hoarse voice, like the sound of gravel rubbing together, rang out, giving goosebumps to any listener.
"That elder brother of mine has already caught the Blood Phoenix Chicken. He brought it to the store along with valuable medicinal ingredients and asked the owner to cook the Elixir Cuisine. However… that Elixir Cuisine will only be completed tomorrow," King Yu simply said.
"Oh? It'll only be completed tomorrow?" Hun Qianyun narrowed his eyes. The spirit fire pulsated for a moment, as if he was thinking.
King Yu nodded and said, "The Elixir Cuisine is not an ordinary dish after all. Even the owner of that mysterious store will need to spend some time to cook it. However, this is great news for us."
"Are you thinking of sending us to ruin the soup tomorrow?" Hun Qianyun puzzledly asked.
"That's right, it must be ruined. Father is not only old and frail, he suffers from numerous undiagnosable illnesses as well. Forcibly extending his lifespan will only prolong his suffering. As his son, I don't want to see my father suffer..." King Yu simply replied. Then his gaze shifted toward Hun Qianyun and said, "Prepare some men along with experts from within my manor and set up an ambush at the entrance of the alleyway tomorrow. Remember, you must ruin that Sage Herb Phoenix Chicken Soup.
"If you fail this time… You and your men can just get lost."
Hun Qianyun was indifferently standing at a distance. When he heard King Yu's words, the spirit fire within his eyes suddenly trembled. Then he saluted and withdrew from the room.
As King Yu watched Hun Qianyun's disappearing figure, the corner of his mouth widened into a smile. Then he looked away into the distance and yelled out, "Prepare a horse for me, I am entering the palace."
...
The crown prince palace, on the left of the Gate of Heavenly Mystery.
The crown prince, Ji Chengan, had a gloomy expression as he sat high above while looking down on the kneeling Xushi. The corners of his mouth were twitching, indicating that he was suppressing his anger.
Xushi was feeling both terrified and helpless. He understood that the crown prince had already begun to suspect him, ever since they met King Yu at Fang Fang's Little Store.
"Xushi, can you explain to me why King Yu would appear within that store?" the crown prince asked.
"I… don't know." Xushi's expression froze.
"After instructing you yesterday that our visit must be kept a secret, we met King Yu the moment we arrived at the store… Are you telling me this is all just a coincidence?" The crown prince chuckled.
"Your Highness… Are you doubting me?" Xushi raised his head and solemnly looked at the crown prince. "I've been following Your Highness for many years. How could Your Highness not understand the way I work?"
Xushi's tone was somewhat indignant and dejected.
Ji Chengan was slightly startled. When he saw Xushi's dejected appearance, his cold expression became gentle. He believed that Xushi would not betray him.
He was suspecting Xushi only because he was irritated by the expression that King Yu gave before he left. Why should the crown prince be bullied by a mere king?
"Alright, I was only befuddled by anger. There's no way I wouldn't know about your loyalty. Right now, go and prepare some experts first. Since King Yu already found out that we asked Owner Bu to cook the Sage Herb Phoenix Chicken Soup, then collecting the soup tomorrow will definitely not be safe. Go look for more experts who are at least fifth grade Battle-Kings."
"Understood, Your Highness. I'll withdraw first," Xushi solemnly nodded and saluted as he left.
However, after a while, Xushi—who had just left—hurriedly returned with an anxious expression on his face.
"Your Highness, I just received news that King Yu… entered the imperial palace to meet His Majesty."
The crown prince raised his eyebrows and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes. After silently cursing, he hurriedly changed his clothes and headed for the Great Hall to meet the emperor as well.
...
As the night descended, the two crescent moons were suspended high above the sky with dark clouds shrouding them.
Several figures suddenly landed in the alleyway where Fang Fang's Little Store was located. They were all wearing black garments that allowed them to move around unnoticed at night. The aura exuding from them was throbbing as true energy violently surged from their bodies.
"Tomorrow's operation must not fail… We must definitely finish setting up the magic array by today."
Among the figures, a stooping figure appeared. Two lumps of eerie spirit fire were flickering within the darkness as a hoarse voice reverberated in the air.