Chapter 22: Sleepless Night
Chapter 22: Sleepless Night
So delicious!
That was Xue Ruyan's first reaction.
Even though her innate divine sense of taste allowed her to detect the immaturity and unfamiliarity in Jiang Tian's cooking skills, the flavor of the ingredients was brought out to its maximum potential.
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"This is just... incredible."
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Even with just some simple noodles, the unique meat aroma of the blood-marked beef bloomed in her mouth.
She picked up another piece of meat and carefully tasted it.
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"Soft and tender..."
Although a bit overcooked, the aroma of the beef was unforgettable.
There was a hint of bitterness from the ginseng, but it was immediately followed by a wave of sweetness.
That slight bitterness actually enhanced the saltiness of the broth, creating an explosive burst of flavor.
Before she knew it—
The bowl was empty.
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"I didn't expect Jiang Tian to be so talented in cooking…"
She sighed in amazement, unable to hide her surprise.
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"Hasn't he only just started learning?"
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Across from her, Aunt Juan was nodding along, but she suddenly noticed something strange—
The young lady's face was red.
Something wasn't right.
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"Miss?"
Just as Aunt Juan was about to speak, she suddenly felt it—
A hot breath surged from her stomach and flowed through her body.
The fatigue from the long hovercar ride vanished instantly.
She felt completely refreshed, her whole body warm, as if there was a heater inside her.
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"This energy… it's like my body is on fire!"
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Xue Ruyan noticed it too.
Her eyes darted toward the refrigerator.
The sticky note Jiang Tian left was still there.
Without a second thought, she rushed into the training room and began practicing her exercises.
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"This… something is changing inside me!"
It was as if some invisible shackles had been shattered.
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Aunt Juan Followed
She stood outside the training room, watching closely to make sure nothing went wrong.
But as time passed, her shock deepened.
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"Impossible…"
Even with the best resources provided by the master, during special training, the young lady could only last 15 minutes before she had to rest.
But now—
36 minutes had passed.
Even though she was clearly reaching her limit, she still hadn't stopped.
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"What is happening to her?"
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Suddenly—
Buzz!
A deep tremor echoed through Xue Ruyan's body.
She finally stopped, let out a long breath, and…
A gray-black substance was expelled from her mouth and nose.
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"I feel… like I've been reborn."
Without saying anything, she immediately rushed to the next room—
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The Testing Room.
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The villa had state-of-the-art recovery devices and high-precision testing equipment.
It didn't take long.
The results appeared almost instantly.
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Blood Energy Value: 101
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Xue Ruyan's hands trembled.
She had done it.
Not only did she break the 100-point limit—she surpassed it.
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"Miss…"
Aunt Juan's voice shook as she looked at the report.
She was genuinely happy for her young lady.
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Ever since she had followed her three years ago, she had witnessed the countless hours of effort.
She had seen every struggle, every setback.
Now, finally—
The rewards had arrived.
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"This... all from Jiang Tian's cooking?"
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She never expected that a simple bowl of noodles could have such a terrifying effect.
She thought back to Jiang Tian's note—
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"The food has nourishing properties and might be helpful."
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"It was real."
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Aunt Juan wanted to slap herself.
At first, she had looked down on him, dismissing his claims.
Now, she realized how foolish she had been.
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"Miss…?"
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Xue Ruyan pursed her lips, her eyes filled with deep thought.
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"Jiang Tian's food is beyond anything I've ever had."
"I've been nourishing my body for years but couldn't break through."
"Yet, with just one meal… everything exploded at once."
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She stared at the test results.
It wasn't just the nourishment—
The food itself had incredible properties.
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"I need to thank him properly."
She immediately pulled out her phone and sent a message to Jiang Tian.
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Meanwhile…
Inside Yangguang Community's Supermarket, Jiang Tian was carefully selecting ingredients.
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"Hmm?"
A notification popped up on his phone.
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A Message from Xue Ruyan.
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[Jiang Tian, thank you for the delicious food. It really helped me a lot—I broke through 100 and reached 101! (*￣︶￣)]
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"Huh?"
Jiang Tian was surprised.
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"Did I really help her that much?"
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If her blood energy increased this much after just one meal—
How much has Huang Xing improved after eating my food every day?!
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As he was thinking, he replied—
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[You're welcome, Xue. I should be thanking you for all your help. I hope the food suited your taste. If you have any suggestions, feel free to tell me.]
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Her Response Came Instantly.
[I was born with a special ability called "Divine Taste." I'm not being picky, but I do have some suggestions…]
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Soon, a long list of detailed feedback arrived.
Jiang Tian read it carefully, nodding to himself.
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"I didn't expect her to have this ability."
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This was amazing!
With her help, his cooking skills could improve rapidly!
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He immediately sent another message—
[I've learned a lot from your advice. I hope you can continue helping me improve my cooking during the awakening assessment.]
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Her Response?
[No problem! (o´ω`o)و]
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To Xue Ruyan, it was only fair—Jiang Tian helped her break through, so she would help him in return.
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But she had no idea…
While she was thinking of helping him with the assessment…
Jiang Tian was thinking about how to cook the Flame Bird Clan.
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"Alright, now I have even more confidence for the assessment!"
He pumped his fists and returned to shopping.
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As the night deepened, most students in Yue City lay awake—
Too nervous for tomorrow's awakening assessment.
But Jiang Tian?
He slept soundly, occasionally smacking his lips in his dreams.
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In his mind, he was already experimenting with recipes for the Flame Bird Clan.
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"How should I bleed them?"
"Should I pluck them before roasting?"
"Maybe a slow braise would be better…?"
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Tomorrow would be an awakening assessment for everyone else.
For Jiang Tian—
It was a cooking competition.
And he was ready.
Very, very ready.
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