Chapter 25: Hidden Deep
Chapter 25: Hidden Deep
Jiang Tian was a little stunned. Had he awakened so quickly?
Although passing through the space-time gate and entering an environment with rich spiritual energy had made his body more active, this speed was too fast.
And what's more, the profession he awakened was not recorded in any available information, yet it suited him perfectly.
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Siming Zhenjun.
This title referred to the Kitchen God, also known as the King of Culinary Arts.
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"What's wrong?"
Ahead of him, Xue Ruyan noticed Jiang Tian suddenly stop. She turned back, curious.
Now that they were in an alien world, she considered Jiang Tian her teammate.
Any abnormalities needed to be discussed openly.
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"I awakened."
Jiang Tian replied calmly.
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Xue Ruyan nodded, about to continue forward.
But after taking a few steps, she suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened as she spun around, grabbed Jiang Tian, and exclaimed in disbelief:
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"What did you just say? You already awakened?!"
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Jiang Tian blinked, surprised by her reaction.
"Yeah."
Seeing her intense curiosity, he hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"It's a very special profession called... a chef."
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For a moment, Xue Ruyan's breathing quickened.
She stared at him as if she had seen a ghost.
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"That's impossible! Awakening this fast?"
"And… what kind of profession is a chef?"
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She couldn't comprehend it. Most students took hours to awaken—even the strongest ones.
She had expected Jiang Tian to awaken quickly, but this was ridiculous.
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"Does that mean non-combat professions awaken faster?"
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Still processing this shocking development, she quickly followed up:
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"What about your talent?"
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Only then did Jiang Tian remember—he hadn't checked his talents yet.
He focused his mind, and two abilities immediately surfaced:
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Talent 1: Knife Skills
A good chef must have excellent knife skills. When using a kitchen knife, precision increases, and physical strength doubles.
Talent 2: Heat Control
A skilled chef must master heat. Fire control is enhanced, allowing for greater intensity and efficiency in cooking.
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Jiang Tian blinked, slightly impressed.
"My talents are knife skills and fire control. Using a kitchen knife and fire to cook ingredients gives me twice the effectiveness."
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Xue Ruyan paused, her expression shifting.
She had been excited, thinking he had awakened a powerful combat talent.
But...
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"So it's a double talent, but it's not a combat talent—it's for cooking."
She sighed, somewhat regretful.
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Seeing her reaction, Jiang Tian asked playfully:
"So, does that mean your talent isn't very good either?"
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Xue Ruyan snapped back to reality and shook her head:
"No, that's not what I meant!"
Realizing her mistake, she quickly corrected herself:
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"I was thinking from my own perspective. To me, it might seem like a pity, but for you, it's perfect."
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Her gaze softened, and she smiled slightly:
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"Your dream is to be a chef, and now you've awakened a profession and talents that match that dream perfectly."
"You should be happy."
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"Besides…"
She paused, then added sincerely:
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"You're an amazing cook. If anyone can become the greatest chef in the world, it's you."
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Jiang Tian was slightly taken aback.
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Hearing her genuine approval, he couldn't help but smile.
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"Then leave the logistics of this assessment to me."
"I'll make sure you have good food and drinks throughout."
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"And in return?"
He looked at her with expectation.
"You'll give me feedback and help me improve my cooking skills."
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Xue Ruyan laughed, then stretched out her hand.
"Happy cooperation?"
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Jiang Tian grinned and high-fived her palm.
"Happy cooperation!"
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With that, the two quickened their pace, moving away from the outpost.
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In the Shadows...
Shortly after they left, a figure emerged from the distance.
It was Wu Xianqing.
His eyes narrowed as he watched them disappear into the wilderness.
He turned to his teammates, who had been waiting nearby.
"Follow them."
His men nodded and set off in pursuit.
Meanwhile, Wu Xianqing smirked and headed in a different direction.
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The Awakening Battle Begins
As time passed, students across the Flamebird world were beginning to encounter their targets.
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Many students with over 80 blood energy points had already engaged in battle, taking down Level 0 Flamebirds before their awakened talents even surfaced.
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Weaker students, with less than 80 blood energy, remained near the outpost, waiting for awakening.
But waiting too long meant less time to complete tasks—putting them at risk of scoring zero points.
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Meanwhile, those who could fight were pushing themselves harder.
The faster they awakened, the sooner they could maximize their scores.
The more Flamebirds they killed, the higher their final ranking.
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10 KM From the Outpost…
In the open field, two figures clashed.
Xue Ruyan vs. a Level 0 Flamebird.
Her spear spun like a dragon, clashing against the red-feathered creature.
Despite its avian appearance, the Flamebird Tribe couldn't fly high—only glide and leap.
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But this particular Flamebird was stronger than expected.
Its speed and strength suggested it surpassed 90 blood energy points.
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Xue Ruyan should have only encountered Flamebirds with around 70 points this close to the outpost.
Yet this one had actively sought her out.
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As the Flamebird dived, its claws extended toward her chest.
Ding! Ding!
Her spear clashed with the bird's talons, sending sparks flying.
She deflected the attack, forcing it to crash onto the ground.
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"NOW!"
A shout rang out.
Xue Ruyan flinched—but instinctively obeyed.
She dodged to the side, and at that moment—
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WHOOSH!
A stream of fire burst from the Flamebird's throat.
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It had planned to incinerate her mid-fight!
But thanks to Jiang Tian's warning, she was one step ahead.
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She leapt forward, her spear piercing into the Flamebird's open mouth.
The spear twisted—shattering its internal organs.
Blood splattered as the creature collapsed.
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Victory.
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Breathing heavily, she turned toward Jiang Tian—
Who was already setting up a pot to boil water.
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"Wait… what are you doing?!"