Chapter 40: Golden Partner
Chapter 40: Golden Partner
Huang Hui, supported by Jiang Tian, said nothing. He slowly closed his eyes and concentrated on something.
The corners of his eyes seemed a little moist, and soon, tears slid down his cheeks.
Jiang Tian was silent for a moment, then suddenly grinned.
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"Could it be that my cooking has reached a level that moves people to tears?"
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"Student Jiang, your dish is indeed delicious, but it's not that good," Xue Ruyan shook her head, her tone serious.
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"The cooking time was slightly off. It's overcooked."
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"Because of that, there's a slight bitterness. Ordinary people might not notice it, but it affects the overall flavor."
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"The saltiness is still too strong, and the soup isn't thick enough."
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"Also, the ratio of flame fruit needs adjustment. It should balance with the saltiness."
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Xue Ruyan analyzed the dish carefully, using her innate talent for taste.
She could tell that Jiang Tian still had a long way to go.
His dish tasted great, but it was mostly due to high-quality ingredients and his talent, rather than perfect cooking techniques.
To become a true master chef, he needed more training.
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Jiang Tian's Response
Instead of feeling discouraged, Jiang Tian began thinking seriously about her words.
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"Classmate Xue, I need your help."
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Jiang Tian grabbed her hands, his eyes burning with determination.
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"Would you help me improve my cooking?"
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Xue Ruyan was momentarily stunned but didn't pull away.
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"I want to cook another dish later. Will you critique it?"
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As he spoke, Jiang Tian reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of red feathers—proof of the Flame Bird kills.
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"Don't worry. I plucked plenty in advance, so our assessment results are fine."
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Xue Ruyan couldn't help but chuckle at his reasoning.
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"Of course, I'll help."
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Jiang Tian's face lit up.
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"Great!"
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He immediately picked up his bowl and continued eating.
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Xue Ruyan's Realization
As she watched Jiang Tian, she felt warmth surging through her body again.
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She was shocked.
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"Even just a small taste enhances blood energy?"
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This ability was beyond impressive.
Jiang Tian's cooking was more effective than medicinal pills.
His combat talent was terrifying, but this?
This was something completely unique.
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"He's even more amazing than I thought..."
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She turned to look at Jiang Tian—and was shocked again.
Most of the food on his plate was already gone.
And yet, he was still eating rapidly.
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"Wait... what's happening to his body?"
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Jiang Tian's skin turned red, radiating heat.
A roaring sound came from inside his body.
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"Even his digestion is a special ability?"
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Cooking Round Two
Jiang Tian finished eating and rushed to the river, carrying another Flame Bird.
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Huang Hui, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open.
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"The bottleneck that's held me back for years… just loosened."
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He turned to stare at Jiang Tian's food.
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"Can Junior Brother's cooking really help with breakthroughs?"
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He sniffed the air—
And noticed three new dishes had appeared in front of him.
Big Plate Chicken
Stewed Chicken
Roasted Chicken
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He watched as Xue Ruyan tasted each dish, Jiang Tian watching eagerly beside her.
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"If we ignore the ingredients and focus only on cooking skills…"
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"He's improved a lot."
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"And the effect on the body is even stronger."
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Xue Ruyan's Verdict
She placed her chopsticks down and sighed.
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"You're improving fast."
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Jiang Tian smiled but wasn't fully satisfied.
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"I still have a lot to learn."
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And so, he ate everything again, storing more blood energy.
Then, he grabbed another Flame Bird—
And rushed to the river again.
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The Breaking Point
When Jiang Tian returned, Xue Ruyan looked pale.
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"Student Jiang… I can't eat anymore."
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She forced a bitter smile.
Even though the food boosted her power, she couldn't take it anymore.
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"I've already tasted it seven times!"
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She turned to Huang Hui for support—
Only to find him lying on the ground, clutching his stomach.
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"Looks like he overate..."
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Final Observations
Huang Hui had eaten as much as possible—
Trying to break through.
After discussing, they realized:
Jiang Tian's cooking removes toxins from alien beast meat.
Eating it enhances strength better than pills.
His food is like medicine, but gentler and safer.
And most importantly:
The better his cooking, the stronger the effect.
And the best person to help him improve?
Xue Ruyan.
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The Perfect Team
Her divine taste sense helped spot flaws.
His cooking ability kept improving exponentially.
They were the perfect combination.
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"Then let's continue tomorrow."
Jiang Tian agreed.
They would collect flame fruit to aid digestion.
Huang Hui would meditate to stabilize his breakthrough.
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Meanwhile…
Outside the Space-Time Gate, in Yue City—
A massive operation was underway.
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"The entire Starry Sky Gate was wiped out."
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The city was sealed off.
The examiners were replaced.
And yet—
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The students never even noticed.
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Most were still fighting Flame Birds—
Unaware of the chaos that had unfolded behind the scenes.
As time passed, the awakening assessment finally came to an end.
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Inside the outpost, students gathered in excitement—
All eyes were on the huge projection screen.
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The rankings were about to be revealed.