Stamina: 39
Strength: 23
Cell viability: 57
Bloodline: Gourmet Cells
After taking some time to digest his food, Jiang Liu pondered for a moment and then contacted Lia using the crystal ball.
After a few seconds, the image of Leah appeared in the crystal ball, and Jiang Liu's eyes widened in surprise.
Inside the crystal ball, Leah seemed to be bathing; her body was partially obscured by the misty vapor. This veiled beauty was far more captivating than direct exposure.
But Jiang Liu had cultivated the Dao for many years, and this mere temptation could not sway his Daoist heart.
"Little brother, what do you want from your big sister now?" Leah said lazily, lying in the bathtub.
"Is it possible for my sister to still be able to invite that Master Zeus?"
Leah suddenly stood up, surprised, "You fused with Gourmet Cells? Aren't you afraid of being possessed by a demon? You... you actually withstood the power of the inner demons during the fusion with the Gourmet Demon!"
"Is this difficult?" Jiang Liu said calmly.
But Leah was speechless. Was it really that difficult? How many wizards, after fusing with gourmet cells, were possessed by the "gourmet demon," their cultivation ultimately serving as a stepping stone for others?
"Alright! I give up! But don't think that just because the fusion is successful you're safe. Every time the gourmet cells in your body successfully evolve, a gourmet demon will appear, and each time it will be stronger than the last. Until you completely subdue it, or it takes over you entirely, making you a demon's prisoner. Alright! I don't have the money to eat Master Zeus's life menu. The last time was a free meal I got after advancing to the Saint Mark. Little brother, you've gained two hundred years of merit from the Mechanical Heart, so today your sister will feast... I'll arrange Master Zeus's life menu, the two of us, twenty years of merit!"
As she spoke, Leah casually put on her clothes in front of Jiang Liu and said, "I'll pick you up in an hour!"
Chapter 301 Life Menu
When Jiang Liu returned to the bamboo house, he felt a sense of anticipation.
Although he didn't know which world this culinary master named "Zeus" came from, the words "culinary world" were deeply imprinted in Jiang Liu's mind.
To have cultivated the art of cooking to such a level, one would be an honored guest not only in the Wizarding World, but also in Journey to the West, Mount Shu, and even in the world of Yang Shen.
"No wonder the wizards didn't destroy that world like Middle-earth did. There might be powerful beings there, but even if there weren't, their ability to cook such delicious food is something they couldn't bear to destroy!"
Watching the white-haired master prepare the ingredients, every move seemed to have profound meaning and was in line with the way of food. Jiang Liu sincerely felt that he should go and see that world with his own eyes.
The first thing served was a single bean.
There were actually two: in front of Jiang Liu and Liya, there was a small blue-and-white porcelain dish with a golden bean in the center.
Zeus remained expressionless and said, "Your culinary talent is strong, but improving it is difficult. Although chefs are found in every corner of the wizarding world, encountering a true culinary master is not easy. Meeting is fate. My life's menu, appetizer: Triple-Track Senzu Beans! Please enjoy!"
"A magic bean?!" Jiang Liu's mind began to wander.
"This is an improved version of the Senzu Bean from the Nekosho manga. It has one, three, five, seven, and nine evolutions! Three evolutions are fitting for your status!"
The grade doesn't matter, what matters is the "Cat Sage" he mentioned!
"This is a real Senzu Bean from Dragon Ball!"
Jiang Liu observed it carefully, then solemnly put it into his mouth.
Click, click, click!
With a snap of the teeth, it crumbles; mmm, the flavor travels from the tip of the tongue straight to the soul. The three turns represent three enhancements, like waves upon waves, one after another, elevating the deliciousness to its peak.
As the delicious taste of the Senzu Bean dissipated on his tongue, an indescribable power instantly emanated from his abdomen, permeating his entire body. In that instant, Jiang Liu felt his body, which had been severely damaged by the Great Will and exhausted after merging with the Gourmet Cells, suddenly feel as if it had been reborn, brimming with strength.
"This is a Senzu Bean!?" Jiang Liu's eyes widened, utterly shocked.
"Cosmic Soup!"
Recovering from his shock, Jiang Liu found himself placed in front of him a bowl of clear soup, its bottom perfectly transparent. Although it was still delicious, he was no longer surprised by it. He sipped the soup while glancing at Zeus's cooking.
Several huge, unidentified chunks of flesh were constantly deforming in his hands. It was more like massaging than kneading. His hands were so fast that they created afterimages in the air, like a thousand-armed Guanyin.
After kneading the meat, the next step is to cut it.
If the knife is not sharp and the cut is not straight, then the freshness cannot be extracted, the flavor cannot penetrate, and the wok aroma cannot be sufficient.
Confucius said, “If the meat is not cut properly, do not eat it.”
Zeus cut the meat calmly and attentively, his ordinary kitchen knife acting like a divine weapon. He wielded the knife with lightning speed, and the meat fluttered under the sharp blade, falling piece by piece like rain. Some pieces even had small pieces of bone attached to them, while others were covered with a layer of grease.
Strength, speed, and eyesight are all indispensable.
On each piece of meat, lines are carved out, a cut is made here, a slice is made there, and in some places, it seems to be cut into thin strands, as if in harmony with the Tao.
The knife was swift, and the knife skills were perfect. Jiang Liu realized for the first time that a knife that didn't kill could be so sharp and so beautiful! Neatly arranged pieces of snowflake pork were laid out on the counter, each cut perfectly matching the grain of the meat. Next came the marinating: a small bag of salt, and nothing else—cumin, soy sauce, vinegar, star anise, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, or ginger juice—all unwanted!
Salt is the king of all flavors! That's enough!
A handful of salt, a piece of meat, a fire, and a masterful skill in grilling—that's all it takes to create a delicious roast.
Instead of using modern ovens and stoves, they took out a clay jar filled with charcoal. The flames that burned from it were a strange blue-green color, carrying a peculiar fruity aroma. It was unclear what kind of fruitwood or wood it was made of, but the charcoal used for grilling meat was probably made specifically for this meat, serving as a kind of seasoning.
A stand was erected on the clay pot, and the marinated meat skewered on silver needles was placed on it to roast, the meat tumbling in the blue-green flames. The flames seemed to possess a magical power, dancing and licking the meat above. With each turn, the meat sizzled, oozing light brown juices, as if coated with a layer of brownish-gold, and the delicate, subtle aroma gradually grew richer and more intense.
Without any seasoning, it has a pure, natural, and unique aroma, the fragrance of the meat itself, which brings out the original flavor of the ingredients and exposes the energy within the meat, allowing the eater to digest and absorb it quickly.
Lydia finished her soup, then rested her chin on her hand, staring at the grilled meat with drool practically dripping from her mouth. She swallowed hard and said, "This meat comes from a Sea King from the Grand Line. It must be the most delicious part of its entire body. I can't wait!"
"The Grand Line? Sea Kings?" Jiang Liu opened his mouth, but swallowed all his words.
After finishing the barbecue with great anticipation, all other thoughts vanished, leaving only the craving for delicious food.
The food cells were stimulated to become highly active, devouring...possessing...replacing...a small cluster of cells, and began to completely occupy the stomach.
The evolution of life began. It started in the stomach…
Jiang Liu was well aware of the changes in his body, which was the purpose of his trip. Seeing such a significant change after just three dishes, he was extremely satisfied.
“Sashimi of the Wizarding World!” Zeus said.
"Ah! It's a pufferfish!" Leah almost screamed with excitement. Seeing that Jiang Liu didn't understand, she explained, "This fish can enhance a wizard's bloodline power. Can you believe how precious it is? I thought it was extinct! Turns out it still exists!"
Zeus said in a deep voice, "Actually, it's already extinct. This one was cloned using the power of a wizard, and it's still somewhat different from the real Paozi Fish. However, with my cooking, I should be able to make up for the difference!"
World Tree Leaf Salad, Thorn Bird Egg Tart Dessert, Earth Milk Essence Drink...
Jiang Liu stopped worrying about which world he came from and focused on enjoying the delicious food.
When Zeus served a bowl of noodles that he named "Ichiraku Ramen," Jiang Liu was no longer surprised.
"This bowl of ramen doesn't have any special effects... I think food is originally meant to fill your stomach. When you have a special need, food transcends the realm of food. I hope this bowl of ramen can remind you not to forget yourself, and not to forget the original value of food..."
"The original value of food! I think I understand it a little..." Jiang Liu nodded, finished his "Ichiraku Ramen", and this meal was the end of Zeus's life menu.
The meal ended, but the evolution of the "food cells" within Jiang Liu did not end. Even after replacing his stomach, the "food cells" did not stop.
Jiang Liu was very curious about which organ he would replace again.
Eyes? Ears? Or skin and hair?
If it were an eye, then it would possess visual superpowers. In the wizard's research, food cells replaced the eyes, and vision would far surpass the wavelengths of visible light that ordinary humans can see, allowing the perception of electromagnetic waves beyond the visible spectrum. Because of the greater variety and number of cone cells and photoreceptor cells, it could see everything from infrared to weaker ultraviolet light.
Therefore, even in the dark, the surrounding light is as bright as day for the "food cells" in the eyes that have been awakened.
With further development, it could also be equipped with dynamic and static visual capabilities.
The book also records that after expanding the "food cells" in the eyes to their fullest extent, one can use vision to capture the weak electromagnetic waves emitted by the human body. From the intensity, shape, and other information of the electromagnetic waves, one can predict what will happen to that person in the near future. This ability can also be applied to other organisms or substances.
Therefore, when the "food cells" in the eyes reach their peak, they can possess the ability to foresee good or bad fortune.
The ears are like those of someone who can hear the wind.
The skin's perception reaches the level of "the cicada senses the autumn wind before it blows."
In short, by replacing that organ with a "gourmet cell," one gains correspondingly powerful abilities. Moreover, unlike bloodline modification, this ability doesn't have any rejection issues. It's a complete integration and replacement of the body, without any side effects. Even more valuable is that the abilities gained in this way continuously grow stronger as the "gourmet cell" grows, eventually leading to a qualitative leap, surpassing any bloodline modification.
A "life menu" and twenty years of achievements have resulted in a crazy surge in strength.
It was worth it!
Allowing the "gourmet cells" to divide and multiply within the body, replacing the old cells, the blue demon gradually reappeared, seemingly even more powerful than before.
As the blue demon stirred up a raging storm in his mind, Jiang Liu's expression remained calm and composed.
After chatting with Leah about the delicacies of the Wizarding World, Jiang Liu felt that the "food cells" in his body had reached their peak and were no longer growing, so he knew that this enhancement was over.
Now that it's over, we must first subdue that blue demon!
Or, as before, destroy it directly.
While chatting and laughing with Leah, in Jiang Liu's sea of consciousness, before the Blue Demon, he once again transformed into the image of the True Martial Emperor, dressed in a black robe, and an indescribable majesty surged towards him.
"I...will...not...submit..."
"Then we'll beat you until you submit!"
Jiang Liu didn't bother with any more words. His majestic heavenly might crushed everything in his path, transforming him into a god-king who ruled over all the heavens. The sea of consciousness instantly froze, and the blue demon exploded again, scattering into countless fragments.
Chapter 302 The World of Wizards
Life's Menu!
It wasn't just a meal; Jiang Liu tasted Zeus's understanding of the way of gastronomy. Not only did his "gourmet cells" evolve, but he also gained some insights into the Dao.
Skill can lead to the Way, and art can reach the divine!
Even the simplest and most ordinary martial arts, if mastered, can lead to enlightenment.
Seeing Jiang Liu deep in thought with his eyes closed, Leah didn't disturb him. She waited until he slowly opened his eyes before asking, "It seems your Gourmet Cells have evolved. What abilities have you gained? Blue Gourmet Cells, while not as good as black and white, are still quite powerful. According to wizards' research, there are a total of seventeen development directions for blue Gourmet Cells. Blue-haired Demon: recovery and explosive power, the evolutionary power is very even. Blue Crystal Demon: mainly focuses on defense; when attacked, solid crystals grow on its skin. If further improved, it can form a crystal shield, or even diamondize its body, resisting physical, energy, and even soul damage. One-eyed Blue Demon: eye mutation… Beast Blue Ghost: body transformation into a beast… Tell me! What abilities have you gained?"
Jiang Liu gave a bitter smile. That "food demon" had been smashed to pieces twice by him, so what demon was left?
He shrugged helplessly and said, "I can't be sure yet. Let me feel it more carefully!"
"So the demon you awakened isn't one of the seventeen types in the book? Then you can study it slowly. I've already tried Zeus's life menu, and I still can't digest it all. I need to go into seclusion for a while. You can study it slowly, I'll take my leave first!"
Jiang Liu took out the crystal ball and examined it.
Mental strength: 584
Magic Power: 5180