NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 85: A Perfect Boost
In the past few years, through both initiative and necessity, Ling Yi has sparred with others in various weapon combat techniques. At the Hanfeng Barracks, whether they were weapon spirit masters or beast spirit masters, everyone made significant progress in the use of a particular weapon.
After two days, Zhang Mufeng's mastery of the staff technique was just one step away from perfection, while Jiang Yuan's spear technique became even more adept with practice.
Compared to the sharpness of swords, spears, and axes, wielding a seventy-pound steel iron staff gave a person a freeing sensation of battling heaven and earth.
Perhaps due to a certain state of mind alignment, Ling Yi's already advanced staff technique seemed to elevate to another level.
However, Ling Yi did not focus his mind specifically on the staff technique. Letting things unfold naturally was best; the current priority was to spend two days calming his mind and solidifying his spirit power, readying for the absorption of a second soul ring.
Yes, not acquisition, but absorption.
This was a scene almost unimaginable to anyone on the current Douluo Continent, except for some transforming spirit beasts.
…
In the kitchen camp, inside the private kitchen of Head Chef Li Zhishu.
Li Zhishu, aged twenty-three, possesses a martial spirit named "Baguette Staff," which has allowed him to become a level 33 Food-type Soul Master and serves as the supervisor of the Hanfeng Barracks' kitchen camp.
Compared to a year ago, Li Zhishu has lost a noticeable amount of weight, and a faint outline of muscles has emerged on his once rounded frame. Eagerly, he stands by, watching Ling Yi who is busy at his exclusive stovetop.
Ling Yi skillfully chops chicken, duck, goose, pork belly, ribs, and pork knuckles into palm-sized pieces and places them with turtle meat and bamboo shoots into a giant clay pot.
Grabbing three large, bulging cloth bags, he tosses them into the clay pot as well.
He adds water and includes scallions, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, bringing it all to a boil over high heat. After skimming off the foam, he adds salt and a small amount of cooking wine, reduces the heat, and starts simmering the mixture.
Even with the lid on, the enticing aroma of meat mixed with herbs escapes from the clay pot. Savoring this unusual but captivating scent, Li Zhishu watches Ling Yi finally finish his work. He steps forward with his round eyes fixed on the enormous clay pot and asks, "Ah Yi, what kind of potion are you brewing in there?"
"Let me see, you caught a 'White Feathered Chicken' in the 'Frost Forest', a century-old 'White-Haired Ironback Pig', as well as the 'Floating Duck' and 'Clear Wave Goose' that Qingqiu Xin brought back from home after raising them for at least three to five years, and even a 'Golden Star Patterned Tortoise' that's over ten years old..."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk~ These are all such great ingredients. How could you just toss them all into a pot and stew them together? Plus, you've added so many bitter, strange herbs. Such a waste, such a waste!"
Li Zhishu shook his head, looking quite regretful.
Ling Yi's eyes were fixed on the gigantic clay pot on the stove. His spiritual energy was attuned, carefully observing the transformation of various ingredients within the pot. Calmly, he said, "I stumbled upon a recipe that greatly replenishes one's vital energy—"
"Greatly replenishes vital energy?" Li Zhishu was taken aback, a hint of confusion in his eyes as he glanced at Ling Yi's profile. "But even if you cook the 'White Feathered Chicken', the century-old 'White-Haired Ironback Pig', or the 'Floating Duck', 'Clear Wave Goose', and 'Golden Star Patterned Tortoise' separately, they're already great for replenishing energy—"
"Throwing them all together like this, won't it have the opposite effect?" he asked.
Upon hearing Li Zhishu's question, Ling Yi turned his head, patting the broad shoulder of his friend. "Don't worry, Old Li. You know my nature. When have I ever done something without confidence?"
"Is that so~" Li Zhishu nodded in agreement, reflecting on his acquaintance with Ling Yi, noting that the latter had never done anything reckless or unplanned.
Ling Yi reassured him once more, "Don't worry, Old Li, I've got this under control."
In his heart, he added, 'Besides, I'm constantly monitoring it with my spiritual power. If anything goes wrong, I can use my soul power to intervene a bit. There's no way I'd let ingredients worth at least 800 gold soul coins go to waste.'
Logically speaking, Ling Yi should have found a quiet and safe place to begin absorbing his second soul ring at this time.
Yet, it was clear that Ling Yi was somewhat off-task as he found himself at Li Zhishu's place, getting absorbed in studying recipes.
Time ticked by, minute by minute, until more than three hours had passed. Through his spiritual sense, Ling Yi observed that the various tough bones and meats in the large pot were becoming tender. As the familiar and rich aroma wafted from the gap in the lid, his spirit lifted.
He opened the lid and used an extended wooden spoon to fish out three discolored gauze pouches. Opening them revealed the ingredients inside.
One contained slices of "Forest Ginseng" with peanuts and red dates. The other two pouches held aromatic spices like Sichuan pepper and star anise, while the last one held an assortment of items that left Li Zhishu bewildered—pieces of fungi, dried grass leaves, and bark.
Ignoring Li Zhishu's puzzled gaze, Ling Yi nonchalantly returned the "Forest Ginseng," peanuts, and red dates to the pot, stirring them evenly. He grabbed prepared scallions and ginger nearby, tossing them into the pot. Finally, using the long-handled wooden spoon, he ladled out a spoonful of rich broth, tasted it, and nodded in satisfaction.
“No... no, Ah Yi, what on earth have you brewed this time?” Li Zhishu couldn't help himself. He approached the clay pot bubbling with thick, misty white broth, then glanced at Ling Yi, who seemed to savor it deeply, and asked, "It's neither medicine nor food, but it smells intriguing—"
“And these~” Li Zhishu extended his chubby hand to pick up a piece, one part natural-colored, the other white, which seemed like some kind of mushroom to his eyes. "What are these? Are they another type of herb?"
Ling Yi lifted his eyes and replied, "That's 'Poria,' a type of fungus I dug up beneath some century-old pine trees in the 'Frozen Forest'..."
While speaking, he pointed to the tangled mix of roots and leaves, introducing each with ease: "This is 'Atractylodes,' this is 'Licorice,' 'Chuanxiong,' 'Angelica,' 'White Peony,' 'Processed Rehmannia,' 'Astragalus,' 'Cinnamon Bark'..."
He gratefully remembered a young lady from his past life, who had trained at a certain Oriental institute. Her Huaiyang cuisine had made him gain seven or eight pounds, and she had specially taught him the art of making 'Ultimate Nourishing Brew.'
She was someone Ling Yi could never forget...
While talking, Ling Yi skillfully divided the pot of 'Ultimate Nourishing Brew' into one large and four small portions without disrupting his movements.
He lifted the remaining half-pot in a large clay pot and said to Li Zhishu, "Old Li, let the other four portions be for Ah Feng, Ah Xin, and the others to come and enjoy."
"Remember, after eating, immediately practice the 'Beast Martial Soul: Xingyi Fist Form' as I taught you. Otherwise, you'll waste all the great stuff inside."
Ling Yi advised firmly as he picked up the large clay pot and briskly left the small kitchen, heading towards the military medical camp.
"Ah—“ Li Zhishu could only sigh as he watched Ling Yi's eager figure disappear without turning back, seeing those impatient steps. He decided against saying anything further and followed him out. He instructed the apprentice, Snow, to head to the munitions camp to inform Zhang Mufeng and Qingqiu Xin to come over.
(End of Chapter)
