Chapter 106 - Reasonable For a Dog to Have Culinary Intent

“Alright, you stay here for a while. There are some books over there that you can read to pass the time. I’ll go arrange a mentor for the other five first, and then come back for you,” said Manager Long, pointing to a cabinet nearby before swaggering off.

Seeing him leave, Lu Ran sat down on the bed, sighing slightly.

“Not bad luck...” he could only say this much.

He had thought that the ascension realm would be difficult due to its culinary skill test. But unexpectedly, he had muddled through with his sword intent, passing himself off as a genius.

Opportunities really are reserved for those who are prepared. When he thought about it carefully, learning some cooking skills did seem fitting.

In Limitless City, beastmasters referred to this profession not as “chef” but as “nutritionist,” since the latter encompassed a broader range.

A nutritionist was not only an expert in food preparation but also specialized in nutrition testing, enhancement, and evaluation. Through scientific food pairing and preparation, they assisted familiars or beastmasters in more effective growth. Of course, chefs also fell under this large profession.

Captain Doofus’s Advanced dog food and Rare dog food, all contained various ingredients, not purchased randomly but selected based on a nutritionist’s recommendation for Wind-attribute familiars.

However, even so, Captain Doofus’s diet wasn’t ideal. The nutritional balance was there, but the food was all raw and usually consumed directly without any special processing.

If enhanced cooking could fuse the nutrition of all ingredients, it would bring qualitative changes in nutritional value. This was a task only a professional nutritionist or chef could handle.

Generally, most beastmasters wouldn’t go to such lengths, mainly because of a lack of culinary skills. Cooking with extraordinary ingredients required precise control over portions and heat, and a slight mistake could waste ingredients, resulting in dark cuisine.

But Lu Ran felt that after learning culinary skills in this ascension realm, he could later try to process Captain Doofus’ and even Sudden Death King’s food. Doubling the nutritional value would save a lot of money.

Team Lu Ran often dined out at places where professional chefs handled the preparation of ascension realm ingredients, and he had to admit, the food tasted amazing.

“Let’s read a book for a while.”

As Manager Long went off to handle matters, Lu Ran wasn’t in a hurry. There was still plenty of time, so he pulled a book from the shelf, laid on the bed, and began reading leisurely.

“The Complete Guide to Basic Ingredients” (Contains information on 912 basic extraordinary ingredients.)

Lu Ran set this book aside for now and picked up another, not in the mood to read this one.

“Ranking of Exceptional-Class Dishes”

Hmm? This one looked promising.

“I’m so superficial.”

Compared to the previous book, Lu Ran shyly opened this one. For a newcomer, something grand and awe-inspiring was more attractive.

Rank 1: Flame Dragon’s Soar

Creator: Emperor Flame Quake

Description: The second emperor of the Beastmaster Empire, Flame Quake, used the meat of nine fire-type overlord species and twelve Treasure level ingredients, infused with his culinary intent, to prepare this exceptional dish.

When completed, it radiated light across the sky, and its aroma transformed into a flame dragon, soaring over the continent, awakening flame powers in countless beings.

“This...”

Lu Ran had heard of it from the proprietress before. He felt this dish was incredibly exaggerated, surely beyond Treasure level. If assessed by future generations, it might even be ranked as Epic, undoubtedly one of the finest dishes in history.

Rank 2: The Six Dragon Feasts

Creator: Emperor Flame Quake

Description: The second emperor of the Beastmaster Empire, Flame Quake, used Dragon-attribute Culinary Intent to prepare six dragon-themed dishes as rations for the army.

After consuming these dishes, half of the beastmaster corps’ familiars transformed into dragons, establishing the empire’s renowned dragon corps!

“What is this?!” Lu Ran was stunned upon reading this.

Although Manager Long had mentioned that some Treasure level dishes had effects similar to Trait Crystals, aiding familiar evolution, reading about the Six Dragon Feasts’ impact still left Lu Ran’s mind reeling. Only one word remained in his mind. Impressive.

The countries on Blue Planet had invested countless resources in studying Dragon-attribute evolution routes with Trait Crystals yet failed. This emperor, Flame Quake, achieved it with just a dish? And could produce Dragon-attribute familiars in batches!

No wonder in this era of the Beastmaster Empire, chefs were the highest-regarded. It truly was because of Flame Quake’s brilliance. Figures who could advance world development were never simple.

If only I could grasp the essence related to dragons. Maybe I could create some Dragon-attribute dishes for Sudden Death King. If I infuse them with Dragon-attribute traits, he might transform into the second pure Dragon-attribute familiar on the Blue Planet!

After just reading about two Treasure level dishes, Lu Ran already found his Blizzard Sword Intent less appealing. If he could trade his Blizzard Sword Intent for Divine Dragon-attribute Sword Intent, he would be thrilled.

The dragon-transforming sword qi was secondary as the main benefit would be the ability to disguise as Dragon-attribute Culinary Intent for cooking.

Dr. Yun had previously mentioned that evolving into a Dragon-attribute familiar involved frequently using Dragon-attribute resources, probably based on a similar principle.

Hence, Treasure-level dishes imbued with Dragon-attribute Culinary Intent might indeed assist in Dragon-attribute evolution! Lu Ran felt that this trip to the ascension realm had been worthwhile and that learning culinary skills now held real hope.

Perhaps, this could be the key to helping Sudden Death King transform into a dragon. Treasure-class Dragon-attribute dishes! But where could he find Dragon-attribute Sword Intent? Lu Ran summoned Captain Doofus.

“

Woof!

” Once Captain Doofus appeared, he looked up at Lu Ran.

Seeing Lu Ran’s expression, Captain Doofus could tell that his master was in trouble.

“Captain Doofus, do you remember that battle video we watched on the beastmaster forum? There was a monkey shaping its fist into a dragon’s head, unleashing a dragon punch that held Dragon-attribute power!”

It was a widely circulated battle video of a beastmaster from a previous era who wielded intent formation through Dragon-attribute essence, hailed as a textbook example.

“Woof?”

Captain Doofus widened his eyes at Lu Ran, nodding silently. Yes, he recalled that.

“Do you think you could also learn to imbue your sword intent with dragon might?”

Captain Doofus fell into thought, his gaze unfocused, as if growing wiser, starting to evade reality. He felt that Lu Ran was asking the impossible of him! Compared to the abstract Dragon-attribute Sword Intent, he thought that even the opposing Flame Sword Intent might be simpler.

“Forget it! I was just joking. How could a canine be smarter than a primate? That monkey learned it, but that doesn’t mean you can.” Lu Ran scoffed.

“

Woof!!

”

Captain Doofus indicated that the reverse psychology wouldn’t work. Lu Ran sighed internally. Captain Doofus was getting smarter and harder to deceive. Back then, he would have enthusiastically started studying Dragon-attribute Sword Intent.

However, Lu Ran was indeed serious. If Captain Doofus or he could learn Dragon-attribute Sword Intent, then, according to the proprietress, there was a chance to cook up Dragon-attribute Treasure level dishes. So, how could he master it?

Lu Ran pondered hard, deciding to ask the manager later. On Blue Planet, it seemed hopeless, but here on the Stellar Moon Continent, where the culinary path thrived, there might be a way.

Since Emperor Flame Quake had mastered Dragon-attribute Culinary Intent, many chefs would certainly want to learn it, so there must be plenty of resources.

Rank 3...

Lu Ran continued reading, discovering that of the 96 Treasure-class dishes listed in the book, half were creations of Emperor Flame Quake.

The rest, though not as miraculous as his, were still top-tier. Some, Lu Ran felt, were on par with the effects of Trait Crystals.

Knock, knock!

Just as Lu Ran was engrossed, someone knocked on the door.

The alluring proprietress had returned, calling out.

“Kid, follow me. I’ll take you somewhere. Hmm? Is this dog your familiar?” Manager Long asked, looking at Captain Doofus lying off to the side, his gaze unfocused.

“Yes.” Lu Ran put down the book and stood up.

“Not an ice-type familiar after all...” Manager Long muttered to herself.

Little did she know, Captain Doofus had, in fact, been persuaded by Lu Ran and was already deep in thought on how to learn Dragon-attribute Sword Intent.

According to Lu Ran, Dr. Yun Han had gone abroad to research the dragon attribute. If Captain Doofus could master Dragon-attribute abilities first, it would crush Dr. Yun Han’s spirit.

Captain Doofus’s eyes lit up. For the sake of revenge against Dr. Yun Han, he decided to personally assist Lu Ran in researching the dragon attribute and began pondering on Dragon-attribute Sword Intent.

“Captain Doofus, think about it later. Follow me now.”

Then, under Manager Long’s lead, Lu Ran arrived at a new kitchen, smaller than the previous one.

Manager Long said, “From now on, you only need to practice one dish. A very simple, extremely simple dish!”

“What?” Lu Ran asked.

“A fruit platter!”

Manager Long said nonchalantly, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll bring you plenty of fruits daily. Your training task is to use Ice Blade Technique, injecting your Culinary Intent into each sliced piece of fruit and practicing repeatedly.

“When you can maintain Culinary Intent on the fruit platter for more than three minutes, this training is considered complete.”

After hearing the task, Lu Ran thought it didn’t sound too difficult. Manager Long had mentioned that his grasp of Blizzard Sword Intent wasn’t fully refined, likely because he had only recently mastered it before entering the ascension realm.

She was providing a platform for him to practice Blizzard Sword Intent. If he had time, Lu Ran would have gladly trained this way, but he knew he could only stay in the ascension realm for one month, so he wanted to speed up progress.

“Alright, can I have my familiar assist me in practice?” Lu Ran asked.

Training alone was too slow, so I should call Captain Doofus to join!

“

Woof!?

”

Captain Doofus, who had been mulling over Dragon-attribute Sword Intent while following Lu Ran and Manager Long, raised his head.

What now? Can’t you see I’m studying Dragon-attribute Sword Intent?

“Him? How do you plan to have him assist you?” Manager Long asked, puzzled.

“

Hmm...

”

Lu Ran looked at a fruit on the table, then at Captain Doofus. In the next instant, Captain Doofus caught on, causing air currents to swirl as a piece of fruit floated mid-air. Lu Ran swiftly picked up a knife and sliced the floating fruit into quarters.

“Let him act as my extra hands, handing me the ingredients and practicing Energy Projection Manipulation in the process,” Lu Ran explained.

“Oh, as you like.”

Seeing Captain Doofus control the air to lift fruit, Manager Long nodded. It seemed Lu Ran wasn’t exaggerating when he said he was strong. A familiar capable of manipulating wind energy to this extent was indeed impressive.

“Also, my Ice Culinary Intent can actually be used by my dog too, so maybe he could help with the fruit cutting? We share a deep bond and usually progress together.

“By the way, what happens to the fruit afterward? There shouldn’t be any issues, right?” Lu Ran asked quietly, as Super Beast Mimicry was more efficient with joint familiar training.

“What did you just say? Could you repeat that?” Manager Long wondered if she had misheard.

To convince her, Lu Ran silently pulled a knife from the kitchen counter and placed it in Captain Doofus’s mouth. The next moment. Captain Doofus glanced at Manager Long.

It was as if he was saying,

Heh, woman, so ignorant.

With that, he activated wind energy, lifted a fruit, and leaped into action.

Swish!

The fruit split in half.

Caught by the wind, it landed in Manager Long’s hands, each cut surface slightly tinged with frost.

The familiar chill made Manager Long shiver, her eyes filled with astonishment. The way Old Master Jiang Dou had been shocked by Captain Doofus’s mastery of sword momentum was exactly how Manager Long felt now, witnessing a dog wielding Culinary Intent.

“This is impossible,” she muttered in disbelief.

Lu Ran shrugged. Captain Doofus had learned Culinary Intent through Weapon Control... No, Sword Intent.

As for Weapon Control, this special ability was, in fact, a classified military technology developed a millennium later. Compared to the current historical era, it was indeed a bit advanced. Practically a dimensional reduction strike.

“Why...?” Manager Long suddenly muttered.

“Why does it feel like he has a better grasp of Ice Culinary Intent than you do?

“What?” Lu Ran replied.