Chapter 113 - Arrival of the Assessment

Sometimes, in an ascension realm, completing a mission required not only one’s own efforts but also the know-how on leveraging external resources.

Take the ascension realm Lu Ran and his group entered as an example. Even if Limitless City hadn’t initially assigned them the identity of apprentices in a tavern, they would still have needed to find a place to learn culinary arts under a mentor.

This principle applied to other missions as well. An ascension realm was much like a real world where every person had their own mind. Some beastmasters, who possessed a certain charm, could also rely on their appearance to align with stronger individuals, quickly accumulating their foundational strength.

The beauty of ascension realms laid in the high degree of freedom allowed. However, that being said, wasn’t Lu Ran also using his potential talent to lure in investors within the ascension realm?

“Alright, continue cutting,” said Manager Long, who had a good eye for talent.

After investing in him for over half a month, she was convinced her investment wouldn’t go to waste. But half a month later, this world would disappear, so nothing would really come of it.

“Alright,” Lu Ran responded, continuing his fruit-cutting duties.

As time ticked away, the lively banquet was nearing its end. The numerous guests, having enjoyed a feast and watched battles, could also refresh their minds with cooling fruits before and after their meals, making for a thoroughly satisfying day.

With the grand banquet celebrating Ning Chuan’s City Lord’s breakthrough at an end, the people of Frost Moon House also began to make their way back.

Following this small episode, there was now only a week left until the gourmet assessment hosted by the Gourmet Hunter Society.

With little time left to improve their culinary skills, Lu Ran and his companions put in extra effort, both to pass the test and to aim for better rewards. That evening, Lu Ran received a comic book from Manager Long.

It was a training manual for the Precise Knife Technique. The Precise Knife Technique was not about moves, but rather, it was a form of training that utilized specific postures to develop the brain, strengthen muscles, and improve control over one’s force.

As Lu Ran stared at the strange poses depicted in the comic book, he fell into thought.

Why does this look so much like a school kid’s calisthenics routine?

***

“

Phew... Huff, huff...

”

In the following days, to help Lu Ran practice the Precise Knife Technique and expand his knowledge of various ingredients, the ingredients delivered from Frost Moon House included not only low-cost vegetables and fruits.

Various Advanced-grade meats, even Rare meats, and whole beasts that had just recently died were sent for Lu Ran to practice his knife skills.

Originally, Manager Long thought the process would waste a lot of ingredients. But perhaps because Lu Ran’s ancestors had been hunters, and he had experience with slaughtering, he possessed a natural talent for this kind of work, resulting in minimal waste as he quickly picked up the basics.

Over these few days, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus added Precise Knife Technique exercises to their training routine, starting each morning with a few rounds of calisthenics.

There were also small incidents amidst the dull training, like one day when the City Lord’s son personally visited. He had somehow learned that Lu Ran would be at Frost Moon House for only half a month before departing for the gourmet assessment.

He wanted to invite Lu Ran to join the City Lord’s Mansion after the assessment was over. Now that Ning Chuan’s City Lord had ascended to level 5, with familiars exceeding level 50, he was considered a strong figure. Hiring a top-grade chef with Culinary Intent in his household was no big deal.

Faced with such a warm invitation, Lu Ran didn’t want to refuse outright and thus handled it tactfully by neither accepting nor rejecting.

“Ning Chuan’s City Lord is generous, but after the gourmet assessment, I wish to visit Dragon’s Valley to experience the Dragon’s Aura of the Guardian Sacred Dragon. I want to see if I have the talent to become a Dragon Chef.

“That’s also why I chose the Soul Cleansing Fruit to enhance my perception. If I manage to return successfully, I will consider your invitation.”

“I see, I see!” The City Lord’s son understood.

The next day, the City Lord’s Mansion sent three more Soul Cleansing Fruits, hoping they would benefit Lu Ran.

Lu Ran accepted in silence.

Truly, good people are everywhere, but I really must say, investing in me is indeed risky and requires caution.

Unless Limitless City suddenly malfunctioned, causing the system to crash, as soon as the time came, he would be forcefully transferred away. This investment from the City Lord’s Mansion would be like throwing dumplings to a dog, resulting in no returns.

***

The banquet ended, and seven days later, Lu Ran and his companions were set to depart for the Gourmet Hunter Society in Cang Lan Province. Manager Long personally came to see them off, unable to predict the outcome for the six.

“Off you go!” Manager Long, her graceful figure outlined, smiled.

“I hope to hear the good news that all six of you passed the assessment!”

“Thank you for taking care of us these past two weeks, Manager Long,” Lu Ran said before leaving.

“Just doing my job. You paid your fees, so naturally, Frost Moon House should fulfill its duty.”

Apart from Lu Ran, the other five were not feeling confident as they didn’t feel fully prepared. One by one, they bid farewell to Manager Long, aware that they might not return once they left.

“Let’s go.”

The six mounted their rented thousand-mile steed, exchanged glances, and headed toward Cang Lan City, the provincial center.

On the road, free from other people’s presence, they began to chat casually.

Snakeskin said, “The assessment only lasts two days. We’ll have over ten days for free exploration afterward. Any plans?”

“Regardless of passing or not, we must make the most of those ten days.”

Ibeth said, “I’m not doing anything dangerous. Why is this donkey so precarious?”

“That’s quite poetic, but it’s not a donkey. It’s a horse.” Mountain Adventurer laughed.

“You’re bound to feel a little off-balance on your first ride. Just bear with it. You wouldn’t want to ride your own cat, would you?”

“Haih.” Ibeth sighed.

Driving a BMW would be much more comfortable.

“By the way, I have a big money-making tip for you all. Each major city has antique markets, you know? It’s like finding treasure amid a pile of junk.

“Normally, you’re bound to lose out, but with the Eye of Detection trial benefit, we might just hit the jackpot!” said Mountain Adventurer.

“I thought about it, too.” Deer Masking Horse perked up.

This was also a recommendation from the beastmaster forum’s experienced users.

“What about you, Pedestrian A? Any plans?” Bai Ling asked Lu Ran, curious about his intentions.

At that moment, galloping fast on horseback, Lu Ran was admiring the roadside scenery.

He thought for a moment and said, “I heard that each province’s Gourmet Hunter Society has a recommendation slot to nominate the top examinee for intensive training at certain culinary sanctuaries. I’m definitely aiming for that spot.”

Dragon’s Valley... I wonder if there’s a chance!

Everyone was confused at this.

“Darn, you’re basically claiming the top spot already.” Deer Masking Horse groaned.

They were all anxious about even passing.

Having Culinary Intent sure is a luxury.

“Fine...” Bai Ling sighed, unsurprised by this response.

She continued, “Then, whether I pass or not, I’ll find a place to continue studying culinary arts afterward.”

Since this ascension realm was designed for trial participants to enhance their culinary skills, Bai Ling thought Lu Ran’s choice was the right one. She would stick with it, too, as mastering good culinary skills would be beneficial for her familiar’s growth.

Moreover, the low danger level meant that even though this ascension realm offered high potential, there were very few places open for exploration by apprentice familiar-masters.

***

That day, they arrived at Cang Lan City and checked into an inn. Frost Moon House had already registered them a few days prior, so all they had to do was head to the assessment venue for the preliminary round tomorrow morning.

All they needed to do was head to the assessment venue early tomorrow morning for the first round of preliminaries. The first round would be a skill competition to determine who would stay or go.

Since it was still early, Lu Ran didn’t linger at the inn. Instead, he found a shop and used the money he had saved to buy another Soul Fruit, bringing his total to seven fruits.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

As for the bit of money left, Lu Ran planned to save it as travel expenses and didn’t spend any more.

“I wonder how Fang Lan is doing...”

By now, Fang Lan had likely been in the ascension realm for some time, and Lu Ran began to worry about her situation.

Could it be that she, too, encountered a realm as bizarre as this?

If Fang Lan also ended up in a culinary realm, Lu Ran would genuinely be concerned for the safety of her diners’ lives.

In the ascension realm Fang Lan was in, just like Lu Ran, she was also on the Stellar Moon Continent, within the Beastmaster Empire. However, it was a completely different time period.

In this era, with no more legendary figures like the first emperor, the Hunter God, or the second emperor, the Chef Ancestor and Weapon Ancestor, the empire’s control over regions was gradually weakening.

Countless civilian familiar factions had emerged, with sects and gangs scattered everywhere.

At the moment, Fang Lan was in one such gang, monitoring the small map provided by Limitless City every day.

[Ascension Mission: Eliminate other trial participants. The top three by elimination count will earn an ascension opportunity. 19/20.]

[Tip 1: Participants will not experience true death in this mission. All will return after 30 days.]

[Tip 2: Temporary access to all participant coordinates.]

[Tip 3: ...]

“Why? Why?” Fang Lan felt her head ache.

Although the beginner protection mechanism might mean that deaths in this realm weren’t real, it seemed far too cruel for a beginner’s first ascension realm.

I wonder how Lu Ran is doing... Is his trial just as harsh?

Currently, Fang Lan was one of 19 participants who entered this ascension realm. So far, one person had been eliminated, and the remaining participants had generally all taken the same approach which was quickly joining a faction.

This was to both seek protection and to utilize the faction’s resources to strengthen themselves.

Each participant was working to elevate their position within their chosen faction. This way, they might not even need to take action to eliminate other competitors.

Reluctantly, after careful consideration, Fang Lan had chosen to join a poison-specialist familiar gang called the Poison God Cult.

With her modern toxicology knowledge from various eras, Fang Lan had fit in effortlessly within the Five Poisons Cult and had earned the high regard of the leader, the Poison Woman. She even received a personal guard.

“Saintess, lately more factions in the territory have been inquiring about you. Our Poison God Cult has never been well-received in Qing Domain, and your selection as the next Saintess may have already been exposed.

“I fear some of the cult’s enemies might have ill intentions toward you. It would be best not to leave for a while,” reported a veiled woman.

“I...”

Fang Lan knew that those targeting her were likely not locals but rather other trial participants.

She grimaced and said, “No, I want to go out. Call in more people tomorrow and bring more poisonous insects. I’ll see who’s eyeing me and maybe lure out a few unlucky souls!”