Chapter 2: Increased Talent

I didn't expect the system to have such a function; Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but feel delighted.

After the shock, he took a piece of red-patterned pork, chopped it finely, and began to fry the sauce.

Naturally, the key to braised noodles is that sauce; it's the key to whether the flavor is good or bad.

Thanks to the system's rewards, Ye Zhangqing already knew the method of making this braised noodle dish like the back of his hand; moreover, the system even gave hints during the preparation.

For example, heat level, time, etc.

Soon, a pot of fragrant mixed sauce came out of the pot; smelling this aroma, Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but nod.

Next came cooking the noodles, which was simple; after the water boiled, he added three successive infusions of cold water to make the noodles firmer.

The noodles were taken out of the pot, topped with the mixed sauce, and sprinkled with some scallions; just then, a petite little loli appeared in the Yuàn zhōng out of nowhere.

She had some baby fat on her face, plump and pink, looking very cute, but at this moment the little girl's gaze was fixed on Ye Zhangqing, precisely on the large bowl in his hand.

"Smells great."

"What are you doing?"

She quickly stepped up to Ye Zhangqing and asked.

"This is called braised noodles; also, you're drooling."

Looking at the drool flowing from the corner of the little girl's mouth as she spoke, Ye Zhangqing said helplessly.

"Oh, sorry, it's too fragrant I couldn't hold back, sorry."

"Um... could you make me a bowl to eat? I really want to eat it."

Seeing the little girl's pitiful appearance, her big eyes full of pleading, for a bowl of braised noodles she seemed about to cry.

Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing smiled slightly and immediately handed over the bowl in his hand.

"I haven't eaten yet; if you don't mind..."

"No problem, no problem."

Before he finished speaking, the bowl was snatched away; the speed was so fast that Ye Zhangqing didn't even see clearly.

Having never eaten braised noodles before, the little girl didn't even know how to mix them; she just picked them up and ate them directly, yet even so she kept praising them.

"Delicious, delicious..."

Ye Zhangqing looked puzzled; could plain noodles really be this delicious?

"You're eating it wrong; you should mix it first, blending the sauce and noodles together."

Unable to watch any longer, Ye Zhangqing spoke up to give guidance.

Finally, under Ye Zhangqing's personal demonstration, the little girl finally learned the correct way to eat noodles; after mixing, a mouthful of the braised noodles made Ye Zhangqing seem to see a flash of brilliance in her eyes.

Then came a whirlwind; that seemingly small mouth now seemed to turn into an abyssal maw.

"Slow down, no one's competing with you; eat slowly."

He didn't know who the little girl was, but seeing her like that, Ye Zhangqing smiled.

As a cook, being able to see others like what he made is naturally gratifying.

"I %&&&……%&"

He couldn't understand what the little girl was saying at all; Ye Zhangqing laughed and walked into the kitchen, cooking some more noodles.

Braised noodles are like this; as long as you have the sauce, it's very convenient.

When Ye Zhangqing had finished cooking the noodles and lifted the bowl out, the little girl had already finished eating, but her gaze immediately turned to the bowl in his hand.

Her face flushed involuntarily, yet she couldn't help but say.

"Could you cook me another bowl? It's really too delicious."

Recalling the earlier flavor, the little girl's index finger twitched; she couldn't resist that taste—this was her first time eating something so delicious, truly unexpected that such deliciousness exists in the world.

Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing laughed and said.

"Give me the bowl."

He had already cooked some extra; hearing this, the little girl happily handed the bowl to Ye Zhangqing.

Afterwards, one big and one small figure sat side by side at the kitchen doorway, slurping the noodles in big mouthfuls.

Ye Zhangqing ate normally enough, but that little girl could only be described as ferocious.

"It does have some strengthening effect on the physique, but it's slight; if you don't pay attention, you won't notice it at all."

After binding with the system, the food Ye Zhangqing makes all have special effects, but the effect of this braised noodle dish is not great.

The taste is decent; Ye Zhangqing himself wouldn't exaggerate about his own cooking like that little girl does.

After eating two big bowls, the little girl patted her swollen belly and apologetically said to Ye Zhangqing beside her.

"I don't usually eat this much; today it's because your cooking is too delicious, I couldn't hold back for a moment."

An unconvincing explanation, but Ye Zhangqing didn't mind.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about; as long as you like it."

"I certainly like it; this is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, but will I be able to come again in the future?"

Perhaps worried she wouldn't be able to eat it later, the little girl looked at Ye Zhangqing with some apprehension and asked.

Ye Zhangqing found this strange; after all, this place is originally the kitchen of Divine Sword Peak—what could prevent her from coming?

"This is the kitchen of Divine Sword Peak, originally a place to cook for its disciples; you can come anytime."

Hearing this, the little girl froze for a moment, then immediately burst into a silly laugh.

So this is the kitchen after all; I had no idea before.

"Alright then, I'll come every day from now on."

In high spirits, the little girl tossed out that sentence and hopped toward the door, but just as she was about to leave, she suddenly turned back and looked at Ye Zhangqing.

"By the way, I'm Lu Youyou; thank you for treating me to braised noodles."

Having said that, she ran off.

Not having heard this name, Ye Zhangqing didn't mind either; it was just that after Lu Youyou left, the system's notification tone suddenly rang.

【Ding, gained one positive review from Lu Youyou, current progress 1/100.】

【Reward: talent increased by 1 point, cultivation increased by 1 point.】

So-called progress is the favorability rating; reaching a hundred favorable reviews will allow unlocking other dishes, after all, as a chef, one can't possibly have only one dish, right?

Just a bowl of braised noodles isn't enough for a meal.

And with talent increased by one point, Ye Zhangqing didn't feel anything special.

"System, bring up the personal panel."

【Host: Ye Zhangqing.】

【Identity: Dao Yi Sect Menial Disciple.】

【Cultivation: Body Refining Realm entry level. (81/100)】

【Reputation: obscure and unknown.】

【Talent: low-grade middle tier (51/100)】

【Foundation: low-grade upper tier (30/1000)】

【Perception: high-grade middle tier (20/100000)】

Apart from perception, talent and foundation are all trash; the point of talent just awarded has already been added.

"Perception should be my improvement after transmigrating."

Perception already surpasses many people; at least it qualifies as genius level.

But having perception alone isn't enough; it's like you can understand the content of a cultivation technique but can't Xiūliàn—what use is that? Just stare at it?

Still, the road is long and arduous, but with the system, Ye Zhangqing also has confidence.

First, peacefully stay in the Dao Yi Sect for a hundred or eighty years; when talent and foundation improve, I too will become a Heavenly Pride.

The only annoying thing is that the higher the rank, the harder the improvement; like perception, at this point it needs a hundred thousand points to increase.

However, Ye Zhangqing isn't that overpowered protagonist type; just take it slow, with the system, at least bottlenecks don't exist, it's just a matter of time.

Moreover, in the Dao Yi Sect, there's no need to worry about any danger.