Chapter 87: Capturing the Black Bear Spirit, Yang Jian Enters the Shop

Even Tianpeng couldn't help but sigh at Xiao Tian's good fortune—the power of bloodline is truly something extremely difficult to enhance, and this skeleton is truly a great opportunity for Xiao Tian.

Hearing this, Xiao Tian was overjoyed to the point of wanting to devour him on the spot.

But then he felt a bit discouraged: "But I, the Great Master, can't even get close, let alone absorb it."

For a moment, he was at a loss.

"Ah!" Tianpeng had a sudden inspiration and slapped his thigh: "Aren't we still in touch with Chen the Manager from Chaos Residence? He has connections everywhere—he'll surely be able to help you."

Xiao Tian also beamed with joy: "Exactly, why didn't I, the Great Master, think of that?"

With Manager Chen's unparalleled abilities, handling something like this would be a breeze.

Once my aptitude increases, wouldn't I be able to break through my bloodline limits? Whether it's the ceiling of my future cultivation or the speed of my training.

Thinking this through, Xiao Tian immediately couldn't sit still, quickly asked Tianpeng to temporarily hold onto it, and then dashed wildly toward the cave entrance.

"Thank you, Marshal." Xiong Jing hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Deep down, he also felt a lingering fear—he said that when he slept on that stone bed, his back would feel cold, and now he realized there were evil spirits inside.

Tianpeng nodded, patted Xiong Jing's shoulder with relief, and said: "This matter is settled. We still have important affairs to attend to, so we'll take our leave now."

Upon hearing they were leaving, Xiong Jing grew anxious: "Marshal, where are you headed?"

"To the place my heart longs for." Tianpeng said, putting on airs.

Turning his head to gaze at his own bare-walled Heifeng Cave, Xiong Jing made up his mind and immediately knelt before Tianpeng: "Marshal, please take me in—I will serve you faithfully, attending to your tea and water."

Though he lacks education, he considers himself an awakened monster, and monsters like him—rootless and without backing—will surely be bullied.

Now that even the Heavenly Court's War God has come to his door, what reason does he have not to seize this chance to soar to the heavens?

"You're coming with me?" Tianpeng originally thought it better to avoid extra trouble, but seeing Xiao Tian's sincere devotion, he hesitated again.

The principle of "better to do less than more" still needs to weigh whether this matter is good or bad.

Anyway, this Xiong Jing is articulate and sensible—he knows he won't regret it later.

For now, let's just treat it as placing a bet.

Besides, having him around makes each day feel rather pleasant.

"Alright, from now on you'll follow me, Tianpeng. Rest assured—as long as I have a bowl of rice, you'll never lack a bowl of soup!"

"Thank you, Marshal." Xiong Jing leapt with joy.

Tianpeng waved his hand casually: "From now on, just call me Peng Ge."

"Yes, Peng Ge!"

Xiao Tian, standing nearby, could wait no longer and hurriedly said: "Are you done or not? I, the Great Master, still need to go see Manager Chen to resolve this issue!"

Whoever he takes in, as long as it delays his affairs, it's fine.

Heavenly Court, Imperial Kitchen.

"Great Immortal Wukong, you, you—how did you make this?" The Food God and Stove God stared at the table full of dishes before them, dumbstruck, and even Zhou Kang, who had helped Sun Wukong lend a hand, couldn't believe this lavish and novel spread was all his doing.

Sun Wukong chuckled: "That day, didn't the Jade Emperor mention something about cooking at the Peach Banquet? Today, I asked this Zhou brother here, and also learned about your current situation."

"I, Old Sun, am now also a member of this Imperial Kitchen's soldiers and generals—your affairs are my affairs. So, I had Zhou brother lend me a hand to make these dishes for you to see—see if they meet the standard."

"Come, everyone, try a bite."

The Food God and Stove God stared in surprise, nodded, took up their chopsticks, and, following Sun Wukong's words, picked them up to taste.

One tried the braised pork, the other the pan-wrapped meat,

and in the next instant, both pairs of eyes lit up simultaneously.

This is too delicious, isn't it?

The rich, aromatic sauce of the braised pork, and the tangy, refreshing crispness of the pan-wrapped meat, left them utterly entranced.

Seeing the Food God and Stove God in such a flustered state, Zhou Kang was also deeply curious—he had indeed lost to the mapo tofu before, and lost so completely he was utterly convinced.

Sun Wukong's character also filled him with deep respect.

But as a chef, he still felt a pang of pride, and wondered what level Sun Wukong's other dishes reached.

Filled with curiosity, Zhou Kang also picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of red-braised pork trotter, and the instant it entered his mouth, all his pride shattered into pieces.

Tender skin and meat, flavor sinking deep into the marrow.

This...

Zhou Kang widened his eyes—pork trotter naturally has thick skin and is hard to flavor, yet Sun Wukong not only made it, but made it this delicious.

How on earth did he do this?

The Food God, Stove God, and Zhou Kang ate a bite, then stared blankly for a moment, ate another bite, stared blankly again, and in a daze, finished every dish.

"How do you feel? Is it up to standard?" Sun Wukong said, eager to know—after all, he's a chef, and always hopes his dishes earn recognition.

"Great Immortal Sun Wukong, this is absolutely the most delicious dish I, a minor deity, have ever eaten in my life." The Stove God gestured excitedly with both hands.

The Food God and Zhou Kang also nodded frantically—every dish could be called a peerless treasure.

"If these dishes can't even make it to the Peach Banquet, then perhaps no dish in the Three Realms is worthy." The Food God said, trembling.

Zhou Kang's face burned even hotter: "Great Immortal Sun Wukong, I, Zhou Kang, am now utterly convinced."

After just a few words, Sun Wukong, who had originally come to hear praise, felt a bit embarrassed.

He gave a bright smile, scratched his head—best dish in the world, what virtue or ability do I have to deserve this?

I estimate that even if I spent my whole life trying, I could never replicate my master's flavor.

"How many dishes are needed for the Peach Banquet in total?"

The Food God, having calmed down, said: "Three hundred and sixty-five dishes."

Sun Wukong was startled: "That many? This Jade Emperor and Queen Mother—what extravagance!"

"After all, they're inviting gods and immortals from all corners of the Three Realms—being the grandest banquet, it naturally needs to be grand." The Stove God said, clasping his hands.

After eating these dishes, he had unconsciously lowered his own sense of status.

Sun Wukong glanced at the dishes he had prepared—eighteen in total—but it seemed even what he had learned from his master lately was not enough.

"Then I'll hurry to research new dishes, striving to present a satisfactory answer to the Three Realms at the Peach Banquet."

"Good."

"Is this the place?" Yang Jian looked at the Chaos Residence before him, his eyes filled with surprise. No wonder he is a Peerless Master—he even opened a restaurant in such deep mountains and old forests.

Still, the air here is fresh and the scenery pleasant; even eating a meal here would be a unique experience.

One cannot deny that this benefactor, this senior, truly is a person of refinement.

Even before meeting him, Chen Nuo's image in Yang Jian's heart had already been infinitely elevated.

There's no way around it—who let Chen Nuo's beef noodles be so powerful?

Moreover, the means to resurrect Yao Ji are nothing short of miraculous.

As for this shop's name, to Yang Jian it is simply Chen Nuo's true portrayal.

"Brother, let's agree beforehand: pay first, eat later, and don't try to probe Chen Nuo's cultivation." Yang Chan smiled slightly, giving the reminder in advance.

Yang Jian nodded.