The next morning arrived with a cold breeze, a burning sun, and the sound of someone loudly screaming about soup.
Ash, groggy-eyed and halfway through brushing his teeth with a stalk of spicy mint root, poked his head out of the shed window.
A group of outer sect seniors were standing at the edge of the Green Reed Garden, hands on hips, expressions dripping with condescension.
One of them was holding a spirit-rank ladle like a weapon.
Meet the Culinary Critics
There were three of them.
Senior Sister Li, who wore eyeliner sharp enough to cut bamboo and considered herself a "Gastronomic Path Cultivator" (though she couldn't boil water).
Senior Brother Deng, a loud martial artist who thought seasoning food was a sign of moral weakness.
Senior Brother Quo, quiet, scholarly, and visibly suffering from some stomach-based inner demon.
They had been assigned by the Sect Elder to investigate "the culinary energy fluctuations" detected near Ash's garden plot.
Apparently, the soup Ash had made last night — thick with soul vegetables and a whisper of fire ginger — had triggered a minor fluctuation in the sect's outer formation.
A soup pinged the alarm.
Ash was both proud and afraid.
[System Notification]– New Passive Unlocked: "Flavor Ripple"– Your cooking may emit trace spiritual resonance. This may attract unwanted attention. Or rabbits.
The Challenge
"Are you the one making the broth that smells like breakthrough qi?" Sister Li asked, looking at him like she expected him to deny everything.
Ash nodded slowly. "...I guess?"
"That soup is interfering with my cultivation path," she snapped.
Ash blinked. "Did you eat it?"
"No. But I smelled it."
"…Right."
Brother Deng cracked his knuckles. "If you're so good at soup, why not feed us? We'll judge whether your 'cultivation cuisine' is real. Or just you burning weeds."
Ash shrugged. "You're welcome to try. But I charge for second helpings."
The ghost rabbit in his hood squeaked in approval.
[System: New Goal - "Cook a Dish that Leaves a Senior Speechless"]– Reward: ???– Optional Bonus: Induce temporary enlightenment through side dish
Ash Gets to Work
Ash rolled up his sleeves.
He pulled out spiritual lotus root, tiger garlic, a single flaming bean, and last night's leftover bone broth that had developed a faint golden shimmer.
His new skill, Flavor Weaving, activated on instinct as he stirred.
[Skill: Flavor Weaving – Tier ???]– Active– Minor Taste Manipulation– Energy Threading– Conditional Body Effect: Enhances internal flow based on harmony of ingredients
He focused on balance. Harmony. Circulation. Soup that soothed but sharpened. Flavors that relaxed the body and opened the mind.
He didn't chant. He didn't flex. He just stirred.
When it was done, he served it in three cracked bowls, garnished with star-leaf, and sat back.
The seniors hesitated.
Then sipped.
And chaos ensued.
Soup-Based Cultivation Accidents
Senior Sister Li sat perfectly still, eyes wide, and suddenly shouted:"Why didn't I ever use cinnamon bark in spiritual muscle-relaxing salves?! I've wasted YEARS!"Then she took another sip and wept.
Brother Deng finished the bowl in two gulps, stood up to make a sarcastic comment, and accidentally broke through a minor body-tempering bottleneck.His spiritual sweat steamed like dumpling mist.
Brother Quo... smiled.
That was it.
He smiled.
And the ghost rabbit fainted from sheer confusion.
[System Notification]– Optional Bonus Completed– Side Effect Triggered: "Momentary Enlightenment via Side Dish"– New Passive Unlocked: "Edible Epiphany" – Tier 1– Your cooking has a chance to trigger breakthrough insights in confused cultivators
Ash blinked at his panel.
He hadn't meant for that to happen.
But he wouldn't complain.
A Strange Invitation
As the three seniors stumbled back toward the main path, muttering about the mysteries of paprika and dandelion vinegar, a familiar voice approached.
It was Elder Tian, the sect's culinary hall head.
Tall, round, wise, and known for once poisoning a rogue cultivator using spicy noodles.
He smiled warmly at Ash, eyes twinkling. "That was your soup?"
Ash nodded slowly.
"You're not even part of the Culinary Path," the elder said.
"I just like food."
"…Good." The elder leaned closer. "How'd you get the lotus to resonate with the energy field like that? A hidden technique?"
Ash thought of the system.
The strange skill panel.
The quiet experimentations.
"…You could say it came to me in a dream."
The elder looked like he absolutely believed that. "We could use someone like you. Interested in apprenticing in the Culinary Hall?"
Ash hesitated.
His system pinged softly.
[New Branch Opportunity: Culinary Hall Apprentice]– Perks: Access to rare ingredients, technique scrolls, and spiritual kitchen– Cost: Daily duties, occasional weird senior missions– Status: Optional
He glanced down at the sleeping ghost rabbit in his hood.
Then at the still-glowing soup pot.
Then at the garden — wild, chaotic, strangely alive.
"Can I still work in the Green Reed Garden?"
The elder grinned. "As long as you save me a bowl next time."
End of Chapter 7