Chapter 852: Chapter 851: Return to Shu
Two days later, at Shanghai Airport.
Perhaps because the grand event had just concluded, the airport was packed, with people sitting on the floor everywhere in the waiting area.
Soon, the broadcast sounded:
"Zhonghua Airlines flight CC6666 to Jingguan City is now boarding..."
Near the boarding gate, the crowd suddenly became restless.
Xia Yu and Zhu Qing both wore masks, and Zhu Qing, holding his arm, smiled and said, "Yu, do you have any memories of Jingguan City when you hear its name?"
"At dawn when the red wet place is seen, the flowers are heavy in Jingguan City."
Xia Yu murmured, his eyes filled with reverie.
Jingguan City, also known as Chengdu in the Heavenly Country, earned this nickname because of the renowned Shu brocades in ancient times.
Not mentioning the endless praises from ancient and modern poets and scholars for Jin City, Jingguan City, as the starting point of the story in "Zhonghua One Piece," the chefs like Shell Fairy and Liu Maoxing, who have illuminated the history of the Chinese Cuisine World, have added much mystery to this ancient city.
Originally planning to return directly to the Shu region to find the old man, I stayed in Shanghai for a month. I met the old man, who was very kind, an old horse ready to move. I even participated in the grand event and achieved the winner’s success.
Moreover, the meeting with the leader a few days ago also made Xia Yu feel much relieved, so the upcoming days will consist of honing culinary skills and wandering around observing the footprints of heroes from "Zhonghua One Piece" left in this world within the Chinese Realm.
In terms of a second dimension perspective, it’s a holy pilgrimage.
Without a comprehensive pilgrimage, it feels like my journey here would be in vain.
"I want to go to Juxia Building to have a meal," Xia Yu suddenly said to Zhu Qing.
"Juxia Building?"
Zhu Qing had a peculiar expression and hesitated to speak.
"What?" Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, "Could it be that Juxia Building no longer exists?"
"It’s not that it doesn’t exist, it’s just that much has changed, and if you’re going there to reminisce about Shell Fairy and Liu Maoxing, you might be disappointed—" Zhu Qing smiled again.
Xia Yu’s expression was resolute, "No matter what, Juxia Building, I must visit it!"
Juxia Building, for Xia Yu, is a faith.
Blending into the crowd, they boarded the airport bus and boarded the plane smoothly.
Taking a seat in the cabin and fastening the seat belt, Xia Yu immediately closed his eyes to communicate with the system.
Mysterious space.
On the kitchen counter, there were two shining top-grade kitchen knives.
There was a wet freshwater fish on the cutting board.
Ingredients and two knives were Xia Yu’s recent training project. Why?
The knives were the second pair of Seven Stars Knife, one named [Wuqu] and the other [Jumen].
As for the fish, it was used to familiarize with an awkward yet interesting new culinary skill.
Having greeted the system beforehand, Xia Yu’s spirit body had just entered the Chef God Space. His vision was dark, and Xia Yu was passively blindfolded. His hands, ready with the Claws of Lushan, reached toward the fish on the cutting board, massaging and grabbing it.
The fish itself provided very realistic feedback, opening and closing its mouth. If it were in a tank, breathing so heavily would create a tank full of bubbles.
"Hmm, it’s Crucian Carp, female, 20 centimeters long, weighing about 3 kilograms, with an overall freshness of 98%. As for the most delicious part..."
Momentarily pausing his words, the freshwater fish, under the boy’s gently stroking hand, suddenly trembled.
A narrow slit appeared under the fish’s belly, flashed, and disappeared.
The boy inserted two fingers into the slit, extracting a mass of white organs, the strong fishy smell diffusing, yet possessing a unique umami, "Fish roe! Unfertilized egg sack of the crucian carp!"
A full cluster.
Sniffing slightly, Xia Yu praised, "This nearly February period is the most plump season for crucian carp, no wonder there’s so much roe!"
Then, he removed the blindfold.
"System, have I passed today’s ’Divine Hand’ food appraisal daily training?"
"Rating: 90, Excellent."
The system mechanically responded.
"Please proceed with the second daily training—getting familiar with the Seven Stars Knife."
Ding.
On the knife rack, the two knives [Wuqu] and [Jumen] emitted a joyful ring.
The ’Seven Stars Knife’ has seven knives, each with a unique purpose. In fact, it’s not just Western chefs who emphasize the speciality of knives. Oriental cuisine also has strict classifications regarding the use of various knives.
In the Chinese Realm, the most common and widely used traditional Chinese kitchen knife in ordinary homes is called the square head knife, which is rectangular and simple, looking plain and old-fashioned. A more formal name would be ’slicing knife,’ capable of cutting meat, vegetables, and chopping bones, making it a balanced and versatile tool that can command a kitchen with a single piece.
And in a slightly more professional Chinese kitchen, when it comes to kitchen knives, there are generally the following kinds:
The first kind, the Civil Blade, is used for slicing meat, so it’s also called the slicing knife. The blade thickness is less than 4 millimeters, which is finer than the all-purpose ’Civil and Martial Blade’. Professional chefs can use it to cut ultra-thin slices of meat.
The second kind, the Martial Blade, is used for chopping chicken and cutting bones, hence also known as the bone-cutting knife. The [Wuqu] that Xia Yu just obtained is indeed a bone-cutting knife. Although its size is far inferior to the [Greedy Wolf], the feel, weight, and heft when held in hand are surprisingly not lacking.
"[Seven Star Saber - Wuqu]: The purple famous instrument, truly one of the ’Seven Stars Knife’. Even placed alongside the genuine article, even if the renowned bladesmith Roger were to be resurrected from a century ago, he would find it hard to distinguish the difference."
"Effect 1: Using this famous knife to chop meat and cut bones can increase knife skill precision by 50%."
"Effect 2: ’Seven Stars Soul’ (5/7) [Unlocking]."
As for the [Giant Gate], the style of the knife is even more peculiar, something Xia Yu has never seen before.
Of the Seven Stars Knife, five have been obtained, leaving two. From analyzing the original script of "The Chinese Cooking Master", Xia Yu believes one is in dagger formation, possibly used for slicing fish and vegetables, while the seventh one, more than likely, is the ’Civil and Martial Blade’ used to suppress the kitchen, holding a central position among the seven knives.
"The Seven Stars Knife collection is about to be completed, achieving the collection milestone. There should be a reward chest, right?"
After finishing the daily cultivation homework, Xia Yu breaks off the spiritual communication and returns to reality.
The flight has taken off and is stabilized in the high-altitude stratosphere.
Checking the character panel.
Focus on the talent points, tools bar.
The value shown in the talent slot storage is 20 points. That’s right, completing the "Shape of Fish" recipe task with an excellent 83% completion rate and already receiving the full reward.
The tools bar, not mentioning the two purple famous instruments, the newly added items glowing gold include a piece of recipe fragment and an evolution crystal stone.
"Eh, whom should this golden crystal stone be given to for culinary skill upgrade? The ’Divine Hand’ is simply too intriguing, perhaps when I refine this culinary skill to purple full level, then upgrade it to the golden frame in one go?"
The golden frame ’Divine Hand’.
Ah, that scene, too beautiful, Xia Yu’s hands inexplicably feel itchy.
...
Meanwhile.
At a manor in the suburbs of Shanghai, the Dragon Head meets Lei Aoxue.
"Really?"
"There are already precise clues to the ’Eternal Spirit Blade’?"
The Dragon Head is moved.
Lei Aoxue nods, "Not precise, but as long as there are clues, the Lei Family will do their best to verify them. Ever since the ’Eternal Spirit Blade’ was lost a century ago, the Lei Family has been burdened with the mission of finding it."
You know, her ancestor, Rein, was once the inheritor of the ’Eternal Spirit Blade’, able to awaken the legendary tool’s Dominating Dragon Pattern. And for the past century, the Lei Family has been adrift overseas, living nowhere, bearing this mission under toil.
Looking at this Lei Family descendant whose brows are written with strength and stubbornness, the Dragon Head sighs inwardly, the words of hardship reaching his lips but unable to be uttered, "What’s your plan then? How long will you stay in the country?"
"I have one request."
The woman bows her head low to the elderly man sitting opposite.
"Speak."
"I want to fight against that Xia Family Demon King!" Lei Aoxue stares at the floor, her eyes unwavering, lips tightly bitten, "Please, Dragon Head, organize this culinary showdown for me!"
The room falls dead silent.
After a while.
"Do you know the gap between you and him, he is already..."
Lei Aoxue fiercely interrupts, "I know everything!"
"Anyway, he holds another set of Seven Stars Knife, between us, it must be decided who wins or loses! Just like the ancestors of old and Xiang En, only the victor is qualified to possess and continue to use them!"
Hearing the resolute words, the Dragon Head remains silent.
He very much wishes not to see two such outstanding talents of the Chinese Realm fight to the death for the sake of legitimizing that set of Seven Stars Knife on themselves.
However, further persuasion may stimulate Lei Aoxue instead. The Dragon Head’s mind turns, his eyes showing an almost imperceptible smile, "You want me to organize the culinary showdown for you, that’s no problem, but the showdown has to unfold normally. It’s not enough that you have the intention alone; the other party also has to sign the document, only then is the showdown rule-compliant..."
"Then I’ll find him!"
Lei Aoxue rises.
"Stop!"
The Dragon Head quickly says, "He’s not in Shanghai."
"Where is he?"
"In Jin City..."
"Fine, I’ll go find him!"
Lei Aoxue storms out of the manor.