Amid the attention of numerous onlookers, Lu Ran remained composed. He began by splashing a large bucket of water provided for the participants into the air.
Captain Doofus, resigned to its role as an assistant, bit down on the Frosty Sky Greatsword. With a flick of its head, several streams of sword qi slashed through the air.
Under the influence of Blizzard Sword Intent and the inherent attributes of the Frosty Sky Greatsword, the airborne water instantly froze into a massive ice block.
The raging winds continued to sculpt the ice, forming a crystalline plate of pure ice. Suspended midair by an invisible gust, it shimmered as ice fragments scattered around it.
Lu Ran, wearing a pair of chef gloves, caught the ice plate and awaited Captain Doofus’s next move.
Although Lu Ran was reluctant to admit it, Captain Doofus wielded the Blizzard Sword Intent with greater precision than he did at this stage. To ensure the highest quality of his dish, Lu Ran entrusted Captain Doofus with slicing the dragonfish sashimi.
Captain Doofus bared its teeth.
After perfecting the ice plate, it leapt onto it and unleashed several fine sword qi slashes in succession.
The wind blades met the massive dragonfish, swiftly slicing it into pieces as thin as cicada wings. Each slice landed neatly on the ice plate.
In no time, nine pieces of sashimi were arranged in a perfect ring on the plate. As the sashimi touched the plate, a stunning phenomenon occurred.
White frost surged upward from the icy platter, transforming into a mini blizzard. This chill enveloped the sashimi, creating a flawless cocoon of icy mist.
“Done! Presenting the signature dish, Roar of the Frost Dragon!”
The cooking process was not overly complex, and Lu Ran and Captain Doofus completed it swiftly. Smiling, Lu Ran christened the dish and turned to the three examiners.
Unbeknownst to him, the examiners and the other participants were utterly dumbfounded. The entire dish had been prepared by Captain Doofus. Even the serving plate had been improvised by the familiar.
Across the history of ascension realm culinary exams, this display was unparalleled. Unconcerned with the onlookers, Lu Ran brought the sashimi to the examiners and produced three Earth Mother Fruits he had foraged earlier.
The Earth Mother Fruit, resembling a black lemon, yielded a juice similar to soy sauce but with richer umami flavors imbued with the essence of nature. Perfect for pairing with sashimi.
Lu Ran squeezed the fruit juice into three small bowls and handed them to the examiners.
The examiners, feeling the icy breeze emanating from the crystal platter, swallowed nervously. Without a word, they quickly picked up their chopsticks, grabbed a slice of sashimi, dipped it in the sauce, and placed it into their mouths.
First sensation. Cold. It felt as though they could hear the howling of the North Wind. A chilling breeze swept through their mouths, the icy touch sharpening their taste buds to an unprecedented degree!
Following that, under the heightened sensitivity of their taste buds, the exquisite flavor of the dragonfish sashimi perfectly unfolded, reaching every corner of their mouths.
The second sensation. Freshness! Throughout the experience, the three examiners felt as if they had transformed into ice dragons, soaring through a raging blizzard.
Then, the taste underwent a remarkable transformation, as though they had transcended time and stepped into a vibrant spring, ascending directly to paradise.
The fusion of Culinary Intent, premium ingredients, and dipping sauce brought them a third, entirely new sensation. A spiritual delight, a springtime for the taste buds.
“It’s delicious!!!” the female examiner couldn’t help but exclaim.
The nutritional value of dragonfish meat was undeniable, and the Blizzard Culinary Intent had pushed its flavor to the absolute peak while preserving its nutrients. As the sashimi settled in their stomachs, the examiners felt their exhaustion from days of travel vanish instantly.
Recovering from their daze, the three examiners ravenously reached for the remaining sashimi, devouring it in moments. The slices, thinner than even the finest noodles, disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The three examiners looked at Lu Ran with unfulfilled hunger. This was a stark contrast to their usual demeanor, where they sampled only a bite from other participants’ dishes before delivering a verdict.
Just then, Bai Ling of the Four Saints Guild returned disheveled, riding a white tiger and clutching a massive egg—clearly a Rare ingredient.
“Stealing a Dead Crocodile egg? This guarantees my win!” Bai Ling thought gleefully. She planned to impress the examiners with the simplest of recipes. Boiled eggs.
However, upon arrival, she froze at the scene before her.
The chubby examiner said to Lu Ran, “Cut a few more slices. That tiny amount isn’t even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth. I feel like ants are crawling all over me. I can’t breathe! Please, just a few more slices!”
Though the white-haired elder and the female examiner remained more composed, their intense gazes conveyed the same plea. Lu Ran was being far too stingy. A single fish, and he only served nine slices? Absurd!
Bai Ling was stunned.
What on earth did Lu Ran feed them to make them act !?
The unique combination of the mutated dragonfish and Blizzard Sword Intent had created an unparalleled dish, captivating even veteran ascension realm chefs.
“All right, all right. As much as you like.” Lu Ran relented, gesturing to Captain Doofus.
He needed to maintain goodwill to secure their recommendation to a training sanctuary. At that moment, the Unique-grade assessment turned into Lu Ran’s personal showcase. Even the examiners were utterly conquered by the Roar of the Frost Dragon.
“It’s simply an exceptional dish. Almost worthy of being called a world-class dish.”
“Pass! Full marks! Absolutely perfect!”
The examiners spared no praise.
Suddenly, Lu Ran’s expression shifted.
He heard the familiar voice.
[Congratulations on completing the ascension mission.]
[You have received 100,000 crystal coins.]
[You have received a Contract Card (Binding).]
[You have received 10 Upgrade Cards.]
[You have received Treasure-grade Culinary Equipment: Spirit-Converting Pot.
(The Spirit-Converting Pot can accelerate the maturation of plant-based ingredients and has a small chance of enhancing their quality.
It can also restore the freshness of stale meat-based ingredients with a minor chance of improving their quality. The quality enhancement is capped at Rare-grade.)]
[You have received Beastmaster Skill: Flame Spirit.
(A unique beastmaster skill developed by Emperor Flame Quake during Year 139 of the Beastmaster Era.
This skill allows a beastmaster to nurture a flame spirit within their body, granting mastery over fire and enabling them to temporarily transfer this power to any contracted familiar.)]
[You have received Eye of Detection (Intermediate).]
[You meet the advancement criteria for a level 1 Beastmaster. Would you like to advance now?]
Lu Ran froze in place, stunned by the magnitude of the rewards.
“No,” he quickly replied in his mind.
The breakthrough was finally complete, and it was an SSS-ranked perfect breakthrough! The rewards from the ascension realm were incredible.
The crystal coins were useful, but they were hardly the most exciting part. An actual world-class culinary tool as a reward for a beginner-level breakthrough?
Still, it wasn’t the Spirit-Converting Pot that truly shocked him. The most jaw-dropping reward was undoubtedly the beastmaster skill Flame Spirit.
According to historical records, in Year 139 of the Beastmaster Era, the second emperor, Flame Quake, developed the beastmaster skill Flame Spirit to further his mastery of both the culinary arts and the forging arts. This skill became Flame Quake’s signature beastmaster technique!