Could this be considered a bug? Otherwise, how could the Culinary God so effortlessly promote his unique offerings without restraint?
"Ding! In order to maintain the Culinary God's prestige, one must showcase it when the occasion arises. Given the host's silent displays of grandeur thus far, a reward of 5 prestige points has been granted. May the host wield this prestige wisely and avoid attracting lightning!"
Zhao Shen raised his middle finger to the sky, after all, he was a distant, aloof male deity!
"Oh, Zhao Shen, the beloved and graceful deity, will you still tackle dungeons? We have yet to finish one. Will you guide us, please?"
Completely ignoring Bai Yue, who was hanging lifelessly from a tree, the two played their roles as minions to perfection.
"Not a chance!"
Zhao Shen was a man of principles. Faced with such blatant flattery and opportunism, he remained unyielding, embodying the phrase, "Even when faced with the collapse of the mountains, one's demeanor remains unchanged."
...
With the ingredients selected, Zhao Shen retreated to an unoccupied corner and entered the Culinary God space to begin developing new recipes. As for the usual spot in front of the stall, he dared not even glance that way.
He procured a portion of Ice Mountain Spring, the most precious water source available to players thus far, intended solely for boiling noodles.
The simplest act of kneading dough possesses its own complexities. The harmony of water and flour is intricate; for instance, one must use cold water for rolling noodles or dumplings, while boiling water is required for making steamed buns, and the dough for spring roll wrappers must be thinned out. Each method varies.
The ratio of water to flour must be meticulously observed; in ancient times, a slight miscalculation could lead to dire consequences for a chef.
Zhao Shen poured out the flour, creating a well in the center, and gradually added Ice Mountain Spring water at a temperature below 30 degrees Celsius, stirring slowly with chopsticks. As the flour absorbed the water, he assessed the moisture level before adjusting the amount; it was crucial not to add all the water at once.
By using cold or low-temperature water to mix the flour, the proteins within remain intact, allowing for the development of robust gluten, resulting in noodles that boast a delightful elasticity—fit to be deemed the king of all noodle dishes.
He then rolled out the dough and lowered it into the water.
...
The Culinary God's iron pot quickly brought the water to a bubbling boil. Initially, the water temperature must not be too high; mastering the heat is essential. The water should not boil too vigorously, as excessive heat would form a sticky film on the noodle surface, preventing heat from penetrating, potentially leading to a tough center and gelatinized noodles.
Zhao Shen gently placed the rolled dough into the pot, using chopsticks to stir it, followed by a vigorous boil. He boiled it twice, adding cold water twice more. Cooking it until it reached nine-tenths readiness, he then lifted it and submerged it in preparation of cold water, executing each step with impeccable precision.
He withdrew the Culinary God's treasured knife, a system gift that even spared him the necessity of washing it. Habitually, he ran his thumb along its sharp edge, a good habit every chef should possess, demonstrating that even with such a renowned blade, Zhao Shen did not neglect his culinary skills.
He placed the fiery peppers flat on the cutting board and carefully made a circular incision down the middle before halving them; a direct cut would unleash their spiciness into the air.
Beginning from the base, he meticulously removed the veins and seeds within the peppers. Heaven knows the chaos that could ensue if such elements found their way into the dish; he would rather not face a horde of "Dayus" parading naked through the streets, utterly ruining his Culinary God reputation!
Selecting the finest one-third of the peppers, he discarded the rest. Using only the highest quality ingredients and their prime components was Zhao Shen's unwavering pursuit.
...
Until one truly engages with a craft, the subtleties within remain elusive. Even the most fundamental knife skills can be categorized into several techniques; in this instance, Zhao Shen employed the most basic straight cut.
With his left hand pressing down on the ingredient and his right hand wielding the treasured knife, the blade angled down—not pushing outward nor inward. If a third party were to witness, they would be astonished to see Zhao Shen maintaining a perfect 90-degree angle with each cut.
His hands moved in a rhythmic synergy, with every slice maintaining equal distance; the pace fluctuated as though a pianist were elegantly composing his own melody.
Even amidst a flurry of slicing, the ingredients emerged uniformly sized, each piece of pepper slightly smaller than a soybean.
...
Zhao Shen retrieved the chopped crimson lotus wild boar meat, drizzling it with a mixture of egg and milk before swiftly dropping it into the hot oil. The fiery pepper bits were tossed into the pot, and in an instant, flames erupted, living up to the name "fiery."
In a flash, as the dish neared completion, he added a few drops of the wild boar's red oil, resulting in a vibrant and tantalizing delicacy that resembled glistening red agate.
"Ding! The host has created a new dish: Fiery Crimson Lotus Noodles. Reward: Cooking Skill +2."
[Culinary God's Fiery Crimson Lotus Noodles]: A perfect dish that combines the wisdom and courage of the Culinary God. A self-created delicacy that may turn one into a culinary fanatic after consumption, complete with unexpected surprises. (Automatically bound and non-tradable upon sale, limited to one portion per person per day.)
Gazing at the newly named Fiery Crimson Lotus Noodles in his hands, Zhao Shen couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and incredulity, especially with the phrase "unexpected surprises" attached.
He recalled the lingering dread associated with the "surprise" of the Ice Silkworm Dumpling in his pack, but thankfully, this time, there were no anomalies.
"Let's hope it isn't a shock," Zhao Shen muttered to himself.
Steam rose from the dish, the unique patterns of the wild boar meat clearly visible on each succulent piece. The red oil shimmered almost as if alive, while the fiery peppers elegantly adorned the glistening noodles. He picked up his chopsticks and prodded the noodles, which quivered with delightful elasticity.
Gradually, the red sauce seeped to the bottom of the plate, devoid of any greasiness; instead, it transformed into a beautiful tableau under the influence of the red oil, resembling an exquisite landscape that one would hesitate to disturb.
...
But such allure must not be squandered; Zhao Shen was determined to personally taste this hard-earned culinary masterpiece, for the Fiery Crimson Lotus Noodles represented the pinnacle of his efforts thus far.
He lifted a strand of noodles to his mouth.
With a slurp, Zhao Shen drew it in, his eyes widening and his cheeks flushing as a wave of heat washed over his tongue.
The initial sensation was fiery!
The second was fragrant!
The third was numbing!
All coalescing into a singular exclamation—"This is unbelievably delicious!"
Even a single noodle had Zhao Shen questioning the very fabric of his existence, as he devoured it without reservation. The spice did not impair the texture; rather, it was invigorating and appetizing, inciting an insatiable appetite!
The aroma cascaded over his tongue like waves crashing ashore, each surge more powerful than the last, overwhelming him with a tsunami of flavor! Zhao Shen found himself entranced, unable to extricate himself from the allure of his Fiery Crimson Lotus Noodles!