Chapter 192: Cooking Test
"Pass. Pass. Pass. Fail. Fail."
Xiang Yu moved from station to station, evaluating each disciple’s attempt at creating spiritual food. Some stations displayed beautifully arranged dishes, some had dishes that glowed with faint spiritual energy, while others looked like disaster zones with burnt ingredients and melted cookware scattered about.
After completing his circuit through all the cooking stations, Xiang Yu tallied the results in his mind. Out of the more than fifty disciples who had participated, only ten had managed to pass his test. The disparity was more significant than he had anticipated, though not entirely unexpected given the complexity of infusing meals with spiritual energy.
What truly caught him off guard, however, were the dramatically different reactions from the two groups. The disciples who had failed behaved as though the world was coming to an end. Some sat slumped over their ruined dishes, staring into the distance with hollow expressions. Others clutched their heads in their hands, muttering nonsensical things. A few even looked ready to abandon cultivation altogether, their spirits completely crushed.
In stark contrast, those who had passed acted as though they had just won the lottery. They practically glowed with pride and excitement, some barely containing themselves from jumping up and down with joy.
Xiang Yu held his chin thoughtfully, genuinely puzzled by the intensity of these reactions. Was it really that serious? He had expected some disappointment from those who failed and satisfaction from those who succeeded, but this level of emotional investment seemed excessive for what was essentially a basic aptitude test.
His gaze drifted to the side, where Zao Shen stood with his chest puffed out like a proud rooster. The boy who had been crying earlier was now radiating smugness as he looked down at the very disciples who had been mocking him earlier. Surprisingly, out of everyone present, Zao Shen had achieved the highest score by far.
The dish the boy had created contained more spiritual energy than some of the others combined. His technique, while still rough around the edges, showed genuine understanding of the principles Xiang Yu had demonstrated. With consistent practice and proper guidance, Xiang Yu believed it wouldn’t be long before Zao Shen developed into a real chef capable of creating proper spirit food.
Clearing his throat to address the gathered disciples, Xiang Yu spoke in a reassuring tone. "Those who have failed need not worry. Just go back and practice some more for when we’ll be recruiting again."
The spirits of the failed disciples lifted considerably, hope returning to their previously dejected faces. Some even managed small smiles, already planning how they would improve for the next opportunity.
Xiang Yu then turned his attention to Liu Qing, who had been standing quietly at the side throughout the entire testing process. Unlike the others, she hadn’t participated in the cooking demonstration at all.
"Why didn’t you participate?" Xiang Yu asked, genuinely curious.
"I want to enter the School of Talismans," she replied without hesitation.
Xiang Yu smiled at her response. This girl was quite smart. In his thoughts, talisman making was the best of the professions. Still, its bar of entry was quite high, he wondered how the school of talismans would work as one needed to be at the golden core realm to even think of making them. Well, he would think about it later.
"Good," he spoke approvingly, then turned back to address the larger group. "Even though you failed in cooking, you might still be talented in other things. For those interested, go to her and register for the tests for the other schools."
The suggestion sparked immediate interest among the failed disciples. Their earlier dejection transformed into renewed enthusiasm as they realized this setback didn’t mean the end of their dreams of joining the Secondary Professions Pavilion.
Turning back to Liu Qing, Xiang Yu continued, "Go look for all those interested in the other schools and have them register with you. I will test them tomorrow in the evening."
She nodded and promptly left to begin organizing the registration process. The disciples who had failed the cooking test rushed after her, eager to secure their spots for the upcoming tests. Their chatter filled the air as they discussed which professions they wanted to attempt next.
With the failed candidates now gone, Xiang Yu turned his full attention to the ten successful disciples who remained. "You ten will be the first generation of the School of Cooking," he announced. "Don’t let me down."
The disciples erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable. Being first-generation students came with its own special perks and prestige. In the future, when the Secondary Professions Pavilion grew and expanded, wouldn’t they naturally become the senior disciples and instructors?
"Zao Shen," Xiang Yu called out, causing the boy to straighten up immediately. "You had the highest score. From now on, you’ll be in charge of the School of Cooking and will report directly to me."
Zao Shen bowed deeply, his face flushed with pride and determination.
Xiang Yu made a mental note to select similar leaders for each school once they were established. Managing multiple schools and dozens of students would be impossible if he had to personally oversee every detail. Delegating authority to capable students would make things easier.
Since he couldn’t always be available to teach the students personally, he also made a mental note to create comprehensive learning materials for each profession. This meant writing detailed instruction books, developing structured curricula, and establishing proper advancement systems for every school.
The scope of work ahead of him suddenly seemed overwhelming. Life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated than his simple dream of peaceful cultivation.
"Alright," he announced to the ten successful disciples, pushing aside his worries for now. "You guys will be assisting me in preparing a feast for the sect. Let’s get to work."
...
Author’s Corner
Hi guys, I noticed that before I’ve been speedrunning the days without doing much in between so I might take the upcoming days a little slower.
What are you guys’ thoughts on this?
Also, should the wedding be tomorrow or the day