Chapter 211: The Weakening Magical Profession of an Era

Chapter 211: The Weakening Magical Profession of an Era

Chen Xiyi finally breathed a sigh of relief after confirming the Hellish Demon Chef wouldn’t be preparing any dark cuisine specifically for him.

Well, that meant no dark cuisine for him, not that the chef wouldn’t make any at all.

He had seen the Hellish Demon Chef’s dark cuisine before. It couldn’t even be called food anymore; it was more like a single-use disposable weapon.

【Sea Deluxe Feast (Ver.01)】

【Max Health Points -10%】

【Sanity -1】

【Tentacle Mutation Probability +10%】

This terrifying creation resulted from corrupting a proper seafood feast. All the properties were things Chen Xiyi had never encountered before, and frankly, none of it looked remotely edible for a human.

Of course, there was a normal version too.

【Sea Deluxe Feast (Ver.01)】

【Satiety Level +500】

【High-Speed Health Regeneration】

【Vigorous】

【Max Health Points +50%】

【Strength 5 Shield】

【Underwater Breathing】

This was the normal, enhanced version of the seafood feast. It incorporated the Water Condensing Pearl, along with newly obtained Fiery Chili Peppers and Blue Jade Fruit.

Unfortunately, all these Buffs, whether positive or negative, were temporary.

They vanished once the consumer finished digesting them, lasting roughly half a day, depending on individual constitution.

Regardless, these were incredibly powerful Buffs. The dark version’s effects aside (an NPC might sprout a tentacle right after one bite), the Max HP reduction and Sanity loss from the dark version were temporary. However, the Tentacle Mutation Probability was a different story. If nothing sprouted after eating it, the effect passed. But if something did grow… it became a permanent new organ.

The effects of the normal version were all temporary. Generally, for Chen Xiyi, the states disappeared once the Satiety Level bonus he gained from it was fully consumed. They didn’t stack; eating another portion only extended the duration, not the effect intensity.

“He still lacked enough Spiritual Items.”

If Chen Xiyi had sufficient Spiritual Items, he could potentially stack Buffs until he had overwhelming attributes.

One type of food couldn’t stack effects, only prolong them. But multiple types of food could.

Imagine stacking Max Health Points by 10,000% – the reflected damage wouldn’t just be 100%, it could be far higher. Maybe even something without a health bar could get reflected to death.

Without Spiritual Items added to the ingredients, the Hellish Demon Chef could only produce the first three effects of the normal feast.

Even so, these first three effects were vastly superior to anything Chen Xiyi could create himself.

His cooking only added 150 points to Satiety Level; the chef’s added 500. His Slow Health Regeneration became the chef’s High-Speed Health Regeneration, and there was the additional boost of becoming Vigorous. The Vigorous state from exceeding Satiety Level and the bonus Vigorous state from the feast actually stacked, effectively doubling the perk.

“However, something feels odd about this. Why specifically the Hellish Demon Chef?”

Chen Xiyi opened his computer to search for news about the Black Jade Pot.

His network connection and most devices had just been delivered today; everything was usable now.

【Black Jade Pot Lost!!! The 182nd God of Cookery Contest Postponed, Date TBD】

This headline appeared the moment Chen Xiyi searched.

“Holy crap, that Adventurer really did swipe the Hellish Demon Chef straight out of the actual God of Cookery Contest.”

It had only been a guess before, but this was solid confirmation.

The Black Jade Pot was the symbol of the God of Cooking, reserved solely for them. Food cooked in this pot acquired special properties.

Its origins were exceptional; originally the supreme treasure of the Dark Chef faction, it became a symbol of the unified position of ‘God of Cooking’ after their defeat and merger with the Light Chef faction in their ancient conflict.

As for the Light Chef faction’s supreme treasure, it was reportedly destroyed during the great Chef war. It was now completely lost to time.

Naturally, the destruction supposedly happened during the unification of the Light and Dark Chef factions. Now, the distinction between Light and Dark chefs was gone, merged into the unified Chef Tournament, with the factions surviving only as distinct culinary schools.

“Wow, no wonder it’s the Hellish Demon Chef. Turns out it’s the Dark Chef faction’s supreme treasure. But why does this plot feel so absurd?”

Chen Xiyi stared at phrases like “Black Jade Pot”, “Light Chef faction,” and “Dark Chef faction,” feeling an uncanny resemblance to a certain neighboring cooking anime.

“Hiss… Could there be more hidden entities behind this?” Chen Xiyi rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Judging by history, this world seemed dominated by chefs, only inexplicably going off track in modern times.

Otherwise, how could an item carrying such profound historical significance be just a pot?

This proved the Black Jade Pot held an extremely high status in ancient times, far beyond the ordinary.

Otherwise, it couldn’t have accumulated sufficient Spirituality.

Chen Xiyi pored over Qian Country’s history. From start to finish, every dynasty gave significant focus to chefs.

Especially during the unification of the Light and Dark Chef factions. That was exactly 1,820 years ago, coinciding with the first God of Cookery Contest and the founding of the first unified dynasty.

This couldn’t possibly be a coincidence. It proved chefs back then possessed power capable of influencing dynasties.

“The world is vast and full of wonders. But why, then, have chefs declined to this state nowadays?”

It was obvious. The social status of chefs was low now. Even dishes that glowed and made clothes explode were gradually being replaced.

Chen Xiyi continued searching about the Black Jade Pot. Not only was the chefs’ social status deteriorating, but the pot’s abilities seemed to be weakening as well.

Chen Xiyi found records stating that the first God of Cooking reportedly fried egg-fried rice in the Black Jade Pot, resulting in golden light blotting out the sky and fragrance filling the entire city, lingering for ten days. An ordinary person breathing it in would feel invigorated.

More importantly, those who ate it were said to become encased in golden light, making them impervious to weapons and immune to water and fire.

But later, as time passed, the effects diminished. These days, it just enhances flavor, boosts aroma, makes dishes shine brighter, and with top-quality ingredients, might occasionally manifest minor illusions. These illusions, however, could barely fill a room – utterly incomparable to the first God of Cooking bathing the skies in golden radiance.

“Were they chefs? Weren’t they a bunch of cultivators?”

Chen Xiyi was momentarily dumbfounded. While historical records might exaggerate, they clearly attested to the revered status chefs once held.

It was just a pity this glory had decayed.

“I should find time to contact these chefs. Maybe they know some hidden secrets.”

“But if chefs were the orthodox power, then where did those cultivators and martial artists come from?”

Chen Xiyi was certain those groups were merely upstarts. Otherwise, they would have left behind corresponding items or Modules imbued with Historical Connotation.

Chefs likely declined during this transition, causing most of their heritage to vanish from history. But with these two groups flourishing so much, how come not even one ancient relic surfaced?

After all, even the Noble Families probably weren’t as ancient as this world’s lineage of chefs.

Sadly, much of the record kept online had been erased. Chen Xiyi could piece together little, relying on fragmented information.

“It seems someone intentionally seized the chance to suppress chefs. This group is likely the Noble Families holding power across different sectors.”

If chefs truly surged back, the first to suffer would be these Noble Families, not anyone else.

Whether cultivators or martial artists, their core interests didn’t conflict much with chefs. Especially since the unique dishes prepared by master chefs could help cultivators and martial artists advance further – essentially a cheaper, alternative form of alchemy or elixir brewing. The cost wasn’t rare ingredients, but the chef’s sheer skill.

Fundamentally, all three groups should have a cooperative relationship.

“Wait… Could those so-called Supernatural Ability Users actually be people who gained powers after eating extraordinary dishes prepared by highly-skilled chefs?”

Supernatural Ability Users weren’t solely a modern phenomenon; they existed in fair numbers in ancient times. Typically, they served as chef retainers – hunting ingredients or providing protection.

These retainers, after consuming chef-prepared dishes for years, developed varied supernatural abilities. But as the chefs’ own special abilities gradually faded, so too did the retainers and their powers vanish from history.

The historical records of these events gradually morphed into various myths and legends.

After all, so much time had passed. Who knew the real truth anymore? What was recorded wasn’t necessarily factual.

“Wait… Perhaps the decline of chefs stemmed from the destruction of the other supreme treasure?”

The Black Jade Pot belonged to the Dark Chef faction. Naturally, the Light Chef faction had a counterpart treasure – which was simply gone now.

And it was precisely during the merger of the two chef factions that this Light Chef treasure was destroyed. Ever since, the chefs’ abilities started their slow, inexorable decline.

“Here’s hoping that Xia Ke proves competent enough to journey through history and retrieve that lost supreme treasure of the Light Chef faction for me.”

Since the item was gone, only Xia Ke, who could actually travel through history, could bring it back to the present. Otherwise, Chen Xiyi had no way to get it himself.

Chen Xiyi suspected the Light Chef treasure was likely the complementary counterpart to the Black Jade Pot, possibly even synergizing with it passively, granting chefs various unique abilities.

Losing this item directly caused the chefs’ progressive decline. If this loss concerned the very rise and fall of chefs, it made sense that history omitted it. Revealing such a secret, prompting attempts at restoration or triggering other desires… If chefs rose again, it would necessitate a complete upheaval of the world order.

“That really is an intriguing speculation.”

Chen Xiyi continued browsing online, and his eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the latest headline.

【Black Eagle Security Crushes Foreign Mercenary Force, Protecting Banquet Safety of Esteemed Philanthropist Mr. Ximen Hua, Largest Shareholder of Ximen Group】

Below the text was a video interview featuring the elderly Ximen Hua himself and that young man who previously clashed with Chu Ge – the son of the branch company manager. The young man expounded eloquently about his heroic exploits during the banquet, with Ximen Hua beside him offering praise and corroboration.

“Heh. This move… This move is like searching for death in a cesspit.”

Chen Xiyi smiled faintly as he watched the clip. This was about building the young man’s public image.

As for Chu Ge? In their eyes, he was insignificant – powerless and of no standing, someone who’d offended his own future son-in-law. They likely doubted he’d even get the promised one million.

Chen Xiyi felt certain. Chu Ge definitely had more than just one connection to the Ximen Family among his close female acquaintances (Beauties). Other Beauties probably came from families with power comparable to the Ximen Family.

“No saving them. Just wait for death.”

Chen Xiyi felt his decision to leave was absolutely correct. He wasn’t afraid of Chu Ge, but he saw no reason to side with a profit-driven Noble Family against someone who clearly radiated Protagonist aura.

He then pulled out a book and started reading.

Its title was “Programming: From Novice To Pro.” However, Chen Xiyi sensed the author likely wanted to call it “Programming: From Novice To Your Grave.”

Coming to a modern world, learning computers was the first step. This was just his starting point.

Chen Xiyi’s goal was straightforward: he wanted to build a spaceship with his bare hands.

He needed physics and chemistry. Biology and medicine too. Even metallurgy and materials science – all needed advancement. In a modern world, knowledge was the ultimate treasure, far surpassing anything else.

His History Sequence could advance by traveling to other worlds. Resources could be gathered elsewhere. But knowledge? If he missed it here, he’d spend untold time and effort later trying to catch up.