On a bright and sunny morning, at the foot of Divine Sword Peak of the Dao Yi Sect, lay the area designated for menial disciples.

Ye Changqing sat at the entrance of his small courtyard, looking somewhat dejected. It had been half a month since he transmigrated here, yet the system he longed for still hadn't appeared.

In this fantastical world where demons roamed and cultivators could fly and move mountains, the consequences of not having a system were self-evident.

Not only was there no system, but there was also no Ring Grandfather, and he wasn't an orphan either, leaving Ye Changqing without a glimmer of hope.

In his previous life, he was merely a fairly successful chef who, after years of hard work, opened a modest restaurant that did quite well.

But who would have thought that while he was in the middle of cooking, a loud explosion would occur, and when he woke up, he found himself in the Dao Yi Sect.

What was even more frustrating was that he was a chef in his past life, and after transmigrating, he was still a chef.

The identity of this body's previous owner was that of a menial disciple at Divine Sword Peak, one of the Thirty-Six Peaks of the Dao Yi Sect, responsible for the kitchen.

Being a menial disciple needed no further explanation, and neither did the kitchen—essentially, he was still cooking for others.

Cultivators could practice fasting, but that was only after reaching the Core Formation Realm. Lower-level cultivators still needed to eat, so Ye Changqing's task was to prepare meals for the outer sect disciples.

Of course, even so, the kitchen was almost deserted. The outer sect disciples had their own dining places, so who would travel all the way to the foot of the mountain just for an ordinary meal?

They pursued immortality, not mundane meals.

He perfectly inherited the memories of his predecessor, who was born into a prominent family in a small town. Though it was called a prominent family, it was just a matter of a few acres of land.

As the only son, his parents naturally hoped he would succeed. Moreover, Ye Changqing's grandfather had some connections with a steward of the Dao Yi Sect, reportedly having saved the person's life, though the details were unclear.

So when Ye Changqing turned fifteen, the Ye family spared no effort, even using that favor to send him into the Dao Yi Sect.

Unfortunately, his predecessor's cultivation talent wasn't nonexistent, but it wasn't much either. Becoming an outer sect disciple was out of the question, and after some maneuvering, he ended up as a menial disciple.

Barely able to practice at the foot of the mountain, he could at least catch a whiff of the scent of cultivation.

After a year, his predecessor barely broke through to the entry level of the Body Refinement Realm. At this rate, even if he lived to old age, he would only achieve perfection in the Body Refinement Realm. As for the Qi Perception Realm, that was out of the question.

The path of cultivation starts from the most basic Body Refinement Realm, followed by Qi Perception Realm, Meridian Surge Realm, Core Formation Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, Elemental Infant Realm...

One could say that the Body Refinement Realm hadn't even crossed the threshold of cultivation.

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"No system, no Ring Grandfather, no one to break off an engagement, and such weak talent—looks like I can't cultivate immortality. Maybe I should go back home?"

He pondered whether he should just go back home. Since he couldn't become a cultivator, being a wealthy landowner didn't seem too bad.

After transmigrating, Ye Changqing did consider working hard, but cultivation emphasized talent. Without talent, no amount of effort would make a difference.

As for the steward who owed the Ye family a favor, he did look after Ye Changqing initially, but over time, as Ye Changqing showed no progress, the steward gradually distanced himself.

Getting him into the Dao Yi Sect had already settled the previous favor.

But just then, a "ding" suddenly sounded in his mind, and Ye Changqing felt a shiver run through his body.

[Ding, system binding in progress.]

A few simple words, yet they were the most beautiful language in the world.

"System, introduce yourself."

As a transmigrator, Ye Changqing was naturally familiar with systems. He skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.

[This system is the Ultimate Cuisine System...]

The system's first sentence left Ye Changqing stunned.

"Damn system, I'll give you another chance to organize your words. Tell me properly, what kind of system are you?"

I've been waiting so long for you, and you tell me you're a God of Food System? Isn't that just for cooking?

In the real world, such a system might make sense, but this is a fantastical world with demons running rampant. You want me to use a wok to subdue demons?

However, as the system explained further, Ye Changqing's expression gradually changed.

It was indeed a cuisine system, but it was a fantastical version.

As long as the dishes Ye Changqing prepared received praise from others, he could earn rewards, including but not limited to talent, constitution, lifespan, and even cultivation level.

[Ultimate Cuisine System binding complete.]

[Host: Ye Changqing.]

[Identity: Menial Disciple of Dao Yi Sect, Eastern Continent, Vast Earth World.]

[Cultivation Level: Entry Level of Body Refinement Realm.]

[Reputation: Unknown.]

[Newbie Gift Pack being distributed.]

[Vast Earth World Ingredient Encyclopedia.]

[Recipe acquired: Braised Noodles.]

The system was straightforward, immediately distributing the Newbie Gift Pack, and then it fell silent.

Ye Changqing felt a flood of information surge into his mind, taking about a quarter of an hour to fully digest it.

This was the Vast Earth World Ingredient Encyclopedia transmitted by the system.

After all, this wasn't his previous life. The Vast Earth World had numerous beasts and spiritual materials, and using them as ingredients couldn't be viewed with the same perspective as in his previous life.

For a chef to create delicious food, the first step was to have a detailed understanding of the ingredients.

As for the recipe, it was a reward from the system. With the recipe, Ye Changqing could perfectly master the dish, making it taste unparalleled.

He opened the introduction to Braised Noodles.

[Braised Noodles, a simple and humble staple dish, made with the most ordinary alkaline noodles, paired with a sauce made from Red-Spotted Pig, simple yet delicious, consuming it can enhance physique, though the effect is minimal.]

Ye Changqing knew about the Red-Spotted Pig; it was a low-grade beast, straddling the line between a beast and an ordinary wild animal.

It was quite common, and even many mortal restaurants used Red-Spotted Pig as an ingredient, as its meat was far more delicious than that of regular wild boars.

With its special effects, he couldn't help but feel a bit eager, curious about how the Braised Noodles of the Vast Earth World differed from those in his previous life.

With this interest piqued, Ye Changqing immediately got up and headed to the kitchen.

But as soon as he entered the kitchen, Ye Changqing was stunned. Before his eyes appeared a series of prompts.

[Ordinary Red-Spotted Pig hind leg meat, from a sow, five years old, slaughtered yesterday afternoon.]

[Ordinary cucumber, nothing remarkable.]

[Ordinary green onion, nothing remarkable.]

[Standard wok, commonly seen.]

[Standard kitchen knife, commonly seen.]

Anything related to cooking, Ye Changqing could instantly discern its quality, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan