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Lin Hao stood outside the principal's office, gripping his glowing wok like it was his only lifeline. The faint aroma of *Spicy Tentacle Stir-Fry* still clung to his uniform, and the memory of turning a dire wolf into a gourmet dish made his head spin. The auditorium fight had earned him cheers, whispers, and a trending hashtag—#SpatulaHero—but now he faced a new nightmare: cooking for the principal of New Shanghai High, a woman rumored to wrestle world bosses for fun.
[Sassy, what's the deal with this quest?] Lin Hao thought, trying to ignore the massive shadow of the *Abyssal Wyrm* slithering behind the office's frosted glass door. [Feed the principal to avoid detention in the Monster Training Grounds? I'm not a chef, I'm a… what even am I?]
[You're a World Weaver, dumbass,] Sassy, his snarky [System], chimed in. [Life Class, SSS-rank talent—Immortal-rank in disguise, but don't tell anyone unless you want to be a lab rat. Your quest is simple: cook something so good the principal gives you an A-grade exam pass. Fail, and you're scrubbing monster cages. Oh, and that wyrm? It's her pet, Fangfang. Loves spicy food. Don't screw this up.]
Lin Hao's knees wobbled. "Spicy food? For a *dragon*? I'm doomed."
The door swung open, and a stern voice barked, "Lin Hao! Get in here before I feed you to Fangfang myself!"
He shuffled inside, wok in hand, and nearly dropped it. The principal, Madame Zhao, was a towering woman with a buzzcut, a scar across her cheek, and a Combat Class aura that screamed "I punch mountains for fun." Behind her desk, the *Abyssal Wyrm*—a 20-meter-long serpent with obsidian scales and glowing purple eyes—curled up like an oversized cat, its tail flicking lazily. The office smelled like charred metal and old coffee, and a holographic screen displayed Lin Hao's fight with the dire wolf, paused on him smacking it with his wok.
Madame Zhao leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "So, you're the kid who turned a Level 10 monster into hotpot. SSS-rank talent, Life Class. Never thought I'd see the day." She smirked, but it wasn't friendly. "You've got one chance to prove you're not a fluke. Cook something worthy of an A-grade exam pass. Impress me *and* Fangfang, or it's detention in the Monster Training Grounds for a month."
Lin Hao's stomach did a backflip. "Uh, what do you like to eat, Principal Zhao? And, um, your… pet?"
"Fangfang likes anything spicy enough to make her scales sweat," Zhao said, patting the wyrm's head. It hissed, revealing teeth like kitchen knives. "Me? I don't care, as long as it's not boring. You've got 30 minutes. Kitchen's over there." She pointed to a corner of the office, where a fully equipped cooking station materialized—stove, spices, and ingredients glowing with faint magical auras.
[Quest Update: Feed the Principal and Fangfang! Reward: 500 EXP, Rare Ingredient, A-Grade Exam Pass. Penalty: Monster Training Grounds Detention. Time Limit: 30 minutes.]
Lin Hao clutched his wok, sweat beading on his forehead. "Sassy, I've cooked instant noodles and fried rice, not dragon food! What do I do?"
[You've got Cook the World in a Pot (Level 1) and Seasoning Slash (Level 1). Use them creatively. Also, pro tip: the ingredient rack has *Mystic Chili Peppers* and *Void Garlic*. Those are Level 15 ingredients—perfect for a spicy dish.]
Lin Hao stumbled to the kitchen, scanning the ingredients. Glowing peppers, shimmering garlic, a slab of *Starlight Boar Meat* that pulsed with energy. His reincarnated memories kicked in—he'd loved cooking to de-stress in his past life, even if it was just instant ramen with extra chili. "Okay, Lin Hao, you've got this. Think spicy. Think epic. Think… don't die."
He grabbed the Mystic Chili Peppers, Void Garlic, and Starlight Boar Meat, then activated *Cook the World in a Pot*. The wok glowed, expanding to the size of a small table, and a 10-meter circle of light formed around it. The air shimmered with heat, and a spectral chopping board appeared, slicing ingredients with ghostly precision. Fangfang's eyes locked onto the wok, its tongue flicking out like it was already tasting the dish.
Lin Hao's hands moved on instinct, chopping peppers and garlic with a speed he didn't know he had. "Let's make… *Infernal Boar Chili Explosion*! Yeah, that sounds badass!" He tossed the ingredients into the wok, and the room filled with a mouthwatering aroma that made even Madame Zhao raise an eyebrow.
[Skill Synergy Detected! Combining Cook the World in a Pot with Seasoning Slash. Bonus Effect: Enhanced Flavor Debuff – Enemies in range suffer Burn status.]
The wok sizzled, and a red mist rose from the dish, forming tiny chili-shaped sparks that danced in the air. Lin Hao panicked as the sparks floated toward Fangfang, who sniffed them and let out a delighted hiss. "Oh crap, is that good or bad?!" he yelped.
[Good! Keep cooking, genius!]
He stirred frantically, adding a dash of *Moonlit Soy Sauce* for depth. The dish glowed brighter, and the [System] pinged.
[Dish Progress: 80%. Warning: Overcooking will reduce flavor impact. Serve in 10 seconds!]
Lin Hao's heart raced. He grabbed a massive ladle—also glowing, because apparently everything in this world was extra—and scooped the *Infernal Boar Chili Explosion* into two oversized bowls. One for Madame Zhao, one for Fangfang. The chili bubbled with a fiery red glow, and the aroma was so intense that Lin Hao's own stomach growled.
He slid the bowls across the desk, bowing awkwardly. "Uh, please enjoy?"
Madame Zhao eyed the chili, then took a spoonful. Her face stayed stone-cold as she chewed, and Lin Hao's confidence crumbled. Fangfang, meanwhile, dove into her bowl, slurping the chili with a sound like a vacuum cleaner. Her scales glowed faintly, and she let out a happy roar that shook the office.
[Principal Satisfaction: 60%. Fangfang Satisfaction: 90%.]
"Not bad," Zhao said, taking another bite. "But it's missing… something. You've got 10 minutes to fix it, or it's detention."
Lin Hao's jaw dropped. "Fix it? It's already spicy enough to melt steel!"
[She's a Level 200 Combat Class with a taste for pain. You need a wow factor. Try using Seasoning Slash to add a debuff effect to the dish.]
Lin Hao glanced at the wok, then at the remaining ingredients. A crazy idea hit him. "If spicy isn't enough, let's make it *explosive*." He grabbed a *Thunder Basil Leaf*—a glowing herb that crackled with electricity—and activated *Seasoning Slash*. His hands glowed, and he flung the basil into the wok like a ninja throwing stars. The herb exploded into a cloud of electrified spice, merging with the chili.
The wok erupted in a fountain of red and gold light, and the entire office smelled like a fireworks show at a Sichuan restaurant. Lin Hao stirred one last time, pouring the upgraded chili into new bowls. "*Ultimate Infernal Boar Chili Apocalypse*! Try this!"
Madame Zhao took a bite, and her eyes widened. Sparks danced across her tongue, and a faint *zap* echoed as the Thunder Basil kicked in. Fangfang devoured her bowl, her scales glowing so brightly they lit up the room. She let out a burp that sounded like a small explosion, and the [System] pinged.
[Dish Complete! Principal Satisfaction: 95%. Fangfang Satisfaction: 100%. Quest Cleared! Reward: 500 EXP, Rare Ingredient (Dragonfire Pepper), A-Grade Exam Pass.]
[Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 3!]
Lin Hao collapsed against the counter, panting. "I did it… I cooked for a dragon and didn't die."
Madame Zhao stood, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Impressive, Lin Hao. An SSS-rank Life Class isn't useless after all. You're excused from detention… for now. But don't get cocky. The Global College Combat Exams are in three months, and you'll need more than a spicy soup to survive."
Fangfang slithered over, nuzzling Lin Hao's leg like a giant, scaly puppy. He yelped, nearly dropping his wok. "Uh, good dragon?"
[She likes you. Also, you're trending again. Hashtag: #ChiliChampion.]
As Lin Hao left the office, clutching his A-grade pass and the *Dragonfire Pepper*, he heard whispers from passing students. "That's the guy who cooked a wolf!" "He made Fangfang burp lightning!" His phone buzzed with X notifications, and he groaned as he saw his fight and chili-making clips going viral.
[Sassy, why is my life a meme?] he thought.
[Because you're a walking disaster, and this world loves chaos. New Quest: Join a Combat Training Squad by tomorrow. Reward: 300 EXP, Basic Gear. Penalty: Public humiliation.]
Lin Hao froze in the hallway. "A squad? With actual fighters? I'm a *cook*!"
[World Weaver, not cook. And trust me, your next fight's gonna be spicier than that chili. Get ready.]
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CLIFFHANGER
As Lin Hao stepped into the school courtyard, a group of Combat Class students blocked his path. Their leader, a smirking boy with a *Frostblade Warrior* class and S-rank talent, tossed a glowing dagger in the air. "So, Spatula Boy thinks he's hot stuff? Prove it. Duel me, or I'll make sure everyone knows you're just a glorified lunch lady." Before Lin Hao could respond, his [System] pinged with a new notification: [Emergency Quest: Survive the Duel! Reward: 200 EXP, Mystery Skill. Penalty: Lose All Social Cred.]
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