Ye Xuan hadn't expected the system to have such a function and couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
After recovering from his shock, he took out a piece of Red-Striped Pork, chopped it finely, and began preparing the sauce.
The key to braised noodles naturally lay in the sauce. It determined whether the dish tasted good or not.
Thanks to the system's reward, Ye Xuan had already mastered every detail of making braised noodles. What's more, the system even provided real-time guidance during the process, such as precise control over heat and timing.
Before long, a pot of aromatic sauce filled the air, and even Ye Xuan couldn't help but nod in satisfaction at the smell.
Next came the noodles. That part was simple. He boiled the water, added the noodles, and poured in cold water three times to make them chewier.
When the noodles were done, he poured the sauce over them and sprinkled some chopped scallions on top. Just then, a petite girl suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Her round cheeks still carried a hint of baby fat, and her face was fair and cute. However, at this moment, her eyes were locked not on Ye Xuan, but on the big bowl in his hands.
"So fragrant… What are you making?" she asked, quickly walking up to him.
"This is called braised noodles. Also, you're drooling," Ye Xuan looked back and replied helplessly as he noticed the saliva at the corner of her mouth.
"Ah, sorry! It smells so good I couldn't help it," she said shyly. "Um… could you make a bowl for me too? I really want to try it."
Her big, watery eyes were filled with pleading, and she looked like she might burst into tears just for a bowl of noodles.
Seeing this, Ye Xuan smiled and handed her his own bowl.
"I haven't eaten yet. If you don't mind…"
"I don't mind! Not at all!"
Before he could even finish, the bowl was already snatched from his hands so quickly that Ye Xuan didn't even see her move.
Having never eaten braised noodles before, the little girl didn't even bother to mix it properly. She just started eating right away. Still, even without mixing the noodles and the sauce, her face lit up with delight.
"So good! It's so delicious!"
Ye Xuan looked puzzled. It's just noodles. Can it really taste that good?
"You're eating it wrong. You have to mix it first so the sauce coats all the noodles," he said, unable to watch any longer.
Under his guidance and demonstration, the girl finally learned the right way to eat. When she took another bite, Ye Xuan swore he saw a flash of light in her eyes.
Then she began devouring the noodles like a storm. That small mouth of hers turned into an abyss that could swallow mountains.
"Slow down, no one's going to steal it from you," Ye Xuan chuckled, amused.
He had no idea who this little girl was, but seeing someone enjoy his cooking so much filled him with satisfaction. As a chef, there was nothing more rewarding.
"Mmff... so good..." she mumbled incoherently, her words drowned out by noodles.
Ye Xuan smiled, walked back into the kitchen, and started boiling another batch. Braised noodles were simple. Once the sauce was ready, everything else was easy.
When he came out carrying another bowl, the little girl had already finished eating, but her gaze immediately locked onto the new bowl in his hands.
Her face turned a little red, but she couldn't resist asking, "Could you make me another bowl? It's just too good."
Remembering the taste, her appetite surged again. She couldn't believe something this delicious even existed in the world.
Ye Xuan chuckled. "Give me your bowl."
Fortunately, he had made extra earlier. Hearing that, the little girl happily handed over her bowl.
A few minutes later, two figures, one big and one small, sat side by side at the kitchen door, slurping noodles together.
Ye Xuan ate at a steady pace, but the little girl was downright ferocious.
"It really does have a strengthening effect," Ye Xuan thought as he observed. "Though it's small, if you're not paying attention, you might not even notice."
Since bonding with the system, all the dishes Ye Xuan made possessed special effects. This braised noodle wasn't particularly powerful, but its taste was good enough to satisfy him.
After finishing two large bowls, the little girl patted her now-round belly and looked at Ye Xuan apologetically.
"I usually don't eat this much. It's just that your noodles were so good, I couldn't help myself."
Her explanation wasn't very convincing, but Ye Xuan just smiled.
"It's fine. I'm glad you liked it."
"Of course I liked it! This is the best thing I've ever eaten. But… can I come again next time?" She looked up at him nervously, afraid she might not get to eat it again.
Ye Xuan blinked. "This is the Divine Sword Peak kitchen. It's meant to serve the disciples here, so of course you can come anytime."
Hearing that, the little girl froze, then suddenly grinned from ear to ear.
"So this is the kitchen? I didn't even know that before."
"Then it's settled! I'll come every day from now on!"
She happily skipped toward the gate, but just before leaving, she turned around and said with a sweet smile, "Oh, right! My name's Lu Youyou. Thanks for the braised noodles!"
With that, she ran off.
Ye Xuan had never heard the name before, but he didn't think much of it. Just as he was about to clean up, a familiar system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Received positive feedback from Lu Youyou. Current progress: 1/100.]
[Reward: +1 Talent, +1 Cultivation Level.]
The progress referred to the number of positive reviews. Once he reached 100, he could unlock new recipes. After all, no real chef could survive with only one dish.
As for the extra point in talent, Ye Xuan didn't feel much difference yet.
"System, show my status panel."
[Host: Ye Xuan]
[Identity: Servant disciple of Dao Yi Sect]
[Cultivation: Body Tempering Realm, Entry Stage (81/100)]
[Reputation: Obscure and Unknown]
[Talent: Lower Grade, Mid-tier (51/100)]
[Constitution: Lower Grade, High-tier (30/1,000)]
[Comprehension: Upper Grade, Mid-tier (20/100,000)]
Aside from comprehension, his other stats were still garbage. The extra talent point had already been applied.
"My comprehension must've improved after transmigrating," he muttered.
That part at least placed him above the average cultivator, maybe even within the ranks of geniuses. But comprehension alone wasn't enough. It was like being able to read a cultivation technique but never actually practice it.
Still, with the system by his side, Ye Xuan finally had confidence. He planned to lay low in the Dao Yi Sect for a few decades, improve his talent and constitution, and eventually rise as a peerless genius.
Of course, the higher his grade, the harder it became to improve. For example, upgrading his comprehension now required 100,000 points.
But Ye Xuan wasn't the reckless, hot-blooded protagonist type. He was perfectly fine biding his time. With the system, bottlenecks no longer existed. Only time stood in his way.
And within the Dao Yi Sect, time was something he had plenty of.