"Even so..."
Zhang Dali paused, then said, "I believe with your strength, you can solve it."
Chen Shu replied, "I'm just a Silver..."
"But you're cunning!"
Zhang Dali grinned and said, "I think even King-level Beast Tamers are no match for you..."
"So that's why..."
Chen Shu was slightly taken aback, then said, "But I have indeed tricked King-levels..."
The two then talked about the God of Cooking Cup.
After lunch,
Chen Shu lay on the sofa and took another popsicle from the freezer.
"This popsicle tastes really good."
Zhang Dali smiled faintly and said, "Three thousand each. Remember to transfer the money to me later."
"Three thousand?!"
Chen Shu's eyes widened, "Are you ripping me off?"
"That's the market price."
Dali shrugged, "Are there any cheaper popsicles now?"
"..."
...
On July 5th,
Chen Shu and Zhang Dali arrived at the entrance of Kyoto Culinary University.
Today was their departure day.
"Finally leaving..."
When the security guard saw the two about to leave the campus, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
He had been restless these past few days, fearing the "fierce bandit" would cause any trouble...
"Dali..."
A middle-aged woman with a kind face looked at Dali with a look of relief.
She was Zhang Dali's university mentor, the King-level Spiritual Chef, Professor Cheng Qing!
Beside her stood a girl with a delicate face, Dali's senior, Lin Weiwei.
"Teacher."
Zhang Dali looked at Cheng Qing, his face filled with gratitude and respect.
Without her five years of diligent guidance, the current Zhang Dali would not exist.
As they parted, the atmosphere became a bit heavy.
Cheng Qing's expression was calm, but a hint of reluctance was hidden deep in her eyes. She said,
"You are the most talented student I have ever seen. I hope you can go further on the path of a Spiritual Chef in the future..."
She had been teaching for decades and had never seen anyone reach this level within five years.
"Teacher, I can stay at the university..."
Zhang Dali was also reluctant and even wanted to work at the university.
With his current skill, he could completely serve as a professor at the Culinary University.
"You are not suited to stay at the university..."
Professor Cheng Qing smiled and said, "Teaching students can indeed consolidate our basic knowledge, but it can also gradually make one lose creativity."
Due to years of teaching, the basic knowledge of Spiritual Chefs would be firmly imprinted in their minds, even restricting their creativity.
They might become King-level Spiritual Chefs, but they couldn't go any higher.
"The God of Cooking Cup is not your final destination..."
Professor Cheng Qing said, "With your talent, even if you fail this year, you will surely succeed in the next."
Zhang Dali murmured, "Teacher, isn't the God of Cooking Cup the highest honor..."
His lifelong dream was to win the God of Cooking Cup, but he never expected his teacher to say it wasn't the end...
A ray of light flashed in Professor Cheng Qing's eyes, and she said with immense longing,
"Teacher hopes you can achieve... Legendary Spiritual Chef..."
"Legendary?"
Zhang Dali's body trembled, and he said, "Teacher, does Legendary rank really exist?"
In the current Spiritual Chef world, the highest level is King-level. Even a King-level who holds the title of God of Cooking is still just King-level...
This has led people to believe that the only rank for Spiritual Chefs is King-level.
"Others might think it doesn't exist..."
Professor Cheng Qing murmured, her conviction absolute, "But I know, it must exist!"
"Really?"
Zhang Dali's eyes lit up, and he had a new life goal.
He did not doubt his teacher's words at all. He nodded and said, "Teacher, I will do my best to reach that height!"
"That's good."
Cheng Qing smiled and nodded. "I have nothing else to say. You have graduated. This is a gift from your teacher!"
Saying that, she took out a very large black leather folder.
"Huh?"
Chen Shu's body trembled. Such a large wallet?!
Could it be filled with bank cards...
He hadn't expected Dali's mentor to be so generous...
"Alas..."
Chen Shu sighed silently. He wanted a graduation gift, but he had to do it himself.
Old Liu is not good enough...
"Teacher?"
A hint of confusion appeared in Zhang Dali's eyes. What was his teacher giving him...
Cheng Qing smiled slightly, then opened the leather folder. It unfolded to nearly three meters in length.
And on it lay various tools required by a Spiritual Chef: cleavers, boning knives, spatulas, and so on...
"You don't have beast-taming talent, so dealing with ingredients is too difficult."
Cheng Qing said, "Although your pig-slaughtering knife is good, it is still too limited and will affect your performance."
"I specifically asked the Spiritual Chef Association to collect materials from异空间 (other dimensions) to forge these culinary tools for you. I believe they will help you better process the Golden King!"
Clearly, she knew that Zhang Dali was using Golden King meat for practice and had therefore custom-made these tools.
"Teacher..."
A touch of emotion appeared in Zhang Dali's eyes. The kitchenware capable of disassembling the Golden King must be made of top-tier materials from异空间 (other dimensions), and their value would be unimaginable.
Moreover, for even more expensive items, one would need to hire a master craftsman, which not only requires money but might also incur favors.
In short, the set of kitchenware before him was immeasurably valuable...
"Alright."
Cheng Qing patted Zhang Dali on the shoulder and said, "If you really want to repay your teacher, strive to win this year's God of Cooking!"
"I will!"
Zhang Dali nodded heavily, as if making a promise.
"By the way, I didn't pay for this alone."
A smile appeared in Cheng Qing's eyes as she glanced at Lin Weiwei beside them.
"Your senior sister invested all her earnings into it..."
"Teacher..."
Lin Weiwei's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Zhang Dali.
"Senior sister..."
Zhang Dali looked at Lin Weiwei, also feeling a bit flustered.
But then he mustered his courage, took a step forward, and gently hugged Lin Weiwei.
Lin Weiwei did not refuse, only burying her head lower...
A look of satisfaction appeared in Cheng Qing's eyes. If the two could be together, that would be the best outcome.
"Holy crap..."
Chen Shu, standing beside them, twitched his lips and looked at Professor Cheng Qing, thinking what a great mentor!
Not only giving gifts but also introducing partners?