After transmigrating, I made a name for myself through my culinary skills.

When Xiaobai woke up, Ye Lan found that its cultivation level had increased even more significantly. It seemed that the Emperor's Elixir was even more beneficial to demonic beasts.

Time flies, and it's already the end of September. Tomorrow is the day Ye Lan and his group will set off. Elder Xia and Doctor Shen had previously said they would give him a farewell dinner a day in advance.

After Jiang Nan found out about this, he said he wanted to go too. Jiang Nan was such a blabbermouth, and by the next day, Jiang Ning and the others would definitely know as well.

Sure enough, before the next morning even arrived, Jiang Ning and Su Bo came looking for them, saying they wanted to include the two of them as well. Jiang Ning even said rather embarrassedly that his brother wanted to come along too.

So the three people became six, plus Little White, a mythical beast.

The weather was getting a bit chilly at the end of September. Considering there would be a lot of people, Ye Lan planned to have hot pot on the day of the farewell dinner, one spicy and one chicken and mushroom soup.

Since we're going to have hot pot, there are so many ingredients to buy. The dining hall cooked mutton soup today, which means we can buy mutton with spiritual energy in the kitchen. We can catch fresh fish and shrimp at the waterfall. The spirit chicken for the soup base can also be bought at the Green Mountain Sect. As for other meats, we'll have to buy them at the market ourselves.

As for vegetables, she could just pick a couple from the vegetable garden on the back hill. After finishing her breakfast, Ye Lan bought all the meat she could find at the canteen and then went to the vegetable garden.

The vegetable garden is surrounded by spirit stones, and the vegetables are evergreen all year round. Even in late autumn, the pea seedlings are growing particularly well. Although they have already produced peas, the tips are still tender and keep growing upwards, as if they are about to climb all over the nearly two-meter-high trellis.

Ye Lan picked a large handful of pea shoots. These are perfect for spicy hot pot, so she had to pick more.

After picking them, Ye Lan felt that the trellis was a bit bare and could vaguely sense that the pea seedlings were drooping and the leaves were almost hanging down. So Ye Lan reached out and gave the pea seedlings some spiritual energy to promote their growth. The pea seedlings, which received a lot of spiritual energy, became vibrant again.

As Ye Lan passed by the radish patch, he noticed that the white radishes looked fresh and plump, unlike any other variety he had ever eaten before. They were thick and robust, and the exposed part of the radish hadn't turned green. He pulled up three of the thick, large white radishes, washed and peeled one of them, and took a bite. With a "crunch," he found the radish to be sweet and not spicy, with plenty of moisture and vitality. It was so delicious that it could be eaten like fruit.

It cut off the end it had bitten off and gave the other end to Little White, who then started biting it with a "crunch crunch" sound.

Since those people don't really like eating vegetables, two radishes are enough. With these two vegetables and the mushrooms he had left in his space, the vegetarian dish is ready.

The most important part of hot pot is the meat, and he plans to go to the local market to buy it before noon, as the meat is fresher in the morning.

Fearing he wouldn't be able to handle everything alone, Jiang Ning and two other people also offered to go to the market with him, not even giving him a chance to refuse.

The four of them flew at the speed of light to the nearest town market to the Green Mountain Sect. This town was backed by the Green Mountain Sect, so no one dared to cause trouble. The people lived in peace and contentment, and the market was very lively.

To have hot pot, you need to buy meat, and of course, beef is a must. Ye Lan and her group found a beef stall and spent a high-grade spirit stone to buy half a cow. The beef stall owner was so happy that he also gave them a lot of offal.

Ye Lan wasn't greedy. He asked for the stomach and kidneys, as well as the heart tubes that could be sliced ​​into beef aorta slices. He asked the butcher to tear off the layer of brownish-black tripe from the stomach according to his request. He planned to process the kidneys and beef aorta himself, since it was from an ordinary cow and it would easily retain a fishy smell if not processed properly.

The three people followed behind him, completely oblivious to the requests he made to the boss. They only acted like a bunch of childish kids, scrambling to give him spirit stones when it came time to pay. They only stopped when Ye Lan told them to give each of them a mid-grade spirit stone.

Next to the beef stall was the pork stall. Pork was cheaper than beef; one mid-grade spirit stone could buy half a pig. The owner also gave them a lot of things. Ye Lan only took kidneys and pig brains. Seeing that he took little, the owner gave him two pig brains for free. Their business was good; they slaughtered two pigs a day.

Although we only buy half, there's no need to worry about buying too much. Jiang Nan's appetite is now like a bucket, almost matching Xiao Bai's, so he has to buy more. In addition, Su Bo said that meat is expensive in Beizhou, so if we can't finish it, we can store it in our space, and it will stay fresh anyway.

Ye Lan also bought duck intestines. Not many people eat these, so they're very cheap. You can buy a lot of them for one low-grade spirit stone. The shopkeeper even promised to clean the duck intestines for him and throw in a few bowls of duck blood as a bonus.

There was a young woman selling tofu pudding at the market, and her business was booming. Next to her was an old lady selling tofu, which was made fresh daily from pure soybeans. The young woman and the old lady were family.

Ye Lan and the others bought five bowls of tofu pudding. The fresh tofu pudding, drizzled with syrup, was tender and delicious. After finishing one bowl, Jiang Nan bought a second bowl. Ye Lan watched him eat and also bought a second bowl for Xiao Bai.

Finally, they also bought tofu, pork balls, and beef balls. The meatballs were all handmade, and they believed they would be very bouncy when cooked. Fearing that there wouldn't be enough vegetables, he also bought a few sections of lotus root.

After buying all the groceries, Ye Lan wanted to buy some dried plums, but she came across a shop selling sour plum drink on the way. The shopkeeper gave each of them a small bowl to try, and it was sweet and sour and quite good. Ye Lan simply bought a few bamboo jars to save herself the trouble of cooking it herself.

He placed the bamboo jar containing the plum juice into his spatial dimension, next to the ice blocks inside, so that he could enjoy the refreshing plum juice in the evening.

Because they needed to rush back to prepare the dishes, no one lingered long. They waited until Ye Lan bought all the ingredients he wanted for the dipping sauce before heading back.

With so many dishes, Ye Lan certainly wouldn't be left to do everything himself. Jiang Ning was assigned to chop the vegetables, Jiang Nan was responsible for washing the pea shoots and mushrooms, and Su Bo went to the waterfall to catch fish and shrimp.

Some parts of the beef needed to have the tendons removed and sliced ​​along the grain, so Ye Lan had to do it herself.

Of course, it was impossible to finish the whole half of the beef. Ye Lan broke it apart, slicing the tenderloin, sirloin, and snowflake beef—the parts suitable for hot pot—into thin slices and dividing them into several portions. Since their textures and cooking times differed, they couldn't be mixed together.

After processing and marinating the beef, he then had to deal with the tripe and beef aorta.

He chose pork belly for hot pot, and after Jiang Ning cut the radish and lotus root, he asked him to cut the pork belly and mutton into thin slices.

Ye Lan was in charge of the soup base. The chicken and mushroom soup base could be simmered for a while, so he started making that first, followed by the spicy soup base.

After rendering the tallow from the butter slab, Ye Lan began to stir-fry the hot pot base. The base of this spicy hot pot had a strong flavor, and since there was no barrier set up, the aroma filled the entire courtyard.

When the hot pot broth is boiling and bubbling, the other ingredients are also ready.

It's no wonder Jiang Ning's swordsmanship is so good, but his knife skills are even better. He sliced ​​the radish into an incredibly thin slice. When Ye Lan picked up a slice of radish, she could see the orange sunset through the thin slice.

Even with someone she liked, Ye Lan couldn't help but mentally complain: It's not like I'm showing off my knife skills like a master chef, this white radish doesn't need to be sliced ​​this thin!

Oh well, it's just that he didn't specify how thin or thick he wanted.

As evening approached and the temperature dropped further, the six people and their mythical beast sat around a table in the courtyard. In front of them was a table laden with platters of meat, and in the middle was a steaming hot pot. To the left of the pot was a spicy broth with a bright red base, and to the right was a chicken and mushroom broth with buttery flakes, both emitting white smoke.

This hot pot owes a lot to Jiangning.

Ye Lan had previously seen a record about hot pot in the library, so she showed the book to Jiang Ning and asked him to add a partition in the middle to form a "Tai Chi" shape. As a result, Jiang Ning actually made a hot pot with two separate compartments.

The hot pot made by Jiang Ning was made of copper and stone. It had two handles on the side for easy gripping, and there was a stove underneath the pot to hold burning charcoal for heat. But what was inside the stove now was Elder Xia's strange fire.

The hot pot was already boiling, but everyone was waiting for Ye Lan. Ye Lan was preparing the dipping sauce for everyone. Fearing that some people might have dietary restrictions, he chopped up some coriander (cilantro) and put it aside so that anyone who wanted to eat it could add it themselves.

"Quick, quick, Ye Lan, sit down! This hot pot smells amazing!" Jiang Nan and Su Bo were very eager to help him when he arrived. One of them put a dipping sauce in front of everyone, while the other pulled out a chair for him to sit down.

To his left was Jiang Ning, and to his right was Xiao Bai. Next to Xiao Bai was Jiang An. Jiang An had specifically switched places with Jiang Nan so that he could lean against Xiao Bai.

When Ye Lan took her seat, everyone started eating.

"You can drink the soup first in this mushroom soup hot pot."

Ye Lan served soup to Elder Xia and Doctor Shen, letting them taste the chicken and mushroom soup first, as it wouldn't taste as good if they cooked other things in it later.

It was the first time that Dr. Shen and his colleagues had tasted such delicious chicken and mushroom soup. After taking a big sip, they felt warm all over and were very satisfied.

After finishing the soup, everyone started to cook meat in the hot pot. Jiang Nan was the first to pick up the marinated spicy beef, which looked the most appetizing.

While he was cooking meat, Ye Lan also put in duck intestines, mentally reciting the mantra "seven dips and eight lifts, then take them out" to prevent them from overcooking.

As soon as he finished reciting the incantation, he scooped up the duck intestines, placed them on a clean plate, and recommended to everyone, "This beef needs to be cooked a little longer, why don't you try my duck intestines first?"

The duck intestines were cooked to perfection. Dipped in the oil sauce, they were bursting with spicy and savory flavors. They were incredibly chewy and amazing. One bite was all it took for each person to finish them, and everyone kept saying they couldn't get enough.

After finishing the duck intestines, the pork belly Jiang Ning had placed was also cooked. He had sliced ​​the pork belly very thinly, so it cooked quickly. When he scooped it out, he saw that it had become slightly curled and was covered with red oil.

The pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat is not greasy at all; instead, it's full of meaty aroma, making you want to eat more.

The spicy beef was ready soon after. The meat was tender and not dry, and it was coated with chili powder prepared by Ye Lan, making it spicy and refreshing.

"This beef is so spicy!" Dr. Shen was clearly not good at handling spicy food, and he just kept blowing on it, but even so, he couldn't bear to put down his chopsticks.

Ye Lan then remembered that she still had the double-skin milk pudding she had prepared yesterday and the plum juice she had bought today in her space, so she quickly took them out for him.

This is a genuine double-skin milk pudding made with milk and egg whites. It has a very rich milky flavor and a smooth texture. It's also topped with a layer of cooked red beans. After being chilled, it's refreshingly cool and pairs perfectly with this hot pot.

The chilled plum juice can also relieve the thirst caused by the spicy hot pot, making it refreshing and delightful.

"what is this?"

Jiang An picked up the food in front of him and asked Ye Lan, "This doesn't look very appetizing. I wonder if it will taste as good as spicy beef."

Ye Lan glanced at it and told him, "Take the tripe, count to fifteen and it'll be done."

Jiang An followed his instructions, counted to fifteen, scooped up the tripe, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth to chew. After chewing, he ranked the tripe before the spicy beef, because the fresh tripe was very tender and crisp, and it was full of broth that was both spicy and numbing. He couldn't help but drink a big mouthful of the icy cold plum juice.

"What about mine? How long should I cook it?"

"Yellow throat, count to forty-five."

"What about mine? What about mine?"

"Hanging dragon, also count to fifteen."

Ye Lan appeared unusually busy, having to eat herself, feed Xiao Bai, and also take the time to instruct them on how to cook the dishes.

Seeing this, the people around him helped him with some of the work. Jiang An helped Xiaobai pick out meat to feed it, while Jiang Ning helped him cook meat in the broth, which freed up his hands to eat.

Everyone had this inexplicable trust in Ye Lan, and they would ask him about every single dish.

"Which pot should we put these pea shoots in?"

"It tastes best when placed in the mushroom soup pot. This stuff cooks quickly, so don't cook it for too long."

"Put more on top, I want some too."

"These lotus root slices are delicious, both spicy and crunchy."

"This radish is not bad, but it's too thin."

In just a quarter of an hour, they had eaten more than half of the food. After they were about half full, everyone slowed down and started chatting.

Elder Xia: "How do you plan to get to the Northern Continent?"

Everyone looked at Ye Lan, who then realized he hadn't told Elder Xia and the others. He replied, "We plan to take a boat."

Why choose to travel by boat?

Elder Xia couldn't understand why they had chosen such a troublesome mode of transportation instead of a teleportation array.

Every major city in the Southern Continent has a teleportation array that leads to the major cities of the other three continents, but it is extremely expensive, requiring one thousand high-grade spirit stones per person to activate the teleportation array.

Ye Lan seemed a little embarrassed: "The teleportation array is too expensive, it costs a thousand high-grade spirit stones."

He doesn't have that many right now. The mid-grade spirit stones in his space are only worth about five hundred high-grade spirit stones. This teleportation array costs a thousand high-grade spirit stones at a time. Even if he can make up for it by auctioning off spirit herbs, he will still need spirit stones after he goes to the Northern Continent.

Elder Shen tried to speak up: "This teleportation array belongs to the Jiang family. As disciples of the Green Mountain Sect, you can get a 50% discount."

Traveling by ship at sea is ultimately more dangerous than using a teleportation array.

Su Bo was stunned: "So much less? How come I didn't know?"

He had previously thought the teleportation array was too expensive, so he hadn't been willing to go back to his family home for the Chinese New Year.

Elder Xia said dismissively, "You can ask them. This is a rule set by their Jiang family ancestor. Of the thousand high-grade spirit stones, eight hundred are profit. Even if they give you a 50% discount, they won't lose out."

As he spoke, he gestured with his head towards Jiangning.

Jiang Ning: I thought everyone wanted to take the boat because they were curious and wanted to broaden their horizons, just like me, so I didn't mention it...

Jiang An: I also forgot about the discount...

Ye Lan and Su Bo, who were unaware of the truth before, exclaimed: "What a shrewd businessman!"

Jiang Nan, who didn't care about taking a boat or using a teleportation array, continued to eat his pig brain, which tasted as tender as tofu.

"Ahem." Doctor Shen cleared his throat and said, "But the profits aren't all going to Sect Leader Jiang. Most of them are used for the sect's daily expenses. Otherwise, do you think the little money you get from taking on missions is enough to support such a large sect like Green Mountain Sect?"

Ye Lan and Su Bo: Okay, suddenly it doesn't seem so heartless anymore.

Like an old father, Dr. Shen gave them advice: "The monsters in the Northern Continent are more ferocious. You should avoid them if you can. When something happens, stay calm and don't act impulsively. Unlike in the Southern Continent, there are no people there to back you up."

The four men, like obedient students, replied, "Your disciples will heed your earnest teachings."

After the meal, Jiang An took the initiative to clear the table and wash the dishes. This task was not troublesome; he just had to empty the dishes and cast a cleaning spell.

Before Ye Lan left the courtyard, Doctor Shen gave him a white fox fur coat: "The temperature in the Northern Continent is not like that in the Southern Continent. The weather there is cold most of the time. Even with spiritual energy protecting you, you will still feel it. In some places, this spiritual energy protection will also fail. Take this fox fur coat with you, just in case."

"Thank you, Dr. Shen."

"No need to thank me. You're so young, we treat you like a child. Please be careful out there."

Ye Lan's eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back and said, "Okay."

Doctor Shen patted him on the shoulder: "Go back and get some rest tonight. There's no rush to cultivate all night."

"Well then, this disciple will head back now."

Ye Lan hugged the fox fur coat given to her by Doctor Shen, basking in its warmth.

He was so grateful that in his previous life he had no parents, but he had his master and mistress who loved him, and in this life he had Elder Xia and Doctor Shen.

Doctor Shen gave him a fox fur coat, and Elder Xia had previously given him many pills and prescriptions, treating him like his own son.

After he left, Elder Xia also came out and, together with Doctor Shen, looked in the direction he had gone back.

Elder Xia put his arm around his partner's shoulder: "When do you think he'll find out about those thousand high-grade spirit stones? What if he only finds out after he chooses to take the boat? Wouldn't that be a waste?"

Doctor Shen seemed to realize the problem only then. They put a storage bag in the fox fur coat containing a thousand high-grade spirit stones, but Ye Lan would never wear a fox fur coat in this weather!

Dr. Shen felt stupid and slapped his forehead: "No, I have to go and talk to Jiang Ning right away, otherwise it will be a loss if Xiao Yelan goes to Beizhou and we don't find out yet."

"I'll go with you."

This couple rushed off to find Jiang Ning again. It wasn't that they didn't want to tell Ye Lan directly, but they were afraid that if the child found out, he would be sent back to them.