After Chen Xu hid the short knife, he checked the Food Cauldron Celestial Book and discovered that he not only got over twenty likes from the Mouse Demons—
The little mouse was quite enthusiastic, chattering away until it quickly filled its daily like limit. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
The big Mouse Demon was much more composed, generally just echoing the little mouse’s praises, so it offered significantly fewer likes.
Together, the two mice gave [Likes +27].
Additionally, the neighbor’s child ground his teeth in his sleep, occasionally muttering, "Delicious! The meat porridge is tasty."
This added quite a few more likes.
Looking again at the time, it already passed midnight; though the night sky was still pitch black, it could already be considered the next day.
No wonder the little one’s like count refreshed again.
Lai Erge and his wife went out during the day for work, and now, at midnight, they were also talking in their sleep: "Delicious... hey, little one, behave, don’t make noise!"
Some likes were obtained sporadically before midnight; Chen Xu imagined that perhaps someone said in passing before sleep, "The pancake and porridge I had today tasted really good, very fragrant."
And over here, it resulted in [Likes +1].
Or perhaps someone bought porridge from Mrs. Lai at noon, saved some for the family to have later, and in the evening, they all praised: "Not bad, today’s porridge is especially tasty, worth the purchase!"
In short, likes are not a one-off business; they can ferment, generating subsequent "traffic"!
After Chen Xu understood this point, his spirits soared.
No exaggeration to say, the scattered like notifications recorded in the Celestial Book were even more exciting than when he had just decapitated an enemy.
Currently, the Celestial Book records:
[Free Attribute Points: 7]
[Fireworks Value: 532]
Once bare and clean, now not yet to the level of wealth, but capable of waging a prosperous war.
Chen Xu immediately stood up and went to the door, leaving it ajar, placing himself behind the door against the wall.
If someone tried to push the door in again, he would be able to retaliate from the blind spot of sight instantly.
Of course, hopefully, there would be no more disturbances tonight.
Thus, Chen Xu stood by the door, pressing against the wall as he let his consciousness sink into the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.
In reality, the night was deep, but inside the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, it was constantly at a stable temperature and well-lit.
Chen Xu first opened the Fireworks Collection, checking the newly unlocked Spiritual Food Recipes.
At first glance, it seemed very interesting.
[Five-Red Blood Nourishing Soup: Use five ounces of Blood Agar, one ounce each of red beans, Red Rice, Red Ginseng, Red Dates, and one liter of Jade Dew Spring Water, simmer over low heat, recite the Pure Scripture to dissolve the gelatin...]
Note: First consumption increases Qi Blood by +3, long-term consumption increases Qi Blood by +1 per time, ineffective after thirty times.
Detailed purchase requires Fireworks Value: 80
[Mud Embryo Pill: Use two pounds of Millet Paste Mud Embryo, one ounce each of leeches, centipedes, and ticks, roast over low heat until brittle, grind into ash, mix with honey...]
Note: Mud Embryo Pill has form but no substance, ghosts consuming it can slightly increase Nine Nether Qi, cultivators consuming it may experience blood reversal, mortals eating it, in light cases will explode and die, in severe cases, will have their Divine Soul extinguished.
Detailed purchase requires Fireworks Value: 70
[Soul Nourishing Cake: Use one Soul-Cutting Silkworm, coat with batter and fry until golden, bake gently for a quarter hour, sprinkle with spices, green onions...]
Note: Consumption can increase Divine Soul by 20 at once.
Detailed purchase requires Fireworks Value: 80
Chen Xu carefully read through them, his eyes finally resting on the Soul Nourishing Cake.
Increase Divine Soul by 20!
Coat with batter and fry until golden!
He couldn’t help but swallow, although the source of the ingredients was peculiar, the thing actually looked a bit appetizing.
But he couldn’t, first, due to a lack of auxiliary materials, secondly, a one-time increase of Divine Soul by 20 seemed powerful but was currently a bit unmanageable for Chen Xu.
Mainly because his own Divine Soul was already at 22 points, and to successfully achieve Three Elements Foundation Establishment, he couldn’t increase his Divine Soul too much, or it could be detrimental to his Foundation Establishment.
Chen Xu memorized the auxiliary materials after reviewing the recipes.
Then he chose to close the recipe page and instead purchased and learned the long-coveted Fire Control Skill.
[You spent 150 Fireworks Value and learned Fire Control.]
Mysteriously, it was as if a spark burst forth in Chen Xu’s sea of consciousness, and in an endless white world, a small black figure approached a candle flame.
Sitting cross-legged, meditating.
Using intent to move Qi, focusing on the candle to still the mind.
Within all meridians, Qi Blood surged, and Chen Xu’s heart beat rhythmically!
In truth, the five organs of the body, the heart belongs to the fire element.
The first step in Fire Control is through tangible fire, to envision the intangible Heart Fire.
There was no candle in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, so Chen Xu selected a few split pieces of fine firewood, placed them in the stove, and used flint and tinder to ignite the fire.
Bright red flames immediately roared to life in the stove, Chen Xu adjusted the placement of the wood slightly, so the flames wouldn’t grow too large yet could sustain without burning out.
He also prepared plenty of fine firewood nearby for easy adding of fuel later, then sat cross-legged in front of the stove.
Subsequently, he calmed his mind, eyes on the stove fire, attempting to kindle the first wisp of flame within his heart.
The technique of igniting the fire flowed slowly in his mind, Chen Xu gathered his Heart and Spirit with his utmost will.
Then, after a quarter hour, his eyes began to swell.
After half an hour, his eyelids started to droop.
After three quarters, his head bobbed.
In the Food Cauldron Celestial Book, the Fire Control Skill’s experience didn’t increase at all.
Fire Control was far more challenging to learn compared to chopping wood.
Half an hour later, Chen Xu suddenly woke up.
He had a nightmare again, dreamed Lin Qi turned into a headless snake only with a skeletal structure, chasing to swap heads with him!
He also dreamed of the goat’s head from the lamb vendor floating in a peculiar space filled with azure flames, silently shedding two lines of blood and tears.
Somehow, his garment hem caught a spark from the stove and flared up instantly.
Chen Xu sprang up from the ground, instinctively patting the fire with his hand.
Unexpectedly, with one pat, a prompt appeared.
[Fire Control Level 1 1/100]
In that moment when Chen Xu touched the flame, burning his skin painfully, the frozen Fire Control experience value actually increased by one point.
An elusive experience flowed into his mind, myriad interpretations of what fire is, what burning is, why it ignites, and why it burns swirled in his thoughts.
Chen Xu couldn’t hold back cursing again, quickly extinguishing the flames on his clothing.
While putting out the fire, the Fire Control experience increased by another two points.
Chen Xu laughed bitterly, what was this?
Meditating determinedly achieves nothing, but barehanded barbecue breaks the riddle?
Gritting his teeth, he tore away the charred, scorched robe hem, and with a bend of his knees, sat cross-legged again in front of the stove.
This time, Chen Xu willingly reached his hand into the flickering flames of the stove.
Fire, let it burn him!
Afraid of nothing, even the raging flames are but a trivial matter, broken bones and crushed bodies are of no concern.