[Ding~ Congratulations, host, for tasting the green two-star dish [Three Delicacies of Rock Harbor], the blue three-star dish [Qingce Farmhouse Cuisine], the blue three-star dish [Dry Pot Cured Meat], and the blue three-star dish [Braised Beast Meat]. You have earned 2,900 points of deliciousness! Randomly acquired abilities: Super Hearing, Super Smell (Enhanced Five Senses).]
[Recipe successfully recorded~]
[Ding~ Congratulations, host, for tasting the purple four-star dish [Chicken Tofu Pudding]. Recipe recording in progress. You have earned 7,300 points of deliciousness! Randomly acquired ability: Taste Memory (You can recall the flavor of any ingredient or dish you've ever eaten).]
[Ding~ Congratulations, host, for tasting the purple four-star dish [Tianshu Meat]. Recipe recording in progress. You have earned 8,200 points of deliciousness! Randomly acquired skill: Food Storage Technique (You can eat voraciously and store the energy in your body, consuming it during battles).]
As expected of a time-honored restaurant with a heritage spanning over a thousand years!
Among the dishes recommended by Zhongli, only the all-vegetarian Three Delicacies of Rock Harbor was a green two-star dish. The rest were either blue or purple, undoubtedly representing the pinnacle of this world's culinary arts.
The abilities he gained from tasting these dishes aside, the sheer amount of deliciousness points earned made Bai Mo feel this trip was well worth it.
Six dishes netted him 18,400 points—nearly half of what he had accumulated over the years of sampling various cuisines.
Seeing that his deliciousness points had reached 51,400, Bai Mo didn't hesitate to open the system shop and spent 50,000 points to purchase an ability:
[Listening to the Voices of All Things]
This ability didn't grant Bai Mo fluency in the languages of other worlds, but it allowed him to understand the meaning behind any spoken words.
Beyond comprehending the speech of intelligent beings, this ability enabled communication with animals and plants. At higher levels of evolution, it could even extend to inorganic objects, allowing him to hear their "voices."
Listening to the Voices of All Things wasn't just useful in battle to discern an opponent's thoughts—it also facilitated daily interactions with flora and fauna, even allowing conversations with ingredients.
It was, without a doubt, one of the most suitable abilities for Bai Mo at this stage.
Moreover, with his newly awakened Super Hearing, the combination of the two abilities promised even greater utility.
As for other abilities… well, it all boiled down to a lack of funds.
After purchasing this ability, Bai Mo felt as though the world before his eyes had transformed.
The sounds of cats and dogs on the streets of Liyue became intelligible language, while the seagulls in the sky were even discussing heading to Fontaine for some fries.
Beyond animals, Bai Mo could hear the glaze lilies in the flower beds along the street whispering about blooming that very night.
Everything felt surreal.
However, with the heightened sensitivity of Super Hearing, the cacophony of voices around him made his head buzz, swelling with an overwhelming flood of noise.
Bai Mo's discomfort didn't escape Zhongli's notice as they strolled together after the meal. "What's wrong? You seem unwell."
"It's nothing. I just awakened a new ability," Bai Mo replied without hiding anything. "The dishes earlier were truly delicious, and my body has evolved significantly. Now, I can even hear the voices of all things."
"Voices of all things…" Zhongli's eyes flickered with understanding. After all, he himself possessed such an ability. The Geo Archon could communicate not only with the spirits and beasts of the mountains but also with the earth, stones, and vegetation.
The Dragon King of the Vishaps, Azhdaha, was one such example.
Azhdaha was a creation of elemental crystallization, bearing the power and memories of the earth, as ancient as the mountains and seas. During the Archon War, Morax discovered Azhdaha and granted him eyes, bestowing upon him a conscious soul.
Thus, upon learning that Bai Mo had gained the power to listen to the voices of all things, Zhongli merely nodded calmly and advised, "Such an ability can indeed be disorienting at first. You must learn to control it."
"If left unchecked, the chaotic symphony of voices will affect your emotions, agitating your mind. In the end, it may even lead to erosion."
"In that case, I'll take you to the quiet chamber of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to meditate and master this power."
Bai Mo naturally agreed. Having such a formidable mentor by his side was far more efficient than figuring things out alone.
Though, wasn't this chamber a bit… cramped? It was hard to even turn over!
Lying down was comfortable enough, but the atmosphere felt eerily cold.
He hadn't paid much attention when entering, but the more he looked around, the more the layout resembled the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's flagship product…
Still, regardless of Bai Mo's wandering thoughts, the chamber's effects were undeniable—utterly silent, free from disturbances, as if submerged deep underground.
The abilities granted by the system became part of Bai Mo the moment he acquired them.
After spending time suppressing and mastering the powers of Super Hearing and Listening to the Voices of All Things—at least temporarily—Bai Mo emerged from the chamber.
An 18-hour countdown on the system screen indicated he'd spent at least a full day inside.
No time to waste these last eighteen hours!
If the cuisine at Liuli Pavilion had spurred such evolution in his Gourmet Cells and even granted him four new abilities, then Xinyue Kiosk—its reputed equal—must surely offer equally extraordinary delicacies.
At the thought, Bai Mo wiped the corner of his mouth. After such a long meditation, he was hungry again!
Unable to find Zhongli or Hu Tao at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Bai Mo decided to enjoy this feast on his own.
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T/N:
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