Chapter 2 Differential Treatment and the Nine Tests of the God of Cookery
"Well!"
Su Yuntao shook his head helplessly: "It's not that it's impossible to cultivate, but the Blue Silver Grass is too weak. Even if one becomes a Spirit Master, it's probably difficult to achieve anything."
"Last one, it's your turn."
Su Yuntao looked at Tang Chuan and gestured for him to stand in the center of the Spirit Awakening Stone Formation.
Tang Chuan stepped forward, his steps steady.
He glanced back at Tang Hao, his eyes clear, with just the right amount of nervousness, but it was all an act: "Dad, I'm going."
"Xiao Chuan, don't be nervous."
Tang Hao suppressed his complex emotions toward Tang San and forced a gentle smile at his eldest son.
Golden light shone once more.
Another Blue Silver Grass appeared.
However, unlike Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, this Blue Silver Grass had faint golden patterns visible on its leaves.
"Blue Silver Grass again?"
Su Yuntao was speechless: "Both brothers are Blue Silver Grass, really..."
However, upon closer inspection, the Blue Silver Grass in Tang Chuan's hand seemed somewhat different.
The leaves were wider and thicker, and the color was a deeper blue.
In particular, a very fine, pale gold line flowed through the central vein of the leaf, which was almost invisible unless you looked closely.
"Huh?"
Su Yuntao noticed the subtle difference, but after thinking about it again, he realized it was still Blue Silver Grass, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
"Let's test your soul power."
Tang Chuan placed his hand on the crystal ball as instructed.
An even brighter blue light surged forth once more, dazzling and spectacular!
"Another one with innate full soul power?!"
Su Yuntao felt that he had used up all the surprises he had ever had in his life today. His voice completely changed, and he froze.
"Two brothers, both with innate full soul power, yet both possess Blue Silver Grass as their Spirit—this is truly... unheard of!"
Old Jack was so excited he almost fainted.
Tang Hao was also stunned.
But his gaze was fixed on the faint golden lines on the veins of the Blue Silver Grass in Tang Chuan's palm.
Those eyes, which were always cloudy, were now frighteningly clear.
Ah Yin...
Blue Silver Emperor... Xiao Chuan's Spirit isn't Blue Silver Grass! It's Blue Silver Emperor!
That's right!
Xiao Chuan is my child with Ah Yin. He inherited Ah Yin's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, which is why he has innate full soul power!
Tang Hao could no longer hold back, so he strode forward and pulled Tang Chuan into his arms.
"Xiao Chuan, good boy!"
The arm holding Tang Chuan trembled slightly with excitement: "You have innate full soul power, you're amazing! Dad knew it... I knew it..."
He held Tang Chuan tightly, the words stuck in his throat. He didn't reveal the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit on the spot, but just patted Tang Chuan's back repeatedly, his eyes rekindling a light he hadn't seen in many years.
Tang San was completely ignored.
Staring blankly as his father tightly embraced his brother, listening to his father's almost incoherent encouragement, and then contrasting it with the undisguised disappointment and indifference he had shown him just moments before...
The stark contrast made him feel suffocated and extremely wronged.
Why?
It's also Blue Silver Grass.
Both possess innate full soul power.
Why is Dad's attitude towards my brother and me so different?
Feeling wronged and confused.
Tang San bit his lip hard, his eyes slightly red. He blinked, trying hard not to let the soreness in his eyes spread.
Having been an orphan in his past life, he longed for family more than anyone else.
He wasn't jealous of his brother, but he also wanted his father to hug him.
Looking at his older brother being held in their father's arms, Tang San's eyes were filled with envy, wishing he could be the one being held instead...
Even just for a moment.
Tang Chuan, held in his father's arms, showed a hint of bewilderment and flattery on his face. He gently hugged his father back, his gaze passing over his father's shoulder and landing on his younger brother, Tang San.
A hint of mockery flashed across his eyes, but it quickly turned into a gentle expression.
Right now.
A pink light descended and landed on Tang Chuan's head, but no one in the room noticed anything unusual.
Tang Chuan's vision suddenly darkened.
When he opened his eyes again, he was already deep in the sea of consciousness, where a majestic yet approachable phantom of a deity appeared before him.
He wore a jade belt around his waist and held a jade spoon in his hand.
A deep voice resounded in Tang Chuan's spiritual sea:
"The way of food begins with taste."
"The essence of taste lies in recognition."
"The first of the nine tests of the God of Cookery is to taste hundreds of herbs, eat hundreds of flavors, and distinguish all kinds of ingredients."
"The assessment will last for three years. Upon completion, you will be rewarded with a divinely bestowed soul ring and a 10% increase in affinity with the God of Food. If you complete it ahead of schedule, the reward will be even greater."
As the voice faded, a golden light shot out from the phantom and entered Tang Chuan's brow.
In an instant, a golden scroll suddenly appeared beneath Tang Chuan's spiritual body, with four large, elegant characters on the title page: "Ingredient Illustrated Guide".
His gaze fell upon it, and the pages turned with a rustling sound.
It displayed countless pictures of ingredients that Tang Chuan had never seen before:
There were crystal-clear fruits, birds burning with flames, and roots curled up in the soil... Next to them were labels with names, characteristics, origins, and other information, but most of them were blurry and waiting for him to light them up.
Divine Examination?
The God of Cookery's Nine Tests!
Tang Chuan was completely bewildered. His Blue Silver Grass Spirit was at most a Blue Silver Emperor. What did that have to do with the God of Food?
In the original work.
Isn't the requirement for the God of Food's Divine Examination to be a Title Douluo before the age of 40?
How could this suddenly happen to someone who has just awakened their Spirit?
Is it because my soul, as a transmigrator, is special?
Still...
Before Tang Chuan could continue his wild thoughts, the illusory image of the God of Food in his mind spoke leisurely: "Little fellow, I see the future of the Way of Food in you, although I'm not entirely sure why..."
"But it doesn't matter!"
"Your Spirit is indeed a food-type Spirit, but it hasn't fully awakened yet, and you have innate full soul power, so your talent is barely acceptable..."
"Keep up the good work, I'm rooting for you!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Chuan's lips twitched slightly. This tone... why does it sound a bit unreliable?
The illusory figure of the God of Food paused, then, as if suddenly remembering something important, added:
"Oh, right!"
"There's something I need to remind you!"
"Remember that before you begin your sixth trial, you must find a partner who is compatible with the Nine-Colored Goddess's position and inherit Jiu'er's divine status."
"Hmm... it's the position of the Nine-Colored Goddess."
"?"
Tang Chuan was stunned.
No, this divine examination even includes arranged marriages?
Oh, no, it should be buy one get one free?
But then Tang Chuan realized that in the original work, the position of the God of Food was indeed tied to the position of the Nine-Colored Goddess. Ning Rongrong originally did not meet the conditions to inherit the position of the Nine-Colored Goddess, but she benefited from Oscar's influence and obtained the divine position.
The God of Cookery didn't care what Tang Chuan was thinking.
Instead, he continued, "Once you become the God of Food, I can finally lay down my burdens and travel the myriad realms with my beloved Jiu'er, enjoying our time together."
"This divine position has been guarded for far too long; it's time for a long vacation!"
Tang Chuan: "..."
[end of the chapter]