Chapter 159: Vindicating Xiangling's Culinary Skills

Leaving the Tianquan Building, the four of them were greeted by the afternoon sun, which cast a lazy warmth upon their shoulders.

Having just survived a thrilling ordeal within the Domain, their return to the peaceful, familiar campus felt like stepping into another lifetime. The contrast was so stark it was almost dizzying.

“Ten thousand credits…”

Selene was still savoring the number, her entire posture shifting as she walked. Each step seemed to exude the haughty aura of a pampered heiress, practically screaming, ‘I’m a rich lady now, peasants.’

“Sister, what do you think we should spend it all on?”

“Leveling up is the priority,” Celeste answered in a heartbeat. “When you’re under-leveled, everything feels like you’re fighting with one hand tied behind your back.”

Beside them, Su Wan suddenly spoke up. “We can take our time deciding what to do with the credits. There’s no rush.”

Her voice was as cool and distant as ever, but the slight tremor at the end of her words and the terrifying brightness in her eyes betrayed the storm of emotion churning just beneath the surface.

“Everyone worked hard today, and we all made significant contributions. So, I think… we should celebrate.”

At this, Celeste’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands together, a brilliant smile blooming across her face as she announced with heroic flair, “Yes, yes, yes! A celebration is a must! This chef is in a fantastic mood today, so I’ll personally handle the cooking! Let’s celebrate our triumphant return!”

“Yay! Sister’s cooking for us!” Selene bounced on the balls of her feet, pure excitement radiating from her as her mouth already began to water.

Su Wan and Xia Lian also let out small, sharp cheers. The light that burst from their eyes was more dazzling than the glint of newly acquired epic equipment.

After all, they had personally experienced Celeste’s cooking before. That flavor wasn’t just a memory; it was a craving etched deep into their very souls.

That wasn’t cooking. That was pure, unadulterated magic.

“That… wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?” Su Wan managed, a token gesture of politeness. But her sparkling, expectant eyes had already sold out the reserved dignity of the academy’s ice queen.

“Trouble? What trouble? It’s a piece of cake,” Celeste waved her hand nonchalantly, adopting the air of a grandmaster who had everything under control. “Don’t kid yourself, you’re looking at the woman who inherited Xiangling’s culinary arts! A single meal is nothing!”

Her chin lifted with pride. “Besides, the skills I got from the System aren’t just dead data. They came with Master Xiangling’s own spirit—that endless drive to explore the frontiers of cuisine! My skills are improving every single day!”

A flicker of competitive fire entered her eyes. “It just so happens I’m still holding a grudge. When I was eating barbecue at the Elven Royal Palace, I got shown up by that centuries-old royal chef. Now that I have a full set of equipment and premium ingredients, I’ll show you what true Liyue flavor is—the kind of food even the Lord of Geo himself would praise!”

“Then it’s settled!” Celeste declared, making the final decision. “Let’s head back to the dorm and have a proper feast!”

Chatting and laughing, the four of them made their way toward the dormitory area. Celeste and Selene lived on the second floor, while Su Wan and Xia Lian’s rooms were on the third.

Arriving at the base of the building, Celeste turned to the other two. “You guys go on up, rest a bit, take a shower, and change. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

After watching Su Wan and Xia Lian head upstairs, Celeste pulled her sister back to their own dorm.

The moment they opened the door, a familiar scent of sun-drenched bamboo leaves rushed out to greet them.

“Aaaah… home really is the best!” Selene let out a sigh of pure bliss, throwing herself onto the soft sofa in the living room and sprawling out in a starfish pose.

Seeing her sister looking like a boneless heap of contentment, Celeste shook her head with a fond smile. She sat down on the sofa as well, a wave of relaxation washing over her. The Elven Royal Palace was magnificent, and even having the Queen herself as a roommate had its perks, but nothing could compare to the comfort of one’s own territory.

“Sister, what delicious food are we making?” Selene asked, lifting her head from a cushion, her eyes sparkling like a field of tiny stars.

“Hmm…” Celeste rubbed her chin, Xiangling’s vast culinary wisdom churning through her mind. “For the main course, let’s do a big basin of Sichuan Boiled Fish. It’s spicy, savory, fragrant, and perfect with rice. Then, some Chongqing-style Spicy Diced Chicken—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, you can just pop them in your mouth one after another. Absolutely satisfying.”

She continued, “For vegetables, a simple stir-fry of seasonal greens and some smashed cucumber salad to cleanse the palate. For soup, a classic tomato and egg drop. And of course, steamed rice as the staple.”

With every dish she named, Selene swallowed hard, her throat bobbing.

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s perfect!” she nodded frantically, a trail of saliva threatening to escape the corner of her mouth. “What about ingredients? Does the school supermarket sell all that? Do you want me to make a run?”

“Don’t worry,” Celeste said with a mysterious smile. “The next moment is the moment to witness a miracle.”

She got up and walked toward the kitchen. Under Selene’s utterly shocked gaze, she began to pull item after item from the [Purified Miniature Church].

A large, fresh fish that was still twitching.

Perfectly cleaned and processed cuts of chicken.

An assortment of vegetables still glistening with morning dew, practically radiating the essence of nature.

There was even a complete set of brand-new, professional-grade kitchenware and a dazzling array of top-tier seasonings.

These were all exclusive royal supplies from the elven palace, specially prepared and packed into her spatial storage on Queen Elaniel’s orders. Her Majesty’s intent was clear: she wanted Celeste to eat and drink well even when she was away, and never to feel deprived.

“Sister! You’re using the church as a grocery bag?!” Selene stared at the small mountain of ingredients piling up on the kitchen counter, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “The gods would weep if they knew!”

“The gods?” Celeste lifted her chin triumphantly. “The gods have to eat, too. And they have to eat good food, otherwise, where would they get the strength to bless their believers? This is called ‘Divine Power Replenishment,’ you get me?”

She clapped her hands, rolling up her sleeves and unleashing her full culinary aura. “Alright, little rich lady, stop lounging around like a salted fish. Get over here and help me!”

“Coming!” Selene scrambled up from the sofa and scurried into the kitchen, buzzing with excitement.

With one sister as head chef and the other as her eager assistant, the two got busy in the small kitchen. The crisp, rhythmic tap of a knife against the cutting board, the explosive sizzle as ingredients hit hot oil, and the sisters’ occasional bickering and laughter all intertwined, composing a warm, lively display of everyday life.

A little over an hour later, a knock came from the door.

The moment Celeste opened it, an aroma ten times more potent and domineering than their last barbecue swept over Su Wan and Xia Lian like a raging storm.

The fragrance was almost unreasonably intense. It felt tangible, as if it had materialized into a physical force that brutally seized their nasal cavities, pierced straight through to their lungs, and threatened to rip their very souls from their bodies and pin them to the dining table.

The two girls stood frozen in the doorway, their breath stolen away by the sheer tyranny of the scent. Their gazes fell upon the dining table and locked in place.

In perfect unison, their throats bobbed.

A massive basin of Sichuan Boiled Fish sat centerpiece, its surface a glistening, brilliant red. Snow-white fish fillets, having just been doused with sizzling hot oil, trembled amidst a dense blanket of dried chilies and peppercorns. Just looking at it made the roots of their tongues tingle and their scalps prickle with a numbing sensation.

Next to it was a platter of Spicy Diced Chicken, with golden, crispy morsels buried in a mountain of fiery red chilies. Each piece seemed to be arrogantly broadcasting a signal: ‘Come and eat me.’

Beside these monuments to spice was a plate of emerald-green stir-fried vegetables and a dish of refreshing smashed cucumber salad. That touch of fresh green, nestled in a scorching sea of red, carved out a small, peaceful harbor for the senses.

Su Wan’s body swayed. She instinctively clutched the doorframe for support, her fingertips turning white from the force.

On that face of hers, which always maintained an expression of cold, unshakable dignity, a clear crack had appeared. A wave of pure, undisguised shock was rapidly disintegrating her composure.

“This smell… it’s cheating…” Her voice was a trembling whisper, laced with a raw desire she didn’t even realize was there. “They’re clearly just home-cooked dishes… why… why do they have such aggressive power?”

“Of course they do! This is a culinary heritage affirmed by the gods themselves,” Celeste declared, standing proudly with a spatula in one hand and a cartoon apron tied around her waist. Her chin was tilted at a smug angle.

“As the saying goes, a person can change completely in just three days.” She hummed, adding, “My cooking skills evolve, too!”

Celeste boasted, “Forget these home-cooked dishes. If you let me grill meat again right now, I guarantee the flavor would be at least three times better than last time! I promise you, after you eat this meal, you’ll look back on that barbecue we had in the Domain and think it was, at best, an appetizer!”

Su Wan stared blankly at Celeste, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She was finding it incredibly difficult to connect the girl before her—the one wearing a silly apron with ‘Hurry up and praise me!’ written all over her face—with the battlefield “god” who summoned meteorites from the heavens and dominated all before her.

The stark contrast was so jarring she couldn’t adapt.

“Sit down, sit down! Come and try my sister’s cooking!” Selene greeted them enthusiastically.

“Don’t just stand there gawking,” Celeste puffed out her chest. “Let’s dig in!”

The four of them sat down around the dining table.

The sumptuous victory feast had officially begun.

[Elysian’s Note: Having a good time with the story? Every single bit helps immensely: