Chapter 175
[Based on the host’s past transmigration experience, the corresponding storyline for the Shan Hai Plane has been automatically assigned!]
[The Shan Hai Plane exists independently of the Multiverse Plane. Its inhabitants are not bound by the physical laws of the Multiverse and operate under their own system. Please plan your journey carefully and prioritize your safety.]
[Shan Hai Plane exclusive storyline—After Being Killed by the Immortal Lord for Enlightenment (Xianxia Cultivation / Untouchable Ice Prince / Heaven’s Chosen)—loading…]
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Inside a dilapidated temple, Jian Yunlan’s eyes snapped open.
The dizziness from dimensional leap still lingered, but he shook his head and forced himself to wake up. Hearing the mechanical voice in his ears, he instantly perked up and sat up from the ragged straw mat:
He had arrived in the Shan Hai Plane!
As if sensing his excitement, the God of Cookery System—his long-time partner—promptly displayed a considerate pop-up:
[Synopsis: After Being Killed by the Immortal Lord for Enlightenment is a xianxia fantasy full of dogblood drama. He, Hu Qianye, was a mortal furnace sacrificed by his beloved for enlightenment. He, Mu Jue, was the heaven-defying genius who would later reign supreme as the Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm. On their wedding night, he drove a sword through his heart…]
[Would you like to view the complete information for After Being Killed by the Immortal Lord for Enlightenment? Yes/No]
Jian Yunlan decisively tapped “No.”
The original plot? He couldn’t care less!
He came to the Shan Hai Plane for one reason only—
Having worked together for so long, the system already knew Jian Yunlan’s personality. This time, it didn’t even protest and directly pulled out a full set of street stall tools and corresponding recipes.
System: “Host, the God of Cookery System understands your goal and has prepared the stall setup. When would you like to start business?”
Jian Yunlan gave it a look of utter disappointment. “Who said anything about setting up a stall?”
System: “…???”
“I’m here to find someone.”
Taking a deep breath, Jian Yunlan stepped out of the broken temple.
Not far away, the noise of a crowd reached his ears. Following the sound, he soon arrived at Dongyun Street.
Due to the influence of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect, more and more people had settled at the foot of the mountain—some hoping their children could join the sect, others doing business with cultivators. Over time, several villages had sprung up around the once-desolate Ten Thousand Spirits Mountain.
Dongyun Street was the liveliest market in the area, where residents from nearby villages came to shop. The street bustled with people in coarse cloth and short jackets, stalls packed with all kinds of goods.
A storyteller beckoned customers in front of a teahouse. A butcher brandished his cleavers with gusto. Hawkers peddled all sorts of wares with exaggerated claims—”a glass teacup once used by the Immortal Lord,” “a secret method to become a direct disciple of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect,” “the essence of the divine beast Bai Ze.” Crowds gathered around the stalls, drawn by the spectacle.
Jian Yunlan couldn’t help but pause for a moment, taking in the strange and unfamiliar ancient scenery.
But he quickly remembered his mission and snapped back to attention. After glancing around, he found a prime spot at the street corner, cleared his throat, and—
Because Jian Yunlan’s outfit was so out of place, passersby couldn’t help but glance at him twice, likely taking him for an eccentric. Adults with children even started detouring around him from a distance.
Realizing what Jian Yunlan was about to do, the system internally panicked and immediately tried to stop him: “Host, wait—”
But it was already too late.
…Still wearing his distinctly modern floral apron and holding a ladle, Jian Yunlan put on his most enthusiastic smile.
He politely approached a woman carrying a child by the roadside.
The woman looked skeptical, but seeing Jian Yunlan clean and well-kept—more like a young master from a wealthy family than a beggar—she softened slightly. Most importantly, Jian Yunlan’s face was just too handsome, making it hard to stay wary.
The woman gave a slight nod, signaling for him to speak.
So Jian Yunlan didn’t hold back: “I’m looking for the ancient ferocious beast, Lord Taotie. Do you know where he is?”
Ferocious beast Taotie…
Taotie…
Tie…
His words were clear, crisp, and resounding.
The echoes seemed to linger in the air for an uncomfortably long time.
The woman’s expression instantly shifted from mild curiosity to the look one reserves for the mentally deranged. Without another word, she turned and walked away, muttering under her breath:
“So good-looking, but turns out he’s crazy!”
Jian Yunlan: “???”
*
Two hours later.
Dongyun Street was still bustling.
The storyteller in front of the teahouse clapped his gavel and began his tale: “Today, we speak of the renowned Immortal Lord of the Spirit Realm. Legend says he once had a mortal husband…”
A crowd gathered around, listening with rapt attention, each holding a handful of melon seeds and occasionally chiming in with questions. Gossip about cultivators was always popular among mortals.
For those two hours, Jian Yunlan had persistently inquired about Taotie’s whereabouts.
But not only did no one answer him, they all gave him the same “are you insane?” look as the first woman. Eventually, people started walking away before he could even open his mouth, refusing to engage with him at all. Jian Yunlan hadn’t managed to extract a single useful clue.
Humanity was truly cold.
The worst part? Someone eventually reported him to the authorities, claiming a suspiciously dressed outsider was disturbing the peace. Officers on towering horses came to arrest him.
‘Suspiciously dressed’ Jian Yunlan himself: “…”
What else was there to say? Run!
But after surviving the apocalypse and immediately leaping dimensions to the Shan Hai Plane—without eating for ages—his stamina had hit its limit. Dizziness blurred his vision, white spots dancing at the edges.
He barely made it two steps before the officers nearly caught up.
Then—a hand grabbed his collar and yanked him into a narrow alleyway.
Saved.
His rescuer was a lanky young man around his age, dressed in a faded blue robe, carrying a bulging paper package of unknown contents.
“Thank you!” Jian Yunlan panted. “You—”
The young man quickly hushed him.
Peering out at the still-patrolling officers, he whispered, “Follow me.” His voice was cool and crisp, though his face seemed gentle.
Recognizing the goodwill, Jian Yunlan nodded and stayed silent.
They hunched low, weaving through the maze of alleys before finally stopping at a thatched hut on the street.
This was clearly the young man’s home.
The hut was ramshackle—holes in the roof, a cold and empty stove, not even a mouse in sight.
Yet the young man acted like this was perfectly normal.
Inside, he poured Jian Yunlan a cup of coarse tea in a chipped cup. Only after they sat facing each other did he finally exhale slowly.
Lifting his eyes, the young man hesitated before speaking:
“I am Hu Qianye.”
“Jian Yunlan.”
After exchanging names, Hu Qianye stared into his tea, silent for a moment before tentatively asking:
“Earlier on the street, I heard you say you were looking for…”
Halfway through his sentence—THUD.
Hu Qianye looked up to find Jian Yunlan, who had been sitting across from him just moments ago, now face-planted on the floor.
—After all the chaos, forcing his long-starved body this far, Jian Yunlan had hit his absolute limit. Even sitting upright had become impossible.
For a chef, this was the first time in his life he’d ever been this hungry.
Now he understood how his customers felt.
“Food…” Jian Yunlan’s voice trembled as he spoke.
Seeing Jian Yunlan in this state, Hu Qianye panicked, pacing around like a headless fly.
Being extremely poor, he hadn’t lit his stove in days—even the rats had abandoned his home. What food could he possibly offer?!
Suddenly, a timely ding-dong rang in Jian Yunlan’s ears.
[Ding-dong! The God of Cookery System has detected the host’s low energy levels and has automatically activated Survival Mode.]
[Survival Mission: As a top-tier chef, you must never surrender to hunger. As long as you’re cooking, you’ll never fall! Quickly prepare a delicious roujiamo (Chinese pork burger) for yourself and your savior to banish hunger and reclaim your vitality!]
[Obtained: [Ultimate Roujiamo Recipe] x1]
[Obtained: [Skin-on Pork Belly] x10]
[Obtained: [Premium Flour] x10]
[Obtained: [Complete Spice Set & Kitchenware] x1]
The moment the mechanical voice faded, Jian Yunlan felt a surge of warmth flood his limbs—his body was suddenly brimming with inexplicable energy!
“…”
Hu Qianye could only watch in astonishment as Jian Yunlan, who had been on the brink of starvation moments ago, miraculously revived, full of vigor.
“?” Hu Qianye rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Not only had Jian Yunlan recovered, but he’d also conjured up an array of unfamiliar items out of nowhere—including several large slabs of marbled pork belly, a sack of fine flour, assorted spices, and oddly shaped tools that resembled pots.
Jian Yunlan cheerfully strode to the stove, rolling up his sleeves:
“Mr. Hu, may I borrow your stove?”
Hu Qianye: “…Sure?”
But the real shock was yet to come.
—The moment Jian Yunlan stood by the stove, it was as though he’d unlocked some hidden potential. His entire demeanor transformed. With practiced ease, he multitasked—chopping meat on one side, kneading dough on the other, while simultaneously caramelizing sugar and simmering a master stock with an array of spices in the middle.
Jian Yunlan moved with swift precision.
While the pork belly braised gently in the aromatic broth, he finished kneading the dough, rolling it into round flatbreads, brushing them with oil, and pan-frying them to perfection.
After a few flips, the flatbreads turned a glistening golden-brown, their thin surfaces flaky and crisp, crumbling at the slightest touch.
The rich, buttery fragrance filled the air, and the sound of a spoon lightly scraping the bread’s surface was enough to make mouths water.
Meanwhile, the pork belly had finished stewing…
Hu Qianye stared, utterly dumbfounded.
