That night, Chen Xu entered the Fire and Smoke Kitchen a total of three times.
Each time, consuming 100 Fireworks Value allowed him to stay in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen for a full twelve hours, while only a quarter of an hour had passed in reality.
In the end, he had consumed his Fireworks Value down to just 82 points.
His left hand was scalded black and red, covered with a dense array of blisters.
During the process, whenever he felt too tired and in pain, unable to endure, he would allocate himself an additional point in Tri-Attribute.
Adding Essence could directly restore physical strength, adding Divine Soul could refresh the mind, while adding Qi Blood could somewhat repair physical damage.
Although this kind of repair was minimal, without the increase of Qi Blood, Chen Xu's left hand would not have ended up just with blisters.
In the end, he was left with only one Free Attribute Point.
The Tri-Attributes continued to grow.
[Essence: 24]
[Qi Blood: 24]
[Divine Soul: 24]
[Fire Control Level 1: (56/100)]
[Chopping Wood Level 1: (99/100)]
Yes, Chen Xu did not only practice Fire Control; he also did not neglect the practice of the Firewood Splitting Knife Technique.
This was also one major reason he left his right hand away from the fire, to at least keep a hand capable of holding a knife.
For some reason, the Firewood Splitting Knife Technique experience got stuck at 99 points, and the final point couldn't be increased no matter what.
He practiced repeatedly, trying to mobilize Qi Blood and comprehend the nuances.
In the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, he chopped those seemingly endlessly regenerative logs into a small pile of firewood.
Yet the last point of experience remained difficult to break through.
Chen Xu could only temporarily set aside this section and focus on breaking through in Fire Control Skill.
Upon entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen for the third time, he stared at the slowly burning flames in the stove, suddenly gaining a subtle understanding of the concept of fire.
Wood creates fire, and tangible fire usually relies on fuel to exist.
Contemplating this, the intangible fire within the human body should also have fuel.
Essence, Qi Blood, and Divine Soul are his fuel!
Chen Xu, his Heart and Spirit stirred, immediately mobilized the surging Qi within, suddenly contracting his abdomen and expanding his chest, opening his mouth to exhale.
Whoosh—
A burst of scorching flame spewed from his mouth, his Fire Control experience leapt from 42 to 56.
The pleasure, just as it should be!
When dawn broke, the rooster at the neighbor's house crowed three times.
In an instant, the familiar sounds of a bickering couple and crying children resumed.
At the same time, the various shouting voices from South Market Street in the distance reawakened.
Chen Xu walked into the kitchen with a scalded left hand, his mindset now completely different from the day before.
Though the injuries he sustained in reality transferred to the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, and the damage his Divine Soul received in the kitchen also reflected back in reality.
But these were all minor matters.
"Huh?"
In the kitchen, Chen Xu discovered that there was suddenly an additional item on the stove.
A small fruit, resembling a pine nut. If not for a food label appearing on it, Chen Xu might not have even noticed this little thing.
[Scab Fruit, a three-year-old Exotic Fruit, consuming it can slightly heal outer injuries of living beings.]
Without a doubt, this must be the "cooperation fee" sent by the Mouse Demon!
Chen Xu was pleasantly surprised but also somewhat moved. Classmate Lin Qi schemed against him, yet the Mouse Demon he had known for only a day or two showed constant moral righteousness.
What a truly upside-down and wondrous world.
Chen Xu directly picked up the Scab Fruit, washed it in water, and ate it like a bean.
Crunch, there was even a hint of nutty aroma.
As the Scab Fruit settled in his stomach, a vague cooling sensation arose.
This was definitely not an illusion, as Chen Xu could clearly feel the scald on his left hand was somewhat alleviated.
The pain in his right leg was also slightly lessened.
For breakfast, Chen Xu planned to make a pot of black rice red bean porridge; his left hand was injured, so he preferred simple cooking methods for porridge.
He also made a soft leek oil meat pastry, using similarly simple methods, requiring no kneading, just adding some lard, leeks, and minced meat.
With ingredients prepared the night before, even using just his right hand, Chen Xu swiftly completed the preparation of these two breakfast items.
When the aroma of leek oil meat pastry rose from the cooking pot, Chen Xu's courtyard gate was knocked on again.
This time it was another classmate, Xu Wenyuan.
Chen Xu was somewhat surprised when he opened the gate, because he didn't have a particularly good relationship with Xu Wenyuan.
Oddly enough, Xu Wenyuan had a good relationship with Lin Qi.
Even more strange, Xu Wenyuan's family background was similar to Chen Xu's, both being children of peasant families.
Both scholars from humble families having good relations with Lin Qi, yet their relationship with each other wasn't good.
Isn't that quite interesting upon close examination?
Chen Xu had never examined it closely before, but discovering Lin Qi's true colors gave him a new perspective on these matters.
He saw Xu Wenyuan sweating, with slightly disheveled hair.
Upon meeting Chen Xu, he immediately blurted out, "Brother Chen, Lin Qi—Brother Lin, Brother Mu Xian has fallen ill, he suddenly fainted, severely ill!"
Chen Xu was startled.
After the shock came a subtle joy, he suppressed his delight, keeping a straight face, and questioned, "What did you say?"
Xu Wenyuan, anxious and sweating, looked as if he might cry: "Brother Mu Xian suffered an acute illness last night, with some strange symptoms, and the Lin Family searched the city for renowned doctors, but none could cure him.
Everyone says, Brother Mu Xian might not make it! Brother Chen, Brother Chen, what should we do?"
What should we do?
Ha, this is great!
Of course, Chen Xu's face needed to show timely shock and sadness, he frowned with a bitter smile, "Brother Xu, I am not a doctor, if even the doctors say it's incurable, what can I possibly do?"
Xu Wenyuan wiped his sweaty face randomly, gritting his teeth, "Brother Chen, a famous scholar from the Northern Land came to our Jichuan County a few days ago, supposedly apprenticed to the Great Scholar Li Yanqing, with extraordinary abilities.
The Lin Family went to North City for help last night, but the scholar had set a rule two days prior.
He possesses a Star Array, and anyone wishing to meet him must pass through it!
Since dawn, several outstanding Lin Family members have attempted the array, but none succeeded.
Brother Chen, it's said the Star Array truly embodies the Path of Divination.
In our County School, only you, Brother Chen, excel deeply in Divination, and being mutual friends of Brother Lin, Wenyuan…little brother is ashamed to come to you for help."
Chen Xu: …
Chen Xu was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Finishing his long speech, Xu Wenyuan's face grew redder, as though eggs could be fried on it.
This was indeed difficult for Xu Wenyuan, being quite competitive and disagreeing with Chen Xu.
Asking Chen Xu for such assistance was truly a challenge for him.
Chen Xu kept quiet, pretending to ponder deeply.
Nobody would know the complexity of his feelings in that very moment.