Shokugeki No Douluo Dalu (Patreon)

Chapter 61: Prerequisites for Promotion to Intermediate

"Alright, enough, don't make a scene and become a laughingstock," Niu Yue said with a deep voice. He picked up his still unopened foil-wrapped grilled brain flowers and exchanged glances with Zhao Yunsheng, who was holding his portion, and then gave a disgruntled glance at Tai Lei.

Strangely enough, after Niu Yue, who hadn't spoken before, spoke, both Zhao Yunsheng and Tai Lei became eerily quiet. They simply exchanged fierce looks with each other and then lowered their heads to enjoy their food separately.

These four individuals have known each other since childhood. Among the four, Niu Yue is a few years older than the others, so in their past interactions, the other three regarded him as an elder brother.

Even as the four grew older and the age difference wasn't much of a factor anymore, this dynamic remained unchanged. To this day, the other three still hold a certain respect for Niu Yue.

Among the four, Tai Lei possesses the greatest strength and the highest natural talent. His Spirit power is at level ninety-four, and he's already reached the threshold of a ninety-fifth level Super Douluo. Following him is Zhao Yunsheng, with a Spirit power level of ninety-three.

Don't underestimate the difference in just one level of Spirit power. At the level of a Title Douluo, one level represents a significant gap in strength, and fighting against someone of a higher level can be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Yu Hua, due to his obsession with his research, hasn't dedicated much time to cultivation and doesn't possess a particularly high level of strength. He has just reached the ninety-first level.

However, this is also related to his identity as a healing-type Spirit master, which makes it harder for him to improve.

If you consider age, Yu Hua is probably the youngest among the four. Ironically, due to his prolonged consumption of various elixirs, he has accumulated a fair amount of elixir toxicity, which even he can't cure. This makes him appear the most aged among the four.

Niu Yue's Spirit power level is only ninety-two, which seems insufficient compared to Zhao Yunsheng and Tai Lei. However, the four have never argued over these differences and haven't looked down on Niu Yue due to his lower strength. They still view him as an elder brother deep in their hearts.

However, these stories from the past have long been unknown to others. In the eyes of outsiders, the four are the prestigious leaders of the Tang Sect's four branches.

Stopping Zhao Yunsheng and Tai Lei from embarrassing themselves further, Niu Yue breathed a sigh of relief and continued to enjoy the new delicacies from Qi Han's small shop.

He had been craving these since noon; now he was finally able to satisfy his appetite.

After cleaning up all the dishes and utensils and placing them in the dishwasher, Fuya picked up her changed maid outfit, bid farewell to Qi Han, and left.

After sending the girl away, a system notification sound rang in Qi Han's ears.

【Ding!】

【Host has completed a task.】

【Time-Limited mission: New Dish Promotion (Completed)

Quest Reward: Two fragments of a one-star self-selected recipe (claimable)】

"Claim."

As Qi Han watched two white one-star optional recipe fragments being placed into the system's storage space, he couldn't help but sigh.

The items were good, but unfortunately, he couldn't use them right now.

Until he completes the "Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb" dish, Qi Han can't obtain any recipes through exchange or quest rewards.

"By the way, system, is there no way to lift this restriction?"

【Host reaching Intermediate Chef level can unlock the second training space, enabling the simultaneous learning of two recipes.】

Oh? There's such a good thing available?

Qi Han suddenly became interested in becoming an Intermediate Chef and asked, "System, tell me more about the privileges of being an Intermediate Chef."

【The privileges of an Intermediate Chef are as follows:

1. The right to expand and renovate the shop.
2. No more two-star recipes will drop randomly.
3. Training space time flow rate changed to 120:1.
4. Unlock the second training space.】

Qi Han couldn't help but take in a sharp breath. The right to renovate wasn't immediately clear, but the expansion right was definitely a great thing.

The shop's business was already booming, and the few tables and chairs in the dining area were barely enough.

Qi Han had raised this issue with the system before, but it had always claimed he lacked the required permissions. The problem was here.

As for the second privilege, no more two-star recipes dropping meant that once he became an Intermediate Chef, only three-star or higher recipes would appear in future random drops.

This gave Qi Han a sneaky idea.

However, before he could ask, the system's cold voice sounded in his ears.

【Before each promotion task is issued, all randomly dropped recipes that have been claimed but not used, as well as completed but unclaimed tasks, must be cleared.】

Well, okay, he hadn't even said it out loud before the system ruthlessly shut down the idea.

System, you really are something.

Originally, Qi Han had been thinking of saving up the randomly dropped recipes and using them later when his chef level was higher. But this move was thwarted by the system's strict rules.

Regarding the third privilege, after experiencing the benefits of the 60x time flow rate, Qi Han naturally understood how convenient 120x would be.

Four months in the training space would only pass as one day outside.

How delightful is that?

And then there was the fourth privilege, the opening of the second training space. This meant that if he encountered a situation like this one where progress was blocked by a high-star recipe, he could learn other recipes in the second training space, ensuring he wouldn't be stuck.

Tsk tsk tsk, Qi Han couldn't wait to participate in the promotion task to become an Intermediate Chef.

【Host, please stop fantasizing. Just after achieving promotion to Junior Chef, it's impossible for you to pass the assessment for Intermediate Chef. Moreover, you haven't fulfilled any of the prerequisites for the promotion task, so there's no possibility of qualifying for promotion in the short term.】

Alright, I was just thinking.

Qi Han rolled his eyes.

He had been stuck on a three-star recipe for so long, so it was clear that he was far from being an Intermediate Chef.

But about those prerequisites?

"System, what are prerequisites?"

【Prerequisites are the criteria this system judges that the host has the capability to meet in order to attempt the promotion task. By fulfilling all prerequisites, the host becomes eligible for promotion and can attempt the promotion task issued by this system.】

(I see.)

Qi Han nodded understandingly. "What are the prerequisites for promotion to Junior Chef?"

【The prerequisites for promotion to Junior Chef are as follows:

1. Complete Main Quest 4
2. Master at least three two-star recipes.
3. Reach a Spirit power level of ten.】

No wonder after completing Main Quest 4, the system immediately announced his eligibility for promotion.

To master three two-star recipes naturally meant Braised Pork Stomach with Chicken, Dongpo Pork Knuckle, and Tomato Beef Brisket. And reaching a Spirit power level of ten was something he had already accomplished back then.

"What are the prerequisites for promotion to Intermediate Chef?"

【The prerequisites for promotion to Intermediate Chef are as follows:

• Complete Mainline Task Seven.
• Master at least five three-star recipes.
• Reach a Spirit power level of forty.】

Looking at the first condition for promotion, and then glancing at the still incomplete Main Quest 5, Qi Han fell into thought.

Not to mention mastering five three-star recipes – even if he mastered Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb, he would only have one. He still had no clue where to obtain the other four.

In comparison, it seemed that the third condition might be the easiest to achieve.

【Friendly reminder: After the host's Spirit power reaches level thirty, the maximum Spirit power limit for single-task rewards will be adjusted from 5 to 2.】

Alright, just pretend I didn't say anything.

Qi Han smirked.

Struggling with a three-star recipe for so long, he was clearly far from becoming an Intermediate Chef.

But as for the prerequisites?

"System, what are prerequisites?"