As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

The pre-registration process went surprisingly smoothly.

After completing the basic screening and competency review, Lingdang happily accepted a temporary card.

The card clearly showed the photo she had just taken; although it was a bit rushed, it looked pretty good. The words "Prospective Trainee" were written at the back.

The staff then told them that they could go home and wait patiently for the specific class assignment results and admission notice.

The moment she stepped out of the school gate, despite the noisy crowd around her, Lingdang had no time to appreciate the lively scene.

She eagerly grabbed Li Xian's sleeve and cheered excitedly in a low voice.

"Old Deng! We did it! I... no, I, Li Xiaoling, will soon be a certified student! Unlimited dried fish and pudding are just around the corner!"

"It's 'Dad'."

Li Xian corrected her, and casually smoothed her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind.

"And don't get too excited yet. Starting school is just the beginning. There's a lot of trouble to come, like classes, training, and homework."

"Hmph, mere studying, how could it possibly stump the future... cough, the future good student!"

Lingdang quickly changed her tune, but Li Xian still sensed the extent to which the cat's tail swayed excitedly under her disguise.

"To celebrate your upcoming entry into the 'Hall of Knowledge,' we'll have an extra feast tonight," Li Xian said with a smile, patting Lingdang's little head.

I silently added to myself, "And I'm about to have more peaceful time."

Bell's eyes instantly turned into stars: "A feast?! Is it even better than the beast steak from last time?"

"Hmm, the ingredients might be of a higher grade."

Li Xian spoke calmly, but in his mind he was calculating the inventory in the refrigerator and the "secret reserve".

The nights in Jiangcheng have been unusually peaceful these past few days, with reports of monster attacks decreasing sharply.

Li Yu and Chen Zhe would occasionally remark in their family group chat, "The patrol pressure has been a bit less lately, probably because the newly awakened superhumans have also helped share the burden."

Only Li Xian himself knew that it wasn't about others sharing the burden—it was simply that he had slightly broadened his "grocery shopping" route these past few days.

Then the frequency increased slightly, and a little more potential troubles were "cleaned up" along the way.

A Class B "Swamp Shadow" that attempts to nest in the drainage system, potentially causing urban flooding.

The C+ class "energy-eating rat swarm" is known for its tendency to gnaw on cables and threaten power grid security.

Then there were a few A-grade borderline exotic beasts that roamed the outskirts, which Li Xian assessed as having "decent meat quality but too troublesome to process (referring to their strong fishy smell)" and therefore didn't bother to take away...

At least half of the credit for the Jiangcheng Supernatural Abilities Bureau's sudden reduction in pressure should go to a lazy man who, late at night, wore a Sun Wukong mask, or simply didn't bother with a mask at all, and used spatial distortion to conceal his figure while "buying" ingredients for free.

Of course, Li Xian himself was completely unaware of this.

He just felt that the quality of the "goods" in the "vegetable market" (referring to the place where various strange beasts appear) had declined recently, and good goods had to be transported further away, which was a bit annoying.

Back home, Li Xian sent Lingdang to play with Pangju (actually, she wanted Pangju to keep an eye on her so she wouldn't cause trouble), and then went into the kitchen.

He decided to be a little more careful with tonight's menu:

Main course: Steamed "Tidelord's Armlets"

It was taken from a fish that lingered near the mouth of the Li River, which Li Xian disliked because "the main part of the meat was too tough and had a strong fishy smell."

However, the tips of several of its main arms and feet were exceptionally fresh, making it an A+ grade semi-aquatic beast.

Use the [Consciousness Cutting] to remove all impurities and fishy lines, leaving only the most quintessential snow-white meat segments, and serve with Sichuan peppercorns and shredded scallions and ginger, precisely sautéed using the [Flame Heart Control].

Side dish: Braised "Yankai Mountain Pork Knuckle"

It comes from a certain A-level alien beast that reigns supreme in the mountains, with thick skin and flesh that is difficult for ordinary ability users to penetrate.

Its elbows move frequently, and the meat is rich in collagen.

With the aid of electromagnetic control and micro-vibration, the seasonings penetrate into every fiber, and then it is simmered over low heat until tender.

Vegetarian dish: Garlic-flavored "Glowing Jade Mushrooms"

A rare fungus that requires extremely high energy levels in its growth environment and is usually protected by powerful mythical beasts.

It has a delicious flavor and can subtly nourish the spirit.

Li Xian used his mental power to cleanse it, ensuring that its form and spiritual essence remained completely intact.

Soup: Pork Rib and Lotus Root Soup

"Dragon Bone" was taken from an unlucky C-rank earth dragon that wasn't very strong but whose bones contained gentle energy.

The lotus root was an ordinary product bought from the market, but after Li Xian used his supernatural abilities to process it, it absorbed the essence of the dragon bone.

Dessert: Caramel pudding (as specified by the bell).

Li Xian even used his telekinesis to "draw" a simple cat head pattern on the surface of the pudding.

When all the dishes were placed on the table, even the usually calm and collected Fat Orange couldn't help but jump down from the cat tree.

The fat cat went straight to the table, its heterochromatic eyes fixed on the plate of braised pork knuckle that gleamed with an enticing sheen.

Lingdang was already sitting up straight, with her hands neatly placed on her knees.

Their eyes, however, seemed to be drawn to Li Xian's hand as he carried the plate.

Its throat kept making swallowing motions, and the disguised cat ears twitched back and forth.

"Dinner is served."

Li Xian sat down and made the announcement.

The next moment, it was as if a small energy storm (referring specifically to the speed of eating) swept across the dining table.

Bell almost buried her face in the bowl, eating with a fierce posture that was completely inconsistent with her "gentle" appearance.

The tidal tentacles are sweet and chewy, the wild boar knuckle melts in your mouth, the jade mushrooms are refreshing and crisp, and the pork bone soup is warm and comforting...

With each bite, she could feel a gentle and pure energy spreading through her esophagus and throughout her body, eventually flowing into her brain, making her feel exceptionally invigorated and clear-headed.

Fat Orange also received a small dish specially prepared for it, consisting of boneless and chopped pork knuckle and pork shoulder meat.

The fat orange cat ate with loud slurping, its tail tip curling happily.

Li Xian himself ate slowly and deliberately, mainly observing the bell's reaction.

He wanted to know what benefits these high-level exotic beast ingredients and special processing methods would bring to ability users, especially those with growth-type talents like Lingdang.

Sure enough, when Bell finished her second bowl of rice and started attacking the caramel pudding...

She suddenly paused, looked up, and a hint of confusion and surprise flashed in her golden eyes.

"Dad... Dad,"

She rubbed her temples.

"It feels like something suddenly increased in my head... warm, full, but very comfortable!"

Li Xian put down his chopsticks, his senses instantly focusing on the bell.

Within his "All-Encompassing Power" vision, the bell's originally stable cluster of spiritual energy was slightly expanding, and its brightness was also increasing.

Basic mental strength: 11 → 13!

One dinner directly increased my base stats by 2 points!

In terms of the [Fission] ability, this is equivalent to a jump in combat mental strength from 121 to 169!

The improvement is astonishing!

"Looks like the food expenses weren't wasted."

Li Xian nodded inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

"That's normal. Good food means good spirits. I guess we won't have this kind of treatment in the school cafeteria anymore, so enjoy it while you can."

"Is the food in the school cafeteria really that bad?"

Bell immediately tensed up and even forgot to eat her pudding.

"How good can communal meals be? They're probably just ordinary nutritious meals, maybe with some low-level alien beast meat bits added at most."

Li Xian deliberately exaggerated, and only slowly added more details when he saw Lingdang's face fall.

"But I can give you something to eat when I get back tonight."

Bell immediately beamed again, quickly shoveling the rest of the pudding into her mouth, and mumbled, "Then I want dried fish and pudding with every meal!"

The direct consequence of the increased mental strength is that the bell has become exceptionally... energetic.

After finishing his meal, Li Xian had just cleaned up the dishes (mostly using his telekinesis) and was about to relax on the sofa to enjoy his leisurely evening when Lingdang came over.

She first tried to use her newly acquired mental strength to control the TV remote to change channels.

As a result, I accidentally used too much force, and the remote control flew out with a "whoosh".

It hit the cat tree post where Fat Orange usually sits, startling Fat Orange.

"Meow! (Translation: Rebellion!)"

The chubby orange cat puffed out its breath in dissatisfaction.

"Oops, oops!"

The bell stuck out its tongue and turned its attention to the half-empty water glass that Li Xian had been drinking from, trying to make it float.

As a result, the cup floated up, but because it was not controlled properly, half of the water inside spilled out and splashed onto Li Xian's pants.

Li Xian: "...Li Xiaoling."

"I...I'll dry you off!"

Lingdang frantically grabbed at the tissues, but she lost control of her mental energy and ended up "drawing" the entire box of tissues with her telekinesis, hurling them at Li Xian.

Li Xian raised his hand expressionlessly, and all the tissues stopped automatically when they were a foot away from him, then fell neatly back onto the coffee table.

He grabbed the bell, which was still trying to "commit a crime," and said, "Looks like you need some 'post-meal digestive exercise.'"

"Hey? Wait! Old Deng, what are you doing? I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don't take Pudding's place!"

The bell struggled in panic.

Li Xian carried her to an open area in the living room and put her down.

"Aren't you full of energy? Come on, let Daddy test the practical application of your 'Mental Amplification'. Without using the fission, just use your current basic mental strength to try to touch me or defend against my attack. Touch the hem of my clothes, and you'll get a pudding as a reward. If you get 'attacked' by me, dessert time is canceled tonight."

"real?"

Bell's eyes lit up, but then she became wary again.

"Your attack? You, with a value of over seven thousand..."

Before she could finish speaking, she saw Li Xian casually wave his hand, and several decorative colorful pom-poms on the coffee table slowly floated up and then flew towards her at various tricky angles. The speed was not fast, but the trajectory was unpredictable.

Lingdang quickly focused her mind and mobilized her 13 points of basic mental energy (before fission) to perceive and interfere.

She frantically dodged left and right, occasionally using her telekinetic powers to push away the attacks.

However, the fluffy ball that Li Xian was controlling seemed to have come to life, always finding gaps in her defenses and gently touching her arms, shoulders, and even forehead.

"oops!"

"here we go again!"

"This isn't fair! How can you control so much!"

The bell made a lot of noise, jumping around the living room like a cat with its fur standing on end, creating a very comical scene.

The chubby orange cat perched on a high spot, leisurely licking its paws, its heterochromatic eyes filled with schadenfreude: "Meow. (Translation: Serves you right for being so cheeky.)"

Five minutes later, Lingdang sat on the ground, panting, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, and she had been bumped by the fluffy ball at least twenty times.

In contrast, Li Xian didn't even change his posture much, looking as lazy as if he were just casually moving his fingers.

"Is it... over?" Bell asked breathlessly.

"Um."

Li Xian nodded expressionlessly.

"Record: Zero effective contact, twenty-three hits. Conclusion: Control remains terrible, multi-target awareness and response capability is zero, tactical awareness is negative. Pudding is gone tonight."

"ah--!"

The bell let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground.

"Cunning! Old Deng is cunning! You must have used some tricks I don't know about!"

"I only used the most basic telekinetic micro-management and multi-line control."

Li Xian walked to her side and gently touched her with the tip of his foot.

"Get up. Don't lie down right after eating. Self-control isn't something you can improve just by increasing your mental strength; it requires practice and skill. Study hard at school, and don't just think about dried fish."

Lingdang got up looking aggrieved, patted her clothes, and suddenly thought of something, her eyes darting around.

"So... if I happen to run into you next time, can I get two puddings as a reward?"

"Can."

Li Xian readily agreed.

"The premise is that you don't need to use all of your fission mental power, only your registered 'mental amplification' level."

"It's a deal!"

Bell's fighting spirit was rekindled, as if she could see double pudding beckoning to her.

After the commotion, it's time to wash up.

Lingdang stood in front of the sink, looking at herself in the mirror—a pretty, ordinary little girl without cat ears.

She suddenly whispered to Li Xian, who was changing the water in the water dispenser for Fatty Orange, "Dad... if my classmates and teachers at school knew what I really looked like, would they... dislike me? Or be afraid of me?"

Li Xian paused, then turned to look at her.

The little guy's face, unusually, didn't show any childishness or mischief; instead, it showed a hint of unease.

"Some people may find it strange, but those who like you won't change just because of a pair of ears."

Li Xian dried his hands with a towel, walked over, and patted the small bump on her head that she was pretending to have.

"Besides, you're 'Li Xiaoling' now, so you don't need to think about this for now. Wait until you feel strong enough that you don't need to care about what others think before you consider showing your ears to scare people."

"I'm not bluffing! I'm showing off!"

Bell retorted, but her expression was visibly more relaxed.

She suddenly hugged Li Xian's waist, buried her face in his clothes and rubbed against him, her voice muffled: "Old Deng... thank you."

Li Xian stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and gently patted her back.

"Don't thank me. I'm raising you so you can help me wash the dishes in the future. Don't even think about slacking off."

"Hmph! I'm not washing!"

Bell immediately let go of him, made a face, and ran into the bathroom.

The chubby orange cat jumped onto the sink, looked at the closed bathroom door, then at Li Xian: "Meow? (Translation: A two-legged creature who says one thing but means another?)"

Li Xian ignored it, walked to the window, and looked at the night view of Jiangcheng outside.

School life will be a new challenge for Lingdang, but also an opportunity for growth.

He himself seems to have found a strange sense of fulfillment in the troublesome daily routine of "raising a child".

"tomorrow……"

He was talking to himself.

"I should check out the 'market' further out; the inventory is running out quickly. And while I'm at it... let's see if any high-level alien beasts wander over."

For the sake of a sustainable food supply and the apparent peace of Jiangcheng, the "grocery shopper" of Sequence 001 must continue to forge ahead.

The sound of a bell humming off-key came from the bathroom, the evening news was playing on the living room TV, and Fat Orange yawned and sprawled on the sofa.

This small home maintains a unique and lively tranquility amidst the torrent of the new era.