The Martial Soul Skeleton, in Douluo Continent's Bone-Changing Susanoo

Chapter 33 Heaven Dou Royal Academy

"Next."

The recruiter's voice came from the simple pavilion.

Walking up to the table, Xia Liang smiled politely at the two recruiters, "Sirs, I would like to apply for a chef position in the academy's kitchen."

Upon hearing this, one of the recruiters stroked his mustache, looked Xia Liang up and down for a moment, and then asked, "For the chef position, the martial spirit must be some kind of cooking utensil. What kind of cooking utensil is your martial spirit?"

"My martial spirit is a skull, but I can turn bones into cooking utensils."

As he spoke, Xia Liang raised his right palm, and countless tiny blackish-purple bones were pieced together in the shape of a kitchen knife in his palm.

Immediately afterwards, the second soul skill, Iron Bones, wrapped around the black and purple iron wire, turning it into a true black and purple iron kitchen knife.

Upon seeing this, the two recruiters exchanged a glance, both noticing the surprise on each other's faces.

The recruiter on the left pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No, no. The head chef specifically requested a cooking utensil-related martial spirit. You're not up to the task. Go away, go away."

"This cleaver made of my iron bones can indeed be used as a cooking utensil. In addition, I served as a cook in a mercenary group for three years. I have extensive experience in processing soul beast meat, and I guarantee that my culinary skills will satisfy your head chef. I hope you two will make an exception for me."

When he finished speaking the last word, the kitchen knife in Xia Liang's hand had disappeared, replaced by two palm-sized bags.

The bags were placed in front of the two recruiters.

Immediately, the two recruiters stared in disbelief. The two bags were shimmering with golden light, and upon closer inspection, they were found to be filled with gold soul coins.

The two recruiters looked at Xia Liang with strange eyes.

Xia Liang pushed the two bags of gold soul coins closer to the two recruiters.

Both recruiters were ordinary people, and they were tempted when they saw the gold soul coins in the bag. When they saw that there were at least twenty gold soul coins in the bag, they both swallowed hard.

Twenty gold soul coins are equivalent to more than a year's expenses for an average family.

Xia Liang stared innocently at the two recruiters. "Sirs, these two local specialties are just a small token of my appreciation. Could you please make an exception?"

One of the recruiters straightened his posture and said seriously, "The academy's chefs are specifically for cooking for Soul Master students. Since you have experience handling Soul Beast meat and your Martial Soul can be used as a cooking utensil, we'll make an exception and hire you. However, you'll need to be inspected by the head chef. If you don't meet the requirements and are expelled, don't blame us for not warning you."

"Understood," Xia Liang replied. "I will bear all the consequences myself."

"Then please sit down for a moment. I'll take you to the head chef after the recruitment is over." With that, the recruiter casually stuffed a large bag of gold soul coins from the table into his clothes.

The other recruiter did the same; both of them became much more amiable and approachable towards Xia Liang.

Because the simple pavilion was located on the steps, the people queuing up for the job had no idea that the two recruiters had accepted bribes from Xia Liang.

Xia Liang followed the recruiter's instructions and sat down to wait.

It wasn't until noon that he arrived at the kitchen of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, led by the recruiter.

The head chef in charge of the kitchen is a level 55 food-type Soul King, whose martial soul is chicken leg.

Seeing that Xia Liang's bone spirit could transform into a kitchen knife or even any kind of cooking utensil, and that he was proficient in making various dishes and processing soul beast meat, they made an exception and hired him.

And so, Xia Liang began his life at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy as a chef.

One week later.

The dining hall of Tiandou Royal Academy.

Unlike the canteen of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with its royal title, not only boasts the most luxurious and abundant mimicry cultivation resources, but also features the most luxurious and high-end restaurant facilities.

Whether in the private dining rooms of the cafeteria or in the lobby on each floor, students or teachers were almost always discussing the meals served in the past few days.

The dishes are unlike anything I've ever seen before. They are not only novel and delicious, but they also bring out the energy and flavor of the soul beast meat, making them fragrant but not greasy.

Xue Beng, a student at the Tian Dou Royal Academy and a prince of the empire, only loves to eat dishes prepared by the royal chefs.

But after eating a new dish called red-skinned fruit scrambled eggs, he completely fell in love with the college's food.

Other dishes, such as crispy roast duck and chopped chili fish head, which I had never even heard of before, also received unanimous praise from the students and teachers of the college.

Even the three academic committee members of the academy and Prince Xuexing gave high praise to the new dishes that the kitchen had recently introduced.

The kitchen was very popular in the academy, and the head chef, who was in charge, benefited a lot from it. Only then did he realize how skilled Xia Liang was at cooking.

Inside a luxurious private room on the second floor of the cafeteria.

A slightly overweight middle-aged man dressed in a chef's uniform was sitting on the sofa smoking a pipe.

Xia Liang pushed open the door and walked in, bowing to the middle-aged man and saying, "Head Chef. Is there something you need?"

"Ah Liang, you must have heard that the number of students eating in the cafeteria has increased significantly recently. The cafeteria's revenue is growing at a visible rate. Even Prince Xuexing and the three major teaching committee members have praised your cooking. I never thought the kitchen would be so popular. You deserve a lot of credit."

After listening to the head chef's explanation, Xia Liang smiled modestly, "Not at all. It was the head chef who agreed to let me take charge of the cooking. That's how I got the opportunity to perform. Thank you for your trust."

"Hmm. I'm curious, you're so young, and you're already a second-ring Great Soul Master, why don't you cultivate like other Soul Masters, but instead choose to bury your talents in the kitchen?"

The head chef cut to the chase, "Also, your martial spirit isn't food-related, nor is it a real cooking utensil. Where did you learn these culinary skills? I called you here today to get to the bottom of this, and by the way, do you sell your recipes?"

"Reporting to the head chef. I grew up in Pot and Bowl Village, a place known for its culinary skills. I worked part-time at a restaurant for two years when I was six, and then joined a mercenary group as a chef for three years. That's why I have these culinary skills. As for the recipes, of course, I sell them."

As he spoke, Xia Liang took out ten sheets of white paper from his silver bracelet.

Each sheet of white paper was covered with dense black writing.

Taking the ten sheets of white paper handed to him, the head chef gave them a cursory glance and frowned slightly. "These recipes are indeed all ingredients I've never seen before. So the preparation of Nine-Turned Intestines is so meticulous. No wonder I can't replicate the taste no matter how I try. These recipes are treasures for chefs."

"Yes. These recipes are rare dishes passed down from my ancestors. They are all that's left in my generation. I used these recipes to work as a chef in a restaurant and earn money to buy various cultivation resources. That's how I had the opportunity to cultivate into a second-ring Great Soul Master."

At this point, Xia Liang thought for a long time before truthfully saying, "I entered the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy as a chef because I wanted to secure the academy's simulated cultivation resources. Head Chef, could you please apply to the three education committee members on my behalf to grant me the qualification to cultivate in the academy's simulated field?"

Upon hearing this, the head chef suddenly realized, "So, all along, you've been using your culinary career as a stepping stone to becoming a Soul Master?"

Xia Liang nodded firmly, "Yes, as a Soul Master, I desperately want to improve."

After a moment's thought, the head chef placed his pipe and ten recipes on the table, stood up from the sofa, and walked over to Xia Liang, looking at him intently.

Xia Liang looked back at the head chef's gaze, his eyes filled with certainty.

"Alright. You've done me a great service in the kitchen these past few days. Asking the three education committee members for permission is just a matter of convenience. I agree. I'll apply to them tomorrow. As for whether they agree to let you enter the academy's simulated field for cultivation, that's beyond my control."

(End of this chapter)