Cycle of Ascension

Extraordinary

The old man Jerry's smile remained as he reached out to collect the three bowls of taro, stowing them away in his storage ring for later. With a nod of satisfaction, he addressed Julius: "All right, that's settled then. I'll give your dish a try, and I'll let you know my thoughts when I'm done."

Julius reciprocated with a nod of acknowledgment, and as the old man slowly closed the door, Julius made his way back to his bustling stall.

As he observed the line of eager customers, he couldn't help but notice that it had thinned somewhat. Most of the nearby residents had already purchased their servings and exhausted their available mana stones. However, Julius understood that this was just the beginning, and his culinary venture was off to a promising start. The curiosity sparked by his unique dish had only scratched the surface, and there were bound to be more customers to come.

In a burst of enthusiasm, the son of the village chief, Jake, returned to his home, eager to share his newfound discovery with his father. Bursting into the room, he couldn't contain his excitement as he called out, "Father! Father! I've brought something for you, and I think you'll absolutely love it!"

The elder, a dignified figure dressed in simple blue attire, had been seated with his legs crossed, engrossed in his cultivation practice. Slowly, he opened his eyes, casting a warm and inquisitive gaze at his son.

He inquired with a fond smile. "What is it, Jake? What gift do you have for me this time?" 

Jake, his eyes shining with pride and enthusiasm, stepped forward. He carefully retrieved the 29 servings of taro and placed them in front of his father, the village chief. With an evident sense of accomplishment, he spoke with conviction: "Father, take a look at this. It's the most extraordinary dish I've ever tasted, and I'm certain you'll adore it. Its flavor is truly otherworldly."

The old man, known for his love of new culinary experiences, felt a surge of curiosity wash over him. His eyes fixed on the wooden cup, where a white, creamy liquid surrounded cubes of taro, mirroring the same astonished expression his son had worn upon first encountering the dish.

With keen interest, he turned to Jake and inquired: "What is the name of this dish?"

Jake, the son of the village chief, replied: "It's called taro, Father. It's made from taro, but as for the white substance resembling milk, I'm not entirely sure. You should give it a try; I'm certain you'll enjoy it."

The old man nodded in agreement, his gaze returning to the cup in his hand: "Indeed, I see it's taro. I'm just surprised to see it prepared in this manner."

Jake chimed in, sharing his initial thoughts: "I thought the same at first. Taro is typically boiled or grilled, but this is quite different." His eyes filled with eagerness as he urged his father, "Father, please, give it a taste. You'll soon understand how wonderful it is."

As the old man observed his son's proud smile and heard his enthusiastic description, he couldn't resist the temptation any longer. With anticipation, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a bite of the dish. The moment the flavors exploded in his mouth, his eyes widened in surprise.

he exclaimed in genuine astonishment: "Goodness, this dish is exquisite! I never expected to savor such a delightful creation crafted from such ordinary ingredients!" Turning to Jake, he inquired: "Where did you buy this, my son?"