Chapter 52

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The dormitory manager is also a profession that hides many talented individuals. Without mentioning others, this unremarkable-looking old man has unfathomable strength. However, Ji Ran has no intention of flattering him to get something out of him... Can this old man quickly impart the historical and geographical knowledge I need to learn?

My main combat power comes from swordsmanship and magical treasures. The Four Seasons Sword Technique is already quite advanced at this point... In this world, even if it's not top-notch, it's not far off. After all, it is the culmination of thousands of years of wisdom from another world, perfectly matching the education and influence I've received over twenty years, enough for me to comprehend and apply it for a long time... perhaps even a lifetime.

As for magical treasures, they are a completely different system from this world. Although they seem to have undergone some changes due to my穿越 (time travel), they are still very powerful. Although the magical treasures I currently make are not much different from the magical items in this world, there will come a day when I can create those legendary powerful magical treasures that can overturn the heavens and boil the seas!

This path is also sufficient for me to walk for a long time, and others can't give me much. Of course, Ji Ran is still very interested in the alchemy of this world... Learning from others can help me improve, and alchemy might be quite helpful for my own treasure-making skills.

Then there's cooking. The academy can't help me with this... I haven't heard of any proper academy in this world that offers cooking courses—this isn't New Oriental...

So, without desires, there are no demands. I came to Azure Wind not to seek fame and fortune, but to learn about the history and geography of the entire continent.

Ji Ran's thoughts are a bit peculiar, perhaps related to his habit of playing games... He always needs to clarify the background information before he can play the game with peace of mind. In the era of virtual games, background stories are not just something for players to casually read; they hide countless details, relating to many puzzles and treasures in the game. True professional players never miss these background stories.

Of course, how much one can gain from the background story varies from person to person. Ji Ran believes his observational skills are quite meticulous, but in the game, he is not among the most successful players; he is just better than ordinary players.

In this world, he does not intend to abandon this method. After all, this is still the real world, and knowledge of history and geography is more useful than in games. The background in games is artificially set, while the history and geography of this world are real.

In these true histories and geographies, the secrets hidden are far more numerous than in games.

Therefore, he doesn't feel the need to deliberately obtain too much from the academy—just getting the knowledge he wants is enough.

A few small buildings were quiet, and the rooms with lights on didn't make any sound. Ji Ran had no intention of greeting those classmates at this time, so he walked straight to his room.

Cultivation, rest, and the first night at the academy passed like this.

The next day, as the east just began to turn white, Ji Ran got up.

He went to the empty plot of land he had chosen yesterday and got busy. He built two stoves with stones and soil, placed two pots on them, collected enough firewood, and started making breakfast.

Taking out the flour, oil, and various seasonings he had bought, Ji Ran prepared to make some authentic Eastern breakfast—fried dough sticks.

When he worked part-time before, Ji Ran had worked in a breakfast shop for quite some time. His skills in frying dough sticks were quite refined.

Kneading the dough, heating the oil, and various preparations kept Ji Ran busy for half an hour. Of course, he also used many cooking skills from the game, otherwise, it would have taken much longer. After all, he was only one person. Besides frying dough sticks, he also prepared other things.

On the other stove, Ji Ran cooked a pot of sweet corn porridge.

Actually, Ji Ran planned to make some rice and porridge, but unfortunately, he couldn't find rice in the trading area of Baise. With limited time, he didn't go to more advanced places to look for such ingredients, so he had to wait for another opportunity.

However, sweet corn porridge is also a very good dish. Ji Ran added various herbs he bought from the trading area to the porridge, giving it the attribute of increasing mental power. This pot of porridge was naturally prepared for Lydia, but drinking it himself wouldn't be a waste... His swordsmanship is different from most in this world, and mental power is also a very important attribute.

The corn porridge was fine, but frying dough sticks definitely filled the air with a fragrant aroma. The smell of fried food, in the quiet morning, spread through the surrounding air.

Ji Ran wasn't in a hurry; he had to wait for Lydia. It would be best to prepare some pickles as well, to make a proper breakfast.

Just as he was taking out some vegetables to make pickles for breakfast, someone came out from another old dormitory building.

It was a somewhat unkempt male student, carrying a book under his arm, walking over while sniffing the air.

"Smells good... Are you a new student this year?" The man looked about the same age as Ji Ran, with messy hair and some water stains. Following the aroma, he saw Ji Ran and his eyes lit up.

Ji Ran isn't the type to keep people at a distance. Seeing this boy, he smiled slightly.

"Right, my name is Ji Ran, and I'll be staying in the old dormitory from now on. Haven't had breakfast yet? Want to try some?" Ji Ran pointed to the few fried dough sticks next to him.

This new and exotic food clearly piqued the boy's interest. He walked around to Ji Ran's side and looked at the dough sticks.

"Never seen this before, but it smells good. Since you invited me, I won't be shy... My name is Roy, I'm a third-year student, so I'm your senior."

Roy seemed to be a quick friend, and he didn't hesitate to grab a dough stick.

"Ouch, it's hot! Let me try... Mmm, delicious!" The freshly fried dough sticks were naturally very hot, but after one bite, Roy couldn't stop.

"Crispy and fragrant, I've never eaten anything like this before... Really good! Ji Ran, right? Your skills are great! You also live in the old dormitory? By the way, how much do you think this costs? If it's not too expensive, I'll have breakfast with you from now on, and I won't have to go to those cheap little restaurants outside the school..."

Roy chewed on the dough stick while his eyes darted around.

Most people who live in the old dormitory are short on money. Although there are many tasks in the school to earn money, those trivial tasks affect cultivation, and complex tasks are dangerous. So unless they are really short of money, to the point of not being able to pay tuition, or their cultivation has hit a bottleneck and needs practical experience, most students won't put too much effort into tasks.

This way, some students are always on the edge of poverty. Of course, they are probably used to this life and don't mind it. But now, a method to improve their lives without spending much money has suddenly appeared...

Although Roy isn't good at cooking, his judgment is good. He could see at a glance that this golden, elongated, puffed-up food, mainly made of flour, shouldn't be much more expensive than bread...

"Um... How to put it, you're my senior, and it's just breakfast, so it would be a bit hurtful to charge you. But, as you know, people who live here..." Ji Ran nodded toward the small buildings, "are usually not very well-off. So let's compromise. If you can provide some breakfast ingredients, I can make an extra portion for you from now on."

Ji Ran didn't plan to make money from breakfast, but it wouldn't be appropriate to just give it away for free... Not to mention that students in the old dormitory aren't very wealthy, and inviting someone to breakfast right after meeting them is already quite strange.

A slightly cautious person would be wary of such a thing, and might even refuse outright. Excessive generosity can cause rifts, and Ji Ran wouldn't do such unnecessary things.

Hmm... In the Blue Pine Forest, it was an exception, as from the beginning, Ji Ran had intentions with the group... to have them lead him out of there. His initial actions could be considered an equal exchange.

Hearing Ji Ran's words, Roy thought for a moment: "So, what kind of ingredients do you need? Just flour, like this?"

Ji Ran smiled and shook his head: "Anything, as long as you think it's enough for a breakfast. I can make more than just this. Flour, vegetables, meat, anything."

Roy immediately extended his hand: "Then it's a deal!"

"No problem." Ji Ran smiled and tapped Roy's palm.

With the agreement reached, the two became more familiar. Ji Ran continued frying dough sticks and took out the mixed pickles.

"This is also good, crisp and fresh, and very fragrant. The ingredients don't seem too complicated, very delicious! Ji Ran... Your name is a bit unusual, you don't seem to be from around here? The food you make is really delicious, you could consider opening a restaurant!"

Roy ate the dough sticks and pickles while glancing at the other pot of boiling corn porridge.

"...I have no interest in opening a restaurant, otherwise, why would I come to Azure Wind? But making food in my free time can be a way to relax, a kind of alternative relaxation method." Ji Ran's smile never left his face, and it was clear that he was enjoying it.

"By the way, don't think about that pot of porridge, it's for my sister." Ji Ran saw Roy's gaze and smiled, shaking his head.

"Sister? You have a sister? Did she also get into Azure Wind? Is she pretty?" Unexpectedly, Ji Ran's words made Roy's eyes light up.