Chapter 31: How Did the Catfish Spirit Arrive?

"Yes, as unbelievable as it sounds, that's exactly what happened. Everyone present witnessed it."
"Just a single bite of a dish could turn a catfish into a catfish demon—how extraordinary must that dish be? Could it be that Master Chen’s culinary skills have reached the level of a Grandmaster?" Captain Li said in astonishment.
"I suppose even if he hasn't reached Grandmaster level yet, he's not far off. Master Chen's stir-fried cucumber was enough to help General Jiang Tian, the Empire’s Northern Defender and a level 10 cultivator, break through to a new stage. How could an ordinary catfish resist such power?" Jiang Tian’s breakthrough was no longer a secret; word had already spread through the capital, so General Zhang spoke openly.
"My goodness… to cook a dish that allows a level 10 cultivator to break through… General Zhang, you’ve invited an extraordinary figure indeed."
"Exactly—an extraordinary figure, a true master." General Zhang’s excitement was apparent. "With Master Chen overseeing our kitchen, I am absolutely confident that within a year, our hotel will become an eight-star establishment—perhaps even the nation’s first nine-star hotel with a quasi-Grandmaster chef!"
"Then let me congratulate you in advance."
"Thank you, Captain Li."

Outside the kitchen’s back door, thirty heavily armed SWAT officers had already assembled.
"Don't worry about damaging anything in the kitchen. I have authorization from the captain. Once we open the door, shoot to kill the catfish demon immediately. Understood?" The deputy captain held up the key.
"Understood!"
He unlocked the door and kicked it open. The SWAT officers behind him raised their guns in near-perfect unison, aiming at the catfish demon writhing on the floor and pulling their triggers.
Though the catfish demon was a boss-level monster, it was only level ten—still a far cry from these SWAT officers, whose ranks ranged from the low twenties to thirties. Their weapons and ammunition were specially designed to counter supernatural creatures, and each shot inflicted hundreds of points of damage. Even with 2,500 health points, the demon could only endure a few rounds.
The catfish demon, driven into a berserk rage by the gunfire, thrashed wildly. It leapt up and, with a flick of its tail, smashed a large hole in the bulletproof kitchen window before diving through it!
"Well? Was the catfish demon killed?" Captain Li and General Zhang arrived just in time to see the aftermath.
"Captain, the catfish demon, in its death throes, smashed the bulletproof window and jumped out," the deputy captain reported.
"What? It jumped out?" Before Captain Li could respond, General Zhang’s face changed dramatically. "This is bad—the window faces the hotel’s main entrance! Master Chen is right there!"

Chen Yun was bored waiting at the hotel’s main entrance. Were it not for Li Xin and the two others keeping an eye on him, he would have rushed over himself. With dozens of SWAT officers whose stats were all question marks, no matter how fierce the boss, its fate was sealed.
"Master Chen, the dishes you create are simply miraculous. Even a catfish turns into a catfish demon with one bite. If a person ate it, wouldn’t they become a cultivator instantly?" Li Xin marveled.
"I've witnessed it myself today. Master, before I met you, I never submitted to anyone—not even the Emperor himself. But now, I yield, and only to you!" Xiao Wang flattered him.
"Alright, that’s enough flattery. Uncle Li, what exactly is a cultivator? Could you tell me more?" Chen Yun had heard the word "cultivator" several times and was quite curious.
"You don’t know about cultivators, Master Chen?" Li Xin was surprised. The subject of cultivators was no secret; it was even covered in textbooks. How could Master Chen not know?
"Well… I spent my earlier years in the countryside perfecting my culinary skills, rarely going out. It’s not surprising I’m unfamiliar with it," Chen Yun replied, spinning a tale.
"Of course—you’ve devoted your life to the culinary arts. It's only natural," Li Xin said. "Let me tell you about cultivators."

"In this world, ancient martial sects truly exist—those sects you read about in modern xianxia novels are real, though not as fantastical as the dramas depict.
The Azure Cloud Sect, Mount Shu Sect, Moon Worship Cult, and the World Society—they all exist in reality. The versions open for tourists are just public faces; their true members train in hidden places, away from the common folk, seeking immortality. These are the cultivators.
Ordinary people may not know this, but the Empire’s upper echelons do. To handle extraordinary incidents, the Empire recruits cultivators from these sects to serve in imperial departments, taking on tasks beyond the capability of regular government agencies. For instance, if the SWAT officers couldn’t handle today’s catfish demon, these sect members would be called in.
Cultivators are ranked by level. Ordinary citizens of the Empire are not cultivators. An outer disciple who has trained three to five years in a sect, with a body strong enough to defeat ten or twenty men alone, is classified as a level 1 cultivator.
Those who develop and wield internal energy powerful enough to cut steel are level 2 cultivators.
When this energy becomes strong enough to be projected outward, allowing feats like running on walls and rooftops, they’re level 3.
If the energy is further refined and begins to transform into spiritual energy, that’s level 4.
Once all their internal energy is converted into spiritual energy, truly transcending mortal limits and using it for protection or offense, they’re level 5.
If this spiritual energy becomes liquid in form, allowing them to manipulate objects, they’re level 6.
Total liquefaction of spiritual energy and the ability to communicate with the energy of heaven and earth, even conjuring storms or lightning, marks level 7.
When spiritual energy begins transforming into primordial essence, allowing low-altitude flight by controlling objects, that’s level 8."

"As this conversion continues, and one can fly with their physical body alone—reaching heights of 20,000 meters and speeds of 300 meters per second—they are a level 9 cultivator.
When all spiritual energy is converted to primordial essence, flight reaches 50,000 meters and speeds of 1,000 meters per second—this is the peak for now: level 10 cultivators. All this is recorded in textbooks.
I've heard there are realms beyond the tenth, but I have no idea what they entail. In any case, these things are far removed from us ordinary citizens. It’s enough for you to know, Master Chen."

Chen Yun barely heard the rest; his attention was wholly captured by Li Xin’s earlier words.
Azure Cloud Sect!
Mount Shu Sect!
Moon Worship Cult!
World Society!
What the—?!
System, get out here and explain to me why these sects exist in this world?!

"My god, what is that?!" Xiao Wang shrieked, looking up.
Chen Yun glanced skyward and his face turned pale in an instant.
Damn it—can someone please tell me how the catfish demon ended up here?!