Having already refined one batch of pills, but unsure if his spiritual energy was sufficient, he dared not continue refining, so he began reading the books given to him by Elder Dan.

Just as Grandma brought the chicken soup over, Elder Dan woke up and said happily, "Looks like I woke up at just the right time, little sister, your cooking is really good."

Lin Damei didn't mince words: "That's right. When I was young, I was in charge of cooking for people's weddings and funerals. My skills were exceptional."

Usually, it's men who are in charge of cooking, but she established herself with her excellent culinary skills. Her cooking skills were originally mediocre, but Sister Yan taught her step by step. Sister Yan was kind to her without asking for anything in return, but unfortunately, good people don't always get good rewards.

Watching Lin Damei leave looking dejected, Elder Dan was still puzzled: "I just praised her a couple of times, why is she unhappy? Did she realize I was just being perfunctory?"

Zhu Fanfan looked at Elder Dan in disbelief: "My godmother's cooking is so good, and you still don't like it?"

Elder Dan glanced at Zhu Fanfan and said, "When I was in the Dragon Group, the chefs were all imperial chefs. Their cooking skills were truly excellent. Your godmother's skills are just passable."

Even the commander's granddaughter has never eaten anything good; it's truly pitiful!

Zhu Fanfan's eyes lit up: "Grandpa Dan, you'll be staying at my house for a while, and we can't just go to Grandma's house to freeload every day, can we?"

Elder Dan immediately explained, "Since you brought food, I will teach you knowledge."

Zhu Fanfan brought enough food for them to eat their fill, so it wasn't like he was freeloading. He taught them skills and put in the effort, so it wasn't like he was eating for nothing.

Zhu Fanfan said nonchalantly, "That's not important. What's important is that we need to be self-sufficient in the future. Can you cook?"

Elder Dan nodded: "Yes." He had no problem taking care of a child.

Zhu Fanfan asked again, "Is it delicious?"

Elder Dan honestly replied, "It's edible."

In military campaigns, whoever has time cooks; as long as you're full, that's enough, don't worry too much about the taste.

Zhu Fanfan refused: "I want to eat the food made by a master chef, I don't want to settle for anything less."

If we're talking about just getting by, there are two in her family. Otherwise, why would she have started learning to cook from her godmother at such a young age? Was it because she was diligent? Was it because she was sensible? It's just that the whole family's cooking is terrible, and she didn't want to force her palate to eat badly.

Elder Dan thought for a moment and said, "This is a bit difficult. The team leader has the right to speak and can hire a good chef. If the two of us hire a head chef, we will be criticized for capitalism. I don't care. Once I'm buried, no one can do anything about it. You are definitely still alive. It would be quite troublesome if someone caused trouble."

Zhu Fanfan: "Can't you wish me well for once? I'll fight back if someone causes trouble."

Elder Dan agreed: "You should fight back anyway. Don't listen to that nonsense about winning people over with virtue. Girl, do you want to go learn some skills on the mountain?"

Zhu Fanfan directly refused: "The nearby mountains have been searched by the army many times. There won't be any wild boars left. Give up!"

Elder Dan said righteously, "Am I the kind of person who would fleece the country? Everything belongs to the country now. If we find anything, we should hand it over. We need firewood for alchemy, so let's go chop some."

Seeing that Zhu Fanfan wanted to say something, he continued, "Cut down those dead trees and burn them when we get back."

What else could Zhu Fanfan say? Although their family had coal, it wasn't much; firewood was still their main source of fuel.

Elder Dan was pleased with himself: "Girl, I'll go outside and teach you how to draw in the Heavenly Fire, making your alchemy twice as effective."

Zhu Fanfan really didn't understand. What was Heavenly Fire?

Elder Dan said directly, "Are you going or not? I'll tell you if you go."

Zhu Fanfan naturally went, and the two drank chicken soup, ate chicken, made some preparations, and then left.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Elder Dan was like a monkey entering the mountains, leaping and bounding about, climbing trees with incredible agility. Zhu Fanfan was stunned; it was the first time she had ever seen someone older than her grandfather so nimble.

Elder Dan beckoned to Zhu Fanfan: "Come and play! Children should let their nature run wild. I know you can use light-body skills, fly!"

Zhu Fanfan shook her head: "My grandma doesn't like me jumping up and down in the trees like a monkey; it's unsightly."

Elder Dan scoffed, “What’s all this talk about elegance or inelegance? It’s all for outsiders to see. The right path is to live comfortably.”

After saying that, she used the branch to fly to another tree. Zhu Fanfan watched with great envy. She thought she was very good, but she couldn't even use a little bit of force to step onto the branch and stand steadily, let alone fly to other trees.

Elder Dan said, "I will teach you a mantra. Try practicing it, and you will be able to master lightness skill."

After teaching her a mnemonic, Zhu Fanfan tried to sit cross-legged and focus her energy in her dantian to practice. Elder Dan was displeased: "Girl, I told you to practice while thinking about flying. When will you ever learn it like this?"

Zhu Fanfan retorted, "Your standards are even higher than my grandfather's."

Elder Dan didn't indulge him: "That's why you're progressing so slowly."

Seeing that Zhu Fanfan was unconvinced, Elder Dan softened his tone: "I'll teach you how to cut down trees!"

Zhu Fanfan was full of questions. They came out without even taking an axe, how were they going to cut down trees?

Elder Dan gave his answer: "Watch."

They found a dead tree. Elder Dan just stood there quietly. The tree was pulled out by itself, and it was cut into sections as if by a knife, forming a short stump. The stump was then divided into two, then four, then eight, and finally into pieces of firewood.

Zhu Fanfan noticed Elder Dan's surroundings and saw no concentration of spiritual energy. Could it be the legendary mental power? But how was it generated?

Elder Dan was smug: "Want to learn?"

Zhu Fanfan didn't answer, still wondering what was going on. Elder Dan, finding it boring, said, "Watch closely, you'll be chopping wood in a bit."

Then divide a wooden stake in half, then into four, then into eight.

Zhu Fanfan saw it clearly this time. There was a faint spatial power around Elder Dan. Because she had a sense of space, she had a slight understanding of space and captured a trace of familiarity. But how could space cut wood?

Elder Dan said, "This is a bit profound, and you won't understand it in a short time. Concentrate your mental energy in your hands and chop hard at the wood, just like I did before, to break the wooden stake into small pieces."

Zhu Fanfan listened and concentrated his mental energy on his hand, trying to chop at the wooden stake. Fearing injury, he wrapped his hand with his internal energy and chopped at the wood. As expected, it broke in two. He chopped again until he reached the wood and chopped it into pieces.

Elder Dan was relieved to see that Zhu Fanfan grasped the concept quickly and said to Zhu Fanfan, "Watch, I'll demonstrate a magic technique for you."

After saying that, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and focused his energy. Zhu Fanfan saw the wooden figure in front of him disappear into thin air. He looked at Elder Dan in confusion, wondering if he also had a space.