Besides the salt coins of denomination one, there were also high-end gourmet coins of other denominations.
The orange coin, with a denomination of two, was made by grinding the captured Orange Candy from the Gourmet World into powder, and casting it with triple elemental water. Its individual value was no less than salt essence, and it was also wrapped in gold foil.
The fish oil coin, with a denomination of five, was smaller in volume. It was made from the amber-colored ancient dried fish, possessing a prehistoric flavor of thousands of years. Its faint fishy scent could drive any cat wild.
The coin with a denomination of ten was made from chocolate fountain material. It was not small in size, and was smooth and rich.
The coin with a denomination of fifty was the essence of pepper volcano ash, mixed with a little powder from ruby chilies. It was said that just a small amount could elevate the taste of Mapo Tofu by two notches.
The coin with a denomination of one hundred was a vegetable essence extracted through the Art of Refined Food, also known as vitamin coins. The vegetables were unique treasures from the Cloud Country.
The Gourmet Bank had also issued gourmet coins of larger denominations, but those were not within Gang Tu's reach.
"These coins..."
"Even if sold as raw materials, the price wouldn't be a loss, right? It might even be a small profit!"
Some quick-witted merchants specialized in the resale of gourmet coins and made a fortune.
However, Zhang Wei didn't care.
The ingredients that could become raw materials for gourmet coins were those with very high replication rates in the Treasure Hall, serving as one way to clear excess stock.
Gang Tu, carrying 600 gourmet coins, walked inside with Froze. The warm spring sunlight seemed precious amidst the great ice mountains.
The source of the spring sunlight was the pool in the central area of the Spring Hall.
Several plesiosaurs were playing within.
"Spring Plesiosaurs, ancient aquatic dinosaurs, capture level 115. They were purchased at a high price from the Healing Country. These four have been kept here to serve as welcoming guests."
Level 115!
Gang Tu gasped in disbelief!
Were these creatures meant to exist in the mortal realm?
Froze smiled and explained, "Don't worry, Spring Plesiosaurs are herbivores and are very gentle. They would never harm anyone. Many people come here wanting to take photos with them."
Speaking of which, camera technology had improved slightly since then. The sound of gunpowder explosions was smaller, so there was no need to worry about startling the Spring Plesiosaurs.
The interior area was even more bustling, and the prices were more terrifying.
"Taste of the South Sea!"
The first restaurant at the intersection.
After a brief glance at the menu, Gang Tu's hands started to feel numb...
"Braised Star Abalone!"
Star Abalone, an extremely rare abalone found in the vast ocean. Hailed as "stars of the deep sea," it was a super high-grade ingredient with a star-shaped exterior and thick, delicious flesh. It was a super high-grade seafood delicacy rarely seen even in high-end restaurants. It seldom appeared in the market, and when it did, it was sold at a high price, a luxurious ingredient only the wealthy could afford.
One portion cost 12 gourmet coins!
"Kelp Nunchaku!"
A type of seaweed that grew exclusively in the deep sea. Both ends were cylindrical, connected by a fungal organism in between. Shaped like nunchaku, it was named "Kelp Nunchaku."
Its texture was crisp and rich. The nunchaku-like shape stimulated the appetite. Cooking it into a soup was the best way to bring out its rich flavor. The rich broth combined with the crisp texture made it irresistible to many diners.
One portion cost 18 gourmet coins!
"Spicy Ox!"
An ox with an intensely fragrant and delicious flavor. Initially, it inhabited forests widely. With the advancement of human technology, it could now be farmed in large quantities. The mature and juicy beef, mixed with the flavor of various spices, melted in the mouth instantly, yet still retained the original chewiness of the beef. The thick fat flowed from the meat, making it irresistible.
One portion cost 38 gourmet coins!
These prices...
Were these truly meant for humans to enjoy?
Gang Tu swallowed and chuckled, "Um, do you want to eat something?"
Froze smiled, "Don't mind me. We internal staff have special vouchers, considered part of our salary."
"How much?"
"A meal allowance of one gourmet coin per day!"
Good heavens!
Ten thousand Beli?
And that's just the meal allowance!
His meal allowance for a year is more than I've earned in half my life!
Don't your materials come for free!
Seeing Gang Tu frozen in place, Froze kindly asked, "Aren't you going to eat something?"
Gang Tu clenched his wallet and choked out, "These... don't really suit my taste..."
Froze tilted his head, "Really... I thought you were a fish, so you'd like seafood... Right!"
"What?"
"A new hall just opened, and it's said to have terrible taste. It's managed by excellent chefs from the core continent, all super powerful six-star or higher chefs! Let's go take a look!"
"Uh... alright!"
He bought a cheap cob of corn on the cob from a roadside stall for only two gourmet coins.
Cob corn was a legendary corn that appeared once every ten years in ordinary cornfields, with only one cob growing at a time.
Even eaten raw, one could fully enjoy the concentrated rich flavor of ten years of nutrients. When cooked or grilled, the aroma intensified, and it was so sweet and juicy that one couldn't help but devour it all at once. Although relatively inexpensive, it was a very popular ingredient within the Gourmet City.
Despite the competition from gourmet stalls from all directions, the stalls selling grilled cob corn always had long queues, with various flavors and styles available.
"The portion is quite generous!"
"And the grilling technique is excellent!"
Froze held one, which Gang Tu had bought as a gift for him.
Froze said, "Of course. The simpler the ingredient, the greater the competition. There are at least thirty different styles of cob corn, each a perfect display of each vendor's skill. Those with poor techniques..."
"Have been eliminated?"
"Exactly. There are too many high-level chefs in the Gourmet City, the pressure is unimaginable!"
Even if you were a seven-star or even an eight-star chef, a dark horse could emerge from some corner and surpass you.
Therefore, setting up a stall in the Gourmet City was very stressful. Pressure also brought motivation, causing the chefs' skills in the Gourmet City to spiral upwards!
"Speaking of which, where are you taking me?"
"We're here, look!"
Following Froze's pointed direction, an... indescribable giant beast resided there.
At first glance, Gang Tu thought it was just a densely grown banyan tree!
"This is..."
"Gekigashira Dragon Dance!"