Beast roars broke the silence unexpectedly.
"Hmm?"
"Has this aroma even attracted wild beasts?"
[Discoverable Ingredient Found: Aerial Foot Shark]
[Capture Level: 6]
[Description: A shark that can move swiftly on land for one hour. Its meat is rich in fat, making it an excellent choice for sashimi and a valuable source of nutrition in extreme cold regions.]
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[Discoverable Ingredient Found: Icefield Puma]
[Capture Level: 19]
[Description: A carnivorous feline, agile, cold-resistant, and swift. Possesses sharp claws that are used for hunting and also serve as anti-slip spikes on ice.]
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[Discoverable Ingredient Found: Frozen Bison]
[Capture Level: 11]
[Description: More powerful and robust than icefield yaks. They move in herds and are vengeful. Their fur provides excellent insulation, and their meat is extremely fatty, making them a superior species with edible parts all over.]
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[Discoverable Ingredient Found: Silver-Gray Bear]
[Capture Level: 22]
[Description: Its meat can be used for sashimi and is delicious even with just salt. Its paws are highly sought after by gourmets, commanding a high price.]
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[Discoverable Ingredient Found: Emperor Penguin]
[Capture Level: 15-30]
[Description: Usually timid, but becomes ferocious when angered.]
.........
...
"Yo, the little guys we can never catch normally have come to us on a silver platter."
"No sign of the Icefield Dragon... looks like I'll have to search for it in the Gourmet World."
These were all specialties of the Ice Hell Plains, which Zhang Wei had collected before, but in insufficient quantities to achieve perfect quality.
Zhang Wei would naturally not let such a good opportunity pass. As for the Century Soup...
It would be safe wherever it was placed. He could use its aroma to attract more ferocious beasts for collection.
Just as everyone was busy capturing beasts, Zhang Wei suddenly looked towards the distant horizon.
A smile played on his lips as he said, "We have guests!"
An airship!
A super airship ten times larger than the Duoduo Merchant Guild!
Its immense size, angular design, and painted decorations all indicated that it was an extremely valuable luxury liner!
It could operate freely in the extreme cold climate of the Ice Hell Plains, a true testament to cutting-edge technology!
The electromagnetic waves were complex, but mostly malicious...
"Are they here for the Century Soup? That shouldn't be the case, this is the first time the Century Soup has appeared; outsiders wouldn't have intel on it."
Xifeng pulled out his binoculars and turned to Zhang Wei, "Boss, this... this is the exclusive vessel of the Four Great Salt Merchants!"
The Four Great Salt Merchants!
Salt essence, as an exclusive product of the Four Great Salt Merchants, was popular in the Human World. Zhang Wei's daily sales of 50 million Berries of salt essence would sooner or later attract their attention.
Although he didn't wish to interact with them yet, since they had come, Zhang Wei wouldn't be afraid!
These people descended according to the lights on the landing platform, behaving in an orderly manner, suggesting they weren't here for a fight.
Conversations drifted from the ship.
"So this is the legendary Gourmet Bank, created by that mysterious chef, Zhang Wei."
"It's a bit shabby, this interior decoration... it doesn't seem to be fully completed yet."
"Hmph, be content. Construction in such a low-temperature environment means every tile is ten times more expensive than elsewhere. Such a vast complex must have consumed an immense amount of manpower and resources."
"Indeed, the ability to build such a scale of base in this harsh land is truly astonishing."
"Zhang Wei... let's see what this King of Northern Chefs is made of!"
The landing platform was a newly constructed transport connector.
The northern region was harsh and cold; winds of minus seventy degrees Celsius could claim ordinary lives in a very short time. To ensure the safety of ordinary people without gourmet cells, specialized connectors were provided.
A thick, fully enclosed staircase rose from underground and slowly extended to the outside of the cabin door, somewhat resembling a building staircase at an airport on Earth, but much sturdier.
It was covered in various insulation materials and continuously emitted heat.
Below the staircase was a spacious underground passage that led directly into the Gourmet Collection Academy. Once the Gourmet City was completed, this passage would be rerouted.
A surging crowd disembarked from the cabin, constantly making comments.
The greeters politely welcomed them and then asked, "Are you here to conduct transactions at the Gourmet Bank, or do you have other matters?"
One of them presented a gold-embossed calling card.
Sales Manager Yan Yan, representative of the Four Great Salt Merchants!
Editor-in-Chief of the World Gourmet Journal, Ten-Star Chef: Cang Ma!
Sales Manager Zhan Lu, representative of the Blade Forging Mountain Villa!
Minister Sheng Tang, of the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Healing!
Among the vast crowd, in addition to these four, were representatives from major factions.
For instance, nine fabric merchant guilds, twelve chain hotel tycoons, nineteen wineries, twenty-two renowned restaurants, thirty-four ingredient distributors, and over three hundred renowned super gourmet hunters from the continent.
It seemed the Gourmet Bank's extraordinary progress had thoroughly alerted the existing powers on the continent.
An incredibly luxurious and formidable lineup!
These were the first visitors, and they appeared to have arrived by mutual arrangement.
The Gourmet Bank had already opened up sales channels in the north. Many ingredient distributors had obtained goods from the Gourmet Bank and were beginning to squeeze the market share of established suppliers.
Furthermore, the Gourmet Bank maintained close ties with merchants involved in construction materials, smelting, sand and soil, fabric processing, bricks, cement, and timber and stone. In essence, the emerging Gourmet Bank was their lifeline.
According to reception protocols, their equal in status was Xifeng.
Leading the group was Yan Yan, Sales Manager of the Four Great Salt Merchants, who was also the orchestrator of this visit.
During the banquet, Yan Yan said, "Please forgive this abrupt visit. Due to the suddenness of events, we were unable to communicate with your side in advance. We sincerely apologize."
Cang Ma, Editor-in-Chief of the World Gourmet Journal, added, "In fact, the Gourmet Journal contacted you two months ago and even detailed the reasons for our visit."
"Two months ago..."
Xifeng recollected carefully.
At that time, there weren't many letters for the Gourmet Bank, but there was indeed one peculiar one.
It essentially stated that the Gourmet Collection Academy lacked teaching qualifications, was a hastily conceived joke, and a mere temporary interest of some chefs.
The purpose of such an academy, it claimed, was to lead talented young chefs down a dead end, extinguish their talent, and indirectly weaken humanity's potential.
Therefore, for the sake of the Human World and the prestige of culinary academies, the Gourmet Collection Academy must cease admissions and be recognized only as a basic private tutoring establishment, lacking proper teaching qualifications.
Xifeng had naturally scoffed at such nonsensical mail and tossed it straight into the trash bin.
"So, that provocative letter was from you?" Xifeng narrowed his eyes, his expression decidedly displeased!
Cang Ma proudly retorted, "Provocative? Heh, are any of those statements not factual descriptions?"
"Your academy lacks sufficient excellent teachers, doesn't adhere to any specific culinary school of thought, and has no experienced personnel joining. Apart from some rare ingredients, it's worthless. What is this if not misleading aspiring chefs?"
Hearing this, Xifeng's mood worsened considerably!
He immediately retorted, "The Dean of our Gourmet Collection Academy—Zhang Wei—is the King of Northern Chefs, with more defeated rivals than carp in a river..."
"Oh, so what star rating is this King of Northern Chefs?"
"This..."
According to the continent's regulations, 1-2 stars were for novice chefs who had just graduated from academies or were head chefs at small pubs or restaurants.
3-4 stars indicated considerable experience, capable of managing a moderately sized establishment or being employed by smaller organizations.
5-6 stars were considered high-class. The Soup Soul of the Great Glacier was near five-star, and renowned establishments in the north required at least five-star culinary skills, akin to Jun Qing, Wolfgang, or Yun Shang Zhen Jun.
7-8 stars represented the pinnacle of culinary skill on the continent, sought after wherever they went, capable of establishing significant power bases.
9-10 stars were legendary, rarely seen in the Human World.
It was said that chefs of this caliber could partner with others and venture into the Gourmet World without being a burden.
Thus, most nine and ten-star chefs had experience traveling the Gourmet World.
However, above these ten-star chefs, there was an even more authoritative and extravagant ranking called the World Chef Rankings!
It was rumored that only top chefs of 8, 9, and 10 stars were eligible for selection.
And this World Chef Rankings was organized by the Gourmet Journal. Furthermore, significant contributions to gourmet cuisine were published in the Gourmet Journal.
The Gourmet Journal, the Four Great Merchant Guilds, and the most mysterious Gourmet Merchant Guild were all backed by that...
The Supreme Gourmet Association of Humanity!
That was Old Mo's company, a terrifying entity that truly controlled the Human World!
Xifeng sneered, "So, is your purpose here to force us to close down the Gourmet Collection Academy? Although we are a new organization, we have been forged through battles!"
"You think to threaten us with words to make us yield? Even united, you are not qualified!"
For Xifeng,
the Gourmet Bank was now his everything, and he would not allow anyone to disrupt it!
Xifeng's subordinates rose in unison, their palpable killing intent like knives directed at the visiting delegation.
Cang Ma snorted, and an even more terrifying aura erupted from him!
It was as if a gluttonous demon was about to rise from behind Cang Ma...
Xifeng and his group turned pale!
This... such oppressive pressure, it felt as if a single move would result in their immediate demise!
"This suffocating sense of despair...!"
"This Cang Ma, though unknown, possesses such a formidable aura!"
"Even the Scorpion of the Black List, a murderer who poisoned an entire city... I've never felt such fear!"
Just then, a hand gently rested on Cang Ma's shoulder. It was Sheng Tang, the chief minister of the Kingdom of Healing and a restorer of food!
Sheng Tang smiled, "Why the need for such hostility? Mr. Cang Ma, your purpose here is not to create such an unpleasant atmosphere, is it?"
Cang Ma snorted and continued to address Xifeng, "We are aware of your efforts to bribe reporters and create hype. The news coverage is filled with falsehoods and inaccuracies, with conflicting statements across multiple media outlets."
"We are here to conduct a formal and serious evaluation of the Gourmet Collection Academy. Your achievements and ratings will be published in the Gourmet Weekly, allowing all novice chefs who wish to study here to have a clear understanding!"
"Of course, you can refuse the evaluation. The Gourmet Journal will still publish the results truthfully, but it will undoubtedly be a strong recommendation against it!"
"The influence of the Gourmet Journal... you are aware of it, aren't you?"
The Gourmet Journal.
The most authoritative magazine in the entire Human World!
Its pages featured sensational gourmet achievements and great cuisines from various regions. For those who subscribed, expanding their perspectives through the Gourmet Journal was essential for culinary research!
The evaluation by the Gourmet Journal could be said to directly determine the potential of the Gourmet Collection Academy!
Without its endorsement, the Gourmet Collection Academy was destined to remain insignificant.
"So then... will you accept the inspection by the Gourmet Journal?"
At this moment,
cold sweat streamed down Xifeng's face.
The decision was too momentous for his authority to respond.
"We accept!"
A familiar voice echoed from afar.
Xifeng almost wept with joy. It was Zhang Wei who had arrived.
Zhang Wei's appearance was like a cornerstone, bringing a sense of stability and banishing the panic. Everyone looked at Zhang Wei with trust in their eyes!
"You have the final say?"
"I am the biggest boss here, Zhang Wei, the King of Northern Chefs!"
His voice resonated with conviction!
Facing Cang Ma's mountain-like pressure, it seemed as laughable as ripples on a lake in front of Zhang Wei.
What was truly awe-inspiring was... Cang Ma and his group!
Cang Ma narrowed his eyes and asked, "You, are you sure?"
"Of course."
"You have confidence!"
Sheng Tang applauded beside him, praising without reservation, "Young hero!"
However, Yan Yan, the representative of the Four Great Salt Merchants, revealed a hint of gloom in his eyes.
Xifeng stood up, feeling somewhat guilty, "Boss..."
Zhang Wei smiled, "Xifeng, you just fell into his trap."
"Trap?"
"Yes, exactly, a trap."
Cang Ma curled his lips and sneered, "A trap? Let's hear it. I'd like to see what trap I've set."
"The trap is... you overestimated him."
Overestimated?
Xifeng looked confused.
Zhang Wei patted Xifeng's shoulder and said, "As soon as he came in, he talked a lot with you, about the academy's future, teaching qualifications, and so on... then he immediately brought up the evaluation, putting you under immense pressure."
"Honestly, did you feel at that moment that this evaluation could determine the academy's fate?"
Xifeng hesitated for a moment and nodded.
Zhang Wei smiled, "That's right. That's the trap of a mistaken perception. But if you look deeper, the so-called Gourmet Journal doesn't have the power to decide the fate of an academy; it's..."
"...just a media outlet. Other than its larger volume, it's no different from the newspaper reporters you hired!"
Media?
Just?
Boss, you probably don't know the influence of this Gourmet Journal in the Human World!
Restaurants praised by it could easily rake in fortunes daily. Those criticized by it, even the largest hotels, would see their customer traffic halved!
Cang Ma burst into laughter, "Interesting, very interesting. This is the first time I've heard someone say the Gourmet Journal is 'just media.' What a hilarious statement!"