In the original work, the pinnacle of culinary arts, the elderly Madam Joie, spent thirty years without perfectly replicating the Century Soup. This illustrates its immense difficulty.
However, the protagonist group's chef Komatsu, with his respect for food, the ingredients' recognition of him, and his kind heart, managed to perfectly replicate the Century Soup in just one month. The key ingredient was the saliva of the Wall Penguin.
Zhang Wei had no intention of imitating. Century Soup… compared to Muse, which utilized tens of thousands of formulas, Century Soup, with its crude preparation of only a few thousand ingredients, was as simple as a child's game!
Zhang Wei arrived at the Hall of Treasures! The interior layout had changed slightly. The exhibits on the left side of the grand hall were various dishes personally prepared by Zhang Wei. Garron Tiger Grand Banquet… Meat Mountain Barbecue… Soul of Flavor… First Taste… Chrysanthemums After Failing the Imperial Exam… Muse… Sweet Lover…
On the right side of the hall were naturally occurring ingredients. When Zhang Wei first transmigrated, the Hall of Treasures housed over a hundred dishes and only about twenty types of ingredients. Now, Zhang Wei had developed over three hundred dishes, and the number of ingredients had surged to eight thousand nine hundred! If the ingredients from auctions and recent transactions were included, it might even break ten thousand!
"As expected of the Great Gourmet Era..." "Many ingredients I've only stored; I haven't fully developed them yet!" "To make them blossom in my hands, I need to be patient."
Leaving the Hall of Treasures, after feeding the Plant Hell and the Legal Mammoth, Zhang Wei once again entered seclusion to store ingredients and ponder how to replicate Century Soup.
His three hundred Gourmet Hunters held a three-day conference. The agenda primarily involved intelligence exchange and future regional division. With the enhancement of the First Taste, most ordinary people could now fuse Gourmet Cells, ensuring Gourmet Hunters had no shortage of potential trainees, allowing them to be selective. Afterward, some would stay to assist in the construction of the Gourmet Hunter training institutions, while others would be responsible for collecting intelligence on unknown ingredients, disseminating news about the completion of the training institutions, and Zhang Wei's ambitions and support plans. With their promotion, more Gourmet Hunters would flock to Zhang Wei, strengthening the Gourmet Bank's ranks.
After ten days of intensive storage, Zhang Wei absorbed most of the gains from the auction and products from various regions. Zhang Wei's daily ingredient production value, which was 32 billion, increased again in ten days! The value of traded ingredients was over 18 billion. The initial fifty replications that reduced replication time, followed by later increases in quantity, would, if fully stored, increase daily production by at least another 1.5 billion. The auction and trade also yielded three hundred billion worth of ingredients, mostly extremely precious varieties, projected to increase daily production by over 4.2 billion!
Adding to this, three more BB Corndogs were stored, reducing the replication time to 85 days. At current market prices, BB Corndogs sell for around ten thousand Berries per kilogram, meaning 1,200 tons of BB Corndogs could fetch at least 12 billion, averaging about 150 million per day.
Jewel Meat is even more expensive, with a price eight hundred times that of BB Corndogs per kilogram, totaling eight million Berries! A single piece of Jewel Meat weighs about eight hundred kilograms, with a total sale price of 6.4 billion. However, the replication time for Jewel Meat is as high as 300 days, making its average daily earnings negligible. The exquisite taste of Jewel Meat captivated Zhang Wei, rendering the selling price and such matters irrelevant.
A knock on the door. Zephyr, wearing a cotton suit and a fur cape, entered, carrying a square briefcase. "Boss, the sales team you asked me to prepare a few days ago is ready, and personnel from the Black List have also arrived." These were the assembled members of the Gourmet Bank's branches, responsible for establishing outposts in the West and South Continents, as well as addressing staff shortages in the Core and East Continents.
"It's been ten days." "Very good." "It's time for me to go out for a bit." Nuan Gang, with sufficient food, had terrifying mobility and had recently leveled up twice. Leveraging Nuan Gang's mobility, Gourmet Hunters from all directions could disperse quickly. While Zhang Wei was working in the north, Nuan Gang would explore the vast ocean on its own. With the stealth of camp beasts and its exceptionally high level of 156, it would be difficult for Zhang Wei to harm it. It was unlikely to encounter much danger in the human world. Therefore, its safety was not a concern.
Teleportation! "So this is the South Continent..." "The Gravity Well mentioned by Old Man Lan Yun is located at the extreme south of the continent. It's a dangerous place, no less than the Road of Hunger, and requires thorough preparation."
... Somewhere in the South Continent. Four familiar faces met in a tea house. The first, Senju Ma, of the Senju Clan. The second, Yu, a witch with bizarre long hair. The third... this person had wings and was none other than the long-unseen high-class chef—Lord Yun Shang!
"Are you the client for this commission? Your accent doesn't sound local," Senju Ma said. Six months had passed, and Lord Yun Shang appeared much thinner. Not only had his former elegant and refined demeanor vanished, but his once fair face was now stubbled. His sunken eyes were bloodshot, making him look like a beast ready to pounce. Lord Yun Shang's voice was hoarse, "Yes, I am the one who applied for the commission."
"Can you explain the mission in detail? We need to make preparations accordingly," Senju Ma asked. Lord Yun Shang hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "This involves the land of my ancestors, the Cloud Country!" Senju Ma and the Witch Yu exchanged glances, suppressing their surprise. Both were renowned hunters in the South Continent and rarely ventured far... except for this time! Invited by Kurama of Gourmet Journal, they attended a mysterious witnessing ceremony at an unexpected location ten thousand kilometers away and heard of a legendary figure and his tale. The story inevitably mentioned a war, a tale like a fairy tale among the clouds.
Lord Yun Shang said, "Ten thousand meters above the ground, among the clouds, where sunlight is intense, there exists a vegetable garden above the sky! It is also called the Vegetable Paradise!" "And after my investigation, this Cloud Country is located somewhere in the South Continent." The South Continent also has a Cloud Country?
Lord Yun Shang continued, "The Cloud Country is protected by ten thousand hectares of thunderclouds in the sky. Anyone who approaches will be charred by lightning. The only way to access it is by climbing the Giant Pea Vine." "I have already found the location of the Giant Pea Vine, but it is guarded by packs of beasts level 25-35 and above. I cannot approach it alone." "I wish to hire both of you for full protection. If we can reach the clouds and achieve something, I will not be stingy with the reward."
Lord Yun Shang was not alone. Beside him was a beast-eared girl, Xie Min! In her arms was a product of the Cloud Country's gene laboratory, unseen for a long time—Catalog Number: 626! After so much time together, the bond between the human and the creature had become incredibly close. Xie Min had even given 626 a cute name: Stitch! As Gourmet Hunters, professional ethics were paramount. The two exchanged a look and said, "Alright, but we have a condition!" "Don't worry, I am a very high-level chef. If needed, I can cook for you." Gourmet Hunters think about two things: hunting for money~ and hunting many prey, then processing some to enjoy. As for partners... they were all so old, where was the sincere affection of childhood? The adult world wasn't as simple as manga.
"No!" "We want one of every vegetable obtained from this endeavor!" Zhang Wei would purchase rare ingredients not found in the Gourmet Bank at twice the market price and scarce ingredients at 1.5 times the price. Ingredients from the clouds should be quite rare, right? They could surely find a few not in the Gourmet Bank. Moreover, the market price for such rare ingredients would undoubtedly be very high. If it were doubled again... Unimaginable!
"Each one..." "That can be arranged!" Lord Yun Shang said, "The Vegetable Paradise has an abundance of vegetables. If possible, let's split the profits four ways, with each of us taking twenty-five percent?" Four people? Senju Ma looked at Xie Min, puzzled, "She's going too? I'm very sorry, this trip isn't a daycare. I can share some of the profits, but I absolutely refuse to bring a burden." Xie Min turned her head and huffed, "A child... are you referring to me?"
Lord Yun Shang immediately said, "Please don't underestimate her. Xie Min is the youngest six-star chef I know, and she has accompanied me on many adventures. Moreover, with Stitch's protection, there's no need to worry about her!" "Hmm... if you insist."
Six hours later, the group of four appeared in a location in the South Continent. "Is this the entrance to the Vegetable Paradise?" Senju Ma looked up at the cloudless sky and the blazing sun hanging overhead. The Cloud Country... surely it would have clouds, right? And the pea vine, said to hang from the sky. And the ten thousand hectares of thunderclouds protecting the Cloud Country...
Lord Yun Shang explained, "The world in the clouds is at the very top of the sky. The sea of clouds refracts sunlight, making it visually invisible. In reality, the Vegetable Paradise is directly above us, just too far away." "Then how do we get up? An airship or a hot air balloon?" Lord Yun Shang shook his head, "The weather there is extremely harsh. No human-built vehicle can approach it currently." "Then how do we get up?" Lord Yun Shang spread his wings, his black feathers bathed in sunlight. "For my clan, the Cloud Country is like home. Just because human-built vehicles cannot reach it doesn't mean I can't!"
Senju Ma asked, perplexed, "Then if you know it so well, why do you need our protection?" Lord Yun Shang cleared his throat, "After all, it's not quite like home. There's mainly only the pea vine as an entrance, and the beasts living there are too strong." Although his cooking skills were superb, he wasn't a combatant. Despite having a high-level cell grade of 35, he could only exert less than 20 levels of combat power.
Lord Yun Shang took the three people and the beast and soared into the sky. He flew straight up. His clan was naturally gifted with the ability to control the sky and fly, and their related Gourmet Demons were related to lightning and wind. However, flying vertically upward was extremely draining and a significant challenge even for him. The higher they went, the colder it became, and the wind grew stronger.
Seeing Lord Yun Shang's slightly trembling shoulders and wings, the Witch Yu coughed and said, "Um, are you sure you can fly all the way? Won't we crash midway?" "The Vegetable Paradise is tens of thousands of meters high, but the pea vine hangs down quite a long way." "This means I only need to ascend about thirteen thousand meters to rest." "Even carrying you all won't be too difficult!" Despite his words, the grimace on Lord Yun Shang's face suggested otherwise.
About half an hour later, a vibrant green vine appeared before everyone, hanging down. Looking up, only a blurry silhouette was visible. Was this the light refraction Lord Yun Shang mentioned? Lord Yun Shang let out a wild laugh, "Hahaha, we're here, we're here! That's the vine of sky plants, known as the 'Invitation to the Vegetable Paradise,' the magical pea vine!" It was so huge! Such an astonishing size! Regardless of its length, this vine was as thick as an average skyscraper. A single leaf was like half a football field, able to comfortably accommodate hundreds of people.
Stepping onto a green leaf, Lord Yun Shang collapsed onto the ground. Though exhausted, he happily said, "Ah, the fresh air, so familiar. It's completely different from the murky air on land." Senju Ma bent his knees, lowering his center of gravity, and said uncomfortably, "Everything underfoot is shaking! I can't stand still like this!" "It's a rootless plant after all... and the wind here is strong, so a little shaking is normal." For terrestrial creatures, arriving here was like a fish coming ashore. In addition to the shaking, Senju Ma and Yu felt a suffocating tightness in their chests, a feeling of being unable to breathe. This was a more severe form of altitude sickness. Unlike the Cloud Country in the Northern Continent, the Vegetable Paradise had even lower oxygen levels and higher altitudes, making its living environment extremely harsh. This was also why the vegetables in the Vegetable Paradise were fresher than those in the Cloud Country.
"From now on, you can climb yourselves," Lord Yun Shang said while flying. Fortunately, both were top Gourmet Hunters on the continent, capable of easily subduing even Hell Boras, so climbing was not an issue. At an altitude of 16,000 meters, Senju Ma slipped but immediately pulled himself back with a grappling hook from his waist. No danger, just a scare. At 18,000 meters, the Witch Yu developed a method of climbing with her hair, like an octopus, effortlessly leading the others upwards. At 21,000 meters, they encountered a large number of pseudo-bupang monster birds, along with level 18 sea lion birds and level 12 two-winged pterodactyls. They easily caught a few to have for lunch during their break. Xie Min was responsible for building a fire and cooking. After so long, Xie Min's cooking skills had surprisingly improved to a level comparable to Lord Yun Shang's. Lord Yun Shang went to a joint of the pea vine and cut a sharp incision. Soon, a light green plant sap flowed out. "Everyone drink some. The altitude here is extreme, and the air has very little moisture. We need to constantly replenish fluids to avoid dehydration." "This is the sap of the magical pea vine. It tastes a bit like bitter tea or diet tea, but it's an excellent fat-burning beverage. It's not only rich in vitamins but also has a strong refreshing effect." They didn't eat all the meat from the birds. Xie Min roasted the fattier parts together. Due to the change in temperature and oxygen, everyone's physical exertion increased. At this time, it was suitable to consume foods that were small in volume but high in energy. Animal fat combined with a small amount of lean meat and sugar was the ideal energy food. Senju Ma and Yu had also brought energy bars, chocolate, and the like, but they wouldn't use them unless it was a last resort.
At 25,000 meters. The sky had completely darkened. Perhaps due to the altitude, the starry sky was dazzling and clear. At 27,000 meters. The group encountered animal attacks seven times, with the highest-level Sky Gorilla reaching level 40! And they were a herd.
At 32,000 meters. The group temporarily settled down. Lord Yun Shang looked up at the sky and said, "The sky here is turbid. It seems the light refraction can no longer conceal the ten thousand hectares of thunderclouds. We will soon encounter the most dangerous cumulonimbus cloud layer, which is also the final hurdle of our journey! A test from nature!" Cloud Monsters! Thunderstorm clouds. Unstable air roared at this level, carrying moisture to form clouds that would never dissipate. Large-scale electrical discharges would occur here, with intermittent lightning occasionally striking the vine, incinerating everything attached to it. Moreover, the rapidly flowing air would cause severe breathing difficulties, leading to oxygen deficiency.
Lord Yun Shang took out four oxygen tanks and said, "To deal with the final hurdle, I've specially prepared a small can, about fifteen kilograms of pure oxygen. An average person consumes only 0.95 kilograms of oxygen per day!" Due to Gourmet Cells, the metabolic demands of Gourmet Hunters were extremely high, even for oxygen, which was dozens of times that of ordinary people, let alone someone of Senju Ma's high level. Unexpectedly, Senju Ma directly refused. "As a Gourmet Hunter, one must face all kinds of harsh natural environments. This journey is also a form of tempering for me. I will not give up until it's absolutely necessary!" "At least... I will push myself to my limit!"
...
On another side of the South Continent, Zhang Wei, with Nuan Gang, was expelling smoke, leaving behind beacons for future teleportation. "The South Continent has fewer people and appears quite desolate." "Let's connect with a few towns first, then choose a location to set up a branch." "According to the map, at the extreme south of the South Continent lies the Gravity Well mentioned by Old Man Lan Yun. Although I don't have time to explore it now, it's necessary to leave a beacon."
Wind Control Technique! Lightning Control Technique! Zhang Wei transformed into lightning and soared through the sky. To gain a broader field of vision, he ascended further and further from the ground. Soon, a vibrant green vine appeared before Zhang Wei!