Below the pudding mushroom forest in the Gourmet World.
After excavating vast amounts of sushi salt, pudding mushrooms, seven-flavor sake, candy building materials, and candy ores, Zhang Wei's scavenging journey was far from over.
He then encountered the sugar water underground river, a strong, sweet water flow that ran through the first five layers of this gravity well.
Even a casual scoop yielded super-concentrated water that could be sun-dried into rock candy.
Zhang Wei, naturally, did not let this opportunity pass. He directly dammed the river with numerous containers, collecting no less than a million liters!
"The quality of this sugar water is rather low, only fetching around 30 Beli per liter. However, for ordinary sweet water, one shouldn't be too demanding."
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Bone Fish]
[Capture Level: 100]
[Eating Level: 45]
[Description: This is a slender fish belonging to the eel family, which can only live in super-nutrient-rich sweet water. Its most unique feature is its almost entirely bony back, from which an exceptional fish broth can be extracted. The broth is exceptionally rich and possesses high nutritional value. It is the preferred choice for making sweet soups and broths.]
After diverting the underground sweet water river, many of the fish dwelling within jumped out.
This included fish with little meat and thin skin, but they were perfect for making stews and would fetch a decent price.
"Speaking of which, how long have I been in this underground well? Won't Kurama be getting impatient?"
"But if I don't collect the ingredients here, I'll be plagued by guilt! As for Kurama... who is Kurama?"
"Never mind, when I return fully loaded, I'll just toss him a few scraps!"
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Calorie Cocoa Beans]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Rainbow Water Monster]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Natural Chocolate Fountain]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Rainbow Butterfly]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Milk Orange]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Earth Plum]
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Dragon Bee]
After passing through the candy labyrinth and the sweet water river, there was the natural chocolate fountain.
This was chocolate formed by cocoa beans that had settled in the lower layers, heated by natural thermal energy. When it liquefied and accumulated in sufficient quantity, it erupted, truly the petroleum of the Gourmet World!
Most importantly, it was abundant and easy to collect.
Calorie Cocoa Beans were known as the king of kinetic energy. A single Calorie Cocoa Bean could cause a low-level gourmet hunter to gain thirty kilograms of fat, enough to sustain their energy consumption for three months.
The Rainbow Water Monster was the most powerful creature Zhang Wei had encountered here, with a capture level of 120 or above. Its combat power was formidable, and its resistance to damage was extremely high.
The most troublesome were the Dragon Bees, each of them a monster.
Furthermore, their honey and hives were rare delicacies.
To clear out the Dragon Bees, Zhang Wei spent another half a month!
As for the Earth Plums, Milk Oranges, and Rainbow Butterflies, they were common ingredients in the surrounding area, found in considerable numbers. He also spent quite some time on them.
"Apart from its harsh environment and its entrance being within the Gourmet World, the danger level of the Gravity Well isn't much higher than the Hunger Road. Yet, the resources are unimaginably vast. It's truly an excellent place!"
"This gift from Lan Yun Dao Sheng is truly surprising."
...
Meanwhile, Kurama had finally finished dealing with the Gourmet Magazine matters and returned to the Life Waterfall Pool.
"Has Mr. Zhang Wei returned?"
"You should have expected this."
Kurama sighed, "It seems my plan to cooperate with Zhang Wei is going to fall through."
He remembered.
His assistants were still in the Great Glacier.
It seemed he needed to go and pick them up.
Traversing the vast continent, even a Hydreigon would take a week.
When the Hydreigon appeared at the Great Glacier, Xi Feng felt tears welling up.
"Mr. Kurama... Huh? Why are you alone!"
Xi Feng's smile froze on his face.
The matter of Zhang Wei and Kurama exploring the Gourmet World was common knowledge!
Now, with Kurama returning alone, did that mean...?
Kurama explained, "Mr. Zhang Wei only encountered a minor delay and nothing unexpected happened."
Xi Feng anxiously asked, "Then where is he now?"
"He should... still be in the Gourmet World."
Xi Feng's expression grew even more gloomy.
He knew what kind of place the Gourmet World was. To remain there long-term...
After Kurama left.
Xi Feng instructed his direct enforcement team, "The news of Mr. Kurama's visit and him picking up his assistants must be completely sealed."
"All those who know about this matter are to be detained. Remember to find plausible reasons."
The captain of the enforcement team nodded, clearly familiar with such methods.
In the following days, the laborers at the Great Glacier slowly noticed that some familiar faces were missing.
Those who felt it most keenly were the members of the security team.
They were the main force responsible for the security of the Great Glacier, with duties such as patrolling and inspections, and were the most sensitive to such matters.
As the highest-ranking officer of the security forces, Ajin and his four brothers received all sorts of intelligence from their subordinates daily.
All of it pointed to Xi Feng making some mysterious moves recently!
His direct enforcement team had become incredibly tight-lipped lately, and even the enforcement team brothers they usually drank with had become reclusive.
"Boss... something seems to be going on at the Great Glacier. Should we go and ask Xi Feng?"
Ajin said, "Nonsense. This kind of thing is nothing more than a struggle for power and profit. Let's not get involved."
Sen Sen, confused, asked, "With Zhang Wei around, what's there to fight for? Isn't personnel appointments and transfers all his decision?"
Ajin fell silent for a moment.
He was curious about such matters.
"Stop talking. Just focus on completing your tasks!"
Just then.
Lao San, Yu Miao, walked into the room, saying mysteriously, "Brothers, guess what I discovered?"
"Spit it out already!"
Yu Miao pouted, "Hmph, you guys have no sense of humor!"
"What is it then?"
"I'm in charge of the eastern sector, the Gourmet Arena."
"Mm?"
Yu Miao continued, "When Zhang Wei and Kurama set off, they left behind Shao An and Kurama's assistants to prepare new dishes there. But for two months, there's been no news, and very little ingredients have been sent in."
"That Shao An spends all day in the attic there researching recipes, acting like he has all the time in the world. And... I haven't seen Kurama's assistants for a long time. They used to be inseparable from Shao An!"
Ajin frowned, "What are you trying to say? Get to the point!"
Lao San, Yu Miao, said, "Out of curiosity, I inquired. Guess what? Kurama actually came a month ago and took away several of his disciples! And these past few days, those who have been sent in are all participants from Kurama's welcome party!"
Kurama?
Welcome party?
Took away assistants?
Ajin frowned and pondered, "Why would they conceal the news of Kurama taking away his assistants... what is there to hide about such a thing?"
Just then, Sen Sen suddenly said, "That Xi Feng is indeed acting suspiciously. Don't you remember him suddenly confiscating all the Gourmet Magazines a while ago? I was wondering why he did that then."
"Do you remember the content of the Gourmet Magazines?"
Sen Sen recounted slowly.
The most attention-grabbing was the Gourmet Bank's listing in the Gourmet Magazine!
And the final reviewer's signature was Kurama...
"Judging by the timeline, Kurama separated from Zhang Wei a long time ago."
"Hey, the signature might have been written by an assistant."
Ajin shook his head, "Impossible. The Gourmet Magazine is extremely rigorous. An assistant would never have the authority to review on behalf of the editor-in-chief! That signature is genuine!"
Zhang Wei...
Kurama...
Gourmet World...
Exploring ingredients...
Magazine release...
Ajin was suddenly shocked, "Could it be that Zhang Wei didn't return after entering the Gourmet World, and Kurama has lost contact with Zhang Wei!"
No one knew the Gourmet World better than Ajin and his brothers.
They also knew what it meant for someone to be trapped deep within!
A near-certain death!
Ajin had never seen anyone who had gone missing in the Gourmet World and returned. There were only a few dubious legends.
Ajin quickly summoned Sen Sen, Yu Miao, Ajue, and Xiao Yuan back.
With a heavy expression, he said, "Brothers, it seems we can't continue this job for much longer! Zhang Wei has little hope of returning alive. We need to make plans for the future."
"We have to wander again... we had just settled down."
"Brother, if Zhang Wei really doesn't come back, why don't we take what we can and leave?"
No one was not covetous of the Gourmet Bank!
And given the current situation at the base, no one could stop the five of them working together!
Ajin roared in anger, "Filthy!"
"We men should stand tall and upright, how can we engage in such robbery!"
The others' bodies trembled.
They asked weakly, "Then what does Brother think we should do?"
Ajin stood up, looking into the distance with his hands behind his back, "After so many years of wandering, I've had enough of this life. I want to put down roots here and build a great career!"
"Then... what does Brother mean?"
Ajin said proudly, "When a man is born between heaven and earth, how can he live in obscurity under others for long?"
The others' bodies trembled again, and they quickly echoed, "Do kings and generals have a different lineage?"
"Precisely. Since Zhang Wei is no longer here, the Gourmet Bank is in need of a new leader who is wise, heroic, and powerful. That old fox Xi Feng is too dull to shoulder such a responsibility. I will seek a new leader to guide the Gourmet Bank to new heights!"
Sen Sen exclaimed, "I think Brother is perfectly suited!"
"Indeed, indeed. He perfectly fits the description 'wise and heroic'!"
"And he is also powerful. Who in the Gourmet Bank can match Brother now?"
Ajin said humbly, "This... I am slightly apprehensive, fearing I may not be able to shoulder such a great responsibility!"
Sen Sen immediately persuaded, "Besides Brother, no one else can lead the Gourmet Bank. Brother, you must work hard for the tens of thousands of people in the Gourmet Bank!"
"This... so be it!"
Ajin looked as if he was sacrificing himself, "For the future happiness of tens of thousands of people, I can only work hard!"
Xiao Yuan, the most stable among the five, raised his hand and said something untimely, "What if Zhang Wei isn't dead? If he comes back and finds out about this situation, he won't let us off!"
"Hmph!"
"If you don't take even this risk, when will we have a territory of our own!"
"Moreover, the Gourmet World is even more perilous than those rare and dangerous places. Although Zhang Wei is powerful, that's only in the human world. Once in the Gourmet World... he won't have the final say!"
Ajin continued, "This requires careful planning, not a single whisper must leak. And that old fellow Xi Feng, we must keep him under tight control!"
"Then we'll temporarily suspend the Gourmet Bank, identify the opposition internally, and then cultivate the rest properly. Won't the entire Great Glacier be ours then?"