Wolf Fang Grass tastes delicious but requires a large amount of water to revive.
Normal adventure teams lack the space for equipment and have limited water resources, so they cannot afford such a wasteful luxury. The only way is to capture a living Water Camel, or a Blastoise-like creature.
This is also the preciousness of Yuan Shui; with a smaller volume, it can carry more water, making it very convenient.
Sheng Taro frowned, "Is it a herbivore with a voracious appetite? Fortunately, this year's rainfall has been abundant, and many Wolf Fang Grass have completed their seeding. Otherwise, it would have caused severe repercussions!"
With a light leap.
Sheng Taro crossed hundreds of meters, the sharp stone stalagmites on the ground having no effect on his movement.
Along the way, he saw many scattered remains of herbivores and fragments of Demon Giant Mosquitoes. It seemed his guess was correct.
Upon entering the first zone, Sheng Taro's head buzzed again!
"Here, have the bandits arrived?"
"No, it must be the demolition crew!"
"What kind of creature even excavates the very ground!"
As far as the eye could see, the previously flat ground was riddled with craters, some tens of meters deep.
Fortunately, the gravity here was extremely high, and the dust in the air quickly settled. Otherwise, it would have been a scene of dust storms.
And all the plants had been plucked clean.
Some food left their roots, while some vanished into thin air...
Could it be a gregarious species?
"They even drank the pond dry? A gregarious creature with an insatiable appetite?"
As he walked, even the common Water Camels were sparse...
But the subsequent scenes drove Sheng Taro even more mad!
The second zone...
The third zone...
The ingredients were all harvested, and the rocks deep in the earth were dug up and smashed! Faint white powder could be seen...
The fourth zone!
Not a single Pastry Tree, known as the Tree of Billions, was left!
That was an entire forest!
Pudding Mushroom Forest...
Chocolate Fountain...
Dessert Labyrinth...
"What kind of creature came here!"
At this moment, Sheng Taro had completely forgotten about Zhang Wei!
He sped on!
Sheng Taro quickly passed through the fifth zone...
Meanwhile.
Zhang Wei was enjoying a pleasant game.
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Six-layer Yuan Shui!]
[Capture Level: 145]
[Edible Level: 120]
[Description: Condensed from a million times ordinary water, possessing a million times its weight but only the same volume. Under specific circumstances, Six-layer Yuan Shui will disperse into ordinary water, so caution is advised when consuming it to avoid being burst by the dispersed water!]
[Note: Those with Gourmet Cells below level 120 should consume with caution. Usually, only two milliliters are needed to replenish a person's water needs for three years.]
At this moment, the Six-layer Yuan Shui floated in the air.
Forming drop after drop of water bubbles.
Any single drop weighed tons or even tens of tons. Although it looked weightless, obtaining it required one hundred percent caution and care!
Belonging to the strong!
"It's truly difficult to obtain you. The guardian of the sixth zone alone is so powerful. It seems that zones seven and above are not something I can consider now."
"Speaking of which, I've been in the Gourmet World for over three months. Time has flown by, and my memory of the days is becoming hazy."
"This adventure has been incredibly fruitful. After collecting the Six-layer Yuan Shui, I'll go back to find Cang Ma."
Setting aside the wine rivers and meat forests.
Just the candy Zhang Wei had collected was enough to build a luxurious fairytale candy house.
Candy castles weren't Zhang Wei's exclusive creation. Many super-luxurious amusement parks in the Human World had similar structures. However, their desserts were usually only level two or three, with the prized items only around level ten.
For particularly precious sweets, like ingredients level 25 and above, auctioning them would be far more profitable than building houses.
But Zhang Wei was different. His ingredients were sourced from the Gourmet World, with the lowest edible level being 25, and most around level 40. Exquisite items like Pastry Trees had an edible level of 85; they were so delicious that eating one would bring tears to your eyes!
"Perhaps, I should build a high-end amusement park exclusively for the wealthy elite..."
"Speaking of which, Olympus also belongs to humans, right? Even if they call themselves gods... one day, I will build the Gourmet Bank and Gourmet City to be ten times stronger than Olympus!"
Collection!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 385 days]
[Replicated Amount: 5 milliliters]
----------
Ten Collections!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 175 days]
[Replicated Amount: 5 milliliters]
----------
Twenty Collections!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 109 days]
[Replicated Amount: 5 milliliters]
----------
One hundred Collections!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 4.5 days]
[Replicated Amount: 5 milliliters]
----------
Two hundred Collections!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 1 day]
[Replicated Amount: 25 milliliters]
----------
Five hundred Collections!
[Collection Complete: Six-layer Yuan Shui]
[Replication Time: 1 day]
[Replicated Amount: 175 milliliters]
----------
...
Collecting Six-layer Yuan Shui was very simple: find the floating water droplets in the air and put them into your container.
However, the density of Six-layer Yuan Shui was extremely high. Ordinary containers would shatter immediately. Zhang Wei used the oldest and toughest bark from the roots of the Magic Pea Vine, which was strong enough!
Just then, a cry of surprise echoed from far away from Zhang Wei.
"Brown Sugar Gargoyle!"
"The brown sugar inside has been dug out, leaving only the hard shell here!"
"Ten... twenty... fifty..."
"There are hundreds of Brown Sugar Gargoyle remains!"
Zhang Wei was stunned.
Had someone arrived?
He hadn't heard a human voice for three months, and it was rather pleasant.
But the voice sounded familiar, yet not like Cang Ma... who could it be?
Zhang Wei leaped forward and landed directly on the pile of remains!
"Zhang Wei?"
"Sheng Taro?"
Zhang Wei hadn't seen a living person in three months, and his speech was a little sluggish.
But he still said happily, "What a coincidence to meet you here! It's quite a coincidence!"
Sheng Taro covered his face, "What coincidence? Elder Mo thought you were trapped in the Gourmet World and couldn't return, so he specifically sent me to find you!"
Zhang Wei was surprised.
He hadn't expected that old man to care so much about him. It was truly unexpected.
Speaking of which, his silence for the past three months had indeed made it seem like he was in trouble, especially in a dangerous place like the Gourmet World.
Zhang Wei immediately said, "I'm really sorry to have made you worry. There were just too many ingredients here, and I got a bit carried away..."
Sheng Taro's eyes widened, thinking of a possibility!
"Did you do all of this?"
"What?"
"All these Wolf Fang Grass, candy mazes, Brown Sugar Gargoyles, and the like!"
Zhang Wei nodded, "Of course. It took me three months to collect these things. I'm exhausted."
Sheng Taro's veins bulged.
He could never have imagined that the person in front of him was so malicious!
It was natural for Gourmet Hunters to collect ingredients, but very few were as ruthless as Zhang Wei!
This method of collection was pure exploitation, a method of destructive extinction!
If every Gourmet Hunter were like Zhang Wei, relying on their strength for destructive harvesting, then ordinary Gourmet Hunters in the Human World would face famine before long.
This was also the main reason why the Human World's Supreme Gourmet Association prohibited high-level Gourmet Hunters from being active in the Human World.
"Zhang Wei, how many Brown Sugar Gargoyles have you killed?"
"One hundred and fifty-two. I remember each one very clearly!"
Sheng Taro said indignantly, "Do you know how difficult it is for these Brown Sugar Gargoyles to reproduce? It takes at least 150 years from birth to sexual maturity, and each breeding interval is eight years. It would take such a group of Brown Sugar Gargoyles 400 years to reach this scale!"
Zhang Wei finally noticed Sheng Taro's unfriendly tone, as if he had feelings for these ingredients.
In fact, strictly speaking, Zhang Wei, as a chef, also had an extraordinary love for ingredients, no less than anyone else.
If not, why would Zhang Wei be so persistent in collecting all the ingredients in the world?
For every ingredient that disappeared into the river of history like a meteor, Zhang Wei would feel immense heartache!
Sheng Taro angrily said, "Zhang Wei, I thought you were an excellent chef and should understand that these ingredients are gifts from heaven. I didn't expect you to treat them so carelessly! As a Regenerator, I will never forgive such behavior!"
Zhang Wei was stunned.
This misunderstanding was impossible to explain!
Regenerators worked tirelessly to bring back lost ingredients or prevent existing ones from disappearing.
Although Zhang Wei couldn't clone and replicate ancient ingredients, the characteristic of the Treasure Hall allowed all collected ingredients to exist indefinitely.
The goal was the same!
But how could he explain the Treasure Hall?
That wasn't very realistic either...
Zhang Wei said helplessly, "I... I actually have my own difficulties. I think there's a misunderstanding between us..."
For a moment, Zhang Wei couldn't think of any plausible lie.
"Then how do you plan to deal with me?"
Sheng Taro took a deep breath, "I will arrest you and destroy your ability to do evil, so that you can no longer cause destruction at ingredient production sites. You can also choose to surrender peacefully, but you will be monitored afterwards and can no longer leave your city without permission! If you resist... I will have to deem your threat level too high and deliver a crippling blow."
Zhang Wei nodded and said approvingly, "Yes, yes, I agree with your swift action. Only then can more ingredients be protected!"
"So, you're going to surrender?"
Sheng Taro was quite surprised, as Zhang Wei, such a peerless genius, was typically proud and rarely submitted to others.
It was truly unexpected!
Zhang Wei shook his head, "Our goals are the same. I am also for the longevity of ingredients... However, I don't think you'll listen, so I cannot let you stop my actions!"
"Ultimately, it's about who has the stronger fist!"
Sheng Taro shook his head, "Zhang Wei, although you can deal with these gargoyles, defeating me is still too far off. I have been training in the Gourmet World for over a decade. Compared to me, you are still too immature!"
Zhang Wei said, "Then let me see what methods a Regenerator from the Land of Healing possesses! Make your move!"
"I've already made my move!"
More than ten vines broke through the earth!
They formed an absolute cage at lightning speed, then bound Zhang Wei within. The vines had sharp thorns, and as they wrapped around Zhang Wei, blood splattered!
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Leech Vine!]
[Capture Level: Unknown]
[Edible Level: None]
[Type: Carnivorous Plant]
[Description: An ancient species revived by a Regenerator and controlled by them!]
[Description: Leech Vines are exceptionally tough and possess anticoagulants. They are swift and adept at ambushing underground. Animals attacked by Leech Vines have their stamina instantly drained!]
Sheng Taro chuckled, "The催生 (growth) of Leech Vines takes time. I was just stalling. Don't worry, its blood-sucking efficiency isn't that high, and it won't let you die easily."
"Die? With this?"
Zhang Wei smiled, "Can this vine bind lightning?"
Semi-Elementalization, Thunder Leap!
Zhang Wei transformed into a bolt of electricity and instantly flashed out from the gaps in the vines, with a thunder strike aimed directly at Sheng Taro!
In a flash of lightning!
Their positions interchanged!
Zhang Wei broke free from his semi-elementalized state, creating a large crater on the ground!
Sheng Taro maintained his posture, blood light spewing from his hand...
"I didn't expect you to have mastered elemental skills as well. You've truly surprised me a little!"
Sheng Taro turned around and said, "However, for someone as experienced as I am, I've encountered countless revived elemental beings and know how to deal with them!"
"Zhang Wei, if this is all you have, I advise you to stop struggling."
Zhang Wei knelt on the ground, blood continuously flowing from him...
The Leech Vine had injected anticoagulant into Zhang Wei's body, which even semi-elementalization couldn't remove. The moment he reappeared, blood began to flow uncontrollably.
Due to the excessive thorns on the vines, Zhang Wei had become a bloody mess.
"Spiral Fist Force!"
Zhang Wei unleashed his full power again!
All his strength was concentrated in his left fist, and then a giant drill phantom appeared out of thin air!
Rather than a drill, it resembled a tunnel boring machine!
With one strike!
The terrifying might made Sheng Taro show a hint of solemnity!
Although slow, this was Zhang Wei's most powerful and straightforward attack!
"Art of Wind Control, Suppression!"
In just an instant!
Zhang Wei unleashed his second set of skills.
Under Zhang Wei's gestures, the surrounding air became like congealed glue.
Under normal circumstances, this would not be able to trap a powerhouse like Sheng Taro. However, the gravity here was more than seven times higher, not only affecting Sheng Taro's body but also making the air seven times denser.
Of course, Zhang Wei's consumption of Suppression also increased sevenfold!
But it was all worth it!
Sheng Taro's mobility had been reduced to its limit, and he had no choice but to take this punch head-on!