It's right!
Tai Sui God was Yan Yan's trump card, a killer move to disrupt the Gourmet Bank!
Dispatching it was precisely to completely mess up the Gourmet Bank, incite internal strife, and ideally have them all wiped out.
If inciting internal strife failed, Tai Sui God would personally take action to slaughter over half the place and then escape scot-free.
Tai Sui God was infamous; did it need a reason to kill tens of thousands of people?
The Four Great Salt Merchants could completely absolve themselves!
This was also why Tai Sui God initially hid its identity. After all, facing endless pursuit after completing a job sounded troublesome.
If the tasks of the Four Great Salt Merchants could be completed without anyone knowing, that would be ideal.
The venue for the banquet was the newly constructed Gourmet City, and one of the objectives of this event was to promote the Gourmet Bank's new establishment.
As soon as they entered the outermost perimeter of Gourmet City, an intoxicating aroma filled their nostrils.
The air was mixed with the scents of various delicacies, instantly whetting everyone's appetites.
Zhang Wei introduced, "This is the outermost area of Gourmet City, which I call the Outer Ring. It's composed of numerous small snack shops, currently run by students from the Gourmet Treasure Academy. In the future, we will invite a large number of franchisees."
"This place operates on a membership system, requiring sufficient points to be charged for tasting. However, today is the grand opening celebration, so everyone who enters can feast to their heart's content and enjoy freely! Everything is complimentary!"
Looking around, hundreds of small stalls occupied only a small portion of the area, making it appear somewhat sparse.
There were many vending machines around, stocked with beverages.
Currently, these vending machines didn't require coins; one only needed to pull the joystick to dispense the desired drink.
Sweet Soda / 1.5 Berries per liter
Desert City Specialty Cola / 3.5 Berries per liter
Iced Orange Juice / 5.5 Berries per liter
...
These vending machines were also categorized by level. The most expensive beverage in the Outer Ring was the 15-degree Rainbow Fruit Wine.
It was said to be brewed using extremely rare rainbow fruits as raw material, costing a hefty 60,000 Berries per liter!
In addition to beverages, the other dishes here were also outstanding, primarily showcasing the strengths of various establishments.
During the previous ingredient sale, many restaurant owners provided Zhang Wei with a large number of excellent chefs as exchange students in exchange for stable supply agreements.
These exchange students were already skilled and learned exceptionally quickly.
Simultaneously, their own techniques would be showcased here, making the Gourmet Treasure Academy and Gourmet City their stage for mutual display.
This included the Chrysanthemum Tower from Chuan District...
Yang Quan Restaurant from Guangdong...
Wangyue Zhai, Waters Hotel, and Dili River Fresh from the northern desert city...
The Skyward Royal Restaurant from the City of Progress...
Chunniang Shumai from the East Continent...
Delicious Crab Roe Buns from the Cloud Kingdom...
Here, one could taste countless legendary flavors from all over the country.
As soon as guests entered, all the stalls began to enthusiastically hawk their wares.
"Customers, come and try! This is a famous local specialty from the north, fried chicken strips! Made with the mild-flavored and firm-fleshed San Quan chicken. Its chicken breast meat is absolutely delicious!"
"Teppanyaki Squid! Teppanyaki Deep Sea Overlord Squid! One piece is enough to fill you up!"
...
Wu Yong and the other members of the outer task force were also permitted to return home for leave and enjoy this feast.
And then there was someone who should have been dead...
Acacia!
Upon seeing Acacia, Xi Feng was stunned, his expression one of disbelief. "You're not dead? I remember A Zhu saying you were caught in his flames and your internal organs were reduced to ash."
Acacia scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "I was indeed close to death that day, but a junior apprentice from the academy happened to be nearby and saved me."
As he spoke, Acacia pushed a young girl forward.
Xi Feng was taken aback, "Froze?"
Xi Feng had an impression of this little girl because she was so young, not meeting the school's enrollment criteria at all.
However, the admissions teacher had said that this child possessed incredible culinary luck and talent, and would surely become a leading figure in the culinary world in the future. This was why Xi Feng had made an exception to admit her.
To have been able to save someone on such a chaotic day, her courage and wisdom were certainly not to be underestimated for a child.
Acacia continued, "She dug me out of the snow and brought me to the underground storage room of the Gourmet Arena. It was very cold there. Froze lit some cooking oil to keep me warm and cooked special meals for me daily to treat my injuries."
"I was unconscious for fifteen days. I owe these days to Froze. However, she was disciplined for stealing ingredients. I... she used those things to save my life for me. Boss Xi Feng, could you please..."
Xi Feng nodded, "Don't worry, this kind of thing deserves a reward, not punishment!"
Just then, Wu Yong walked over quickly.
He immediately gave Xi Feng a big hug.
"President, I've missed you so much."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I haven't been president for quite some time!"
Wu Yong turned around and looked at the tall Acacia, then lightly punched him. "You've grown quite sturdy! You look like a fine young man!"
The young Acacia chuckled foolishly, "I'm from the countryside."
"What's wrong with being from the countryside? I'm from the countryside too. President Xi Feng had good judgment back then, discovering a treasure like me."
Wu Yong said this while laughing unrestrainedly, making Xi Feng roll his eyes.
As they were chatting happily, a bone-chilling voice sounded from behind them.
"Yo~ Isn't this an old acquaintance?"
Wu Yong turned around, and his smile instantly froze on his face.
The person who had arrived was none other than Haru from the City of Progress, currently ranked sixth on the Black List!
Wu Yong would never forget that day when Haru single-handedly broke into the Great Glacier, casually defeated everyone present, and snatched the Great Glacier's treasure, the Rainbow Fruit.
"It's you, you scoundrel!"
"I haven't forgotten what happened back then. I'm not who I used to be now!"
Xi Feng immediately reprimanded, "Don't be rude, Haru is a guest of Gourmet City now!"
At this moment, Haru looked quite pathetic.
Not only was his face haggard and his body emaciated, but he also had unhealed wounds.
A pungent medicinal smell emanated from him, and white bandages were wrapped all over his body.
"What happened to you..."
Haru rolled his eyes and said, "It's all for your boss!"
That day, Haru fought Sen Sen, one of the five-person team, and was poisoned by the pollen from the Ten Thousand Flower Poison Sea. His body deteriorated daily, and he was currently so weak that he couldn't even move.
Haru licked his cracked lips and said, "For today, I've been dragging my severely injured body, not eating a single grain for seven days! Today, I'm going to eat my fill!"
Since he couldn't fight, Wu Yong found an alternative way and said, "In that case, let's settle our feud with a competition!"
"A gluttony competition?"
"Precisely!"
Haru laughed maniacally, "You think you're worthy? Do you know my title in the City of Progress? Do you know how I gained all that fat back in the day?"
Wu Yong said proudly, "Ridiculous! I'm also known as a big eater in the Great Glacier! When it comes to eating, I haven't been defeated by anyone!"
Just then.
Haru encountered three familiar faces again.
The brothers Heng Xing and Ba Dao!
And Heng Xing's partner, Jun Qing, the head chef of Wangyue Zhai!
"Why are you here?"
Jun Qing spread his hands. "As an honorary teacher of the Gourmet Treasure Academy, isn't it normal for me to be here? I heard you two were going to have a gluttony competition. What a coincidence, my partner is also quite accomplished in this area!"
Heng Xing and Ba Dao, like Haru, were powerhouses from the core continent. They hailed from the highest region of the core continent, known as the roof of the world.
There were numerous tribes there, and Haru was a war god revered by those tribes. Even now, Haru maintained peak combat power, being invincible among his peers.
Jun Qing said, "Then I will be the referee for this competition!"
"The goal of this competition is to eat from street to alley, and the last one standing will be the winner!"
"Alright!"
Everyone agreed in unison!
This interesting event naturally attracted a lot of attention.
The participants were all powerful warriors, as well as those who had been injured in previous competitions.
The blacksmith and the woodcutter did not hesitate and took their seats at the participant's table.
Haru then grabbed the Vampire and the Scorpion, shouting, "Come on, we can't let them look down on the Black List!"
The Scorpion refused, "I need to dine in a professional setting. Otherwise, the toxins in my body might leak out and cause some dangerous situations."
The Vampire shook his head, "My physique is special; I can only eat things like sashimi."
"Hehehe... all of you are so useless. It seems I, your elder brother, must personally enter!"
Haru was shocked. It was their boss!
The current leader of the Black List, the Terrifying Clown!
The most powerful and mysterious assassin on the Black List, anyone targeted by him was bound to die a gruesome death. The outside world lived in fear of him.
Even here, there was a ten-meter vacuum zone around him; no one dared to step closer.
But only the Scorpion knew that the Terrifying Clown was not only mentally sound but also possessed exceptional intelligence. His diplomatic skills were on par with his combat prowess. Even during the Heavenly Sin era, the Terrifying Clown had made countless beneficial arrangements for the Black List.
Compared to Heavenly Sin, he was more responsible and was a natural leader.
And that terrifying reputation... seemed to be a disguise for his combat methods.
The Terrifying Clown grinned sinisterly, "After all, it's for the Black List. As the boss, I can't back down."
Jun Qing nodded, "No problem, anyone who wants to participate can come. Anyone else?"
For a moment.
The applicants poured in like clouds.
A rough estimate showed at least over two hundred people!
Jun Qing said, "Then let's start with a preliminary elimination round!"
"First up, the Teppanyaki Deep Sea Overlord Squid!"
A specialty snack from the northern region.
However, ordinary teppanyaki squid only had a capture level of 2 and weighed only a few hundred pounds, catchable in the near seas.
But this competition used Deep Sea Overlord Squid, with a capture level of 18 and weighing 800 tons!
It was said that only a Narwhal with a capture level of 25 could catch them from the deep sea.
To perfectly showcase the deliciousness of the Deep Sea Overlord Squid, all the teppanyaki used entire tentacles. These tentacles, with a diameter of over half a meter, when grilled and spread out, resembled a large pancake.
Each skewer weighed four kilograms!
Seeing so many people arrive, the apprentice managing the stall blushed.
He said excitedly, "Please wait a moment, everyone! Let me show you the speed of the Gourmet Treasure Academy!"
These students were trained in Zhang Wei's formulaic cooking method, which allowed for extremely fast ingredient processing! Through countless drills and practice, they knew precisely where to cut, executing with precision and speed!
Increasing the heat, he took a squid tentacle and sliced it into hundreds of pieces in mid-air!
By this time, the griddle was heated. Without oil or water, he first spread out the squid skin and used a press to squeeze out excess moisture.
Steam rose, and the fire underneath burned even hotter!
In another area, the apprentice evenly poured in cooking oil and sprinkled in chopped onions. Once the onions became fragrant, he placed the squid tentacles on top!
Next came the seasonings!
Oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sweet bean paste, five-spice powder, crushed peanuts, chili powder...
The application of seasonings was the soul of teppanyaki; the ratio had to be precise, and the spread even!
After that came the essence of the Deep Sea Overlord Squid. The apprentice put on clean gloves and forcefully pounded the squid with his fists!
With every punch, juice splattered!
In an instant, the apprentice delivered hundreds of punches, evenly striking every cell.
The onlookers marveled.
"What kind of cooking technique is this?"
Jun Qing explained, "The pounding and marinating method. The meat of this squid is very firm and has an excellent texture! But it's difficult to marinate, making it taste quite bland."
"This fist technique can thoroughly loosen the meat, allowing the seasonings to penetrate deep into the squid, making every bite flavorful! But this pounding technique is quite difficult; the force and angle of each punch require extensive experience!"
As expected.
Under the apprentice's pounding, the teppanyaki squid became more and more delicious. The umami created by the combination of hoisin sauce and onions made one feel as if they were at sea.
The chili powder at the end was no ordinary spice but the Volcano Ash Pepper powder that Zhang Wei had initially collected. Its unique flavor left an unforgettable aftertaste for the Teppanyaki Deep Sea Overlord Squid!
Let's eat!
Wu Yong took the lead, grabbing two skewers and biting into them with gusto. The squid rings, as large as tires, were very thin but quite resilient, emitting a satisfying crunch with each bite.
It was like biting through a piece of rubber band.
As he chewed, the seafood juices, deeply embedded within the squid, splattered out, perfectly complementing the slight char from frying!
"Delicious!"
He looked back.
Haru had already finished three skewers.
"What? So fast!"
Wu Yong, of course, refused to be outdone and grabbed four more skewers, devouring them with great satisfaction!
One stall couldn't possibly accommodate hundreds of contestants, so Jun Qing immediately set up the second stage.
A cocktail bar, accompanied by edamame, cold cucumber salad, and peanuts as appetizers.
These bartenders were from the East Continent; they were skilled at mixing hundreds of liquors to create exquisite delicacies that could induce hallucinations. Many people could fall asleep for an entire day after just one drink!
However, with these dedicated appetizers, their alcohol tolerance would significantly increase!
When it came to cocktail making, Zhang Wei was at a disadvantage. As someone skilled in traditional cuisine and mainstream Western food, Zhang Wei lacked sufficient experience in such novel culinary methods.
However, Zhang Wei's cautious and brain-dependent nature prevented him from indulging in the intoxicating effects of alcohol, and he had less understanding of it.
The bartenders here had meticulously prepared their latest product – Dionysus Festival Carnival!
The main ingredient was the rind of the Gift of Dionysus... the thin membrane on the outside!
The Gift of Dionysus was, strictly speaking, a fruit that grew on Dionysus Island, with a membrane on the outside and liquor inside.
The unique structure of this membrane could prevent the active liquor from evaporating. Once it was cut, the liquor had to be consumed immediately, or it would evaporate in a very short time. It was an indispensable part of the fruit peel.
This membrane also served as excellent lees. Using it, hundreds of tons of raw liquor mash could be brewed, instantly elevating ordinary liquor by several grades.
And the Dionysus Festival Carnival was concocted using this raw liquor!
One cup per person!
Thump...
A contestant, after finishing their drink, collapsed on the ground with a look of bliss. The strong aroma of alcohol pushed everyone around them away.
Wu Yong swallowed his saliva. "So... so strong!"
"An ordinary drinker would be knocked out after just one cup!"
But this was the specialty of the blacksmith and the woodcutter. At this moment, the blacksmith had taken off his exquisite full armor, revealing himself to be a short old man with white hair and beard. The woodcutter was still in his lumberjack attire, which seemed out of place with his professional wine-tasting posture.
"Heh heh, your way of drinking is a complete waste. Such perfect liquor shouldn't be squandered so easily."
"Yellow, blue, orange... paired with ice and an unknown type of lemon. Judging by its clarity, there should also be a colorless base liquor."
"From the aroma, it seems orange juice was also added. I predict at least seven main ingredients!"
The blacksmith nodded. "Woodcutter, it's been a while, but your drinking skills haven't diminished one bit!"
"Blacksmith, how could I let you outdo me!"
Saying this, both of them drank in unison!
Under everyone's watchful eyes, they showed no signs of dizziness or intoxication.
Instead, a large amount of steam emerged from their bodies, and emerald green juice continuously flowed out from their skin.
Haru was startled and said sternly, "That's... Sen Sen's plant-based toxins! They're actually being forcefully expelled from the body! This liquor has such a miraculous effect!"
Jun Qing, with his extensive knowledge, held a different view.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "It's not the liquor's problem!"
"Then what is it?"
"The blacksmith and the woodcutter are both heavy drinkers. This also indicates the preference of their Gourmet Cells. After drinking liquor that satisfies them, the deep-seated satisfaction will completely activate their Gourmet Cells."
"And fully powered Gourmet Cells will fear nothing, be it toxins, aging, external injuries, or diseases, all of which are no problem!"
After cocktails, let's have five mugs of draft beer to quench our thirst!
The third stall had already served pan-seared beef tenderloin, which was classic icefield yak beef, perfect grade!