The Climbing Ladder House—this was the only way to the Desert Courtyard, passing through a month-long Valley of Dust and Sand, requiring travelers to pay a hefty sum.
The Desert Courtyard itself spanned an area of 39 million square kilometers, making it the largest desert region in the Human World.
The legendary Gourmet Pyramid was said to be located within it.
However, Zhang Wei's target wasn't the rich cola from the Gourmet Pyramid; the Desert Courtyard held a treasure that Zhang Wei desired even more…
………………
…………
Ever since Zhang Wei was taken away, the Gourmet Bank had been plunged into widespread panic.
Yet, Xi Feng's organizational skills were commendable. He issued several policies to stabilize morale and meticulously followed the schedule Zhang Wei had left behind. He even entrusted Sheng Taro with the escort of the precious ingredients.
Aboard the airship, Sheng Taro was filled with emotion, "This Zhang Wei kid really trusts me, handing over such a large enterprise."
This was the most advanced airship ordered from the Scholar's Tower, with a carrying capacity exceeding five hundred tons and remarkable speed.
Most importantly, the cargo was extraordinary.
Fifty kilograms of sushi salt, priced at ten thousand Beli per gram, valued at five hundred million Beli.
Over a thousand bottles of Seven-Flavor Sake, worth over a billion.
Wanshi White Sugar Cubes, Pastry Trees, Crimson Sugar, Candied Chicken, Yellow Chicken Carrots, Jade Onions…
All in all, the value of this ship's cargo was over 35 billion, equivalent to the total annual income of four medium-sized nations.
Just then, the ship abruptly stopped, and a violent jolt sent everyone tumbling forward.
"What's going on?"
Sheng Taro rushed out of his room, leaped into the air, and hovered in the sky, standing on a petal.
A steel cable emerged from the ground, extending thousands of meters high, firmly locking the airship in the sky.
At the end of the cable was a brawny man who, with just one hand, could control this incredibly long cable and drag the entire ship down to the ground…
"Who are you? How dare you attack me!"
Sheng Taro, with strength exceeding level 150, had encountered few opponents in the Human World and was naturally unafraid.
The Cable Man pulled the entire ship to the ground and then roared with laughter, "Sheng Taro, isn't it? The Regenerator from the Land of Healing. If you know what's good for you, leave now, and I can spare your life."
So it was!
A targeted attack!
An interception…
Having promised Zhang Wei, Sheng Taro couldn't falter. He immediately summoned his Rose Whip and charged at the man.
"Wait… there's more than one person…"
But the others made no move to attack. The man shouted, "Call me Baron… If you don't want to leave, then stay here with this ship."
There were five of them in total.
The one playing with the steel cable was called Baron, possessing the ability to control metal as if it were an extension of his own body…
The other four ignored Sheng Taro and proceeded towards the ship's hull.
Sheng Taro, about to intervene, was immediately surrounded by a barrage of steel cables. Baron chuckled, "Your opponent is me."
The Rose Whip clashed with the steel cable…
Sheng Taro was shocked!
The steel cable possessed such immense power. The moment his whip met it, it was directly shredded!
Damn it!
The steel cable tightened, and Sheng Taro was captured alive.
At this moment, a figure emerged from behind the steel cables. It was Yan Yan, the sales supervisor for the Northern Continent of the Four Great Salt Merchants.
"Mr. Sheng Taro, long time no see."
"It's you… Yan Yan!"
"I originally wanted to catch up, but I didn't expect you to be a prisoner now…"
Sheng Taro roared with anger, "Why are you engaging in such banditry? Do the Four Great Salt Merchants lack money?"
"Of course… money is the foundation of merchants, but what I care about isn't just the payment for the goods, but all the reserve locations for ingredients in the Gourmet World, and all intelligence regarding these seasonings."
The ingredients at the Gourmet Bank were too mysterious.
Yan Yan had tried every means to ascertain where these ingredients came from, whether they were natural or artificial. If artificially made, what were the recipes? Which ingredients from the Gourmet World were used?
Everything was unknown.
However, by capturing more people and interrogating them strictly, he might be able to glean some clues.
Zhang Wei's detention was not long, usually only two months. Yan Yan had to race against time, even if it meant resorting to more violent methods.
Boom!
An explosion rang out from the ship. Yan Yan frowned slightly. Why such force? What if they accidentally injured a tongue that held crucial information? That would be a wasted effort.
Just then, three beams of white light shot out from the ship. It was the same group of people from before…
Wait!
Why were there only three?
Yan Yan looked towards the top of the ship. Someone who shouldn't be there had appeared!
Zhang Wei!
And the missing person was in Zhang Wei's hand!
Zhang Wei's voice boomed across the heavens!
"Mr. Yan Yan, long time no see. You've fallen on hard times, resorting to robbery!"
Yan Yan could hardly believe his eyes!
His subordinates' intelligence clearly indicated that Zhang Wei should have been imprisoned in the Hive Prison. And those sent there for study wouldn't get out for at least two months.
And today was only the fourth day!
Could it be…
An escape?
Even more impossible. The Hive Prison was permanently guarded by high-level combatants, with the strongest warden having a strength exceeding level 400, and even several deputy wardens exceeding level 200. The warden was also one of the guardians of the Human World!
Furthermore, the experts at the Hive Prison were all powerful in search, investigation, and restraint. Zhang Wei, despite his prowess, was no match for them!
"Could it be… collusion?"
The more Yan Yan thought, the more plausible it seemed. After all, Zhang Wei was incredibly wealthy. If he truly provided hundreds of billions of Beli to support the prison's construction, it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't be tempted.
Even if they were indifferent to money, Zhang Wei's top-tier ingredients and supreme culinary skills were hard for anyone to refuse.
In the Great Gourmet Era, could anyone refuse the bribe of food?
It was difficult for anyone to achieve!
Yan Yan berated, "Zhang Wei, I can't believe you'd stoop to such despicable tactics, even bribing the Hive Prison!"
As a chef, Zhang Wei certainly had the capital for this.
Just then, the voice of Deputy Warden Shi Tou rang out!
"Don't spout nonsense. Chef Zhang Wei passed the assessment officially and graduated from the Hive Prison with a perfect score."
A perfect score?
Yan Yan was stunned.
The restriction for those at level 100 at the Hive Prison was simple: to make everyone understand the relationship between humans and nature, environmental protection, common destiny of mankind, and a broader perspective, with very complex theories.
After exceeding level 100, if one wanted to operate in the Human World for an extended period, they would be invited for remedial studies.
Yan Yan had gone through this himself. Tens of thousands of words in total, and the language was concise. Yan Yan himself had a high cultural literacy, yet it still took him two full months and four attempts to reach the passing score of 70.
Zhang Wei managed a perfect score?
In just four days.
Shi Tou continued, "I'm very puzzled. Mr. Zhang Wei truly has a photographic memory. You'll never guess how long he took or how many times he tested."
"Four days?"
"36 hours, passed on the first try, perfect score!"
"Nonsense!"
Yan Yan was furious!
This was utterly impossible, what kind of genius student was this?
This had to be an excuse after receiving bribes.
Zhang Wei didn't retort, but calmly said, "Deputy Warden Shi Tou, Yan Yan caused five individuals above level 100 to commit acts of violent robbery. This must violate the laws enacted by the guardians of the Human World, correct?"
"Indeed, that is the case," Shi Tou responded.
"If my memory serves me correctly, according to the penal code, such actions should be punishable by expulsion from the Human World."
"Precisely."
Yan Yan was terrified, "No! You can't expel me!"
Shi Tou smiled, "Why, do I not have the authority?"
Yan Yan gritted his teeth, "Zhang Wei, what benefit did you give him for him to help you like this! The assets of the Four Great Salt Merchants and my personal fortune are not insignificant. Zhang Wei can give what I can give."
Shi Tou's expression was calm, but displeased, "You are insulting me."
"Do you deny it? Heh heh… is it truly possible for someone to memorize all that in 36 hours?"
"I don't understand it myself. Is Mr. Zhang Wei a genius? Or… had he already encountered this material before?"
Of course not.
In fact, Zhang Wei had never seen it before!
But Zhang Wei could immerse his mind in the Treasure Hall. The left annex had a time acceleration of 47 times. 30 hours could be accelerated to 1410 hours, which was 58 days!
This was the secret behind Zhang Wei's swift release.
Furthermore, Zhang Wei reported Yan Yan to Shi Tou and guaranteed with hundreds of billions in assets that Yan Yan would be found guilty of the misuse of force.
With things reaching this point, Yan Yan laughed to the heavens, his immense power exploding like a nuclear bomb!
"Zhang Wei, I never imagined… even the Hive Prison couldn't hold you!"
Shi Tou stepped forward, "Surrender, you are no match for me."
Yan Yan's eyes were fixed on Zhang Wei, "I am leaving, are you going to hide behind him like this?"
Zhang Wei spread his hands, "I'm just a chef."
"And I'm not a professional fighter."
Their eyes met.
A moment of silence passed…
Shi Tou wisely stepped back.
Lightning flashed!
Zhang Wei's position exchanged with Yan Yan's!
Only after their positions shifted did the sonic boom in the air spread like a snail.
The speed of both was beyond sound.
Zhang Wei raised his fist, looking at the rising heat. "Such a strange movement technique. Zhan Kong Xing Hen struck, yet the energy dispersed and didn't inflict much damage on you."
And then.
Yan Yan, without even turning his head, said to Shi Tou, "Let's go."
"Alright."
After taking three steps, Yan Yan suddenly spoke, "With my talent, I should have long ago entered the Gourmet World and opened new food reserves. The position of sales supervisor is actually a restraint for me. Zhang Wei, if you continue to hesitate in the Human World… heh, forget it. I look forward to meeting you in the Gourmet World."
Then.
Shi Tou summoned his Lightning Eagle, and Yan Yan departed with swagger.
As if he were the victor.
"Gourmet World…"
Zhang Wei chuckled indifferently.
Sheng Taro finally came over, bewildered, "What happened? I didn't understand any of it!"
"Why do you care about that? Come here and give me a massage!"
"What?"
Zhang Wei took off his shirt, baring his teeth, "That Yan Yan, what kind of move was that? It hurt like hell when it hit me. I feel like my bones have shifted."
At this moment, Zhang Wei's upper body was red and swollen. There were large purple contusions on his ribs and abdomen, all caused by severe bruising.
Furthermore, Zhang Wei's arm was no longer cooperating. Just a slight touch…
Zhang Wei suddenly remembered Tai Sui Shen, whose death was tragic, to say the least. It was as if all his bones and meridians were broken, and even his ribs had been ripped out alive.
Sheng Taro examined him and exclaimed, "Dislocated shoulder, separated rib joints, localized bone fractures, tendon damage, widespread bruising all over… Can this kind of damage truly occur in an instant?"
A technique for dislocating bones and muscles?
To Zhang Wei, Yan Yan was quite a mysterious individual.
"Can you be surprised later? Hurry up and treat me!"
"Oh, oh…"
Sheng Taro drew out a few silver needles and then began manipulating Zhang Wei's bones, causing them to click.
Acupuncture!
Setting bones!
Removing bruises!
All done in one go!
Sheng Taro said sternly, "Yan Yan's technique is terrifying, even more so than swords!"
"Is it that exaggerated?"
"Of course. His technique incapacitates without killing. Many external injuries can be repaired with powerful recovery effects, but this kind of bone and muscle displacement not only affects combat power but also cannot be healed by one's own restorative abilities during combat."
Severe injury effect?
Zhang Wei suddenly thought of this term.
Sheng Taro continued, "However, fortunately, if one understands effective medical methods, the power of these moves is reduced by more than half…"
As he spoke, Sheng Taro was quite proud.
Zhang Wei's injuries were also fully healed within minutes under Sheng Taro's treatment.
"Impressive!"
"Naturally. I am a Regenerator."
"Teach me."
"Pay the tuition."
"Do I look like someone who lacks money?"
Sheng Taro said with interest, "A greedy person like you wants to learn the ways of us Regenerators? Did Yan Yan scare you?"
Zhang Wei said dismissively, "As long as it's a useful skill or knowledge, I never give up."
"Alright, but there's quite a lot to learn."
"Didn't you just hear Shi Tou say that I can learn two months' worth of knowledge in 36 hours?"
…………
On the other side, Yan Yan trembled atop the Lightning Eagle.
Lightning constantly emanated from Yan Yan's body, accompanied by the smell of burnt flesh.
Shi Tou chuckled, "What, didn't get what you wanted?"
"Zhang Wei's punch… contained an enormous amount of electrical energy, and it was highly penetrative. I had to use energy dissipation to disperse it, otherwise, it would have pierced my chest directly… Even so, thirty percent of the electrical energy entered my body."
Shi Tou asked, "Do you need a doctor?"
"You jest!"
Yan Yan roared, "I am a technical close-combat fighter. Pure fist strength wouldn't harm me. His elemental fist just happened to counter me. However, I've figured out his true strength. The next time we meet, the outcome will be different. And… the damage he received is no less than mine!"
"Heh heh, I believe that. After all, you are a disciple of the Grandmaster of Fists—the God of Fists."