After parting ways with Mo Du, Zhang Wei began planning the affairs of the Food Bank.
First, there was the matter of immense capital. The spoils of war allocated to him were estimated to be worth between 9 to 20 billion, and some high-level ingredients had not yet been distributed.
Secondly, the source of goods. To attract high-end chefs, the Great Glacier needed to be built into the foremost food distribution center in the North.
Finally, transportation. Relying solely on icefield yaks would be insufficient for Zhang Wei's grand ambitions.
Manpower was also a problem.
...
The North, Wolf Valley.
Similar to the Ice Hell Plains, this was a prime breeding ground for large, rare ingredients in the North.
However, the dangers of the Ice Hell Plains stemmed from the weather, while here it was from an endless horde of carnivorous beasts.
Zhang Wei traveled alone, using the Wind Control technique to fly. His speed was around 200 kilometers per hour, not particularly fast, but it was energy-saving, effortless, and leisurely.
While Swift Leap was powerful, it consumed too much energy!
Moreover, soaring through the sky always offered a different view.
He spread out his map: "So this is Wolf Valley... Rather than a valley, it's more like a basin embedded in the plateau."
"Beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, abundant rainfall... far superior to the Ice Hell Plains."
Such excellent natural conditions led to unprecedented prosperity in plant life. There were thousands of known species of trees, herbs, fungi, and ferns.
It was truly a botanical exhibition.
Without the constraint of food, herbivores like horses, cattle, and sheep would breed in large numbers, simultaneously supporting a vast population of carnivores. These carnivores would help cull the old, weak, sick, and injured from the herbivore herds.
Everything was developing in a healthy direction.
Until the arrival of humans.
"Gaaaaaah~~~"
Zhang Wei looked up. A group of large birds swooped down towards him, clearly mistaking him for food.
"Was my speed too slow? I've been underestimated."
---
[Discovered Capturable Ingredient: Candy Bomber]
[Habitat: Wolf Valley]
[Capture Level: 22]
[Description: A carnivorous bird. Its body is covered in hard candy for defense. Its flight mechanism is similar to an airplane, using airflow expelled from vents in its posterior for propulsion.
Its attack method involves throwing explosive egg candies. A single Candy Bomber can carry multiple egg candies at once, used for bombing or aerial combat.
The egg candies contain various intoxicating sugars that can overwhelm a creature with bliss, rendering it unable to extricate itself from happiness...
The Candy Bomber's outer shell is incredibly tough, but it is vulnerable to the erosion of saliva...]
---
Zhang Wei's mouth watered. He had encountered such a prime creature right upon arrival?
It was known that even among beasts of the same level, there were vast differences.
Some were treasures from head to toe, like the Puffer Whale.
Compressed from a mass of tens of tons, its fins could be used for wine infusion, its flesh for sashimi, and its tongue was rich in fat, capable of being continuously squeezed for oil for years without depletion...
Some were exceptionally delicious, like the Rainbow Fruit.
Only level 26, yet its deliciousness surpassed ingredients in their forties and fifties.
Some were of low value, like the Tro-Titan.
Tens of tons of weight, most of it garbage. While usable, it was not fit for refined cuisine, with only its brain being considered decent.
Clearly, this bird was of the "treasure from head to toe" type.
"Ultra-low power, Sky-Tear Star Mark... No, I can't damage such perfect quality."
"Electrical energy generation... Paralysis Current..."
"Ultra-low power, Starfish Style Chidori Stream!"
This was a supreme technique from Planet Uchiha, using dispersed electricity for area-of-effect attacks.
Electricity filled the air!
The quantity was ample, but the voltage was low. Zhang Wei controlled it with extreme care, afraid of overdoing it and scorching the bird, affecting its taste.
The Candy Bomber aggressively attacked, unwilling to waste its egg candies, intending to subdue Zhang Wei with sheer physical advantage.
But upon seeing the lightning crackling everywhere, it knew it had encountered a formidable foe.
Sizzle sizzle~
The Candy Bomber's eyes went dark, nearly losing consciousness.
Perhaps... this human was not that strong.
Attack!
"Gaaaaaah~~~~ (Explosive Cruise Guided Egg)"
It plucked an oval egg from beneath its wing and pierced the tip with its claw!
The egg cracked open...
But no egg white or yolk emerged, only a cloud of pink smoke. The smoke billowed out, propelling the egg towards Zhang Wei!
Zhang Wei was horrified!
"Damn it, what a bizarre attack method!"
"It's a miracle this species hasn't gone extinct!"
"Bomb egg, guided egg, flying chicken... what a highly creative species!"
Although the flying egg was comical, its speed was incredibly fast!
In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Zhang Wei!
Boom!!
Zhang Wei was completely engulfed within it.
Accompanying the explosion was a large amount of orange-yellow smoke.
"This is... sugar powder!"
"Wow, so sweet!"
"This sweetness... and this taste entered through my respiratory tract, I didn't even open my mouth!"
"Wait, haven't I lost my sense of taste and smell?"
Zhang Wei felt a sense of bliss welling up from the depths of his heart!
He couldn't describe the feeling, as if all worries and sorrows had vanished, an unprecedented relaxation, as if he were in a fairytale world...
But unfortunately, the feeling disappeared in an instant, and the sweetness vanished without a trace.
"Gaaaaaah~~"
Seeing that its strongest move couldn't affect him, the Candy Bomber immediately understood the gap between them.
It changed direction, maximizing the airflow from its tail!
Instantly, the rainbow-colored tail flame turned into clouds, resembling a rainbow from afar.
Like an aerial acrobatics troupe performing during a celebration...
"This exhaust... has a hint of sweetness too!"
"I can actually perceive it!"
"Now I really can't let you escape!"
Swift Leap!
His body instantly semi-elementalized, moving through the air like lightning. Each release took only half a second, yet covered thousands of meters!
He precisely appeared above the Candy Bomber and delivered a gentle punch...
Thump~
A small crack appeared on the indestructible sugar armor, and the Candy Bomber happily fainted.
"The sugar armor is secreted from the body's epidermis. Carnivorous birds... if I'm not mistaken, this bird can only digest protein and fat. Excess sugar is expelled from the body, eventually forming the sugar armor."
"The egg should be formed through a similar principle."
"Due to the extensive sugar armor, its wings cannot move, hence it evolved jet-powered flight..."
He brought a jet nozzle to his mouth.
Sweetness!
It was indeed that sweet taste!
"From a physiological standpoint... what it's expelling should be gas..."
But Zhang Wei didn't feel disgusted at all.
Chinese cuisine was like this; as long as it was delicious, it wouldn't be rejected based on its origin.
For example, bird's nest was composed of saliva, feathers, and dirt.
In regions like Jiangxi, there was Sheep Abomasum Soup, made by killing a sheep and reprocessing its regurgitated, incompletely digested contents. This soup could only be made from one sheep, and only the most honored guests could partake.
European foie gras was a high-end dish, but in reality, it was the diseased fatty liver of a goose... yet only such a liver was rich and fragrant enough.
Cordyceps, a parasitic fungus...
If one were to consider origins, most of the world's delicacies would be eliminated!