After three days of hospitality, Lang Tu finally set off on his journey home.
The recruitment notices had been out for a few days. This matter was entirely entrusted to Xi Feng, and he didn't know how well it had been completed.
Furthermore, Nuan Gang had been promoted again. The energy within it was too immense, and it was normal for it to have nowhere to vent.
In front of a certain warm storage...
Over a thousand people stood before Zhang Wei.
These were all people who had passed the First Taste test and possessed high talent. Their levels were generally between 5 and 8.
"From today onwards, you will be granted an exceptional departure from the construction teams and enter the affiliated security forces."
"You will receive higher levels, more abundant food and treatment, and a considerable salary! However, you must also be prepared to fight for the Food Bank at any time, and even sacrifice yourselves!"
"Now, you can make your choice: continue to be laborers, or stay!"
Most of these people were honest farmers whose hometowns had been ravaged by war, and they were captured and sold as slaves.
Discussing combat and sacrifice was still too shocking for them.
Just as the many slave laborers hesitated, a tall figure emerged from the crowd.
"I will!"
"But I have one condition: that I can learn cooking arts with you!"
Zhang Wei recognized this person.
It was the tall, thin man who had eaten dozens of bowls that day, and also the only Level 9 awakened cell user present.
A single banquet could lead to a Level 9 promotion!
This talent made Zhang Wei jealous!
Since someone had set an example, Zhang Wei was naturally very happy. "Very good. To reward your courage, I will promote you directly to management."
"Now, Captain, tell me your name."
"I... I'm called Acacia, and I live in the Obichu Kingdom on the Middle Continent. My former identity was an unremarkable small chef. I used to learn hunting in the mountains with my uncle..."
Acacia chattered on, spilling all his information.
Zhang Wei was stunned by his name!
Acacia!
It was actually the legendary God of Food, Acacia, the mentor of Ichiryu, Jirou, and Midora, the partner of Froizer, and the most powerful Gourmet Hunter in the world.
He was also the final enemy of the protagonist's team in the original work, a super boss with the power to crush planets with his bare hands!
And he was the biological father of the protagonist, Toriko!
Zhang Wei swallowed his saliva. "Um... how old are you?"
"This year... eight years old."
Zhang Wei...
Looking at Acacia's height of over two meters.
Zhang Wei couldn't help but mutter, "This is eight years old?"
However, upon closer inspection, although this person was tall and thin, he did have a naive and youthful aura. If he were a bit fatter and had a beard, he would look quite similar to his appearance in the original manga.
Zhang Wei admitted that he was a little panicked.
In the original work, the Food Demon within Acacia was of an extremely high caliber, and besides Toriko's White Demon, no creature on Earth could contend with it.
Moreover, this little guy's growth rate was terrifying, more than ten times faster than that of a normal person.
"What should I do..."
Zhang Wei declared, "Very well, Acacia, is it? From today onwards, you will work here as a squad leader."
With Acacia leading the way, the enthusiasm of the crowd increased significantly.
Zhang Wei, however, wasn't in the mood to bother with these matters. Acacia's appearance had deeply shaken him.
In the original work, Acacia had stopped the Gourmet Wars five hundred years ago and ushered in a new era.
So, how many years were in the first half of his legendary life...
However, Zhang Wei remembered something else, and that was the 'Acacia's Life Menu' from the original work!
"Hoo... it's still too early to think about these things."
"My path is simply to collect ingredients."
"As long as I can collect all the ingredients on Earth, what does it matter if the Earth is destroyed?"
"The people I care about only need to live in the Treasure Hall. Anyway, the space there is infinitely extending."
To this day.
Zhang Wei had not discovered the limit of the Treasure Hall. It seemed to be a growing palace; wherever Zhang Wei explored, it would generate.
...
New ingredients were continuously transported in.
Within the 1-7 level range, over 300 new types appeared, with many familiar figures from the original work among them.
[Discovered Catchable Ingredient: Lobsterfish]
[Capture Level: 1]
[Habitat: Rivers, lakes, swamps, etc.]
[Description: A fish with lobster claws on its body. Its claws contain deliciousness comparable to high-grade crab meat.]
---
[Discovered Catchable Ingredient: Five-tailed Tiger-headed Sea Eagle]
[Capture Level: 2]
[Habitat: Mountainous terrain, rocky areas]
[Description: Possesses sharp claws and a beak capable of breaking through hard objects. Purely carnivorous, fierce in nature, often steals domesticated livestock.]
---
[Discovered Catchable Ingredient: Gala Giant Crocodile]
[Capture Level: 5]
[Habitat: Swamps, dense forests, lakes]
[Description: Adults can reach up to 13 tons. The meat is similar to that of ordinary birds. The quality of the meat improves with age. After a long period, the meat quality of Gala Giant Crocodiles significantly increases.]
---
These were all classic ingredients from the original work.
These ingredients were exchanged from the Salt Essence Exchange. The rarity of Salt Essence was no less than that of ingredients level 30 and above, making exchanges particularly smooth.
In addition to these, Almond Cabbage, Striped Salmon, Snake Child, Marsh Snake, Chocolate Cicada, Zombie Pontai Snake...
A series of classic ingredients all appeared in Zhang Wei's sight.
Many of them were rare items transported from across the ocean, and with shipping costs, they were quite expensive.
"Currently, the merchant association's influence has spread throughout the entire Northern Continent. With this development speed, it will take a considerable amount of time to collect all the treasures in the Human Realm."
"No, I have to do something!"
Zhang Wei had added a large number of Level 1-6 ingredients during this time, with over a thousand of them reaching perfect quality!
However, the volume varied greatly.
Some ingredients weighed thousands of kilograms, while others were only a few hundred grams.
Some ingredients were collected over a thousand portions, while others had only reached the perfect quality with a few dozen portions.
Collecting over a thousand portions was enough to increase the volume of ingredients by eighty times!
A chocolate cicada the size of a plate, after being duplicated, increased to the size of a nightstand, and its weight increased from five kilograms to 400 kilograms!
Zhang Wei spread out a map.
The Northern Continent was divided into the Northland, the West Coast, the Star and Moon Islands, and the Free City-States. It was relatively close to the Siberia and Iceland regions of the original Earth's Eurasian Continent.
A corner of the Western Continent was closer to the original Earth's Africa.
The Eastern Continent was close to North and South America.
The Southern Continent was close to Australia and the Pacific Ocean.
This world map was extorted from Old Mo. Only the highest Gourmet Association of Humanity could draw such a detailed map.
This map was like an expanded version of the Blue Star world map, with many points worth discussing.
And the core area of humanity was usually commercially developed, but it lacked high-level ingredients. Level 20 ingredients were already considered extremely rare there.
"The core area of humanity is commercially developed; there's nothing that can't be bought with money. One can directly consume there."
"On the four continents of Southeast, Northwest, and West, one can at most buy ingredients around Level 30 with money. Beyond that, one needs to hire Gourmet Hunters for capture."
"Gourmet Hunters..."
"Collecting ingredients should indeed proceed synchronously."
...
Zhang Wei summoned Xi Feng and inquired about the progress of the caravan's formation. He also had Xi Feng select a few dozen of the more elite members, and Wu Yong was also called over.
"Mr. Zhang, you called for me?"
As soon as Wu Yong entered the room, his loud voice boomed like thunder.
After not seeing him for several days, Wu Yong's strength had improved another level. It was clear that he had made significant progress during this time.
Zhang Wei smiled faintly and said, "Judging by your aura, I'm afraid even Xi Feng is no match for you now."
Wu Yong chuckled, "Ever since I ate your Warrior's Blood, I feel like a dam has been broken. I've become so much more energetic. Forget about President Xi Feng; even if Haru came, I'm confident I could spar with him!"
Clearly, Wu Yong still harbored resentment over being defeated by Haru in a single move previously.
Zhang Wei said, "Don't get ahead of yourself. Do you think Haru is someone who stands still?"
"That's true... Mr. Zhang, why did you call me here?"
Zhang Wei took out a bronze apple and said, "Here's a small reward for you. Eat it."
Wu Yong was startled!
This familiar aroma, wasn't it the apples that Ajin and the others guarded day and night?
This one should be the type without a peel.
He heard that this thing was super valuable, one of them was a hundred million! And that was at a tearful bargain price; if it were auctioned, two hundred million wouldn't be an issue!
A single apple could be worth half a Food Display Case.
After all, the Food Display Cases had been continuously under construction for eighty years, almost three generations, and had been obtained with countless lives and blood.
"What are you waiting for? Eat it."
"This... it's not good, is it? To suddenly give such a valuable item, hehehe..."
Although he was desperately swallowing his saliva and suppressing his extreme desire to eat, it was better to explain the situation clearly.
Zhang Wei said, "I plan to take you to an unfamiliar place. I'm not entirely confident in your current strength!"
So it was a matter of strength.
Since it involved strength, there would be danger? Then it was considered payment for risking his life.
Wu Yong thought for a moment and decided that his life was more important.
He immediately stopped refusing, took the apple, and took a fierce bite!
"So delicious!"
"Crisp and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste. Even as it slides down my throat, there's still that refreshing sensation!"
"The taste seems to have merged into my blood, constantly circulating within my body, and wherever it passes, there's a refreshing feeling!"
"Blood with an apple flavor flowing through my brain, and I even feel like the world has become much clearer!"
A surging power flowed through Wu Yong's body. Coupled with the exquisite taste of the bronze apple, Wu Yong himself began to shine with a dazzling light!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!!
Explosions continuously sounded around Wu Yong, and the foundation beneath his feet kept collapsing!
This was Wu Yong's innate skill, and his Explosive Fist technique originated from this.
Not only had his level greatly increased, but his innate ability had also advanced to the next stage!
"Explosive Power, huh? It really is a purely offensive Food Cell."
At this moment, Wu Yong's entire appearance had changed. He grew to 2.7 meters tall, and his robust muscles bulged.
The aura of dominance after his promotion was like a tangible entity.
Wu Yong clenched his fists and casually swung a few punches in the air. Invisible fist energy exploded in the distance!
A roaring sound echoed, and a distant hill was easily blown apart!
"Such power!"
"With this output capability, his Star Level should have increased to over 60, right?"
Wu Yong sensed himself and was instantly overjoyed. "I've been promoted from Level 42 to Level 58! A full sixteen levels!"
"I feel like my destructive power has increased by more than six times! Is this the power of a bronze apple? If it were a silver apple..."
The difference between 42 and 58 was a qualitative leap!
Speaking of which, giving the bronze apple to Wu Yong was a bit of a waste. His base level was too low. Even if it multiplied five or six times, he still couldn't contend with some top experts.
However, with the boost from the bronze apple, Wu Yong could now contend with some of the characters from the Northern Ten Heroes.
Or rather, Wu Yong had the strength to become one of the new Northern Ten Heroes!
Wu Yong knelt on the ground excitedly, "Mr. Zhang!"
"Thank you... If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would never have experienced such a world-shattering delicacy in my life."
At this moment.
Wu Yong was not lost in power, but was constantly savoring that ineffable deliciousness.
It was this attitude towards food that allowed him to level up so much!
"Alright."
"Let's go."
...
After loading over a hundred people into the Warm Port, the Warm Port instantly teleported to the West Coast on the other side of the ocean.
"Warm Port, your travel is too slow."
"I'll take over the rest of the journey."
"Don't resist, follow my guidance and enter..."
Putting the Warm Port into the right side hall, Zhang Wei ascended into the sky!
"Lightning Control Technique!"
"Semi-Elementalization: Thunder Leap!"
He transformed into lightning!
Lightning flashed across the sky!
In the blink of an eye, he traversed over ten kilometers, and Thunder Leap had a cooldown of only about 0.5 seconds!
However, this method of movement consumed more stamina than Wind Control, requiring over fifty times more stamina for the same distance.
This was a combat skill, not meant for traveling.
The West Coast was about 40,000 kilometers away from the central continent, and Zhang Wei would need about 2,000 jumps...
"This is truly a challenge!"
Continue!
Today, I will cross half a continent in a few hours!
Ten times...
A hundred times...
Five hundred times...
A thousand times!
Zhang Wei plunged into the sea, electricity constantly leaking from his body, causing many fish and shrimp to float to the surface with their eyes wide open.
Zhang Wei looked at his somewhat ethereal hand. At least 20% of it was still in an elementalized state!
"It hurts!"
"Could it be due to maintaining elementalization for too long?"
With the energy support of the silver apple.
Zhang Wei maintained elementalization for an extravagant thirteen minutes, while normal use of Thunder Leap usually involved only 0.3 seconds of semi-elementalization.
His body! It was already becoming unresponsive!
[Collection Complete: Shallow Water Fish]
[Replication Time: 24 Days]
[Collection Complete: Plankton Water Gun Shrimp]
[Replication Time: 18 Days]
[Collection Complete: Invisible Jellyfish]
[Replication Time: 21 Days]
Zhang Wei: ...
'Good heavens, electrocuting fish is illegal!'