Zhang Wei was taken aback.
What kind of condition was this?
I'm not dead yet, why would they want to venerate me?
Liu Bangling explained, "That's no ordinary veneration!"
In this world, spiritual power is extremely potent!
Whether it be Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism, they are all intertwined with food.
If statues can be enshrined within the Five Religions Temple, one will be blessed with culinary fortune! From then on, their connection with all sorts of delicious food will deepen, making it much easier to cook or search for ingredients.
In the original work, Komatsu, besides his culinary skills, also possessed astonishing culinary fortune!
Wang Shoucheng also bellowed, "I am the Governor of Chengdu. Chef Zhang Wei can state any needs he has to this official. In Chengdu, this prefecture holds considerable influence!"
All three were quite anxious.
The longer they delayed, the more competitors would emerge!
More and more people gathered around.
Renowned Gourmet Hunters...
Food Critics...
Head Chefs from other famous restaurants...
Who would have thought!
Wuxiang had caused such a tremendous stir!
Zhang Wei...
From this day forward, Zhang Wei's legendary biography would gain another stroke of bold ink!
Amidst the fervent anticipation.
The doors of Kikuzaka Restaurant finally opened!
The gaze of thousands did not cause Zhang Wei to falter.
Art of Wind Riding!
Zhang Wei slowly ascended into the sky and addressed everyone present, "I thank you all for your regard. I am the Zhang Wei you speak of!"
Wang Shoucheng quickly said, "Master Zhang Wei, that mysterious dish..."
"Don't rush."
Zhang Wei said to everyone, "Today is merely an experiment. The quantity of dishes is very limited, and I cannot possibly serve everyone present!"
"I will be holding business negotiations at Kikuzaka Restaurant in three days. All cooperators will be invited to my private banquet the following day! The location for the private banquet will also be Kikuzaka Restaurant!"
Abbess Miejue, unwillingly, asked, "Not even a single shred was left..."
"I am very sorry."
"Then... was the bowl washed..."
Zhang Wei: ...
What kind of monsters are these?
...
The commercial negotiation meeting was positioned at a very high level, not just anyone could enter.
Besides individuals with significant social standing like Wang Shoucheng and Abbess Miejue, there were also representatives from renowned restaurants across various regions.
However, countless people still crowded around Kikuzaka Restaurant, and this spectacle was already beginning to affect the restaurant's business.
A positive impact!
Kikuzaka Restaurant, which was already doing brisk business, now required long queues just to enter.
"Esteemed guests, please take a look at our newly selected menu."
"We highly recommend the Braised Golden Potato Fish and the Spicy Sweet and Sour Pork."
Golden potato refers to the round potato.
The Spicy Sweet and Sour Pork uses meat from the Icefield Yak.
After three days of exploration, Zhang Wei's high-quality ingredients had been thoroughly studied by the Gold-Tier chefs.
And based on the characteristics of the ingredients, they were incorporated into well-known Sichuan dishes, and a brand-new menu was launched.
This was also the first battle for Zhang Wei's ingredients to make a name for themselves.
The banquet began.
Liu Bangling started introducing the new dishes to her peers and led them on a tour of the kitchen, showcasing the quality of those ingredients!
Meanwhile, Zhang Wei engaged in discussions with the prominent figures of the Northern Lands, deliberating on the trade association's support plans and policy inclinations.
Including Wang Shoucheng, no one believed Zhang Wei possessed a trade association with transcontinental reach. They merely gave their assent to Zhang Wei's requests, considering it a means of appeasing the chef.
Currently, the only entities capable of transcontinental trade were the Four Great Trade Guilds:
The Four Great Salt Merchants, the Sword Forging Mountain Villa, the Tower of Scholars, and the Gourmet Trade Guild.
In the Sichuan region, besides the Gourmet Trade Guild, which specialized in high-end ingredients, there were also seven ordinary ingredient trade guilds, both large and small. What difference would one more make?
Ultimately, it was the products that spoke for themselves.
As for those preferential policies...
For Wuxiang, everything was worth it!
Everything proceeded smoothly!
A commotion erupted from outside the door.
"Let the old man in!"
"Sir, this is a membership-based establishment. Reservations are required."
What powerful electromagnetic waves!
Zhang Wei was startled.
Who could this person be?
Was the Initial Continent truly this full of hidden talents?
Zhang Wei stood up and had just reached the doorway when a gaunt old man barged in!
The old man wore a silk Taoist robe that gave him the air of a collaborator; his presence was utterly devoid of grace. His bony chest was exposed, dry and thin, giving him the appearance of a Taoist version of Jigong.
As he opened his mouth, his crooked teeth revealed themselves, "Heh heh, this old Taoist has finally caught up!"
The influential figures present were all startled.
They rose and bowed, "Greetings, Sage!"
Sage?
This old man?
However, such powerful electromagnetic waves indicated a level of at least 90!
Lan Yun Dao Sheng!
The living ancestor of Nine Peaks Mountain, rumored to be two hundred years old this year. In his youth, he was wild and unpredictable, with a fierce and brave temperament, never knowing how to compromise.
He once single-handedly wiped out a food bully that was terrorizing the region.
He had also directly criticized the extravagance and corruption of the Qing Emperor.
His survival to this day was solely due to his strength.
However, this old man had no interest in the culinary world, having remained in the Sichuan region. Over time, he cultivated his character and earned the title of Dao Sheng.
But due to insufficient nutritional intake, he had always been emaciated.
Yet, this old man was skilled in an advanced version of the art of food consumption: the art of feigned death!
He could reduce his body's energy consumption by 99.9%, and combined with meditation, he had not been consumed by his food cells.
As soon as the old man entered the room, his gaze fell upon Master Abe.
"Oh my, little Lingling, I've always thought highly of you since you were a child. I knew you would achieve great things someday, and I didn't expect it to happen so soon."
"You've actually managed to create something so delicious on the Initial Continent!"
"Where did you get this delicious food? Bring it out for this old man to see!"
Liu Bangling was startled by the old man, then gave a wry smile, "Uncle Lan Yun, you've misunderstood."
Lan Yun Dao Sheng discontentedly said, "What's wrong? Are you forgetting your Uncle Lan Yun now that you have delicious food? Don't you remember when you were bullied by bad people while you were studying, and it was Uncle Lan Yun who stood up for you?"
"No! How could I!"
"I have always remembered the help Uncle Lan Yun has given me over the years."
"It's just..."
Liu Bangling glanced at Zhang Wei and said, "The person who created that marvelous dish... is him."
It was then that Lan Yun Dao Sheng noticed Zhang Wei.
He ambled over to Zhang Wei and scrutinized him.
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
"A young hero."
"It's a pity his mind is too heavy, he's too clever."
Zhang Wei was speechless.
How could he tell that my mind is heavy?
However, the old man's demeanor immediately changed.
With a fawning and obsequious expression, he said, "Little one, could you..."
Liu Bangling immediately pulled the old man back.
She informed him about the family banquet scheduled for the next day.
Lan Yun Dao Sheng patted his chest and declared that Zhang Wei could have anything he desired! He would definitely present something that would move Zhang Wei tomorrow as an admission ticket to the banquet.
...
That night.
The Sichuan branch of the Gourmet Bank was officially established!
Zhang Wei utilized the Warm Port to traverse tens of thousands of miles in an instant, bringing another batch of talented individuals from the Northern Lands.
Accompanying Zhang Wei were three Gold-Tier chefs from Kikuzaka Restaurant, fifteen Silver-Tier chefs, and one hundred and thirty-five regular chefs.
As vanguards, they would support the construction of the Gourmet Bank. With their presence and the Great Glacier's inventory of ingredients, the appetites of over one hundred thousand laborers in the Northern Lands would finally be satisfied.
And they, at last, saw the perfect-grade ingredients they had yearned for.
As soon as they stepped out of the Warm Port.
The biting wind nearly carried away these chefs with less robust constitutions.
Wu Yong, with his chest bared, scooped up a handful of snow and threw it on himself, "Hahaha! This familiar feeling is truly the most comforting!"
"You guys need to train your bodies. Otherwise, you won't be able to withstand the harsh climate of the Northern Lands. But don't worry, Master Abe will be astonished by how healthy and strong you look when he sees you again."
The chefs, however, were somewhat frightened.
Where had they been tricked into coming?
The wind was bone-chilling!
Vast expanses stretched out for miles!
Where were the promised Gourmet Bank, Gourmet City, and Gourmet Academy?
What desolate land was this?
They had been deceived!
They must have been deceived!
Sensing the chefs' confusion, Zhang Wei said, "Wu Yong, have the chefs change into cold-weather gear, then take them to tour the food display, the construction site, and the ingredients in the temporary warm storage!"
"Oh, and let them taste the Soul of Flavor first, that's the highest priority!"
Wu Yong shouted, "Don't worry, don't worry! I'll make sure these bumpkins who've never seen the world see what true strength looks like!"
Zhang Wei returned to his warm storage.
Ingredients were piled up like mountains.
Xi Feng walked over and said, "These are ingredients from level 8-13 of the Northern Lands, collected from about 71% of all varieties in the region."
"That was efficient. There are about 750 types here?"
Xi Feng did not dare to take credit and stated facts, "These were all collected by President Mo Du using his position, with the assistance of forces under Wine and Beauties. Many ingredients are troublesome to trade, so we had to resort to some exertive measures."
"Furthermore, the Wolf Valley has progressively gifted us 120 types of ingredients, all of which are extremely rare. We hadn't collected half of them ourselves, truly filling a significant gap."
"And the current head of the mafia..."
Zhang Wei pondered, "Terror Clown?"
The current leader of the Black List!
He had fought for the Black List for decades and finally became its leader.
His subordinate, Scorpion, was also exceptionally powerful. After they took office, they reorganized the Black List, making this once dark organization even darker!
The loose structure ceased to exist, and they even established their own assassin training institution.
They even proclaimed slogans like: "To be an assassin, one must start from childhood," "Every year, we supply society with 3,000 quality scoundrels," and "If I do not go to hell, who will lay down their butcher's knife."
"My interactions with Terror Clown are limited. Since Tian Zui left the Black List, our contact with them has weakened considerably."
"What happened?"
Xi Feng said, "He said he saw potential in the future of the Gourmet Bank and Chef Zhang Wei's skills, and wished to discuss cooperation with us. He also dispatched Scorpion with over 300 rare ingredients from the West Coast as a gesture of sincerity."
"Where is Scorpion now?"
"Warm Storage Unit 107."
...
Inside Warm Storage Unit 107.
"Chef Zhang Wei, long time no see."
After five months, Scorpion had become even more robust.
His equipment had also been updated, with poison canisters extending into his skin, and paired with full metal armor, he resembled a character from a sci-fi movie.
Scorpion claimed that during the battle in the Land of Clouds, they had breached a research laboratory that was highly knowledgeable about biology.
Scorpion had collected a significant amount of data from there. In the subsequent days, he not only perfected his biological toxin formulas but also utilized certain methods from that laboratory to further enhance his strength.
The two exchanged pleasantries, recounting amusing anecdotes from the past half-year.
Zhang Wei and Tian Zui's adventures had also been widely circulated within the Black List.
Scorpion said, "Chef Zhang Wei, the Clown and I wish to discuss a collaboration with you this time."
"Collaboration?"
"Regarding new trainee programs."
"I can't help much with training assassins, thieves, or murderers."
Scorpion said, "The Ice Hell is extremely cold, a good place to temper one's willpower. And more importantly... there is abundant delicious food here, and it allows ordinary people to advance efficiently."
Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed.
What well-informed sources they had, truly befitting an organization that dealt in such shadowy matters like the Black List!
The Soul of Flavor was a top secret of the Great Glacier, yet the Black List had learned of it. However, it didn't matter; such a secret would eventually be exposed anyway.
Scorpion said, "You don't know how many gifted children in the Black List remain ordinary people after more than a decade due to their inability to accumulate food cells. A great deal of their youth has been wasted."
"With the full support of Mr. Zhang Wei, I believe the Black List's scale will at least double in the next ten years, and triple again in twenty years!"
Zhang Wei was silent for a moment, "Then what will I gain?"
"The friendship of the Black List."
"Be specific."
"You will be the regenerator of the Black List. Whatever you need, the Black List will do its utmost. If you can ensure the future of the Black List, what is there to stop the Clown from entrusting the entire Black List to you?"
Scorpion's statement was clear.
As long as this condition was met, he would be the rebirth parent of the Black List.
Furthermore, if Zhang Wei agreed, starting from now, the Black List could pledge their loyalty to Zhang Wei and participate in the construction of the Great Glacier.
Zhang Wei thought for a moment and smiled, "I do need manpower... However, using you all as laborers would be too wasteful."
...
On the other side.
The over two hundred members of the Kikuzaka Restaurant tour group changed into thick, cold-weather clothing and consumed special spicy braised pork and warming sake. The group finally no longer feared the harsh Northern Lands.
At the former site of the Great Glacier, everyone witnessed the old-style food display cases of the Century Collection Association.
Inside the crystal-clear icehouses, everyone's eyes widened in astonishment!
"To think... such a magnificent spectacle exists. Using ice to preserve fresh ingredients..."
"Look, the frozen ingredients are like amber, crystal clear, and the food within is glistening!"
"And how large is this food display case? It seems to extend from the horizon. Even the majestic Mount Emei Buddha in the Sichuan region wouldn't be a tenth of this!"
These country bumpkins from the Initial Continent.
When had they ever seen such a sight?
Wu Yong scoffed, "What, are you surprised already?"
"Although these Century Ice Pillars took sixty years to create, they pale in comparison to Mr. Zhang Wei's inventory!"
Everyone was aghast!
"Please, do show us!"