Xi Feng rolled his eyes. While the Rainbow Fruit was a prized item, it was only renowned for its exquisite taste and rich nutritional value.
It wasn't some kind of antidote or medicinal herb, so how could it possess such effects?
He was simply waiting for the Rainbow Fruit to become extinct, driving up its price so he could make a hefty profit!
Just as Xi Feng was about to refuse,
Yi Ze immediately interjected, "I've heard that the four Gourmet Detectives of the World Collection Association often venture into perilous places, obtaining many treasures for the Association. How about… a competition?"
"A competition?"
"If I win, my uncle agrees to the trade, and we settle the deal. If I lose, I'll never mention the Rainbow Fruit again!"
"This…" Xi Feng hesitated.
Yi Ze upped the ante, "Uncle, if I lose, all the money will be yours too!"
It seemed like a good deal?
Whether he won and got the fruit for free, or lost and gained a large sum of money… Furthermore, Yi Ze didn't seem to have brought any experts with him.
The World Collection Association boasted four Gourmet Detectives. Having constantly skirted the edge of death, their strength far surpassed that of the various department heads!
The odds of victory… were extremely high!
"Alright, I accept!"
Upon hearing this, a faint smile touched Yi Ze's lips.
…………
…
In the kitchen of the High-Level District, Wu Yong walked in with a heavy heart.
Seeing Wu Yong, Tang Zhi Hun smiled, "Why the long face? Come, look at the good stuff I've prepared for you…"
From Tang Zhi Hun's understanding, Wu Yong was an optimistic and easily pleased person.
But this time, he was clearly an exception.
Wu Yong somberly recounted the details of the competition.
Tang Zhi Hun felt a premonition of doom, "Could it be that the four Masters lost? Yi Ze actually brought so many experts!"
The four Gourmet Detectives were the pillars of the Association. Any one of them could be considered Wu Yong's elder, possessing formidable strength!
It was rumored that the next Association President would be chosen from among these four Gourmet Detectives.
Wu Yong's face contorted in astonishment, "Not at all…"
"Yi Ze, by himself, fought against all four Gourmet Detectives!"
Tang Zhi Hun's eyes widened in disbelief, "Fought all four Gourmet Detectives consecutively? That's impossible! Even the President… might not be able to do that!"
A person's stored energy was limited. Even with exceptional skill, they couldn't be like a perpetual motion machine.
Moreover, the four Gourmet Detectives each possessed unique skills; how could they be defeated so easily?
"Then the President handed over the four Rainbow Fruits."
"Not yet."
Wu Yong continued, "If Yi Ze is allowed to take the Rainbow Fruits, the World Collection Association will be utterly disgraced! The President proposed a new round of gambling, with doubled stakes."
"Is the President going to make a personal appearance?"
Wu Yong shook his head, casting a meaningful glance at Tang Zhi Hun, "The President's status prevents him from participating. The new round of gambling is… a culinary duel!"
"Culinary duel… I understand. Please rest assured, Mr. President, when it comes to culinary skills, I, Tang Zhi Hun, will surely win!"
Tang Zhi Hun's skills were exquisite, and he possessed the renowned top-tier recipe – the Lingxi Five Bird Soup!
Even the head chefs of many renowned restaurants rarely produced a dish comparable to it!
Whether it was martial arts or culinary skills, reaching a profound level required an immense investment of time and effort.
Yi Ze, at his age, possessing such high-level martial arts, must have undergone arduous training. His culinary skills would likely be mediocre, if not entirely lacking.
This was also why Gourmet Hunters needed to find culinary partners; otherwise, why bother with the trouble if one could enjoy the delicacies alone?
In a corner, Zhang Wei was quietly preparing ingredients, his mind constantly analyzing information about the Rainbow Fruit.
The Rainbow Fruit not only tasted divine but also contained immense energy. A small bowl of its flesh was equivalent to hundreds of servings of food.
For Zhang Wei at this moment, it was an excellent choice for replenishing his body.
However, the Rainbow Fruit in the Collection Hall had a replication time of 220 days, which was far too long.
"Perhaps… I can ponder over this."
Not long after, Xi Feng, Yi Ze, and other high-ranking officials arrived at the kitchen.
Yi Ze exclaimed, "As expected of the World Collection Association, this kitchen truly gathers treasures from across the globe!"
"Naturally! How does it compare to the Secret Realm Exploration Association?"
Yi Ze replied earnestly, "At least half our level, and far surpassing some provincial-renowned restaurants."
Tang Zhi Hun let out a soft snort.
"Enough talk. If you want to compete, let's begin now."
Yi Ze casually pointed out two assistants from his entourage, while Tang Zhi Hun called out Zhang Wei's name.
Wu Yong looked at Zhang Wei's youthful face and immediately said, "Chef Tang, this competition concerns the Association's reputation. You can't be frivolous."
"Are you facing a formidable enemy by bringing an assistant who doesn't even have a star?"
Tang Zhi Hun hesitated.
During his collaboration with Zhang Wei, he had always managed to break through bottlenecks by chance. He was undoubtedly a lucky charm.
But in such a high-pressure competition…
President Xi Feng murmured, "Yi Ze is a very cautious person. He wouldn't have agreed to the gamble unless he had seven or eight tenths certainty. Chef Tang… do not underestimate him."
The implication was clear.
Tang Zhi Hun nodded firmly, "Ghost Blade Seven, you will be my assistant!"
"As for Zhang Wei… watch closely this time, learn from the experience. There will be opportunities for you to showcase yourself in the future!"
Ghost Blade Seven, true to his name, wielded his blade with uncanny precision and skill. He had served under Tang Zhi Hun for ten years, making him a veteran.
Zhang Wei had no interest in such high-level culinary duels and naturally enjoyed his leisure.
The competition began.
Tang Zhi Hun opened the storage box for premium ingredients, revealing the contents, which elicited gasps of astonishment from everyone.
"Emperor Penguin from the Ice Hell…"
"Red-crowned Crane from the Xing'an Wetlands…"
"Humid and rain-soaked Hornbill, Sun-scorched Mountain Spine-tailed Swift…"
"Is it happening? It's indeed Chef Tang's ultimate technique, the Lingxi Five Bird Soup!"
"The quality of ingredients this time is even superior to before. Let's see what the scum from the Detective Association will use to win!"
Yi Ze smiled humbly and began his preparations.
Observing Yi Ze's handling technique, Zhang Wei let out a soft sound of surprise.
"His technique is skilled and steady. He uses kneading to activate the freshness of the ingredients before cooking, and the seasoning ratios are also good."
"He's quite talented…"
Talented…
That's all.
The chefs in this world tended to focus on acquiring high-grade and rare ingredients, relying on the unique flavors of novel ingredients for stimulation.
They never considered thoroughly developing ordinary ingredients to elevate them.
If this mindset and trend were not corrected, true gourmets would never emerge in this world!
"Uninteresting…"
High-level dishes required considerable time. The Lingxi Five Bird Soup, in particular, needed a full week.
For Zhang Wei, this competition no longer held any allure.