In the underground cave, the salt-encrusted walls.
Zhang Wei's punches were like the wind, each strike resonating like a booming cannon.
Crushed rock fragments filled the air, carpeting the ground beneath Zhang Wei's feet in a thick layer.
"Just eating isn't enough, the amount of exercise must keep up."
"In just over ten days, my progress has far surpassed that of previous months!"
A casual punch felt incredibly fluid.
The rock wall cracked open, revealing a hole. The steel rock that shot out weighed over three tons!
Moreover, the particles were far finer than before, even scattering in the wind...
"At this depth, even a battleship's main cannon might not achieve this."
"Aside from nuclear weapons, my personal combat power has surpassed Blue Star's technology. However, at this level, I'm still at the bottom tier among Gourmet Wanderers."
Zhang Wei knew clearly that the world of Gourmet Wanderers was vast and grand. He still had to eat a lot!
Yes, eat diligently and savor the deliciousness with all his heart.
This method of cultivation made countless past transmigration pioneers envious.
...
Returning to the Great Glacier, the passing pedestrians wore somber expressions.
Zhang Wei had a rough idea of what was going on.
He arrived at the kitchen in the advanced area. On the stove sat the sealed Spirit Rhinoceros Five Birds Soup.
Lifting a corner, an extremely tempting aroma wafted towards him.
An ordinary person would have already been drooling uncontrollably, but Zhang Wei frowned slightly.
"I didn't expect that even after so long, the Soul of Soup still couldn't prepare a perfect Spirit Rhinoceros Five Birds Soup... Alas!"
"Diligence and hard work are enough. What's lacking is just that tiny bit of spiritual essence!"
"Unfortunately, it is this bit of spiritual essence that dooms me to be an outsider among top chefs."
He ladled a bowl and drank it down, a warmth rising in his belly.
"As expected of top-grade ingredients. Just one bowl of soup provides the caloric intake of fifty people."
"After finishing this pot of soup, at my current consumption rate, it will last me for at least a whole day!"
If Wu Yong heard this, he would likely be terrified.
After awakening his Gourmet Cells, his daily energy consumption was terrifying.
An ordinary laborer needed to consume 3-4 energy bars a day, while a low-level guard needed more than 10 to meet their daily energy needs.
Wu Yong, if he wasn't exerting himself, would need 30 a day. If he went all out, he would consume at least 70 a day.
And Zhang Wei... if measured by energy bars, it would likely be an astronomical figure!
...
Heavy snow fell.
The howling, cold wind made it difficult even for the Ice Plains Ark to move forward.
The chieftain shouted, "Mr. Vice President, the wind speed is exceptionally high today. Let's set up camp first."
"Otherwise, with the strong wind and snow, it's easy for the convoy to get separated after dark."
Ize felt an inexplicable anxiety, but he still said, "Alright."
His palm blade flashed, slicing layers off the ground.
Once it was deep enough, they quickly herded the livestock in, covered the top with animal hides and snow, and a simple camp was made.
Ize swung his blade repeatedly, digging four underground shelters in one go.
The chieftain marveled, "Mr. Vice President, every time I see you in action, it's a rare treat. Gourmet Hunters are like weaklings to you; you're like a perpetual motion machine."
"You flatter me. I can merely store more energy."
The chieftain pondered for a moment, then couldn't contain his curiosity, "How much energy can you store? Is it as much as President Xifeng?"
"Xifeng..."
Ize chuckled, "Even if he ate himself to death, he wouldn't reach forty percent of my stamina."
The chieftain was stunned. President Xifeng was famous across the Frozen Hell Plains, yet this young man dared to speak so dismissively?
However, the guest was a guest, and the chieftain didn't want to argue.
That night.
Ize and his group rested in the same underground shelter. The roaring torch kept the shelter warm.
A man with a tiger-striped mask lifted the curtain, bringing with him the cold wind and flying snow into the shelter.
This person, naturally, was Zhang Wei.
"Who goes there!"
Ize's eyes snapped open!
He pointed his palm at Zhang Wei from a distance and slowly clenched his fist!
Instantly, a sensation as heavy as sinking water and as viscous as a mire enveloped Zhang Wei.
Zhang Wei chuckled lightly and walked out of the restraint range without any hindrance, causing Ize's brow to twitch.
The many guards also reacted, immediately drawing their weapons and pointing them at Zhang Wei, their intense aura suffocating.
Ize smoothed his golden hair and said playfully, "Entering my tent masked in the middle of the night, you're not here for idle chat, are you?"
"I want the Rainbow Fruit!"
"Hahaha, you? You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
"Wearing a mask? Are you someone from the Century Collection Association?"
"Even the Four Great Detectives lost, what makes you so arrogant?"
Laughter echoed endlessly. Even the chieftain beside them looked at Zhang Wei and shook his head in resignation.
Ize calmed his men, then said to Zhang Wei, "On what basis?"
Zhang Wei didn't reply. He flipped his palm, and a sand pot as large as a fist was filled with piles of white powder.
"What is this stuff?"
"It looks like salt?"
"I say, boy, you're not going to try and trade us with salt, are you? Have you been drinking fake wine?"
The chieftain stood up and said to Zhang Wei, "Esteemed guest, please return. I will give you an Ice Plains yak to escort you away from the Great Glacier."
The chieftain belonged to no faction; he independently operated a carriage and horse service, also known as a horse caravan!
Although... their convoy consisted entirely of yaks.
Owning hundreds of Ice Plains yaks could be considered considerable wealth.
Ize squinted and said, "May I see this item?"
"Please do." Pinching a bit between his fingers, Ize observed it carefully, then put it in his mouth to savor...
"This taste... Is this Salt Essence?"
The chieftain exclaimed, "What, you say this is Salt Essence?"
Salt Essence was the continent's best-selling and most scarce seasoning.
It wasn't that mineral veins were rare, but rather that it only existed within the incredibly hard bedrock of mountains. Even expensive cobalt steel drill bits often broke.
The subsequent steps of crushing, refining, and purifying were also fraught with difficulties.
But salt is the foundation of food; nine out of ten dishes cannot do without it. Furthermore, once a person lacks salt, they will become weak, dispirited, and even their physical development will be affected.
Especially for premium items like Salt Essence, the consumption was enormous!
Both the Century Collection Association and the Secret Realm Exploration Association had an annual quota of no more than one hundred grams!
Even for this one hundred grams, payment had to be made three years in advance for pre-sale!
Don't want to buy at a high price?
Don't want to pay money and not receive the goods?
Sorry, take it or leave it!
Salt Essence was a hard currency, and there was never a shortage of buyers.
If you don't buy it, countless people are lining up!
Only long-established organizations like the Century Collection Association could establish long-term cooperative relationships with Salt Essence merchants and obtain that tiny quota.
The chieftain's jaw dropped as he looked at the earthenware pot full of white powder, utterly incredulous!
"You're saying this... is all Salt Essence?"
"How much is there, two kilograms? Or three kilograms?"
Zhang Wei tilted his head, "About ten kilograms? I didn't weigh it, I just took some casually."
This time, even Ize couldn't hold back. This was a full ten kilograms of Salt Essence! The association's quota for a century was barely that much!
In your words, it was like feeding cattle with coarse salt, as if taking any amount was fine.
Even the four great salt merchants wouldn't dare to speak in such a tone!