The enormous workload consumed all the ingredients Zhang Wei had accumulated over several months.
The daily replication output of the Treasure Hall could not keep up with Zhang Wei's consumption at all.
The heavy workload even lent Zhang Wei a hint of melancholy.
Even Tang Zhihun noticed something was amiss, occasionally offering words of comfort.
"I need to find another solution."
While the Great Glacier offered a rich variety, he was still exposed to too few ingredients.
The Ice Hell Plains teemed with countless beasts; if he could capture some, it would significantly alleviate the pressure of ingredient consumption.
Zhang Wei, with a touch of apology, requested leave from Tang Zhihun, who waved his hand and granted Zhang Wei half a month's vacation.
With Tang Zhihun's leave approval, the supervisor dared not say anything more.
"By the way, Supervisor, I'll be recuperating in the advanced district during this time. Please keep my room for me."
"What! Going to live in the advanced district? Truly someone favored by Tang Zhihun!"
"Rest assured, your room will be kept for you, no one else will stay there."
The supervisor thumped his chest enthusiastically.
Zhang Wei nodded in satisfaction. This way, as long as the supervisor didn't face Tang Zhihun directly, his affairs would remain undiscovered.
And Tang Zhihun's status was…
…
On the ice fields, Zhang Wei breathed the air with exhilaration.
The sub-zero wind, at seventy degrees Celsius below zero, only made Zhang Wei feel a slight chill.
He took out a guide from his怀. It had been obtained from a stout man.
It contained information on the various creatures of the ice fields and their distribution.
The footprints of the caravan were spread across the entire ice field, and the information was extremely accurate and detailed.
"According to the guide, the Ice Hell Plains are perpetually covered in snow and barren."
"All life depends on this ceaseless falling snow, which contains a minuscule amount of sugar and protein."
Given that this world also had peculiar geological formations like the Rice Desert and the Soy Sauce Sea, Zhang Wei wasn't surprised by snow containing nutrients.
"There are over a hundred creatures with capture levels, ranging from the level-one Snow Mushroom to the level-twenty Ice Field Beast."
"There might even be legendary creatures, the guardians of the Ice Hell – the Ice Dragon! It is said to have a capture level of a whopping 55!"
"It is also rumored that there are terrifying existences on the ice fields far exceeding the power of the Ice Dragon!"
"My current strength is unclear; it's better to start by collecting the weaker ones progressively."
Wu Yong's strength was around level 17. Gourmet Inspectors were between level 22-25. And Yi Ze, who defeated four Gourmet Inspectors, couldn't withstand a full-power attack from me…
Logically, he should have the confidence to challenge the Ice Dragon.
But Zhang Wei was naturally cautious and would never take such risks.
…
Within the Great Glacier, Tang Zhihun gathered with several high-ranking officials.
Xi Feng sat at the head of the table, tapping his fingers on the surface.
"Everyone, to be honest, I am very disappointed in you."
"I never imagined that after so many years, the strength of the Century Treasure Association has weakened to this extent."
Upon hearing this, Tang Zhihun and the four Gourmet Inspectors lowered their heads, shame appearing on their faces.
"President… I am very sorry!"
"No, I am not blaming you."
Xi Feng stood up and said, "The one to blame is me! I should have pushed you to break through the barrier long ago!"
Hearing the word "barrier," some revealed confused expressions, while others subtly grew excited.
"Barrier? What is that?"
Tang Zhihun asked without hesitation.
As a chef, he felt no pressure asking.
Xi Feng explained, "It is the barrier to the awakening of Gourmet Cells. The higher the cell activity, the fewer the number of barriers."
"If one has no talent for awakening, every increase in cell level presents a barrier."
"And those with extremely high talent will encounter a barrier approximately every five levels."
"To successfully break through, one must consume an extremely large amount of delicious food."
Xi Feng pondered, "Taking Wu Yong as an example, if he could consume your Lingxi Wuqin Soup by himself, he would likely break through!"
"Consume it by himself?"
That was almost impossible!
The ingredients for Lingxi Wuqin Soup were extremely extravagant. If not for the recent battle with Yi Ze, it might not have been made even once a year.
Every time it was brewed, many members would be severely injured and urgently in need of nourishment for survival.
Xi Feng continued, "The most crucial point is that with each breakthrough of a barrier, appetite will increase significantly."
"It's just a small amount of food."
Tang Zhihun was puzzled. The annual salary of each minister was at least over ten thousand Berries. And one Berry could buy seven to eight catties of meat.
No matter how large the appetite, a daily food expense of 20 Berries would suffice.
Seemingly sensing Tang Zhihun's confusion, Xi Feng smiled, "The higher the level of Gourmet Cells, the lower their utilization rate of low-level ingredients. Ordinary food is like pig feed to them."
"Humans eat pigs, pigs eat feed, so why can't humans eat pig feed directly? It's the same principle."
Everyone suddenly understood. Ingredients with capture levels were extremely expensive.
A mere Ice Field Yak with a capture level of three cost over ten thousand Berries. And an Ice Field Yak weighing three tons had only 400 kilograms of edible parts.
Moreover, poor taste also affected the absorption of Gourmet Cell energy.
Considering all this, cultivating a high-level fighter was astronomically expensive!
Everyone present had their own thoughts.
Xi Feng surveyed the group and declared, "I have decided to allocate seventy percent of our liquid assets to help the four Gourmet Inspectors… and a small number of ministers break through their barriers, thereby elevating the entire association's strength!"
Everyone was shocked. The association had been operating for many years, and its funds were astronomical.
The President was proposing a full seventy percent!
How much money would that be?
"A total of three million Berries! Equivalent to two years of the association's operating costs!"
The crowd could not hide their excitement, and the atmosphere among the eight ministers became even more subtle.
"If I had spent this money earlier, those four Rainbow Fruits would not have been snatched away by Yi Ze."
"Unfortunately, I was too greedy, wanting to hold onto this batch and wait for its value to increase…"
Xi Feng sighed, his tone full of regret.
Clearly, the association's current decadent state was inseparable from his own choices.
But with tens of thousands of mouths to feed in such a large association, how could it continue to develop without finding ways to earn more?
"Alas… poverty can vex even a hero."
The four Gourmet Inspectors were overjoyed to receive the benefits of upgrading.
They quickly offered words of comfort: "President, rest assured, once we break through our barriers, we will diligently hunt and earn well for the association!"
The President nodded and instructed Tang Zhihun to make preparations.
On the other side.
Zhang Wei was galloping across the snow on an Ice Field Yak.
"As expected of a treasured specimen that combines the advantages of many yaks, its speed and vitality far surpass ordinary yaks."
"Work hard, and your consumption date can be postponed."
Zhang Wei patted the yak to comfort it, and the latter seemed to understand, picking up speed by another third.
He took out a book from his怀 to pass the time.
"Barrier… cell dormancy period… the higher the talent, the greater the interval between barriers."
Zhang Wei was quite excited.
Since leveling up, he seemed to have never encountered a barrier.
"Could it be that this body of mine is a genius among one in ten thousand?"
He used the method provided in the book to test himself and then compared the results.
'Trash physique, cell activity is practically zero. Every level increase in cell energy will encounter a barrier.'
'If pursuing a Gourmet Hunter, the resources for development are astronomical.'
'Recommendation: Give up.'
Zhang Wei's face immediately darkened.
No wonder he hadn't felt any significant obstacles when leveling up; it turned out every step was an obstacle…
"Damn it, trash book, trash author!"
"Utter nonsense!"