Approaching the sickbed, Jun Qing said, "Rest assured, I'm also skilled at preparing medicinal dishes. I can definitely help your brother recover quickly."
"This... thank you so much."
Jun Qing walked to the side and lifted his imposing heavy sword from the ground.
Although lighter than Heng Xing's, it still weighed 800 kilograms, indicating Jun Qing's own awakened level was not low.
The grip on the heavy sword was excellent, with the leather wrapping the hilt fitting perfectly. The entire sword was cast from raw iron as a single piece and was dark gray all over.
It was not sharpened, and the blade was covered with nicks and scars from various impacts. It was more like a large iron rod than a true heavy sword.
"You've had this sword for a long time, haven't you?"
Heng Xing replied, "Over ten years. It was given to my brother and me by the clan leader when we first left the tribe. The heavy sword and heavy saber were originally a pair, but alas..."
At this point, Heng Xing's face showed regret.
Although the heavy saber was not a divine weapon, it had accompanied him for so many years...
He never expected it to be destroyed by the Overlord Tree.
"You haven't found a new weapon yet, have you?"
"As soon as I got back, I rushed to the hospital... Huh? What do you mean?"
"I'm giving you a gift."
Jun Qing clapped his hands, and several servants carried two large chests inside.
The servants looked strained, clearly struggling with the weight of the chests.
"What is this?"
"You'll know when you open them. I bet you'll like it. Oh, and your brother gets one too."
The injured Ba Dao on the sickbed immediately expressed his gratitude. Despite his severe injuries, his eyes, full of curiosity, darted towards the chests.
Heng Xing had a hunch and stepped forward to open the first wooden chest.
The box was lined with modeling clay and fine sand, and a brand-new great saber lay quietly within.
The saber was 1.7 meters long, and its thickness was as much as a fist.
The overall design was very simple, with no unnecessary embellishments. The surface was polished, and the blunt-edged blade was clearly designed for breaking armor.
Blunt blades to break armor, sharp blades to cut flesh. Heng Xing and Ba Dao, being brothers, were naturally the strength-oriented type.
Jun Qing stroked the blade and asked, "Have you ever heard of the Blood-Drinking Sword?"
"Blood-Drinking Sword!"
Heng Xing exclaimed, "You mean the legendary demonic sword that craves slaughter and can bewitch people's hearts?"
"It's not as exaggerated as that, naturally."
Jun Qing explained, "The main component of the Blood-Drinking Sword is a metal that can absorb iron from blood and regenerate. It possesses self-repair and enhancement capabilities, and doesn't have the ability to bewitch people's hearts."
"As long as weapons are forged with this metal and combined with various revitalizing raw materials, weapons with growth attributes can be created."
Heng Xing was surprised, "Why are you suddenly mentioning this? Could it be that..."
"That's right. These two weapons were manufactured using regenerative metal," Jun Qing said, enunciating each word.
Heng Xing and Ba Dao almost popped their eyeballs out.
The Blood-Drinking Sword!
That was a legendary weapon!
"How did you possibly obtain it?"
"It's nothing, just a few favors called in."
Jun Qing said proudly, "Although regenerative metal is precious, my cooking is no ordinary matter either!"
Given his status as the head chef of Wangyue Zhai, he could be called a human treasure-manufacturing machine.
His position was even more esteemed than an alchemist in the Xuanhuan world.
After all, cultivators could forgo elixirs and search for spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
But for a gourmet hunter, leaving delicious food behind could not only hinder their strength progression but also lead to starvation.
The higher the level of a gourmet hunter, the more they craved taste and nutrition, requiring increasingly more top-tier delicacies daily to replenish their energy.
Gourmet cells were extremely picky, and the taste of food directly impacted the efficiency of nutrient absorption. Even if you could capture ten beasts of the same level in a day, you might not get as much nutrition from them as from a single dish prepared by a chef.
After all... not all ingredients were suitable for raw consumption.
Heng Xing's eyes blazed with desire. He directly grabbed the great saber with one hand and swung it through the air casually.
"What a great saber! The feel is excellent, and it's even heavier than my old one!"
"Well, I've always heard you complain that your weapons were too light and not substantial enough. This new saber, due to the addition of a significant amount of high-density metal, weighs 1.8 tons."
As he spoke, Jun Qing lifted the other chest, revealing a heavy sword similar to Ba Dao's.
"I've prepared yours as well. It weighs 1.6 tons and is also made from regenerative metal."
Ba Dao immediately tore off his IV drip, his face flushed as he jumped off the sickbed...
"Brother, your injuries..."
"Who the hell cares about that anymore? Give me the sword!"
Stimulated by the new weapon, Ba Dao showed no signs of weakness.
He swung the heavy sword, grinning like a happy fool.
"Heh heh, good sword, good sword!"
...
...
As the date of the competition approached, the flying plaza in Mo City became increasingly bustling.
In a certain hotel, employees of the Black List gathered, along with representatives from various controlled northern organizations.
"Allow me to introduce our new colleague. Former General Manager of the Heavenly Bandit Alliance—Chu Xiang."
Chu Xiang's personal strength was not outstanding. Her promotion to headquarters was due to her significant contributions with the Double-Color Pill.
She was now in charge of overseeing the production of the Double-Color Pill, and her status was greatly elevated.
Everyone stepped forward to congratulate her, their words laced with subtle barbs. Chu Xiang parried each remark with composure.
This act surprisingly garnered their favor.
After all, the Black List headquarters could not tolerate meekness.
The Vice Chairman sat at the head of the table and signaled for quiet.
"The initial phase of our operation has been very successful. By disrupting transportation, at least half of the 23 targets will be unable to participate in the competition due to delays."
"This includes several potential champions, which will significantly reduce our pressure."
"Furthermore, Master Lou Ming will personally be observing this grand event. None of you must bring shame."
Everyone was surprised, "Master Lou Ming is coming personally?"
"Yes, it's the debut battle for his three disciples, so it's natural for their master to be concerned."
Master Lou Ming's three senior disciples, along with twelve top chefs cultivated by the Black List, formed an impressive lineup.
With several potential champions eliminated before they could even compete, the hope of seizing control of the Northern Alliance Government was immense!
The Vice Chairman could barely contain his excitement at the thought that the Black List's century-old ambition was about to be realized through them.
"Chu Xiang, you will be responsible for preparing Master Lou Ming's welcoming ceremony."
"Yes!"
"Everyone, mobilize. This is the most critical plan in the Black List's history. There can be absolutely no mistakes!"
"Understood!"
Everyone roared in unison!
...
...
On the other side.
At the Wine and Beauty Inn.
A messenger grandly delivered a gilded invitation.
"What is this?"
The messenger said proudly, "Qualification for the Northern Chef Feast."
Mo Du was taken aback. The Wine and Beauty Inn's business was not good, and its strength had fallen below the level required for participation.
If they had qualification, they wouldn't be begging Mo Du to acquire them.
"Why would I suddenly receive this?"
"Consider yourselves lucky. A dozen teams have lost their qualification due to delays, so the spot fell to you."
The messenger scoffed, "Hurry up and prepare your participating chefs to make up the numbers. If there are any mishaps, you won't escape Northern region sanctions!"