The number of clay pots for wine and beauties multiplied, soaring from the original 256 to 700!
Zhang Wei, already a favorite to win, now drew even more attention.
Not just the audience, but the judges too, began to speculate about what could possibly require such a multitude of clay pots for stewing.
However, it was certain that everything stewed in each pot was different.
Otherwise, wouldn't a single large one suffice?
Zhang Wei's clay pots varied in size, some as large as water vats, while the smallest had a capacity of only three liters.
"Hmph!"
"Seeking cheap attention!"
"A true chef must make a stunning debut!"
Wolfgang, the head chef of the Wote Hotel, was also a strong contender for the championship. As a long-standing, renowned establishment in the northern region, his skills were formidable.
The primary ingredient he had chosen for this competition was the Level 32 Ice Castle Rock Turtle, a terrifying creature weighing thousands of tons, dwarfing even a blue whale!
The culinary challenge was imaginable!
At this moment, the Ice Castle Rock Turtle had its four limbs and head removed, and the structures on its back had been cleared away. Its carapace, both the top shell and the plastron, had been meticulously detached, with large amounts of unusable parts discarded to the side.
The larger the beast, the fewer usable parts there were.
Especially for this type of combat turtle, its skin and muscles were incredibly tough, and the meat dry and stringy!
While its exceptionally high level bestowed considerable nutrition, if the taste wasn't appealing, no amount of nutrition would be absorbed.
"Head Chef, everything is prepared!"
Wolfgang chuckled and gestured grandly, "Let these ignorant peers witness what it means to make a stunning debut!"
The turtle shell and bones were reassembled, and the gaps on the sides were artificially sealed.
Several 'manholes' were drilled into the turtle's back, through which high-temperature rich broth was poured!
Hundreds of tons of firewood and coal were doused with buckets upon buckets of kerosene...
Flames erupted!
Even in daylight, the inferno was clearly visible, and waves of heat swept across the entire competition venue!
The host roared with all his might, "Wote Hotel, it's Wote Hotel! They've done something monumental again!"
"With this setup, are they intending to roast the thousands of tons of Ice Castle Rock Turtle over a fire!"
"My heavens, if not for the sheer size of the Ice Castle Rock Turtle, I would have thought they were trying to set the venue ablaze!"
"But even so, heating and roasting a beast of this magnitude would not be a simple task!"
...
Zhang Wei was also drawn to this eye-catching culinary method, smacking his lips and murmuring, "Roasting a creature weighing thousands of tons... only in this absurd world could such a thing be possible!" Da Feng Novel Network
There were still twenty-five contestants actively preparing their dishes, all of them highly skilled.
Having finished his own preparations, Zhang Wei began to wander around.
The culinary profession, after all, was about sharing knowledge.
One could learn from others' experiences, but one must never be complacent.
"True Lord, busy with your work?"
"Why do you have time to visit me?"
"Just finished, and to be honest, I was a bit bored, so I thought I'd come see. You don't mind, do you?"
Yun Shang Zhen Jun shook his head, "How could I be so petty?"
Shui Yun Tian had also chosen a giant beast, a Level 35 Eight-Headed Sandworm, weighing several hundred tons!
Like all sandworms, they were fond of burrowing. Their habitats were deep within the seabed, hundreds of meters below the surface...
One could imagine how difficult it was to capture such a creature!
"Sandworm, such a legendary creature simply doesn't exist in my homeland. My knowledge of this thing is very, very limited."
Yun Shang Zhen Jun replied, "My homeland wouldn't have it either!"
"That's true."
After a moment, Zhang Wei asked curiously, "Since it's not from your homeland, it shouldn't be part of your traditional cuisine, so why did you choose it?"
"Your Excellency, you may not know, but the produce of the Cloud Country has always been light, so the inhabitants naturally enjoy tasting unique flavors. The sandworm, known as 'Dihua' here, is extremely popular in the Cloud Country and is undeniably a high-class delicacy."
"Due to geographical reasons in the Cloud Country, salt is extremely expensive. Cured meats and pickled vegetables are delicacies only the wealthy can afford."
"However, sandworms constantly consume rocks, so their flesh is naturally salty and rich in minerals, which is highly beneficial to the health of the people of the Cloud Country."
"Therefore, the Cloud Country has a long tradition of eating sandworms, and they have developed unique hunting methods."
...
Yun Shang Zhen Jun spoke eloquently, without any reserve.
Zhang Wei, however, had a sudden realization.
A shortage of salt?
Then he had found a market for his salt crystals.
Moreover, a place like the Cloud Country, judging by its description, would likely not have allocations from the Four Great Salt Merchants. Acquiring even a small amount of high-quality salt there would probably be extremely difficult on a regular basis.
Mo Du had sold an excessive amount of salt crystals recently, severely disrupting the salt price equilibrium in the northern and surrounding regions, which had already drawn the attention of the Four Great Salt Merchants.
And the Four Great Salt Merchants, such enterprises operating across borders, were forces that no one dared to underestimate.
The Eight-Headed Sandworm had long since been processed. Its unusable skin, head, and stomach sac were neatly arranged, clearly indicating they still held some value.
The most distinctive feature of the Eight-Headed Sandworm was its nine heads, unlike the mythical Hydra.
The Eight-Headed Sandworm's nine heads grew on a single neck, five in the front and four in the back, and could change direction at will underground.
"Chitin... protein... worm skin..."
Zhang Wei casually poked at it. The texture felt no different from ordinary animals, lacking the sensation of roasted grasshoppers, silkworms, or beetles.
Although Yun Shang Zhen Jun didn't seem to mind, Zhang Wei felt it wouldn't be appropriate to probe too deeply into the secrets, given it was a competitive event...
Leaving Shui Yun Tian's stall, a few other contestants caught Zhang Wei's attention.
The first was Koizumi, who had a gambling match with Tang Zhihun. Although there were curtains shielding his setup, the aroma emanating from within suggested something extraordinary.
The other two were newcomers, entirely unknown.
The one who most captured Zhang Wei's attention was a handsome young man, whose demeanor and actions exuded an unparalleled aura of dominance, composure, and confidence.
Noticing Zhang Wei's inquisitive gaze,
The handsome young man descended from his stage and approached Zhang Wei. His calm eyes seemed to conceal a powerful surge of emotion.
Zhang Wei asked, puzzled, "Do you know me?"
"I know you!"
"Looking at your technique... it's good."
To receive praise for his technique from Zhang Wei was a testament to the chef's skill.
At least, there was no one else in the entire competition venue who could claim such a distinction!
The handsome young man swept his hair back and extended a hand to Zhang Wei.
"Lou Ming."
"Zhang Wei."