The pots of wine and beauties grew more numerous, from the original 256 to a staggering 700!
Zhang Wei, already a favorite to win, was now the undeniable frontrunner.
Not just the audience, but even the judges began to speculate about what could possibly be stewing in so many pots.
One thing was certain: each pot contained a different dish.
Otherwise, wouldn't a single, larger pot suffice?
Zhang Wei's pots varied in size, the largest as big as a water vat, the smallest holding only three liters.
"Hmph!"
"Sensationalism!"
"A true chef reveals their brilliance in a single stroke of genius!"
Wolfgang, the head chef of the Hotel Wott and another strong contender, was a formidable force representing an established name in the North.
His chosen main ingredient was the Level 32 Ice Castle Rock Turtle, a colossal creature weighing thousands of tons, dwarfing even a blue whale!
The culinary challenge was immense.
The Ice Castle Rock Turtle had already been de-limbed and de-headed, its dorsal structures removed. Its belly and carapace were carefully detached, with vast amounts of unusable parts discarded.
The larger the beast, the fewer the usable portions.
Especially battle turtles, with their exceptionally tough skin and muscle, making the meat dry and stringy!
While its high level granted ample nutrition, it would be wasted if the dish lacked flavor.
"Chef, everything is ready!"
Wolfgang laughed heartily and waved his hand grandly, declaring, "Let these ignorant peers witness what it means to achieve instantaneous fame!"
The turtle shell and bones were reassembled, the gaps sealed.
Several 'manholes' were drilled into the carapace, through which intensely hot broth was poured!
Hundreds of tons of firewood and coal were doused with barrels of kerosene…
Flames erupted!
Visible even in daylight, waves of heat swept across the entire arena!
The announcer roared, his voice strained, "The Hotel Wott! It's the Hotel Wott! They've done it again!"
"With this setup, are they planning to roast a thousand-ton Ice Castle Rock Turtle over an open fire?"
"Heavens, if not for the sheer size of the Ice Castle Rock Turtle, I'd think they were trying to burn down the venue!"
"But even so, heating and roasting a beast of this magnitude is no simple feat!"
…
Zhang Wei, captivated by this attention-grabbing culinary method, couldn't help but click his tongue. "Roasting a creature weighing thousands of tons… only in this absurd world is such a thing possible!"
Twenty-five contestants remained, all with considerable skill.
Having finished his own preparations, Zhang Wei began to wander.
The culinary profession thrives on mutual learning.
A stone from another mountain can polish jade; one must never stagnate.
"True Lord, are you busy?"
"Why have you graced my station with your presence?"
"I just finished. To be honest, I was a little bored, so I thought I'd take a look around. I hope you don't mind?"
Yun Shang Zhen Jun shook his head. "Would I be so petty?"
Shui Yun Tian had also chosen a colossal beast: a Level 35 Eight-Headed Sandworm, weighing hundreds of tons!
…Like all sandworms, they burrowed. Their habitat was deep within the earth's crust, hundreds of meters below the surface…
One could only imagine the difficulty of capturing such a creature!
"Sandworm, eh? My hometown has no such legendary creature. My knowledge of them is quite limited."
Yun Shang Zhen Jun replied, "Even less so in my homeland!"
"Quite right."
After a pause, Zhang Wei mused, "Since your homeland doesn't have them, and they're not part of your traditional cuisine, why choose this ingredient?"
"Your Excellency, the products of the Cloud Country have always been mild, so its people naturally enjoy unique flavors. The sandworm, known as 'Di Hua', is extremely popular in the Cloud Country and is considered a top-tier delicacy.
"Due to its geography, salt is exceptionally expensive in the Cloud Country, making preserved meats and vegetables a luxury for the wealthy.
"Sandworms, however, constantly ingest rocks, giving their flesh a natural saltiness and a high mineral content, which is very beneficial to the people of the Cloud Country.
"Thus, the Cloud Country has a long tradition of consuming sandworms, developing unique hunting methods."
…
Yun Shang Zhen Jun spoke eloquently, with no hint of reservation.
Zhang Wei, however, had a sudden thought.
A lack of salt?
This was the perfect opportunity to market his salt crystals.
Furthermore, a place like the Cloud Country, with its implied isolation, would likely lack the quotas of the Four Great Salt Merchants, making it difficult to obtain high-quality salt.
Recently, Mo Du had sold an excessive amount of salt crystals, severely disrupting the salt price balance in the North and surrounding regions, drawing the attention of the Four Great Salt Merchants.
These transnational behemoths were not to be underestimated.
The Eight-Headed Sandworm had long since been processed. Its unusable skin, head, and stomach lining were neatly arranged, clearly still possessing value.
The most distinctive feature of the Eight-Headed Sandworm was its nine heads, unlike a hydra.
The nine heads of the Eight-Headed Sandworm grew from a single neck, five in the front and four in the back, capable of changing direction at will underground.
"Chitin… protein… wormskin…"
Zhang Wei idly prodded, the texture no different from ordinary animal flesh, lacking any resemblance to roasted grasshoppers, silkworms, or beetles.
Though Yun Shang Zhen Jun was unconcerned, Zhang Wei dared not pry too deeply into its secrets, as this was, after all, a competitive tournament…
Leaving Shui Yun Tian's station, a few other contestants caught Zhang Wei's eye.
The first was Koizumi, who was engaged in a duel with the Soul of Soup. Although curtains blocked the view, the emanating aroma hinted at something extraordinary.
The other two were relative newcomers, unknown to fame.
Most striking to Zhang Wei was a handsome young man, whose demeanor exuded an aura of unparalleled dominance, composure, and confidence.
Noticing Zhang Wei's searching gaze,
the handsome young man descended from his platform and approached Zhang Wei. His eyes, as calm as a still lake, seemed to conceal intense emotions.
Zhang Wei asked in surprise, "Do you know me?"
"I know you!"
"Judging by your technique… it's good."
Receiving such praise from Zhang Wei was a testament to his culinary skill.
Certainly, there was no one else in the entire competition arena who could claim such an accolade!
The handsome young man ran a hand through his hair and extended a hand to Zhang Wei.
"Lou Ming."
"Zhang Wei."
The Collector from Toriko.
Treasure Bag reminds you: Remember to favorite after reading.