After releasing ten Milk Breaths, the Frost Sugar Dragon could no longer bear it and collapsed to the ground, appearing completely exhausted, much like a boy who had indulged too much in a single night.
"Useless!"
"To be drained after just ten breaths, how pathetic!"
It seemed like it would need a period of recuperation. The Milk Breath appeared to be incredibly draining.
If Zhang Wei's thoughts were correct, the so-called magical power was actually nutrients separated by Gourmet Cells. These nutrients formed solid matter with viscosity and toughness far superior to water and airflow, which were then used for high-pressure impact.
However, due to its peculiar constitution, the Frost Sugar Dragon was unable to secrete pure water, which was also a contributing factor.
Leaving the Treasure Vault, Zhang Wei continued his exploration of the sixth level and discovered many rare ingredients, all with very high edible ratings!
On a fruit tree, there were crystal-clear fruits that shone like a rainbow.
"This is... Prism Lychee!"
"Completely transparent like crystal glass, its special prism-shaped structure can decompose light, creating visual effects similar to a rainbow!"
"It typically requires land with extremely high nutrient content to grow and bear fruit."
"It's said that the fruit shells, after consumption, can be sold as art pieces for extremely high value!"
Beneath its flamboyant appearance lay a sweet and elegant flavor. The rich sweetness was not at all cloying, and it had a light, marshmallow-like texture. It was legendary in the human world, rumored to be sold only in eight-star or higher restaurants.
[Discover edible ingredient: Baby Palm Leaf]
[Discover edible ingredient: Collagen Mushroom]
[Discover edible ingredient: Cave Snow Catfish]
[Discover edible ingredient: Ancient Grouper]
[Discover edible ingredient: Ugly Hippopotamus]
...
Among them, the Baby Palm Leaf was a tender vegetable rich in dietary fiber.
The Collagen Mushroom was quite terrifying, a parasitic species that grew on animal bodies and extracted the essence of bone marrow.
The Cave Snow Catfish had a pure white appearance. Due to the absence of light, it had turned reflective white beneath the dark river.
The Ancient Grouper had an exceptionally delicious taste. Being a species from ancient times, it was said that only regenerators could make it reappear.
The Ugly Hippopotamus was a colossal and incredibly powerful monster with strong reproductive capabilities, and it was the Frost Sugar Dragon's favorite food.
"We need to capture more Ugly Hippos. This will help speed up the Frost Sugar Dragon's recovery."
Zhang Wei's electric currents spread throughout the entire cave in a carpet-like fashion, leaving no trace behind.
He glanced at the time; twenty-four hours had passed.
The Treasure Vault represented fifty days.
Return!
As soon as he entered, Zhang Wei immediately took out the Gelatinous Milk and said, "Look what I've prepared! This is top-tier ingredient from the Gravity Well, perfect for recovery."
By this time, the four individuals, Haru and the others, were completely different from when they first arrived.
Each of them possessed a sharper aura, and their already piercing gazes now held a murderous intent.
Their current opponents were Demon Giant Mosquitoes whose combat power had been severely diminished after multiple captures.
The flesh of wild Demon Giant Mosquitoes contained a large amount of virus and had a very inferior taste. Only their proboscis was made of a very strong material.
After multiple captures, the virus in the Demon Giant Mosquitoes was only one-tenth of that of wild specimens. After proper cleaning, the meat had a taste rating of barely five, but its nutritional value was still very high.
Methods such as air-drying and pickling could be employed.
For an excellent ingredient, combat power was entirely unnecessary; ease of slaughter was also an advantage.
The combat power of the Demon Giant Mosquitoes had dropped from a standard of level 110 directly to level 94, less than one-tenth of their original strength. If it were truly a wild Demon Giant Mosquito, and a dangerous situation arose, even Tenfold Calamity could not guarantee the complete rescue of the group.
Zhang Wei nodded approvingly.
These four were growing very quickly. Perhaps in less than fifteen days of real-world time, they would be capable of confronting the Four Beasts.
Zhang Wei had also decided on their next target: the Ugly Hippopotamus he had just captured. Although it was the Frost Sugar Dragon's favorite food, any creature that could survive on the sixth level of the Gravity Well possessed considerable strength.
Between levels 97 and 99, it was a perfect fit.
...
...
Seventh Level of the Gravity Well!
As Zhang Wei delved deeper, the well became increasingly dark, and the terrifying gravity seemed to solidify the air, with liquid oxygen even flowing beneath his feet.
Zhang Wei also discovered a unique phenomenon of the Gravity Well.
Oxygen River...
A river formed from liquid oxygen condensed by high pressure!
"This seems a bit counter to physics... but the remaining air is also in a compressed form."
"Just one light breath allows my cells to function for thirty seconds."
"If an ordinary person came here, they would likely die immediately from oxygen poisoning."
On this level, due to the gravity, the animals were becoming smaller and more miniature.
[Discover edible ingredient: Mountain Giant Crab]
[Edible Rating: 109]
[Capture Rating: 102]
[Description: Native Mountain Giant Crabs are kilometers tall, with mountains growing on their carapaces, possessing unparalleled defense. Their kin in the Gravity Well, due to gravity, rarely exceed ten meters in length.]
[Description: As a terrestrial crab, it has very succulent roe and tomalley. The eggs of the female crabs are also a delicacy, far surpassing caviar tenfold!]
These Mountain Giant Crabs moved in large groups, leisurely feeding and wandering in the oxygen river, seemingly unconcerned by Zhang Wei's arrival.
Here, Zhang Wei could no longer maintain his nimble posture. He walked step by step to the side of a Mountain Giant Crab. The latter merely glanced at him curiously before retracting its pincers, eight legs, and eyes.
Its limbs perfectly adhered to its shell, forming a uniform, rounded whole!
This was also a self-preservation tactic of the Mountain Crabs. They were too heavy to move quickly, but few could breach their defensive posture!
In this state, even the weak points at the joints were protected.
Zhang Wei tapped it lightly...
Upon touching it, Zhang Wei felt as if he were stroking a mountain ridge, an ineffable sense of weightiness emanating from his palm!!
Such solidity!
"The so-called mountains on their backs appear to be some sort of symbiotic calcified organisms, similar to barnacles, growing on the backs of the Mountain Crabs. Furthermore, these symbionts can provide a certain degree of defense to the Mountain Crabs."
"Truly remarkable!"
The tapping sound seemed to disturb the other crabs, and in an instant, hundreds of Mountain Crabs in the oxygen river all entered their defensive posture.
Some crabs even left one eye peering out, as if challenging him.
Got guts?
Come and defeat me!
Zhang Wei couldn't stand this. He immediately approached a crab...
"Capture commencing!"
Following the crab's texture, Zhang Wei's hand gently stroked... moving further down... and closer...
The crab was confused. Did he intend to attack its underside?
Unfortunately, their armor was flawless; even the underside possessed the defense of solid earth.
"Found it!"
Zhang Wei's hand seemed to touch something and immediately stopped!
There was a protruding ridge, perfect for gripping.
He applied force with both hands and heaved upwards fiercely...
So heavy!
Mountain Giant Crabs were compressed organisms to begin with, possessing immense self-weight, which was also why their meat had a thick texture.
Coupled with the weight of this place, even the crab's own eight legs were barely enough to struggle to stand, and when crawling, they mostly stayed close to the ground.
And Zhang Wei...
With a mere grunt of effort, half of the Mountain Crab's body was lifted, and then it was flipped onto its back, its white jade-like ventral armor facing upwards.
"Indeed, it's so heavy!"
"Even with my current strength, it's quite strenuous!"
"No wonder they can survive on the seventh level; there are no natural predators on this level!"
The Mountain Crab felt the world spinning and turning upside down, a perspective it had never experienced, but... no panic!
Continue retracting!
Let's see what you can do!
However, to the Mountain Crab's surprise, Zhang Wei did not continue to manhandle it but turned towards its companions.
Another Mountain Crab.
Strange, what is he doing?
Flipped over again!
It seems he has no intention of harming us, just wants to flip us over... Wait a minute, while he's dealing with my companion, can't I escape?
The intelligent Mountain Crab quickly realized this. It extended its eight legs and stepped onto the air, about to flee...
Wait a minute!
Why isn't it moving at all!
Damn it, its feet can't touch the ground! The whole thing is inverted!
The crab's joints simply don't support flipping over!
No matter!
I still have my pincers!
With all its might, the Mountain Crab's body remained incredibly stable, not moving at all!
The shell-like parasitic growth on its back had dug into the ground like a spike!
One by one...
Zhang Wei busied himself on the sandy ground, exerting considerable effort to embed these crabs into the earth like spikes.
"Huff... huff..."
He took a couple of breaths, replenishing the consumed oxygen.
Zhang Wei wiped sweat from his brow and said, "It's been a while since I felt such healthy exercise. It's a bit like the gym in my previous life, or practicing fist mining on a glacier..."
Lifting each giant crab consumed as much energy as lifting half a mountain. The hundred-level strength of the giant crabs was insufficient to flip themselves over, illustrating just how exaggerated their self-weight was.
Zhang Wei had already tested it. The defensive shells of these giant crabs were incredibly comprehensive. Ordinary electric currents could not incapacitate them, and without incapacitation, they could not be placed in the Treasure Vault for later processing.
Taking a deep breath...
Golden light emanated from his body - Gourmet Demon!
National Chef!
With nine knives, there is no ingredient that cannot be handled! However, to preserve its deliciousness, he would need to cut along the gaps in its armor.
Roughly damaging the shell would harm the internal crab meat.
Heartfire!
Breath Concealment!
After a long while...
A giant crab felt that there was no movement outside and cautiously extended one eye, observing its surroundings like a periscope...
No one!
Quick!
Flip over!
Its two large pincers flailed up and down. If it could dig enough soil in front of it, and the soil was loose, it might be able to crawl out.
However, being in an inverted position was always somewhat awkward.
Just then!
The crab's lower-level nerves experienced unprecedented pain. A crab leg detached out of nowhere and created a small pit in the ground.
The perfect defense had developed a loophole!
By the time it tried to revert to its defensive posture, the effect was no longer the same. Zhang Wei's knife had already arrived!
...
"The meat of the Mountain Giant Crab is quite thick, isn't it? The meat on its legs is as soft and tender as white steamed buns when dug out."
"This roe... it's so beautiful, like a salted duck egg oozing oil. And the very thick tomalley, the liquid that flows out has no hint of seafood腥味. Steaming it alone is sufficient, no cooking wine or mustard is even needed!"
"The rear shell can be knocked open, and inside are parasitic barnacles similar to oysters. One giant crab can yield over two hundred pieces of oyster meat!"
"Although it's massive, its meat is very fine, with none of the coarseness found in large shrimp and crabs."