Zhang Wei's floating castle was like a mobile fortress, and the combination of hunter, merchant, and killer was like the aircraft carrier within the aircraft carrier. They continuously acquired the precious resources of this world.
At first, the combination was still a bit unpolished, feeling quite unfamiliar with the place.
But as they adapted to the local situation and learned how to interact with the locals, their pace of acquisition became increasingly rapid.
Inspired by Zhang Wei's sweet and sour pork ribs, more and more chefs learned to use spirit essence to create dishes, but they were only given diluted products, as pure spirit essence was too rare and too dangerous.
Another twenty days passed, and Zhang Wei swept across seventeen states, spanning over a hundred million square kilometers, equivalent to more than half the land area of the mortal world!
This even alerted many Nascent Soul stage old monsters, whose combat power was around level 80, making them very powerful. Zhang Wei consistently advised them to act in groups and not to be overconfident, as it was possible to overturn the situation against Nascent Soul stage cultivators with strength levels between 70 and 90!
"This cultivation planet seems to be on the same level as the Gourmet Planet, or perhaps even larger."
"However, after exploration, apart from famous mountains and rivers, it's all ordinary regions; there's no place like the Gourmet World."
"Or rather... it hasn't been found yet."
Zhang Wei wasn't in a hurry.
After all, there was plenty of time, and he had nothing urgent to do. As for returning to the Gourmet Planet...
Was it really that urgent?
What did it matter if he returned to such a place? He had to seize the present moment, collecting everything within sight that was worth collecting!
Zhang Wei's actions eventually alarmed the upper echelons of the local cultivators. His overbearing methods led a group of cultivators to secretly gather.
In this world, humans occupied seven or eight tenths of the land, three or four tenths of the mountains, and one or two tenths of the water, totaling twelve human nations.
The imperial power in these human nations was not very prominent; they mostly practiced non-interference. The royal families themselves were cultivation clans, not much different from the sects in the wild, except they had the most power and bore more responsibilities.
Although Zhang Wei plundered the seventeen states and obtained a large amount of high-nutrition ingredients, it could not compensate for the loss of flora and fauna. For example, the raw materials needed for Foundation Establishment Pills were mostly spirit flowers and spirit fruits, all of which were Zhang Wei's targets.
These pills that enhanced cultivation realms were something food could not replace.
In just twenty days, Zhang Wei had already plundered more than half of the Nolan Empire!
...
Nolan Empire Imperial Palace!
On the throne sat a cultivator at the great circle of the late Nascent Soul stage, just one step away from breaking through to the Soul Transformation stage.
Yet, this one step could hinder more than half of the great circle Nascent Soul cultivators; the path of cultivation was fraught with peril.
The Nolan royal family, with its worldly resources, though in a state of reclusion, still possessed extremely strong control from the shadows.
And with the structure of the empire, resources were virtually inexhaustible, and talents were abundant.
As a plate was presented, the Nolan Emperor frowned, "How vulgar... as if it's a conglomeration of the mundane world's impurities."
Beside him, the Prime Minister said, "This is merchandise being promoted by the floating city. We've ordered tests to be conducted. After consumption, it can greatly restore spiritual energy, heal injuries, enhance physique... even the storage capacity of true qi has increased rapidly."
"The most significant increase is in true qi storage capacity. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators have seen their true qi limit increase by thirty percent after tasting it. For Qi Refining stage cultivators, an increase of thirty to fifty percent, or even one or two times, is normal."
"However, after consumption, the body's consumption intensifies, and true qi inexplicably flows out from within, requiring constant meditation and recuperation to restore it.
"If true qi is deficient for a prolonged period, it will inevitably cause long-term damage to the body."
"According to speculation, it's a side effect of forcibly strengthening the body. However, for those poor cultivators, this is a matter of no concern."
"Furthermore, after consuming these foods, individuals become exceedingly vulgar and unable to control the restlessness of their inner desires for worldly pleasures. Fasting will be completely unsuccessful."
The purpose of fasting was to make one pure and detached, a method to temper the mind. To break fasting was to undermine a cultivator's foundation, making it impossible for them to progress far.
It was an evil path.
The Nolan Emperor said, "Although these things can temporarily enhance a cultivator's power, they are ultimately not the righteous path! Go and inform the floating city to prohibit the sale of these items in the Nolan Empire!"
The Prime Minister looked troubled, "This might be difficult. Although the floating city collects flora and fauna, they leave seeds behind in the local areas. The effects of spirit herbs and medicines are far inferior to the 'filthy' items from the floating city. This move might stir up public indignation."
Some were happy, others were worried. The floating city's cuisine had immense business potential. At the same price, even five times the amount of spirit herbs and fruits might not yield such immediate results.
Moreover, refining pills had a success rate, while even mortal chefs could handle these ingredients to some extent. The difficulty was on a completely different level.
Those who opposed were mostly cultivators on the verge of breakthrough, whose advancement pills had been plundered. More people were uncontrollably captivated by the cuisine.
The Nolan Emperor snorted, "My Nolan Imperial Court has been dormant for too long, and the empire has almost forgotten the existence of the imperial court. However, the timing is just right; we will use the floating city to establish our authority."
The Prime Minister was puzzled, "But... isn't the national policy to remain hidden within our borders and shroud the capital in mist? You told us to act low-key. The timing you speak of... could it be..."
The Prime Minister was startled, then moved, "Is the Emperor about to break through the great circle of late Nascent Soul stage and advance to the Soul Transformation stage?"
Such earth-shattering secret, he could be told, which showed his trust!
This was the qualification of a confidant!
The Nolan Emperor said, "At most two to three months, at least ten days, my fated day will arrive! This time, I have accumulated enough strength, and the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage will no longer affect me!"
This time!
It would definitely succeed!
The Prime Minister was overjoyed. Soul Transformation stage cultivators were already at the peak of the mortal realm's cultivation; there hadn't been a single instance in thousands of years!
Although the floating city had many subordinates and had repelled several early Nascent Soul cultivators, facing a Soul Transformation stage cultivator, they would be nothing more than weeds.
And...
The precious ingredients of the floating city had extremely high commercial value. If the methods of preparation and cultivation of those ingredients could be obtained, the profit within would at least cause the empire's economy to surge by fifty percent!
Just then, a burning fire talisman flashed out!
This was the specification for the most urgent intelligence!
After reading it, the Prime Minister's expression changed, "Three hours ago, the floating city changed direction, and its target seems to be the Nolan Royal Capital!"