Chapter 2

In the cafeteria, people from different levels were clearly segregated.

Laborers in tattered animal skins gnawed on energy bars, while supervisors in gray uniforms were allotted more warming beverages.

The elegantly dressed upper echelons had their own dining area, where the aroma of the dishes spread.

"My frostbites on my feet have worsened, I wish I could warm them by a heater."

"Don't even think about it. Since the ice layer collapsed due to heating six months ago, the creation of any heat source has been strictly prohibited!"

"Bullshit, how can those upper echelons eat hot food?"

"If you could fuse with gourmet cells, you could eat it too!"

"Hmph, those scoundrels use the pretext of building a gourmet showcase to preserve rare delicacies, making us ordinary people suffer!"

"Enough, eat quickly and talk less."

...

...

In the laborers' area, Zhang Wei perked up his ears, trying to gather every bit of useful information.

"Gourmet showcase..."

Zhang Wei roughly figured out the time point he had been transported to, which should be before the main story began.

Gourmet cells, the source of extraordinary power for gourmet hunters.

The manga mentioned that the gourmet noble Blue Troni forcibly fused them into human bodies, and the failures formed the Monster World.

But how could ordinary people obtain them?

Zhang Wei kept recalling the plot of the manga, and a flash of inspiration struck him!

"Eat!"

That's right, just eat!

The main theme of Gourmet Captive!

Ala, an orphan, was adopted by President Ichiryu, learning the art of eating while tasting a large amount of rare ingredients.

In Gourmet Captive, all the strong characters were food connoisseurs!

"Eat rare ingredients, or a large amount of rare ingredients."

Zhang Wei immersed his mind in the Treasure Hall.

"Processed seven ghost face mushrooms, the replication time shortened from 100 days to 24 days."

Such a long replication cycle and the scarcity of ingredients made awakening gourmet cells seem like a pipe dream.

"Building the Century Ice Pillar requires a large amount of ingredients, and as a laborer, I can perfectly benefit from it."

"This place is truly my lucky spot!"

"If I want to live here long-term, I need to solve the problem of the severe cold first."

Looking at the eternal flame on the stove, Zhang Wei sighed.

"Unfortunately, the Treasure Hall can only accommodate the mind, not the body."

Having lived three lives, this body was the strongest and most powerful, and Zhang Wei would not let the cold wind damage it.

If the upper echelons can eat hot food, why can't I?

Silently leaving the crowd, Zhang Wei went to a downwind area.

Due to the rapid airflow from the ventilation outlet, it was even colder, and no one would come here on a regular day.

With a flip of his hands, a steaming hot pot appeared, with large pieces of beef and mutton floating on top, the red oil tempting the appetite.

It was one of Zhang Wei's masterpieces from Food Wars!

The 'Chongqing Supreme King Hot Pot'!

Made with yak butter air-freighted from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, combined with fresh ginger, garlic, Sichuan pepper, chili, star anise, cardamom, and more than twenty other ingredients, simmered for 72 hours to create the base.

Additional broth made from Jinhua pork bones and seven types of seafood for flavor.

Lamb from Hulunbuir and marbled beef from Japan, along with other ingredients like sea cucumbers and matsutake mushrooms.

The luxury level was rare even in Food Wars.

As for the taste, it was beyond words.

In such severe cold, what could be more refreshing than a steaming hot pot?

The aroma wafted.

"Even after eating it more than twenty times, the taste is still stunning."

In Food Wars, many political figures and business leaders sought Zhang Wei to taste this pot, but he always declined.

It wasn't that Zhang Wei was being pretentious; the preparation process was too arduous, requiring over half a month of preparation.

The base simmering alone required three days of continuous monitoring, constantly adjusting the ingredient ratios.

Due to its complexity, the 'Chongqing Supreme King Hot Pot' was only prepared twice, with a replication time of 35 days!

But being stored in the Treasure Hall made it all worthwhile.

The food entered his stomach, and a wave of warmth surged within.

In the -20°C temperature, sweat began to bead on Zhang Wei's forehead, and the cold and dampness accumulated over the past half year were largely cleared.

As he continued eating, the warmth in his stomach grew stronger, and a surge of vitality burst forth.

All the cells in his body seemed to come alive, as if rejoicing at the taste of the delicious food!

[Activating gourmet cells, current awakening level 39%]

[Treasure Hall recipe update: 'Chongqing Supreme King Hot Pot']

[Introduction: The pinnacle of hot pot on Earth, even if the ingredients are ordinary in this world, the top-notch taste can still stimulate a small amount of gourmet cells in the host.]

[Food effect (new): Strengthen bones, expel cold and dampness]

"It seems the previous body had a small amount of gourmet cells, which were awakened by the delicious taste."

"It's not necessarily about eating rare ingredients; enjoying delicious food can also make gourmet cells grow..."

"Truly, gourmet cells are food lovers!"

Trying to move, his body, which had been stiff from the cold, became unusually flexible.

Gripping his hands, a sense of unprecedented strength filled his body, and the -20°C wind could no longer bring much cold.

Zhang Wei continued eating, and the awakening level slowly increased from 39% to 41%.

"Hmm?"

"The effect has significantly diminished, and my body has calmed down."

"Is the same taste no longer stimulating?"

Zhang Wei smiled faintly.

The 'Chongqing Supreme King Hot Pot' was just one of his hundreds of collections!

His mind scanned his treasures: "Let me pick something else."

[Treasure Hall recipe update: 'Guangdong First-Class Buddha Jumps Over the Wall']

[Treasure Hall recipe update: 'State Banquet: Boiled Chinese Cabbage']

[Treasure Hall...]

He didn't need to eat a lot; savoring the delicious food was enough.

The awakening level quickly increased to 99%, and with the final dish, 'State Banquet: Shadow Beef,' it officially broke through 100%!

[Updating host data!]

[Gourmet cell status: Awakened!]

"Am I officially a gourmet hunter now?"

Punching the side of the ice, the crack spread like shattered glass.

The pain in his fist was intense, but there was no damage.

"According to the manga, capturing a level one beast requires ten ordinary hunters with hunting rifles."

"And capturing a level five Kaila Crocodile can even withstand a tank."

Clenching his fist, he felt the explosive strength.

"Being able to fight ten ordinary people with hunting rifles would be a notable feat in a Jin Yong martial arts novel."

"If I reach level five and can withstand a tank, it would already transcend the realm of martial arts!"

Patting his bloated stomach, Zhang Wei decided to save the remaining treasures for tomorrow.

Hundreds of treasures, just thinking about it made him look forward to it.