I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

The backyard of Villa No. 13 in Yulong Bay.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the dried-up swimming pool, casting a blood-red filter over the "cooking" that was about to begin.

Jiang Li stood in front of the large plastic bucket, holding a gleaming pig-slaughtering knife, like a seasoned butcher contemplating where to begin his cut.

Inside the bucket, the C-grade [Abyssal Leech Mother] seemed to sense its impending doom, frantically pounding against the bucket wall, making muffled "thump thump thump" sounds. Its dozens of tentacles were also stirring the water like they were on fire, splashing black slime everywhere.

"Tsk, this thing is really energetic."

Jiang Li frowned, took a step back, and avoided a splash of unidentified liquid.

"It's just too dirty, covered in mucus. If you put it directly into the pot, the whole pot of soup will turn into snot."

He's a meticulous person; he insists that his cooking should be visually appealing, fragrant, and delicious. These ingredients may look a bit unappetizing, but they should be edible once they're cleaned.

"Big Yellow! Go get me that bag of coarse salt!"

Jiang Li pointed to a bag of unopened pickling salt at the kitchen door.

Big Yellow was drooling by the door when it heard this. It immediately darted over, grabbed the bag of coarse salt that weighed at least ten pounds, and came running over happily.

"Splash!"

Jiang Li took the bag of salt, tore it open, and poured it into the bucket.

"Whether it's an eel or an octopus, if it has slime, you have to rub it with salt! That's common sense!"

Pouring in a full ten pounds of coarse salt is like giving a super-duper salty treatment to a wound.

"Hiss—Awooo—!!!"

A piercingly shrill scream suddenly came from the bucket; the sound didn't sound like a fish, but rather like an old ghost being strangled.

The leech mother's skin rapidly dehydrates and shrinks under the stimulation of coarse salt, emitting hissing white smoke. The excruciating pain that penetrates to the very soul causes it to writhe wildly, its tentacles whipping the bucket with a crackling sound.

"What are you yelling about? You're not happy about getting a spa treatment?"

Jiang Li curled her lips in disgust, then picked up the white vinegar next to her and poured half a bottle into it with a "glug glug".

"Go and remove the fishy smell!"

The tangy white vinegar mixed with coarse salt produced a strange chemical reaction (or alchemical reaction) on the psychic, malevolent body.

The originally dark and foul-smelling slime began to dissolve and peel away rapidly, revealing a grayish-white texture underneath that resembled squid meat.

"That's more like it, much better looking now."

Jiang Li nodded in satisfaction and reached out to grab it.

"hiss!"

The leech mother made a final counterattack, with one tentacle suddenly shooting out, its tip opening into a sucker-like mouth covered in barbs, heading straight for Jiang Li's eyes!

"You still dare to resist?"

Jiang Li reacted swiftly, wielding his knife with lightning speed.

"Snap!"

With a flash of cold light, the tentacle snapped off and fell to the ground, still writhing wildly.

"These tentacles are thick and fleshy, perfect for teppanyaki."

Jiang Li made a comment, then stopped being polite. His left hand, like an iron clamp, reached into the bucket, grabbed the monster's bloated core, and forcefully pulled it out, slamming it onto the cutting board.

"Bang!"

The cleaver slammed down, stunning the monster.

What followed was a brutal (and fluid) autopsy show.

Remove the head (though it's hard to tell which part is the head), remove the internal organs (they were all black poison sacs, which Jiang Li threw away thinking they were gallbladders), make decorative cuts, and slice into sections...

In less than five minutes, the abyssal evil that had once terrified countless sewer cleaners was transformed into a bowl of white, neatly cut "squid rings" and "squid tentacles".

Big Yellow watched in stunned silence, his drool soaking a large patch of the ground.

That's brutal! That's professional!

Is this the feeding ritual of the Great Old Ones? It's so artistic!

"Come on, let's go inside! Heat the oil in the wok!"

Jiang Li, carrying a basin, walked into the kitchen with great spirit.

……

Next door, Villa No. 14.

Su Qingge was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat in the living room, trying to digest the enormous energy from the fish soup she had eaten the night before through meditation.

A faint chill swirled around her, and the spiritual energy mark between her brows was faintly visible, clearly indicating that she was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Just then.

An indescribable, strange fragrance wafted in through the cracks in the window.

That taste...

It's not just the aroma of food, but a complex aroma that blends high-level psionic energy, life essence, and... the smell of garlic stir-frying.

"Slurp..."

At a crucial moment in her meditation, Su Qingge uncontrollably swallowed, causing her spiritual energy to become chaotic and nearly leading to a qi deviation.

"Ahem!"

She suddenly opened her eyes and looked at the next room with a shocked expression.

"What...what is this taste?"

"How come it smells even better than the fish soup from last night? And this energy fluctuation... could he be processing some even more advanced ingredients?"

Su Qingge stood up and walked to the window.

Through the floor-to-ceiling window, she saw the busy figure in the kitchen next door, and the billowing smoke (spiritual smoke) rising into the sky.

In the smoke, she seemed to see hideous tentacles howling and writhing under the spatula, eventually turning into golden, crispy delicacies.

"Is this the life of the strong?"

Su Qingge's eyes were glazed over. "To cook terror into a delicacy, to chew taboos into power..."

"Gurgle."

Her stomach gave a disapproving growl.

As an S-class Awakened, she usually only drinks dew (a high-energy nutrient solution) and hasn't felt this hunger for a long time.

"How about... we go visit someone?"

Su Qingge glanced at the unopened bottle of 82 Lafite on the table (it was actually meant to be a gift).

"You just moved in, so it's only right to bring a bottle of wine, isn't it?"

She found herself a perfect excuse, picked up the wine, tidied her hair, took a deep breath, and walked out of the house.

……

Villa No. 13, restaurant.

Jiang Xiaoyu was sitting at the dining table, her hands supporting her chin, looking expectantly at the kitchen.

"Bro, are you done yet? I'm starving!"

"Here it comes! The final, main course!"

Jiang Li came out carrying a huge white porcelain plate.

On the plate, there was a small, bright red, shiny mountain.

That's braised abyssal tentacles, stir-fried with fermented soybean paste, dried chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Each piece of meat was cut into beautiful cross-shaped cuts, curling up like blooming flowers, and sprinkled with white sesame seeds and chopped green onions, emitting an irresistible aroma.

"Wow! What's this? It looks delicious!"

Jiang Xiaoyu's eyes widened, and she picked up her chopsticks to grab some.

"Slow down, it's hot."

Jiang Li put down the plate and brought over two bowls of rice. "This is braised squid. I made it especially for you. It's high in protein and good for your brain."

"Thank you, bro!"

Jiang Xiaoyu picked up a piece of "squid roll" and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Snap!"

It's crisp and refreshing upon first bite, with an absolutely amazing chewy texture. When you bite into it, juice bursts out, and the spicy and savory flavors instantly conquer your taste buds.

"Mmm! Delicious! So delicious!"

Jiang Xiaoyu mumbled, a blissful expression on her face, "Brother, your cooking is amazing! It's a million times better than the grilled squid outside the school!"

"That's right, look how fresh these raw materials are."

Jiang Li smiled smugly and picked up a piece for herself.

As the meat entered my stomach, a warm current instantly spread throughout my body.

[Ding! Consumed a C-grade abyssal creature. Constitution +2, Mental Resistance +1.]

Jiang Li didn't hear any system notification sounds in his mind (he didn't have such a setting), but he could clearly feel that his body had become lighter, and the fatigue from killing the fish earlier had been swept away.

"It really is a very nourishing food."

Jiang Li looked at his younger sister, who was eating with her mouth full of oil, and felt a little uneasy.

This thing tastes good, but it looks weird. Would it be okay for an ordinary person to eat it?

He observed Jiang Xiaoyu carefully.

After the little girl finished eating a few pieces of meat, her face became incredibly rosy, her eyes became exceptionally bright, and even her skin seemed to have turned a little whiter.

"Brother, why do I feel...so hot?"

Jiang Xiaoyu put down her chopsticks and fanned herself, saying, "It feels like I've drunk hot ginger soup; my whole body feels warm and cozy."

"That's nutrition! It means your body is absorbing it well!"

Jiang Li made up a lie with a straight face, "Eat more, make up for all the nutrition you've gained over the years!"

"Uh-huh!"

Just as the brother and sister were enjoying their meal, a plaintive sob came from under the table.

Big Yellow lay on the ground, staring longingly at the plates on the table, drooling all over the carpet.

Master, I want to eat too... Those are my kind (no), those are my food!

"Go away, go away, get out of here."

Jiang Li gently kicked it with her foot. "This is too spicy for you, it'll make you shed too much fur... Oh no, you don't have any fur to begin with."

He picked out a few scraps of food that weren't coated with too much chili from the plate and threw them on the ground.

Here, just have a taste.

Dahuang was overjoyed, swallowed it whole, and then showed an expression of enjoyment (ascension).

Energy! Pure abyssal energy!

Its body trembled slightly, and the muscles under its skin began to twitch, as if some kind of subtle evolution was taking place.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Ding-dong—"

"Who is it? And why is it here at this hour?" Jiang Xiaoyu asked curiously.

"Maybe it's a delivery person? Or the property management?"

Jiang Li wiped her mouth, got up and went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, a faint, pleasant fragrance wafted out.

Su Qingge stood gracefully at the door, holding a bottle of red wine in her hand, with a perfectly appropriate smile on her face.

"Mr. Jiang, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Oh! Miss Su! It's you!"

Jiang Li's eyes lit up. "A rare guest indeed! Please come in!"

He had a very good impression of this beautiful neighbor. She was good-looking, could make cookies (although he didn't eat many), and most importantly, she looked wealthy, making her a valuable connection.

"I'm here to congratulate you on your housewarming, and by the way... I'll bring you a bottle of wine."

Su Qingge handed the red wine to Jiang Li, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the restaurant.

The overpowering aroma became more and more unbearable the closer you got.

"Oh, you're too kind! You've come all this way, why bring any wine?"

Jiang Li was polite in words, but his hands honestly accepted the wine (it looked quite expensive, worth several pounds of pork).

"Perfect timing, we're eating right now. If Miss Su hasn't eaten yet, would you like to join us for a bite?"

That's just polite talk.

According to the normal procedure, the other party should say, "No need, I've already eaten."

But Su Qingge is not a normal person; she is an S-class investigator who has been starving for a long time.

"Then... I shall respectfully comply."

Su Qingge blushed, but her feet honestly stepped into the house.

Jiang Li: "..."

Okay, it's just a matter of having an extra pair of chopsticks.

He led Su Qingge to the dining table.

"Little Fish, greet her. This is our next-door neighbor, Sister Su."

"Hello, Sister Su!" Jiang Xiaoyu greeted her sweetly, her eyes filled with amazement. "Sister, you're so beautiful, like a celebrity!"

"Hello there."

Su Qingge was exceptionally polite to this girl who possessed "divine protection," and smiled gently.

Then, her gaze fell on the large plate in the center of the table.

For a moment, her pupils contracted slightly.

Although it had been cut into flower shapes and coated in chili oil, as a top investigator, she still recognized the true nature of those meat chunks at a glance.

That unique texture, that lingering, faint fluctuation of fel energy...

Those are the tentacles of the [Abyssal Leech Mother]!

And it's the part with the highest activity!

This highly poisonous substance, filled with corrosiveness and curses, was actually... actually made into braised dish?

And it looks... damn delicious?

"Come on, Miss Su, don't be shy, try my cooking."

Jiang Li brought her a new set of chopsticks and bowl, and enthusiastically placed a large piece of "squid flower" into her bowl.

"This is... a giant deep-sea squid. It tastes amazing, but it's a bit spicy."

Su Qingge looked at the piece of meat in the bowl that seemed to be jumping around, and swallowed.

To eat or not to eat?

This is the flesh of a C-grade evil spirit! An ordinary person would die if they ate it, and an awakened being would go insane...

But looking at Jiang Xiaoyu next to her, who was eating with grease on her face and looking completely satisfied without any change in expression, Su Qingge wavered.

"Since it was handled by a big shot... it should be fine, right?"

She took a deep breath, picked up the piece of meat, and put it in her mouth.

"Hmm!"

The next second, Su Qingge's eyes widened.

There was none of the fishy or rotten smell I had imagined; only ultimate freshness and bursting energy!

The energy surged into her limbs and bones in an instant, and her spiritual energy, which had been stagnant due to the bottleneck, began to circulate wildly.

"This is... a marrow cleansing and bone-repairing process?!"

Su Qingge was terrified.

This isn't just a dish; it's a top-tier elixir!

This Mr. Jiang is not only incredibly powerful, but he's also an unfathomable "spiritual chef"?!

The ability to turn decay into magic, and transform the most poisonous substances into treasures... such methods are simply unheard of!

"How is it? Does it suit your taste?" Jiang Li asked with a smile.

Su Qingge put down her chopsticks, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Jiang Li was no longer just awe, but almost fanatical worship.

"It's so...so delicious."

Her voice trembled, "Mr. Jiang, you...you are truly a divine being."

"Haha, you flatter me, I was just doing it randomly."

Jiang Li was a little embarrassed by the praise, "Eat more if you like it, there's plenty!"

The meal was enjoyed by both the host and guests.

Su Qingge felt that her strength had increased by at least 10%, and many of her internal injuries had also been repaired.

As she was leaving, she looked at Jiang Li, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"What's wrong, Miss Su? Is there something else?"

"Um..." Su Qingge bit her lip, finally mustering her courage, "Mr. Jiang, there's an 'Antique Appreciation Event' in the city in a couple of days (actually an underground auction for Awakened Ones). I wonder if you'd be interested in going?"

She wanted to broaden this big shot's horizons, and also... show those arrogant guys what real "great terror" really is.

"antique?"

Jiang Li's eyes lit up when he heard this.

Antiques = Finding bargains = Getting rich!

He now has some money and is looking to make some investments.

"Interested! Extremely interested!" Jiang Li readily agreed. "Call me when the time comes!"

After seeing Su Qingge off, Jiang Li hummed a song as he returned to his room.

"Little fish, are you full? If you are, I'll take you for a ride!"

"Where to?"

"Let's go to the night market!" Jiang Li smiled mysteriously. "I'll show you what a real... seafood market is like!"

(He planned to go to Fatty Wang's place to buy some more cheap equipment, and also see if he could sell the remaining half-bucket of leeches.)