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

On the beach of Blue Moon Bay, an unprecedented "bonfire party" is in full swing.

The [Nine Nether Soul Refining Furnace], exuding an ancient and ominous aura, was now like a tireless steam locomotive, its purple-gold lightning crackling and popping within its furnace. A red-hot hood, salvaged from the Land Rover (Jiang Li had temporarily requisitioned it because he hadn't brought enough baking trays), sat atop the furnace, serving as a makeshift iron plate.

"Sizzle—sizzle—"

With a mouthwatering popping sound of grease, Jiang Li threw a handful of evenly sliced ​​and neatly arranged "squid tentacles" (slices of the evil god's tentacles) onto the scorching hot hood.

In an instant, an extremely domineering aroma, mixed with cumin, chili powder, and the soul-piercing umami unique to abyssal creatures, swept across the entire beach like a tangible storm.

"Big Yellow! Stop drooling! If the fire gets too small, add more firewood! Throw in all that rotten wood you picked up over there (actually, it's the thousand-year-old ebony wood the Abyss Church uses to inscribe formations)!"

Jiang Li expertly flipped the iron shovel (actually the pig-slaughtering knife) in his hand while giving instructions without turning his head.

"Woof!" (Roger that, boss!)

Big Yellow was currently lying by the stove, enduring the high temperature of the thunder and fire (which felt like a sauna to it), diligently acting as a fire starter. It picked up a staff that reeked of corpses (a B-grade magical artifact dropped by the red-robed bishop), snapped it in half like sugarcane, and then stuffed it into the furnace.

"boom!"

The fire in the furnace burned even brighter, even spewing out a stream of green will-o'-the-wisp, but under the suppression of the lightning-struck wood, it instantly turned into a docile purple.

Not far away, Su Qingge was absentmindedly brushing oil onto the pieces of meat with a small brush.

Her worldview is undergoing its third restructuring.

Just now, she witnessed Jiang Li dismember that [Son of Kraken]—that B-level evil god offspring capable of destroying half of Jianghai City—like killing a chicken.

The incredibly tough outer layer of the evil god, which even armor-piercing bullets couldn't penetrate, was as fragile as tofu under Jiang Li's ordinary butcher knife, and was easily peeled off.

"This knife... is definitely a rule-based sealed artifact of S rank or higher!" Su Qingge stared at the greasy knife in Jiang Li's hand, secretly certain of her determination.

Little did she know, it really was a butcher's knife, but under Jiang Li's "food processing" will, it gained a conceptual sharpness called "Butcher's Skill in Dissecting an Ox".

"Miss Su, don't just stand there! This piece is ready, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top!"

Jiang Li's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh! Okay, okay!"

Su Qingge quickly grabbed a handful of chopped scallions and sprinkled them on top.

"That's right! You have to concentrate when cooking, or it'll burn!" Jiang Li scooped up a large plate of roasted meat, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Here we go, the first batch is ready! Everyone, don't be shy, dig in!"

He turned around and looked behind him.

There, dozens of believers of the Cult of God were lying haphazardly on the beach.

Some had already been knocked unconscious by Big Yellow, some were pretending to be dead, and others... were staring wide-eyed in terror, trembling as they looked at the man who was chatting and laughing next to the corpse of the evil god.

In their eyes, Jiang Li was not a chef at all.

He was shrouded in an indescribable chaotic mist, and every swing of his shovel seemed to be cutting through the rules of the world; the furnace emitting purple flames was clearly the entrance to hell, and the crackling sounds coming from it were the wails of billions of dead!

And those things he called "squid tentacles"...

That's a god!

Those are the children of the abyss that they summoned by worshipping and sacrificing countless lives!

It's now been sliced, sprinkled with cumin, and turned into a snack to go with drinks?!

What blasphemy! What horror!

"Well……"

At this moment, the unconscious cardinal "Bloody Hand" finally slowly awoke.

He felt as if his head had been hit with a sledgehammer (actually, he was dizzy with anger), and his nose was filled with an enticing aroma of meat.

"Where...where am I? In hell?"

He groggily opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a magnified, smiling face.

"Hey, head chef, you're awake?"

Jiang Li held a skewer of golden-brown, crispy tentacles and shoved it directly at the bishop's mouth. "Come on, try it and see how salty it is! I just tried one, and it felt a little bland. Is all the seafood from your beach naturally salty, so I didn't add enough salt?"

"What... head chef?"

The bishop looked completely bewildered and instinctively opened his mouth.

"Slurp!"

The tentacles slid smoothly into his mouth.

"Ugh!!!"

The bishop's eyes widened, and he tried to vomit, but the chunk of meat seemed to have a life of its own, sliding directly down his throat into his stomach.

next second.

"boom!"

A massive and violent energy exploded in his stomach!

That was high-purity divine power from the abyss itself!

Originally, if ordinary people or low-level awakened individuals directly consumed flesh and blood of this level, they would instantly mutate due to their inability to withstand the insane will, turning into mindless monsters.

But after Jiang Li's "cooking" (rule purification), those crazy babblings and pollution were forcibly stripped away, leaving only the purest life energy and... the ultimate deliciousness.

"This...this is..."

The bishop's face flushed red instantly, and the veins in his body bulged.

He felt his B-level bottleneck, which had stagnated for many years, shatter like paper under the impact of this energy!

The evil energy within him was forcibly purified and compressed by this domineering power, even acquiring a trace of... thunderous aura.

"ah--!!!"

The bishop roared to the sky, his red robes billowing without wind, and an aura several times stronger than before surged into the heavens.

B+ level! It's even faintly approaching the threshold of A level!

The believers around them, who were pretending to be dead, were dumbfounded.

Your Excellency... you ate the flesh of God and evolved?!

Is this what they call "divine grace"?

Wait a minute! Doesn't the doctrine say that those who look directly at God's face will die, and those who devour God's flesh will fall?

Why did the bishop not only survive but become stronger?

Is it...

All eyes were once again focused on the man who was grilling meat.

Could this being be someone even higher than the Children of the Abyss? Someone who can command gods and bestow power... a Father God?!

"Wow, that's quite a loud voice. Looks like you've had a good meal."

Jiang Li's ears were ringing from the bishop's shout, and he rubbed them in annoyance.

"If it's delicious, it's delicious. What are you yelling about? People who don't know any better might think I poisoned it."

He piled the remaining roasted meat onto a plate and waved to the believers who were still in a daze.

"Stop standing there! Come and eat! Do you understand what a buffet is? Help yourselves and you'll have plenty to eat!"

"Hey you, the one with the mask, I thought you were pretty good at pretending to be dead earlier. Come over here, don't be shy!"

The believers looked at each other, then at the bishop whose aura had surged and who looked blissfully pleased (actually, he was overwhelmed by energy overload).

Finally, someone wavered.

It was a thirst for power, and an irresistible attraction to that fragrance.

"Let's give it our all!"

A believer got up, walked shakily to the stove, grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

Three seconds later.

"I...I've broken through! My shadow abilities have become stronger!"

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

Soon, the group of cultists who originally intended to perform a bloody sacrifice began frantically scrambling for food around the [Nine Nether Soul Refining Furnace], like starving ghosts reincarnated.

The originally eerie and terrifying sacrificial site was instantly transformed into a bustling night market food stall.

"I want that tentacle tip! That crispy part!"

"Don't take it! This is from Father God... oh no, this was given to me by the chef!"

"It smells so good! Much better than eating raw human brains!" (A ghoul follower's comment)

Jiang Li nodded with satisfaction as he watched this scene.

"That's right! When people go out to have fun, they should be happy. Fighting and killing are so boring. Sit down, have some skewers and drinks, what conflict can't be resolved?"

He turned to Su Qingge: "Miss Su, please don't be shy, eat more. This fish is big, there's plenty to go around!"

Su Qingge mechanically picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.

Looking at the scene before her, where demons danced wildly yet strangely harmoniously, she felt her worldview had been shattered beyond recognition.

This is a religion that worships gods!

It's that infamous terrorist organization that has committed countless tragedies internationally!

Now, this group of ruthless madmen are actually obediently gathered around the stove, like a group of primary school students waiting for their meal.

And the reason all of this started was simply because... he thought the fish tasted good grilled?

"Mr. Jiang..." Su Qingge swallowed the piece of meat in her mouth, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "What... exactly do you intend to do to them?"

"How is it?"

As Jiang Li fed Dahuang bones, he casually remarked, "They all seem to be in good shape and have a good appetite. My newly bought ship is short a few sailors; I'll ask them if they'd like to work there."

"work to earn a living?"

"Yes, judging from their attire (black robes), they're definitely professional night shift workers; they can endure hardship."

Su Qingge: "..."

Should believers of the God-worshipping religion be made fishermen?

The scene was too beautiful for her to imagine.

Just then, another strange noise came from the sea.

"Splash—!!!"

The calm sea suddenly broke apart, and dozens of dark figures leaped out of the water and landed on the beach.

That's the Deep Diver!

A half-human, half-fish monster with frog eyes and fish gills, it is the most classic Familia in the Cthulhu Mythos.

They were drawn here by the deathly aura of the [Sons of Kraken], wanting to avenge their god or get a share of the spoils.

"Roar! Caw caw!"

The lead Deep One elite (C-rank) brandished a rusty trident and let out a piercing cry.

"That's... a fish-man?!"

The believers, who were enjoying their meal, were startled and instinctively wanted to grab their weapons to fight.

But Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

He put down the shovel, wiped the grease from his mouth, and walked over with a look of delight.

"Wow! This service is so attentive!"

Jiang Li pointed at the group of Deep Ones and said to the cardinal, "Head Chef, does your buffet offer refills? Is this... a seafood platter?"

Cardinal in his robes: "???"

He glanced at the menacing Deep Ones, then at Jiang Li, whose face was beaming with excitement.

He suddenly felt that these deep-sea divers... were somewhat pitiful.

"roar!!!"

When the elite Deepdivers saw a human daring to approach, they roared and thrust their tridents forward.

"Hey! Still fresh!"

Jiang Li not only didn't dodge, but instead went to meet him.

He reached out and grabbed the Deep One's slippery neck before the trident, powerful enough to pierce steel plates, struck him.

"This fish head looks quite big, but the neck is a bit thin."

Jiang Li commented.

Then, he flicked his wrist.

"Snap!"

The C-rank Deepsea elite had its neck twisted into a pretzel, its two dead fish eyes bulging out, and it died on the spot.

"Clatter".

The body was carelessly thrown on the ground.

The deep-sea divers behind them braked abruptly, dozens of pairs of dead fish eyes filled with fear and confusion.

Their leader... just like that, gone?

"Don't just stand there!"

Jiang Li turned around and shouted to the believers, "A few of you! Help unload this! This thing looks like a big frog; the leg meat should be pretty good. Let's roast it!"

"Yes! I will obey the decree!"

The believers, who had just been frightened by the Deep Ones, were now as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

Inspired by Jiang Li's invincible figure, they felt that they could do it too!

"For the barbecue! Charge!"

"Catch those mermen! Skin them alive!"

Dozens of newly advanced cultists, brimming with power, charged towards the Deep Ones, brandishing barbecue skewers and leftover bones, howling as they went.

What should have been a bloody massacre instantly turned into a one-sided hunt for food.

"Croak?!"

The deep-diving people panicked.

What's wrong with these humans? How come they look even more like monsters than them?

That look in his eyes... that's the look you give someone looking at food!

They tried to run away, but Big Yellow had already blocked their escape route.

Big Yellow was squatting on the beach, chewing on a Deepsea diver that was trying to escape by diving, his face clearly saying "This way is blocked".

……

Half an hour later.

Dozens of deep-diving corpses (food) have appeared on the beach.

The roasted meat on the stove was replaced with a more tender "frog legs" (deep diver thigh meat).

Jiang Li sat on a small stool, holding a bottle of ice-cold beer (which he had taken from the cardinal's storage ring), looking quite content.

"This is what life is all about."

The cardinal in the red robes had by this time completely become Jiang Li's loyal underling (and cook).

He leaned closer, his face full of obsequiousness, and asked, "Um... Boss, the meat's cooked, would you like to try some?"

"Hmm, not bad, the heat is just right."

Jiang Li took the roasted meat, took a bite, and nodded in satisfaction.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"My...my code name is 'Bloody Hand,' and my real name is...Wang Ergou." The bishop lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed.

"Ergou? That's an easy name to raise."

Jiang Li patted him on the shoulder, "I think you're pretty good at grilling meat. You can work for me from now on. My ship is short of a cook."

"A boat?" Wang Ergou was taken aback.

"Yes, I bought a fishing boat and am preparing to go out to sea and catch a big catch. You and your brothers can be my crew members. The wages are negotiable, and food and lodging are included. You'll have this kind of meat to eat every day."

"All-inclusive meals?! Meat at every meal?!"

Wang Ergou's eyes lit up instantly, the light even brighter than the searchlight from before.

This isn't going to be a sailor; it's clearly going to heaven for further studies!

He'd be willing to do anything to follow this big shot, even scrubbing toilets! He's a walking god-making machine!

"Yes! We're willing!"

Wang Ergou immediately knelt down, "Boss... no, Captain! From now on, our Jianghai branch of the God Worshipping Cult will be your private armed force... oh no, your private fishing team! We'll go wherever you point!"

"That's right."

Jiang Li was satisfied. "Then pack up and pack up the rest of the meat, don't waste it. We'll meet at the dock tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The believers shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.

Su Qingge, who was standing to the side, watched this scene and silently held her forehead.

It’s over.

The biggest hidden danger in Jianghai City is the branch of the God Worship Cult that has been a headache for the Night Watchers for over a decade...

So they were just recruited by a barbecue?

Moreover, it seems that these lunatics are now more loyal to the evil god than to him.

"Is this... the charisma of the Great Old Ones?"

Looking at Jiang Li's figure, which appeared exceptionally "imposing" in the firelight, Su Qingge couldn't help but have an absurd thought:

Perhaps... only magic can defeat magic.

Only something more unreasonable than an evil god could suppress this group of madmen.

Jiang Li is clearly the most unreasonable "god".