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

Koprulu Sector, Planet Char, Second Underground Level - Acid Lake.

After a busy day, the Tree Spirit (World Tree Ark) finally settled into its home in this enormous underground cavern.

This cave was originally a cockroach nest; it was spacious, about the size of two football fields.

The bioluminescent fungi on the dome provide natural lighting, while the acidic lake below provides water and energy (geothermal).

Most importantly, there is only a narrow, winding tunnel between here and the surface.

It can be described as... easy to defend and difficult to attack, warm in winter and cool in summer (relatively speaking).

……

Outpost Construction: Alice's Engineering Aesthetics

"Boss, the core energy source for the base is now connected."

Alice's (AI) voice echoed through the empty cavern.

Several huge heat pipes extended from the bottom of the Treant, directly plunging into the scalding magma veins at the bottom of the acid lake.

"Buzz—"

With the injection of geothermal energy, the lights inside the spacecraft were turned on again, no longer the dim emergency lights, but bright, cool light.

"The defense system is being rebuilt."

Alice was controlling several newly repaired engineering robots (miniature repair machines that came with the Tree Spirit).

They were carrying springtail carapaces and exploding skins that they had collected on the battlefield.

At the entrance to the cave, a thick biological armor wall has been erected.

The walls were also covered with the bone spikes of Hydralisks (although we haven't encountered any Hydralisks yet, this is a defensive structure that Alice simulated based on the Zerg atlas).

It looks like...

It resembles both a sturdy fortress and a... gigantic insect hive.

……

Residential area renovation.

Jiang Li wasn't idle either.

He carved out a living area in a corner of the cave.

Here, tables and chairs were made from several flat obsidian slabs.

Next to it is a large stove made of stone.

On the stove sat the Klein pot, which had been used to cook countless gods and demons.

Under the stove, there was a pile of dried fungal mat blocks (fuel).

In the puddle behind the stove, several cockroaches that had been kept in captivity were desperately blowing bubbles.

"The environment is nice."

Sun Wukong lay on a rock covered with the skin of exploding insects (soft and fluffy like a waterbed), with his legs crossed.

"Compared to the Flaming Mountains outside, this place is practically a Water Curtain Cave."

"The smell is a little too strong."

Er Gou (the Chaos Devouring Dog) is drinking water by the lake (filtered acidic water, which it has now come to love with its slightly lemony taste).

"Woof! Boss, are we staying here long-term?"

"uncertain."

Jiang Li was organizing his spice packets.

"This is just a transit point."

Our goal is... the stars and the sea (to go home).

"But before that..."

Jiang Li looked at the entrance to the tunnel that connected to the surface.

"We need to...do a few deals first."

……

Signal analysis.

Tang Sanzang (the cyber monk) sat cross-legged in front of the communication console of the Tree Demon, his nine-ringed staff connected to the ship's main engine.

"Amitabha."

"Benefactor Jiang, the distress signal is becoming clearer and clearer."

On the big screen, a series of green ripples were dancing.

[Signal source: Terran Federation 7th Fleet, transport ship "Hercules".]

Status: Crashed.

[Coordinates: Located in a surface canyon 50 kilometers from this location.]

[SOS message: We need backup! We need medkits! We need...food!]

"food……"

Jiang Li caught this keyword.

"really."

"In this godforsaken place, besides being eaten by insects, the biggest threat is... starvation."

"and……"

Jiang Li pointed to a section of garbled text in the signal.

"Alice has analyzed it."

"This ship is carrying a batch of...high-purity crystal ore."

"That's the universal hard currency used across the stars."

"It is also the key energy source for repairing the Treant's warp drive."

……

Material preparation.

"Since we're going to do business (in rescue)..."

"Then we can't go empty-handed."

Jiang Li stood up and clapped his hands.

"Great Sage, Nezha."

"Don't lie down."

"We need to prepare... takeout."

"Takeout?" Nezha sat up abruptly. "What are you delivering? Cockroach meat?"

"certainly."

Jiang Li smiled slightly.

"For those human soldiers who were starving to death."

"Anything that's meat, even insect meat..."

"It's also a Michelin three-star delicacy."

"But to make it look better..."

Jiang Li glanced at the cockroach legs that were still wriggling.

"We need to... do some further processing."

……

[Deep Blue Battlefield Delivery Process]

Dish 1: Crispy Flea and Dried Meat (a substitute for compressed biscuits).

Jiang Li took out the volcanic ash marinated meat patties he had made earlier.

This thing is hard, but it can be stored for a long time.

He used Occam's razor to cut it into strips the size of a finger.

Then put it in the oil (the last batch of oil) for a second frying.

Fry until the moisture is gone.

Sprinkle with chili powder and salt.

This kind of jerky is as hard as steel; chewing one piece can keep you hungry for a whole day.

Dish 2: Sour Soup Cockroach Meat Canned Food (liquid food).

Chop up freshly cut cockroach meat.

Add acidic lake water and simmer with poppy chili sauce to make a thick soup.

Then pour it into... an empty (cleaned) insect sac.

Seal the opening with fire.

One by one, the green, soft "soup dumplings" are ready.

Although it looks a bit like a biological weapon, it is easy to carry and can replenish water and salt after drinking.

……

Fully prepared and ready to go.

After a night of preparation.

The next morning (although it wasn't visible underground, their biological clocks told them it was dawn).

The Deep Blue Squad has assembled.

Jiang Li was carrying a huge pack of bags (filled with dried meat and meat soup packets).

Sun Wukong carried his golden cudgel and had several gourds filled with acidic water hanging from his waist.

Nezha rode on his Wind Fire Wheels, responsible for aerial reconnaissance.

Er Gou carried Harpy, who was still sleeping, on his back (the power bank couldn't be lost).

Tang Sanzang stayed behind at the base, responsible for guarding the house and taking care of the cockroaches.

"Set off!"

Jiang Li waved his hand.

"Target: Crash site 50 kilometers away!"

"Remember our slogan!"

Everyone spoke in unison (except Harpie):

"Deep Blue Cafeteria, Mission Accomplished!"

……

Return to the surface.

They climbed out of the tunnel and emerged onto the surface.

What awaited them was still the despairing heatwave and the sky filled with volcanic ash.

But this time, they were prepared.

Everyone was covered in cockroach slime (sunscreen), which was disgusting but provided excellent insulation.

"This taste..."

Nezha pinched his nose.

"I feel like I've just been pulled out of a septic tank."

"Just bear with it."

Jiang Li glanced at the coordinate instrument in his hand.

"Death Valley is just ahead."

"That ship crashed right there."

"but……"

Jiang Li stopped in his tracks.

His eyes sharpened.

At the entrance to the canyon shrouded in red mist ahead.

You can vaguely see...

Several enormous, winged creatures were circling in the air.

That's not a springtail.

It wasn't a cockroach either.

That is……

[Monster: Mutalisk]

[Commonly known as: Wyvern/Tail-Whipping Monster.]

[Tier: Zerg aerial unit.]

[Attack: Launches parasitic blade bugs (living, bouncing darts).]

……

"It seems..."

Jiang Li gripped Occam's razor tightly in his hand.

"On the way to deliver food..."

"It's not peaceful either."

"Perfect."

Jiang Li licked his lips.

"Dragon meat..."

"I heard...it looks a lot like a pigeon?"

"I wonder if it's possible to make... roasted pigeon?"