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

Early morning, in the back alley of [Shenlan Seafood Restaurant].

Jiang Li was squatting on the ground, holding a hammer and chisel, tapping and hammering at the pile of Nightmare (gargoyle) corpses that Da Huang and the others had brought back last night.

After these C+ level abyssal creatures die, their bodies quickly petrify, becoming incredibly hard, like black granite sculptures.

"Strange, what exactly is this thing?"

Jiang Li knocked off a black "stone" and weighed it in his hand.

"Last night they were flying around so happily, I thought they were big, featherless birds. How come they turned to stone after they died? Could they be the legendary 'fossil birds'?"

He frowned as he looked at these bizarre "corpses." Some were headless, some had broken wings, and the cuts didn't even have blood, only a grayish-white powder.

"The meat is so tough, I can't even chew it."

Jiang Li tried to make a cut with the butcher's knife, sparks flew everywhere, but it didn't even leave a mark.

"I was originally planning to make a 'crispy roasted bird' dish, but it looks like that's not going to happen."

At this moment, Wang Ergou (the lobby manager) came out yawning, carrying two buckets of swill (actually remnants of resentment to be fed to the magic pot in the basement).

"Captain, what should we do with these... gargoyles?"

Wang Ergou looked at the high-grade alchemy materials scattered on the ground and swallowed hard.

This is the remains of Nightmare! Every stone contains pure shadow and gravity laws, making it a top-tier material for crafting defensive magical artifacts!

"This thing is too hard; it's inedible."

Jiang Li sighed, then suddenly had a brilliant idea.

"Hey? Er Gou, what do you think about using this to make soup?"

"Make...make soup?" Wang Ergou was stunned. "This stone can be used to make soup?"

"You just don't understand!"

Jiang Li gave him a look that said, "You've never seen anything like this before. Have you ever heard the story of 'Stone Soup'? Although this thing has tough flesh, it's still a living thing, so it must be rich in minerals! Let's smash it up, throw it into that big furnace, and simmer it over a high flame for three days and three nights to extract all the essence. That will definitely be a pot of highly nutritious, calcium-rich soup!"

"High...high calcium soup?"

Looking at those hideous gargoyle heads, Wang Ergou imagined the scene.

The soup made by simmering the corpse of a C+ grade evil spirit with the purple flames of the [Nine Nether Soul Refining Furnace]...

Wouldn't drinking that turn you into an indestructible body?

"Great idea! Captain, you're brilliant!" Wang Ergou immediately flattered, "If this soup is launched, it will definitely be a hit! I've already thought of a name: 'Black Gold Nourishing Soup'!"

"Okay, it's settled then!"

Jiang Li tossed the hammer to a Deepsea waiter who was slacking off nearby.

"Number 008! Stop spacing out! Smash all these stones! The smaller the better! Then wash them clean and throw them in the pot!"

"Huh?" (You want me to smash rocks?)

The 008 Deep Diver looked at the pile of gargoyles that were harder than its own head and felt like crying.

It's a water mage! Not a rockbreaker!

But under Jiang Li's "nuclear benevolent" gaze, it could only raise the hammer with tears in its eyes.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The rhythmic clanging of blacksmiths echoed from the back alley.

……

at the same time.

A black Hongqi sedan with a Beijing license plate slowly pulled up in front of Shenlan Seafood Restaurant.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit with a stern face stepped out. He carried a briefcase and wore an inconspicuous badge on his chest—a golden sword crossed over a shield.

This is the logo of the Inspection Department, the headquarters of the China Abnormal Bureau.

The man's name was Yan Luo, and his nickname was "Living Yama".

He is a top-level inspector sent by headquarters, an S-rank powerhouse, specializing in handling thorny cases that local branches cannot solve, as well as... cleaning up those uncontrollable "dangerous elements".

His purpose in coming to Jianghai City this time was singular—to see the mysterious S-level (or even higher) powerhouse known as "The Chef," and the enigmatic [Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant].

"Is this the place?"

Yan Luo pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and scanned the building in front of him with a sharp, piercing gaze.

A massive skeletal archway, eerie colored light boxes, and two rows of waiters who looked like monsters…

"Hmph, demonic energy blazing! This is utter nonsense!"

Yan Luo snorted coldly, his opinion of the Jianghai City Branch instantly plummeting to rock bottom.

"What kind of business is Su Qingge running? How could she allow such an obvious cult stronghold to open in the city center? And she even calls it a 'specialty restaurant'?"

"This is blatant dereliction of duty! Once I find out what's going on here, I'm going to give the Jianghai branch a thorough overhaul!"

He straightened his collar and walked toward the door with a grim expression.

"Welcome—Gah!"

The Deepsea waiters on both sides bowed as was their custom.

Yan Luo stopped and stared coldly at one of the Deep Ones.

"A Deep One? A Class C Fiend?"

He raised his hand, lightning crackling in his palm, ready to slap the monster who dared to show itself in broad daylight to death.

"Hey, hey, hey! Sir/Madam! What are you doing?"

Wang Ergou, with his sharp eyes, immediately rushed out and stood in front of the Deep One.

"These are our employees! If you're not satisfied with the service, you can file a complaint, but you can't physically assault them! This is a society governed by law!"

"people?"

Yan Luo laughed angrily, "You call this thing a person? Get out of the way! You look wicked yourself, you're probably no good either!"

He saw through Wang Ergou's true nature at a glance—a B-level cult member!

"Good! It really is a cult hideout! Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven and wipe out all of you demons and monsters!"

Yan Luo unleashed his aura, and his terrifying S-rank pressure instantly swept across the entire area.

The surrounding diners screamed and scattered in fright, but a few regulars (such as Lei Meng) remained calmly seated, gnawing on pig's trotters, and even watching the commotion with great interest.

"Oh, another challenger here?"

"This one looks pretty aggressive, like they're from the government?"

"What's there to be afraid of? With Boss Jiang around, even the Heavenly King himself would have to buy a ticket to eat!"

Just as Yan Luo was preparing to demolish the shop.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"

Jiang Li walked out of the kitchen carrying a large casserole dish.

In the clay pot, a dark, bubbly "stone soup" was simmering, emitting an indescribable... mineral aroma.

"Boss! This guy's trying to cause trouble! He's even going to kill our employees!"

Wang Ergou immediately filed a complaint.

Jiang Li put the casserole on the table and frowned as he looked at Yan Luo.

"This...leader? He looks like an official."

Jiang Li sized up Yan Luo, who was dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit. "Are you from the Health Bureau? Or the Industry and Commerce Bureau? We have all the necessary licenses and permits, and our hygiene standards are met. What are you here to inspect?"

Yan Luo looked at Jiang Li.

Is this the legendary "chef"?

He looked ordinary, with no spiritual energy fluctuations, just like a commoner.

But Yan Luo was an S-rank expert, and his intuition told him that the man in front of him was extremely dangerous!

It's like facing a bottomless ocean; the surface is calm, but beneath it lies an abyss capable of swallowing everything.

"I am from... the Headquarters Inspectorate."

Yan Luo toned down his murderous aura slightly and said in a deep voice, "I received a report that you are illegally using prohibited organisms here, suspected of spreading a cult, and endangering public safety!"

"A prohibited organism?"

Jiang Li pointed to the Deep Ones at the entrance. "You mean these sea monkeys?"

"They may be a little ugly, but that's a characteristic of ethnic minorities! Or they might have a skin condition! You can't discriminate against them!"

Jiang Li, with an indignant expression, said, "This is a legitimate business; we provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This is charity! Not only do you not praise us, but you also want to shut us down? Is there no law anymore?"

Yan Luo: "..."

People with disabilities?

What kind of disabled person is that?! They're man-eating monsters!

Stop grinning at me!

Yan Luo pointed to the eerie decorations in the room, "These bones! These skins! And what are you cooking in that pot?! That's clearly the corpse of an evil spirit!"

"A corpse?"

Jiang Li lifted the lid of the casserole, and a rich aroma wafted out.

"These are stones! High-calcium stone soup! This is medicinal cuisine!"

He picked up a spoon, scooped up a piece of stewed "stone" (actually the core of Nightmare), and handed it to Yan Luo.

"Boss, you've come all this way, it must be hard work, you probably haven't eaten yet, right? Here, have a bite! It'll cool you down!"

Yan Luo looked at the dark, bubbling substance in the spoon and instinctively wanted to refuse it.

"I won't eat it! It's poison..."

"Oh, don't be shy! It really is good for calcium!"

Without saying a word, Jiang Li shoved the spoon into Yan Luo's mouth.

His seemingly casual movements contained an irresistible force of rules. Yan Luo, a powerful S-rank expert, found himself unable to even dodge, his mouth involuntarily opening, and then…

"Gurgle."

I swallowed it.

Oh no! I've been infected!

Yan Luo felt a chill run through him, realizing he was doomed. This was definitely some kind of mind-controlling poison!

however.

The moment that "stone" entered my stomach.

"boom!"

A massive and profound energy exploded within his body!

That is the power of the laws of the earth and gravity!

Yan Luo felt as if his bones had turned into steel in that instant. His meridians, which had been damaged by years of fighting, were rapidly healed under the impact of this power, and even became more resilient!

A faint stone-like luster appeared on his skin, a sign that he was about to break through to S+ level and awaken the "Indestructible Vajra" supernatural power!

"This...this is..."

Yan Luo stared in shock, his eyes wide.

This is hardly poison.

This is clearly a divine medicine that rivals the wonders of heaven and earth!

This one bowl of soup saved him at least ten years of arduous cultivation!

"How is it? Tastes good, right?"

Jiang Li looked at him with a smile, "Do you feel warm all over? Your back doesn't ache anymore, and your legs don't hurt anymore?"

Yan Luo's expression shifted unpredictably.

He looked at Jiang Li, then at the pot of soup, and finally at the "disabled people" around him.

His sense of justice and the undeniable appeal of reality are locked in a fierce battle.

Finally, he took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Great soup! It really is...great soup!"

"Since it's a good soup, shall we sit down and chat?"

Jiang Li pulled out a chair. "Er Gou! Serve the boss the food! Get him a serving of our signature 'King Squid'! It's on the house!"

"Okay!"

Half an hour later.

Yan Luo, the "Living Yama" from the capital, had just unbuttoned the top button of his Zhongshan suit and was gnawing on a huge octopus tentacle with his mouth full of oil, eating with great relish.

"Boss Jiang! This skill is amazing!"

Yan Luo gave a thumbs-up, his face beaming. "I was blind before! It was a misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding!"

"This isn't a cult hideout; it's clearly a 'supply station' that benefits humanity!"

He has already figured out how to write the report when he gets back:

[Shenlan Seafood Restaurant, an outstanding private enterprise in Jianghai City, actively employs specialized talents and develops new high-energy ingredients, making a significant contribution to improving the overall quality of awakened individuals in my country! We recommend providing key support and promoting its nationwide adoption!]

"By the way, Mr. Jiang."

After having eaten and drunk his fill, Yan Luo suddenly remembered something. "Besides the inspection, there's another piece of news I wanted to tell you."

"What news?" Jiang Li was counting money.

"Regarding the mastermind behind all this targeting you..."

Yan Luo lowered his voice, "We've found out that the abyssal energy fluctuations beneath Jianghai City have been unusually active recently, and all the clues point to... the sewers."

"sewer?"

Jiang Li was taken aback. "The sewers again? Are these guys rats?"

"No, they're more troublesome than mice."

Yan Luo's expression was solemn. "According to our detection, the entity itself... might be a 'gate'."

"A portal connecting to the true Abyss dimension! It's attempting to open fully, dragging the entire Jianghai City into the abyss!"

……

Jianghai City, deep underground.

This is the lowest level of the city's drainage system, a forbidden zone that humans have never set foot in.

In a pitch-black, polluted lake, the enormous eye—the Eye of the Abyss—was trembling wildly.

The space around it was completely distorted, and countless black tentacles stretched out from the void, weaving into a huge, complex magic circle.

"It'll be soon...it'll be soon..."

The Eye of the Abyss let out a hysterical growl.

"That damn cook... he even bribed the inspectors at headquarters!"

"If we don't act now, I'll really be eaten to extinction by these gluttonous humans!"

It felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

The believers and summoned beasts it sent out were either killed, eaten, or even turned to work as waiters!

This is simply the greatest disgrace in the history of the Abyss invasion!

"If the soft approach doesn't work, then let's try the hard approach!"

The red light in the Eye of the Abyss surged, "I'll take a desperate gamble! I'll forcefully open the [Gate of the Abyss]!"

"Even if it costs me my life, I will bring that person here!"

"Great Lord of Filth, Otgu (S+ Rank Great Old One)! Please descend! Cleanse this world, which is filled with stench (the smell of food), completely!"

As it was offered as a sacrifice, the ground of the entire Jianghai City began to tremble slightly.

Countless manhole covers simultaneously spewed out columns of black smoke, and a nauseating stench instantly enveloped the entire city.

……

Royal Dragon Bay, Villa No. 13.

Liu Wei (Thousand-Faced Ghost) was dusting the Star Pillar in the yard when he suddenly felt a violent tremor under his feet.

"Buzz—!!!"

An extremely evil and terrifying aura surged from underground, instantly breaking through the defensive array of the villa area.

"This...this is..."

Liu Wei's expression changed drastically as he looked at the sewer opening that Jiang Li had just opened.

The well that was originally used for drainage had now turned into a huge black vortex, with countless black sludge gushing out like a fountain and quickly spreading throughout the yard.

And from within that silt, an unimaginably enormous, terrifying giant, composed of countless pieces of garbage, corpses, and filth, was slowly crawling out.

It has three eyes, no nose, and its mouth is a slit that splits open to the back of its head, from which flows green venom.

A projection of [Lord of Filth, Otgu]!

Although it was just a projection, the terrifying S-class pressure still caused the surrounding space to begin to collapse.

"Who... is summoning me?"

The giant emitted a deep, rumbling sound, like rolling thunder.

It raised its head, and the nauseating stench emanating from it instantly caused all the flowers and plants in the yard to wither.

"Is this the place? The territory of that so-called 'Master Chef'?"

The giant grinned maliciously, raised his enormous fist—made of abandoned cars and reinforced concrete—and was about to smash it down on the villa.

"Destroy this place! Turn everything into garbage!"

At this critical moment.

"Bang!"

The villa's front door was kicked open.

Jiang Li, wearing pajamas and carrying the butcher knife, rushed out with a grumpy expression.

"Who is it?! Doing renovations in the middle of the night?!"

He looked up and saw the giant covered in trash.

"Holy crap?!"

Jiang Li was stunned for a moment, then covered her nose with a look of disgust.

"This...this is a septic tank explosion?! How did such a huge pile of poop come out?!"

"That's disgusting! So unhygienic!"

Jiang Li was furious.

"You dare to urinate or defecate in my yard? You're asking for trouble!"

"Big Yellow! Get the hose! We're flushing the toilet!"