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

Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant, Jianghai City.

A week has passed since the launch of the "Earth Core Family Bucket," but this "primitive and wild" culinary storm has not only failed to subside, but has instead grown stronger.

It was lunchtime, and the long line outside the restaurant stretched all the way to the subway station in the next block. The air was filled with a rich, unique aroma of fried chicken (dinosaur meat), an extremely overpowering scent that could make your blood boil with just one whiff, as if awakening the hunting instincts deep within your genes, the instincts of an "upright ape."

"roar--!!!"

In a corner of the hall, a usually refined and polite bespectacled male programmer, after finishing a whole "Tyrannosaurus Rex Crispy Leg," suddenly ripped off his shirt, revealing non-existent muscles, and stood on a chair, letting out a primal roar.

"Awesome! This is awesome! I'm going to work overtime! I'm going to write 10,000 lines of code!"

The surrounding diners were not afraid at all; instead, they cheered and applauded, because they were all eating with rosy cheeks, as if they had been given stimulants.

This is the side effect of Tyrannosaurus Rex meat—extreme euphoria and a surge in physical strength.

In his office on the second floor, Jiang Li watched the chaotic scene below through a one-way mirror and took a satisfied sip of the Starry Sky Energy Water in his hand.

"It seems that people are quite accepting of red meat."

He turned around and looked at the holographic star map projected from Migo's brain on the desk.

"Our financial reserves are sufficient, and our supplies are almost ready. Next up is the Mars project."

Jiang Li pointed his finger at the red planet on the star map.

"Hey, you mentioned a reservoir on Mars last time? Are there fish in it?"

Migo, placed on a specially designed base, had his brain flashing red and emitting a buzzing electronic sound:

"Reporting to the boss, although the surface of Mars is desolate, beneath its polar ice caps lies a vast ancient ocean ruin known as the 'Reflection of Hyberril.' According to my database, an ancient being called the 'Vorvadoss' is sealed there... Of course, as you understand it, there are indeed a large number of unknown aquatic creatures there."

"but……"

The brain's tone became somewhat hesitant.

"From Earth to Mars, although the Black Pearl has enough power, interstellar space is full of invisible 'etheric flows' and 'spacetime reefs.' If we rush headlong into it like we did to the moon, we might get lost in the dimensional rifts or crash directly into the palace of the Outer God [Azathoth] (which is the center of the universe, and once you go there, you can't come back)."

"Is it that dangerous?"

Jiang Li frowned.

He may be reckless, but he's not stupid. Going to buy goods is fine, but going to his death is not.

"What should we do then? Do we need to get an 'interstellar pilot' license'?"

"A driver's license is not required, but we need a detailed [Star Chart]."

The brain explained, "On this planet, there exists an ancient and great race that has transcended time and space, collecting knowledge from the entire universe. They must possess the safest flight path."

"Traveling through time and space? Collecting knowledge?"

Jiang Li stroked his chin. "Sounds like it runs a library?"

"That's right, they did indeed build a super library known as the source of the Codex Nakt. And one of the hidden entrances to this library is located in an ancient temple deep in the mountains of southwestern China."

"The name of that race is—the Great Race of Yith."

"Is?"

Jiang Li pondered the name for a moment. "It doesn't sound appetizing at all. What do they look like?"

The brain projected an image.

It was a huge, cone-shaped creature. Its body resembled a flexible, wrinkled cone, about three meters tall, with a thick, sticky disc at the base. At the top were four retractable tentacles, each with a pincer, a light-emitting organ, and a sphere for recording information.

"this……"

Jiang Li's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at the cone-shaped, layered object.

"Isn't this... a bamboo shoot?!"

"And they're the super big, peeled bamboo shoots! Or maybe... pagoda-shaped vegetables?"

Under his culinary filter, this timeless overlord, which strikes fear into the hearts of countless civilizations, instantly transforms into tender, juicy, and crisp top-quality vegetables.

"Great stuff! I've been feeling a bit greasy from eating too much meat lately, so I wanted to make some vegetables to cleanse my palate!"

Jiang Li slapped his thigh. "These bamboo shoots look so tender! Whether braised in oil or stewed with meat, they're absolutely delicious!"

"I've decided! I'm not going to Mars yet! I'm going to this library first! I'm going to 'pick bamboo shoots'! And borrow a book while I'm at it!"

"Liu Wei! Get the car ready! We're going to the mountains to buy some local produce!"

……

In the heart of Southwest China, amidst the Ten Thousand Mountains.

This place is shrouded in mist and ancient trees reaching for the sky; it has been the birthplace of mysterious legends since ancient times.

A convoy that seemed particularly arrogant even in this primeval forest was traveling along the winding mountain road.

Leading the way was the indestructible Unimog, followed by two heavy trucks used for loading cargo.

"Boss, this road is too difficult to walk on."

Liu Wei gripped the steering wheel, carefully avoiding the cliff edge beside the road. "The navigation has had no signal for ages, where are we going?"

"Follow your instincts!"

Jiang Li sat in the passenger seat, holding a dinosaur leg bone he had just finished gnawing on, pointing to the main peak in front of him that was completely shrouded in clouds and mist.

"I smell it! A rich, scholarly scent... no, it's the fresh aroma of bamboo shoots!"

The convoy reached the foot of the mountain and then there was no road.

The group abandoned their vehicle and walked.

Besides the core team, Jiang Li also brought along his newly acquired [Wind Agent] (a humanoid air conditioner). Jiang Li felt the mountain air was very humid and needed a hairdryer to dehumidify it.

After climbing the mountain path for two hours, we passed through a dense bamboo forest.

An ancient and magnificent building appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was not a temple in the traditional sense, but a fortress built of massive gray stones. The architectural style was minimalist, without eaves or brackets, only countless perfectly geometric conical towers that pierced the sky.

The gate was tightly closed, and it was engraved with countless complex spiral symbols that would make anyone dizzy just by looking at it.

[Is Library - Earth Branch]

"This is it!"

Jiang Li wiped his sweat and looked at the conical towers, which looked more and more like piles of fine bamboo shoots.

"This design is so accurate! It's clearly the lair of the 'Bamboo Shoot Clan'!"

He stepped forward, without knocking, and simply lifted his foot.

"Is anyone there? I need to check the water meter!"

"Bang!"

A loud bang.

The stone door, which had withstood millions of years of wind and rain and sealed countless forbidden knowledge, was kicked open with a single kick by Jiang Li's flip-flops, leaving a large hole.

"Cough cough... This door is of poor quality, a shoddy construction project."

Jiang Li brushed off the dust and strode inside.

Inside the main gate is a huge circular hall, as large as a stadium.

The walls of the hall were covered with countless metal grids, each containing a thick metal book or a strange crystal recorder.

In the center of the hall, dozens of busy figures stopped what they were doing and turned around in unison.

They are the great race of Is.

It has a huge cone-shaped body with a writhing fleshy disc at the bottom and four tentacles extending from the top. Some of them hold strange electric guns, while others hold metal plates and are recording.

They have no facial features, only a spherical sensory organ at the end of their tentacle, which radiates a cold, rational light as it watches these uninvited guests.

"Sizzle..." (Intruder...Analyzing...Carbon-based life form...Threat level: Unknown...)

A piercing mental wave resounded in everyone's minds.

These beings do not communicate through sound, but rather through direct mental connections.

Wow! So many bamboo shoots!

Looking at the room full of cones, Wang Ergou's mouth watered. After being immersed in this environment for some time, his aesthetic sense and diet gradually began to resemble Jiang Li's.

"And they're huge! This bamboo shoot must weigh hundreds of pounds, right? How many plates of cured pork could that make?"

Jiang Li was even more excited.

He walked up to the nearest Isaiah, reached out, and patted its elastic skin as if picking a watermelon.

"Slap! Slap!"

"Mmm, this feels so crisp! Tender! And so juicy!"

Jiang Li praised it highly.

"Fellow villager, what kind of bamboo shoots are these? They don't look like winter bamboo shoots, nor spring bamboo shoots, could they be... heavenly bamboo shoots?"

The Iskandar that was photographed: "..."

As a great race that has traversed the long river of time and plundered the knowledge of countless civilizations, it has never encountered such a situation before.

A monkey from a lower dimension is actually taking pictures of its own body? And even asking what breed it is?

"Buzz—!!!" (Rude! Silence! This is a sanctuary of knowledge!)

The Is were enraged.

One of its tentacles suddenly rose, the pincers at the end making a "click" sound, and the Lightning Gun on the other tentacle instantly charged, aiming at Jiang Li's head.

"Expel them! Annihilate them!"

"boom!"

A thick, ball-shaped bolt of lightning shot out from the muzzle of the gun, carrying high voltage capable of instantly turning a person into a charred corpse.

"Oh? It can even generate electricity?"

Jiang Li glanced at the bolt of lightning flying towards him and pursed his lips.

"Isn't this just a lighter? The firepower is a bit too strong."

He did not dodge.

Because Liu Wei (a human lightning rod) was standing behind him.

"Old Liu! Connect the power!"

"yes!"

Liu Wei raised the plasma net transmitter in his hand and skillfully blocked it.

"Sizzle—"

The ball of lightning was absorbed directly by the transmitter and turned into one bar of power on the charging bar.

"Boss, it's fully charged! This battery is great!" Liu Wei reported.

Iskandar: "???"

Their technological weapons were absorbed?

"Since you attacked first, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Jiang Li pulled out the butcher knife from behind her back.

"Big Yellow! Thunderclap! Get to work!"

"The bamboo shoot skin is a bit thick, you have to peel it before you can eat it! Remember, only eat the tenderest part inside!"

"Woof!" (I want to eat bamboo shoots!)

"Alright! Let's get this braised bamboo shoots ready!"

The three men and one dog charged into the ranks of the Iss like tigers among sheep.

Despite their advanced technology and mind control abilities, the Issians were completely thrown into disarray when faced with this group of gluttons who were "magic-immune" and had off-the-charts physical attacks.

Their mental attacks struck Jiang Li like a gentle breeze; their lightning spears struck Lei Meng's black pot, only causing a few sparks to fly.

On the other hand, let's look at Jiang Li's side.

"Get out of here!"

Jiang Li slid in and took down a huge Isman.

"This skin is so hard to peel! It's like cowhide!"

With a swift motion, he slashed along the lines of the Is man's body.

"Sizzle—"

A thick layer of keratin was peeled off, revealing the tender (actually muscle tissue) flesh inside.

"Great meat! It looks so crispy!"

Jiang Li was overjoyed. "Er Gou! Bring a basket! Put it all in!"

On the other side, Big Yellow was even more ferocious. It bit down on one of the Is's tentacles, pulled it off the ground like a radish, and then swung it forcefully, stunning the other two.

"Zzzzzzz—!!!" (Crazy! This is a bunch of lunatics!)

The library's curator—an exceptionally large Elder Is, who had lived for hundreds of millions of years—issued a terrified mental broadcast.

"Activate [Time Displacement]! Send them to the Cretaceous period to feed the dinosaurs!"

The curator activated a huge bronze machine located in the center of the hall.

This is the strongest means of survival for the Iss – exiling enemies to other timelines through mind swapping or physical teleportation.

"Buzz—"

A strange spacetime vortex formed beneath Jiang Li's feet.

"You want to send me away? No way!"

Jiang Li felt the suction force beneath his feet.

He sneered and pulled out the [Dragon King's Eye] (Abyss Key) from his pocket, and then pulled out the [Time-Space Crystal] (stolen from the city of Tindalos).

"Playing time games with me? I'm a professional!"

"Place it for me...!"

Jiang Li slammed the two divine artifacts onto the ground.

"boom!"

An even more domineering force of rules erupted, instantly suppressing the newly formed spacetime vortex back!

Even the bronze machine emitted black smoke due to overload.

"No...this is impossible..."

Elder Is was in despair.

Its time technology has failed?

"Old man, was it you who wanted to send me on a trip just now?"

Jiang Li, carrying his sword, walked step by step to the elder.

"Judging by your size, you must be the oldest bamboo shoot here, right? That's practically dried bamboo shoot!"

"Although the dried bamboo shoots are tough to chew, they make the most flavorful soup!"

"No! Don't eat me!"

The elder's mental defenses collapsed.

Having lived for so long, what storms hasn't it weathered? But it has never seen a higher intelligent being treated like a vegetable stew!

"I...I surrender! We are scholars! We are civilized people! We can exchange knowledge!"

"Exchanging knowledge?"

Jiang Li stopped wielding his sword.

"Sure. I want to go to Mars. Give me the most detailed map possible, and make sure it shows where the fish are most plentiful and the best."

"Also, those 'lighters' (lightning guns) you have are pretty good. Give me a few dozen, the igniter on my stove is broken."

Elder Is: "..."

lighter?

That's a lightning gun powerful enough to pierce armor!

But in order to save its life (from being turned into dried bamboo shoots), it had no choice but to agree in a humiliating manner.

"Give it all! Give it all!"

……

Half an hour later.

Jiang Lixin walked out of the library with satisfaction.

The truck behind them was loaded with peeled "bamboo shoot meat" (the unfortunate corpses of Issian guards), dozens of boxes of high-tech "lighters", and a "Star Compass" (picked off from the elder) that recorded the routes of the entire universe.

"This trip was worthwhile; the balanced diet of meat and vegetables made the work less tiring."

Jiang Li was in a great mood as she looked at her abundant harvest.

"Let's go home! Prepare these bamboo shoots; we'll be making a new dish tomorrow—[Braised Giant Bamboo Shoots from the Abyss]!"

"After we finish eating, let's go to Mars! Let's see what alien fish taste like!"

……

the next day.

Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant has launched new vegetarian dishes.

Although the diners were puzzled by the strangely shaped dish that tasted like both meat and bamboo shoots, they all found it delicious after taking a bite.

"These bamboo shoots are so fresh! I feel like my brain has become smarter after eating them!" (Because the flesh of the Yi people contains a high concentration of phospholipids).

"Boss! Another plate, please! I need to prepare for my postgraduate entrance exam!"

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lei Meng was holding a [Lightning Gun] and pressing a button on the stove.

"Zzz—Boom!"

Blue sparks instantly ignited the abyssal purple flames.

"Boss, this new lighter is really great! It has a strong flame and is windproof!"

Lei Meng was full of praise.

Everything is ready.

Jiang Li stood by the window, looking at the red planet in the night sky.

"Mars... I'm here."

"I hope the fish there will give me a pleasant surprise."