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

The enormous cyan flying sword, like an aurora piercing the darkness, carried Jiang Li and his group into the sky.

As the altitude increases, the crowded, damp slums below, flashing cheap neon lights, gradually shrink in size and are eventually obscured by a thick layer of industrial smog.

This layer of smoke is like an insurmountable natural barrier.

It forcibly tore the world into two parts.

As the flying sword pierced through the last layer of black thunderclouds.

The scene before me suddenly became clear.

"Holy crap..."

Er Gou lay on the edge of the flying sword, his dog eyes (though not prosthetic, they were still wide open like copper bells) staring straight ahead.

"Is this...this is heaven?"

Above the sea of ​​clouds, there floated enormous, golden, and magnificent floating islands.

These islands are no longer the steel wasteland style of the Nether.

Here, the mountains are beautiful and the waters are clear, and cranes fly in flocks.

Although those mountains are artificial mountains built with nanomaterials.

That water is ultrapure water that has undergone recycling and purification.

Those cranes are bionic mechanical birds.

But at this altitude of 10,000 meters, illuminated by that artificial "simulated star" light source, everything appeared so sacred, luxurious, and full of "ethereal beauty."

At the center of these islands stands an extremely magnificent palace complex.

【Cloud Heavenly Palace】

It is the power center of the entire Neon Sky Domain, and also the residence of several major conglomerates.

Countless luxurious flying shuttles and private flying swords of various shapes and sizes shuttled among them like a swarm of locusts crossing a river.

A giant golden dragon, projected holographically, hovered above the palace, its scales displaying real-time stock market data.

"Welcome to the Upper Town."

Li Zixia stands at the front of the flying sword, her clothes fluttering (with a built-in wind machine effect).

"There is no poverty, no disease, no hunger here."

"This is... where the [real person] lives."

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow.

"A real person?"

"What are those things down there? Mannequins?"

Li Zixia smiled faintly, her tone carrying an air of indifference that seemed to come naturally.

"Those below?"

"That's a battery."

"Or... [consumables]."

"In this world, only those who have mastered the core algorithms and possess sufficient computing power and wealth are qualified to be called 'human'."

"The rest are just parts that keep this huge machine running."

Jiang Li remained silent.

He glanced at Odin beside him.

Odin clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.

Clearly, this condescending tone greatly displeased this brute from the mythical era.

"Alright."

Jiang Li patted Odin on the shoulder.

Don't talk philosophy with capitalists.

"We're here to eat, not to start a revolution (for now)."

"Elder Li, lead the way."

"Let me see if those so-called peaches are worth the trip."

……

The flying sword landed smoothly on the main square of the "Heavenly Palace".

The place is already filled with all kinds of luxury cars (flying boats).

Those who stepped out of the car were all "cyber cultivators" dressed in gorgeous clothes and exuding a powerful aura.

Most of the men wore well-tailored, high-tech Taoist robes and smart bracelets worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones on their wrists.

The woman was wearing a shimmering neon dress and had exquisite "electronic makeup" on her face (light-emitting diodes were embedded under her skin).

"Oh my, isn't this Fairy Zixia from Shushan Heavy Industry?"

"I heard your stocks have been soaring lately!"

"Elder Li, what kind of top-quality materials have you brought this time?"

Li Zixia led Jiang Li and the others through the crowd, attracting a lot of attention.

After all, Jiang Li and his group's style was just too "retro".

A cook wearing a white coat.

A muscular old man wearing golden armor.

A husky.

There's also a strange figure in black and white silhouette.

He didn't even have a decent glowing prosthetic body.

"Country bumpkin."

"Where did this country bumpkin come from? He doesn't even have a computer!"

"Shh! Those are guests brought by Shushan Heavy Industry. They might be some reclusive old monster."

Amidst whispers.

The group entered the main hall of the banquet—the Yaochi Hall.

……

The moment I entered the hall.

A rich, even intoxicating aroma wafted towards us.

That's not the scent of flowers.

Instead, it's... [high concentration of spiritual energy].

Or, in scientific terms: [atomized high-energy nutrient solution].

Take a breath, and you'll feel refreshed. Your back and legs will stop aching, and even Er Gou's tail will wag more enthusiastically.

In the center of the hall was a huge circular stage.

The stage was surrounded by various exquisite holographic dining tables.

And at the very center of the stage.

It is protected by layers of laser-coated railings, gravity fields, and bulletproof glass.

It is a... [tree].

This tree is not tall, only about three meters.

It is composed entirely of crystal (or some kind of transparent biomass).

The leaves are silvery-white, with blue fluorescent liquid flowing through their veins.

On the tree branches.

Nine peaches were hanging there.

The peach was as big as a baby's head.

The surface has a strange and alluring pinkish-purple color.

It is not static.

It is... [breathing].

Each contraction and expansion emits a visible pink halo.

[Target: Third-generation gene-modified peaches (Beta version)]

[Rank: Earth-grade Top-tier Ingredient]

[Description: A fusion of the genes of a peach pit from the ancient cultivation world and the "Egg of Cthulhu," an alien creature.]

[Characteristics: Highly toxic/Highly nourishing. Improper handling can cause genetic damage, turning a person into a tentacle monster; proper handling can increase lifespan by 500 years (telomerase repair).]

"Goodness."

Jiang Li glanced at it with the system and thought to himself that he was an expert.

"These aren't peaches at all!"

"This is clearly... a biological bomb."

"These lunatics, how dare they eat this kind of stuff?"

……

"Distinguished guests!"

Just as Jiang Li was observing the ingredients.

The lights in the lobby suddenly went out.

A spotlight shone on the stage.

A middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses, who looked refined and cultured, came out.

[Wang Teng].

[CEO of Pantao Biotechnology / Nascent Soul Stage Powerful Being.]

"Welcome to the 'Gene Ascension' press conference."

Wang Teng pushed up his glasses, a confident smile on his face.

"As we all know, cultivating immortality is essentially an evolution of life."

"The ancients used elixirs, we use gene serum."

"The ancients overcame tribulations, we'll replace them with prosthetic bodies."

"And today..."

He pointed to the alluring peach tree behind him.

"Our Pantao Biotechnology has overcome the ultimate challenge in life sciences."

"These nine peaches represent... the key to immortality!"

wow——

The audience erupted in applause.

Countless greedy electronic eyes were fixed on the peaches.

For these cyber cultivators who have already reached the pinnacle of power, yet still fear death (physical aging).

"Lifespan" is their only weakness.

"but."

Wang Teng changed the subject.

"This kind of divine object has extremely violent energy."

"Ordinary cooking methods simply cannot handle it."

"If you're not careful, the high-energy particles inside the peach will explode."

"Therefore, today, we have specially invited the most outstanding chef in the entire Neon Sky Domain... [God of Cooking]."

"Please welcome him—"

"【Quantum Diet Master - Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable】!"

……

boom!

The large door on the side of the stage opened.

A burst of heavy metal music started playing.

A massive figure slowly slid out.

That's right, it slid out.

Because his lower body is a giant anti-gravity disc.

And his upper body...

It's practically a mobile "mechanical arsenal".

He has eight robotic arms.

At the end of each arm are different cooking tools.

Laser knife, molecular shredder, liquid nitrogen spray gun, centrifuge...

His head was a transparent glass dome containing a brain covered in electrodes.

【Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable】.

The most renowned culinary restaurant in the Upper District.

It is said that in pursuit of the ultimate culinary skills, he abandoned his entire body, retaining only his brain and taste buds.

"Hehehe..."

The Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable let out a strange, electronically synthesized laugh.

"Mr. Wang, stop talking nonsense."

"Bring out the peaches."

"My knife... is itching for blood."

……

The protective shield is opened.

A pinkish-purple peach, still "breathing," was carefully placed on the cutting board in front of the Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable by a robotic arm.

"start!"

The Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable moved.

His eight mechanical arms swung simultaneously, transforming into a silver storm.

"Step 1: [Liquid Nitrogen Sealing]!"

Nourishes—

A burst of extremely cold white vapor shot out, instantly freezing the peach and stopping it from "breathing".

Step Two: Laser Skin Removal!

hum-

Several red laser beams, thinner than a strand of hair, precisely cut through the peach's skin.

Step 3: Centrifugal Extraction!

Everything looked smooth and fluid, full of technological beauty.

The surrounding guests were completely mesmerized.

"That's incredible!"

"As expected of the Ghost Hand Celestial! The precision of his micro-manipulation is at least at the nanometer level!"

"This is the pinnacle of culinary art in the cyber cultivation world!"

……

however.

In a corner of the crowd.

Jiang Li shook his head.

"no."

"Um?"

Li Zixia, who was standing next to her, was stunned for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist, what did you say?"

I said, he can't do it.

Jiang Li crossed his arms, his eyes calm.

"The technology is good, and the precision is high enough."

"but……"

"He doesn't understand ingredients."

"Although these peaches are man-made, they incorporate genes from extraterrestrial beings."

"It is... [active]."

"Or... someone with a temper."

"You forcibly froze it with liquid nitrogen, seemingly controlling the energy."

"Actually..."

Jiang Li pointed to the peaches on the cutting board.

"It's provoking it."

Before he could finish speaking...

A sudden change occurred.

Just as the Ghost Hand Celestial was preparing to perform the final step, "slicing,"...

That peach that was originally frozen solid.

Sudden……

"Gulp!"

It suddenly jumped.

Followed by.

The surface ice layer shattered instantly.

A plume of pinkish-purple mist erupted out like an explosion.

"Beep! Beep! Warning! Energy out of control!"

The electronic brain of the Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable issued an alarm.

"What?!"

Before he could react...

That peach actually... [changed shape].

It transformed from a peach into a... [pink tentacle monster] in an instant.

Snapped!

Several sticky tentacles lashed out at the mechanical arm of the Ghost Hand Celestial.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

Those sophisticated robotic arms, the moment they came into contact with the tentacles, actually began to... corrode and melt.

"Ah! My hand!"

"What the hell is this thing?!"

The Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable retreated in a panic.

But the "peach monster" was extremely fast, as if it were sentient, and pounced directly on his glass skull.

"Help!"

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

"Security! Security!"

"Monster! The peach has mutated!"

The once impeccably dressed guests were terrified and scattered in all directions.

Wang Teng was also terrified and turned pale.

"How could this be? The data was clearly stable!"

……

"Ugh."

Amidst chaos.

A soft sigh was heard.

Jiang Li slowly walked out from the crowd.

As he walked, he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves.

"As I've said before, cooking should be about 'going with the flow'."

"Forced relationships are never sweet."

"A frozen peach...can bite."

He walked through the panicked crowd and headed straight for the stage.

"Hey! You cook! What do you think you're doing?!"

The security captain brandished a laser gun, attempting to stop them.

"Let him pass!"

Li Zixia suddenly shouted.

She watched Jiang Li's retreating figure, a strange expectation flashing in her eyes.

……

Jiang Li walked to the chopping board.

At this moment, the "Peach Monster" was riding on the head of the Ghost Hand Celestial, trying to corrode his glass dome.

"You beast."

"Get down here."

Jiang Li did not use any high-tech weapons.

He simply extended his long, slender, fair hand.

then.

"Snapped!"

It's like a big slap in the face.

The slap wasn't delivered with much force.

However, it came with the oppressive aura of the [Gluttony Godhood].

That was the scent of an absolute predator at the top of the food chain.

"grumble?!"

The arrogant pink tentacle monster stiffened for a moment when it was hit.

It felt fear.

That is a fear of natural enemies etched deep in our genes.

It released the Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable and huddled up in a ball, trembling.

It turned back into a... slightly crooked peach.

……

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed (whether with their own eyes or their prosthetic eyes).

Looking at this scene.

Even the Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable forgot to scream and stared blankly at Jiang Li.

"this……"

"One slap... and it brought him back to his original form?"

Jiang Li ignored the shock of the crowd.

He picked up the peach that was still trembling slightly.

He weighed it in his hands.

"Genes are very unstable."

"It is indeed a semi-finished product."

He turned to look at Wang Teng, whose face was pale.

"Mr. Wang."

"This peach cannot be cut with a knife."

"You can't roast it with fire, and you definitely can't freeze it."

"Then... then how do we do it?" Wang Teng stammered.

Jiang Li smiled slightly.

He pulled a... [needle] from his pocket.

A gleaming, extremely fine needle.

"To deal with this kind of biological bomb filled with gas."

"The only way..."

"It's about... deflated it."

"That is, in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture."

"By the way..."

Jiang Li looked at the Ghost Hand Celestial Venerable beside him, who was terrified.

"Can I borrow your robotic arm?"

"Although your knife skills are not good."

"But your... centrifuge is still quite useful."

"Today, I'll teach you..."

"What is—【Traditional Cyber ​​Molecular Gastronomy】!"