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

In the early morning in Kowloon Walled City, there is no sunlight.

Only the neon signs that never go out change color in the morning mist.

After last night's commotion, the reputation of [Deep Blue Midnight Diner] has been thoroughly established in the Lower City.

"A master of physical exorcism is in charge," "A bowl of rice heals the Nine Dragons True Lord," "A mysterious ghost-faced chef"...

All sorts of outrageous rumors spread like a virus through hackers' networks.

……

"Splash—splash—"

At the entrance of the shop, the artificial monk, who had just been "deep-fried" yesterday and was now gleaming with gold, was sweeping the floor with a huge broom.

This broom is no ordinary object; it's a modified version of the heat dissipation fins of some kind of heavy mecha, weighing several hundred kilograms.

But in the hands of a monk, it is as light as a feather.

"Amitabha."

"Sir, our shop is not open yet."

"I'd like to eat, I'll come back tonight."

The monk stopped a young man who was trying to force his way in.

That young man looked terrible.

Very bad.

He was wearing a plaid robe stained with oil (similar to a programmer's plaid shirt) and carrying a huge, coffin-like portable server on his back.

His hair was a mess, his eyes were sunken, and his eye circles were as dark as a panda's.

The most frightening thing is his body temperature.

Even from several meters away, you could feel the intense heat emanating from him.

White smoke was billowing from the ventilation holes on the top of his head.

"Master... help me..."

"I...I'm about to explode..."

The young man's voice trembled as he gripped a hot hard drive tightly in his hand.

"It exploded?"

The monk was scanned by the electronic eye.

[WARNING: Target core temperature 105 degrees Celsius!]

[WARNING: Logic circuit deadlock! Blue screen imminent!]

"My lord, you have... gone mad with demonic possession."

……

Jiang Li was studying the electronic demon tree in the shop (it had grown taller and had started to bear some fruits that looked like USB ports).

Hearing the noise, he came out.

"What happened?"

Jiang Li glanced at the young man who was emitting smoke.

"You are... a [talisman master]?"

In the cyber cultivation world, talisman masters are actually... [programmers].

They wrote spells with code and constructed magic arrays with algorithms.

"Yes... I am a... disgraced disciple of the [Tianma Sect]."

The young man slumped to the ground, panting heavily, each breath exhaling hot air from his mouth.

"I...I'm compiling a... [Nine-Rank Heavenly Tribulation Virus]."

"But... it's stuck."

"It's a vicious cycle."

"My internal CPU... can't cool down..."

"If this continues... I'm going to... [Core meltdown]."

……

Jiang Li reached out and pressed his hand on the young man's pulse (data interface).

Good guy.

It's so hot you could fry an egg in it.

This isn't just going crazy; it's clearly CPU overclocking and overloading.

Within his body, two completely different data streams were clashing wildly.

One is an extremely cold [ice wall firewall].

One type is the extremely hot "Fire Attack Virus".

The incompatibility of ice and fire caused the system to crash.

"A typical case of... [yin-yang imbalance]."

Jiang Li made a diagnosis.

"You wrote your code too hastily."

"They only thought about using firepower to attack, but forgot to leave themselves a way to cool down."

"Right now, your brain is like a pressure cooker."

"We need to relieve the pressure."

The young man grabbed Jiang Li's trouser leg as if it were a lifeline.

"Miracle doctor... I've heard of your reputation too..."

"If it can save me... I'm willing to give you all my source code!"

"Forget about the source code."

Jiang Li helped him up and tossed him to Odin, who picked him up like a chick and carried him into the shop.

"I'm not interested in your code."

"but……"

Jiang Li glanced at the "server coffin" behind the young man.

"Your outfit makes you look like you're in... [logistics]?"

The young man nodded weakly.

"I...work part-time as a deliveryman... [Superlight Express]."

"it is good."

A glint of light flashed in Jiang Li's eyes.

"Treat the illness first."

"You're cured. I have something to ask you."

……

How to cure this "ice and fire deadlock" cyber disease?

Using ice? No, that won't work; the heat toxins in your body will rebound.

Using fire? That won't work either, just blow it up.

It must be done using... [Tai Chi].

In other words... [a world of extremes].

Jiang Li walked into the kitchen.

"Ergou, go to the cold storage and get some of that."

"Which one?"

"It's what we created in the Nether... [Abyssal Ice]."

That's not ordinary ice.

That was a special ingredient that Jiang Li synthesized using [fire-resistant potion] and [liquid nitrogen].

The temperature is extremely low, but it will not freeze the meridians; on the contrary, it can absorb heat.

"Give me some more... [Hell Lava Sauce]."

It was made by boiling magma paste and chili peppers.

"Since there's a battle between ice and fire within you."

"Then I'll make you a dish that can... make ice and fire... [make peace]."

……

Step 1: Making the dough.

Jiang Li took out rice flour made from 【Insulating Spirit Rice】.

This type of rice flour is non-conductive and has excellent insulation properties, making it ideal for carrying violent energy.

Add water and knead the dough.

"Lightsaber! Activate!"

Jiang Li summoned the light sword once again.

brush brush --

The dough was cut into extremely fine strips.

Each strand of noodle is instantly cooked through by the high temperature of the lightsaber, and then quickly placed into ice water to cool it down.

The resulting noodles are incredibly chewy, springy, and delicious.

Step 2: Prepare the sauce.

This is the key.

Jiang Li took out a Tai Chi bowl (with a partition in the middle).

On the left, pour in the blue [Abyss Ice Smoothie], mixed with the tangy [Electronic Lemonade].

On the right, pour in the red [Hell Lava Hot Sauce], mixed with the boiling hot [High-Energy Red Oil].

One is cold, the other is hot.

One blue and one red.

If left untreated, these two things will explode when they come into contact.

But Jiang Li added a "peacemaker".

[Ingredient: Slime gel (neutralizing agent)]

He added a little slime gel to both sides.

This gel acts like a resistor in an electrical circuit, perfectly buffering energy conflicts.

Step 3: Plating.

The cooled, insulated noodles are coiled in the center of the bowl, spanning the boundary between Yin and Yang.

Place a few slices of "data beef" (leftover scraps from the previous koi game) on top.

At last.

Sprinkle on some [static cilantro] (it will give you a tingling sensation when you eat it).

【Dish Name: Tai Chi Cold Noodles - A Tale of Two Extremes: Ice and Fire】

[Rank: High-grade Earth Rank]

[Effects: Forcefully balances Yin and Yang energies within the body, repairs logical deadlocks, and greatly enhances the concurrent processing capabilities of the CPU (Dantian).]

……

"Come."

"Eat it."

Jiang Li placed the bowl of strange noodles, which was still steaming and emitting both cold and hot air, in front of the young man.

"One bite on the left, one bite on the right."

"Don't stop!"

"Once it stops, you'll really explode."

The young man looked at the bowl of red and blue noodles.

He swallowed (if he still had any saliva left).

He picked up the chopsticks with trembling hands.

I picked up a piece of noodles dipped in blue shaved ice with my chopsticks.

"Slurp!"

"Ugh!!!"

An extreme chill shot straight to the top of the head.

He felt his mind freeze instantly, and the frantically running infinite loop code was forced to slow down.

Followed by.

He picked up another piece of noodles with his chopsticks, dipped in red chili sauce.

"Slurp!"

"ha!!!"

An explosive surge of heat rushed into his dantian.

This heat did not combine with the internal heat toxins.

Instead, it acted like a bulldozer, pushing the stagnant code to begin flowing.

One is cold, the other is hot.

One contraction and one expansion.

This is... [Reboot].

"Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!"

Young people are getting faster and faster at typing.

He moved through the bowl of noodles like he was playing the piano.

As he ate.

The white smoke above his head... changed color.

It turned into normal, light water vapor.

The flush from the high temperature on his skin has also faded.

A glimmer of reason returned to those deep-set eyes.

"It's connected..."

"It's connected!!!"

The young man abruptly put down his bowl.

His hands were frantically pounding in the air (where there was an invisible holographic keyboard).

"The bug... has been fixed!"

"The deadlock... is broken!"

"My virus... no, my [Nine-Rank Heavenly Tribulation Program]... has been successfully compiled!"

hum-

A powerful aura erupted from him.

That was... the fluctuation of the Golden Core stage (core compilation completed).

He broke through!

……

"Thank you so much, doctor!"

The young man stood up and bowed deeply to Jiang Li.

"My name is [Thunderbolt] (real name: Thunder Speed)."

"A former disciple of the Tianma Sect, now a top-performing deliveryman for [Extreme Express]."

"Your bowl of noodles not only saved my life."

"It also taught me... the secrets of multithreaded concurrency!"

Jiang Li wiped his hands.

"It's good that you've figured it out."

"Since you're in the express delivery business and also work with code..."

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

Jiang Li took out the [Cyber ​​Gods List] stone tablet from his backpack.

Pointing to the dimmed "Hot Wheels" icon above.

"Do you know...where this thing is?"

……

See that icon.

Xun Leizi's expression changed.

It became somewhat strange, and somewhat awe-inspiring.

"This is... the [Wind and Fire Wheels]?"

"An ancient mythical artifact... a speed-enhancing artifact?"

He took a deep breath.

"Miracle doctor, you've come to the right person."

"If you ask someone else, they probably really don't know."

"But in our [underground racing world]..."

"This is... the legendary ultimate trophy."

"A trophy?" Jiang Li raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Xun Leizi opened his holographic map and pointed to a red dot deep underground in Kowloon Walled City.

"Three thousand meters underground."

"There is an abandoned [ring particle accelerator]."

"That place is now a haven for gangsters and exiled racers—the Dead Loop Circuit."

"The Ghost Festival every year (which is two days later)."

"A... [Death Speed ​​Grand Prix] will be held there."

"The champion's prize..."

"It's a pair of... jet-fire wheels... dug out of ancient ruins, that no one can control."

"It is said that as long as it is equipped, the speed can break through the light barrier, and even... [travel through time]."

……

"Time travel?"

Jiang Li smiled.

"It seems that it must be Nezha's Wind Fire Wheels."

"The Death Grand Prix?"

Jiang Li looked at Odin and Er Gou beside him.

"It seems we... are short a car?"

"That's easy!"

Xun Lei patted his chest.

"Miracle doctor, if you want to participate in the competition..."

"I have connections!"

"I'm a car mechanic!"

"As long as you have the materials, I can assemble for you... the fastest car in the entire server!"

Jiang Li glanced at the "server coffin" behind Xunleizi.

Then I looked at the electronic demon tree in the shop that was consuming electricity.

And there's that cyborg monk sweeping the floor.

A bold idea took shape in his mind.

"The materials..."

"I have it ready-made."

Jiang Li pointed to the electronic demon tree.

"If we planted this tree on the car..."

"Can it be used as an engine?"

Xun Lei Zi was stunned for a moment.

Then, his programmer's soul ignited.

"Using energy-devouring creatures as engines?"

"Driven by bioenergy, electricity, and data streams?"

"Holy crap..."

"This idea... is insane!"

"But...it's theoretically feasible!"

"As long as...the heat dissipation and interface issues are resolved..."

"Heat dissipation?"

Jiang Li pointed to the large soup pot that had been used to deep-fry monks.

"I have special engine oil."

"And there are lightsabers for cutting, and frying pans for armor."

"Let's build one..."

"【Deep Blue Ghost Chariot】!"

……

Just do it.

Deep Blue Cafeteria has temporarily put up a "Closed" sign (anyway, no ghosts come during the day).

In the backyard.

A crazy modification is underway.

Xun Leizi contributed his old but powerful delivery shuttle chassis.

Odin contributed fragments of his golden armor as an outer shell (since he was physically invincible, he didn't need the armor).

The cyborg monk contributed his... [spare Gatling gun] (mounted at the front of the vehicle as the main gun).

The most crucial power source.

Jiang Li transplanted the [Electronic Demon Tree], pot and all, into the engine compartment of the flying shuttle.

Alice then walked over.

She plugged her data cable into the control panel of the shuttle.

"I'll do... [the in-vehicle system]."

"Loading... [Need for Speed: Violent Driving Module]"

Loading... [Road Danger - Auto Navigation]

"Buzz—"

With the last line connected.

The tentacles of the electronic demon tree wrapped around the entire engine.

Pink flower buds bloom on the front of the car.

The entire vehicle... [came to life].

It is no longer cold metal.

It was like a wild beast awakening, letting out a deep roar.

Neon-colored light flowed across the car's surface.

The exhaust pipe is not spewing black smoke.

Instead, it's... [green code].

[Vehicle: Deep Blue Treant (Prototype)]

[Rating: ??? (Unable to rate)]

[Features: Biological consumption (it eats whatever it hits), data intrusion (overtaking is hacking), self-repair.]

[Note: This isn't a car; it's a moving bug.]

……

Jiang Li stroked the wildly designed vehicle, which was full of Cthulhu style and cyberpunk aesthetics.

He nodded in satisfaction.

"good."

"With it."

"The champion of that so-called 'Death Grand Prix'..."

"I'm going to take it."

He turned to look at Xun Leizi.

"I'll leave the registration to you."

"Report it..."

"[Deliveryman]".