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

The old council, the galactic round table.

When the colossal Azathoth (Lord of All Things), whose size could not be measured by the naked eye, squeezed into the main seat of the round table like a well-behaved fat man, the atmosphere that was originally tense and full of crazy ramblings instantly became... eerily harmonious.

Even the most irritable Cthulhu obediently withdrew its tentacles, its beady eyes wide open, as if afraid that it would be swallowed whole by its boss for sitting improperly.

Hastur (the King in Yellow) sat up straight, no longer daring to tap his trident on the table, and even the Abyss beneath his hood seemed somewhat restrained.

Shub Nicholas stopped eating her offspring and even wiped the black mud from the corners of her mouth with her tentacles, trying to behave like a lady.

Jiang Li and his group were the only ones present, so there was no pressure at all.

"Don't be shy, everyone."

Jiang Li stood in the center of the round table, holding the huge lightsaber (now a meat cleaver).

"All the ingredients are ready, and the pot is boiling."

"Let's... have a joke!"

……

Step 1: Prepare the dipping sauce.

"How can you eat hot pot without dipping sauce?"

Jiang Li looked at the pot of bubbling, murky broth.

Although it is the source of the universe and contains infinite energy, to be honest... it has no taste.

It has a pure energy smell, somewhat like battery fluid mixed with magma.

"It has to have some soul."

Jiang Li took out all the "special products" he had collected along the way from the cold storage of the Tree Demon.

Pixelated world of salt cubes.

Cyber ​​Heaven's Data Soy Sauce.

The devil's chili oil from the depths of hell.

Nightmare Vinegar of the Dream Realm.

And most importantly... the warmth of everyday life (that is, the garlic and scallions collected from Kowloon Walled City).

"Ergou! Crush the garlic!"

"Alice! Grind the sesame paste!"

"Great Sage! Smash these neutron stars into pieces and crush them like peanuts!"

"Okay!"

Under the watchful eyes of the Great Old Ones, everyone began to prepare the "Ultimate Dipping Sauce of the Universe" on the spot.

"Boom!"

That was the sound of Sun Wukong smashing a neutron star with his golden cudgel.

"Sizzle—"

That was the sound of hot oil being poured onto minced garlic and chili powder.

A complex aroma, a blend of countless worlds and civilizations, exploded on the round table.

This aroma was like a game-changer for these Great Old Ones who were used to eating raw meat and living in despair.

"Slurp..."

Cthulhu's tentacles began to tremble uncontrollably.

A swallowing sound came from beneath Hastur's yellow coat.

Even Azathoth, from its enormous, cracked mouth, was spewing forth new nebula saliva.

"Give."

Jiang Li waved his hand, conjuring up several huge stone bowls (actually hollowed-out asteroids).

Each of the Old Ones was served a large bowl of dipping sauce.

"Eat it with a dipping sauce."

"This is called...giving meaning to chaos."

……

Step Two: Grab the meat.

The essence of hot pot lies in the act of grabbing it.

If you don't fight for it, the meal has no soul.

"Add the meat!"

Jiang Li waved his hand.

The Void King Squid, Nebula Fat Beef, and Black Hole Tripe (the stomach wall of some higher-dimensional creature) that I caught on the road fell like a meteor shower into that boiling chaotic hot pot.

"Glug glug—"

A few seconds later.

The meat is cooked.

"Let's do it!"

Sun Wukong was quick-witted and agile.

The golden cudgel in his hand instantly extended, transforming into a golden light that shot straight towards the largest piece of Nebula Fatty Beef.

"This one is mine!"

But at that moment...

A thick, green tentacle also reached out.

It's Cthulhu.

He also took a liking to that piece of meat.

"Mortal...monkey...let go..."

Cthulhu tried to use his tentacles to snatch the piece of flesh.

"Hey! You octopus head!"

Wukong was delighted.

"Dare to try and steal food from me, Old Sun?"

"Get bigger!"

The golden cudgel expanded instantly, pushing away Cthulhu's tentacles.

"folder!"

With a flick of his wrist, Wukong used the properties of the rule-based chopsticks to firmly grasp the piece of fatty beef.

Then it was rolled around in the dipping sauce bowl.

Swallow in one bite.

"Smack smack".

"It smells so good! It smells amazing!"

Goku deliberately smacked his lips in front of Cthulhu.

"you……"

Cthulhu was so angry that his face turned green (although he was already green to begin with).

But He dared not retaliate.

Because Azathoth is watching.

……

the other side.

Nezha wasn't idle either.

He was riding on his fiery wheels, wielding a fire-tipped spear and chopsticks, and was fighting with Hastur for a piece of tripe from the Black Hole.

"The Yellow-Clad Monster! I saw this one first!"

Nezha's chopsticks were as fast as lightning, leaving afterimages of Samadhi Fire.

Although Hastur moves slowly, his fork has the effect of stopping time and space.

"Time...stop..."

Hastur tried to freeze Nezha.

"The Universe Ring! Break!"

With a flick of his red ribbon, Nezha shattered the time-space freeze.

"Soaring and fluctuating!"

"It's done!"

Nezha seized the opportunity to pick up the tripe and stuff it into his mouth.

"Crispy and tender!"

Nezha ate with his mouth full of oil.

Hastur froze in mid-air, holding his fork, and even the void beneath his hood seemed to sigh.

……

Step 3: Feeding.

Although everyone is scrambling for it.

But there was one person whom no one dared to take from him.

That is—Azathoth.

This lord of all things is like a giant baby who hasn't grown up yet.

He doesn't know how to use chopsticks.

All they could do was stare into that abyss-like maw, waiting to be fed.

"Benefactor Jiang."

Tang Sanzang (Jin Chanzi) has now returned to human form and is wearing that platinum hacker trench coat.

He was carrying a huge basin (made from an asteroid).

"This humble monk will feed this benefactor."

"This is also a form of spiritual practice."

Tang Sanzang used his telekinetic powers to roll up hundreds of tons of meat and coat it with dipping sauce.

It was put into Azathoth's mouth.

"Amitabha."

Eat slowly.

"If that's not enough, there's more."

Azathoth chewed on the meat that was stained with the "flavor of civilization".

For the first time, an emotion called "satisfaction" appeared in His chaotic consciousness.

This taste...

It's much more interesting than the world He created and destroyed in his dreams...

"tasty……"

"I won't destroy... the world..."

"Keep it...to grow vegetables..."

Azathoth uttered a muffled whisper.

The whisper echoed throughout the universe.

moment.

Those supernovae that were about to explode and those black holes that were about to collapse miraculously... stabilized.

Because the Creator was happy with the meal.

Therefore, the universe is at peace.

……

Step 4: Drink the soup.

We were full and satisfied.

The food on the table had been completely devoured.

Even the giant moon beasts (those we caught before) were turned into cold pot skewers and shared among everyone.

just now.

All that's left is that pot of... well-cooked, thick, and flavorful broth that has absorbed the essence of all the ingredients.

This is the real treasure.

[Item: The Soup of Creation]

[Level: ??? (Beyond Dimensions)]

[Effects: One sip, and you can ascend to heaven; one bowl, and you can create a world; if you use it to water flowers...]

……

"As agreed."

Hastur wiped his mouth (even though he didn't have a mouth).

"This pot of soup... is yours."

Although I'm a little reluctant to part with it.

But this meal was so enjoyable.

Especially the dipping sauce.

Hastur secretly packed up the remaining dipping sauce and stuffed it into the yellow shirt.

Thank you.

Jiang Li didn't stand on ceremony.

He walked to the dark, murky pot.

"Ergou! Tree Demon!"

"Come out and pack it up!"

"yes!"

The Treant extended all its vines and pipes.

It's like a super water pump.

"Glug glug—"

The golden-red, murky broth was continuously pumped into the Tree Demon's energy storage tank.

"I want some too!"

Er Gou leaned over and licked it.

"Woof!!!!"

Its fur stood on end instantly.

It turned gold.

Its size began to grow rapidly, a third eye grew on its forehead, and wings sprouted from its back.

[System notification: Your pet "Er Gou" has evolved into... "Chaos Devouring Hound".]

"That's some serious power!"

Er Gou sneezed, expelling a nebula.

Alice also took a sip (as an energy source).

Her body instantly upgraded, transforming from the original cybernetics alloy into liquid regular metal.

Needless to say, Sun Wukong and Nezha are also included.

They soaked their weapons (chopsticks) in the soup over and over again.

They didn't stop until the two divine artifacts had completely transformed into Chaos Treasures.

……

At last.

The huge pot was empty.

Jiang Li scraped off the burnt rice crust from the bottom of the pot (that was sediment from the laws).

It was put into a small box.

"This is good stuff."

"I'll save it to cook noodles later."

……

The old parliament has adjourned.

Azathoth was full.

He let out a burp powerful enough to shatter dimensions.

then……

Fell asleep.

This time, however, He slept peacefully.

There were no nightmares, no destructive murmurs.

Only the saliva that smelled of hot pot dripped from the corners of his mouth.

Cthulhu, Hastur, Shub Nicholas.

The three Great Old Ones also rose to their feet.

The way they looked at Jiang Li had completely changed.

It's no longer about looking at insects.

Instead, we're watching... The God of Cookery.

"next time……"

Cthulhu waved his tentacles.

"Again..."

"I brought... deep-sea specialties..."

"I want to eat... sashimi..."

"no problem."

Jiang Li smiled and waved.

"We'll be there whenever you call, as long as we have the ingredients."

……

Jiang Li and his group returned to the Tree Demon Ship.

At this moment, the Tree Demon was filled with the broth of creation.

It has completely mutated.

It is no longer that cobbled-together war machine.

It transformed into a... [World Tree Ark].

The electronic demon tree on the roof of the car has grown into a towering tree.

The leaves are covered with golden fruits (each fruit is a miniature data world).

The tree roots are embedded in the void, allowing them to directly draw upon chaotic energy.

"Boss."

Nyarlathotep (the faceless god) stood before the star gate, like a doorman seeing off a guest.

He was still wearing that tailcoat.

"This meal was wonderful."

"I haven't seen such an interesting play in a long time."

"Now."

Where are you going?

Nyarlathotep's staff drew a circle in the void.

"Although you have consumed the Heavenly Dao, consumed the Buddha, and even fed Azathoth."

"but……"

"You still haven't found... [that thing]."

……

"That thing?"

Jiang Li stood on the deck of the ark.

Looking back at this sole sane individual.

"You mean... [the truth]?"

"No."

Nyarlathotep shook his head.

"Truth is such a boring thing."

I meant...

"【The Last Fish】."

"Didn't you say you came here to fish?"

"You caught the Cyberfish, you caught the Old Fish."

"But that one that swims at the end of the River of Time, holding the secret of 'dimensional zeroing'..."

"The All-Knowing Fish".

"You haven't caught anything yet."

……

Jiang Li narrowed his eyes.

He touched the abyss fishing rod in his backpack.

indeed.

This fishing rod has been with him since the very first roll.

But until now.

It seems he hasn't caught the real "big fish" yet.

Where is it?

Jiang Li asked.

Nyarlathotep reached out his hand.

He handed Jiang Li a... [library card].

Yes.

A seemingly ordinary, yellowed piece of paper.

A line of distorted text was written on it:

[The Library of Yog-Sothoth.]

[Address: The space between time and space.]

[Administrator: Yog Sothos.]

"Let's go there."

Nyarlathotep laughed.

"That's the largest library in the entire universe."

"It's also the largest... fishpond in the entire universe."

"That omniscient and omniscient one (the key to the gate)..."

"He knows everything."

"Including... why you time-traveled."

"Including... the truth about this system."

"That also includes...the whereabouts of that fish."

……

Jiang Li accepted the library card.

Look at the constantly rotating light bubble mark above.

Laughed.

"library?"

"That's interesting."

"I ate so much greasy food (hot pot, fatty beef, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall)."

"I really should go... have some tea and read some books."

Jiang Li put away the library card.

He turned around and faced the crowd who were already fully prepared.

Sun Wukong, Nezha, Tang Sanzang, Er Gou, Odin, Alice...

This team has evolved from the initial one person and one dog.

It has transformed into the "God of Cookery Expeditionary Force" that is now capable of sweeping across the multiverse.

"Everyone."

Jiang Li's voice was broadcast over the Tree Demon's radio, reaching every corner of the Ark.

"We've finished this hot pot."

"Next stop."

"We're going to... a slightly more civilized place."

"There's no fighting or killing there."

"Only...knowledge."

"certainly……"

Jiang Li licked his lips.

"What if those books don't behave..."

"I don't mind..."

"Take them and make them into... [memory bread]."

……

"Set off!"

"Goal: [The Library of All Things]!"

"Tree Demon...Warp!"

boom----!!!

The Tree Demon, brimming with the energy of creation.

A golden rift was torn open in the void.

Carrying endless legends and the lingering aroma of hot pot.

They disappeared into the realm of Cthulhu.

It surged toward that more mysterious, more profound... [the dimension of truth].