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

Royal Dragon Bay, Villa No. 13.

The night was as still as water, and the villa area was unusually quiet. Ever since Jiang Li moved in, he had transformed the basement into a "nuclear power plant" (powered by the core of lightning element) and kept a "pickled cabbage jar" (a shrieking magic pot) in the kitchen. Mosquitoes, rats, ants, and wandering ghosts within a 500-meter radius had long since moved away.

"Buzz—"

The sound of a Range Rover's engine broke the silence as it came to a stop at the gate of the courtyard.

Jiang Li got out of the car, carrying the "Golden Grail" that had scared the richest man in Jianghai City so much that he wet his pants in one hand, and two pounds of braised beef that he had just bought from the roadside in the other.

"Big Yellow, we're home!"

Big Yellow jumped off the back seat, the big gold chain around its neck rattling, but its eyes behind its sunglasses were fixed on the gold bowl in Jiang Li's hand.

It could smell the faint trace of dark red liquid remaining at the bottom of the bowl, emitting an alluring aroma that made its very soul tremble.

That is the blood of the past!

It is a divine substance that is countless times more precious than the flesh and blood of the Abyss Lord! Just one lick will give its spacetime bloodline a qualitative leap!

"Woof!" (Master! That bowl...can I use that bowl?)

Big Yellow wagged its tail and rubbed against Jiang Li's legs, doing everything it could to fawn over him.

"Oh, you've got your eye on this bowl?"

Jiang Li weighed the golden bowl in her hand and curled her lip in disdain.

"This thing is incredibly heavy, and I don't even know if it's gold-plated. Anyway, nobody wants it. Since you like it, you can use it as a rice bowl."

He casually tossed the Class A sealed artifact, which was enough to trigger a world war, next to the doghouse.

Clang!

The Holy Grail landed with a crisp boom, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

"From now on, we'll use this for meals. It'll make our dog seem more sophisticated, like a noble dog, you understand?"

Jiang Li poured the braised beef into the golden bowl, then added some tap water and stirred it.

"Eat."

Big Yellow was so excited that he trembled all over.

It cautiously approached, first reverently licking the remaining divine blood, before beginning to devour the beef.

"Buzz—"

As the divine blood entered its belly, countless complex geometric patterns suddenly appeared on the surface of Dahuang's body. On its originally bald skin, a layer of "void mane" that could not be seen with the naked eye and was in phase shift began to grow.

Although its size did not increase, its aura became even more profound and terrifying.

[Ding! Your pet "Big Yellow" has devoured the blood of the past, increasing its evolution level! Awakening a new skill: Hyperspace Bite (ignores distance, directly attacks causality)!]

Of course, Jiang Li couldn't hear this notification sound.

He only saw that Dahuang was eating with great relish, and its body was still steaming.

"This dog is sweating while eating? Looks like the beef is too salty."

Jiang Li shook his head, ignored it, and took out his phone to call Wang Ergou.

"Hey, Er Gou, still awake?"

"I haven't slept! Captain, what are your orders?" Wang Ergou's excited voice came from the other end of the phone, and in the background, there was a group of people shouting slogans, as if they were doing some kind of physical labor.

"It's nothing serious." Jiang Li walked to the center of the yard, looked at the empty lawn, and felt that something was missing.

"Is that pillar on our ship... the one I pulled out of the sea, still on board?"

"Yes, yes! That's the anchor of our Deep Blue Seafood business. Our brothers take turns cleaning it every day; it's cleaner than a face!"

"That's good. Find a bigger car and bring it to the villa for me. I've been thinking, putting it on a boat is too conspicuous, and it's easy for it to lose its balance. It just so happens that my yard needs a clothesline... no, I mean a flagpole."

"Flag... flagpole?"

Wang Ergou's voice trembled slightly.

Should we use the [Star Clan's Finger] (Rank A Divine Body) as a flagpole in the yard?

What a grand gesture this must be! What a powerful destiny it must take to keep it in check!

"What's wrong? Can't it be shipped out?" Jiang Li frowned.

"Yes! Absolutely! Captain, wait for me, I'll bring my men over right away! We'll make sure it's undamaged!"

……

An hour later.

"Boom!"

The muffled sound of an engine broke the tranquility of the night at Royal Dragon Bay.

A long, heavy-duty flatbed trailer, carrying the massive, twenty-meter-long, black and red pillar, struggled to drive into the villa area.

Two vans followed behind, each filled with burly men in black (wearing newly issued "Dark Blue Seafood" white chef uniforms).

The security guard at the entrance initially wanted to stop them, but seeing the terrifying aura emanating from the pillar and the bulging weapons (fish-killing knives) on the waists of the "chefs," he was so frightened that he quickly raised his rod and let them pass, even giving them a salute.

"Captain! The cargo has arrived!"

Wang Ergou jumped out of the car and ran all the way to Jiang Li, covered in sweat.

"Brothers, unload the cargo!"

Dozens of believers roared in unison, their bodies radiating B- and C-level psionic energy fluctuations. They carried the "Pillar of Stars," which weighed tens of tons, into the courtyard like ants carrying food.

"Be gentle! Be gentle! Don't ruin my lawn!"

Jiang Li directed, "Place it right there! Yes, right in the middle! Good feng shui!"

"rise--!!!"

With a deafening shout, the massive black pillar was erected.

"boom!"

The pillar fell into the deep pit that Jiang Li had dug in advance (actually, it was dug by Da Huang), and the ground trembled violently.

Just as the pillar stabilized.

"Buzz—"

An invisible wave emanated from the pillar and instantly spread throughout the entire Jianghai City.

This pillar is the finger of the Star Clan, inherently containing the laws of "suppression," "gravity," and "stars." Now erected on the earth, it's like a stabilizing force planted in the city.

Within a radius of ten miles, all supernatural magnetic fields were instantly suppressed.

The rat spirits hiding in the sewers, the hanged ghosts lurking in the unfinished buildings, and the wandering ghosts on the streets all felt as if they were carrying a mountain on their backs, pressed down on the ground and unable to move.

Even the psionic particles in the air became viscous.

But in Jiang Li's eyes...

"Hmm, not bad, quite straight."

He patted the black pillar, feeling its cool, hard texture. "This iron pillar looks sturdy. If I add a rope later, the blankets will dry really fast."

He took the red "Deep Blue Seafood" flag from inside the house, climbed up the pillar in a few quick movements (as agile as a monkey), and hung the flag at the top.

The night wind blew, and the red flag fluttered in the wind.

Against the backdrop of that dark pillar, the red flag bearing the four large characters looked particularly... eerie and imposing.

"Alright, everyone, thank you for your hard work!"

Jiang Li jumped down and handed everyone a bottle of iced tea. "Er Gou, take the brothers back to rest. We're going out to sea tomorrow."

"Thank you, Captain!"

Wang Ergou and the others looked at the "divine pillar" that pierced the sky with eyes full of fanatical worship.

This is a miracle!

This is the Lord they follow!

As long as this pillar stands here, Jianghai City is their home ground!

……

Next door, Villa No. 14.

Su Qingge, who was taking a beauty nap, was suddenly awakened by a heart palpitation.

She sat up abruptly, feeling a bit short of breath, as if the density of the air had suddenly increased several times.

"What's going on? Is there an anomaly in gravity?"

She rushed to the terrace and looked next door.

Instantly, her mouth opened into an "O" shape.

In the courtyard of Villa No. 13, a towering black pillar, over twenty meters tall, stood out prominently! Dark red patterns flowed across its surface, as if it were breathing as if it were alive.

At the top of the pillar, a red flag fluttered in the wind.

"That's... the Pillar of Stars?!"

As an S-class investigator, Su Qingge naturally possessed exceptional knowledge. She had seen a photo of this thing in the headquarters' top-secret files; it was the limb of an A-class mythical creature, a divine artifact capable of suppressing the fortune of a region!

"He...he actually used this thing as a flagpole in his yard?!"

Su Qingge felt that her values ​​had been trampled on once again.

This oppressive force... is terrifying.

Under the suppression of this pillar, the entire Yulong Bay villa district, and even half of Jianghai City, has become a "magic-forbidden zone." Low-level evil spirits that enter will die, and even mid-level evil spirits will have to kneel and leave!

"This isn't a residence; it's clearly a war fortress! A palace for a god!"

Su Qingge looked at the back of the man standing under the pillar, saluting the flag, and a deep sense of awe flashed in her eyes.

"Is this... the sense of security that a big shot provides?"

She suddenly felt that living next door was the safest place in the world.

……

Early the next morning.

Jiang Li got up feeling refreshed and admired his "masterpiece" for a while.

"This flagpole is set up so well, it's inspiring to see it."

He poured a bowl of beef (mixed with divine blood) for Big Yellow, ate two fried eggs himself, and then drove off in his Land Rover.

Today, he has something important to do.

With a fortune of 20 million yuan and a big house, it's time to return the borrowed car to Fatty Wang and buy a car that truly belongs to me.

As a seafood tycoon who deals in transportation (fish hauling), how can he do without a suitable vehicle?

Jiang Li first went to the black market and returned the car keys to Fatty Wang.

When Fatty Wang saw Jiang Li, he was more affectionate than if he had seen his own father. He refused to accept the car, insisting that it was a gift for Jiang Li.

But Jiang Li is a person of principle.

"One thing at a time, a loan is a loan. Besides, your car is too delicate. The leather seats are fragile, and it will smell fishy after just two trips with fish. It's not suitable for me."

Jiang Li tossed the keys on the table. "Thanks, Fatty. I'll come back to you if I find anything good."

After saying that, he turned and left, heading straight for the largest auto city in Jianghai City.

……

Mercedes-Benz 4S store.

Salesman Xiao Zhang was idly playing on his phone when he saw a young man dressed casually walk in.

"Sir, are you looking at cars? What's your budget?" Xiao Zhang put down his phone and politely greeted him.

"Let's look at cars." Jiang Li nodded. "As for the budget... there's no upper limit, as long as it's sturdy, durable, and spacious."

"Durable, spacious, and robust?"

Xiao Zhang's eyes lit up. "Then you can take a look at that G-Class over there. It's a rugged off-road vehicle, and the space is definitely enough."

"A G-Wagon?"

Jiang Li walked over and looked at the boxy car.

"This car looks alright, but... the trunk is a bit small."

He opened the trunk and gestured, "If I were to put two 500-pound fish in this, it probably wouldn't fit. And the interior is too luxurious; if it gets dirty, I'll have to wash it, which is a hassle."

Xiao Zhang: "..."

Loading 500 jin of fish?

Brother, are you here to buy a grocery delivery truck or a cargo truck?

"Well... how about you take a look at those minivans over there? The V-Class? They have a lot of space."

"That chassis is too low; it's easy to sink into it when you go down to the beach," Jiang Li shook his head.

He walked around and finally his gaze fell on a poster in the corner of the exhibition hall.

It was a giant truck cab with a wild and even somewhat ferocious design.

【Unimok: Apocalypse Edition】

This is Mercedes-Benz's top-of-the-line off-road truck, known as the "King of Off-Road," capable of traversing mountains and seas, and moving effortlessly across deserts and Gobi.

"This one! This one is good!"

Jiang Li pointed at the poster, his eyes shining. "These tires are big, the chassis is high, it looks sturdy! And you can even modify the back to have a large cargo bed, it could easily carry several tons of fish!"

"Uh... sir, this is a Unimog. These vehicles are usually used for special operations, and the price..."

Xiao Zhang hesitated, "This customized version will cost more than four million yuan, and we still have to place an order for it."

"Over four million?"

Jiang Li thought for a moment, "It's not expensive. Do you have any in stock?"

"There is one display car available... in the warehouse at the back, but..."

"Take me to see it!"

A few minutes later.

Jiang Li stood in front of the black steel behemoth and patted the tires, which were taller than him, with satisfaction.

"Tough! Really tough! This is the kind of car a man should drive!"

This vehicle is tall and imposing, practically a mobile fortress. With its huge enclosed cargo box at the back, it seems tailor-made for transporting "special ingredients."

"That's it! Swipe your card!"

Jiang Li pulled out his black card with an air of nonchalance.

Xiao Zhang's hands were trembling: "Sir... are you sure? This car has a very high fuel consumption..."

"What are you afraid of? I have money!"

Jiang Li, with the smug look of a nouveau riche, said, "Hurry up and get the paperwork done, I'm in a rush to get home and pick up the goods!"

……

An hour later.

A black Unimog with temporary license plates roared out of the 4S store.

When private cars on the road saw this enormous vehicle, they were so frightened that they all moved several meters away.

This isn't a car! It's practically an armored vehicle!

Jiang Li sat high in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel, feeling an unparalleled sense of openness, and was in an excellent mood.

"Now this is a real car! What are Land Rovers and G-Class compared to this? They're all just little brothers!"

"With this car, I can go fishing in much farther places! Swamps, deserts, even snow-capped mountains—I'll go wherever there are strange fish!"

He drove his car, humming a little tune, speeding towards Yulong Bay.

When he passed a cold storage equipment store, he stopped again and spent tens of thousands of yuan to buy a set of industrial refrigeration units with the highest power, which he had installed directly in the cargo box in the back.

"Now we're all set! A mobile cold storage! We'll never have to worry about seafood spoiling again!"

Back to Royal Dragon Bay.

The security guard was so frightened by the monster-like vehicle that it was taller than the gate that he almost pressed the alarm.

"It's me! Jiang Li! Open the door!"

Jiang Li poked his head out and shouted.

When the security guard saw that it was the ruthless homeowner who had bought the haunted house, he quickly raised the barrier.

"Mr. Jiang... your car... is really impressive."

"That's for transporting seafood."

Jiang Li parked the car in the yard; its massive body took up almost half of the lawn.

"Big Yellow! Come out and see the new car!"

Big Yellow ran out of the house and was stunned when it saw the steel behemoth.

"Woof?" (This is... Master's new mount? It looks even more powerful than that wrecked ship!)

It circled the car twice and urinated on its huge tires to assert its dominance.

"Get lost! Don't pee on my new car!"

Jiang Li kicked it.

"Equipment upgrade complete! Next..."

Jiang Li looked towards the distant Misty Sea, his eyes gleaming.

"I heard things have been a bit turbulent in the sea lately, with what sounds like 'echoes from the abyss.' Er Gou told me it's a signal that a large school of fish is migrating."

"Perfect! New car, new look! Let's go out to sea tomorrow and check out that... 'Devil's Triangle'! I heard the tuna (actually, sky rays) there are huge!"

……

at the same time.

Deep in the sewers of Jianghai City, a crow wearing a bird-beak mask knelt before a pool of black water, trembling.

"Master...Master..."

An angry roar came from the black water.

"Useless! Where's the sacrifice I was told to find?! Why is that fisherman still alive after all these days?! And he's getting stronger and stronger?!"

"I sense... Dagon's presence has vanished! The Star Familia are also severely injured and asleep! All of this... was done by that man?!"

"Master...Master, please calm your anger..."

The crow looked dejected. "That man... he's not human! He's a monster who feeds on evil gods! I dare not go near him!"

"And...and he's even planted a magic needle in the yard to stabilize the darkness, suppressing all the dark forces in Jianghai City. We have to be extremely careful even when we go out..."

Blackwater fell silent.

After a long while, a sinister laugh rang out.

"Since we can't win in a direct confrontation... let's try another approach."

"I heard... he has a younger sister?"

"Go, bring that girl to me! I want him... to walk right into my trap!"