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

Black Iron Pot City, 18th Block, Broken Bone Alley.

After obtaining ticket number 9527, Jiang Li did not rush to find accommodation, but instead led everyone into the darkest and most chaotic slum in the city.

The reason is simple: they're out of money again.

Although they earned 5,000 knowledge points in the Library of Truth and maxed out the Issian gold cards, none of that mattered in the Abyss Kitchen.

The hard currency here is... [Soul Coins] (gold coins formed from condensed souls), or high-level [ingredients].

"Even a hero can be brought down by a penny."

Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, looked at the tempting roasted devil wings on the roadside stall, his mouth watering, but he could only stare at them helplessly.

"Cook, what do we do?"

"Going to rob those monsters?"

"no."

Tang Sanzang (the cyber monk) stopped him.

"Amitabha."

"I just scanned the area, and the enforcement teams in this city... are all the personal guards of the Gluttony Demon King."

"Robbery is easy to turn into mincemeat."

"and……"

Tang Sanzang pointed to a headless ghost begging by the roadside.

"Here, poverty... is worse than death."

……

"Don't rush."

Jiang Li found a relatively clean open space in the corner of the alley (actually a huge coffin board).

He pulled a jar of dark, strange-smelling stuff from Klein's pot.

That was leftovers from the waste paper section, which he had collected to make sauerkraut fish... [the sour, pedantic pickled vegetable juice].

After this bumpy journey and fermentation, this jar of brine has evolved.

It became sticky, black, and emitted a... suffocating stench.

"What is this?"

Er Gou (the Chaos Devouring Dog) pinched his nose and retreated three meters.

"Boss! Are you constipated?"

"This flavor... is a hundred times stronger than that wonton durian!"

"This is called... [Braised Water]."

Jiang Li smiled mysteriously.

"In a place as extreme as the abyss."

"Ordinary vegetables simply don't fetch a good price."

"To make money, you have to... take an unconventional approach."

"I want to make a..."

"A delicacy that even demons tremble with fear, yet cannot resist... [Biochemical Cuisine]."

……

[Deep Blue Street Vendor Project Launched]

Step 1: Making tofu.

Jiang Li has no soybeans.

But he has the corpse of the [Waste Oil Slime] (which he collected earlier).

After purification, the gelatinous substance in slime is itself an excellent source of protein.

"Nezha! Freeze!"

Jiang Li poured in a little plaster powder (scraped from the wall).

The slime gel solidified instantly, turning into pieces of white and tender... slime tofu.

Step 2: Soaking.

Cut the tofu into cubes and throw them into that jar of hellish brine.

"Glug glug—"

The black brine bubbled and quickly seeped into the white tofu.

The originally white tofu instantly turned... grayish-black.

The stench increased exponentially.

Several ghouls passing by smelled the odor and immediately fainted.

Step 3: Deep-fry.

Jiang Li set up the oil wok.

The oil used is [Abyss Chili Oil].

"Put it in the pot!"

The black stinky tofu slid into the boiling oil.

"Sizzle————————!!!!!"

This loud explosion seemed to have opened Pandora's box.

An indescribable smell spread wildly from the stall in all directions.

It was a smell that was... a mixture of rot, fermentation, and foot odor, yet also carried a strange, burnt aroma.

It's like someone is boiling a pair of socks that have been worn for ten thousand years, and they've even added sesame oil to them.

……

"vomit--"

The residents of the entire Broken Bone Alley were in an uproar.

"Who?!"

"Who's cooking shit?!"

"Is this a biological weapon?!"

A group of strangely shaped demons, undead, and monsters, covering their noses, charged angrily over.

They originally wanted to tear this guy who made the poison gas to pieces.

but.

When they rushed to the stall, saw the black cubes churning in the pot, and smelled the stench mixed with a hint of... soul-stirring aroma.

They stopped.

"What...what is this?"

"A pig-headed butcher asked, drooling."

"It smells like a corpse... but why... do I crave it so much?"

"This is called... [Deep-fried Stinky Tofu]."

Jiang Li scooped up a piece and drained the oil.

Make a hole in the middle.

Stuff it with minced garlic, chili oil, and cilantro (this is the most lethal part).

Finally, pour a spoonful of hot soup over it.

"Free samples."

Jiang Li handed the piece of stinky tofu to the pig-headed man.

"Dare you?"

……

The pig-headed man swallowed.

As a creature of the abyss, it had eaten all sorts of disgusting things, but this thing... was really pushing its limits.

"Let's give it our all!"

It closed its eyes and stuffed the stinky tofu into its mouth.

"Click."

The crispy outer layer crumbled.

"puff--"

The braising liquid inside burst open.

That instant.

The pig-headed man's eyes widened suddenly, and two plumes of white smoke billowed from his nostrils.

"Ugh!!!!"

"Smelly!"

"It stinks!"

"But...it smells so good!!!"

"This rotten taste...this intense, brain-stimulating sensation..."

"It tastes even better than any human flesh I've ever eaten!"

"Boss! Give me ten servings!"

……

The first pig to eat crab (stinky tofu) was born.

The remaining demons also went mad.

"Me too!"

"Give me a bucket!"

"I want double the amount of minced garlic!"

"This tastes so authentic! It's just like the taste of home!"

……

Just half an hour.

A long line formed in front of Jiang Li's stall.

Wukong was in charge of maintaining order (using his golden cudgel as a railing).

Nezha was in charge of collecting the money (soul coins).

Er Gou was in charge of... picking up the scraps (although it was disgusted, it couldn't help but steal a piece and then found it delicious).

A pot of stinky tofu sold out.

Jiang Li's pockets were already filled with a heavy amount of [Soul Coins].

There were a full three thousand.

In this city, this is already a considerable fortune.

That's enough.

Jiang Li packed up his stall.

"We have the money."

"It's time to get down to business."

……

Black Iron Pot City, Forging District, Iron Hammer Street.

With the money, Jiang Li led the group to a shop with a huge iron hammer sign.

[Shop: Shura Blacksmith Shop]

Shop Owner: Six-Armed Asura - Ghost Hand.

[Services offered: Weapon crafting, armor upgrades, and... prosthetic limb modification.]

"Clang! Clang!"

Before even entering, the deafening sound of blacksmithing could be heard.

Push the door open and go inside.

A wave of heat hit me.

In the center of the shop, a burly man of the Asura race, four meters tall, with red skin and six arms, was taking turns wielding six large hammers to forge a piece of red-hot metal.

Each strike of his hammer sparked a burst of sparks, even slightly distorting the space around him.

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

The blacksmith roared without turning his head.

"Look at the items yourself if you want to buy them! No bargaining!"

"I'm not buying anything."

Jiang Li stepped forward, took out a bag of soul coins he had just earned, and shook it.

"Splash—"

The crisp clinking of gold coins made the blacksmith pause for a moment.

He turned his head, his eyes burning with fire as he stared at Jiang Li.

"So what are you here for?"

"I'm here... for a medical appointment."

Jiang Li dragged Er Gou out from behind him.

"This dog."

"Its teeth are bad."

"I always burn my mouth when I eat."

"And next we're going hunting in the Death Black Forest."

"The prey there... has very thick skin."

"I'd like to ask you..."

"Give it a new set... [Titanium alloy anti-scalding porcelain crown]."

……

"ha?"

The blacksmith was stunned.

He has fought knives, swords, and even Gundam armor in his life.

But getting a dog's teeth pierced?

This is the first time I've heard of this.

Are you sick?

The blacksmith threw down his hammer.

"I'm a master craftsman, not a dentist!"

"roll!"

"I have money."

Jiang Li placed the money bag on the cutting board.

"Here is one thousand soul coins."

The blacksmith glanced at the money pouch and scoffed.

"A thousand? Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"

"It costs me five hundred yuan just to light this stove once!"

"Then I'll add one more thing."

Jiang Li smiled.

He took a bowl from Klein's pot... [Stinky Tofu - the original version].

This bowl is specially made.

The brine used is a "millennia-old" brew.

"Sizzle—"

Once the lid is lifted.

That domineering, destructive stench instantly filled the entire blacksmith shop.

It even masked the original sulfur smell.

……

Holy crap!

The blacksmith from Shura almost fell over from the fumes.

"What kind of biological weapon is this?!"

"Trying to poison me?!"

But he immediately realized something was wrong.

Because his salivary glands... were drooling like crazy.

As members of the Asura race who work in high-temperature environments year-round, their sense of taste has long since deteriorated, and only extremely strong-flavored foods can awaken their appetite.

"This...this is food?"

The blacksmith stared at the bowl of dark, murky stuff.

"Want to try some?"

Jiang Li handed over a pair of chopsticks.

The blacksmith hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece.

Entrance.

"Click."

"boom!!!"

His expression froze instantly.

Immediately afterwards, a look of extreme enjoyment appeared on that bright red face.

"Cool!!!"

"This flavor... is potent!"

"My taste buds... have been revived!"

He finished the whole bowl of stinky tofu in just a few bites.

Then, as if still wanting more, he licked his lips.

"good!"

"For the sake of this bowl of stinky tofu (and the money)."

"This job... I'll take it!"

……

The operation begins.

Location: The blacksmith's operating table (actually a blacksmith's workbench).

Patient: Er Gou (Chaos Devouring Dog).

Main Surgeon: Six-Armed Asura - Ghost Hand.

Anesthesiologist: Tang Sanzang (responsible for chanting sutras to induce hypnosis).

"Amitabha."

"Go to sleep...go to sleep...you'll wake up with a full set of teeth..."

Under Tang Sanzang's "Cyber ​​Hypnosis Sutra," Er Gou fell asleep with his eyes rolled back and his tongue lolling out.

"start!"

The Asura Blacksmith's six hands moved simultaneously.

They pried open Er Gou's mouth with both hands.

He held a drill bit and pliers in both hands.

He held a flamethrower and a furnace in both hands.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

"Clang, clang—"

This is not a tooth extraction.

This is a recast.

The blacksmith took out a piece of silvery-white metal.

[Material: Abyssal Cold Iron]

【Characteristics: Extremely hard, possesses "absolute zero" properties, and never conducts heat.】

"Smelt!"

The blacksmith heats the cold iron until it is red-hot (even though it is cold).

Then shape it.

They were made into sharp, barbed mechanical fangs.

Each tooth was engraved with miniature [Tear Runes] and [Cooling Runes].

"Install!"

The blacksmith's technique was both rough and precise.

These cold iron teeth were then embedded one by one into Er Gou's gums.

Then, it is fused together using [bio-liquid metal].

……

An hour later.

The operation is over.

"wake up!"

Tang Sanzang snapped his fingers.

Er Gou suddenly woke up with a start.

"Woof! My mouth!"

It felt heavy and cool in its mouth.

It tried to bite.

"Snap!"

A crisp metallic clang.

It bit off half of the anvil's corner next to it.

The cut is clean and smooth, like cutting tofu.

Holy crap!

Er Gou was stunned.

"Those teeth... are unbeatable!"

It tried breathing fire again.

"call--"

Flames shot out, but the teeth felt no heat at all; in fact, they felt cool.

"It's not hot anymore! It's really not hot anymore!"

"Boss! I can eat lava now!"

[System notification: Pet "Er Gou" equipment upgrade.]

[Acquired new weapon: Cold Iron Skull Crusher.]

[Characteristics: Ignores high temperatures, tears through armor, and inflicts freezing damage.]

……

"good."

Jiang Li looked at Er Gou's mouthful of steel teeth that gleamed with a cold light and was very satisfied.

"Now, we won't have to worry about not being able to chew bones in the Black Forest."

To thank the blacksmith.

Also to celebrate the equipment upgrade.

Jiang Li decided to cook another dish.

"Since it's at the blacksmith's shop..."

"Then let's make a... [main dish]."

Jiang Li borrowed the blacksmith's furnace.

He took out the [Mechanical Spine] (memory metal flesh) that he had previously removed from the Chainsaw Mantis.

They also took out several high-voltage cables.

"Nezha! Fire!"

"Blacksmith, could I borrow your hammer?"

……

Cooking: Blacksmith's Special Edition - Hammered Meat.

Jiang Li placed the metal meat on the anvil.

"Eighty! Eighty! Eighty!"

Jiang Li swung the sledgehammer and began to pound the meat relentlessly.

Break down and break up the metallic fibers in the meat completely.

Make the meat tender.

then.

Sprinkle with black pepper, cumin, and iron powder.

Place it on a red-hot iron plate.

"Sizzle—"

Roasted over a high flame.

The aroma of meat filled the air.

At last.

Jiang Li used an electric cable to tie the meat up.

It was made into the shape of a giant tomahawk steak.

[Dish Name: Asura - Fiery Battle Axe Hammer Meat]

[Grade: Heavy metals]

[Taste: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, full of flavor. Every bite tastes like it's been meticulously prepared.]

……

"Come here, Master."

"Eat it while it's hot."

Jiang Li handed the piece of meat from the battle axe, which was larger than a shield, to the Shura blacksmith.

The blacksmith took it and took a big bite.

"Crunch—"

"Cool!"

"This meat...it's got character!"

"This is what men should eat!"

The blacksmith ate with a rosy complexion, and all six of his hands gave him a thumbs up.

"Come again sometime!"

"If there's anything else this delicious, it's on sale! Everything's on sale!"

……

They left the blacksmith's shop.

Jiang Li and his group walked on the streets of Black Iron Pot City.

It was already late.

In the distance, the enormous mushroom cloud (smoke from the stove) in the sky looked even more menacing.

"We have the money."

"My teeth have been replaced."

"My stomach is full too."

Jiang Li took out the admission ticket number 9527.

"Two more days."

"We're going to... the [Death Forest]."

"Let's go check out the prey there..."

"Is it enough to fill Er Gou's new teeth gap?"