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

In the far north, the wind howls fiercely.

In the sky, the enormous, well-equipped Super Mi-Go (Yuges Fungus) hovered above the Black Pearl. Its polyhedral head flashed a dangerous red light, its six pairs of membrane wings vibrated at high frequencies in the cold wind, and its biotechnology weapon—a thick metal cylinder covered with transistors—was fully charged.

"Buzzing..." (Target locked... Destruction mode activated...)

Without any further ado, a blinding, soul-freezing beam of pale white light, carrying an absolute zero temperature, shot straight toward Jiang Li, who was standing on the ice field.

This is the "Absolute Freeze Ray," a high-end technology used by the Mi-Go race for sample collection and biological hibernation in space. A single shot can instantly turn even magma into a block of ice.

"Oh? This one even has a cooling function?"

Jiang Li looked up at the beam of white light shooting down, and instead of dodging, he showed a look of surprise.

"Perfect! That pot of water boiled a little too much, and I was just wondering how to cool it down!"

He tossed aside the "beef leg" (Norver Carter's thigh) that he hadn't had time to cut, picked up the "Poseidon Trident," and pointed it at the sky.

"Poseidon's lightning rod... no, Poseidon's heat-conducting rod!"

"Sizzle—!!!"

The deadly ray, powerful enough to freeze everything, struck the tip of the trident with pinpoint accuracy.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

As an S-class artifact, the trident inherently possesses the power to manipulate water elements and temperature. Under Jiang Li's unreasonable power of rules, the trident instantly became a super conductor.

The extremely cold energy flowed down the halberd shaft, but it did not harm Jiang Li in the slightest. Instead, he cleverly guided it to the bottom of the large, boiling black pot next to him.

"Sizzle—"

The hot pot broth, which was originally bubbling and steaming, instantly calmed down under the impact of this cold air, and the temperature dropped to 90 degrees Celsius, which is the perfect temperature for cooking meat.

"Excellent! This temperature control technology is even more accurate than that of an inverter air conditioner!"

Jiang Li gave a big thumbs up, then waved to Mi Go in the sky.

"Thanks, shrimp! The cooking time is perfect! Don't just float around up there, come down and take a bath with me!"

Mi Goe in the sky was stunned.

Its logic processor almost burned out.

That's an absolute freezing ray! An attack that can stop even the movement of molecules! And this carbon-based creature is using it... to regulate the temperature of soup?

"Buzz—!!!" (Incomprehensible! Must be eliminated!)

Mi Go was enraged. It put away its freeze gun, its wings flapped violently, and its body transformed into a pink streak of light as it swooped down.

Its several pairs of sharp limbs, gleaming like scalpels, were ready to slice the blasphemer into pieces.

"That's right! Door-to-door delivery is the best service!"

Jiang Li planted the trident in the ground and pulled out the shiny black butcher knife again.

"Big Yellow! Watch the pot! Don't let any dirt get into the soup!"

"Lei Meng! Go chop some scallions and ginger! Make sure they're big chunks!"

"This prawn... I'll peel it myself!"

Jiang Li bent his knees slightly, and the ice beneath his feet instantly cracked, creating a large crater.

"collapse!"

He shot into the sky like a cannonball, heading straight for the swooping Miguel.

In mid-air, the man and the shrimp collided violently.

"clang--!!!"

Mi Gona's hard, alloy-like carapace clashed with Jiang Li's butcher knife, producing a deafening clang of metal against metal, sparks flying everywhere.

"Wow! That shell is really hard! Looks like a wild, mature shrimp, plenty of calcium!"

Jiang Li felt a slight numbness in his tiger's mouth, but this did not make him back down; instead, it made his appetite even stronger.

"These hard-shelled shrimp must have firm, springy meat inside! Especially those two big claws, they're definitely full of garlic-clove-like meat!"

He twisted his body strangely in mid-air, using the Tindaros Spacetime Footwork (which he learned from Big Yellow), and instantly circled around to Mi Go's back.

"Get down here!"

Jiang Li rode on Mi Go's neck (if it had a neck), holding its wings at the base with both hands.

"rise--"

"Snap!"

With a sickeningly sharp crack, Jiang Li ripped off Mi Go's pair of wings!

"Buzz—!!!" (Ouch! Warning! 30% damage to the machine!)

Mi-Go let out a piercing electronic scream, lost his balance, and spiraled toward the ground like a kite with a broken string.

"boom!"

Its enormous body crashed onto the icy plain, kicking up a cloud of snow dust, and landed right next to the large black cauldron.

"Perfect landing!"

Jiang Li landed lightly, still holding the pair of huge, twitching membranous wings in her hands.

"These wings look like seaweed, or maybe glass noodles. I wonder if they can be cooked in hot pot?"

He casually tossed the wing to Liu Wei, who was preparing food.

"Wash it, cut it into strips, and make it a snack with drinks."

Then, he walked toward Mi Goe, who was still struggling, with the knife in his hand.

"Don't move! Moving it will make the meat tough!"

Jiang Li stepped on Mi Go's head and chest, and the tip of his knife precisely pierced the gap in the carapace.

"The Butcher's Skill in Dissecting an Ox - The Armor Removal Technique!"

"Sizzle—"

It was like unzipping a zipper, or opening a sophisticated can.

The seemingly indestructible pink exoskeleton was completely peeled off by Jiang Li's knife, revealing the tender, translucent, and uniquely textured flesh of the fungus inside.

Wow!

Wang Ergou and Lei Meng, who were watching, exclaimed in unison.

"This meat...it looks like jelly, but it also looks like premium Wagyu beef! The marbling is so beautiful!"

"And there's no blood! It's clean!"

Jiang Li also looked satisfied.

"I knew it! How could the specialties of Yugos be bad? This is a top-quality ingredient that combines the umami of fungi with the texture of crustaceans!"

"Quick! Slice it while it's still relatively alive and at its most active!"

"Today we're having a [Icefield Surf and Turf Hot Pot]!"

……

On the icy plains, the cold wind still howled, but next to the Black Pearl, a scene of bustling activity unfolded.

Inside that specially made portable black pot, the broth was bubbling and the aroma was irresistible.

The broth is made from a drop of the essence of the [Chang'an Old Broth], combined with the bone marrow of the [Drilling Demon Worm], and dozens of spices scavenged from various planets. The flavor is domineering, rich, and strikes straight to the soul.

On one side of the pot, large chunks of [Norf Ker] (Ice Giant) meat were simmering. The meat was a mix of red and white, similar to premium yak beef, and it didn't fall apart even after long cooking, becoming more fragrant the more you chewed it.

On the other side of the pot, thinly sliced ​​"Mi-Go" (fungal alien) meat is being cooked. This meat cooks instantly in the water, becoming curled and bouncy, soaking up all the broth. One bite, and it's so delicious you'll want to swallow your tongue.

"Come on in! Don't be shy! This is an S-class buffet!"

Jiang Li, shirtless (since he ate Tyrannosaurus Rex meat, he wasn't afraid of the cold), sat on a stool made of ice, holding a large bowl of wine in his hand, eating with his mouth full of oil.

"Old Wo! Turn the fire up! It's too cold today, the soup will get cold easily!"

Beneath the pot, the unfortunate Great Old One—[Flame Master Volvardos]—was miserably serving as a human gas stove. Its green divine fire was suppressed within a fixed area, continuously providing heat to the large pot.

"I...I am the guardian of the outer darkness..."

Vovadas muttered to himself, trying to preserve his last shred of dignity.

"What's wrong with the Watchers? Watchers need to eat too!"

Jiang Li picked up a piece of hot Mi Go meat and stuffed it to the mouth of Vovados (if that ball of fire had a mouth).

"Here, have a bite! You baked this yourself, it's full of your 'passion'!"

Vovadas hesitated for a moment, and the flames engulfed the piece of meat.

"Sizzle—"

The meat was instantly vaporized, but the delicious flavor was still transmitted to its consciousness through some kind of rule.

"Um……?"

The flame of Vovados flickered.

"It smells so good...?"

It suddenly realized that being a stove wasn't so bad after all? At least the food was decent.

……

After a hearty meal and drinks.

Everyone collapsed onto the snow, looking up at the gray-white sky above, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Boss, this is a life even the gods wouldn't trade."

Wang Ergou picked his teeth and rubbed his swollen belly.

"But after we finish this meal, where do we go next? This place is all ice and rocks, there's not much scenery to see."

"Where to? To the city, of course."

Jiang Li pointed to the faintly visible black shadow in the distance.

Amidst the aurora borealis and mist, a magnificent city built entirely of black onyx stands silently at the edge of the ice field.

Inquanok.

That is the only way to the ultimate land of Kadas, and also one of the oldest and most mysterious cities in the Dreamland.

"The people there are said to look very strange and have withdrawn personalities."

Professor Miller (the ship's recorder), holding his notebook, said, "Moreover, outsiders are not allowed to enter that area at will, especially... a group like ours reeking of food."

"No entry?"

Jiang Li smiled.

He took the silver spoon out of his pocket.

"I have the key, who dares to stop me?"

"Besides, we're going to do trade this time with 'special products'."

He pointed to the pile of leftover bones and shells behind him.

"These Migo shells are excellent material for making armor. And these Norfolk furs would be perfect for coats."

"Let's go! Let's set up a stall in that Black Stone City! And while we're at it, let's ask around for directions to Kadas!"

……

After packing their belongings, the Black Pearl set sail once again.

This time it didn't fly, but instead activated its tracks (newly installed by Liu Wei), like a giant snowmobile, and rumbled towards Inkernok.

As they got closer, the true face of the city was gradually revealed to everyone.

This is a depressing city.

All the buildings were constructed of black onyx, towering into the clouds, their surfaces smooth as mirrors, reflecting a cold light. The city had no green trees, no flowers, only countless enormous totem poles carved with monstrous faces.

At the city gate, two rows of guards stood holding long spears.

They were tall, with pale skin and thin faces. Most striking were their eyes—pure black with no whites, like two bottomless black holes.

"Halt! Outsider!"

The captain of the guard raised his spear and blocked the Black Pearl.

His voice was cold and hollow, devoid of any emotion.

"Inkernoc does not welcome noise and...the smell of cooking oil."

Clearly, the smell of hotpot emanating from Jiang Li and his group could be smelled from two miles away.

"Don't be so serious, bro."

Jiang Li jumped out of the car and walked over with a grin.

"We are a passing caravan, here to do business. We just wanted to ask for directions."

"Business?"

The captain of the guard looked at him coldly.

"We don't need foreign goods. We only worship cold rocks and silent void."

"Silence? Emptiness?"

Jiang Li curled her lip. "That's so boring. Life is all about eating and drinking. Aren't you guys getting depressed staring at black rocks all day?"

He pulled a thermos from his pocket.

"Here, it's so cold, have some hot soup to warm yourself up."

He opened the lid.

An incredibly rich and savory aroma instantly wafted out; it was the broth from the "surf and turf combo" that had just been cooked, with a touch of "recycled soup" added.

"Gulp..."

The captain of the guard's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Although their doctrines emphasize coldness and silence, their bodies are still carbon-based organisms, and the desire for heat and delicious food is ingrained in their genes.

Standing guard in this freezing cold, without having eaten a hot meal for hundreds of years, who could stand the smell?

"What...what is this?"

The captain's tone remained cold, but there was a clear hint of...desire in his completely black eyes.

"This is called 'The Soup of Heavenly Bliss'."

Jiang Li was talking nonsense with a straight face.

"Take a sip, and not only will your body feel warm, but your heart will too. You'll even see your great-grandmother waving to you."

"real?"

The captain hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the temptation. He took the thermos and took a small sip.

"boom!"

A warm current flowed down my throat, like swallowing a small sun.

Immediately afterwards, the delicious flavor exploded in my mouth, as if countless little elves were dancing on my tongue.

The captain's eyes widened instantly (though they were completely black and couldn't be seen), and a strange blush appeared on his originally stiff and pale face.

"It's...delicious..."

He spoke in a trembling voice, his tone distorted.

"I feel... I feel like I'm melting..."

The guards around the captain couldn't help but gather around when they saw him like this, craning their necks like penguins waiting to be fed.

"Would you like some?"

Jiang Li took out a few more paper cups and poured a little for each person.

"Don't grab it! Everyone gets a share!"

Less than five minutes.

The once solemn and cold city gate has been transformed into a small "open-air soup tasting party".

The guards held their paper cups, looking completely blissful; their earlier murderous aura and aloofness had long since vanished.

"Brother, is there any soup left? I want to bring some to my mom." The captain held Jiang Li's hand, acting as if they were long-lost brothers.

"Yes! Plenty!"

Jiang Li patted him on the shoulder.

"However... I'm new here and don't know anyone..."

"I understand! I understand everything!"

The captain immediately understood.

"Where do you want to go? Who are you looking for? In Inkanok, there's nothing I don't know!"

"readily!"

Jiang Li smiled.

"I want to go to that Kadas place and chat with those gods. I heard there's a mountain there that's really hard to climb?"

Upon hearing the word "Kadaz," the captain's expression changed.

"Kadas...that's forbidden territory."

He lowered his voice and looked around.

"To get there, you must cross the Ghoul Rocks to the north and the airspace of the Shatak birds. And... it is said that at the foot of the mountain, there is an even more terrifying gatekeeper."

"Who?"

"A... priest wearing yellow clothes and a pale mask."

"Yellow clothes?"

Jiang Li was taken aback, then turned to look at the "Mad Hatter" (former Yellow Priest) behind him, who was wearing a yellow suit and tap dancing in the snow.

"You mean...someone like him?"

The captain glanced at the Mad Hatter and shook his head.

"No, he's even more terrifying. That priest... he has no face."

"Shameless?"

Jiang Li touched his chin.

"It's good that he's shameless! If he's shameless, then we don't need to save face for him!"

"Thanks, bro! This information is very useful!"

Jiang Li handed the remaining thermos of soup to the captain.

"Here you go! Let's set off now!"

……

Having bid farewell to the enthusiastic guards, the Black Pearl passed through Inconnock and continued northward.

The road ahead became increasingly rugged, and the wind and snow grew heavier.

At the edge of that line of sight, a towering, unseen peak finally revealed its menacing silhouette.

【Unknown Land - Kadas】

Just then.

The three keys (bowl, knife, and spoon) in Jiang Li's arms suddenly resonated violently once again.

A golden beam of light shot out from the "bowl" and pointed directly at the mountainside of the giant peak.

There seems to be a hidden cave there.

"Found it!"

Jiang Li's spirits lifted.

"That's the legendary... 'Immortal's Abode'?"

"Or perhaps... the back door of the 'Imperial Kitchen'?"

"Full speed ahead! Let's flank them!"