175: Take a break from your busy schedule

Carrying the Mutant mantis shrimp, Yang Dian called out to Dian Zai and then prepared to go home first.

It wasn't so bad before he saw the mantis shrimp.

With the energy supplied by the heaven and earth treasures to sustain his body's consumption, not having anything in his stomach wasn't a big problem.

But after seeing the mantis shrimp and thinking of the deliciousness of deep-fried salt and pepper mantis shrimp, the acid in his stomach couldn't be stopped.

Cultivate is important, but delicious food should not be forsaken either.

Turning his head, Yang Dian saw Dian Zai dragging the Clownfish and climbing onto his head, but he didn't say anything.

Although the Clownfish hadn't Awakened and mutated to become a Mutant, it had good ornamental value.

There were plenty of fish tanks at home, so taking it back just meant feeding it a few more pellets each day.

'And this little guy seems quite smart; among so many fish, only it came over.'

'Maybe it will Awaken in the future, who knows...'

After two turns of thought, Yang Dian immediately moved his body and surfaced from the sea.

He surveyed the magnificent seascape at dusk, where the setting sun and gulls flew together, and the vast sea merged with the long sky.

After pinpointing his location, Yang Dian stepped on the sea surface, carrying the mantis shrimp, and sped towards the shore.

Before he even approached the shore, the people who saw movement on land had already stopped what they were doing and subconsciously took two steps towards the sea.

When Yang Dian carried the mantis shrimp ashore, the crowd gathered around him.

A few children, who had been practicing Martial Arts with adults since they were six or seven, even ran up to Yang Dian and touched the colorful mantis shrimp a couple of times.

"Wow, what a big mantis shrimp! I could eat it for a week."

"You're useless, I can finish it in just six days!"

"Three days!"

"Two days!"

"I can swallow it in one bite!"

Looking at the little ones gathered around him, Yang Dian smiled and patted their heads:

"Come to my house for dinner tonight."

"Really?" One little one hugged Yang Dian's leg:

"If you let me eat shrimp, I'll recognize you as my Big Brother!"

Yang Dian reached out and flicked his head:

"By seniority, you should call me Uncle!"

"Also, I don't even know if this thing is edible."

"Go dig up a nest of ants, whoever brings them to my house first gets an extra chopstick full!"

"Me, me, me, I'll go!" "I'll go too ~" "Wait for me..."

Watching the children scatter like birds and beasts, Yang Dian first put the Clownfish into a little boy's bucket, then patted the mantis shrimp on his shoulder and looked around at the equally eager adults:

"This mantis shrimp is only so big, it definitely won't be enough to share among everyone."

"However, as long as it's not poisonous, giving each child a chopstick full shouldn't be a problem."

Hearing the implied meaning in Yang Dian's words, some people showed disappointment.

But there were also some who kept their gaze fixed on the large shrimp on Yang Dian's shoulder.

Like Yang Dashan.

"Dian Zai, did you catch this shrimp from the sea? Is it powerful? Are there many of them?"

Looking at Yang Dashan, whose eyes showed concern, Yang Dian nodded and then shook his head:

"For ordinary people, it's definitely powerful."

"Mantis shrimp the size of two fingers can break human bones, let alone this big guy."

"An ordinary person hit by one of its punches would likely be sent to the crematorium."

"But for those who have achieved success in Martial Arts, it's nothing special."

"While an ordinary Martial Artist might have trouble dealing with it in the water, if it dares to come ashore, it's a lamb to the slaughter."

Yang Dashan nodded, then looked around:

"Did you all hear what Dian Zai said?"

"If you want to eat shrimp, then Cultivate diligently and go catch them yourselves in the sea."

"If shrimp can mutate, can crabs, sea fish, starfish, sea cucumbers, and other things mutate as well?"

"The sea is a treasure trove; if you want to eat good things, go get them yourselves."

"Now everyone scatter, Cultivate if you need to Cultivate, rest if you need to rest, don't crowd around here and bother others."

Seeing the people gathered around gradually disperse, Yang Dian couldn't help but give Yang Dashan a thumbs up:

"Alright, Uncle Dashan, your prestige is growing, it seems the position of clan elder will be indispensable to you in the future."

Yang Dashan's old face rarely flushed:

"You brat are making fun of me too, aren't you..."

After chatting with Yang Dashan for a while, Yang Dian carried the mantis shrimp home.

Yangs Mother, who was busy in the yard, was startled when she saw a large shrimp head appear outside the yard.

Only after seeing Yang Dian beneath the shrimp head did she pat her chest:

"You're back, but why bring such a big shrimp? You scared me."

She mumbled a complaint, then came to Yang Dian's side, looking him up and down:

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Yang Dian shrugged:

"Your son is very strong, how could I get hurt?"

Saying that, he first placed the big shrimp on the long bench, then carried the small bucket he borrowed from the little boy into the living room:

"Mom, this shrimp is very hard; I'll handle it later."

After settling the Clownfish and walking back into the yard, Yang Dian first took a few photos of the Mutant mantis shrimp and sent them to the Research Institute, then condensed his Qi and blood onto his fingers to form sharp Dragon claws, and began to dissect the mantis shrimp.

The carapace, thoracic segments, raptorial appendages, thoracic legs, abdominal legs, tail fan... As the mantis shrimp's colorful shell was removed, the crystal-clear shrimp meat came into view, and Yang Dian couldn't help but swallow.

Yangs Mother, who had already seen through his thoughts, brought a large basin and put all the shrimp meat into it:

"Don't forget how Yang Fushen died."

Yang Dian pouted.

Yang Fushen lived not far from Yang Dian's house, but he died early.

The cause of his death was his fondness for sashimi; eventually, his stomach was hollowed out by parasites.

After his death, fewer people in the Yang family ate sashimi.

Even if some still ate it, they would go for check-ups at the hospital every now and then, fearing they might have contracted some kind of bug.

Yang Fushen's death was simply too tragic.

"Speaking of which, Yang Fushen died six years ago, and by then, Spiritual Qi had already recovered."

"Could the worms that hollowed out Yang Fushen's stomach be some kind of Mutant parasite?"

Yang Dian thought it was possible, but couldn't be sure.

After all, that stomach full of parasites had disappeared with Yang Fushen at the crematorium.

Lost in thought, Yang Dian snatched two more pieces of meat from his mother's basin.

Seeing her give him a look that seemed to threaten violence, Yang Dian held up the meat and said:

"One piece is for the Research Institute to study, and the other I'm going to dissect to see if I can find anything."

As he spoke, Yang Dian also heard the sound of a large group of children running in the distance.

So he pointed outside and said:

"And also to feed the ants, to see if this thing is poisonous..."

...The mantis shrimp was not poisonous before it mutated, nor did it evolve toxic abilities after mutating.

Not only was it not poisonous, but it also tasted exceptionally good.

Whether steamed, fried, braised, or stir-fried with sauce, it defined the words 'delicious' to the extreme.

How delicious was it? So delicious that the little boys, little girls, and Yang Lele were all drooling.

Of course, it wasn't that Yang Dian didn't let them eat.

Mantis shrimp are, after all, mutated creatures, and their flesh contains a large amount of energy.

And since they were all children, they could only have one chopstick full.

As for Yang Lele?

Yang Lele could have two chopsticks full.

Seeing Yang Lele looking at the shrimp meat, her mouth watering, Yang Dian couldn't help but reach out and pat her head:

"Is it delicious?"

"If your strength is low, even if delicious food is placed in front of you, you won't be able to eat it."

"If you want to achieve freedom in eating, then work hard to Cultivate Martial Arts."

After saying that, Yang Dian didn't even touch the last plate of shrimp meat with his chopsticks; he simply stood up:

"You clean up the dishes tonight; this plate of shrimp meat is for you."

Yang Lele hugged Yang Dian's arm:

"Brother, you're so good!"

"I love you to death!"

Yang Dian rubbed the goosebumps that rose on his arm:

"Don't disgust me."

"Remember to practice after you're done cleaning up."

With that, he shouted towards the backyard:

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to Cultivate; you don't need to prepare meals for me these next few days!"