118: Chapter 118 Hello, your takeout has been delivered (please sign for it).
Synchronous orbit, just outside the atmosphere of the Cultivation World.
Space shattered like a mirror as one hundred menacing bio-warships emerged from the Void Realm. Each was the size of a mountain, draped in rotting tentacles and pulsating tumors. The flagship, the glutton, was a small planetoid covered in teeth.
Slurp— In the flagship's bridge (which was actually a massive brain tissue), the abyssal commander, the Glutton Lord, gazed at the azure-hued planet below and drooled with greed. "Such abundant spiritual energy... such fresh flesh..." "Minions! It's buffet time!" "Eat! Gnaw open this eggshell (the atmosphere)!"
Roar—!! Countless small landing craft (actually winged demon-worms) shot out from the mothership's pores like a black cloud, descending upon the Cultivation World.
...
On the ground, Tianhe Academy headquarters command center.
Li Mo watched the dense cluster of red dots on the screen as if observing dumplings about to be dropped into a pot. "Quite a few," he remarked calmly, picking up the walkie-talkie. "All departments, attention." "The first batch of 'ingredients' has arrived." "According to the 'Food Safety and Hygiene Handling Regulations,' we will begin with... high-temperature sterilization."
"Western Desert branch, activate the anti-air fire network."
...
Western Desert (Tianhe Refrigeration Academy).
Tens of thousands of Air-Conditioning Giants (originally Flame Giants) stood tall on the dunes. They were no longer emitting cold air. Following Li Mo's "reverse operation command," they had maxed out their internal heat exchange Systems. But this time, what they sprayed wasn't fire, but... high-pressure superheated steam.
"Ready— spray!" commanded Butcher Xiao.
Sssss—!!! Tens of thousands of white steam columns, reaching temperatures of thousands of degrees, shot skyward. Under high pressure, the steam possessed terrifying kinetic energy, piercing the heavens like white swords and colliding head-on with the black swarm of insects.
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak—!!! Piercing shrieks filled the sky. The once-ferocious flying demon-worms turned red upon contact with the superheated steam, their internal fluids boiling instantly. Within seconds, they transformed from 'invaders' into... cooked food.
Splash, splash— A rain of 'braised insects' began to fall from the sky.
"Smells delicious!" On the ground, the long-waiting Culinary Arts students (originally the Alchemy Department) cheered, holding up giant nets to catch the falling bounty. "Don't grab! That big one's mine!" "Quick! Sprinkle the cumin! Sprinkle it while it's hot!"
...
In space, aboard the abyssal flagship the glutton.
The Glutton Lord watched his vanguard forces instantly become 'takeout' and was utterly dumbfounded (if it could be considered a person). "What's going on?" "That's steam? Why is there a steam attack of that scale?" "Is this planet... a giant steamer?"
Before it could figure it out, a new alarm blared. [Warning: High-energy physical projectile barrage detected.] [Source: Surface plant life.]
Tianhe Academy main campus, South Gate plaza.
The genetically modified **[Pea Shooters (Spirit Stone Gatling Version)]** were no longer firing single shots. Lei Wanjun, the Head of the Physics Department, had equipped them with "accelerator rails."
"Full barrage, fire!" Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—!!! Millions of green energy pellets, trailing long tails of light like an upstream meteor shower, blasted toward the abyssal fleet in space.
Each "pea" contained a compressed **[Explosive Talisman]**.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Green fireworks blossomed in space. The thick-skinned bio-warships were riddled with holes by these seemingly laughable peas, green fluid splattering everywhere.
"Counterattack! Counterattack!" roared the Glutton Lord. "Main cannon, charge! Blow that mountain flat!" The flagship's enormous maw opened, a dark red abyssal energy gathering within, aimed squarely at Tianhe Peak on the ground.
However. The moment it opened its mouth.
"Oh my, opening your mouth so wide?" Li Mo's voice suddenly and eerily echoed in the Glutton Lord's mind (via the connection established by the previously launched 'abyssal brick'). "Is that to make it convenient for a nucleic acid test?" "Since it's open, don't close it. Take this— cotton swab."
Southern Wastelands, Tianhe Peak (main cannon emplacement).
This time, the cannon didn't fire a beam of light. Instead, it shot out a... massive, white "spear" woven from high-density spider silk. This material, freshly harvested from the Kraken of the North Sea, was incredibly tough and possessed extreme adhesive properties.
Whoosh—! The "cotton swab" shot out at sub-light speed.
Thud! A perfect hit. It plunged directly into the glutton's wide-open, charging maw. Not just in, but deep into its throat.
"Mmph—!!" The Glutton Lord let out a choked grunt. The interrupted energy flow caused a backlash. Even worse, the "cotton swab" exploded. Not with a blast, but by instantly expanding into a colossal white net that blotted out the sky. This net carried **[Rule: Restraint] and [Adhesive: MAX]**.
In an instant. The once-arrogant abyssal flagship, along with a dozen escort ships nearby, was stuck fast together by the massive net. Like flies caught on a glue trap.
...
"Capture successful." Li Mo nodded with satisfaction at the large, immobile cluster of red dots on the screen. "Haul it back."
"Haul it back?" Lei Wanjun was stunned. "Dean, that's an abyssal warship. What for? Shouldn't we just blow it up?"
"Wastrel." Li Mo shot him a look. "The ship's material is living biomass. With a little modification, it can be used as a transport vessel." "Besides, don't you think our cafeteria... is still missing a cold storage unit?" Li Mo pointed at the flagship's enormous belly. "Hollow it out, install a cooling Formation, and we'll have a place to store the beef from the North Sea."
"..." Lei Wanjun fell silent. He glanced at the struggling Glutton Lord on the screen and suddenly felt a pang of pity for it. To come all this way just to die was one thing, but to end up being turned into... a refrigerator?
...
Two hours later.
The battle was over. Or rather, the "stock-up" was complete.
The plaza of Tianhe Academy was piled high with packaged "abyssal ingredients." Meanwhile, outside the atmosphere, the massive flagship, the glutton, was being slowly lowered onto the ice of the North Sea, dragged by hundreds of thick chains (pulled by Tentacle Monsters below).
Thud! The flagship landed, shattering the ice. The Glutton Lord (now wrapped up like a mummy) was personally extracted by Li Mo.
"You... what are you..." The Glutton Lord trembled to its very Soul as it looked at the young man in robes and glasses before it. Having roamed the Universe for tens of thousands of years, devouring countless civilizations, it had never encountered such an unorthodox opponent. Using steam to cook? Shooting peas? Stabbing with a cotton swab? And now planning to turn it into a refrigerator?
"Me?" Li Mo adjusted his glasses, revealing a kindly smile. "I am the manager of the Tianhe Property Management Company." "You have illegally parked your ship, littered (the insects), and are suspected of public indecency (the drooling)."
Li Mo took out a small notebook and began tallying. "According to the 'ship Management Regulations.'" "Confiscate the tools of the crime (100 warships)." "Sentence to hard labor for ten thousand years." "Perfect timing. Our **'Abyssal Sewer' (the reverse channel to the abyssal entity) needs someone to clear the blockages.**" "I see you have remarkable bone structure and a mouth suited for wide consumption. You'd be perfect as the... 'Chief Drainage Officer.'"
The Glutton Lord's eyes rolled back, and it fainted from rage.
[System prompt: First battle, decisive victory.] [Loot obtained: Abyssal Bio-Fleet (modifiable).] [Achievement unlocked: Interstellar Scrap King.] [Current mission updated: Form the 'Tianhe Expeditionary Force.'] [Objective: Pilot the modified fleet, follow the path the abyss took here, travel upstream to the abyssal homeland... and collect property management fees.]
Li Mo closed the notebook and looked toward the depths of space. There, the rift to the abyss still flickered. "It is impolite not to reciprocate." "Since you've sent so many 'gifts,' it would be rude of me not to pay a return visit."