First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!
Chapter 278: "Lu Taishui, I took out your Si Ming with my Earth Observer. Fair trade—satisfied?"

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Although the Golden Finger couldn’t strengthen or evolve the Cinderfire Technique,

the Golden Finger is just a tool.

People, on the other hand, are alive!

With the boost from Oneness with Heaven and Man, Lu Ding had personally experienced the Three Calamities and gained some insights.

Though he couldn’t quite build on the Cinderfire Technique to turn it into something as terrifying as the Three Calamities’ Yin Fire,

he could still infuse it with a hint of that understanding—add a layer of flavor to it,

give it a touch of the Yin Fire’s characteristics. That much was doable.

Of course,

Upgrading the Cinderfire Technique into a version touched by the Three Calamities’ Yin Fire would have to wait until later for careful study.

Still,

Lu Ding was already looking forward to seeing just how terrifying the upgraded version might be.

Another trump card for him.

Truly, a new goal every day.

Lu Ding snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes turning briefly in their sockets.

Still not showing yourself?

Where the h*ll are you hiding?

“Wonder how things are going on Chief Chu’s end?”

As he spoke, Lu Ding started walking.

And in that very instant—

a hand thrust in from behind Lu Ding, piercing through from his back to his chest.

Blood dripped from the warm, jade-like fingertips.

A deep, magnetic voice spoke behind him: “Lu Taishui, I ambushed your Si Ming with my Earth Observer. I traded the lives of the Fireball Children for yours. Such respect—are you satisfied?”

The two bodies overlapped, their shadows stretching longer and longer under the moonlight.

Feng Shang tilted his head, revealing a chiseled face with a bit of stubble.

He’d been here for a while.

Just hadn’t acted yet.

Yes, that’s right.

He was in the Earth Observer Realm.

And when Lu Ding made his move, he saw clearly—Lu Ding was in the Si Ming Realm.

But so what?

If Lu Ding were really that easy to kill, those targeting him would’ve done it a hundred times over by now.

So Feng Shang had waited, enduring it, holding out for the perfect opportunity.

Even though his cultivation was a whole realm higher than Lu Ding’s,

he hadn’t acted rashly.

Instead, he used the Fireball Children’s lives to trap Lu Ding in a moment of victory-induced relaxation,

then delivered a lethal strike when his guard was down!

Suddenly, the air changed—sharp and deadly.

The smile vanished from Feng Shang’s face.

He lowered his head.

Lu Ding’s long-held hand finally flipped open.

The Path of Jinche burst forth with a rhythm that could slice anything—raging behind Lu Ding, tearing apart everything in its wake.

Including—but not limited to—Feng Shang!

One slash!!!

Within a thousand-meter radius behind Lu Ding, everything turned to dust, falling like sand across the ground.

Feng Shang yanked his hand back and retreated.

Countless red lines crisscrossed his body, dense and packed.

Upon closer look, each red line was filled with tiny sparks.

Feng Shang coughed up blood, staggered a couple steps.

He stared at Lu Ding with confusion: “The title Corpse-Shattering Taishui lives up to the name. Impressive technique. That slash—had to have been charged for a while, huh? How’d you know I’d be here? When did you notice me?”

“I shouldn’t have been exposed.”

In response to Feng Shang’s confusion,

Lu Ding showed him the earpiece in his ear,

then tapped the law enforcement recorder on his chest: “Times have changed. Stop living in the past. Get out more, take a look around today’s Great Han, and enjoy some tech life.”

When Chief Chu had shown up in Huokang Village’s plaza,

the law enforcement recorder on Lu Ding’s chest had already recorded Feng Shang.

That recorder was linked to the Bureau’s information department, backed by a supercomputer crunching data.

Together—mysticism plus science.

A professional team analyzed the footage and transmitted the findings straight into Lu Ding’s ear.

One mysterious individual had left. Given that he’d stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the two Deputy Leaders of the Tianli Cult,

and had blocked their retreat—

not to mention the way everyone else looked at him, the attitude...

All things considered,

this individual had an 80% chance of being the leader of Huokang Village.

A 10% chance of being the leader’s public stand-in.

And a...

Cross-referenced with the situation in the village,

there was a 20% chance he would flee, 30% chance he’d head toward Investigator Lu’s position,

50% chance he’d return to the creature containment site.

30% might not sound like much—

but for Lu Ding, it might as well have been a frontal assault.

He had to guard against it.

Given the size of the village,

Lu Ding was certain that when he exposed the Fireball Children’s weakness,

if the village leader had been coming for him,

he would’ve already arrived.

No attack?

Clearly biding his time with bad intentions!

Lu Ding knew ambushes—he used them plenty himself.

There’s no way he wouldn’t prepare for one.

That Path of Jinche feint?

It wasn’t just to mess with the Fireball Children—it also fooled Feng Shang.

Looked like Lu Ding never released the slash.

But in fact, his hand had been charging it all along.

Even the Bai Family’s Grand Elder in the Heaven Observer Realm hadn’t seen through it.

So how could some local thug in a village possibly spot it?

To make sure the slash landed,

even a lion uses full strength to catch a rabbit.

That’s why Lu Ding had baited him with his physical body—to ensure a one-hit strike. His recovery was strong anyway.

The only thing Lu Ding hadn’t expected—

was that Feng Shang survived the fully charged slash.

No doubt, this guy had brains, had power—and wasn’t burdened by emotion.

Think about how the Fireball Children had cared so much about the Cultivators of Qi in Huokang Village.

Reverse-engineering from the result, it was clear they had a close bond with the village’s leader.

And yet, this man still offered them up to secure one opportunity for a sneak attack.

All these traits combined—he fit the profile of a true schemer, a cold-blooded warlord.

Too bad.

Timing, terrain, and allies were all on Lu Ding’s side.

Everyone played the mind game. Each got a move.

Now came the raw strength showdown.

Feng Shang gave a faint smile, spat out some blood: “Looks like I’m the one who’s out of touch with the times.”

He gauged the state of his injuries,

then raised his hand toward Lu Ding—sparks danced along his palm: “That charged slash nearly killed me. Left me seriously wounded.

What about you? How’re you feeling with the power of the Kitchen God in your body?”

That earlier sneak attack—Feng Shang had left a trace of the Kitchen God’s power inside Lu Ding’s flesh and Spiritual Qi.

Though he framed it as a question,

he clearly meant: You probably aren’t doing much better than me, right?

Lu Ding checked himself. When circulating Qi, he clearly felt heat and resistance—something was messing with his body.

He didn’t say anything.

Instead, he circulated his Qi, raised his hand, palm upward. White Snake Scale-Shake—top-down.

At that moment,

a mystical white projection shimmered behind Lu Ding. As he moved, it trembled slightly.

Tiny sparks burned through his clothes, falling to the ground. His injuries—healed.

Lu Ding gave Feng Shang a glance, replying to his earlier question: “That’s it?”

Feng Shang—watching this scene—

for the first time, doubted his own eyes.

He looked at his spark-covered palm again.

The Kitchen God’s power... had never failed before.

After all, it was divine.

Even just stealing a bit to use, Feng Shang had suffered backlashes—constant inner burning.

But it was also what had let him achieve what most couldn’t.

Even when he was weak, facing stronger enemies,

this power had always given him courage.

But today, the Kitchen God’s power had no effect on Lu Ding.

Truly—unexpected.

A technique that had never failed, failed.

A skill he’d never seen before—he saw it today.

Awe faded from Feng Shang’s eyes, replaced by battle intent.

There was no one behind him. He stood on the edge of a cliff—nowhere left to retreat.

He roared: “Come!! Let me witness more of the Corpse-Shattering Taishui’s power!!”