First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!
Chapter 342: The Fish Spirit's Allies Arrive, The Daoist Master Shows His Might, I Dare You to Step Forward!

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Whether it was the Kou Family Tomb in Jinshan or the General's Tomb in Yunhai, both incidents had caused quite a stir.

There were connections involved.

Official matters were official, personal matters were personal.

Previously, Lu Ding hadn't known about the Crooked-Mouth Old Man's involvement, so he had considered the case closed.

But now that he knew.

He definitely needed to report the situation to the 749 Bureau.

This was official business.

Having received many benefits from 749 and eating their rice, Lu Ding had to handle matters properly - business was business.

The old man had helped him, yet he had destroyed so many of the old man's corpses.

He ought to plead for leniency and make amends.

Whatever punishment or compensation was required, Lu Ding would shoulder it without hesitation.

Be it reparations or anything else.

Lu Ding wouldn't retreat a single step.

Hearing this, the Crooked-Mouth Old Man waved his hand dismissively, thinking it was nothing serious.

"Alright, don't worry, I'll go with you."

Compensation was fine.

But punishment was out of the question.

Regarding the General's Tomb in Yunhai, the old man didn't know many details, but when he had buried corpses and set up formations there, the place had been deserted.

He had been there first.

The same went for Jinshan and Minshan City.

As a Daoist practitioner, how could the Crooked-Mouth Old Man possibly harm innocent people?

Moreover.

What happened at Jinshan was purely coincidental.

He had been there first too.

The Kou Family's tomb-within-tomb and corpse-upon-corpse situation was their own doing.

Though the old man did bear some secondary responsibility.

That much he couldn't deny.

But the 749 Bureau was a reasonable place.

He had evidence to prove the truth of these matters while also demonstrating he had no intention of harming the nation or its people.

So everything would be fine.

Hearing this reassured Lu Ding.

He had genuinely feared the old man might resist.

That would have put him in a real dilemma.

Facing the classic conflict between loyalty and filial piety.

Though Lu Ding would probably have let the old man go, then returned to 749 to tear off his epaulets and accept punishment.

Now that everything was cleared up.

Lu Ding handed over the golden coffin: "Old man, since this belongs to you, it should be returned to its rightful owner."

The old man made a hand seal, and the golden coffin shrank to inch-size before landing in his palm.

"Kid, by rights this treasure you seized should be yours, but truthfully it's useless to you - it's only good for nurturing and suppressing corpses."

"After we settle matters with the Bureau, I'll prepare a generous gift for you."

Lu Ding hastily declined: "No need, no need, you keep it."

He wasn't returning the coffin in hopes of getting something better.

"Nonsense! Of course you must accept! It's only proper! I'll definitely give you something satisfactory!"

As they politely argued.

Figures began appearing in the sky around them.

From all directions, they surrounded Lu Ding and the Crooked-Mouth Old Man.

Judging by their numbers and the energy fluctuations.

The weakest among them were at Earth Observation realm.

There were even two Heavenly Perception experts - a man and a woman. The woman wore purple palace robes with a plain veil, while the man was dressed in luxurious attire with a jade-adorned crown.

Seeing this lineup.

Lu Ding recognized none of them.

Probably allies summoned by the fish spirit before its death.

Looking at the bisected giant fish corpse in the river.

The gathered experts all wore dark expressions, ready for battle.

One immediately shouted: "Hey! Kid and old man! Who killed it!?"

The speaker was a two-meter-tall giant with arms thicker than Lu Ding's waist.

His words carried oppressive force.

The already frustrated Crooked-Mouth Old Man.

Sprung up, shielding Lu Ding.

Producing a bronze mirror from his robes: "You think this is your living room? Yelling at whoever you please? Lie down!!!"

The mirror flashed.

Filling the sky with golden light, interwoven talismans raining down like golden showers, the tremendous force shaking heaven and earth.

None had expected this elderly Daoist to be so short-tempered despite his age.

The golden beam blasted the Earth Observation realm giant away, smashing him through a mountain peak, never to rise again.

Though his cultivation hadn't recovered to Heavenly Perception.

But!

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man's decades of seclusion, emerging only once a year -

Guess what he'd been brewing in his underground palace?

Only those without foundation rely solely on cultivation realms.

For someone like the old man, even without realm advantages, none could challenge him.

Age brings cunning - he had countless hidden cards. His earlier predicament on the mountain?

That was because no matter your tricks, you can't outwit Heaven itself - it nearly struck him dead.

Seeing an Earth Observation expert blasted away without resistance.

The others grew solemn, their earlier arrogance fading as they cupped hands respectfully: "Senior, we meant no offense."

"Our friend below was killed, and in our grief we offended you. We beg your understanding."

"Grief? What's your grief to me? Accosting people like that - do we owe you something?"

"If you have questions, ask properly! Pull this nonsense again and I'll slap you silly!"

The old man's temper truly was explosive.

Though understandable.

Given what he'd been through, anyone would be irritable.

And judging by his earlier stance.

Had he not recognized Lu Ding, those talismans would have blasted the young man beyond recognition.

Hearing the old man's words.

The speaker dared not retort.

The crowned Heavenly Perception expert, seeing others cowed, confidently stepped forward: "Then may I ask, Daoist friend, who killed the one below?"

Thinking the old man would show face.

Instead.

"What Daoist friend? Your path, my path - what friendship? I don't know you - don't presume familiarity! I know nothing!"

Lu Ding, worried the old man might suffer for his words and aggravate existing injuries.

Stepped forward, his hand charged with the Way of Jinche hidden behind his back.

"I killed it."

Daring to act meant daring to claim responsibility.

Besides, Lu Ding estimated the Yunhai 749 team should arrive soon.

Silence fell over the scene.

Even the old man was surprised Lu Ding had killed it.

So capable!?

Excellent!

Instantly changing tune: "So what? We killed it! What are you going to do about it!?"

As he spoke, the old man put away his palm-sized mirror and produced a much finer ancient bronze mirror the size of a washbasin.

Raising it: "Who killed it? Who killed it? This vile creature!!! This abomination!!! Demon spawn that all should slay!!!"

The bronze mirror rotated toward the fish spirit's corpse.

Light shimmered, stars seemed to shift.

The sky darkened instantly, the sun gradually eclipsed as if by the Heavenly Dog.

As the mirror's light connected, a mountain-thick beam descended from the blackened sun, guided by the old man's targeting.

Directly striking.

Blasting the river into towering waves, the tremendous shockwave spreading outward.

Where the fish corpse had been now gaped a bottomless crater.

Water rushed in.

The downstream flow cut off as upstream waters poured endlessly into the unfilled pit.

No trace remained of the fish spirit.

This display of power.

Thoroughly intimidated all present.

"It wasn't dead before? Now this old Daoist has killed it again! What will you do? What will all of you do!?"

The crowned middle-aged man, initially furious enough to attack upon hearing their admission.

After witnessing this.

Quietly retracted his half-stepped foot.

Heavenly Perception realm?

Even that couldn't withstand such an attack.

Most crucially, the mirror the old man now held resembled his earlier one, just larger.

Given this pattern.

Who could say he didn't have even bigger ones?

Qi Wudao inwardly cursed: What mad Daoist is this? Completely insane!!

And wielding such weapons!!

But stepping forward was easier than stepping back.

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man wasn't one to indulge fools.

Aiming the mirror directly at Qi Wudao.

"Don't retreat now! Come! Step forward! Didn't you want to fight? This Daoist master dares you to step forward!!!"