First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!

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Even if they wanted to flee, it wouldn’t be something they could finish moving in just a day or two.

Back when Gao He was still a lesser demon in his early years, he truly traveled far and wide, undergoing trials everywhere. He visited various major sects and sacred lands. Finally, having learned enough, he returned to Overcast Mountain. At that time, this area still had a kingdom; the Great Han hadn’t expanded here yet, and the Baoji Kingdom hadn’t felt the urgency from the Great Han’s expansion to push in this direction either. Gao He established his sacred land here, the Zhutai Sacred Land. It meant “standing alone on a high platform, vying for supremacy under heaven.”

But good times didn’t last long. After spending all his own wealth and resources to successfully establish the Zhutai Sacred Land, not even a few decades had passed before the Great Han came marching in. They destroyed the original kingdom, restricted the range of activities for demons on Overcast Mountain, and issued numerous laws to curb the lawlessness of demons and monsters. Back then, Gao He, for the sake of his life’s work, the Zhutai Sacred Land, endured it! Whatever the Great Han said, he did, without resisting. Later, he got to know Su Yun. Gao He thought he saw a bright and promising future, but then... the matter was exposed, and Su Yun fled.

Only the Zhutai Sacred Land remained, rooted here. The sacred land’s arrays, the sect’s facilities, the herb garden with its spiritual materials, and all sorts of things were all here. How could it possibly be moved away in such a short time? If he gave up all these things and ran, then the efforts and hard work of most of Gao He’s life would be gone. In theory, sunk costs shouldn’t influence major decisions. But when it really came down to it, who could truly make up their mind to abandon everything they had worked so hard to build? It was like spending half a lifetime, finally buying a house, paying off the mortgage, and then something happens that forces you to leave immediately, with no time to even sell the house, and you’ll never own it again. Who could handle that?

Turning to look back, his gaze fell on the half-mountain before him. The entire Zhutai Sacred Land was shrouded in the death threat of Lu Ding. Looking at these lesser demons, Gao He smiled.

“They are all my disciples, all my students, all my life’s work. How could I bear to have you all wait for death with me?...” “Enough, enough...”

He raised his hand and struck the bell. The sound echoed throughout the mountains and fields.

Within the Zhutai Sacred Land, every goblin, spirit, demon, and monster that heard the bell’s sound put down what they were doing, straightened up, and prepared to listen to the Sacred Lord’s address. Then they heard Gao He’s voice ring out.

“I am Gao He, the Sacred Lord of the Zhutai Sacred Land. Now, the Zhutai Sacred Land faces danger. The 749 Bureau is eyeing us covetously, and Lu Ding kills demons like it’s second nature. The Zhutai Sacred Land may suffer a great catastrophe. Your cultivations are weak, and if you stay here, your lives will likely be lost. As of today, the Zhutai Sacred Land is dissolved. I will scatter rare natural treasures, spells, and secret techniques among the mountains and forests. Those who are fated may claim them, and do not let them fall into outsiders’ hands. After you take the treasures, each of you should flee for your lives. Remember, the farther you go, the better. The road ahead is long; though the Zhutai has fallen, the Dao will not be severed. If fate allows, we shall meet again...”

When these words came out, all the demons in the Zhutai Sacred Land stood frozen in shock. Although they knew what had been happening on Overcast Mountain these past few days, they never imagined it would be the Zhutai Sacred Land’s turn so quickly. Even though this place was a demon force, what Gao He implemented was a perfect copy of the operating methods of those human sacred lands he had visited during his travels back in the day. It emphasized unity, a sense of belonging, and so on. So, when his words fell, the goblins of the mountains cried out, and the demon cultivators across the fields shouted.

“Sacred Lord, we’re not leaving!! I am willing to live and die with the Zhutai Sacred Land!”

“My parents gave me life, but the Zhutai Sacred Land raised me. If I flee alone, wouldn’t I be no different from an ungrateful, treacherous person!?”

“Sacred Lord, we’re not afraid of the 749 Bureau, and we’re not afraid of Lu Ding! Please, don’t drive us away. I’ve lived here since I was little. This is my home!!!”

“Lu Ding has lost all conscience, slaughtering our demon race! If we avoid his edge today and run without a fight, I would be betraying my own heart, Sacred Lord!!!”

The mournful cries pierced the air. Listening to them, Gao He’s eyes glistened with tears.

If it weren’t for the Great Han, wouldn’t a Zhutai Sacred Land like this be prosperous!? If it weren’t for Lu Ding, wouldn’t a Zhutai Sacred Land like this grow strong!! Heaven nurtures the Great Han, Heaven gives birth to Lu Ding, and Heaven dooms the Zhutai!!!!!

Gao He said nothing else, only repeating, “Go... go... all of you, go...”

That solitary figure slowly walked toward the sacred hall of the Zhutai Sacred Land, step by step, ascending to the Sacred Lord’s seat and secretly activating the array. Whether the disciples left or stayed was their own choice. Gao He wanted them to leave. Preserve the embers of the Zhutai, so one day the fire could spread across the plains. But Gao He himself would not leave.

Even if he died!!! He would die right here in the Zhutai Sacred Land! He would wait here, await the arrival of the 749 Bureau, await the arrival of Lu Ding!!! In his glorious life, traveling across all directions, even in death, he would ignite his final moment of brilliance!!!!

The demons all over the mountain surged toward the highest sacred hall. But they were blocked by the array and kept outside, only able to beg bitterly beyond it for Gao He to change his mind.

Of course, that was the case for the vast majority, those willing to stand with the Zhutai Sacred Land and Gao He to face the 749 Bureau and Lu Ding! But there was also a small minority. For instance, the Azure Wolf Elder of this Zhutai Sacred Land.

“If I can pass the news of the Zhutai Sacred Land’s dissolution and the demons’ intention to flee separately to Lu Ding in time... then wouldn’t that...” His eyes flickered.

The Azure Wolf clan, on Overcast Mountain, wasn’t exactly a formidable tribe, but it wasn’t small either. In the old days, when various powers carved up Overcast Mountain, the Azure Wolf clan had no choice but to rely on a strong force, so they pledged themselves to the Zhutai Sacred Land. Now that the White Sun Palace had been wiped out and the Zhutai Sacred Land was also in jeopardy, if he could make a smart move at a time like this, Overcast Mountain would still be here, but the forces on it would be completely cleansed by Lu Ding. Then, wouldn’t it be “when the mountain has no tigers, the monkey calls himself king”? He could also get in good with Lu Ding and earn merit with the 749 Bureau.

The Azure Wolf Elder dared not imagine how bright his future and the Azure Wolf clan’s future would be!!! Although he had been very loyal to the Zhutai Sacred Land before, now that Gao He, the Sacred Lord himself, had declared its dissolution, shouldn’t he be planning well for his own future?

With that thought, while the entire sacred land was still immersed in grief, the Azure Wolf Elder quietly slipped away, flying without hesitation toward Black Phoenix Gathering.

Before long.

At the White Sun Palace battlefield.

Yan Feifan held his phone as he walked toward Lu Ding, who was reviewing his gains.

“Brother Lu, Zhou Chu sent you a message.”

Lu Ding’s phone was usually given to Yan Feifan to carry. Mainly because it was inconvenient for him to fight with it; it could easily get smashed. To keep it from breaking, he’d have to toss it into the Red Coffin. But there was no signal inside, so sometimes when urgent matters came up, he wouldn’t receive the messages.