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

Originally, the [Rivers and Mountains, Society and Millet Painting] had more prestige than practical use.

But now, paired with this [Ink-Stained Mountains and Rivers], the [Rivers and Mountains, Society and Millet Painting]’s strength would skyrocket to an overpowered level.

Although the consumption was also huge.

But when you have a hundred lice, you stop feeling the itch.

Lu Ding already possessed many high-consumption divine abilities and spells.

For others, mastering just one would require not just ancestral graves burning incense, but their ancestors achieving nuclear fusion.

Lu Ding, however, had mastered many.

He simply couldn’t use them all, no matter how hard he tried.

It was only when he saw Gao He’s ‘Black Pine Envoy’ species that Lu Ding realized.No wonder the guy was somewhat refined.

Turns out he was a scholar.

His roots weren’t bad after all.

The [Cloud Immortal Miscellany] recorded:

[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had an inkstone called Dragon Scent Elixir... One day, he saw a small Daoist the size of a fly walking on the ink. He scolded it, and it immediately shouted, ”Long live Your Majesty! I am the essence of ink, the Black Pine Envoy... All literary men in the world... have the Twelve Dragon Guests on their ink.” The Emperor revered this... and distributed the ink to his civil officials.]

Basically, it said that one day, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was studying some calligraphy and painting, and just as he was about to start writing, he saw a tiny figure the size of a fly on his ink.

Emperor Xuanzong looked, got a bit angry, and immediately said, ”Your moth—”

The little figure quickly interrupted, ”Your Majesty, don’t say that.”

”I am the goblin on this ink, and I am called the Black Pine Envoy. All men of literary talent in the world have one of the Twelve Dragon Guests on their ink. I am one of them. My existence is entirely because Your Majesty’s talent soars to the heavens...”

A flurry of flattery made Emperor Xuanzong feel all warm and fuzzy...

Although this little story seems dry and lacking in substance.

But when combined with the circumstances of the Tang Dynasty, its broader context, and one of the protagonists, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, it becomes quite interesting.

In other dynasties, a Master would not discuss strange occurrences, feats of strength, disorder, or the supernatural.

In the Tang Dynasty, every emperor had fresh stories.

Starting from Emperor Yang of Sui’s dream, where a great flood washed away the capital, turning Chang’an into a vast ocean, leaving only three plum trees standing unharmed.

To Emperor Taizong of Tang being startled in the middle of the night and calling for Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong to act as door gods.

It was as if the Tang Dynasty had been accompanied by these mysterious events from the very beginning.

Emperor Xuanzong’s encounter with the Dragon Guest was no different.

According to unofficial folklore, it was after encountering the [Black Pine Envoy] that Emperor Xuanzong’s condition gradually began to decline.

Of course, not his physical condition.

But his clarity in governing.

How formidable was Emperor Xuanzong in his early years? At less than ten years old, he dared to argue with Empress Wu Zetian, and later he launched a coup, took back power, and single-handedly created the Kaiyuan Golden Age. Yet, in the latter half of his life, the An Lushan Rebellion occurred.

Whether it was fate or the times, in the end, there was still Emperor Xuanzong’s own reason for it.

If only he had died a bit earlier, he would have been someone who could compete with Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han.

As for comparison, it’s a matter of opinion.

But it just so happened that Emperor Xuanzong lived long, becoming the longest-reigning emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and even had his eye on his daughter-in-law.

Unbearable.

The contrast was too great, as if he had changed into a different person.

In the early period, he was a big, tough guy; in the later period, he was a soft, gummy bear.

Thinking of this, Lu Ding shook his head helplessly.

”It’s all fate.”

”Obtaining this Ink-Stained Mountains and Rivers is also my fate!”

He happened to need this kind of divine ability and spell right now.

Once he finished up here and returned to the new city, he could use this [Ink-Stained Mountains and Rivers] combined with the [Rivers and Mountains, Society and Millet Painting] to carry out efficient infrastructure construction in the western region.

Saving money and trouble.

Rapid development!

Perfect!

Now, the only remaining forces on Overcast Mountain were the insignificant and harmless Celestial Armor Beetle clan, and the Great Wilderness Realm, whose exact location was essentially unknown.

The Great Wilderness Realm was considered the most ancient force on Overcast Mountain.

It could be said to be the hidden, reclusive paradise of Overcast Mountain.

Lu Ding had no idea how Su Yun had connected with the people of the Great Wilderness Realm.

It left him wanting to deal with the Great Wilderness Realm but unable to find where it was.

This thing was always hiding and concealing itself.

Not to mention Lu Ding, even the other forces on Overcast Mountain didn’t know where the door to the Great Wilderness Realm opened.

At most, they could only see the people of the Great Wilderness Realm walking outside.

Lu Ding thought about it and realized he needed to figure something out.

No rush for now.

First, clean up the battlefield at Zhutai Sacred Land.

As the investigators finished their inventory and accounting.

The materials, rare natural treasures, and various other items were sorted out.

Overall, Zhutai Sacred Land was much wealthier than White Sun Palace.

All kinds of good stuff needed to be hauled away by train or high-speed rail.

Needless to say, the rare natural treasures alone included things Lu Ding could use. As for how much, he’d have to wait until he got back and Yan Feifan finished the detailed inventory before he knew.

How formidable was Emperor Xuanzong in his early years? At less than ten years old, he dared to argue with Empress Wu Zetian, and later he launched a coup, took back power, and single-handedly created the Golden Age of Kaiyuan. Yet, in the latter half of his life, the An Lushan Rebellion occurred.

But!!!!

The investigators had found the protective sect array blueprint of Zhutai Sacred Land within the sacred land.

Yan Feifan brought the array over: ”Brother Lu, take a quick look!”

He was very excited.

He had witnessed firsthand how powerful Zhutai Sacred Land’s array had been earlier.

In a head-on clash, Lu Ding had even had one of his [Formation-Piercing King-Tipping Lances] destroyed.

Its value was incredibly high.

Lu Ding took the blueprint and examined it carefully.

”Isn’t this the Zhutai Sacred Land array I just destroyed?”

Yan Feifan nodded: ”Right, Brother Lu. If we can install this in the western region, the defensive capabilities of the west will be raised to another level.”

”Plus, according to this blueprint’s description, the array has functions like quick positioning and identity authentication. Once it’s installed in the west, our investigators will be able to carry out missions much faster.”

”Before, I was browsing the headquarters’ APP to see if I could get any array for the west, but they were all too expensive. Astronomical numbers.”

”Now that we have this blueprint, we can save a huge amount!”

Yan Feifan spoke excitedly, but Lu Ding was focused on the various materials required as stated on the array diagram.

He frowned slightly: ”Just the cost of these materials alone will be a lot of money. Given the current finances of the western region, I’m afraid it might be a bit difficult.”

Yan Feifan calmed down for a moment: ”True, but that’s okay. Once the port opens and money starts pouring in, we can raise the standard commercial taxes, personal income taxes, import taxes, and the like. It should accumulate pretty quickly.”

”After all, the west has been extremely lax in this area, so there’s a lot of room for maneuver.”

It wasn’t about increasing taxes.

It was about fully importing the Great Han’s tax system.

This one change alone would add significant revenue to the western 749 Bureau.

The reason the west hadn’t done this before was mainly because it was poor.

Plus, there was a lack of unity. The 749 Bureau didn’t have the authority it had under Lu Ding. Even if orders were issued, few would listen. And even if they seemed to agree on the surface, when it was actually time to pay up, the people who should pay taxes would find every way—both legitimate and illegitimate—to avoid it.

But now, with Lu Ding in charge of the west, things were different.

Who dared to evade taxes?

He’d have those motherfuckers arrested immediately.