Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

The dam exploded in the center of the lake, creating huge waves.

A wail like that of a baby.

Chen Qian walked towards the side of the boat, already knowing.

The water monster is dead!

Just now, Ni Shengyan's flying sword killed the Water Hou.

Everyone is fighting over the black coffin, so why is Ni Shengyan chasing after the Water Hou?

Just as the tall, beautiful woman was wondering what was going on, another violent explosion occurred underwater.

It was even more intense than before.

"Hmm... what's going on?"

After sensing for a while, Chen Qian looked slightly puzzled.

The explosion was not caused by anything else.

It was that black coffin.

An explosion rang out from inside the black coffin, revealing only a few dozen fire-elemental explosive talismans.

The black coffin was completely empty.

Sun Chan's expression changed. "This is bad, it's a trap!"

Zhuo Sheng, the commander of Tianzhu Prefecture, also lowered his gaze and looked again at the water beast in the lake dam.

The Qi Refining Puppet has already set off.

Sun Chan reacted the fastest, activating the Fish King Basket. The phantom of the giant bamboo basket materialized in mid-air, attempting to collect the corpse of the water beast pierced by the flying sword.

The runes on Zhuo Sheng's red armor glowed like a furnace.

He pushed his physique to its limit.

"Damn Gong Yuzhou."

Zhuo Sheng had already deduced the whole story in his mind: the black coffin was bait to lure them all here, while Ni Shengyan took the opportunity to ride her flying sword and kill the water beast.

If the water beast hadn't already been injured by him and his puppet, even the "Sword Control Technique" wouldn't have possessed such power.

Zhuo Sheng gritted his teeth, realizing that his battle had actually benefited Gong Yuzhou and Ni Shengyan.

He was furious, and the Bright Divine Armor on his body shone even brighter.

Sun Chan, Zhuo Sheng, and the Qi-refining puppet arrived at the location of the Water Hou once again.

Strangely enough!

Ni Shengyan's flying sword had long since disappeared, leaving only the corpse of the water beast.

The three were puzzled, but Sun Chan ignored them and took out the Fish King Basket to scoop them up.

The Qi Refining Puppet and Zhuo Sheng naturally refused, and the three sides clashed again.

On the surface of the lake.

The aloof woman in white sheathed her magic sword, and the hiltless flying sword obediently hovered in front of her, trembling slightly.

She smiled slightly: "Junior Brother Chen, Senior Sister Haojie, I'll leave the rest of the salvage work to you two."

Chen Mu and Hao Jie had already set up fishing nets and magical artifacts along the side of the large ship, waiting for the right opportunity.

The stableman and several body retrievers scrambled onto the deck, soaking wet, panting heavily, and pale-faced, all still shaken from the ordeal.

All four water monkeys were trapped in a network of water shimmering with spiritual light, unable to move.

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi from the Zhenhe Division also used their magical power to pull and tighten the water net together.

The four water monkeys had already been severely injured and pierced by Ni Shengyan's flying sword, and had no strength left to resist.

Four water monkeys were pulled onto the boat, which was prepared with shrouds.

Gong Yuzhou slowly stepped forward, took out an ancient treasure mirror with flowing light and charm, and slowly brought it close to the four water monkey corpses.

In an instant, ripples spread across the surface of the mirror, and strands of warm, radiant light emanated from it.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi's faces instantly lit up with surprise and delight.

A smile involuntarily crept onto Gong Yuzhou's lips.

A wisp of ethereal, misty aura rose from the treasure mirror, soaring upwards and merging into the sky.

next moment.

A vast, boundless, and terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon the entire river surface.

Gong Yuzhou, Ni Shengyan, and their entourage all bowed respectfully.

Even Chen Qian couldn't help but lower her head in reverence.

In the depths of the vast sky, it seemed as if a pair of invisible giant hands were tearing the sky apart. In the dark void, a pair of indifferent and cold eyes slowly opened, their gaze falling directly on the four corpses of water monkeys in the boat.

Then, a slender, white hand, exuding supreme Daoist charm, slowly emerged from the void.

They collected all four water monkeys and took them away.

After doing all this!

The crack in the sky slowly closed, and the terrifying aura that had been chilling disappeared, returning to a state of calm.

Gong Yuzhou, Chen Qian, and their group bowed again, saying respectfully in unison, "Respectfully seeing off the Director."

The crew of corpse retrievers on the boat were already weak in the knees, and one after another they stumbled and fell onto the deck, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Although they had never felt that oppressive aura before, they knew of it.

That is the Daoist aura that only a Foundation Establishment True Person can cultivate.

The being who just reached out and took away the water monkey's corpse was actually a genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Based on the respectful way Gong Yuzhou and the others addressed them, an answer quietly emerged in everyone's mind.

This is the incredibly powerful director of the Zhenhe Division!

They were figures who were so important that even the most dedicated corpse retrievers could never hope to ever reach or behold them in their entire lives.

Wait until the ethereal energy completely dissipates.

Gong Yuzhou slowly straightened up, turned to look at Ni Shengyan beside him, and said, "Junior Sister Ni really didn't lie to me."

From the arrival of Ni Shengyan and his group seeking cooperation, to now, they have truly helped him achieve his goal.

Although Gong Yuzhou didn't know what the director's intention was in finding the four water monkeys.

But it's all over now.

The "Foundation Building Treasure" promised by the Director can be claimed once his cultivation reaches the late stage of Qi Refining.

This time!

A puppet broke through the water's surface, followed by Sun Chan and Zhuo Sheng.

From the moment that aura appeared, the three of them already knew what was going on.

Gong Yuzhou has already won the first prize.

The corpse of the water monster at the bottom of the lake had been torn into eight pieces and crushed into mud by the three enraged men.

Who would have thought that what the director wanted were those four water monkeys?

Sun Chan's face darkened: "Gong Yuzhou, just you wait."

The puppet machine expanded and changed, eventually becoming a square box before being retrieved.

Zhuo Sheng walked back to the large ship in silence.

A barefoot, beautiful woman swayed forward and greeted them with a smile, saying, "Commander, you've worked hard."

Zhuo Sheng snorted coldly, ignored Chen Qian, and left with his Dao soldiers.

Chen Mu watched from afar as the various factions left, and everything came to an end.

He looked away, his eyes filled with envy.

This Gong Yuzhou, having already obtained a Foundation Establishment treasure promised by the Zhenhe Division at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, has a promising future ahead of him.

However, he also felt a bit more wary of Gong Yuzhou, aside from the news they brought—that what the Director of the River Control Bureau wanted was on those four water monkeys.

Today's plans and strategies were all devised by this person.

The black coffin that was buried at the bottom of the water was empty, containing only a few dozen exploding talismans.

The ointment that the body retrievers smeared on their bodies was actually bait to attract water monkeys.

Otherwise, how would Xunshan Hall know the secret recipe for the ointment?

The final outcome was almost exactly as expected.

Chen Mu looked at the guard and saw him casually playing with the white snake in his hand.

This person is skilled in scheming.

Going forward, we must either not become enemies, or if we do become enemies, we must eliminate any future threats.

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi were also delighted, even though they had not received the Foundation Establishment Treasure promised by the Director.

However, after this mission, the Zhenhe Division will surely reward them handsomely, and they will take another big step towards being promoted to guards.

Ni Shengyan smiled and said, "I only hope that Senior Brother Gong will keep his promise."

Gong Yuzhou nodded, but couldn't help but wonder what important matter Ni Shengyan had asked him to help with.

They actually sent a Foundation Establishment treasure to our doorstep.

Yang Yueqi smiled and said, "How about Senior Brother Gong treats us to a meal at Tianxiang Restaurant tomorrow?"

Yuan Shao chimed in, "That would be good, at least we could fleece a wealthy family!"

Everyone chatted and laughed, enjoying themselves immensely.

The group of corpse retrievers continued to stare at the water, but no one came up for a long time.

The stable boy was sobbing uncontrollably, choking out, "Zhao-ge'er, didn't you promise you wouldn't die?"

"You lied to me again."

A ripple spread across the water's surface.

One person broke the surface of the water.