16: The counterattack and foundation-building shocked the whole city!

Li Dong returned to the Demon Suppression Division outpost as dusk approached.

The setting sun cast a warm glow on the Demon Suppression Division buildings, but the air still carried a tense, bloody scent.

His clothes were somewhat tattered, covered in dirt and dried blood, remnants from the Black Scaled Python.

However, he appeared perfectly normal, his aura even stronger, as he had just reached Body Refining Sixth Level, though it wasn't obvious, making it impossible to tell he had just fought a life-or-death battle.

He went directly to find Zhang Wu.

Zhang Wu was reviewing documents; seeing Li Dong return, he first felt relieved, then frowned, noticing Li Dong's somewhat dishevelled state.

"You're back? How was the mission?" Zhang Wu put down his pen, asking with concern.

He was a little worried; Black Wind Ridge was a place where even routine patrols could encounter danger, let alone the fact that Zhao Zhen clearly harbored ill intentions.

Li Dong nodded, his tone ordinary, as if speaking of a minor matter.

"Yes, I'm back."

He paused, then added, "I encountered some Yao Beasts at the mission location, over a dozen Bloodthirsty Jackals and a Body Refinement Fifth Level leader. I dealt with all of them."

Zhang Wu listened and nodded; he had anticipated this. Li Dong's previous strength test showed him to be very powerful, so dealing with these should be no problem.

"Not bad. You're not injured, are you?"

Li Dong shook his head: "No."

He looked at Zhang Wu and continued in a calm tone, "Later, I also encountered a Black Scaled Python, an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm one."

Zhang Wu picked up his teacup to drink, but his hand suddenly froze.

He thought he had misheard.

"What did you say?" Zhang Wu's voice rose, and his eyes widened, "A Black Scaled Python? An Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm one?"

That was a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast!

Body Tempering Realm Martial Artists couldn't fight it at all!

Even a Peak Body Refining Ninth Level Martial Artist would be in great danger encountering an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast!

Li Dong was only at Peak Body Refining Fifth Level (Zhang Wu didn't know he had just had a Breakthrough); how could he possibly... "Yes, Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm." Li Dong repeated, his face expressionless, as if discussing the weather.

He didn't explain how he fought, how he fused his skills, or how he nearly ran out of Qi; he only stated the result.

"And then?" Zhang Wu was very nervous, looking at Li Dong, "Did you... did you escape?"

He thought it was already impressive that Li Dong could escape from a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast.

But Li Dong's next words struck Zhang Wu like a bolt of lightning.

"I didn't escape." Li Dong said calmly, "I killed it."

"..."

Zhang Wu was completely stunned, his mind blank.

The teacup in his hand fell onto the table, hot tea spilling out, but he didn't even notice.

Killed it?

Killed an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Black Scaled Python?

Is this kid talking nonsense?!

Zhang Wu stood up and stared at Li Dong, trying to see if he was lying or joking.

But he wasn't.

Li Dong's eyes were clear and calm, not fake.

It was the feeling of someone who had experienced a life-and-death battle, supremely confident in his own strength.

"You... say that again?" Zhang Wu's voice trembled slightly; he needed to confirm it again.

"I said, I killed that Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Black Scaled Python." Li Dong said, word for word, his tone still calm.

He also briefly described the battle process, such as using his newly learned seal to break its defense, and the final blow.

Although he spoke very simply, the danger and strength involved astonished Zhang Wu, an old Demon Suppression Division member.

Zhang Wu looked at the young man before him, silent for a long time.

He had no choice but to believe it.

Li Dong, this young man from Li Family Village, who held the direct pass, had actually killed a Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast with his Body Refining Fifth Level (he thought) strength!

What kind of talent and combat power was this!

He was simply a monster! No, a Prodigy!

Zhang Wu was deeply shocked, and the way he looked at Li Dong changed.

It was no longer just the care and hope one would show an old friend's descendant, but shock, admiration, and even a hint of awe!

This kid is definitely going to be formidable in the future!

Li Shanyue's son truly was different!

This news was too astonishing; Zhang Wu couldn't accept it immediately.

He needed to calm down and consider the implications of this matter.

He didn't announce it right away, only looked at Li Dong and said in a deep voice, "Good, I understand. You go back and rest first. This matter... I will handle it."

Li Dong nodded; he had said all he needed to say. He trusted Zhang Wu to handle it.

He also mentioned the strange scent on the giant python and his suspicions, reminding Zhang Wu.

After listening, Zhang Wu's expression grew even more serious, and he said he would remember.

Li Dong left, leaving Zhang Wu alone in the room, unable to calm down for a long time.

However, the news still got out.

The story of Li Dong killing a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast somehow leaked.

Perhaps Zhang Wu was too shocked and accidentally mentioned it to a trusted subordinate.

Or perhaps the deacon recording the mission saw the brief entry in the dossier, was startled, and then shared the big news with others.

In any case, the news spread incredibly fast, like a gust of wind.

"Have you heard? That Li Dong, the country boy who got the direct pass, he actually took down a Black Scaled Python!"

"What? A Black Scaled Python? No way! That's a Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast! You must be joking!"

"Is it true or false? Body Tempering Realm killing Foundation Establishment Realm? There's a limit to bragging!"

"It's true! The news came from Lord Zhang Wu! They say he confirmed it himself!"

"My heavens! Foundation Establishment Realm! How old is that kid? What Body Refining level was he?"

"Wasn't he only Body Refining Fifth Level during the test? Although his strength exceeded the limit... but this is too outrageous!"

"Monster! This kid is definitely a monster!"

The news quickly spread throughout the Demon Suppression Division outpost.

Suddenly, the outpost erupted like a boiling pot.

On the training grounds, in the mess hall, in the corridors, people were discussing it everywhere.

Everyone's first reaction to the news was disbelief, thinking it was a tall tale.

However, as the source of the news was confirmed, and more and more people spoke with conviction, doubt turned into shock, and shock into horror!

Those scions who had previously looked down on Li Dong or were jealous of him now stood speechless, like ducks with their necks choked.

Their proudly cultivated Body Refining Fourth or Fifth Level suddenly became a joke in the face of the terrifying achievement of "slaying a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast"!

They finally understood why Li Dong's strength test result was "exceeding the limit."

It wasn't luck, nor was the force-measuring stone broken.

It was because Li Dong truly possessed terrifying strength far beyond his peers, capable of even threatening the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Li Dong's name, at this moment, was truly etched into the heart of everyone in the outpost.

He was no longer the "lucky bumpkin" or the "kid who got the pass through family connections."

He had become an existence to be revered, not to be easily provoked.

A true Genius! One could even say a Prodigy!

When Zhou Shaoyang heard the news, he was boasting to his followers about how smooth his upcoming Demon Suppression Baptism would be.

When the words "Li Dong slays Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast" reached his ears, the triumphant smile on his face instantly froze, then quickly turned pale, completely drained of color.

"No... impossible..." He muttered to himself, distraught, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

He recalled his previous mockery and provocation towards Li Dong, and Li Dong's calm yet oppressive gaze.

Cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

What kind of monster had he provoked!

Just thinking about Li Dong's ability to slay a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast made Zhou Shaoyang feel weak in the knees; he only wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it, praying that Li Dong wouldn't hold a grudge against him.

Unlike Zhou Shaoyang's fear, Zhao Zhen, upon hearing the news in his room, was filled with extreme rage and disbelief.

"Bang!"

He violently smashed a valuable celadon teacup to the ground, shattering it.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people!" Zhao Zhen's face was distorted with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, pacing back and forth in the room like a trapped beast, roaring in a low voice.

His meticulously planned "certain death trap," for which he had used connections and perhaps even illicit means, had "arranged" that Foundation Establishment Realm Black Scaled Python.

He had originally thought that Li Dong was definitely doomed this time!

Even if he miraculously escaped, he would surely be severely injured and miss the Demon Suppression Baptism!

But what was the result?

Li Dong not only returned unharmed but also counter-killed that Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast?!

This was a blatant slap in his face!

Zhao Zhen's heart was filled with violence and murderous intent, but at the same time, a trace of uncontrollable fear arose.

Li Dong's growth rate was too fast! His strength was too terrifying!

If he continued like this, let alone getting revenge on Li Shanyue, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep himself!

"He must be killed! He must be killed as soon as possible!" Zhao Zhen's eyes flashed with a crazy light; his original plan for the Demon Suppression Baptism now seemed to require more meticulous and vicious execution!

Just as the outpost was abuzz with discussions and undercurrents due to Li Dong's astonishing achievement.

Zhang Wu made a decision.

He could not allow such a Genius to be buried, nor could he let the schemes of people like Zhao Zhen succeed.

Moreover, the value Li Dong displayed was worth his, and indeed the entire Mu Shi County Demon Suppression Division's, investment!

Soon, Zhang Wu, in the name of the selection supervisor, publicly issued a commendation order for Li Dong's completion of the "Black Wind Ridge Extremely Dangerous Mission."

The commendation order unreservedly praised Li Dong's heroic feat of facing danger fearlessly and bravely slaying a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast, calling Li Dong "the future hope of the Demon Suppression Division" and "a role model for the younger generation."

At the same time, Zhang Wu also announced that Li Dong would receive generous rewards, including a large amount of contribution points, Cultivation resources, and even an opportunity to Cultivate in the outpost's internal "Spiritual Qi Secret Chamber."

This public commendation and generous reward undoubtedly showed everyone the high-level Demon Suppression Division's (at least Zhang Wu's faction's) Pay attention to and support for Li Dong.

This was both an affirmation of Li Dong's strength and a silent warning to Zhao Zhen.

The news, once released, caused another sensation.

Those who had been somewhat skeptical were completely silenced.

Li Dong's name not only spread throughout the Demon Suppression Division outpost but also began to diffuse across the entire Mu Shi County.

A young Genius who killed a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast with Body Tempering Realm Cultivation had appeared!

This was undoubtedly one of the most explosive pieces of news in Mu Shi County in recent years.

Li Dong became famous in one battle!

He shattered all doubts and contempt with undeniable strength.

He also laid the most solid foundation for his subsequent Demon Suppression Baptism.

Now, no one dared to question his qualification for the "direct pass" anymore.

People were more curious about what astonishing performance this young man, who always created miracles, would display in the upcoming Demon Suppression Baptism.

As for Li Dong himself, he seemed to be indifferent to all the outside discussions.