Lu Ding never expected that Abbot Kongshi would give such an extremely precious item as a thank-you gift.
But he had already refused once before.
Refusing again now would be somewhat disrespectful.
He accepted the pill box.
With one Perfect Ascension Pill, plus the reward from the Wei Gao mission, and the reward for recovering the Rabbit Head...
Lu Ding could only say that this time, he would leap four minor realms and break through one major realm bottleneck, directly entering Heavenly Perception.
Listen to that—does that even sound like something a human would say?
He was practically about to take off right on the spot.
"Thank you, Abbot Kongshi."
As Lu Ding expressed his gratitude, he instinctively glanced at the sky.Heavenly Lord, I will continue to call you Lord, the kind with kisses.
This was completely like sending him an extraordinary opportunity because they were afraid he couldn't reach Heavenly Perception in one go.
Just moments ago, Lu Ding had been complaining inside the cave.
And then, hey!!
He came out and got it!
The main feature was being responsive to requests, fast, and efficient.
"It should be me thanking you."
Abbot Kongshi said, then glanced again at the Demon Suppression Cave: "Chiseltooth... is dead?"
Lu Ding nodded: "Dead."
Abbot Kongshi thought Chiseltooth had died under the cleansing suppression of the senior's Buddhist teachings, saying: "Such a fierce beast, to think it would..."
"Actually, it wasn't that easy—thick-skinned and tough, really quite difficult to kill."
Lu Ding's words made Abbot Kongshi pause.
"You... killed Chiseltooth!?"
He knew Lu Ding was strong, but he didn't know Lu Ding was this outrageously powerful.
And in such a short time inside... he killed Chiseltooth?
What did their bitter battle back then count for then?
"Ah, yes."
"Then... then the senior remains inside weren't suppressing it?"
Just as Lu Ding hesitated about whether to tell the truth,
Abbot Kongshi said very seriously: "I beg Grand Duke Lu to tell me honestly."
"Your senior remains—it ate all of them into its stomach..."
"VILE BEAST!!!!"
Abbot Kongshi instantly broke down. Those senior remains included his senior brothers and his master.
The Demon Suppression Cave could practically be considered Lionheart Temple's alternative ancestral graves.
For Chiseltooth to actually swallow those remains—how was this any different from digging up their ancestral graves?
Then Abbot Kongshi thought of something else.
"Chiseltooth ate the remains, and the remains protected Wutian, doesn't that mean..."
"You're right, but I've already cut Wutian out, and he's alive and kicking now, so don't worry."
Lu Ding knew that chatting with the master would go on forever.
He added: "I have matters to attend to here, so I'll take my leave first."
As he spoke, Lu Ding took out Chiseltooth's teeth and other materials and placed them before Deputy Director Ji.
"Deputy Director Ji, could you help me organize these and convert them to contribution points deposited to my account? I'll head out first—still need to submit the mission."
Deputy Director Ji was deeply moved inside.
Though it wasn't his first time interacting with Lu Ding, he still wanted to say: Lu Ding's way of doing things is absolutely impeccable!!!
Right now, Lingshun was short of everything, and materials from Chiseltooth—even fiercer than ordinary Heavenly Perception experts—were the rarest of the rare.
For Lu Ding to let him handle the organization—this was indirectly supporting Lingshun 749.
"Leave it to me!!"
Deputy Director Ji patted his chest in assurance.
With matters now completed,
Lu Ding took off with An Wuyang, directly soaring into the air toward the main bureau.
On the other side,
Outside the main entrance of 749 Headquarters.
Lü Ao, this chief deputy director, had been waiting for a long time.
The moment Lu Ding boarded the plane, he had received the news.
To show respect for the meritorious contributor,
He personally came to the main entrance to welcome him!!!
Of course, ordinary people definitely wouldn't get this treatment—only Lu Ding could have such grand reception.
Talent was one condition for importance, but not the whole picture. Look at Lu Ding's efficiency?
How long did it take him to complete the mission!
Though the detailed report hadn't come up yet, he knew about the death of Tianxing Group's leader, the release of the national calamity, and the killing of the Demon Dragon.
The only thing he didn't know was that Lu Ding had brought back the Rabbit Head.
For such an investigator with skill, talent, efficiency, and diligence—he absolutely must be treasured like a precious jewel!
The assistant beside him looked at Deputy Director Lü who had been waiting for so long and advised: "Director Lü, how about we go back first? Lingshun said Lu Ding temporarily went to handle Wutian's matter there."
"You're just waiting here, and so many people are watching."
Lü Ao turned to look at him: "What the hell do you mean 'so many people are watching'? I'm such a big deputy director—am I afraid of people looking? I'm not some young maiden."
"Welcoming a meritorious contributor back—waiting here shows attitude. If we only come out to welcome when people reach the door, that's just acting."
"Damn it all, I don't deal with these fake formalities."
He knew the assistant meant well, but this well-meaning advice didn't match his working standards, so it wouldn't do!
Deputy Director Lü looked at the sky and smiled happily: "He's here."
In his field of vision, Lu Ding rushed over with An Wuyang.
Deputy Director Lü waved and shouted: "Over here!!"
This actually made Lu Ding somewhat confused—he didn't know him, had never seen Deputy Director Lü before, and people at this level didn't casually have their photos circulating.
Then, An Wuyang said beside him: "Deputy Director Lü actually came to personally welcome us."
Now Lu Ding recognized him.
He descended and landed before Deputy Director Lü.
For such a high-ranking deputy director to personally welcome him here—this was attitude.
So Lu Ding also had to show his own attitude.
"Really sorry, leader, that you had to greet me first. It's just that before, I only heard your mighty reputation like thunder, but never saw your true face though I've long admired you. I failed to recognize the gold inlaid with jade—please forgive me, leader."
Polite, knows boundaries, gets things done, talented, and strong.
Who wouldn't like such a person anywhere they go?
Deputy Director Lü laughed, showing his big teeth: "Hahahaha damn it all, I've become gold inlaid with jade! That sounds good!!"
The assistant beside him: ......
A single "gold inlaid with jade" compliment and you're so pleased you can't find north.
Before, when those people complimented you for three days and three nights, you wouldn't even bat an eye, and would even curse with a 'damn it all'.
"Literary and martial prowess Grand Duke Lu—indeed not falsely spread hahahahahaha."
Deputy Director Lü enthusiastically grabbed Lu Ding's hand and led him inside.
While handing the prepared documents and report to the assistant beside him, Lu Ding modestly said: "No, no, I just have a clever tongue, still need your guidance."
"Being too modest now. In my view, speaking well is literary skill, hitting hard is martial prowess—damn it all, who else but you embodies both literary and martial excellence?"
Whether in words or eyes, what shone through was full appreciation for Lu Ding.
All the way to his office, he never let go of Lu Ding's hand.
The moment they entered,
Lu Ding's attention was immediately drawn to a display cabinet in the room.
What was placed inside was none other than
The twelve bronze heads.
Eleven of the twelve positions were filled, only the final Rabbit Head missing to complete the set.
Seeing his interested expression, Deputy Director Lü said beside him:
"The twelve bronze heads represent the twelve zodiac animals—one of our Great Han's unique national symbols."
"Besides cultural significance, they are also rare and precious treasures. Just one missing—if we could complete the set, that would be truly extraordinary."
While preparing to take out the Rabbit Head, Lu Ding continued the conversation without letting it drop: "How extraordinary?"
"Let me put it this way: decades ago, Second Circle Great Han established a new city, wanting to build it into the best and largest trade and economic city."
"Later, the new city attracted hundreds of major forces to establish presence, but because development was too rapid, it attracted covetous attention from certain parties, triggering a major battle. Though maximum losses were avoided in time,"
"This place became where day and night couldn't be distinguished, time and hours were chaotic, truly hindering Second Circle Great Han's development progress."
"We could only build another new city, but because the original new city developed too brilliantly, it made surrounding other forces wary. The originally agreed-upon auspicious land—they wouldn't let us have it, wouldn't sell it."
Deputy Director Lü sighed and shook his head: "Sigh...... If we could complete the twelve bronze heads and send them to the Second Circle to fix years and months, divide hours, separate day and night, we wouldn't be stuck like this."