PCJ – Chapter 416 The Monster Reveals Its True Form

Those holding guns weren’t He Shouye’s men, but the Xintian County SWAT team. Moreover, their weapons weren’t ordinary firearms but tranquilizer guns. Earlier, Xie Yunliu had realized there was something extraordinary hidden in Luoa Pond and had made a request through the film crew to Xintian County for support. To keep the production of Great Tomb Chronicles in the area, Xintian County was willing to meet any demand. When the crew asked for assistance, the county immediately dispatched a SWAT team armed with tranquilizer guns specifically designed for handling large beasts.

This preparation stemmed from an incident years ago when a large beast attacked a village near Meizi’ao Valley, resulting in casualties. Since then, the SWAT team in Xintian County had been equipped with these specialized tranquilizer guns.

However, Zhang Jiaohua and his young companions couldn’t tell the difference between ordinary firearms and tranquilizer guns. The sight of those guns left them stunned.

“Jiaohua, we should leave. What if a bullet hits us by accident?” Zhang Yuanbao’s face turned pale.

“Are they bad guys?” Mute Boy, feeling uneasy, stiffened nervously.

Zhang Jiaohua’s mouth hung open as his breathing quickened, his heart pounding wildly, as though it might leap out of his chest.

“Jiaohua, let’s go!” Zhang Yuanbao pleaded.

Mute Boy didn’t speak, but his expression conveyed the same sentiment.

“Fine, we’ll move further away,” Zhang Jiaohua said, leading Mute Boy and Zhang Yuanbao up the hill.

On the mountainside, they found a large rock to hide behind, peering cautiously at Luoa Pond from their position. The spot allowed them to observe what was happening in the pond while staying out of sight from the people on the embankment. Even if bullets flew, they wouldn’t reach the three of them here.

“This spot should be safe,” Zhang Jiaohua muttered after surveying the area.

“Jiaohua, what kind of creature do you think is in the pond? I couldn’t see it clearly earlier—it just looked like a dark mass,” Zhang Yuanbao asked, his nerves slightly calmed.

“I have no idea. I couldn’t see it either. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. They’re going to suffer today. This thing is worse than the one in the mountain pool across the valley. That Taoist priest won’t be able to handle it. They’re way too bold, thinking one scruffy priest can deal with it,” Zhang Jiaohua scoffed.

“Will it come after us?” Mute Boy asked worriedly.

“This creature is peculiar, like it can’t leave Luoa Pond. If it could, it would have hidden in the deep mountains already. Why would it stay in the pond? It seems to be guarding something here,” Zhang Jiaohua speculated. He couldn’t understand why the creature stayed by Luoa Pond. Could it be guarding the cave? This place felt similar to the tomb behind Dalu Fort, but in his dreams, Zhang Jiaohua hadn’t found any memory in Chengdao’s mind about such a creature. Could this be a completely different kind of tomb?

Before he could figure it out, the pond stirred again.

All the diesel pumps were running at full capacity, rapidly lowering the water level in the pond. The creature inside became agitated as the water level fell below its safety threshold. Years ago, when the village used dozens of water wheels to draw water from the pond, the creature had remained unbothered because the water level hadn’t dropped to a critical point.

Now, after already being provoked earlier, the creature’s perceived territory was under threat again.

The water in Luoa Pond suddenly churned like boiling soup, forming massive whirlpools and waves crashing against the embankment.

“The monster’s coming out! Run for your lives!”

Terrified workers fled in panic from the embankment, some so frantic they tumbled down the slopes, screaming in pain.

“It’s a monster! It’s coming out!” Zhang Yuanbao trembled violently.

Mute Boy stammered, “Th-this monster is terrifying!”

Even Drilling Leopard, their animal companion, bristled with fur standing on end, sensing the overwhelming threat.

Fat Monkey hid behind Zhang Jiaohua, covering its eyes with its paws, too scared to look at the pond.

The black cat paced restlessly around Zhang Jiaohua, clearly uneasy.

In a flash, the embankment emptied of people, leaving only the diesel pumps humming away and Xie Yunliu standing firm. The SWAT officers from Xintian County held their positions, faces grim. If they’d witnessed what happened earlier, they might have bolted too.

Suddenly, the water at the center of Luoa Pond surged upward, and a massive black figure burst out.

This time, the creature didn’t conceal itself with mist, giving Zhang Jiaohua and the others a clear view.

“A giant softshell turtle!” Zhang Yuanbao shouted, pointing at the beast.

Zhang Jiaohua couldn’t tell the difference between a turtle and a softshell turtle, but this thing did look like a giant softshell turtle. Still, he couldn’t understand how Yuanbao, who had been terrified earlier, was suddenly so bold. He quickly pulled Yuanbao back behind the rock.

“Are you crazy? What if that thing decides we’re easy prey and comes after us?” Zhang Jiaohua scolded.

Realizing the danger, Yuanbao stuck out his tongue nervously and ducked back behind the rock.

When Xie Yunliu saw the creature emerge, he immediately ordered, “Fire!”

The six SWAT officers took aim and fired their tranquilizer darts. These imported weapons, designed to handle large beasts, were long-range, highly accurate, and capable of piercing through tough hide.

However, Xie Yunliu, having seen the creature, knew the tranquilizers wouldn’t work.

“A turtle? How could tranquilizer darts penetrate its shell? Only specialized armor-piercing weapons might hurt it,” he thought grimly.

Sure enough, the tranquilizer darts bounced harmlessly off the turtle’s shell, splashing into the water. The lack of effect enraged the massive turtle.

The creature let out a guttural roar, like a furious beast, and charged toward the embankment. The SWAT team fired repeatedly, but to no avail.

Calm and composed, Xie Yunliu pulled a talisman from his pocket, muttered an incantation, and activated it. A massive fireball materialized in his hand, which he hurled at the turtle.

“Boom!”

The fireball exploded like a bomb, sending shockwaves through the air.

Unconcerned about subtlety in this remote area, Xie Yunliu had no reservations using his powers.

The SWAT team stared wide-eyed, their worldview shattered by this display of mystical prowess.

Yet the turtle, though shaken by the explosion, emerged relatively unscathed, its formidable shell absorbing most of the impact.

Xie Yunliu’s expression darkened. He retrieved several more talismans, their advanced craftsmanship evident, and activated them all at once. Bolts of mystic lightning streaked toward the turtle.

The creature tried to evade but was too slow. The lightning struck its body, searing its flesh and releasing a putrid stench.

Enraged, the turtle roared in pain, leaping from the water and charging toward the embankment.

As it drew closer, the SWAT team got a better look at its massive size, its shell resembling an enormous iron cauldron and its head dragon-like in appearance.

“What is that thing?”

One SWAT officer, overcome with fear, began retreating, followed by the others. They realized this battle was beyond human means; staying would only lead to needless sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Xie Yunliu braced himself, knowing the fight was far from over. Though his lightning had hurt the beast, it wasn’t enough to stop it. He prepared to unleash his ultimate techniques.