The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 299: Chapter 296: Demonic Qi

In the dense mountain forest, the sound of footsteps grew increasingly urgent.

Kong Sen gazed at the Celestial Heart Sect members before him, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Chen Danian had made no progress.

Left with no choice, he had to personally lead his men to hunt down the Celestial Heart Sect demons.

For Kong Sen to have become the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites—a highly lucrative post—and now a high-ranking regional official, he naturally had some ability.

After more than ten days of searching, he had finally gotten one step ahead of the Celestial Heart Sect, setting an ambush in a village and wiping out the cultists responsible for the massacre in one fell swoop.

He had even killed their strongest member with his own hands.

Now, only the battered remnants of their force were left.

Soon, all of them were killed, except for two Celestial Heart Sect cultists who escaped into the forest.

"Lord Kong, you are truly a pillar of our nation. A meteoric rise is surely in your future."

Chen Danian gushed with a sycophantic expression.

Although he was old enough to be Kong Sen’s grandfather, in the world of officialdom, seniority had always been determined by rank.

Not to mention, Kong Sen was a protégé of the current Grand Protector.

Kong Sen glanced at Chen Danian, feeling a wave of annoyance.

If not for Chen Danian’s incompetence, he wouldn’t have had to handle the capture himself.

’He actually found himself missing Bai Yuan a little...’

"Take some men and capture those two Demons. Avoid any more bloodshed."

"Yes!"

Chen Danian immediately led his men in pursuit of the two black-robed figures.

The two black-robed figures were just ordinary Entering Martial Artists, and Chen Danian was confident he could deal with them easily.

The reason he had been so slow to achieve anything was not just that the Celestial Heart Sect demons were cunning, but also that he had no desire to put himself in harm’s way.

Though he was old, he still had several decades left to live—prime years for enjoyment, and he wasn’t willing to lose his life.

The Celestial Heart Sect’s methods were bizarre and unpredictable; it was entirely possible they could kill him.

Knowing he had already displeased Kong Sen, Chen Danian pursued the two men in black with renewed vigor.

He and his men promptly disappeared into the forest.

...

A black-robed Celestial Heart Sect cultist was fleeing blindly, no longer caring about his direction.

Before he knew it, he had entered a bamboo forest.

As the sound of pursuit behind him grew fainter, the tension in his heart began to ease.

’Did I actually survive?’

He was filled with the relief of having escaped with his life.

But just as he let his guard down, a figure appeared before him without a sound.

Caught off guard, the black-robed man gritted his teeth and lunged forward with a scimitar, his speed unchecked and his attack utterly ferocious.

The figure simply thrust his left hand forward. When the scimitar made contact with his palm, the blade began to melt at a rate visible to the naked eye!

Horror filled the black-robed man’s heart.

’My scimitar was forged from Divine Iron! How could it be stopped by a mere hand, let alone corroded?’

But he had no time to think. In an instant, that strange hand was before him, its fingers seizing his face.

"Ah!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out.

The black-robed man’s entire head melted into a pool of blood, leaving him utterly dead.

Bai Yuan indifferently flicked his hand clean.

He bent down and expertly patted down the areas on the man’s body where items might be hidden.

He was already aware of the situation in the distance.

’That Kong Sen really is quite capable.’

Bai Yuan’s hand touched a hard object.

Just then, Chen Danian arrived with several officials in tow.

With a swift motion, Bai Yuan slipped the object into his sleeve, then straightened up and looked toward Chen Danian, his expression nonchalant.

When Chen Danian saw it was Bai Yuan, a look of astonishment crossed his face.

He hadn’t expected to run into Bai Yuan here.

His gaze shifted from the corpse of the Celestial Heart Sect Demon on the ground back to Bai Yuan.

Clearly, Bai Yuan had killed this man.

"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Bai."

Chen Danian said, cupping his fist to Bai Yuan.

Unlike the other officials in Ling Province, he held the fourth rank. And though he had ostensibly sided with Kong Sen, he had never taken ruthless action against Bai Yuan’s faction.

He was well aware of Bai Yuan’s potential.

If he went too far, his life would be miserable should Bai Yuan regain the upper hand one day.

A slippery old fox like him knew exactly where to draw the line.

Bai Yuan said, "Since you’re here, Lord Chen, I won’t stay any longer."

Chen Danian maintained his smile until Bai Yuan was completely gone, only then did he order his men to take away the body.

"He came too?"

Kong Sen was quite surprised to hear about Bai Yuan from Chen Danian.

’Don’t tell me Bai Yuan knew this was going to happen?’

He gave a faint smile and shook his head.

’Bai Yuan is resourceful, but he can’t predict everything. It was probably a coincidence.’

But even though the man had helped him, Kong Sen had no intention of owing him any favors.

"Let’s go."

Kong Sen clasped his hands behind his back, in high spirits.

He had finally solved the village massacre case, which meant he had something to report to Grand Protector Liang.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Before long, Bai Yuan arrived at a camp.

This camp naturally housed the subordinates who had accompanied him out to slay their enemies.

He walked into a tent, and a small vial of black, glazed material appeared in his hand.

Bai Yuan carefully examined the small vial.

This was what he had taken from the Celestial Heart Sect cultist.

Unlike the Soul-Chasing Tower, the Celestial Heart Sect had completely vanished from Xuan Yang ever since the great war with the Demon Sect.

The last time Bai Yuan had encountered the Celestial Heart Sect’s methods traced back to Long Ao of the Divine Mansion Sect.

The memory of the Celestial Heart Sect’s soul-transference technique was still fresh in his mind.

His power and knowledge had grown since then, but he still couldn’t fathom the secret behind reviving in another’s body.

However, with his much stronger perception, he could tell that the vial contained Demonic Qi.

The Soul-Chasing Tower took lives while the Celestial Heart Sect took souls. This was the Demon Sect’s standard modus operandi.

These Celestial Heart Sect cultists were using resentment to create Demonic Qi as an offering to the Demon Gods. This was precisely why the Demon Sect was so obsessed with the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival.

Bai Yuan put the vial away.

He planned to study this Demonic Qi thoroughly.

Just then, an armored soldier walked up to his tent.

"Lord Bai, Lord Kong and his party just passed not far from our camp."

Bai Yuan asked, "And?"

"Lord Kong just asked me to pass along his thanks to you, Lord Bai, and then he left."

Bai Yuan nodded. "I see."

Evidently, Kong Sen had heard from Chen Danian that he had killed the Celestial Heart Sect cultist.

However, he didn’t expect Kong Sen would ease the pressure on him because of it.

...

With the village massacre case solved, Kong Sen’s prestige in Ling Province rose another notch.

Status was granted by the Court, but a reputation had to be earned.

Although Kong Sen hadn’t managed to win Yan Shao’an’s favor this time, he had earned a good reputation, which would further solidify his position in Ling Province.

When one person triumphs, another is bound to be disappointed.

Yang Fangyu, who had gotten his popcorn ready to watch Kong Sen fail, had his wish dashed.

As the Prefect of Huanglong Prefecture, his current position was extremely awkward.

Ever since Ling Province had moved its Prefecture Magistrate’s Office to Huanglong Prefecture, he had become largely redundant.

When Bai Yuan was around, the situation hadn’t been so obvious.

Now, with Kong Sen in the picture, he had almost no real power left.

As a Prefect, it was nearly impossible for him to challenge the Prefect of the province.

Just as Yang Fangyu was brooding, he heard that Bai Yuan had returned to Huanglong Prefecture.

He immediately rushed to Shenfu Mountain without hesitation.

"Ah Yuan, have you picked up the bad habits of those young masters from the Capital City? Developed a taste for hunting?"

Yang Fangyu said, looking at Bai Yuan, who was often gone for days at a time.

Bai Yuan treated the mountain forests as his home, spending the better part of the year there.

Although his stated purpose was to eliminate demons from the Demon Race, such diligence was rare. There had to be another reason.

That was why Yang Fangyu had brought up hunting.

’Hunting?’

’That’s not a bad cover story.’

Bai Yuan couldn’t exactly say he was "grinding mobs." No one else would even understand what the phrase meant.

"Do you need something?"

Yang Fangyu’s face fell. "Nothing. I’m just not happy."

Bai Yuan, of course, knew why Yang Fangyu was unhappy. With Kong Sen having solved the village massacre case, there was no reason for him to be pleased.

"Right, what’s the situation up north?"

Yang Fangyu said nonchalantly, "What else? Same as always. I heard the Demon Sect sent over a new batch of experts from Xiangzhou. Even the Soul Chasing Tower Lord showed up."

Bai Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Xiangzhou was where Old Dong’s Northern Garrison Army was stationed.

During the previous war between Xuan Yang and the Demon Sect, the largest and deadliest battles had all taken place in Xiangzhou.

Xiangzhou had always been a strategic stronghold in the Northern Territory. Once past it, an army could sweep south and march directly on the Capital City.

That was why Xu Dingchun, and later the Grand General of the North who died in battle, had both been stationed in Xiangzhou.

The battlefield only shifted after the Demon Sect brought the Nine Heavens Profound Soldiers to Dingzhou.

The Soul Chasing Tower Lord wasn’t just the master of a single province’s branch, but the leader of the entire Soul-Chasing Tower. That alone spoke volumes about his power.

Even Grand Protector Yan Shao’an would be in for a tough fight against him.

The war was likely far from over.

Bai Yuan said, "If anything changes, be sure to let me know."

"Are you heading out?"

"I’m making a trip to Huanglong City."

With that, Bai Yuan zipped down Shenfu Mountain.

He left Yang Fangyu standing there, baffled.

He recalled that Bai Yuan had rarely gone into the city of his own accord since Kong Sen arrived in Huanglong Prefecture. Today was truly unprecedented.

...

「Outside the Peach Fragrance Inn.」

A pot-bellied shopkeeper bowed to Bai Yuan, his face a mask of servility.

"Sect Leader."

A waiter standing nearby wore an identical smile.

Ever since learning that Sect Leader Bai had arranged for a distinguished guest to stay at his inn, the portly shopkeeper had become extremely attentive.

Uncharacteristically, he now waited at the inn’s entrance every day.

Though he was a man of some note in Huanglong Prefecture City, he was nothing compared to the Shenfu Sect Master.

Bai Yuan could change his fate with a single word.

A man of such stature could not be neglected.

His efforts were not in vain.

He had waited for many days, nearly turning to stone, but his vigil had finally paid off: Bai Yuan had arrived.

The portly shopkeeper beamed. "Sect Leader, the esteemed guest you spoke of has remained in his room. He hasn’t stepped out once."

He trotted to keep up with Bai Yuan, his breathing slightly uneven.

Bai Yuan paused, somewhat surprised.

’The old Daoist had said he was here for the Celestial Heart Sect demons, so why has he never left his room?’

’Now that Kong Sen has wiped out the Celestial Heart Sect members, there should be no reason for the old Daoist to remain in Ling Province.’

’Strange...’

Bai Yuan mulled it over for a moment, then walked to the old Daoist’s door and knocked with his right hand.

A moment later, the old Daoist pushed the door open.

Bai Yuan made a point of glancing behind the old Daoist. The bed was now empty.

"Daoist."

The old Daoist didn’t answer. Instead, he stared intently at Bai Yuan for a long moment before finally speaking slowly.

"Demonic Qi?"

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