The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 313: Chapter 305: So Close

First, a silence fell over the great hall.

Murong Tian gazed gently at Bai Yuan.

He had personally watched this outstanding young man rise all the way from an Outer Disciple to the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect. During this time, Bai Yuan had not only turned the tide against overwhelming odds but had also led the Divine Mansion Sect to unprecedented new heights.

Bai Yuan owed the Divine Mansion Sect nothing.

Although Murong Tian had never entered the political arena, that didn’t mean he was ignorant of its ways.

The case of Dong Wanjun was the perfect example.

Rather than letting the Divine Mansion Sect become a fetter to Bai Yuan, it was better to preserve the goodwill between them.

The small Divine Mansion Sect could no longer contain a giant serpent like Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan sighed softly. "Elder Murong, convene a sect assembly in three days."

After the old eunuch’s reminder, he had been thinking about this constantly.

Previously, he couldn’t rest easy because Wan Jun Peak still lacked a Peak Master.

Now that Xiongshan had broken through, he had no more lingering worries.

Frankly, Shenfu Mountain would be about the same with or without him now. In fact, his transcendent strength might even cause the sect’s elders and disciples to become arrogant and stir up trouble, which would be far from ideal.

Murong Tian nodded in gratification.

A sect’s growth never relies on a single person but on the collective efforts of generations.

Bai Yuan had already done more than enough.

From now on, the Divine Mansion Sect would have to rely on itself. It was better to let Bai Yuan grow without restraint; that way, the Divine Mansion Sect would also gain his protection. This was a true win-win situation.

If they were to force Bai Yuan to stay out of a sense of duty, it would only wear away the friendship between them.

Murong Tian asked, "Sect Leader, have you considered a successor?"

Although Murong Fu was already Bai Yuan’s disciple and would, barring any accidents, surely become the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect, he was still young. Someone was needed to fill the role in the interim.

Bai Yuan replied, "Ouyang Hua. He is mature and prudent, making him an excellent choice."

Murong Tian nodded. "Excellent!"

Ouyang Hua was also his preferred candidate.

Although Ouyang Hua was not the most outstanding, he was reliable and lacked ambition.

The great turmoil the Divine Mansion Sect experienced before had already proven that such a person was most suited for the position of Sect Leader. He could also be counted on to smoothly hand over the position to Murong Fu.

Of course, besides Ouyang Hua, there was actually one other candidate: Yu Hui.

As the Commander of the Divine Mansion Army for many years, Yu Hui had a distinguished combat record. Moreover, he was currently the strongest warrior in the sect besides Bai Yuan, which also made him a most suitable choice.

However, compared to Ouyang Hua, Yu Hui’s edge was too sharp.

Murong Tian knew full well that Yu Hui was Bai Yuan’s trusted confidant, which was why he let Bai Yuan make the choice.

When Bai Yuan spoke Ouyang Hua’s name, a great weight was finally lifted from his heart.

As the Patriarch of the Murong Family, he naturally hoped the Divine Mansion Sect would eventually return to the hands of a Murong Clan Member. Ouyang Hua becoming Sect Leader would pose no problem, but Yu Hui was a different matter entirely.

It wasn’t that Yu Hui already had rebellious intentions, but his personality simply introduced more uncertainty into the matter.

...

「Three days later.」

The Divine Mansion Sect’s assembly was convened.

The sect assembly was held once every three years, but of course, if something major occurred, the Sect Leader could convene it early.

This time was an exception.

This sect assembly had only one item on the agenda.

The succession of the new Sect Leader.

Bai Yuan sat upon a golden throne.

"I have decided to have Ouyang Hua succeed me as Sect Leader. Does anyone have any objections?"

"None!"

Everyone in the great hall shouted in unison.

In truth, the sect assembly was merely a final formality. The Peak Masters of the Thirteen Peaks and the Commander of the Divine Mansion Army already knew the outcome, so naturally, no one objected.

Of course, even if someone had objected, it would have been useless.

Because this was Bai Yuan’s decision.

Bai Yuan’s status in the Divine Mansion Sect was perhaps second only to the Founding Ancestor. No one dared to defy his word.

The rest of the process was much simpler, with Murong Tian naturally presiding over it.

Ouyang Hua walked onto the high platform and said a few simple words.

There was no impassioned speech, no grand ambition. He naturally knew he was becoming Sect Leader not because of his own strength, but merely to pave the way for the young Murong Fu.

To this, no one in the Divine Mansion Sect dared to object.

It was true that Bai Yuan had stepped down as Sect Leader, but Murong Fu was still, undeniably, Bai Yuan’s disciple.

This was the bond of goodwill between the Divine Mansion Sect and Bai Yuan.

And it was for this very reason that Murong Tian could let Bai Yuan leave without worry.

Whether Bai Yuan was on Shenfu Mountain or not, it was all the same, as long as he remained Murong Fu’s master.

Seated in the hall, Yu Hui’s expression showed no change whatsoever.

Everyone had originally guessed he would be the strongest contender for Sect Leader, as he was, after all, the most powerful.

However, Yu Hui felt no regret.

He had followed Bai Yuan the longest, and through constant exposure, his aspirations had grown considerably. The position of Divine Mansion Sect Leader was not worth committing dirty deeds for.

’Climbing the peak of the Martial Dao—now that is true fulfillment!’

The handover of the Sect Leader position went smoothly. Ouyang Hua took the ceremonial sword symbolizing the Sect Leader’s authority from Bai Yuan’s hands, truly becoming the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect.

All things considered, Ouyang Hua was now the only person in the Divine Mansion Sect to have served as Sect Leader twice.

Life’s fortunes were truly wondrous.

Originally, at a normal pace, it would have taken Bai Yuan at least several more decades to break through the Perception Gate.

But alas, Bai Yuan was simply too monstrously talented. He broke through at the mere age of thirty, leaving Murong Fu with no time to even grow up.

Coupled with the fact that he now held an official post, they could only come up with this compromise.

...

News of the Divine Mansion Sect’s new Sect Leader quickly swept through all of Huanglong Prefecture, and even Ling Province.

After all, the current Divine Mansion Sect was already, without a doubt, the number one sect in Ling Province.

Not to mention, the previous Sect Leader, Bai Yuan, was far too legendary.

In the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

"Ah Yuan, this was a wise move."

Yang Fangyu praised.

He was well-versed in the ways of officialdom and had brought this matter up long ago, back when Bai Yuan was still just the Demon-slaying Guard General of Ling Province.

It was just that Bai Yuan hadn’t agreed at the time.

’He still values friendship too much.’

Among officials, how many truly act based on sentiment?

"The whole world bustles with the pursuit of profit." Yang Fangyu had seen far too many people abandon their wives and children for the sake of a promotion. Compared to them, Bai Yuan was undoubtedly a man of loyalty and principle.

Bai Yuan asked, "What about Li Huan and Yan Lei?"

Yang Fangyu shrugged. "The experts from the Court have yet to arrive, so they got a bit impatient and decided to follow the main roads to look for clues."

"..."

Bai Yuan was speechless.

Although he knew about Liu Zhengwen and Fang Yong, he was bound by a promise and couldn’t tell Li Huan and Yan Lei the truth.

Li Huan and Yan Lei would gain nothing from this trip.

Because the experts from the Court had arrived in Huanglong City long ago. How could they possibly find them by searching outside the city?

Just then, a knock came from the door.

Speak of the devil.

The visitors were none other than Liu Zhengwen and Fang Yong. The difference was that compared to their previous rough Jianghu wanderer appearance, they were now dressed in brocade clothes, giving them a more distinguished air.

On the surface, the two were now Bai Yuan’s retainers. Dressing too shabbily would only arouse others’ suspicions.

"Fang Yu, I have some private matters to attend to. I’ll find you later."

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