The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 333: Chapter 325: Demonic Traces

Outside Huanglong City, amidst a dense forest.

A massive boulder stood on the ground, so large it would take more than ten people to encircle it.

BOOM!

An earth-shattering sound rang out.

The massive boulder had actually been snapped in half!

A cloud of dust filled the air, only slowly dissipating a full quarter of an hour later.

Bai Yuan stood before the shattered boulder, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile.

This kick that could shatter boulders marked the successful initial stage of his White Ape Mountain Breaker.

If he mastered it, his legs could truly shatter mountains and rivers, making the heavens and earth change color.

The White Ape Mountain Breaker was truly worthy of being Xuan Yang’s number one cultivation technique; its power was indeed formidable.

Bai Yuan felt a peculiar new strength welling up within him.

It was the Withered Wood Revives in Spring essence he had obtained back in Yan Province. Because of it, his White Ape Mountain Breaker had quickly broken through to the master level and was not far from reaching the legendary realm.

No wonder Wei Yang and the others considered the Withered Wood Revives in Spring Qi a supreme treasure.

Bai Yuan’s training progress had indeed accelerated significantly thanks to the Withered Wood Revives in Spring Qi.

For a Martial Artist, getting ahead means staying ahead. The earlier one obtained the Withered Wood Revives in Spring Qi, the better the effect. Unfortunately, such a grand opportunity was a matter of sheer, unplannable luck.

After testing the power of the White Ape Mountain Breaker and killing a band of monsters causing trouble on a nearby mountain, Bai Yuan returned to Huanglong Prefecture, content.

As usual, he went to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office to handle official matters.

When he stepped into his room, he saw Liu Zhengwen already waiting for him.

Seeing Bai Yuan, Liu Zhengwen stood up. "Lord Bai."

Bai Yuan was a little surprised. He had only recently received a secret letter from Liu Zhengwen, stating that he and Fang Yong had gone to the border of Ling and Dingzhou. He hadn’t expected them to return to Huanglong Prefecture so quickly. ’This visit must be related to the Demon Seed.’

"Lord Liu, have you found any clues?"

Liu Zhengwen nodded. "Indeed."

"Three days ago, General Fang and I chanced upon a large lake in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. The Qingming Stone actually reacted."

Bai Yuan’s eye twitched.

A reaction from the Qingming Stone meant the Demon Seed had appeared.

His expression turned serious. "Lord Liu, what do you need me to do?"

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, Liu Zhengwen’s spirits lifted. The persuasive speech he had mentally prepared was now completely unnecessary.

"Lord Bai, I’ve already sent an urgent 800-li dispatch to the Capital City. Experts from the Court will arrive in Ling Province soon. I hope you can dispatch troops in advance to provide support."

"Of course. This is my duty."

Bai Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest.

He was well aware of the Demon Seed’s significance. If it were allowed to grow unchecked, the consequences would be endless. Since this matter concerned him personally, it naturally had to be handled with urgency.

"What about the situation in Ling Province...?"

Liu Zhengwen smiled faintly. "General Fang has already gone to inform Lord Yan."

Bai Yuan nodded.

With Grand Protector Yan Shao’an taking action personally, success was virtually guaranteed this time.

"Lord Liu, please wait a moment. I will go and muster the elite troops now."

"My thanks for your trouble, Lord Bai."

Bai Yuan left the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office with decisive speed.

Citing the need to quell a demonic disturbance in Ling Province, he mobilized nearly eighty percent of the Ling Province City Guard Army. This action naturally alarmed Prefect Kong Sen.

However, Kong Sen did not obstruct him much this time, merely ordering Sub-Prefect Chen Danian to accompany the army north.

The Prefect and the General were meant to act as checks on each other. For every large-scale military operation the General undertook, the Prefect had to send someone to tally battle merits, preventing heinous acts like killing civilians to inflate one’s achievements.

Kong Sen’s actions were all in accordance with the Profound Sun Decree. After getting Liu Zhengwen’s approval, Bai Yuan did not raise any major objections.

「An hour later.」

Five thousand soldiers of the Ling Province City Guard Army had finished assembling.

Yang Fangyu, Li Huan, and Yan Lei were all startled to see such a massive formation.

’What kind of demonic disturbance could possibly require Bai Yuan to mobilize such a large force?’

Li Huan and Yan Lei glanced at Bai Yuan expressionlessly. They had their suspicions, but both were prudent enough to say nothing.

Bai Yuan glanced sideways.

Liu Zhengwen gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"Move out."

With a loud shout, the great army began to march.

The mission was urgent. After a forced march through the night, they arrived in the Hundred Thousand Mountains by dawn the next day.

The soldiers of the Ling Province City Guard Army grew increasingly confused as they looked at the progressively dense mountain forests around them, but being well-trained, they naturally wouldn’t question orders.

The army marched deeper and deeper, finally spotting Fang Yong in a valley.

Besides Fang Yong, a sizable group had already gathered there.

Although they were fewer in number than Bai Yuan’s City Guard Army, their strength was not to be underestimated.

Aside from Fang Yong, there were quite a few familiar faces.

Qiu Yang and Fang Yan were among them.

"Younger Brother Bai."

"Bai Xiaoyou."

Seeing Bai Yuan, Qiu Yang and Fang Yan both greeted him.

But as soon as they had spoken, Qiu Yang shot a glance at Fang Yan beside him.

He had called Bai Yuan ’Younger Brother’, while Fang Yan had called him ’Xiaoyou’. In that exchange, his own seniority had been implicitly lowered by a generation compared to Fang Yan’s.

’This kid is taking advantage of me!’

In terms of seniority, he was supposed to be a generation higher than Fang Yan.

Bai Yuan cupped his fist. "Brother Qiu, Elder Fang."

He glanced at the others in the valley, many of whom he recognized from when Yan Shao’an had previously visited Ling Province.

"Why don’t I see Lord Yan?"

Bai Yuan didn’t see Yan Shao’an’s figure among the crowd.

This time, it was Fang Yong who answered, "The Lord Grand Protector’s aura of destiny is too powerful. If he appears now, he will definitely startle the Demon Seed and make it flee. So he is waiting for the right moment on the outermost edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

Bai Yuan nodded.

A Grandmaster like Yan Shao’an could cross a hundred li in a quarter of an hour.

Such was the terrifying power of a Grandmaster.

Hearing Fang Yong’s words, the expressions of Qiu Yang and the others changed, and they muttered to themselves, "The Demon Seed!"

They had all followed Fang Yong to the Hundred Thousand Mountains on Yan Shao’an’s orders, but the specific reason had not been explained to them.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!