The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 342: Chapter 336: Challenging the List

At the Huanglong Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

Bai Yuan frowned as he reviewed various official reports.

’What’s going on?’

A clamor could be heard from outside.

’This is the Huanglong Prefecture Magistrate’s Office. To cause a scene here, they must be someone out of the ordinary.’

The young man beside him grunted in acknowledgement, jogging out of the room. He returned a moment later.

"My lord... outside..."

Seeing him hesitate, Bai Yuan grunted. "Out with it."

"A dozen people have gathered outside. They all say they’re from the Central Plains, here to ’seek instruction.’"

Bai Yuan looked up, setting down the document in his hand.

"The Central Plains?"

"Yes."

"I see."

Li Ru had already warned him, so he was mentally prepared. He just hadn’t expected these Central Plains People to move so quickly.

Li Ru had said that while the benefits of being on the Hidden Dragon Roll were generous, the position itself was never stable at the beginning. There were bound to be complications.

His Majesty the Emperor had decreed that if one could defeat a member of the Hidden Dragon Roll from the same generation, they could take their place.

And "same generation" was a broad term—anyone within thirty years of age was considered a peer.

Of course, this was how such things were calculated among Martial Artists.

Otherwise, a thirty-year gap might be considered two different generations among common folk.

"Take them to the Martial Arts Arena," Bai Yuan said coolly.

"Yes."

The young man immediately took his leave.

...

Fifteen minutes later, a crowd had gathered in the Martial Arts Arena in the front courtyard of the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

Aside from the experts from the Central Plains here to challenge Bai Yuan, there were also Officials just looking for a good show.

Yang Fangyu and Li Huan were enthusiastically cracking a handful of melon seeds.

"Isn’t that the He Dong Divine Sword, Li Tianba?"

"Tsk, tsk. Even Bone-Transforming Hand, Lian Qiao, is here."

...

The two were well-versed in the Jianghu and recognized nearly ninety percent of the challengers.

But the more they saw, the more alarmed they became.

There were plenty of long-established experts among them.

The Central Plains were nothing like the Northern Territory. They were overflowing with martial talent. The strongest expert from a single prefecture there could compete for the number one spot in all of Ling Province.

And this was just the first batch...

This business of door-to-door challenges wasn’t unique to Bai Yuan.

The three who entered the Hidden Dragon Roll before him had also gone through several rounds of challenges.

Some gossips had even come up with a system, calling the first batch of challengers the "first wave."

The "first wave" was generally not the strongest. After all, they were mostly just decent fighters who heard the news and rushed over to make a name for themselves.

But anyone who could make it onto the Hidden Dragon Roll was a prodigy among prodigies, so the first wave served mostly to test the waters.

After the first wave came the Ershui.

Compared to the first wave, the Ershui were the real deal.

After the first wave’s probing, the true masters would have a clear picture and decide to make their move.

The experts who had given the previous three members trouble were all from the Ershui.

As for the subsequent Sanshui, fourth wave, and so on... they were mostly just opportunists picking up scraps. There might be a few poorly informed reclusive masters mixed in, but they rarely made much of a splash.

Perhaps because Bai Yuan hailed from the Northern Lands, the quality of this "first wave" was particularly high.

Yang Fangyu and Li Huan couldn’t help but worry for Bai Yuan.

Xuan Yang was vast, and it was filled with monstrous talents.

As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, a soft cough brought silence to the arena.

Bai Yuan strode into the Martial Arts Arena alone.

The eyes of the Central Plains People lit up when they saw him.

In their eyes, Bai Yuan was the Dragon Sect itself, the path to attaining supreme glory.

Everyone knew that a spot on the Hidden Dragon Roll was equivalent to the status of a second-rank official.

Unfortunately, Bai Yuan was so young that the most senior challenger qualified to face him was merely sixty years old.

Among Martial Artists of their level, that age was equivalent to just reaching adulthood.

The strongest in the Perception Stage were actually the old monsters just past a century in age. Their Qi and Blood remained vigorous, and having lived so long, they were sure to have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

From among the dozen or so Central Plains People, the one with the greatest seniority and fame announced, "We have heard of Lord Bai’s prestigious name and have come to seek instruction."

Yang Fangyu and Li Huan quietly appeared at Bai Yuan’s side, their voices low.

"This man is Qian Yu, an Instructor at Yingshan Academy. His strength is not to be underestimated."

They knew Bai Yuan was singularly focused on his training and paid little attention to other matters, so he knew little of the Central Plains’ experts. They feared he would be at a disadvantage.

Bai Yuan nodded slightly.

’As one of Xuan Yang’s four great academies, its instructors couldn’t possibly be weak.’

Being an Instructor was merely a path to entering the bureaucracy—a way to build a reputation first and then leapfrog the competition.

Examples like this were everywhere.

Thus, instructorships at the four great academies became highly sought-after positions.

With his gentle smile and refined, scholarly temperament, Qian Yu was a heartthrob for naive young women.

"Lord Bai, I ask for your instruction."

’He’s already decided to be the first to act.’

’The first to make a move isn’t at an advantage, as my aura is at its strongest right now.’

’Had it been any of the other three on the list, Qian Yu wouldn’t have been the first to act—he wouldn’t have even come with the first wave.’

’He’s doing this because I rose from Ling Province.’

’A hero is not judged by his origins, or so the saying goes. But any martial artist knows the importance of a solid foundation. In a minor place like Ling Province, even if my aptitude was heaven-defying, it could never make up for the resource gap.’

’A top-tier Cultivation Technique in Ling Province would be considered merely average in the Central Plains.’

’So, Qian Yu is betting that I’m not strong enough.’

’If he can defeat me and take my spot on the Hidden Dragon Roll, he can then enter the capital as an official. Relying on the providence of Xuan Yang, he might even break through to the Bright Heart realm and ascend to greatness.’

’Of course, all of this hinges on one thing: he must defeat me.’

Bai Yuan took a step forward. "Proceed."

At his word, a stir went through the crowd.

Bai Yuan already had the vicious moniker of Ren Tu in the Central Plains, but that only meant he had killed many people, not that he was necessarily strong.

They were eager to see what this "hidden dragon" was really made of.

The crowd slowly retreated, forming a circle to give Bai Yuan and Qian Yu enough space.

The two stood in the center.

Qian Yu’s face was solemn. He took a deep breath and drew the sword from his waist.

"This sword is named White Dew. It was forged by the Divine Artisan Fang Ye and measures three feet and six inches in length."

As an Instructor from Yingshan Academy, observing the proper courtesies was, of course, essential.

Unlike the Jianghu types who would fight to the death on sight, disciples of the Confucian Family followed a complex set of rites when sparring. A sneak attack would only bring dishonor upon such scholars.

Bai Yuan glanced at the saber at his waist. "Blood Fiend. No idea how long. Forged by Tang Tie."

Hearing that Bai Yuan’s blade was named Blood Fiend, the crowd’s expression shifted. Paired with his moniker, Ren Tu, it was a truly perfect match.

Bai Yuan casually drew the Curved Blade Blood Fiend.

’I’m the Lingzhou General now,’ he thought. ’I have to maintain a certain reputation. Otherwise, with my old temper, I’d have never wasted so much breath on this Instructor from Yingshan Academy.’

Qian Yu began, "I have journeyed to Ling Province solely to resolve my doubts, Lord Bai—"

Bai Yuan had no interest in listening to Qian Yu’s lengthy speech. "Instructor Qian, I’m pressed for time."

The words had barely left his lips when Bai Yuan casually lifted his right foot and lunged.

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