The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 344: Chapter 338: Xiyue Divine Sword

After finishing off the first wave, Bai Yuan had gained over ten Masters of Knowledge and Sensation in Ling Province to help him search for the Demon Seed’s existence.

It was a great accomplishment!

The Court had been vexed, unable to find a pretext to dispatch experts to Ling Province.

After all, the Soul-Chasing Tower’s infiltration of Xuan Yang was just too deep. The movements of any Master of Knowledge and Sensation would be difficult to hide from their spies.

But thanks to the Hidden Dragon Rankings, those experts from the Central Plains now had a legitimate reason to come to Ling Province. This way, the news that the Demon Seed was still alive would not be leaked.

Bai Yuan was stationed in the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office, and from time to time, he would receive updates from those he had recruited.

It was naturally unrealistic to rely on people like Qian Yu to find the Demon Seed; after all, they didn’t even have Qingming Stones.

But according to the old Daoist, where the Demon Seed appears, strange phenomena manifest.

All Qian Yu and the others had to do was investigate the strange occurrences throughout Ling Province.

Once the first wave dispersed, the second wave arrived at a much slower and less concentrated pace. Most came seeking Bai Yuan for private spars under the pretext of paying a visit, keeping things out of the public eye.

Of course, Bai Yuan didn’t let these people off the hook. They were all turned into his informants in the search for the Demon Seed.

「One day.」

A man in white quietly appeared in the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

Bai Yuan merely lifted his eyelids slightly. In recent days, he had already experienced this sort of thing no less than ten times.

Without a doubt, it was another person who had come to challenge him because of the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Yang Fangyu, who was discussing official business with Bai Yuan, was secretly astonished.

’This man in white is so skilled at concealment! I didn’t sense him at all!’

’It’s clear the difference in our strength is enormous.’

"I am Yue Xiaobai of Xiyue, here to ask for your guidance."

Hearing the name Yue Xiaobai, Yang Fangyu’s eyes widened.

’The Xiyue Divine Sword, Yue Xiaobai! "Night presses on ten thousand mountains, one sword whitens the world"!’

Yang Fangyu gasped.

’He never thought Yue Xiaobai would also come to challenge Bai Yuan.’

A ripple finally appeared in Bai Yuan’s calm eyes.

He didn’t know many experts from the Central Plains, but this Yue Xiaobai happened to be one of them.

In the westernmost part of the Central Plains, there was a colossal peak that soared into the clouds, one thousand five hundred zhang high, named Xiyue.

That’s right, Xiyue was just Xiyue. It had no other name.

And atop Xiyue, there was a sect dedicated solely to the practice of the sword, calling itself the Xiyue Sect.

The Xiyue Sect had few disciples, never more than ten even at its peak. But without exception, every disciple who descended from the mountain became a legend of the Jianghu.

The man before him, Yue Xiaobai, was one of those legends.

He had descended Xiyue Mountain ten years ago and had gone on to challenge sect after sect, battling his way through over a hundred major sects and great clans without a single defeat, a record that included victories over many long-famous experts.

The mystique of a Xiyue Sect disciple was already a huge draw, and coupled with Yue Xiaobai’s high-profile style, he quickly made a name for himself in the Xuan Yang Martial World.

Some gossips even compared him to the peerless geniuses of the Hidden Dragon Rankings, the Daoist Sects, and the Buddhist Sects.

It could be said that Yue Xiaobai was already an existence on par with the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

If he merely wanted to get onto the Hidden Dragon Rankings by challenging Bai Yuan, there was no need.

In fact, the Hidden Dragon Rankings had extended an invitation to him eight years ago, but he had ultimately refused it.

Thinking of these legends, Yang Fangyu excitedly rubbed his hands together.

Bai Yuan versus Yue Xiaobai—this was a top-tier duel not seen in a hundred years, the kind that would definitely be written into the annals of the Jianghu.

And he, having personally witnessed it, might become a part of the legend himself.

’Looks like I’ll have to pay some storytellers to make sure my name gets included,’ Yang Fangyu mused.

Compared to victory or defeat, he was more concerned with having his name immortalized.

’He didn’t need to worry about a prodigy like Bai Yuan.’

Bai Yuan’s right hand rested on the hilt of his Curved Blade Blood Fiend, his fingers tapping a rhythmic beat. His face was filled with a thirst for battle.

"Should we find another place?"

A battle between experts was too destructive; a single exchange might tear the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office apart.

But Yue Xiaobai shook his head. "We will only compare techniques. This place is sufficient."

’That’s an... interesting request...’

In the Jianghu, duels had always been distinguished as either literary or martial.

Martial duels were, naturally, real fights with live weapons. Besides cultivation techniques and moves, things like physical conditioning and combat experience had a great impact on the outcome.

Some Three Religions Martial Masters had extremely high combat power on paper, yet were defeated by Martial Artists with more experience.

Literary duels, on the other hand, originated from the Confucian Family as a method of competition.

It was essentially the equivalent of "fighting on paper." The two duelists would only compare their forms, without drawing weapons, and certainly wouldn’t fight to the death.

Bai Yuan frowned slightly.

Yue Xiaobai said, "Don’t worry, I don’t give a damn about some stupid Hidden Dragon Rankings. I just need you to fight me."

"..."

An urgent look appeared on Yue Xiaobai’s perpetually calm face.

’Alright, so he’s a martial arts fanatic.’

Thinking back on Yue Xiaobai’s feat of challenging a hundred clans by himself, calling him a martial arts fanatic wasn’t surprising at all.

"Alright!"

Bai Yuan no longer hesitated.

One of the fastest ways to improve one’s Martial Dao was to cross moves with an expert.

A Saint once said, "When three walk together, one will be my teacher."

Not to mention this was Yue Xiaobai, the renowned Xiyue Divine Sword. A battle with him was sure to yield benefits. Of course, Bai Yuan wouldn’t refuse such a good opportunity.

"Excellent!"

Yue Xiaobai’s right hand drew his Long Sword from its sheath.

His title was the Xiyue Divine Sword, so naturally he used a sword. It was, however, a Bamboo Sword.

Yue Xiaobai’s sword was very strange; it was a blade carved from vibrant green bamboo.

’Isn’t this just like that great hero Dugu?’

Speaking of Bamboo Swords, Bai Yuan was suddenly wide awake.

’In the novels from my past life, didn’t that one great hero abandon his iron sword for a bamboo one, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the Jianghu?’

Yue Xiaobai wasn’t fussy like those from the Confucian Family; he drew his sword and thrust.

However, his target wasn’t Bai Yuan, but the chair beside him.

His thrust was fast. Not flashy, just fast. So fast that his entire figure vanished in an instant.

HISS~

Yang Fangyu drew in a sharp breath.

’Heavens, are these the methods of a peerless genius?’

’He considered his own Martial Dao talent to be not bad, but compared to Yue Xiaobai, he was utter trash.’

Bai Yuan watched that brilliant and stunning sword strike as if he had found a priceless treasure. In a real battle, its effect would be even greater.

CLANG!

With a crisp sound, the Curved Blade Blood Fiend left its sheath.

A red light flared, forming a curtain of light around Bai Yuan.

This wasn’t some Immortal Technique. It was just that Bai Yuan’s blade was too fast—so fast that even one’s perception couldn’t keep up. The curtain of light was simply what he had created by brandishing his curved blade.

"Good technique."

A look of interest appeared on Yue Xiaobai’s face.

He had always thought his own swordsmanship was fast enough, but after meeting Bai Yuan today, he realized there was still room for improvement.

This was the true meaning of a literary duel.

The two sides only competed with their techniques, and in doing so, they could gain inspiration.

The red light dissipated. Yue Xiaobai struck again, but this time his Long Sword left his hand.

It was the legendary technique of a Sword Immortal—Sword Control!

Both Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu were greatly shocked.

Rumor had it that only someone who had achieved great mastery in the Sword Dao could use the technique of Sword Control.

Yue Xiaobai truly was extraordinary.

Bai Yuan switched from his blade to his legs, executing a "White Ape Smashes the Mountain" with overwhelming ferocity, causing a strange light to flash repeatedly in Yue Xiaobai’s eyes.

The two of them traded moves, one after another, completely absorbed in the exhilarating exchange.

The more Yue Xiaobai fought, the more excited he became.

’So, we’re the same!’

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