The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

On the banks of the Xuanjiang River.

Bai Yuan and the others were lying in wait as usual, their forms perfectly concealed within the mountain forest, making them nearly impossible to detect.

"We've been waiting for ten days. How come there's still no sign of anything?"

An Official from the Demon Slayer Guard muttered under his breath.

Although they were all Martial Artists, this experience of sleeping out in the elements was far from comfortable for men accustomed to a lordly lifestyle.

What frustrated them even more was the thought that if the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race never made a move, they might be stuck here for a lifetime.

Returning now without any achievements would surely earn them a reprimand from the Emperor, and they might even be punished for it.

Fanghua also frowned.

These past few days, the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race had, contrary to expectations, made no moves at all.

But despite his doubts, they couldn't leave as long as Mr. Yuan hadn't been found. Otherwise, they would have no way to report back to the Emperor.

He said to Bai Yuan, "Younger Brother Bai, have you seen any sign of the Merfolk Race these past few days?"

Bai Yuan shook his head.

The merfolk had all but vanished recently. Even the ones who used to patrol the river had returned to the Water Court.

Everything seemed calm on the surface, but he felt that this was even more of a problem.

But all they could do was wait and see.

...

That night.

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk, along with several powerful members of the Aquatic Race, quietly appeared on a riverbank of the Xuanjiang, about three miles upstream from the Water Court.

"There's a Demon Hunter among them. Carry this with you."

"Yes!"

...

The powerful members of the Aquatic Race grunted in affirmation.

They took something that looked like a piece of talisman paper from the hands of the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk.

This talisman paper had been given to the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk by Mr. Yuan.

Mr. Yuan's talisman paper was quite unique; once applied to the body, it couldn't be shaken off, so there was no fear of it falling off while moving.

"Spare no one except for the youngest human."

A cruel smile appeared on the lips of the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk.

For a thousand years, the Human Race had slaughtered countless powerful members of the Aquatic Race. Now, the tables had finally turned, and the humans' officials had become their prey.

The rage that had been suppressed in their hearts for a millennium could finally be unleashed!

...

A fierce gust of wind swept through, and the already turbulent Xuanjiang River became even more violent.

"Where are you going?"

Fanghua saw a Martial Artist from the Demon Slayer Guard sneaking into the woods.

The man muttered, "Can't hold it anymore. Gotta take a piss."

Fanghua was speechless. "Go on, then."

"Alrighty."

The man replied and trotted happily into the forest.

He had been holding that piss for a full ten days. As capable as a Martial Artist was, it was impossible to hold it for that long without release.

Bored, Fanghua started chatting with Bai Yuan. "Lord Bai, do you think that Elder Demon Yuan is still in the Water Court?"

Bai Yuan replied, "How would I know?"

Mr. Yuan's realm was far higher than theirs. Even if he were in the Water Court right now, they likely wouldn't be able to sense him.

The main reason they were guarding this spot was to wait for the Aquatic Race to reveal a weakness.

Fanghua was about to voice his own theory.

Suddenly, Bai Yuan frowned. "Lord Fang, hasn't that man been gone for a while?"

Hearing this, Fanghua also realized something was wrong.

The Demon Slayer Guard Official seemed to have been gone for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. That was far too long.

'Something's wrong!'

He exchanged a glance with Bai Yuan and was just about to get up and check.

Just then, he saw a figure in the darkness of the night, its scales shimmering under the moonlight.

Fanghua recognized the man's face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Seventh Prince, to what do we owe the pleasure of this late-night visit?"

The person was none other than the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk.

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk smiled faintly. "This Prince has come to deliver a small gift to Lord Fang."

Before his words had faded, he flung something out with a flick of his wrist.

A bloody human head, its eyes wide with an unwillingness to die, rolled onto the ground.

It was the Demon Slayer Guard Official from before.

The corner of Fanghua's eye twitched as he roared, "Is the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race intending to break the treaty?!"

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk sneered. "A treaty? If we're talking about breaking it, you shameless members of the Human Race were the first."

Fanghua's eyes darted back and forth.

He understood now. The Aquatic Race was going to completely rebel against Xuan Yang!

They had been surrounded. The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk clearly intended to use their heads as a token of his commitment to rebelling against Xuan Yang!

'Damn it!'

Fanghua cursed inwardly.

He couldn't figure out how these Demons had managed to evade the senses of a Martial Artist and surround them so quietly.

He had originally planned to stall for more time with words, but the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk slowly raised his right hand and waved it forward. "Kill them all for me."

As soon as he spoke, dozens of powerful members of the Aquatic Race swarmed forward, charging at the small group.

These dozens of powerful Aquatic Race members were all Tier Seven Demons, their strength immense.

Fanghua's heart sank. He knew that their small group was no match for these powerful members of the Aquatic Race.

"Run!"

He roared, with no intention of fighting.

His only thought was to break out of the encirclement. As long as he could make it back to the Capital City alive and deliver the news, it would be a great achievement.

But how could the enemy, with their superior numbers, give him a chance to escape?

Fanghua had barely fled a hundred meters before he was surrounded by eight or nine Tier Seven Great Demons, leaving him with nowhere to run.

At the brink of life and death, Fanghua paradoxically grew much calmer. He took a deep breath, drew his Long Sword, and began to fight the powerful Aquatic Race members before him.

「Meanwhile.」

Bai Yuan was sizing up the talisman paper on the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk's right shoulder with great interest.

He had been wondering how these Water Demons had managed to avoid his demon-seeking techniques. Now, it seemed highly likely that this talisman paper was the reason.

'This must be Mr. Yuan's handiwork,' he thought.

Elder Pei once said that although Mr. Yuan's talent was not obvious in his early years, the abilities he later displayed amazed even him.

'Mr. Yuan is the only person in this era to have unified the three teachings and mastered them all...'

Seven Water Demons stood before Bai Yuan.

Aside from three powerful merfolk, there were four other aquatic spirits. Without exception, all were Tier Seven Demons, their strength beyond doubt.

There wasn't the slightest hint of panic on Bai Yuan's face.

He slowly drew the Curved Blade Blood Fiend from his waist and licked his lips, which were dry from days of exposure to the wind and rain.

One of the powerful merfolk sneered, "Get him! The Prince said he wants this one alive!"

The demons swarmed forward.

But in the next instant, the powerful merman was no longer sneering.

Bai Yuan stood his ground, motionless, allowing the claws of the seven powerful Demon Race members to land on his body.

He grinned, revealing a cruel smile.

"It's been a long time since I've used this move."

A bad feeling rose in the powerful merman's heart as he saw a look of morbid pleasure appear on the human's face.

Then, a terrifying red mist exploded outward in the mountain forest!

"AHH!"

...

A series of wretched screams echoed from within the red mist.

Wielding the Curved Blade Blood Slaughter, Bai Yuan became Yama incarnate. In just twenty breaths, he had reaped the lives of the seven powerful Demon Race members.

This scene brought the battle in the forest to a momentary standstill.

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk was even more horrified.

'Is this human really just at the Awareness Realm?!'

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