The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Beneath the Xuanjiang River, in the Water Court.

When the merman guarding the Water Court saw an elderly human man arrive at the entrance, his vigilance intensified.

This elderly human was exceedingly unique. Unlike those who used a Water-Repelling Pearl to part the river, he was one with the surrounding water, just like a member of the Aquatic Race.

What an incredible skill.

The merman did not consider himself ignorant, and he quickly recognized the human's formidable power.

"Who goes there?!"

he shouted.

The Human Race's Court had signed a pact with their Jue Emperor, so he couldn't just strike the man down. Otherwise, given the humans' increasingly ruthless methods, not even the Water Court could guarantee his safety.

Even if he were to act, he had to find a justifiable reason first. Humans placed great importance on having a just cause for their actions.

But the elderly human acted as if he had heard nothing, continuing to walk forward at his own pace. Just as the guard was about to use the Merfolk Race's water arts to teach the human a lesson, a voice sounded from behind him.

"Stand down."

The merman guard turned his head.

"Your... Your Majesty!"

A colossal merman, a full ten feet tall, had appeared behind the guard.

It was the Jue Emperor, who had not been seen in ten years.

"Celestial Master Pei, you honor my Water Court with your presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

Elder Pei spoke flatly, "The Xuanjiang Aquatic Race colluded with the Demon Sect to murder an official of the Court. What is your explanation?"

"Hand over Elder Demon Yuan now, and I might be able to put in a good word for you."

The Jue Emperor sighed softly.

"That Mr. Yuan from the Demon Sect has already left the Water Court. My son was led astray and made a grave mistake. The fault is mine as well."

In preparation for his celestial tribulation, he had been sealing his five senses and accumulating Demonic Power.

He only awoke when he sensed the Daoist Sect lightning arts emanating from Elder Pei.

Of course, he knew why his seventh son had done this. It was all for the sake of the Merfolk Race.

'Foolish child...'

The Jue Emperor sighed again.

'Those not of our race are bound to have different hearts.' In the end, the Xuan Yang Court would never truly tolerate the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race.

While he was still alive, he could barely maintain the balance. But if he were to die during his tribulation, a great war between the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race and the Court would be inevitable.

The most likely outcome would be the end of the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race.

Just then, another elderly man appeared before the Xuanjiang Water Court.

"Grand Tutor Liang."

The Jue Emperor looked at the elderly human, his expression sorrowful.

The Human Race was far more prosperous than his Aquatic Race. The two men before him had, in a mere two hundred years, gained the strength to match his own millennia of cultivation.

Who could have imagined that the Human Race, once considered food by demons, would now grow to such heights?

Grand Tutor Xuanyang, Liang Yuan Kang, gazed at the Jue Emperor with sharp eyes.

"The Xuanjiang Aquatic Race needs to give His Majesty an explanation."

The Jue Emperor lowered his gaze.

"My rebellious son is at His Majesty's disposal. I only hope that, for the sake of the bond between myself and the Grand Ancestor Emperor, His Majesty will permit the Merfolk Race to migrate south to the South Sea and continue to guard Xuan Yang's southern gate."

Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang nodded.

"So be it."

The Xuanjiang Aquatic Race was not composed of the Merfolk Race alone. The Jue Emperor mentioned only the Merfolk because his personal standing was only enough to save his own lineage.

The South Sea was not actually Xuan Yang territory; it was the domain of the Sea Demons.

For the Jue Emperor to make such a proposal was no different from self-exile.

But it was better than war breaking out between the two sides, which would end with the utter extermination of the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race.

As for the other aquatic races, their final fate would likely be similar to that of the Mountain Demons: living out their days in hiding.

Still, it was better than all becoming Dead Demons.

In just a few words, the Jue Emperor and Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang had decided the fate of the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race, and perhaps even the course of the entire world.

...

「By the banks of the Xuanjiang, in the mountain forest.」

The sounds of battle gradually faded.

Three figures appeared.

"Father Emperor?!"

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk stared in astonishment at one of the massive figures.

He had not expected the Jue Emperor to appear here. What astonished him even more was that the Jue Emperor was accompanied by Grand Tutor Xuanyang, Liang Yuan Kang, and an old Daoist of unfathomable power.

Elder Pei was somewhat taken aback as he surveyed the scene in the woods.

The scene he had expected—all the Xuan Yang officials dead or dying—was not what he found. Instead, the bodies of twenty or thirty powerful members of the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race littered the ground, while only three of the Xuan Yang officials had died.

Just as they arrived, they happened to see Bai Yuan obliterate a Xuanjiang Water Demon with a vicious whip kick.

Clearly, Bai Yuan was the reason for all of this.

However, since their side had not been the one to suffer losses, neither Elder Pei nor Grand Tutor Liang had any intention of complaining.

Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang looked at the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk.

"Jiaqi, for colluding with the Demon Sect and murdering a Court official, you shall be taken to the Capital City for public execution, in accordance with the Profound Sun Law!"

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk looked at his Father Emperor in disbelief. When he saw the Jue Emperor's pained expression, he knew his fate was sealed.

He gave a bitter smile.

'It seems the fate of the Xuanjiang is decided. I have become a pawn to be sacrificed.'

'But that's fine. Father Emperor must have already made arrangements for our people.'

The Seventh Prince of the Merfolk squeezed three words through his teeth: "I plead guilty!"

After speaking, he dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed three times to the Jue Emperor.

For thousands of years, the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race would not have existed as it did today without the Jue Emperor. Therefore, even if the Jue Emperor was sending him to take the fall, he accepted it.

Liang Yuan Kang glanced coldly at the Seventh Prince of the Merfolk. "Take him away. Execute the remaining Water Demons on the spot!"

"Yes, sir!"

The surviving Xuan Yang officials had looks of vengeance fulfilled in their eyes.

Liang Yuan Kang then said coolly to the Jue Emperor, "I trust the Jue Emperor will keep the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race in check. I will return and report to His Majesty. Let there be no more trouble."

"..."

The Jue Emperor was silent.

He only gave his seventh son a final, reluctant glance.

For years, he had spent most of his time in seclusion preparing for his tribulation. All matters of the Xuanjiang Aquatic Race, big and small, had been left in the hands of his seventh son.

"It is I, your Father Emperor, who has failed you."

His emotions were in turmoil.

At the same time, however, his Daoist heart became more resolute than ever before.

If he could survive this tribulation, he would become a legendary Celestial Demon.

When that time came, the world would surely be a different place.

Liang Yuan Kang and Elder Pei followed the Jue Emperor back to the Water Court.

Fanghua, Bai Yuan, and the others had already slain all the Water Demons on the shore.

Taking advantage of his swift blade, Bai Yuan had claimed a good number of heads.

This time, he had truly hit the jackpot; his enhancement points were skyrocketing.

Fanghua's face was full of delight.

This time had been a thrilling but ultimately safe, complete victory.

After returning to the Capital City, he would surely be credited with another great merit.

He glanced discreetly at Bai Yuan.

This young man truly was his lucky star. In previous years, he might not have earned such a great honor even once. Now, in less than a year, he'd done it twice, and both times were all thanks to Bai Yuan.

He had witnessed Bai Yuan's divine valor just now.

If Bai Yuan hadn't single-handedly fought off more than ten demons, turning a disadvantageous fight into a stalemate, they wouldn't just have missed out on a great merit—they probably wouldn't have even survived.

Fanghua thought to himself.

'Bai Yuan's fortune is just too strong. I have to hold on tight to this powerhouse.'

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