The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

The mountains of Jiangnan are known for their beauty, and Dragon Tiger Mountain, home to the Dragon Tiger Sect, was no exception.

A long, winding, emerald river flowed like a jade belt, stringing the mountains together. A celestial aura suffused the air, making it feel like an Immortal Realm.

For the first Grand Celestial Master to have chosen this place to seek enlightenment, it was naturally extraordinary. Legend had it that the Dragon Tiger Sect's ability to stand for ten thousand years was deeply connected to its feng shui.

This belief was rampant among the common folk, but the disciples of the Dragon Tiger Sect scoffed at it. The Sect had always placed more faith in their own fists.

As Bai Yuan followed the Little Daoist through the mountains, he began to understand why Celestial Master Zhang had founded his sect here all those years ago.

From a feng shui perspective, it was a perfect Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

Even an emperor's tomb would be overwhelmed by the potent energies here; it could only serve as a major sect for a Daoist Family.

He had originally thought he would have to wait patiently at the foot of the mountain like the other officials, but unexpectedly, he was summoned to the summit.

This made the other officials, high and low, burn with envy.

Even Fanghua was a bit sour with envy.

Bai Yuan could only attribute this to Elder Pei.

His only connection in the Dragon Tiger Sect was that old man, after all.

Still, Elder Pei's avatar ability was incredible. When Bai Yuan left the Capital City, Elder Pei was still at the Bai Mansion, yet now he had crossed a thousand li to be at the Dragon Tiger Sect. It had to be an avatar.

The Little Daoist led Bai Yuan over one peak after another.

Fortunately, the peaks of the Dragon Tiger Sect weren't very large, or it would have taken much more time.

An hour later, rows of buildings with green bricks and jade-green tiles appeared before Bai Yuan. The Daoist Temples blended perfectly with the surrounding mountain scenery, instilling a strange sense of peace in anyone who beheld them.

Finally, the two arrived in a small courtyard.

Just as he expected, Bai Yuan saw Elder Pei.

Elder Pei chuckled. "Donor Bai, what do you think of the Dragon Tiger Sect?"

Bai Yuan praised him sincerely, "A Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, a dwelling for immortals."

"Then why not join my Dragon Tiger Sect? In the future, I can pass my purple robes on to you."

"...Daoist Pei, please don't jest with me."

If he were to turn around and join the Dragon Tiger Sect now, the relationship between the Sect and the Court would surely take a nosedive. It might even lead to open conflict.

Elder Pei didn't press the matter of discipleship. Instead, he waved his hand, dismissing the Little Daoist Child from the courtyard.

"Donor Bai, although the matter of the demon seed is ultimately a matter of the human heart, the methods of the Demon Sect's Founding Ancestor are unfathomable. You should stay in my little courtyard for the next few days."

"The Dragon Tiger Sect's founder, Celestial Master Zhang, attained longevity through thunder techniques. Dragon Tiger Mountain itself has the power to suppress all evil."

Bai Yuan was astonished. "Are Longevity Techniques actually real?"

Elder Pei shrugged. "Probably not. Celestial Master Zhang's tomb is right on the back mountain."

"..."

For a moment, Bai Yuan was at a loss for words.

But since Elder Pei had said as much, he would just stay in the small courtyard for a few days.

...

There were still five days until the date for the sacrificial rites to heaven, jointly determined by the Dragon Tiger Sect and the Astronomical Bureau.

Bai Yuan spent his days training in the small courtyard.

Due to Elder Pei's high status, Bai Yuan was free to wander anywhere in the Dragon Tiger Sect, aside from a few forbidden areas on the back mountain.

「One day.」

He was walking aimlessly up a flight of bluestone steps within the Dragon Tiger Sect.

A handsome, sword-bearing man happened to be walking toward him.

That man was Li Dai.

Seeing Li Dai approach, Bai Yuan clasped his hands in a salute. "Greetings, Prince Li."

This "Prince" was not a prince in the truest sense. Although Li Dai was an orthodox member of the Li Royal Family, in terms of bloodline, he had little direct relation to the current Emperor, Li Chengyuan.

It was only because of his outstanding talent that Li Chengyuan had taken him in as an adopted son.

There were seven such adopted sons in total.

All of them were strong contenders for the future throne.

Although Bai Yuan was a high-ranking minister of the Court, at the end of the day, he was just an employee of the Li Family. Of course he had to show proper courtesy upon meeting Li Dai.

Just as the rumors said, Li Dai had an indifferent temperament. He merely gave a slight nod before brushing past Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan didn't mind.

'Geniuses are often a bit eccentric, after all. It's perfectly normal.'

He smiled, shook his head, and continued on his way.

But he hadn't taken more than two steps when he felt two terrifying auras.

He instantly recognized them: the Emperor, Li Chengyuan, and the Grand Tutor, Liang Yuan Kang, were nearby.

Just as he was about to turn and slip away, Liang Yuan Kang's voice sounded in his ear.

"Lord Bai, please wait."

This was a Secret Technique that compressed sound into a thread, allowing it to be heard even from a hundred li away, and only by the intended recipient.

The power of a Divine Communication Grandmaster was truly terrifying.

Helpless, Bai Yuan had no choice but to stop and wait obediently.

Before long, the figures of Li Chengyuan and Liang Yuan Kang appeared nearby. There were no attendants, just the two of them.

But this was the Dragon Tiger Sect, and given their combined strength, it was nearly impossible for anyone to pose a threat to them.

Li Chengyuan seemed to be in a very good mood, a smile on his face.

When he saw Bai Yuan, his mood improved even further.

Li Chengyuan didn't ask why Bai Yuan was on Dragon Tiger Mountain. Instead, he burst into laughter.

"A time will come to ride the long wind and cleave the waves; I'll hang my cloud-white sail and cross the sea which raves."

"A fine poem! A fine poem!"

"I never imagined Bai Qing was so exceptionally talented in the art of poetry. This is truly my fortune."

Bai Yuan felt a headache coming on. He hadn't expected the poem to reach Li Chengyuan's ears so quickly.

Li Chengyuan savored the lines again.

He prided himself on being an enlightened ruler, and his mind was almost preternaturally sharp.

When Bai Yuan had recommended himself for a post in a "clear-water" Government Office like the Imperial Inspection Office, he had seen through his intentions long ago.

Someone like Bai Yuan didn't care about official positions at all; he was simply borrowing the Xuanyang National Fortune to cultivate his Martial Dao.

Li Chengyuan had never disliked such martial fanatics; in fact, he appreciated them even more.

Xuanyang had been able to rule the world for a thousand years precisely because it had enough Divinity Grandmasters.

These Grandmasters weren't all nurtured by the Li Family; most were actually officials of the Court.

Scheming and politicking in the shadows were merely minor paths. The ascent of the Martial Dao was the true path. If one could become a Divinity Grandmaster, even the position of a Grand Minister would be but a trifle.

Therefore, as long as Bai Yuan didn't do anything too outrageous, he wouldn't be readily condemned.

After all, Xuanyang couldn't do without a genius like Bai Yuan.

But now, he detected a hint of unappreciated talent in Bai Yuan's verse, which made him even more delighted.

'When it comes to officials, you don't fear insatiable greed; you fear a man who desires nothing.'

Li Chengyuan mused that since Bai Yuan seemed to have political ambitions, he would marry his daughter to him when the time was right. That way, Bai Yuan would become a Prince Consort.

In Xuanyang, a Prince Consort was no mere mascot; it was an important method for the Li Royal Race to win over talented martial artists.

Many of the Grand Ministers throughout history had started as Prince Consorts. Liang Yuan Kang beside him was a prime example.

'If Bai Yuan truly becomes my son-in-law and also attains the rank of a Grand Minister, my own branch of the family will prosper for several hundred more years. It's an extremely worthwhile bargain.'

Seeing Bai Yuan as his future son-in-law, Li Chengyuan found him more and more pleasing to the eye.

Bai Yuan said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."

He could only accept all of Li Chengyuan's compliments, considering it a tribute to the truly unappreciated Poetry Immortal from his previous life.

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