The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 407: Chapter 396: Heading North

Grand General of the Realm!

Bai Yuan gazed at the confidential letter, delivered by an urgent courier from thousands of miles away. The shock in his heart took a long, long time to calm.

The weight carried by those four words was simply immense.

The Grand Protector is the head of all Military Officers, but this is merely a title of prestige, much like how the Ministry of War is nominally in charge of all troops.

In practice, however, their power is heavily restricted.

After all, the military is crucial to the nation’s survival; it’s impossible to let one person have complete control. Thus, the Grand Protector position is actually more of a way for Civil Servants to maintain influence over the army.

But the Grand General of the Realm was vastly different.

According to the ancestral system established by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, the Grand General of the Realm could directly command the Four Directions Legion. Their military authority was immense, second only to the Emperor himself. Consequently, ever since the first great general under the founding Grand Ancestor Emperor held the title, the position has remained vacant. For a very long time, no one had held it, not even as an honorary title.

The reason was that the power of the Grand General of the Realm was too great, and it was military power at that.

No Emperor would feel secure letting a subordinate command so many troops, especially in an era of peace and prosperity.

For Emperor Li Chengyuan to dare such a thing showed incredible boldness.

Bai Yuan had a vague idea of Li Chengyuan’s intentions.

He was letting Xu Dingchun have a free hand to reorganize the military, then consolidate its power to crush the Jianghu in one fell swoop. No matter how you looked at it, however, the move was far too risky.

’What if Xu Dingchun decides to rebel?’

’Wasn’t Xu Dingchun recalled by thirteen imperial edicts because Emperor Li Chengyuan was wary of his growing power? Why would he now, after Xu Dingchun’s breakthrough, allow him to become the sole, dominant power in the military?’

’The most likely explanation is that Xu Dingchun managed to win back the Emperor’s trust during his time in the Capital City.’

Bai Yuan closed his eyes, pushing these thoughts aside. A panel quietly materialized before his eyes.

He had already upgraded his Supreme Purity Record to the Mastery level. This Cultivation Technique was truly worthy of its status as an esoteric Secret Technique of the Quanzhen Lineage; it had its own unique strengths.

This particular Cultivation Technique was a form of Inner Strength, focused primarily on self-cultivation and tempering one’s disposition.

However, this didn’t mean it wasn’t powerful. On the contrary, the Supreme Purity Record focused on stripping away all distracting thoughts, allowing one to fight as if divinely aided. To perceive everything with a discerning eye was to achieve a combat state of the highest order.

What attracted Bai Yuan most, however, was the Supreme Purity Record’s ability to suppress killing intent.

As the body count he was responsible for grew, the killing aura surrounding him had become almost uncontrollable.

While it didn’t cause him much personal harm, Bai Yuan had no desire to become someone so intimidating that no one dared approach him. Thus, practicing the Supreme Purity Record became a necessity.

...

Before the uproar over Xu Dingchun’s appointment as Grand General of the Realm had even subsided, another piece of news rocked the Xuan Yang Dynasty.

Guihai, the first True Disciple of the Zhengyang Sect, was traveling north to challenge Bai Yuan to a duel.

On the very same day, the Monk Divine Dust descended from Xuanfa Temple.

For two such prodigies to head north on nearly the same day was an act that inevitably sparked speculation, especially since Xu Dingchun was about to assume his post as Grand General of the Realm.

Clearly, the two great sects had no intention of simply sitting back and awaiting their doom.

And the target for their first move was none other than Bai Yuan.

Making a move against Xu Dingchun directly would be tantamount to declaring war on the Xuan Yang Court. And with Xu Dingchun’s recent breakthrough, the Court was at the peak of its power. So, they chose Bai Yuan instead, intending to weaken the Xuan Yang Dynasty’s momentum.

Catching wind of the news, numerous Jianghu thrill-seekers also flocked northward.

They had no intention of missing such a grand Jianghu spectacle.

Bai Yuan’s legendary victory might have been a once-in-a-millennium event, but Guihai and Divine Dust were already famed for being unbeatable thirty years ago.

After thirty years, their strength could only be more terrifying.

Bai Yuan was not guaranteed to win.

By now, Binzhou was already packed to the brim. Wandering Martial Artists from every corner of the land had swarmed the city, filling it to overflowing.

Tang Baichuan, having a good head for business, was thrilled by this development and even dispatched city guards to maintain order.

With so many people, the costs of lodging, food, and drink alone would amount to a massive sum of silver.

This silver would eventually find its way back into Prefect Tang’s hands in the form of tax revenue, so he was naturally delighted.

Within the Bai Mansion.

A man holding a Bamboo Sword, a somewhat stoic expression on his face, stood quietly.

Bai Yuan quickened his pace for a few steps and burst into laughter.

"Xiaobai, I knew you’d come."

The man was none other than Yue Xiaobai.

Yue Xiaobai had originally been in seclusion at Xiyue, but upon hearing the news, he had immediately broken out of his meditation and rushed to Binzhou.

It wasn’t that he was concerned for Bai Yuan’s safety.

Rather, he felt that as a friend, he should be the first one to challenge Bai Yuan.

"Let’s go."

Yue Xiaobai tossed his scabbard aside, his Sword Intent flaring wildly.

During his seclusion in Xiyue, he had experienced a sudden enlightenment, and his strength had increased dramatically.

’Xiaobai is indeed much stronger than the last time we met.’

’Interesting.’

He clenched his right hand into a fist and threw a punch straight at Yue Xiaobai’s face.

...

"My apologies. I might have hit a bit too hard just now. I was already trying to hold back."

Bai Yuan said with an apologetic look.

Yue Xiaobai lay flat on his back, staring at the sky with a soul-crushed expression.

This time, he hadn’t been defeated in a single move, but it wasn’t much better. Bai Yuan had taken him down with just two punches.

With great difficulty, Yue Xiaobai clutched his side and struggled back to his feet.

His usual icy expression returned. "Don’t underestimate those two just because you beat me."

Bai Yuan’s expression turned to one of interest.

As the one being challenged, he had, of course, already heard the news. It was just that information on the two challengers was incredibly scarce.

Yue Xiaobai said, "Guihai and Divine Dust are the most brilliant disciples the Zhengyang Sect and Xuanfa Temple have produced in centuries. Thirty years ago, they came to the Xiyue Sect to challenge my senior brother. I saw them fight with my own eyes."

Bai Yuan pressed, "How strong were they?"

Yue Xiaobai’s voice was grave. "Very strong. Even now, I am no match for them as they were thirty years ago."

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