The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 416: Chapter 400: Northern Tour (2)

And so, the entire Northern Garrison Army felt indebted to the old general.

Perhaps it was precisely because of such actions that Emperor Li Chengyuan was so wary of Xu Dingchun.

After all, no emperor could rest easy knowing a general, thousands of miles away and beyond the Imperial City’s reach, commanded a massive army that answered only to him and not the throne.

Xu Dingchun had only managed to smoothly reclaim his position as Grand General of the Realm because his every action in the Capital City over the past several years had won back the Emperor’s trust.

Before the main camp of the Northern Garrison Army.

A Black Gold Banner, inscribed with the words "Northern Garrison," fluttered high in the fierce wind. A stern, killing aura filled the air.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood without making a single sound, a testament to their iron discipline.

Grand General of the North Dong Wanjun and Jiedu Envoy He Xinping stood at the very front of the formation.

One wore armor and a sword, the other was dressed in official robes; the distinction between the military and civil officials was clear at a glance.

He Xinping gave a self-deprecating laugh. "General Xu was a much better Minister of War than I. I spent half my life hoping to become Grand General of the Realm, but I never managed to snag the position in the end."

After all, He Xinping had already been Minister of War back when Xu Dingchun was still just a Miscellaneous General in the Northern Garrison Army.

The comparison was all the more vexing.

Dong Wanjun pretended not to hear. Suddenly, his expression shifted.

"They’re here!"

...

"Welcome, Grand General Xu!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

A thunderous roar erupted from below the Great Wall, so loud that even the experts of the Demon Sect on the other side could hear it.

Dong Wanjun and He Xinping walked forward.

A vast and mighty procession appeared at the end of the Official Road, quickly arriving before the two men.

Riding a magnificent Demon Horse at the head of the procession was none other than the Grand General of the Realm, Xu Dingchun.

The Xu Dingchun of today looked much younger than before; a Divinity Grandmaster, after all, could live for four hundred years.

Dong Wanjun and He Xinping bowed in unison.

"Greetings, General Xu."

Xu Dingchun waved a hand.

As swift and decisive as ever, he leaped from his warhorse. "Come. Show me the Northern Garrison Army of today."

"Yes, sir!"

Dong Wanjun followed closely behind Xu Dingchun.

Inspecting the army was a time-consuming affair. From drills to defensive deployments, Xu Dingchun examined everything in meticulous detail, even the soldiers’ living quarters, food, and clothing.

After a full day, Xu Dingchun finally returned with the others to the central command tent.

"You’ve done an excellent job."

This was the first praise Xu Dingchun had offered Dong Wanjun all day.

Perhaps this was a case of skipping-a-generation affection; back in the Capital City, Xu Dingchun had praised Bai Yuan endlessly, but he was far more stingy with his compliments for Dong Wanjun.

Dong Wanjun’s response was a perfect picture of composure, neither servile nor arrogant.

He sat bolt upright, his expression unchanging.

He was, from the bottom of his heart, grateful to this master who had taught him everything. Without him, it would have been impossible to go from a Peak Master of the Lingzhou Divine Mansion Gate to the Grand General of the North in just a few short years.

Xu Dingchun then turned to He Xinping on the other side.

"Lord He, it’s been a while."

He Xinping’s face was filled with emotion. "Indeed it has."

Back when he was Minister of War, he’d had frequent dealings with the four great generals. He had even been the one to sign off on the documents that appointed Xu Dingchun as Grand General of the North.

He never imagined the tables would turn so completely that he would end up as Xu Dingchun’s subordinate.

’Strength really is all that matters.’

Xu Dingchun hadn’t reached the high position of Grand General of the Realm through immense imperial favor or deep seniority. He was there simply because he could fight.

He Xinping asked, "Lord Xu, how long do you plan to stay in Xiangzhou? I’ve already sourced some fine wines."

Although Xu Dingchun had taken his position as Minister of War, there was no real animosity between them.

In fact, Emperor Li Chengyuan had long promised to make him a Jiedu Envoy, which was why he had so readily relinquished his post as Minister of War.

Xu Dingchun shook his head. "Save them for next time. I’m leaving tomorrow. I have to visit the Celestial Profound Sect."

At the mention of the Celestial Profound Sect, everyone in the main tent exchanged strange looks.

’On this trip north, inspecting the Northern Garrison Army was just a side task. His real objective must be the Celestial Profound Sect.’

He Xinping’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What does His Majesty intend to do?"

As the former Minister of War, he knew the Ministry of War was responsible for monitoring the world’s Jianghu sects. He was therefore privy to a great deal of inside information, including the fact that the Emperor had long been itching to make a move against the Northern Territory.

Xu Dingchun replied, "The time is not yet right."

He didn’t answer He Xinping’s question directly, offering only those six words.

He Xinping, however, just gave a knowing chuckle and said nothing more.

’That "right time,"’ he thought, ’is probably referring to Xu Dingchun’s grand-disciple.’

Dong Wanjun remained silent. He too understood the implication behind Xu Dingchun’s words, and a wave of concern washed over him.

’The Celestial Profound Sect has stood firm in the Northern Territory for ten thousand years. They won’t be easy to deal with.’

...

「The next day.」

Xu Dingchun headed south, and five days later, he ascended to the grounds of the Celestial Profound Sect.

Xuan Yang’s Grand General of the Realm, Xu Dingchun, and the Celestial Profound Sect Leader, Linghu Yang, discussed the Dao for three days. In the end, Linghu Yang conceded his inferiority.

As for how this great Jianghu master, a cultivator of three Daos, lost to a General who had failed to even become a Scholar, no one knew.

Afterward, Xu Dingchun left the Celestial Profound Sect and continued his journey south.

Following his route, it seemed he was headed for Jiangnan.

The many Jianghu sects of the Northern Territory were completely baffled. Xu Dingchun had arrived with such great fanfare that they all assumed the Xuan Yang Court intended to sweep through the Northern Territory once and for all.

They never expected that in the end, nothing would happen.

Even Linghu Yang and Xu Dingchun had only discussed the Dao, not exchanging a single blow.

At that moment, inside the main hall of the Celestial Profound Sect, Sect Leader Linghu Yang sat on his throne with a grim expression.

Seated below him were the heads of the Celestial Profound Sect’s three branches—Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian—as well as the Vice Sect Leader. Xia Han was also present.

The hall was deathly silent, the atmosphere incredibly oppressive.

Anyone could tell Linghu Yang was in a foul mood, and no one important enough to be in the hall was foolish enough to provoke him at a time like this.

After a long silence, Linghu Yang finally spoke. "Vice Sect Leader Xia, you’ve crossed blades with Bai Yuan. How strong is he?"

Xia Han’s expression turned grave.

’The scene of his previous clash with Bai Yuan surfaced in his mind. ’Although Bai Yuan nearly killed me when he caught me off guard with that Lion’s Roar, it would be almost impossible for him to do so if I were prepared.’

’Of course, even with that said, I’m not confident I could defeat him, either.’

"He is no weaker than I am."

Xia Han announced, having come to this conclusion after careful thought.

Hearing this, the rest of the hall fell even more silent. It was no longer a secret that Bai Yuan could rival a Mingxin Grandmaster, but the fact that he could truly contend with Vice Sect Leader Xia Han was still shocking.

Even within the Celestial Profound Sect itself, few knew that Xia Han had been the one to fight Bai Yuan in Binzhou.

Linghu Yang’s eyelids drooped.

A long silence once again descended upon the hall. No one could guess what the sect leader was thinking.

Linghu Yang sat quietly on his throne, his mind drifting back to his "discussion of the Dao" with Xu Dingchun.

’Divinity Grandmasters are truly terrifying.’

’Even though I’ve reached the Peak of Mingxin, I was still powerless against Xu Dingchun.’

’To onlookers, it appeared we were merely discussing the Dao. But in reality, Xu Dingchun had used some profound technique to drag my soul into a separate space, where he beat me nearly to death with his bare hands.’

’And anyone who thinks that pain was merely illusory would be dead wrong!’

Those injuries ultimately manifested on his physical body. That was how Xu Dingchun had severely wounded him, and it was why his aura was currently so weak.

His own fragility in the face of a Divinity Grandmaster filled him with rage.

He still remembered the parting shot Xu Dingchun had delivered as he left.

"I’ll leave you half-dead. Someone else will come to collect the rest later."

Linghu Yang knew exactly who that "someone" was: Bai Yuan.

’Knowing the fiercely protective nature of Xu Dingchun’s lineage, he won’t act directly. But if Bai Yuan is allowed to grow unchecked, he might genuinely be capable of toppling the Celestial Profound Sect.’

An even colder glint appeared in Linghu Yang’s eyes. He turned to Xia Han. "Go to Ximo for me and find Jiu Moshi."

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