The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 438: Chapter 410: Golden Crow (2)

"Tell me everything."

The old village chief was stunned. He couldn’t believe Bai Yuan had never even heard of Big Beard.

He was a legend among the Barbarian People of Cang Mang Mountain!

’The honored warrior must be from the south,’ the old village chief thought to himself. ’After all, who from Cang Mang Mountain hasn’t heard of Big Beard?’

"Big Beard is a legend among the Barbarians of Cang Mang Mountain. His strength is unfathomable. If it weren’t for him, Cang Mang Mountain would still be the domain of the great demons, with no room for the Barbarian People to survive."

"He single-handedly killed thirteen great demons on par with the Golden Crow Great Demon. That’s what made the demons of Cang Mang Mountain fear him."

Bai Yuan asked, "Then what’s his real name?"

The old village chief shook his head. "Big Beard is just Big Beard. No one knows his real name. People have been calling him that for a century."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He silently repeated the two words in his mind, and a ripple stirred his otherwise tranquil heart.

The reason he was so focused on the name ’Big Beard’ was that Old Dong had once mentioned meeting a great man in the Northern Plains, someone he looked up to like an older brother. His name was Huyan, but everyone there called him Big Beard.

Bai Yuan never expected that he would stumble into the territory of Big Beard Huyan, just as Old Dong had all those years ago.

It seemed both he and his master had a knack for getting on the good side of their elders.

Bai Yuan was one thing, but Old Dong... back in Xuan Yang, he had first won the admiration of Xu Dingchun, the Grand General of the North. Then, after fleeing to the Northern Plains, he had somehow managed to gain Big Beard’s favor as well.

According to Old Dong, if it weren’t for Big Beard’s protection, he would have long since been slain by the Vice Tower Master from the Soul-Chasing Tower, given his strength at the time.

But it was also because of Big Beard that he was forced to remain in the Northern Plains for a very long time.

Before Bai Yuan left, Old Dong had specifically instructed him that if he ever faced a life-or-death crisis, he could seek out Big Beard for help.

The condition was that it had to be a life-or-death crisis. Otherwise, once he sought out Big Beard, it would be difficult to get away from him anytime soon.

Bai Yuan still remembered Old Dong’s guarded expression, which only made him more curious about this Big Beard.

There weren’t many people in the world who could make Old Dong so apprehensive.

The old village chief thought it over but still felt compelled to add a warning. "Honored Warrior, both that great demon and Big Beard have foul tempers. It’s best not to provoke them."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He’d come to the Northern Plains to grind experience, so as long as they didn’t provoke him, he had no reason to cause trouble for himself.

’Once he perfected the third level of the Divine Mansion Technique, he would return to Xuan Yang immediately.’

...

Over the next several days, Bai Yuan remained in the Barbarian Village.

He spent most of his time entering the Divine Palace Immortal Realm to spar with Kuaidong and hone his Barbarian Body Technique.

Occasionally, he would also step outside to guide the village children in their Body Refining.

The days were rather pleasant.

Unlike the clamor of Xuan Yang, this Barbarian Village had retained a rare, simple purity that was as refreshing as drinking from a clear spring.

Bai Yuan found that his own state of mind had also started to shift subtly.

He was now a Mingxin Grandmaster, and to advance further, he had to break through the Divinity Communication Barrier.

The secret to the Divinity Communication Barrier was plain to see, hidden in the name itself: "Divinity Communication." Only by accessing Soul Power could one break through this pass.

Even a genius like Xu Dingchun had been stuck at this stage for a full century.

And to develop Soul Power, one had to cultivate one’s mind and heart.

That was why most Mingxin Grandmasters in the Jianghu either went into year-round seclusion or, like Elder Pei, roamed the mortal world. Their goal was the same—to cultivate the heart and achieve divinity—they just used different methods.

Bai Yuan, however, planned to walk a completely different path: breaking through the barrier with pure force.

’If my power becomes great enough, I can achieve divinity without cultivating my heart.’

The Grand Ancestor Emperor had already proven this a thousand years ago.

Since the Grand Ancestor Emperor had managed it, Bai Yuan—with his own special advantages—believed he could too.

He was well aware of his own limited aptitude for enlightenment. Reaching the Divinity Grandmaster realm through pure comprehension was nearly impossible for him. In contrast, the path of achieving it through overwhelming power—a path unattainable for most—was actually the more reliable option for him.

Of course, improving his mental state would still be beneficial.

Bai Yuan slowly pushed open the door.

Today was a rare sunny day in the Northern Plains.

...

「By the shores of Cang Lake.」

Inside a cave overlooking the lake.

The Golden Crow Great Demon was in its cave, intently focused on something.

Unlike humans, the Demon Race had never been picky about their dwellings. The demons in Xuan Yang might have picked up a taste for luxury through subtle influence, but here in the Northern Plains, such things didn’t matter.

The Golden Crow’s cave was bare, but its location was truly enviable.

Suddenly, a loud, triumphant cry echoed through the cave.

Just as the Golden Crow was celebrating, an overbearing voice boomed.

"You flea-bitten bird, you dare disturb my sleep? Are you looking to die?"

Hearing Big Beard’s voice, the Golden Crow instantly fell silent.

Although it was a Tier Eight Great Demon and Big Beard was a Mingxin Martial Artist—theoretically the same realm—Big Beard had broken through the Mingxin Pass using pure body technique. And with a century of accumulated power on top of that, he was absurdly strong.

An ordinary Tier Eight Great Demon was like a helpless chick in Big Beard’s hands, to be toyed with as he pleased.

If this spot by Cang Lake weren’t so ideal for cultivation, and if Big Beard hadn’t kept to himself for the past few decades, it would have moved away long ago.

Even so, it couldn’t hide the delight in its eyes.

’Success!’

It took a deep breath, and a ball of scorching golden light emerged from its mouth.

This was the Golden Crow’s innate Divine Power.

Sun Chasing Soul!

The Golden Crow’s expression was ecstatic. It only possessed a half-blood lineage, and the success rate for this Divine Power was less than ten percent. It never thought it would actually succeed.

This golden gleam had no offensive power, but it possessed a unique function: tracking.

The Vice Tower Master of the Soul-Chasing Tower had promised a priceless treasure in return—one that would be immensely beneficial to the Golden Crow. That was why it was so invested in tracking down the Profound Person, even going so far as to use its precious Golden Crow Secret Technique.

A bizarre cackle echoed from the Golden Crow within the cave.

This time, however, it was smart enough to keep it down. Otherwise, it would have surely earned a beating from Big Beard.

The golden light gradually dimmed, yet it also grew more solid, finally condensing into a small golden bead that shot out of the cave.

Seeing this, the Golden Crow transformed into a streak of black light and gave chase.

...

"Train harder, or you’ll end up as demon feed!"

Gu Ta roared.

A group of young Barbarians, drenched in sweat, were clearly at their limits. Still, they gritted their teeth and continued to slam their bodies against the giant boulders before them.

In Xuan Yang, practitioners of not only Body Refining Techniques, but even Horizontal Training, were few and far between.

One reason was that it was simply too brutal.

Like these young Barbarians, from the moment they began Body Refining, they were committing to a lifetime of such arduous training, without a moment’s rest.

Body Refining was a grueling trial for not only the body, but also the spirit.

Therefore, every Martial Artist who mastered Body Refining possessed terrifying willpower.

"Honored Warrior."

Gu Ta was about to urge them on again when he saw Bai Yuan appear. His stern expression instantly melted into one of reverence.

Bai Yuan watched the youths and nodded to himself.

He had once been the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect. Even the hand-picked disciples of the Sect, he thought, could not necessarily surpass these youths in terms of resolve.

’The Barbarian People truly had something special to be able to survive in such a harsh environment.’

"Keep training."

Bai Yuan waved his hand.

Seeing Bai Yuan head toward the village entrance, Gu Ta couldn’t help but ask, "Honored Warrior, are you leaving?"

Bai Yuan nodded.

Seeing him nod, Gu Ta’s heart clenched with panic.

’The recent demon rampages have grown fiercer and fiercer. Our village has remained safe, and that must be thanks to Lord Ah Gu Da. But if he leaves now, the village will have a hard time surviving the next month.’

Bai Yuan saw Gu Ta’s worry and smiled. "Don’t worry. I’m just stepping out for a bit. I won’t be long."

’He’d been here a month, and he’d grown unexpectedly fond of the place.’

Gu Ta was overjoyed. "Thank you, great warrior!"

Listening to Gu Ta’s clumsy flattery, Bai Yuan inwardly shook his head. ’Compared to the Imperial Censors from the Imperial Inspection Office, his bootlicking skills are sorely lacking.’

’Still, it’s kind of endearing.’

But at the very moment he took a step with his right foot, a golden gleam streaked across the sky.

Bai Yuan snapped his head up.

Gu Ta looked up at the golden gleam, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"The Golden Crow!!"

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