The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 442: Chapter 412: Killing Technique (Part 2)

Big Beard: "This punch is like a woman’s—all soft and weak."

"Since you cooked a decent meal, I’ll do you a favor and teach you something real. From the moment it was conceived in ancient times, the Body Refining Technique has been a killing art for fighting demonic beasts. What’s the damn point of turning yourself into a turtle shell? If you’re going to practice, you forge yourself into a Divine Weapon!"

Bai Yuan’s heart jolted.

’Forge myself into a Divine Weapon!’

He had long suspected there was something wrong with his Barbarian Body Technique. He had initially grasped thirty percent of it by sparring with Kuaidong. Later, he filled in the gaps by watching Gu Ta teach boxing, which finally unlocked the full Cultivation Technique.

But this Cultivation Technique was still riddled with flaws.

This was to be expected, really. All Barbarian People practiced Body Refining Techniques, but not all of them practiced the *same* one.

The paths different Barbarian Martial Artists followed were vastly different.

Because he had previously trained in hardening techniques, he had unconsciously prioritized defense. That was why the moment he met Big Beard, he was eager to learn from him.

Big Beard muttered a curse, "I must’ve owed you guys in a past life."

With that, he shot up from the ground.

"If you want to practice a real Body Refining Technique, you’d better be ready to take a beating."

Bai Yuan nodded earnestly. "Senior, please, don’t hold back."

Big Beard let out a wicked laugh. "Good."

Before the word was even out of his mouth, his fist, as large as a sandbag, came crashing down on Bai Yuan.

...

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse—a rare night in the Northern Plains when the moon was even visible.

Bai Yuan sat alone by Cang Lake, replaying Big Beard’s punches from earlier in his mind.

’Goddamn, that hurt.’

He winced, sucking air through his teeth.

Big Beard’s punches were terrifyingly heavy. Even with his combination of hardening techniques and Body Refining, he’d barely been able to withstand them. The relentless assault had left him covered in bruises.

But the beating had been effective. Bai Yuan’s comprehension of the Body Refining Technique had deepened significantly.

Just as Big Beard had said, his technique was all about killing. Toughening the body was merely a means to strike more effectively. Using one’s own flesh as a weapon... its killing power was far greater than any conventional weapon, especially when one’s physical durability was comparable to the weapon itself.

’The Body Refining Technique truly is the most terrifying killing art in the world!’

’Is Big Beard really just a Mingxin Powerhouse?!’

Bai Yuan mused to himself.

This Barbarian, Big Beard, was perhaps the most powerful Mingxin Powerhouse he had ever seen.

It was said that a Mingxin Grandmaster couldn’t be killed by brute force, but Bai Yuan doubted many could survive Big Beard’s fists—fists that could shatter boulders.

He had seen Divinity Grandmasters like Elder Pei and Yan Shao’an in action before. While there was still a gap, Big Beard might actually be able to trade a few blows with them.

Bai Yuan was startled by his own thought.

’A Mingxin who could trade blows with a Divinity... was he even human?!!’

He never would have believed such a terrifying person existed. But now, having met Big Beard, he had no choice but to accept it.

’I really can’t underestimate the masters of this world.’

The Barbarian People had held their own against the Central Plains for ten thousand years; they clearly had their own unique strengths.

Bai Yuan glanced at a nearby cave. Although the aura of a Golden Crow still lingered there, the Crow Spirit itself had vanished without a trace.

He thought to himself what a pity it was.

’If that Crow Spirit had returned to the cave, I might have had a chance to act. I could have gotten a good number of enhancement points.’

But as the saying goes, ’sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the chopping’. It wouldn’t be too late to ’level up’ after he mastered the true Body Refining Technique.

At that thought, Bai Yuan yawned, found a comfortable spot against a tree trunk, and drifted into a deep sleep.

...

「The next morning.」

Under a large willow tree, Bai Yuan was struggling to fend off Big Beard’s assault.

He had been woken up by Big Beard’s fists.

’This guy really has no martial honor.’

Today, Bai Yuan didn’t restrict himself to just the Barbarian Body Technique. He used every trick he had. This time, he was finally able to trade blows with Big Beard instead of just passively taking a beating.

When Big Beard found his once-unstoppable fists being blocked by Bai Yuan, his hunter’s spirit flared with delight.

Ever since he had perfected his Body Refining Technique, very few in the Northern Plains could trade blows with him.

Now that he had finally found a worthy sparring partner, his excitement surged, and his punches grew heavier still.

Feeling the ferocity of the blows intensify, Bai Yuan was horrified.

’You mean he was holding back yesterday?!!’

’He’s not human!’

Big Beard and Bai Yuan fought from dawn till dusk before finally stopping—a feat only physical monsters like them could accomplish.

...

The days that followed were repetitive, but far from boring.

Like a martial arts fanatic, Bai Yuan’s days were filled with nothing but sparring with Big Beard.

「One day.」

"Senior, I ask for your guidance."

He had just grasped another part of the Barbarian Body Technique’s essence the day before and was eager to test it out.

Big Beard rolled his eyes at the eager-looking Bai Yuan.

"Get lost. I’m not your personal training dummy. I’m busy today. We’ll fight another time."

He looked at the energetic Bai Yuan and had to admit the kid was the toughest person he’d ever had the pleasure of beating on.

Bai Yuan was a little disappointed. "Are you going somewhere, Senior?"

Big Beard nodded. "The Demon Sect is holding the Blood Spirit Conference. I have to go, out of respect for Mr. Yuan."

’The Blood Spirit Conference...’

Bai Yuan repeated the name to himself.

’It must be an extremely important event for the Demon Sect if Mr. Yuan is personally presiding over it.’

The fact that even a wild and untamable man like Big Beard had to attend showed just how much prestige Mr. Yuan commanded in the Northern Plains. After all, Big Beard hadn’t shown the Soul-Chasing Tower even a shred of respect.

Big Beard was about to turn and leave when he seemed to remember something. He turned back to Bai Yuan. "You, kid. Just stay put and behave yourself."

Bai Yuan nodded obediently. "Yes, Senior."

Then, Big Beard added irritably, "Ah, whatever. Do what you want. What’s it to me?"

With that, his figure vanished into the foothills of Cang Mang Mountain.

Only Bai Yuan remained in front of the Cang Lake Cottage.

Bai Yuan sat before the small wooden cabin, contemplating his next move.

Big Beard had made no secret of rescuing him, so the Demon Sect must have known he was here for some time. The strange thing was, after all those threats from the Soul-Chasing Tower’s Vice Tower Master, not a single person had shown up.

’How strange.’

In the end, Bai Yuan decided to go hunting.

He had come to the Northern Plains to ’grind mobs’, after all. If he just stayed here, he might as well have gone back to the comforts of Xuan Yang.

This was the heart of Cang Mang Mountain, teeming with great demons. It was a perfect hunting ground.

His mind made up, Bai Yuan immediately got to his feet and disappeared into the mountain forest beside the cabin.

...

「Barbarian Village.」

"Train hard! Anyone who dares to slack off can get the hell out!"

Gu Ta was as strict as ever.

Just then, the old village chief ambled over.

"Still no news of Lord Ah Gu Da?"

Gu Ta nodded.

During the last upheaval, because Bai Yuan had drawn the battle away, the village had suffered no other damage besides a few collapsed huts.

The old village chief had led the villagers away from the village, and they had stayed in the mountain forests for ten days.

Gu Ta had scouted the village’s condition multiple times. Only when he was certain that the Golden Crow and the Sipuxiang great demon would not return did he lead his people back.

Ever since returning, he had instructed the hunters to keep an eye out for any trace of Bai Yuan.

The Barbarian People were simple-hearted and deeply grateful.

He could clearly see that Bai Yuan had deliberately drawn the two great demons and the Vice Tower Master of the Soul-Chasing Tower away. Otherwise, the village would have been razed to the ground.

While they were powerless to help Bai Yuan, if they happened to find his body, they could at least give him a proper burial, couldn’t they?

Such were the old village chief’s thoughts.

As for Bai Yuan surviving?

He hadn’t even considered the possibility. The Golden Crow, the Sipuxiang, the Vice Tower Master of the Soul-Chasing Tower—in their eyes, each was a figure of legend.

Any one of them alone was capable of laying waste to the land for thousands of miles, let alone all of them together.

The old village chief sighed softly and turned to head back to his hut.

He was old now, no longer the soaring eagle of his youth. His only hope was to find a protector for the village before he died.

Bai Yuan had been an excellent candidate, but alas...

Just as he turned, a boy’s voice cried out from behind him.

"The Great Warrior?!"

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