The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

[In the two hundred and fortieth year of your cultivation of the Tiger-Crane Style, you discovered a new direction for your saber techniques.]

...

[In the three hundred and eightieth year of your practice of the Tiger-Crane Style, you comprehended the true essence of the saber and created your own technique: "Gui Shan"!]

...

[Name: Bai Yuan]

[Profession: Demon Hunter, Ghostwriter, Boxer, Spirit Cooker]

[Skills: Gui Shan (Beginner), Leader’s Leg (Proficient), Night Wanderer Step (Master), Hundred Transformations (Master), Hundred Poison Hand (Master)...]

[Enhancement Points: 134]

The moment the Tiger-Crane Saber Technique reached the Legendary level, the panel changed.

A self-created saber technique!

Bai Yuan’s eyes lit up as he stared at the new words "Gui Shan" that had appeared on the panel.

At almost the same instant, a vast amount of insight into saber techniques flooded his mind. Unlike his previous cultivation techniques, this one felt as if it had grown from his very flesh and blood—an incredibly intimate connection.

By training three saber techniques to the Master level, Bai Yuan had gained the ability to create his own martial arts. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

One had to understand that creating a cultivation technique was something only a powerhouse like the Founding Ancestor of the Divine Mansion Sect could achieve.

Yet Bai Yuan, a mere Blood Refining Martial Master, had accomplished such a feat. His comprehension could only be described as heaven-defying.

This was thanks in part to his cheat system, but it was also inseparable from his own hard work.

[New Profession Acquired!]

[Sword Hero] [Sword Monarch] [Sword Ghost]

As a speedrunner, Bai Yuan naturally chose "Sword Ghost" without hesitation.

In his past life, he had nearly ground his way to completing the minigame.

The Sword Hero follows the most orthodox path of a swordsman, specializing solely in saber techniques.

The Sword Monarch follows a path of cultivating both internally and externally, allowing for faster realm progression.

As for the Sword Ghost, it was weaker than the Sword Hero in a direct confrontation and slower in realm progression than the Sword Monarch. However, its strength lay in its vast array of methods, following a path of cultivating all techniques.

It started slow, but it became terrifying in the late game.

One move to clear the map. ’Nuff said.

Bai Yuan was no longer the destitute young hunter he once was.

He now had the power to choose, so of course, he would pick the profession with the greatest potential.

His panel silently changed as well.

[Name: Bai Yuan]

[Profession: Demon Hunter, Sword Ghost, Boxer, Spirit Cooker]

[Skills: Ghost·Gui Mountain (Beginner), Leader’s Leg (Proficient), Ghost Night Wanderer Step (Master), Ghost Hundred Transformations (Master), Ghost Hundred Poison Hand (Master)...]

[Enhancement Points: 134]

All of Bai Yuan’s cultivation techniques related to the Sword Ghost class gained a "Ghost" prefix.

Don’t be fooled by the addition of a single word; the changes were night and day.

Whether it was the newly comprehended Gui Shan Saber Technique or his previous techniques like the Night Wanderer Step, they all underwent massive changes, becoming more bizarre and unpredictable.

At the same time, his energy also changed.

A trace of poison energy fused with his own, making his energy unique.

If the current Bai Yuan were to face another Blood Refining Martial Master, he could definitely kill them without a sound.

Legendary was truly on another level.

He now possessed the ability to challenge those in higher realms.

One must understand that every Entering Martial Artist was an exceptionally powerful existence. Those who could challenge an Entering Martial Artist from a lower realm all went on to become legends in the Martial World.

Bai Yuan closed his eyes, sensing his body intently.

He felt as if there was a thin membrane separating him from the world.

Sensation!

Bai Yuan’s eyes snapped open.

The Knowledge and Sensation Pass!

That’s right. There were, of course, realms above Entering the Realm.

Knowledge and Sensation was the realm of Sect Leader Murong Tian. In all of Huanglong Prefecture, only Murong Tian had stepped through the Knowledge and Sensation Pass. Even in Ling Province, such Grandmaster-level experts were exceedingly rare.

Bai Yuan was no longer the little apprentice from Qinghe County.

The realms that were once top-secret information to Zhang Yang were now common knowledge to Bai Yuan.

After Entering the Realm, a Martial Artist’s physical body reached its limit.

After that, one had to step into profound and mysterious new realms.

Knowledge and Sensation, Mind Illumination, Divine Connection!

The so-called Knowledge and Sensation was about enhancing a Martial Artist’s perception, refining their energy into sensation, and thus reaching a higher realm.

A Martial Artist in the Knowledge and Sensation Realm could perceive all techniques and was overwhelmingly powerful.

This was evident from Sect Leader Murong Tian’s ability to suppress the monstrous Old Dong.

The massive increase in his strength put Bai Yuan in a particularly good mood.

He leaned back comfortably on his bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.

...

「The next day.」

Bai Yuan had just woken up, and the two girls, Liu Qing and Jiang Fei, were helping him dress.

You Shengnan suddenly burst in.

"Junior Brother Bai, something’s happened."

Seeing the grave expression on You Shengnan’s face, Bai Yuan frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Whatever made even You Shengnan this nervous couldn’t be a simple matter.

"Wujiang was assassinated. He nearly died."

"It happened on Feishi Peak," You Shengnan added.

Bai Yuan’s heart sank.

Wujiang had a great reputation, so of course, Bai Yuan had heard of him.

Although he hadn’t yet Entered the Realm, he was already a top-tier expert at the Blood Refining Pass, and it was said he was on the verge of breaking through to the Entering the Realm stage.

To think that he would be ambushed by an assassin from the Soul-Chasing Tower, and on Feishi Peak of all places.

It was truly impossible to guard against.

Countless scions from prominent families would likely be trembling in their boots.

In terms of background, few in the entire Divine Mansion Sect could surpass Wujiang. His backer was a Supreme Elder—the master of Shi Bai Mountain, the Peak Master of Feishi Peak.

If even a figure like him was nearly killed, how could anyone else possibly defend themselves?

"Junior Brother Bai, you must be extra careful."

A worried look appeared on You Shengnan’s face.

Bai Yuan was still supposedly bedridden with a serious illness. Since the Soul-Chasing Tower had already infiltrated Shenfu Mountain, he was the perfect target.

Of course, You Shengnan herself was also a likely target for the Soul-Chasing Tower.

After all, their master, Old Dong, had killed quite a few experts from the Soul-Chasing Tower.

Bai Yuan nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister."

You Shengnan wanted to stay and watch over Bai Yuan, but he refused her offer.

Given the Soul-Chasing Tower’s methods, if they did send an assassin, it would likely be a Blood Refining Martial Master. Even if You Shengnan were present, it would be useless—she’d just be another corpse.

Besides, without You Shengnan around, Bai Yuan could act more freely.

In the end, You Shengnan could only sigh softly and turn to leave.

Faced with an expert of the Blood Refining Pass, she was indeed helpless.

Just as You Shengnan left, Liu Qing and Jiang Fei peeked out from behind the door. They had heard the entire conversation.

Of course, this was mainly because Bai Yuan hadn’t intended to hide it from them.

As the people closest to him, it was only natural that his style was to have tested them in secret long ago.

He had, intentionally or not, leaked bits of information to them.

Liu Qing and Jiang Fei were extremely clever. Not only did they not tell anyone, but they also avoided contact with outsiders.

In such a turbulent time, this was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.

Because even if Bai Yuan were to become a cripple, he was still their only support.

"Young Master, is it really that terrifying?"

Jiang Fei asked timidly, a worried look on her small, round face.

Bai Yuan just smiled faintly and waved his hand, not saying much.

Seeing their young master so calm, the two girls finally felt relieved.

After spending this time with him, they had discovered that although Bai Yuan spent most of his time lying in bed, whenever he spoke, his words were always purposeful and reassuring.

With Bai Yuan’s composed attitude, both girls let out a collective sigh of relief.

...

「Another seven days passed.」

As usual, Bai Yuan used the secret passage to leave Wan Jun Peak and go demon hunting in the deep mountains.

He had raised his self-created saber technique, Gui Shan, to the Adept level.

Though it was only at the Adept level, its power far surpassed the Tiger-Crane Style and the Blood Tiger Saber. As a speedrunner, Bai Yuan understood the weight of a self-created cultivation technique.

’What belongs to others will always be theirs. Original is best!’

Bai Yuan’s luck was good today. With his Master-level Demon-Seeking skill and clues provided by Li Kang, his demon-killing efficiency was extremely high.

Two Tier Five Demons bagged him five hundred Enhancement Points.

He dumped them all into the Gui Shan Saber Technique in one go.

He was still a long way from the Proficient level, of course, but the technique’s power had increased a fair bit.

Bai Yuan returned to his small courtyard on Wan Jun Peak under the cover of night.

Just as he was about to undress for bed—

His hand, pulling at his sleeve, suddenly froze.

’Someone’s on the mountainside!’

His perception was now terrifyingly sharp. Although it wasn’t on par with a Martial Artist at the Knowledge and Sensation Pass, it was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

The peak of Wan Jun Peak was a full three hundred meters from the mountainside, yet he could still clearly detect the movements there.

Currently, only You Shengnan and Xiongshan were qualified to live on the mountainside of Wan Jun Peak.

Although servant disciples could come and go, it was already midnight. A servant disciple would never be so diligent as to work overtime this late.

As a former wage slave, Bai Yuan understood this well.

’If it’s not a servant disciple, then there’s only one other possibility: an assassin from the Soul-Chasing Tower!’

...

「On the mountainside of Wan Jun Peak.」

You Shengnan’s and Xiongshan’s courtyards were right next to each other, their lights already extinguished.

In the pitch-black darkness.

Several figures flitted past the courtyard walls, their steps so light that even You Shengnan and Xiongshan, both at the Strong Organ Pass, could not detect them.

The disparity in their strength was obvious.

A person in night clothes arrived before You Shengnan’s window. He took out a section of bamboo tube, only as thick as a thumb, from his robes.

He used the bamboo tube to poke a hole in the paper window.

Unlike the methods of common Jianghu folk, this person’s bamboo tube was coated with a special demon’s saliva that could instantly corrode the window paper. Not just paper, it would have the same effect on a one-inch-thick wooden board.

This method was far stealthier.

The man put one end of the tube to his lips and blew gently.

An invisible, odorless gas instantly spread throughout You Shengnan’s room.

In almost the same instant, You Shengnan’s eyes snapped open.

But it was too late.

’A Yellow Skin’s disorienting smoke!’

You Shengnan was horrified. She quickly recognized the origin of the smoke.

The disorienting smoke used by the person outside was of an extremely high grade; at least a Fifth-rank Yellow Skin was needed to produce such a potent gas.

A smoke potent enough to knock out a Blood Refining Martial Master was being used against her, a mere Strong Internal Martial Artist. She was almost flattered.

You Shengnan felt her entire body go numb. She couldn’t even move a finger.

Fortunately, her mind remained perfectly clear.

’The only people on Wan Jun Peak with such methods have to be assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower.’

You Shengnan never imagined the Soul-Chasing Tower would be so audacious.

They had just made a move against a True Disciple of the Divine Mansion Sect last night, and tonight they dared to assassinate Dong Wanjun’s disciple on Wan Jun Peak.

They were treating the Divine Mansion Sect’s defenses as if they were nothing.

You Shengnan desperately wanted to struggle to her feet, but the potency of the smoke from a Fifth-rank Yellow Skin was far beyond her ability to resist.

In her peripheral vision, she saw three new shadows appear on the wall in the moonlight.

The silhouette of a blade slowly rose.

In the next moment, her life would be reaped by that blade.

’Am I going to die such a pathetic death?’

’I refuse to accept this!’

You Shengnan roared in her heart.

She had clawed her way up from being a small-town girl to become an Inner Sect Disciple on Wan Jun Peak. She absolutely refused to die like this.

But what could her defiance do?

The enemy was very likely a Blood Refining Martial Master.

Old Dong was down the mountain, the Divine Mansion Army was a hundred li away—what did Wan Jun Peak have to resist such an expert?

Despair...

You Shengnan closed her eyes in despair.

Just as she was waiting for death—

A loud CRASH came from the doorway!