The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

The Divine Mansion Sect, Sect Leader Hall.

On the surface, the Divine Mansion Sect still looked as prosperous as ever, but it was now nothing but an empty shell.

Currently, the only Entering Martial Artist in the entire sect was its leader, Ouyang Hua—a pathetic state compared to the Divine Mansion Sect in its prime.

To restore its former glory, it would take at least a hundred years.

The new Sect Leader, Ouyang Hua, sat on the Sect Leader’s Golden Throne, but his expression held little joy. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Master Ouyang, you should be happy."

General Zhao Wu, Ji Chang, strode into the Sect Leader Hall with his sword at his side, showing not a shred of respect for Ouyang Hua.

Ouyang Hua’s face darkened as he stared intently at Ji Chang.

"You’d better do what you promised me."

"Don’t worry. The Lingzhou Army never goes back on its word."

Ji Chang let out a soft chuckle.

After the death of Shi Baishan, he had been wracking his brain over who to choose as the new Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect. He never thought the Lord General would bring Ouyang Hua to Shenfu Mountain himself.

With Ouyang Hua as a figurehead, the Lingzhou Army quickly and cleanly absolved itself of all responsibility.

Ouyang Hua snorted coldly.

This Ji Chang had come up through the ranks, and his killing intent was overpowering. If Ouyang Hua hadn’t stopped him multiple times, many more from the Divine Mansion Sect would have likely died.

He truly couldn’t bear to see any more members of the Divine Mansion Sect killed by the Lingzhou Army.

Enough people had died already.

"Since Master Ouyang is so obedient, I’ll take my leave."

Ji Chang laughed brazenly and turned to leave, as if he had come to the Sect Leader Hall for the sole purpose of humiliating Ouyang Hua.

In his eyes, Ouyang Hua was indeed just a dog kept by the Lingzhou Army.

And unlike the Divine Mansion Sect of before, this dog was toothless. Of course he wasn’t afraid.

After Ji Chang left, the Sect Leader Hall returned to a dead silence.

Ouyang Hua leaned back quietly on the Golden Throne.

At that moment, a long blade was silently pressed against his neck.

"Do you regret it?"

Bai Yuan’s voice echoed in the grand hall.

Infiltrating the Divine Mansion Sect was incredibly easy for him. Not even Ji Chang could see through the methods of a Skin Painter.

Ouyang Hua turned his head to glance at Bai Yuan. "You’re finally here."

Bai Yuan frowned slightly. Ouyang Hua wasn’t reacting as he had expected.

The reason he could so easily subdue Ouyang Hua was not only because he himself was strong enough, but also because Ouyang Hua had suffered extremely severe internal injuries.

Ouyang Hua glanced warily at the closed doors of the hall. "Follow me."

He completely ignored the long blade Bai Yuan held to his neck, stood up, and walked toward the back of the hall.

Though filled with doubt, Bai Yuan still followed.

Before long, Ouyang Hua had led Bai Yuan into a secret room.

Only after the secret door closed did he look at Bai Yuan again, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"So... what exactly happened?"

Bai Yuan did not lower his blade.

Ouyang Hua said, "This was all arranged by Sect Leader Murong."

"The Sect Leader?"

Bai Yuan frowned. ’Murong Tian arranged for Ouyang Hua to usurp the position?’

Ouyang Hua explained, "That night, Sect Leader Murong and I heard news from the Longevity Palace and rode back toward the sect. We were intercepted by the Lingzhou General and the Longevity Palace Master. In the end, the Sect Leader had to use a Secret Technique just to escape with me."

Bai Yuan asked, "Then why did you become the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect?"

"This was also the Sect Leader’s arrangement."

Ouyang Hua gave a bitter smile.

"The Northern Garrison Army won’t make a move."

"Why not?"

Bai Yuan’s heart sank. Without the deterrence of the Northern Garrison Army, the Lingzhou Army would only become more reckless.

Ouyang Hua explained, "Back when Peak Master Dong was still around, he sent a secret letter to the Sect Leader. It said that Emperor Xuanyang, swayed by slanderous counsel, has grown wary of the Grand General of the North. The Emperor has already issued seven consecutive Holy Decrees ordering the general to return to court and accept a new title. The Grand General of the North can barely protect himself now, so how could he care about a minor group like the Divine Mansion Sect?"

"..."

Bai Yuan was speechless.

The Grand General of the North had rendered unparalleled service by guarding the Northern Territory and resisting the Demon Sect.

But who could ever truly fathom the mind of an emperor?

After all, wasn’t it by earning unparalleled merits fighting the Demon Sect that the Grand Ancestor Emperor rose to a position above all others before finally having the yellow robe of the emperor thrust upon him?

With the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s successful precedent, it would be difficult for the current Emperor Xuanyang not to be vigilant.

After all, his own ancestor had already drawn a perfect roadmap to success for the current Grand General of the North; all he had to do was follow it.

Ouyang Hua continued, "Sect Leader Murong told me that when I returned to the sect, I must protect the Murong Family’s bloodline. It is the root of the Divine Mansion Sect and must not be severed."

Bai Yuan frowned.

Ouyang Hua saw Bai Yuan’s confusion. "Nephew Bai, you are strong enough now, and you would find out sooner or later anyway. I might as well tell you now."

"Legend says that the Founding Ancestor once received guidance from an Immortal. Whether it’s true or not is unknown, but his bloodline is exceptionally unique. Every one or two generations, the Murong Family produces a supreme talent, a tradition that has never been broken in a thousand years. That is why the Murong Family bloodline is the true foundation of the Divine Mansion Sect."

Bai Yuan was greatly surprised.

Aptitude and comprehension are somewhat related to one’s parents, but it’s by no means a certainty.

Otherwise, with the resources of the Li Royal Family, they would have long ago made all their descendants born as Innate Vajras like the Kaiyang Taoist. Why would they need to recruit so many Prince Consorts?

But the Murong Family was able to produce talented individuals generation after generation. No wonder Murong Tian said the Murong bloodline was the foundation of the Divine Mansion Sect.

As long as the Murong Clan exists, in a hundred years or so, a martial artist as brilliant and stunning as Murong Tian will emerge, and the Divine Mansion Sect will still be the Divine Mansion Sect.

’No wonder Ouyang Hua was willing to bear the infamy to become the Sect Leader.’

’He was biding his time, enduring humiliation for a future comeback.’

’It seems I’ve misjudged this long-suffering Master Ouyang.’

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Don’t tell me the Divine Mansion also has some eugenic properties?’

’If this were to be widely adopted, wouldn’t Entering Martial Artists be a dime a dozen, and those in the Perception Realm as common as dirt?!’

He couldn’t help but become even more interested in what was inside the Divine Mansion.

"Then where is Sect Leader Murong now?"

Bai Yuan voiced the purpose of his trip to the Divine Mansion Sect.

Ouyang Hua shook his head helplessly. "After Sect Leader Murong and I parted ways on Cloud Brocade Mountain, I never heard from him again."

"..."

’Great. Another dead end.’

’But at this point, finding Murong Tian no longer seems so important.’

’The Northern Garrison Army won’t intervene, and the Lingzhou General is still lurking. The safest plan really is just as Murong Tian envisioned: to outlive their enemies.’

’A hero reborn in a hundred years?’

Ouyang Hua didn’t forget to remind him, "Nephew Bai, the matter of the Murong Family bloodline is of utmost importance. Don’t tell anyone else."

Bai Yuan nodded.

’Right now, the Divine Mansion Sect just needs to lie low and develop to regain its glory. But if someone found out and annihilated the Murong Clan, the sect’s lineage would truly be finished.’

Bai Yuan and Ouyang Hua talked for a while longer.

Finally, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the Lingzhou Army, the two of them left the secret passage.

Ouyang Hua continued to play his part as Sect Leader, while Bai Yuan disguised himself as a Lingzhou Army soldier and easily left Shenfu Mountain.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to glance in the direction of the Tier Eight Great Demon.

’What secrets are hidden in the Divine Mansion?’

...

「Three days later.」

Bai Yuan reappeared in the camp at the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Seeing Bai Yuan appear, Yu Hui and the others came out of their wooden cabins to greet him.

"Nephew Bai, did you find any trace of Sect Leader Murong?"

Among the crowd, Ruan Xiuluan was the most concerned. After all, after her husband passed away, she never would have become the Peak Master of Qianzhu Peak without Murong Tian’s strong support. She had always remembered this debt of gratitude.

Situ Liuyun and Zhang Weiguang were also in the crowd.

Bai Yuan immediately told them everything he knew, though he of course kept the matter of the Murong bloodline to himself.

"I can’t believe I misjudged Ouyang."

Situ Liuyun looked ashamed. He had cursed "that old dog Ouyang" more than a few times, never expecting that Ouyang Hua was actually enduring humiliation for a greater cause.

Then, looks of bewilderment appeared on everyone’s faces.

With Murong Tian missing, no help from the Northern Garrison Army, and no hope of reclaiming the Divine Mansion Sect, they didn’t know what to do or where to go. They couldn’t just hide in the Hundred Thousand Mountains for the rest of their lives, could they?

Situ Liuyun suddenly chuckled slyly. "Nephew Bai, why don’t you lead us in rebuilding the sect?"

"Rebuild the sect?"

Hearing those words, everyone’s eyes lit up.

They might be like hunted dogs now, but everyone here was an expert from the Divine Mansion Sect. United, they were stronger than most sects in Ling Province. Moreover, they had all witnessed Bai Yuan’s strength; he was more than qualified to be a Sect Leader.

Ruan Xiuluan immediately agreed, "That’s a good idea."

Without a sect, they would have no choice but to leave their homes, join sects in other provinces, and start over from the bottom, living under someone else’s roof.

Rather than suffer such a miserable fate, it would be better to stick together for warmth and build a new sect.

Besides, Murong Tian had already given the Sect Leader’s Token to Bai Yuan. For Bai Yuan to succeed as Sect Leader wouldn’t be a breach of rules. Even if Murong Tian found out, he wouldn’t object.

Yu Hui laughed. "The Divine Mansion Army has no objections."

"...Rebuild..." Bai Yuan hadn’t actually considered this, but everyone’s eyes were fixed on him.

With Bai Yuan’s current strength, although there was still a gap between him and powerhouses like Murong Tian and the Longevity Palace Master, being able to nearly poison a monster like the Innate Vajra Kaiyang Taoist to death meant he was just about qualified to establish his own sect.

Besides, in such chaotic times, it was always beneficial to have more power and influence at one’s side.

If he wanted to gather a team as formidable as the current members of the Divine Mansion Sect later on, it would be no easy task.

As for the Lingzhou Army...

As long as he didn’t openly confront the Lingzhou Army, the powers in Ling Province probably wouldn’t turn their attention to them.

Besides, according to Ouyang Hua, the Lingzhou General’s true target was the Divine Mansion.

Now that the Divine Mansion Sect was shattered, it would no longer pose any threat to Ling Province, at least not before that General was reassigned.

"Everyone, the time is not yet right. In the future, I will surely lead the Divine Mansion Sect back to its former glory," he said decisively, no longer hesitating.

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, everyone’s hearts were stirred.

The gloom of the past half-month was swept away in an instant.

Bai Yuan’s strength and potential were obvious to all. Perhaps in another ten years, he would be a second Dong Wanjun. At that point, what difficulty would there be in re-establishing the Divine Mansion Sect?

And so, Bai Yuan became the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect.

Bai Yuan glanced at the Lifebound Silkworm at his cuff.

It was still lively and energetic.

He had another reason for deciding to rebuild the Divine Mansion Sect. If Old Dong were to return one day and find the sect destroyed, Bai Yuan would need an explanation for him. Otherwise, Old Dong would probably use the Thousand Illusion Silk to slice him into a thousand-odd pieces.

’Sect Leader Bai...’

’That doesn’t sound too bad, actually.’

Joy appeared in the eyes of the Divine Mansion Sect members. Having something to look forward to was far better than being lonely ghosts wandering in the mountains.