The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

After such a huge commotion, it was naturally impossible to continue admiring the plum blossoms. He immediately took Sister Qiao, Shi Yan, and Yue Xiaobai back to the Bai Mansion within the city.

Now that Bai Yuan had become a Second-Grade Official, his mansion had over fifty servants alone.

Even so, this was considered quite modest for someone of his rank.

With so many servants, there was certainly no shortage of cooks. But with friends visiting from afar, and Bai Yuan in high spirits after today’s battle, he took the rare opportunity to personally enter the kitchen and prepare a few small dishes.

After Sister Qiao helped serve the dishes, she tactfully withdrew to the rear courtyard.

She understood that it was inappropriate for her to listen to what the three men were about to discuss. While Bai Yuan wouldn’t mind, the same could not be said for Shi Yan and Yue Xiaobai.

Seeing Sister Qiao about to leave, Shi Yan immediately tried to stop her. "Qiaoniang, please stay and eat with us."

Xiao Qiaoniang smiled and shook her head. "Brother Shi, Brother Yue, please make yourselves at home. I’m just going to check on the kitchen; there are still two more dishes."

Hearing this, Shi Yan could only let the matter drop.

Bai Yuan brought out the last dish, a plate of his secret-recipe spicy peanuts sprinkled with Fire Spirit, and with that, all the food was on the table.

Though they were all home-style dishes, Bai Yuan’s legendary-level culinary skills elevated them into something far from ordinary.

Shi Yan took a sip of the fish soup, and a look of astonishment immediately crossed his face.

As a Daoist, he valued tranquility and was not typically interested in such worldly pleasures, but this bowl of fish soup completely won him over.

"I never thought Ah Yuan was not only a great fighter, but his culinary skills are this incredible as well."

Bai Yuan picked up a peanut. "I’m glad you like it, Brother Shi."

’He was more confident in his culinary skills than in his martial arts. After all, while his martial arts might not be the best in the world, his cooking was very likely unrivaled.’

After the three of them shared a drink, he finally asked, "Brother Shi, Xiaobai, you must have a reason for coming all the way to Ling Province?"

’Shi Yan was in Jiangzhou and Yue Xiaobai in Xiyue, both nearly ten thousand li from Ling Province. They surely wouldn’t have traveled such a vast distance just for a fight.’

Shi Yan unhurriedly ladled himself another bowl of fish soup, savoring the taste as if he couldn’t get enough.

"Ah Yuan, to be perfectly honest, I specifically invited Xiaobai to come with me to Ling Province because of you."

Bai Yuan took another drink of wine. "Brother Shi, please speak freely."

Shi Yan’s expression grew uncharacteristically solemn.

With a flick of his hand, an invisible barrier enveloped the small courtyard, preventing anyone from prying. Only experts whose perception was sufficiently advanced could sense its existence.

Bai Yuan glanced at the barrier, inwardly impressed. ’The Dragon Tiger Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the leader of the Daoist Sects for the past ten thousand years. They’ve certainly got some tricks up their sleeve. Aside from the doppelganger ability and Palm Thunder that Elder Pei has already shown, this technique of Shi Yan’s is also quite enticing. This is Huanglong Prefecture. Logically, no one would dare to spy on my residence. Shi Yan’s caution just goes to show how important the matter he’s about to discuss is.’

Seeing that everything was secure, Shi Yan finally spoke. "Ah Yuan, have you heard about what happened in the Capital City?"

Bai Yuan replied, "Is Senior Brother Shi referring to His Majesty’s illness?"

The Emperor’s illness was a great taboo, something no one in Xuan Yang dared to discuss openly. But the three of them present surely knew about it already, so there was no need for Bai Yuan to be coy.

But Shi Yan revealed a meaningful, almost mocking smile. "Ah Yuan, then do you know what kind of illness His Majesty the Emperor has contracted?"

At these words, Bai Yuan subconsciously sat up a little straighter.

This was a top secret, something that not even the Six Ministers were qualified to know.

He had once tried to uncover the truth through the Imperial Inspection Office, but to no avail.

Bai Yuan had seen Li Chengyuan many times. Li Chengyuan himself was a Mingxin Grandmaster of immense power and in his absolute prime. An illness that could keep him from holding court could not possibly be an ordinary one.

"I do not know."

Bai Yuan shook his head.

Shi Yan spoke cryptically, "It is an illness, and yet, it is not."

"..."

Bai Yuan remained silent, waiting for Shi Yan to give him the final answer.

Shi Yan said, "There is a problem with his providence."

Providence?

Hearing Shi Yan’s words, Bai Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

Shi Yan continued, "This is the conclusion my master and martial uncle reached using a Great Divine Power. We don’t know what madman managed to stir up the providence of the entire world, but the Imperial Court possesses the most, and so it has suffered the greatest impact. The Emperor, most of all."

A sharp glint flashed in Bai Yuan’s eyes.

’Shi Yan’s master is the Sect Leader of the Dragon Tiger Sect, and his martial uncle is, of course, Elder Pei. A conclusion they reached together could not possibly be false. Moreover, based on Shi Yan’s explanation, everything suddenly became clear.’

Providence was the very foundation of Xuan Yang, a supreme existence meticulously cultivated by countless members of the Confucian Family.

Half of the world’s providence rested upon the Xuan Yang imperial family, making the Emperor the person who possessed it in greatest abundance. If there was a problem with providence, the one most affected would undoubtedly be the Emperor himself.

Wasn’t it an Emperor Xuanyang from several hundred years ago who died a sudden death from a providence backlash after making a move against the Jianghu?

If Li Chengyuan were to handle this improperly, he might very well follow in his predecessor’s footsteps.

Bai Yuan pressed, "Then is it known who could be so audacious?"

Shi Yan shook his head. "We don’t know."

Bai Yuan glanced at Yue Xiaobai. He had clearly known about this all along, which was why his expression remained so calm.

He took a deep breath. "Senior Brother Shi, why are you telling me this?"

’Given Shi Yan’s status, his visit to Ling Province is as good as a visit from the entire Dragon Tiger Sect. For the Dragon Tiger Sect to tell me this, they must be after something.’

Shi Yan was direct. "Ah Yuan, when providence shifts, the world changes, and a Saint emerges. My martial uncle thinks very highly of you."

"Elder Pei?"

Bai Yuan was somewhat taken aback.

’I originally thought it was the Sect Leader of the Dragon Tiger Sect who had sent Shi Yan north. I never expected it to be Elder Pei.’

Shi Yan nodded. "Ah Yuan, you may not know this, but the Dragon Tiger Sect has existed for ten thousand years and has witnessed a great deal. Situations like this one have appeared five times in our records. On two of those occasions, a Martial Saint was born: the Founding Ancestor of the Demon Sect and the Grand Ancestor Emperor."

The surprise in Bai Yuan’s eyes deepened.

He had long heard that the birth of a Martial Saint was related to providence, but he had never expected that one might emerge in the present day.

’But becoming a Martial Saint is such a distant, ethereal prospect.’

Seeing Bai Yuan’s expression, Shi Yan leaned back leisurely in his wooden chair. "Ah Yuan, you don’t have to overthink it. It’s simply that my martial uncle thinks highly of you and has already persuaded my master to allow you to become a Layman Guest Daoist. Who knows, you might be able to obtain a sliver of providence in the future."

’I knew Elder Pei had wanted to take me as his disciple for a while, but I didn’t think the old Daoist was still fixated on it.’

Shi Yan smiled faintly. "The world’s providence is in chaos right now. Obtaining a sliver is like planting a seed. Perhaps one day it will grow into a towering tree. Of course, this is only a possibility. After all, there have been five great shifts in providence, but in the end, only two people ever attained the rank of Saint."

Bai Yuan nodded.

’So, the reason Shi Yan traveled thousands of li to spar with me was likely also to test my abilities. If my performance earlier had been too weak, Shi Yan probably wouldn’t have told me any of this. Although my relationship with Elder Pei is good, it’s not yet at a level where it would concern the Dragon Tiger Sect as a whole.’

Bai Yuan didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he asked, "Senior Brother Shi, what would I need to give in return?"

Shi Yan’s smile didn’t fade. "A Layman Guest Daoist has few restrictions. At most, if you truly become a Saint, that sliver of providence will cause some of your fortune to naturally feed back to the Dragon Tiger Sect. It will have very little effect on you personally."

Only then did Bai Yuan nod.

’This seed of providence must be incredibly precious. Otherwise, the Dragon Tiger Sect could just scatter them about freely. That way, as long as a single Martial Saint emerged anywhere in the world, they would receive a return. Wouldn’t that be the very definition of reaping the fisherman’s profit?’

Shi Yan slowly rose to his feet, his face filled with emotion. "Ah, Ah Yuan, we all need to get stronger, faster. Otherwise, we won’t be able to keep up."

Bai Yuan understood what Shi Yan meant.

’The world changes, a Saint emerges. The most likely candidates to become this Saint are, of course, those true powerhouses who have already stepped into the Divine realm. Elder Pei giving me a seed is merely acting on a flight of fancy, an intuition he felt in his heart. Of course, Shi Yan coming in person also demonstrates the Dragon Tiger Sect’s stance. In the chaotic era that is about to begin, our two sides might just become allies.’

Bai Yuan also stood, cupped his fist, and said, "Senior Brother Shi, how about we fight again when we both reach the Divine realm?"

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, Shi Yan burst into laughter, a wave of heroic spirit swelling in his chest. "Excellent! We’ll fight again at the Divine realm!"