The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chuzhou, the Yan Family estate.

Blue bricks, green tiles, and a winding stream perfect for floating wine cups. Though it lacked the splendor of immense wealth, it was permeated by a sense of deep heritage.

The Profound Sun Grand Protector, Yan Shao’an, stood beneath a pavilion, leisurely scattering a handful of fish food into the small pond, causing the koi within to vie for it.

"Grandfather."

Just then, Yan Lei walked over.

"Speak."

Yan Shao’an didn’t look at Yan Lei, his question delivered in a detached tone.

"Grandfather, Fang Wan, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Fang Family, has gone to Ling Province. She is now a Staff Officer for the Shuofang Jiedu Envoy, Bai Yuan."

At the mention of Bai Yuan, Yan Lei recalled the time the three of them—he, Bai Yuan, and the Heir of Qingzhou, Li Huan—had traveled to Jiangnan together. Back then, he had only thought Bai Yuan was excessively talented, but he never expected him to grow so quickly into a flood dragon capable of stirring up storms.

Yan Shao’an’s hand paused.

’Bai Yuan...’

’Of course I remember the young man. If it hadn’t been for my recommendation, Bai Yuan wouldn’t have made it to the Capital City so quickly.’

’A truly remarkable young man indeed.’

’Among all the young talents of Xuan Yang, I had always favored Bai Yuan. But for him to not only mature but also become the master of half the Northern Territory—that was beyond my expectations.’

"Since he wants her, let him have her. It’s just one person. It’s of no great consequence."

Hearing his grandfather’s words, Yan Lei breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Since his grandfather Yan Shao’an wasn’t pursuing the matter, it could now be considered resolved. Otherwise, the Yan Family would have had a long headache over the events in Ling Province.

Bai Yuan himself was incredibly strong, not to mention the Eldest Prince stood between Jiangnan and Shuofang.

Yan Lei departed.

Yan Shao’an threw all the fish food in his hand into the water. SPLASH! The pond churned noisily.

...

「Ling Province.」

"Brother Bai, I have marked all the locations with mineral deposits on the map. You need only send people to excavate them."

Fang Wan handed a densely marked map to Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan gazed at the map.

To say this map was priceless was no exaggeration.

Fang Wan’s Divination Technique had endless wondrous uses. In this short time, she had divined the locations of all the mineral deposits in Shuofang’s three provinces. Bai Yuan no longer needed to purchase ore from the Outer States, saving a full thirty percent on costs.

For this alone, protecting Lu Yu and Fang Wan had already paid off.

It was precisely because of this ability of Fang Wan’s that the Fang Family’s wealth had been able to skyrocket several levels in just ten years, allowing them to crush all other powers of a similar scale.

"Good work."

Bai Yuan handed the map to Li Huan. All that was left was to excavate the ore, have Tang Tie forge it into armor, and the Shuofang Army’s equipment would be so fine as to rival the elite forces of the Central Plains. Such a prospect had been unheard of since the founding of Xuanyang Country.

"By the way, sister-in-law, have you managed to divine what the Yan Family is up to?"

Fang Wan shook her head. "Not yet."

Most of the time, the Divination Technique can only produce a vague result. Trying to truly spy on the secrets of heaven would result in a backlash with extremely tragic consequences.

The fact that Fang Wan’s master died an early death before the age of one hundred was because he had performed a single divination for the Sect Leader of a major sect.

However, in the art of divination, Fang Wan had surpassed her master. She created a method she called the ’Water-Grinding Method,’ which involved constantly sensing the will of heaven day by day to guess at its secrets.

The advantage of this method was that it didn’t incur a terrible backlash. Its disadvantage was that it was slow.

Sometimes, she would only figure things out after they had already happened, at which point a successful divination was meaningless.

Fang Wan then added, "However, I am fairly certain it has something to do with the national fortune."

’National fortune...’

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Those two words are anything but simple.’

The reason why the major powers hadn’t acted personally and were instead operating under the names of the various Princes was their fear of the backlash from the Xuanyang National Fortune.

Once the backlash hit, not even a major sect could withstand it.

Back then, the Grand Ancestor Emperor had seized the opportunity to rise, breaking through to the Martial Saint Realm just to block the death throes of the previous dynasty’s national fortune. Given the terrifying power of the current Xuanyang National Fortune, it was even more unstoppable.

If what the Yan Family was doing was related to the national fortune, then it was bound to be something extraordinary.

Bai Yuan said, "Sister-in-law, if you get any news, you must tell me as soon as possible."

Fang Wan nodded.

...

「Time flew.」

In the blink of an eye, it was the Third Year of Tiande.

The great chaos in Xuan Yang had lasted longer than anyone had anticipated, and it showed no signs of stopping. Whether it was Li Wei, Li Kang, or any of the other Princes, no one had managed to gain a decisive advantage, which meant the turmoil was destined to continue for a long time.

「Within the Imperial City.」

"This is infuriating!"

Emperor Li Wei’s face was a mask of fury. Another report had arrived from the front lines stating that his army was locked in a stalemate with the forces of his ’dear’ elder brother.

Although he was now the Emperor in name, he was besieged on all sides, his true range of control limited to the four provinces surrounding the Capital City.

Having become the new emperor, he had naturally become the target of all the other Princes.

If not for the support of Xuankong Temple and the Zhengyang Sect, the allied forces from all four directions would have reached the Capital City long ago.

"Y-Your Majesty."

At that moment, a little eunuch scurried over.

As for why it wasn’t an old eunuch, it was because all the old eunuchs had been killed on that day.

"What is it?"

Li Wei, already in a foul mood, grew even more displeased at the sight of the flustered, clumsy little eunuch.

The little eunuch didn’t dare to raise his head. "Your Majesty, the East Sea Dragon Lord says that if we don’t hand over the Xuan Yang Water Region within seven days as agreed, they will come ashore and fund those traitors and rebels like Li Kang."

"Insolent!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wei erupted in fury.

But then he slumped down onto the throne, deflated. Just yesterday, the Southern Border Witch Race had made their move against him. Now the East Sea Race was here as well, leaving him struggling to cope.

Back then, it was he who had offered the Xuan Yang Water Region and the Southern Border as conditions to persuade that one human and one demon to act.

But now, with the situation in Xuan Yang in complete chaos, his own throne was teetering.

If he were to hand over the Xuan Yang Water Region and the Southern Border at a time like this, he would lose the last vestiges of popular support.