The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

"Summon Master Bao Wen."

Li Wei’s eyes flickered as he finally spoke.

"At once."

The little eunuch departed.

A full hour passed before an old monk with a benevolent face slowly walked into the Imperial Study. His back was ramrod straight, and he showed no intention of kneeling.

"Your Majesty, did you have a reason for summoning this old monk?"

Seeing the Xuankong Temple monk’s demeanor, Li Wei grew even more displeased, but he maintained a humble facade.

Although the Li Imperial Race was still powerful, they were fractured and divided. As a result, the Imperial Race faction backing Li Wei was no match for Xuankong Temple and the Zhengyang Sect. While he wasn’t a complete puppet, it was difficult for him to push back against the immense pressure from the two major sects.

Moreover, he no longer had the blessing of fate and was just an ordinary Mingxin Martial Artist. He had no right to speak before a Divinity Grandmaster.

Li Wei spoke. "Master Bao Wen, the people from the East Sea and the Southern Border have come several times. They all say that if I do not hand over the land, they will turn traitor."

Bao Wen, looking like a Bodhisattva, showed no hint of emotion on his face.

"Your Majesty, these are but worldly possessions. If they must be abandoned, then let them be abandoned."

"Master, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Wei’s expression soured. He refused to give up.

"Is this the will of Master Baokong and Sect Leader Song?"

Bao Wen’s expression remained as placid as a still well. "This is an internal affair of the Li Family. It is not our place to comment."

Li Wei almost laughed in anger.

’Not your place to comment?’

’Back then, it was the warrior monks of Xuankong Temple who killed the most and contributed the most. Now they want to wash their hands of the whole affair.’

"Fine. I understand."

Li Wei had no desire to speak further.

In truth, back when he had just fled the capital and colluded with Xuankong Temple to commit patricide, he had already anticipated the humiliation he would face today.

But how many emperors in history have ever truly had things their own way? For someone like him, who came to power through illegitimate means, dominating the world would inevitably require feigning civility with these sects.

But if he agreed, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

Finally, Li Wei summoned the little eunuch again. "Have Lord Kong of the Ministry of Rites and Lord Liu of the Ministry of War attend me for a discussion."

"At once."

The little eunuch left again.

Only Li Wei remained in the Imperial Study, his face dark and grim.

He had already replaced all of the Six Ministers. There would be no real discussion; this was just a formality. He had already made his decision.

He first had to stabilize the situation with the East Sea and the Southern Border, and then he could make his long-term plans.

Once he swept away all his enemies within Xuan Yang and his forces had recuperated, he could simply take back the Southern Border and the East Sea. It was no big deal.

History is always written by the victors.

By then, this part of history would be erased. He would still be the wise and martial Emperor.

...

「Ling Province.」

"Li Wei ceded the Southern Border to the Witch Race and gave the East Sea Race dominion over the Xuan Yang Water Region. Is he not afraid of going down in history as a villain?"

Li Huan had brought the news to Shenfu Mountain.

This was something that couldn’t be hidden; the news had already spread throughout the world.

Scholars from the four great academies were denouncing Li Wei in droves, calling him the Usurper Prince.

Of course, the other Princes were undoubtedly fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

For a time, Li Wei reached a point where he was reviled by all.

He could forget about his posthumous reputation. Even if he ultimately succeeded, he would likely be reviled as a treacherous emperor who sold out his country.

Bai Yuan said, "So it really was the Witch Race and the Sea Race."

There had been rumors before that Li Wei had colluded with foreign races to murder his own father. This move undoubtedly confirmed those suspicions.

Bai Yuan could roughly guess Li Wei’s current predicament.

If he didn’t agree to the requests of the Sea Race and the Witch Race, he would surely be betrayed by them. At that point, he wouldn’t just lose his throne—he might end up dead and his country shattered. Compared to such a fate, enduring some curses was nothing.

Soon, Zhou Siming and Liang E, who were living in Huanglong Prefecture, heard the news.

"Ah Yuan, I have a difficult favor to ask."

Looking at Zhou Siming and Liang E who had come to find him, Bai Yuan said, "Master Zhou, there is no need for such formalities between us."

Zhou Siming’s eyes were filled with worry. "Ah Yuan, now that the Southern Border Witch Race is in power, life for the Demon Hunters, which was already difficult, has become nearly impossible. Could you perhaps bring them to the Northern Territory to live? Just giving them a piece of land in Dingzhou would be enough."

He was practically begging.

Bringing the Demon Hunters from the Southern Border to the Northern Territory would be an incredibly difficult task, not just in the current chaotic situation, but even a few years ago.

And that wasn’t even considering whether the Demon Hunters would appreciate the gesture.

Bai Yuan said, "Master Zhou, I was actually just thinking about this myself. In that case, why don’t we head south together?"

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, Zhou Siming’s eyes filled with ecstasy.

He hadn’t expected Bai Yuan to not only agree but to even offer to handle it personally.

Now that he had agreed, Zhou Siming hesitated. "Ah Yuan, just sending a squad of elite troops south with me is enough. You should stay here in Ling Province."

Bai Yuan waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s no trouble."

These words were not purely to comfort Zhou Siming.

Shuofang was largely stable now, but that stability wasn’t entirely his doing. Half the credit belonged to the Northern Garrison Army and the Zhenxi Army.

Although Master Xu Dingchun and Old Dong had gone to distant lands, it didn’t mean anyone dared to underestimate their three factions.

If they were to join forces, it would be a major headache for both Li Wei and Li Kang.

So, it didn’t really matter whether Bai Yuan was in Ling Province or not. Even if he wasn’t there, Old Dong was still watching from afar.

His reason for going to the Southern Border wasn’t just to repay his debt of gratitude to Zhou Siming.

On one hand, although the Demon Hunters were weaker than the Witch Race, they were still a considerable force.

On the other hand, he also wanted to visit the Demon Hunter’s Ancestral Court in the Southern Border.

He glanced at his status panel.

[Profession: God Hunter]

Ever since he had mastered the Divine Mansion Technique, his profession had changed to "God Hunter."

’One who hunts gods!’

Although the title sounded impressive, Bai Yuan had yet to discover any tangible benefits.

Since God Hunter was an advanced version of the Demon Hunter profession, perhaps he could find something of value by visiting the Demon Hunter’s Ancestral Land.

...

「The next day.」

Bai Yuan bid farewell to Xiao Qiaoniang and little Bai An, then rode south with Zhou Siming.

They brought no extra soldiers or horses.

Bai Yuan alone was an army unto himself; more people would just be a hassle.

The two of them rode top-grade Demon Horses, capable of covering three thousand li in a day.

Five days later, the two arrived in the Southern Border.

"The Southern Border was actually composed of the Five Continents. Of course, that’s old news now. I heard the Witch Race has already dismantled the Five Continents and unified them as the Witch Country."

Zhou Siming said.

Bai Yuan looked up at the endless mountains around them, a novel sight in his eyes.

While Ling Province had its Hundred Thousand Mountains, they were nothing compared to the mountains of the Southern Border. It was like a little witch meeting a great witch.

"The Southern Border is mountainous, so most settlements are built along the mountainsides. The few cities that exist are built on the slightly flatter basins between two mountains."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He and Zhou Siming had already traveled a hundred li deep into the Southern Border, but there was nothing here but mountains, and more mountains. They couldn’t even see a single village.

No wonder the Southern Border was a Demon Sacred Land comparable to the Northern Plains.

A place like this was indeed perfect for spirits to form.

"The Demon Hunters are divided into three branches and eleven clans. The three branches are the Demon-Seeking, Demon-Taming, and Demon-Refining branches. There are eight Demon-Seeking clans, two Demon-Taming clans, and one Demon-Refining clan, each living in the mountains."

"People say Demon Hunters like to live in the mountain forests, but the truth is, they couldn’t defeat the Witch Race and were driven into the mountains by them."

Zhou Siming gave a self-deprecating smile.

Only a Demon Hunter like him knew just how dire their current situation really was.

"The eleven clans were never very harmonious in the past, but now, with a common enemy before them, they should be at the Ancestral Court."

"The Ancestral Court?"

Bai Yuan’s interest was piqued. He had heard these two words from Xiao Qiaoniang before, but even Sister Qiao knew very little about the Ancestral Court.

Zhou Siming saw Bai Yuan’s confusion. "The Ancestral Court is a place that commemorates a legendary Demon Hunter. It must have been eight thousand years ago, a powerhouse named Zhe Yi emerged from among the Demon Hunters. If not for the inopportune timing of fate’s shift, he would have surely become a Martial Saint."

Bai Yuan’s pupils widened slightly.

’A Martial Saint...’

’The Demon Hunters were indeed far more glorious in the past to have produced such a powerhouse.’

"In the script of the Demon Hunters, ’Zhe Yi’ means ’one who can contend with the gods’."