The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 262: Chapter 260: Nine Heavens Profound Soldiers

Bai Yuan collected his thoughts.

Old Dong may have gone to Xiangzhou, but the Divine Mansion Sect had now grown to a point where it no longer needed to rely on others.

While it couldn’t compare to the great Xuan Yang Sects, it was now a top power in Ling Province, having already surpassed the Longevity Palace of old.

If not for the many powers from the Outer States currently entrenched in Ling Province, the Divine Mansion Sect would have long since become number one.

In a way, they had fulfilled the goal of the Murong Ancestor from long ago.

Just a few days after Old Dong’s departure, Yang Fangyu came to find him.

"Ah Yuan, the day of our departure has come."

Bai Yuan nodded.

After discussing it with Yang Fangyu, he had decided they would head north to Dingzhou. It was the closest province to Ling Province, so if anything went wrong, they could more easily call for reinforcements.

In addition, Li Huan had also seized a rare opportunity to leave Qingzhou.

At the behest of the King of Qingzhou, Li Kangyan, all thirteen of his sons had led troops out of the province.

Though the throne was tempting, obtaining the title of Count wasn’t a bad outcome either.

Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu had already arranged to meet Li Huan in Dingzhou.

Individually, none of the three had the power to capture a city, but if they joined forces, they would be a considerable power.

After a brief discussion, Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu led their army north that very day.

Of course, the two had already reported this to Jiang Changping. Jiang Changping didn’t raise much objection to his two subordinates’ request.

Nearly ninety percent of the Demon Sect’s experts had already withdrawn from Ling Province.

If Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu could truly make a name for themselves in Dingzhou, he, as their direct superior, would also reap some benefits. Why would he not approve?

...

「Five days later.」

An official road in Dingzhou.

"Brother Yang, Brother Bai, you’re here."

Li Huan, who had been waiting for some time, saw Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu’s figures and greeted them joyfully.

"Brother Li."

Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu spoke in unison upon seeing Li Huan.

With that, their three-way allied army was finally assembled.

Although Yang Fangyu was the Prefect of Huanglong Prefecture, he hadn’t brought the Huanglong Prefecture City Guard Army this time. Instead, he had brought the Yang Family’s private soldiers.

His intentions were clear: any achievements in Dingzhou were to be credited to the Yang Family, not Ling Province.

This way, if an opportunity to be ennobled as a marquis arose in the future, Jiang Changping would have no way to snatch the credit.

Though Jiang Changping was not a petty man, it was still necessary to take precautions.

As always, Bai Yuan had brought the three hundred soldiers of the Divine Mansion Army’s Firearms Team. Aside from Yu Hui, who remained behind to guard Shenfu Mountain, both of the Divine Mansion Army’s Vice Commanders, Liu Li and Hu Ben, had accompanied him to Dingzhou.

As for Li Huan, all of Qingzhou was his family’s domain, so of course, he was accompanied by the City Guard Army of Beihua Prefecture.

In terms of numbers alone, his forces outnumbered the combined armies of Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu.

Li Huan had been the first to arrive in Dingzhou, and the Qingzhou Royal Mansion’s intelligence network was better connected than what Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu had access to. He took out a map.

"Brother Bai, Brother Yang, Dingzhou has a total of seventeen prefectures and one hundred and fifteen counties. Right now, every single county is occupied by the Demon Sect."

"Although most of the Demon Sect’s experts are at the Great Wall, reinforcements can arrive in just two days."

...

Li Huan told Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu all the intelligence he had gathered.

Bai Yuan gazed at the map, a thoughtful expression on his face.

’According to Old Dong, the Demon Sect isn’t interested in Xuan Yang’s territory. They’re here purely to kill.’

’So, the Demon Sect’s true purpose in occupying Dingzhou is to pin down strongpoints and ambush reinforcements.’

’The Demon Sect knows the Xuan Yang Court has incited countless sects to head north. It’s all a deliberate setup. This way, they’ll have an endless supply of sacrifices.’

’Of course, the Xuan Yang Court knows this too, but they’ll still choose to let those major sects come to the Northern Territory.’

’The Court only cares about reclaiming lost territory. They couldn’t care less how many people die, especially since the ones dying are from the sects.’

’As for whether those major sects know... that, I’m not sure.’

’The probability that they know is extremely high, but that won’t stop their ambition to expand their sects’ influence in the slightest.’

’This whole chaotic war is a complete and utter "overt conspiracy." In the end, only a few will profit.’

’What I need to do is maximize my own interests amidst this chaos.’

’The more chaotic the world gets, the more powerful my "cheat" becomes.’

After some discussion, the three of them finally set their sights on Fenggu County, within Dingzhou’s Huaiyuan Prefecture.

Fenggu County was just a small, unremarkable county in Dingzhou.

The reason Bai Yuan and his companions chose it as their target was precisely because of its mediocrity.

With their current strength, trying to seize a Prefecture City would be a fool’s dream. Fenggu County was just right—not the worst, but not the best either.

Once they had decided, the three immediately led their army toward Fenggu County.

...

"We’re here."

Li Huan looked at the city walls in the distance, a happy expression on his face.

After three days of forced marches, they had finally arrived outside Fenggu County.

Yang Fangyu cautiously observed their surroundings.

Besides being wary of the Demon Sect, they had to be even more vigilant against the sects from Xuan Yang.

Along the way, they had already encountered many factions from the Outer States that had come to Dingzhou, including some that even the Yang Family would be wary of.

Although these people were Profound People like them, in terms of danger, they were no less threatening than the Demon Sect.

After all, you can’t know what’s in a person’s heart. No one knew if someone might suddenly turn on them and kill for personal gain.

Bai Yuan had also drawn his long saber and held it ready.

Just as the group was observing Fenggu County, a squad of people emerged from the woods beside the official road.

A burly man with a full, thick beard stepped forward. "May I ask where you gentlemen are from?"

Yang Fangyu looked at the burly man who had suddenly appeared, cupped his fist, and said, "Jiangzhou, Yang Family, Yang Fangyu."

Hearing him mention the Yang Family of Jiangzhou, the burly man’s expression changed.

Jiangzhou was a major province on the Xuan Yang Continent, and the Yang Family was a great clan in Jiangzhou, which spoke volumes of their status.