Hunter Bureau

The Hunter Authority Bureau, more often referred to as simply the "Hunter Bureau", is a worldwide organization on Eastern Azure dedicated to the acquisition of Spirit Vegetation, Spirit Herbs and valuable materials from Qi Beasts. The Hunter Bureau on Eastern Azure is led by Han Ouyeng, though most major decisions are made by a council of Bureau officials in charge of each continent. Local Hunter Pavilions manage the day-to-day operations, employing a variety of qualified Hunters to complete various commissions and tasks.

Herb Hunters are responsible for the acquisition and management of Spirit Vegetation. The Beast Hunter Cadre is formed of elite Bureau members and is responsible for hunting or culling Qi Beasts. There is a much rarer group known as Mercenary Hunters, whose responsibilities are unknown.

The Pavilions also allow for the employment of 'guest officials' who might belong to local clans or sects. Local clans, sects, and prominent commoners are known to submit requests to local Hunter Pavilions when dealing with infestations or invasive species.

## Ranking System

Hunters and Bureau officials are organized into three ranking scales: bronze, silver, and gold. Officials and elders fall into the 'silver' scale, whereas Pavilion leaders and other such senior members fall into 'gold'. Within these scales they are ranked from one-star to nine-star, with nine-star representing the peak ranking. Skilled Hunters can also be qualified for Recovery missions, contributing to their status within the Bureau.

The Bureau enforces strict minimum Spiritual Cultivation requirements upon its Hunters. For example, the realm requirements from silver four-star to eight-star tend to follow advancement from Soul Foundation to Immortal.

## Blue Water Province

The local Hunter Pavilions in Blue Water Province were established by the Azure Astral Authority in order to gain influence over the valuable materials emerging from the Yin Eclipse Mountain Range. Over time the Ha and Deng clans, who have ties to the Imperial Court, have been trying to mitigate the Hunter Bureau's monopoly over wealth emerging from Yin Eclipse. Local clans and other organizations at odds with the Azure Astral Authority are known to circumvent Pavilion taxes by harvesting Spirit Vegetation directly.

The Three Schools Conflict caused a severe shortage of qualified Herb Hunters in the Blue Water Province. For example, the number of nine-star hunters dropped from over two hundred to only fifteen. Those who were not killed or crippled returned to their clans or left the Bureau for opportunities across the ocean. As a result of this shortage, the local pavilions have removed the cultivation realm requirements for bronze-ranked Hunters. While necessary, this decision has led to many juniors lacking the sort of status their ranks might bring in other regions. Many visiting the province, and a number of older locals, are also known to question the competence of junior Herb Hunters due to the lowered requirements for advancement. Notably, the requirements remain for elders, seniors, and otherwise full Bureau officials.

Young Hunters without the cultivation to match their rank may advance into the first three silver rankings based on years of service after achieving their bronze nine-star rank. Cultivation requirements are enforced for advancement beyond the silver three-star rank.

Within the province Beast Hunters are at least at the peak of Mantra Seed and its leaders, like Lady Xiao Hai, might be Quasi-Immortals with Soul Meridians.

The Hunter Bureau in Blue Water Province is currently managed by Bureau Chief Fang Hai. Recently, Fang Hai has devoted considerable time and effort to negotiations with the Ruan, Gwan, and Seung clans concerning status in Xah Liji province. These efforts have consumed enough of the Bureau Chief's time such that internal divisions have been given a chance to grow without his direct supervision.

## Membership

### Notable Members

* Jun Arai
* Jun Sana
* Kun Juni
* Lin Ling
* Han Shu
* Teng Chunhua

### Senior Leadership

* Han Ouyeng - Leader of Hunter Bureau, Dao Ascendant
* Fang Hai - Bureau Chief of Blue Water Province

### West Flower Picking Hunter Pavilion

* Old Ling - Ranking Elder
* Kun Lianmei - An Elder and elite hunter in Beast Cadre

### Jade Willow Hunter Pavilion

* Han Fei Sung - Elder (eight-star)
* Kun Mu - Elder (seven-star)
* Ha Li Wei - Elder (five-star)
* Bai Huan Gi - Senior Clerk (four-star)

### Beast Hunters

* Lady Xiao Hai
* Kun Lianmei - Chosen Immortal, Leader and Elder of West Flower Picking Town's Beast Cadre (nine-star)
* Weng - from North Fissure

## References

1. ↑ Book 2 Epilogue - Ruo Han POV
2. ↑ Chapter 29 - Kun Juni POV
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 1 (new) - Arai POV
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 2 (new) - Arai POV
5. ↑ Book 1 Prologue - Arai POV
6. ↑ Chapter 4 (new) - Arai POV #2
7. ↑ Chapter 7 (new) - Jun Arai POV
8. ↑ Chapter 61 - Sana POV
9. ↑ Chapter 19 - Lan Huang POV