Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 426 Leaving The Northen Defense Line

After everyone left the tent, Bai Zihan remained lying on the bed, his eyes half-lidded as his consciousness turned inward.

Silence enveloped him.

Slowly, carefully, he examined his own body.

What he sensed made even him feel a trace of solemnity.

His meridians were in chaos-fractured, scorched, and forcibly widened beyond their natural limits.

His dantian was exhausted to the brink of collapse, its Qi circulation sluggish and unstable.

Even his flesh bore the scars of overexertion, every muscle fiber strained far past what it was ever meant to endure.

During the battle with Mó Zun, he had pushed far beyond reason.

He had used Heavenʼs Mandate Reversal to forcefully raise his cultivation to the Great Ascension Realm.

Then, with Feilianʼs help, he had further raised it to the Immortal Realm.

Even that wouldnʼt have caused such severe damage to his body if, as Feilian suggested, he had escaped.

But no-he had chosen to use Fate Severing Slash instead.

That single strike had almost consumed every last bit of Qi in his body.

For any ordinary cultivator, after such recklessness, they would have died on the spot.

Yet Bai Zihan was still alive.

Not because of chance.

But because his body was anything but ordinary.

The Primordial Body Refinement Technique had forged his flesh beyond common limits, tempering it again and again until it had become nearly indestructible.

And then there was his Supreme Dao Bone.

With all this, Bai Zihan understood clearly.

His condition was severe. But it was not irreversible.

He was not truly crippled.

And even if those advantages did not exist and he had truly become crippled, there were still many solutions in the System Store.

There are pills beyond Grade-8-which were almost legends in the Desolate Heaven Empire-and with the System Points he had earned, he should be able to easily afford them. ”Oh yes, I still havenʼt checked the System Rewards for killing Great Ascension Realm Demonic Elders.”

He had rested after the war ended, and right after that came the announcement of Luo Qing being kidnapped, so he had yet to claim all the rewards. ”System!” [Unclaimed Rewards Available]

Killed Great Ascension Realm Cultivator: [ 100x Cultivation Speed Card (1 Day) Killed Great Ascension Realm Cultivator: [ 10,000 System Points]

The rewards were as expected, with nothing particularly special, but there were still important items-such as the 100x Cultivation Speed Cards and several 10x cards with longer durations, all of which were extremely valuable. Then there were the System Points.

All in all, the harvest from this Beast Tide had become far greater than he had anticipated. ”Three years...”

With all these resources, he felt that he should be able to break through to at least the Great Ascension Realm within three years.

By then, he reckoned that a fight with Mó Zun would be very different from before.

If he pushed himself hard enough, perhaps even the Immortal Realm was possible-though it obviously wouldnʼt be easy.

But Bai Zihan was determined.

He was going to make Mó Zün pay for kidnapping Luo Qing-and force answers from his mouth about why she was taken, and where she was. ”Just you wait!”

Bai Zihan could have easily healed his condition by using a Grade-8 or higher healing pill, but he refrained.

He needed to keep up the act for quite some time so that everyone would believe it-especially their enemies.

He planned to let his body heal naturally from the injuries, and during that period, he might not be able to cultivate properly.

But that was fine.

During this time, his focus wouldnʼt be on cultivation alone, but on something far bigger. ”Itʼs time to take care of all the enemies.”

He already knew who posed the greatest threats to him-and who had already tried to kill him.

Just as he was deep in thought- ”Zihanʼer!”

Mu Yuelan entered. ***

What followed was a hectic period for Bai Zihan.

The moment Mu Yuelan entered Bai Zihanʼs room and personally examined his condition, the restraint she had forced upon herself shattered once again.

Upon discovering that Bai Zihan appeared to be truly crippled, Mu Yuelanʼs emotions erupted all at once.

Anger.

Fear.

And an overwhelming surge of guilt.

In her fury, she blamed Bai Tianheng, the Grand Elders, and everyone involved for allowing Bai Zihan to reach such a state.

Bai Tianheng said nothing.

He bore it all in silence, allowing his wife to vent every ounce of her anger upon him.

He knew very well that saying anything would only make her angrier.

If not for Bai Zihan calming her down, she would have remained like that for the entire day.

Even so, Bai Zihan now had to deal with his doting mother, who seemed ready to burst into tear at any moment.

He felt guilty and also a little afraid.

If she ever found out the truth, she definitely wouldnʼt let this matter rest easily.

With Bai Zihanʼs condition, the Bai Clan could no longer remain at the Northern

Defense lines.

The Beast Tide had already been quelled.

The Demonic Beasts had retreated, their leader already killed, and there were no further signs of large-scale movement.

As for the Demonic Cultivators, they too had suffered heavy losses, and with the demonic beasts dealt with, they vanished without a trace.

In the eyes of the Desolate Heaven Empire, this crisis was effectively over.

Of course, precautionary forces still remained stationed across the region, but the era of nonstop bloodshed had come to an end.

Under normal circumstances, the Bai Clan would have continued to station elite forces at the border for a while longer, just in case.

But now, with Bai Zihan heavily injured-crippled, at least on the surface-the priorities shifted.

The Bai Clan moved decisively.

Most of the Bai Clanʼs core members began preparations to return to the clan grounds, escorting Bai Zihan personally.

Even the Grand Elders chose to return alongside them.

With Bai Zihan in such a state, enemies might take the opportunity to strike.

They intended to protect him throughout the entire journey back to the Bai Clanʼs territory.

Naturally, they had to inform the person in charge.

Bai Tianheng went to inform Minister Xiu Yucheng about their departure.

Minister Xiu Yucheng raised no objections.

After all, he could guess the reason without needing to be told.

He had already heard the rumors circulating-rumors of Bai Zihanʼs crippling injuries.

So he knew this was a serious matter for the Bai Clan, and that they wouldnʼt stay even if he asked.

Moreover, it wasnʼt as if the Bai Clan was withdrawing all of their forces.

They still left some behind, though most of their strongest members-including the Grand Elders-were leaving.

The Bai Clan had already done more than enough.

No one could deny their contributions.

They had borne the brunt of the Beast Tideʼs fiercest waves.

They had slain the majority of the Demonic Elders. They had stabilized collapsing battle lines when others faltered.

And they had dealt with the half-Qilin-the greatest threat to the Desolate

Heaven Empire.

If not for the Bai Clan, the losses would have been immeasurably worse.

Minister Xiu personally expressed his gratitude.

He assured them that once the aftermath of the war was fully sorted out, the

Empire would grant the Bai Clan generous rewards.

Especially regarding the half-Qilin.

A high-grade Demonic Beast of such caliber was itself a walking treasure vault.

Its demonic core alone could serve as a supreme forging material or cultivation catalyst.

Its hide could be refined into near-indestructible armor. Its bones and horns were perfect for high-tier weapons and artifacts.

And its blood-

That was priceless.

Qilin blood possessed immense vitality and purification properties, coveted by both alchemists and body refiners alike.

Since Bai Ren had been the primary force responsible for slaying it, Minister

Xiu made it clear that the majority of the half-Qilinʼs remains would rightfully belong to him-and by extension, the Bai Clan.

With formalities concluded, the Bai Clanʼs fleets finally departed. Flying ships cut through the skies, formations tight and disciplined, carrying Bai

Zihan back toward the heart of Bai Clan territory.

Inside one of the ships, Bai Zihan lay quietly, eyes closed, his aura weak and unstable-at least to anyone observing from the outside.

To the world, he was a crippled genius.

To his enemies, a fallen threat.

To the Bai Clan, someone worth protecting at all costs.

And to Bai Zihan himself-

This was merely the calm before something far greater. A Storm was brewing for Desolate Heaven Empire!