Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 451 Heaven Sword Sect Splitting?

While chaos was slowly descending upon the Desolate Heaven Empire, somewhere else, all hell had broken loose.

Once, the Heaven Sword Sect had been known as a place of serenity.

A sect where swords were tempered by discipline rather than ambition, and where disputes were settled through duels-not factions and shouting.

That Heaven Sword Sect no longer existed.

Since the end of the war against the Demonic Forces, the sect had quietly-but unmistakably-split apart.

There had already been a crack in their unity, ever since Elder Han and the Anti-Sect Leader faction began pushing to remove Tian Yuheng.

It had only grown worse as more and more disciples chose sides between the Bai Clan and the Li-Zhao Alliance.

Inner halls became divided spaces. Even the training grounds carried tension thick enough to taste.

There was no longer respect for the sect itself.

Many cared more about which alliance someone belonged to than the fact that they were fellow disciples of the same sect.

The cause was obvious.

The Heaven Sword Sectʼs cultivation technique-once praised as refined and powerful-had fallen behind.

Even the technique reserved for Core Disciples, rumored to be Earth Grade, paled in comparison to the High Earth-Grade cultivation techniques now circulating openly through the Bai Clan and the Li-Zhao Alliance.

It wasnʼt even close.

One offered stability, tradition, and honor.

The other offered power.

Immediate, overwhelming power.

Faced with such a choice, many disciples asked themselves a forbidden question:

Why become a Core Disciple at all?

Yes, the sect still provided pills.

Yes, there were supplementary sword techniques and inheritance manuals.

But for most disciples, that was no longer enough.

Not when cultivators of the same age-once inferior-were now leaping realms simply by choosing the ”right” side.

The Outer Disciples were cultivating a Cultivation Technique much superior than the Core Disciples.

And so resentment festered.

That resentment had a leader.

Elder Han!

His faction grew larger even though it had slowed since Lu Xiangyuan lost against Bai Zihan.

Anyways, their faction has become powerful and its influence was absolute.

Since the warʼs end, Elder Han and those aligned with him had stopped hiding their hostility.

They openly challenged the sect leaderʼs orders.

Ignored Tian Yuhengʼs authority.

And mocked his ideals.

His influence had waned.

Respect for him had thinned. ***

Those who had joined or were curious about-the Anti-Sect Leader faction gathered.

Elders.

Core Disciples.

Inner Disciples.

Even outer disciples crowded near the doors, craning their necks to listen.

At the center, Elder Han stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice echoing clearly through the hall. ”Stability and history?”

He let out a cold laugh. ”Sect Leader Tian speaks of stability and history as if they will raise our cultivation!”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Elder Han turned, sweeping his gaze across the assembled disciples. ”Tell me how many of you broke through during the war?”

Silence! ”And how many of you have watched others-disciples from other clans- surpass you since the war ended?”

The silence grew heavier. ”That is not a coincidence,” Elder Han continued, his voice sharp. ”That is stagnation!”

He raised a finger. ”Our Heaven Sword Sect is one of the top sects of the Desolate Heaven

Empire!”

His voice rose. ”And yet what do we do?” ”We bow our heads.” ”We smile politely.” ”We cling to outdated techniques and call it dignity!”

His eyes narrowed. ”All while the Bai Clan spreads High Earth-Grade cultivation techniques as if they were scraps.”

A ripple of anger moved through the hall. ”Is that strength?” ”No!” ”Is that dignity?” ”No!”

Elder Hanʼs voice dropped, venomous. ”It is weakening”

The murmurs exploded. ”Tian Yuheng only knows how to lick the Bai Clanʼs boots! He canʼt even secure the cultivation technique thatʼs being handed out freely!”

Gasps echoed.

Some disciples clenched their fists.

Others nodded.

Elder Han spread his arms. ”We are the Heaven Sword Sect!” ”Swords do not kneel!” ”Swords do not beg!” ”If the Bai Clan truly wishes to stand above us-then they should fear us!”

Not curry our favor.

Not receive our smiles.

But fear the Heaven Sword Sect rising once more!

His words ignited the hall. ”We should lead! We should soar higher than anyone!”

Applause erupted from the hall.

Fierce and unrestrained.

Not once did Elder Han mention the Li-Zhao Alliance.

Not once did he speak of support.

Yet in the end, it was all the same.

Elder Han accused Tian Yuheng of licking the Bai Clanʼs boots-but he himself was no different.

He spoke of destroying the Bai Clan, of rising above them, yet in the end, he would simply become a dog of the Li-Zhao Alliance.

There was no difference, no matter how righteous or ambitious he tried to sound.

Tian Yuheng heard every word Elder Han said through his men stationed inside.

Elder Han knew about it and no longer seemed to care.

Tian Yuheng knew it.

More and more people were beginning to agree with him.

Tian Yuheng listened in silence as the report ended.

The final words still echoed in his mind.

Lick the Bai Clanʼs boots.

He exhaled slowly.

Not in anger.

In exhaustion.

The Heaven Sword Sectʼs main hall was empty at this hour.

Incense burned low. Sword racks stood in neat rows, unchanged-unyielding witnesses to a sect that no longer recognized itself. ”So it has come to this...”

Tian Yuheng murmured.

He had known. Of course he had known.

The Desolate Heaven Empire was slowly being divided between two forces- the Bai Clan and the Li-Zhao Alliance.

He would be a fool to think Elder Han was not backed by the Li-Zhao Alliance.

Elder Han was no fool.

He never spoke of outright treason.

Never named Li or Zhao.

Yet every sentence pointed in one direction.

Rise higher. Take the lead.

Make the Bai Clan fear us.

Pretty and ambitious words.

Yet the truth was far uglier.

As a sect, Heaven Sword could not openly swear loyalty to either side.

If they changed their cultivation technique entirely, would they not lose their identity? But history and identity meant nothing in the face of power. Many clans and sects had already abandoned their original cultivation techniques and switched to the Heavenly Mandate Assimilation Art.

Tian Yuheng closed his eyes.

If this continued, he would not merely lose his position.

He would lose his life.

And worse- He would lose the sect.

If Elder Han took control of the Heaven Sword Sect, it might as well be renamed another lapdog of the Li and Zhao Clans.

After a long moment, Tian Yuheng stood. ”Looks like I canʼt cling to old traditions.”

He walked into the inner chamber and activated a concealed formation.

Spiritual light rippled across the walls, isolating the space completely.

Only then did he take out a jade slip.

His thumb hovered for several breaths.

Then-

He sent the message.

Far away, within the Bai Clan.

Bai Tianheng received the transmission while reviewing clan reports.

The moment he sensed Tian Yuhengʼs voice, his brows knit together. ”Tian Yuheng?”

He activated the slip.

Tian Yuhengʼs voice emerged, calm but undeniably weary. ”Bai Tianheng... I will not waste words. The Heaven Sword Sect is tearing itself apart.”

Bai Tianhengʼs expression hardened. ”Elder Han?” ”Yes!”

A brief silence followed.

Then Tian Yuheng spoke again, slower this time. ”The Heaven Sword Sect cannot swear loyalty to the Bai Clan!”

Bai Tianheng said nothing.

He waited. ”But I ask this as a Sect Leader with his back against the wall.”

Tian Yuhengʼs voice lowered. ”Is it possible-for me, and for my sect-to cultivate the High Earth-Grade technique you possess?”

The words hung heavy between them.

Bai Tianheng leaned back.

His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

Another voice surfaced in his mind.

If itʼs someone you trust, thereʼs no need to give the technique.

Bai Zihan had said that-and Bai Tianheng understood why.

Anyone who practiced the lower version would always be suppressed by those cultivating the higher one.

Tian Yuheng was someone he trusted.

And the Heaven Sword Sect was a sect even he himself had once learned from.

Bai Tianheng did not answer immediately.

After all, no matter the drawbacks, it could not be denied-the technique was powerful, and its results were undeniable. ”Is the situation really that dire?” Bai Tianheng asked.

A bitter smile crept into Tian Yuhengʼs tone. ”Yes! In the first place, why would you even share such a powerful cultivation technique with outsiders? If not for that, I might have had time to deal with Elder Han myself...” Tian Yuheng slipped into complaint mode.

After all, while Elder Han was the main culprit, it couldnʼt be denied that the Bai

Clanʼs aggressive recruitment-and the distribution of such powerful techniques-had accelerated everything. ”Alright, alright. Stop complaining” Bai Tianheng finally interrupted him.

He had hesitated because of the risks, but since Tian Yuheng wanted it this badly, he saw no reason to refuse. ”Iʼll send it to you,” Bai Tianheng said calmly. ”Teach it to whomever you wish.” Then, after a brief pause- ”Even Elder Han!”