Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 431 Desolate Heaven's Emperor!
Previously on Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!...
An imperial attendant quickly moved ahead to welcome the Bai Clan, offering a respectful salute before guiding them toward the ceremonial hall.
With palace guards observing closely, the Bai Clan proceeded further into the depths of the Imperial Palace.
The path was well-known to the Bai Clan, so they hardly required guidance.
These corridors had been traversed by them on multiple occasions.
Nevertheless, formalities demanded adherence.
During such an occasion, any minor breach of etiquette might be seen as an affront, and the Imperial Family dared not risk such an error. Beneath their steps lay golden tiles, buffed to a gleaming finish. Enormous columns flanked the sides, etched with dragons intertwined among runes.
Finally, they reached their destination.
The Grand Ceremonial Hall!
The entrance stood wide open.
Upon entering, the Bai Clan caused the hall's ambiance to change in an instant.
The expansive chamber brimmed with prominent and intimidating presences.
Clan Patriarchs.
Sect Leaders.
Ministers.
And envoys from distant Empires as well.
Commander Wei stood there too, positioned upfront with hands folded behind him, his stance upright and imposing.
Nearly all who had contributed significantly to the conflict with the Demonic Forces gathered here.
The instant the Bai Clan crossed the threshold-
All eyes focused sharply.
Chatter stumbled to a halt.
Gazes swiveled.
Next-
Action stirred.
"Patriarch Bai!"
A middle-aged clan head approached first, his features aglow with excitement. He cupped his fists in a profound bow.
"The Bai Clan's bold moves preserved the northern front. What a remarkable feat!"
Before Bai Tianheng could reply, a different voice joined in.
"Absolutely! Had it not been for Patriarch Bai and the Bai Clan, we'd likely still be locked in a desperate struggle."
A group of people soon joined, encircling the Bai Clan in moments.
"Grand Elder Bai, the sacrifices of your clan shall endure in memory."
"The Empire is deeply indebted to you."
Admiration poured out abundantly.
Flattery stacked layer upon layer.
The Bai Clan replied with poised politeness—neither distant nor excessively warm.
Bai Tianheng traded courteous remarks, his bearing firm and serene, evidently used to these encounters.
In the meantime, the Li and Zhao Clans observed from afar, fury bubbling under their controlled facades.
When it came to losses, theirs had been the heaviest—yet from the accolades, it seemed as if solely the Bai Clan had battled the Beast Tide and Demonic Beasts.
Li Jianhong emptied his wine cup with one swift swallow.
"Tsk! Enjoy your moment, Bai Tianheng. Before long, you'll be begging at my feet."
Bai Tianheng lacked even a moment to spot the Li and Zhao Clans' positions, utterly hemmed in as he was.
He couldn't request space from the crowd—among them were key personages the Bai Clan could benefit from allying with later.
But shortly after-
The spotlight eased toward a new center.
Gazes wandered to Bai Zihan.
"Young Master Bai, your reputation has turned into a tale of wonder for our
generation. Facing demonic foes well beyond one's level... what a true champion among heroes."
A youth from the newer ranks voiced his awe.
Someone else chimed in right away.
"Exactly! Young Master Bai's stand prevented the deaths of innumerable cultivators."
"A prodigy fitting the Bai Clan's storied heritage."
"An unmatched prodigy!"
The compliments were grand.
Genuine, or at least appearing utterly so.
Bai Zihan offered only a subtle smile, giving slight acknowledgments.
Not one soul brought up his injured condition.
None dared to prod the Bai Clan's sore spot.
Their phrasing stayed deliberate.
To call Bai Zihan crippled outright—especially in this venue—would equal a direct insult to the Bai Clan.
And nobody there wished to face the fallout.
Commander Wei's look rested on Bai Zihan more than most.
Then he gave a single, grave nod.
He harbored thanks for the Bai Clan and desired to express it himself—but with their heavy encirclement, he opted against stirring more unrest.
Regret flickered in his gaze as well.
A talent brimming with boundless promise, felled just as his path began to shine.
This was a blow to the Desolate Heaven Empire.
Yet fate twisted in such ways.
As the final guests took their spots, a quiet transformation passed over the hall.
The whispers slowly ebbed.
Talks dissolved into quiet.
Up at the forefront of the Grand Ceremonial Hall, the imperial servants aligned themselves as the grand doors beyond the throne dais creaked open gradually.
"The Great Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire arrives!"
The proclamation echoed bright and resonant.
All within the hall—clan patriarchs, sect masters, ministers, and envoys—
aligned their postures on reflex.
They pivoted one after another to face the doorway.
Bai Zihan followed suit.
Curiosity stirred him.
As a child, he had sort of encountered the Emperor—though then, his
vision was blocked by the System Interface.
Besides, rumors had circulated without end since.
The Emperor's condition worsened by the day.
His end loomed inevitably.
From those tales, Bai Zihan had unwittingly pictured him—an elder barely hanging on, propped by elixirs, his rule upheld merely by tradition.
Thus, when the Emperor at last emerged—
Bai Zihan found himself taken aback.
The figure entering the chamber was aged, indeed, with silver threading his hair and lines etching his countenance from time's toll.
But weak?
Far from it.
His spine held rigid.
His strides came steady and measured.
Under the flowing imperial garments, firm musculature showed through—toned, rigorous, untouched by decline.
Every footfall bore gravity—not just from cultivation might, but from pure command.
Assurance emanated from his form.
Not the strained poise of feigned vigor.
Rather, the tranquil assurance of a sovereign secure in his dominion.
His gaze pierced keenly, remained lucid, and scanned the assembly unwaveringly—overlooking naught.
Bai Zihan's eyebrows lifted just a touch.
(So those rumors proved false?)
Yet he doubted that. It wasn't mere hearsay; agents from rival groups had witnessed the Emperor's dire state and relayed accounts of him teetering on death's edge.
Bai Zihan had obtained one such report from Kong Zhanhong. He trusted Kong Zhanhong wouldn't err in his assessment.
He wasn't alone in his shock.
Throughout the chamber, faint responses spread.
Some eyes widened. Others tensed without thought. A handful traded quick, astonished looks.
All present had known of the Emperor's supposed frailty, but seeing him now in the flesh revealed a man utterly unlike the descriptions.
The Emperor climbed the platform to the throne unaided, pivoted, and seated himself with ease.
As the Emperor took his throne, a slight curve touched his mouth—
and a silent caution rippled across the hall!