Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 444 Grade-8 Pill?!

The Bai Clan Estate lay shrouded in silence.

The elders scattered with swift precision, a few hurrying to strengthen the protective formations, while the rest transmitted discreet signals via jade slips.

Following the failed assassination on Bai Zihan, heightened caution among them was entirely expected.

Bai Zihan guided Xi Yu to a private spot where they could converse undisturbed.

Xi Yu trailed after him without a second thought.

The lavish setup of the Bai Clan's estate failed to impress her; instead, her expression suggested a subtle disdain.

Bai Zihan brought her to a hidden courtyard nestled far inside the grounds.

At its heart rose a modest pavilion, simple in design but graced with refined charm.

Soon enough, attendants appeared quietly, placing spirit tea that wafted a gentle, soothing aroma.

They settled opposite one another.

For a moment—

No words passed between them.

Vapors rose slowly from the delicate porcelain cups.

The soft hum of nocturnal bugs echoed faintly from afar.

Xi Yu raised her cup, sipped delicately, and placed it back with careful grace.

Only then did Bai Zihan break the quiet.

"Now," he stated evenly, his gaze fixed firmly on hers, "who are you?"

Xi Yu held his stare without a blink.

Her eyes bore into him with a critical intensity, like she was appraising his worth.

"You can call me Xi Yu," she replied finally. "That name is genuine."

Bai Zihan searched his memory for any notable figure by that name but drew a blank. Maybe it was time to update his awareness of influential powerhouses.

"And your reason for being here?"

Bai Zihan inquired steadily.

Xi Yu offered no response.

Her look intensified instead.

It shifted from relaxed observation to a sharp probe, as if

she aimed to pierce beyond his flesh, his frame, straight to his essence.

"First, though," she responded coolly, "answer my question."

Bai Zihan arched a brow just a touch.

"Are you truly crippled?"

Xi Yu posed the query as if it carried immense weight.

Bai Zihan let out a light laugh.

He picked up his teacup, drank leisurely, and returned it to the surface.

"You can decide that for yourself," he answered.

Xi Yu's eyes tightened.

Bai Zihan pressed on.

"Moreover," he noted, "even if I confirmed it—yes or no—would you actually trust my words?" Xi Yu made no objection.

She wouldn't.

From someone of his nature, declarations held little value—at least based on her understanding.

She eased back a bit, her fingers tapping gently on the table.

"As far as I observe," Xi Yu declared deliberately, "your meridians are shattered beyond doubt."

Her glance darted momentarily to his dantian.

Bai Zihan stayed quiet.

"However," she went on, her eyes pinning his, "your bearing tells a different story."

She examined him without restraint now.

His poised tranquility.

The subtle haughtiness that showed no effort to conceal.

The total lack of hopelessness.

"I've witnessed countless prodigies crumble," Xi Yu stated bluntly. "Some forfeit it all—their

pride, their assurance. They turn into hollow husks."

"Others sink into bitterness and rage, lost in their own misery."

"A few reject the truth. They grasp at illusions, claiming they're unchanged from their former glory."

She dropped her hand.

"You're not like any of those!"

Bai Zihan matched the rumors perfectly—overbearing, as though events played out precisely as he anticipated.

No trace of alarm, not even amid the near-fatal attack.

Still, it didn't appear he was fooling himself into thinking he remained the old Bai Zihan.

He acknowledged his disability, at least on the surface. No rejection, unlike the typical fallen talent unable to face such harsh fate.

Yet no disabled prodigy carried himself with such boldness—not after toppling from the heights.

Bai Zihan offered a subtle smile.

"So what?"

Xi Yu let out a sigh.

She couldn't grasp his true nature— a figure even she struggled to fathom completely.

Like one who had surrendered, she appeared to abandon probing Bai Zihan's depths.

"In any case, you do seem genuinely crippled."

Bai Zihan heard her out, still puzzled by how his state linked to her objectives.

"I'm carrying out a task from our Saintess."

(Saintess?)

Bai Zihan mulled over the term intently. Not due to its absence in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Holy sects often dubbed their heirs Saints or Saintesses.

Demonic Cultivators followed suit with their Saints and Saintesses, destined to lead sects—or even the whole demonic realm.

But for a Saintess—so young—to direct a powerhouse like Xi Yu...

Her backing organization must hold depths beyond comprehension.

Xi Yu's sleeve rustled.

A petite jade vial materialized in her grasp and rested softly on the stone table dividing them.

Bai Zihan's gaze sharpened briefly.

Xi Yu slid the vial toward him.

"A present," she announced tonelessly.

Bai Zihan held back from taking it right away.

He inspected the jade vial instead.

Crystal-clear. Radiating warmth visually. Subtle golden symbols drifted under its skin like languid pulses.

Without uncorking it—

He recognized it already.

"This is..." Bai Zihan whispered.

"A Grade-8 pill," Xi Yu explained, as if mentioning the ordinary.

"Known as the Heavenly Renewal Heart Pill."

Bai Zihan's pupils shrank faintly.

Grade-8.

Not the lesser Grade-6.

Not even the almost legendary Grade-7.

Grade-8 pills existed only in tales.

Within the Desolate Heaven Empire, Grade-7 pills alone could upheave sects and great families.

As for Grade-8—

No refiner could craft them.

Their components were so scarce and invaluable that acquiring them bordered on impossible.

They had no place in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Xi Yu clearly hailed from a power beyond the Empire's borders.

Even Bai Zihan, versed in sights others here couldn't dream of, experienced real astonishment.

(To hand over such a treasure so freely...)

His eyes rose to meet Xi Yu's.

(I clearly misjudged the might of your supporters.) "That pill," she proceeded, "holds potent healing effects. While not assured completely, it offers a possibility to mend your meridians."

Bai Zihan extended his hand at last.

Though his System could procure any elixir desired, this spared him precious Points.

"I grasp your motive," Bai Zihan remarked. "Yet it only deepens my intrigue."

He regarded her squarely.

"Who is this Saintess?"

Xi Yu shook her head.

"You're not cleared to learn that."

The reply came without delay.

Bai Zihan took no offense.

He had foreseen such a block.

"Do I know her?"

He questioned.

Xi Yu paused—merely an instant.

Then she responded truthfully.

"I'm unsure myself."

Truth or deception, Bai Zihan couldn't discern.

He observed her a beat longer, then reclined a fraction.

"Understood!"

Further details from Xi Yu seemed unlikely.

She'd withhold her sect or clan too, given her refusal on the Saintess.

Xi Yu stood up.

Her motions flowed with resolve—like one who had wrapped up all necessary matters.

"My task is done," she declared steadily. "No need for me to linger."

Bai Zihan made no move to detain her.

At minimum, after thwarting his assassination and freely offering a Grade-8 pill, she proved no foe.

Not at present.

And should her Saintess hold him in regard...

That carried its own advantages.

She pivoted from the pavilion, her footfalls soft on the stone.

Right as she neared the exit—

She halted.

Xi Yu glanced back faintly, her eyes settling on Bai Zihan again.

This instance brought no judgment.

No intrigue.

Just a stark caution.

"Bai Zihan," she uttered icily, "stay away from our Saintess."

The statement hit like an abrupt frost.

Bai Zihan's forehead creased.

...What?

True bewilderment crossed his features.

(Stay away? I don't even recognize her.)

Though a suspicion lingered, uncertainty equated to ignorance.

He exhaled briefly and met her eyes firmly.

"I have no clue who your Saintess is," Bai Zihan stated. "How can I steer clear of someone I've never encountered?"

Xi Yu didn't rotate fully.

"You'll find out," she answered plainly. "In due time."

Her gaze toughened a notch.

"And once you do," she appended, "keep your distance as expected."

Bai Zihan watched her retreating form.

The admonition felt baseless.

Yet... it rang with sincerity.

Before another word escaped— Crack!

The fabric of space cracked apart.

Directly before Xi Yu, the atmosphere tore like broken crystal, exposing a shadowy, swirling void within.

A spatial tear!

The Bai Estate shielded itself with multiple barriers—formations that quelled teleportation and rifts even from Immortal Ascension Realm experts.

Forcing one open in this place...

(Earth Immortal? Or higher still...)

Xi Yu advanced without pause.

Her silhouette dissolved into the tear.

Crack!

The tear closed in a flash, reality mending as though undisturbed.

Quiet enveloped the courtyard once more.

Just the lingering whiff of spirit tea remained.

Bai Zihan stayed in his seat, staring at the void where she vanished.

"...Fascinating," he whispered.

A Saintess with immense support.

An unforeseen prodigy at the Golden Immortal Realm.

A plot to end his life.

Heaven clearly plotted against any peace for him.

Bai Zihan grasped the jade vial, his touch grazing its heated exterior.

"It appears," he murmured softly, a slight grin emerging, "that excitement lies ahead."