Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 445 Blueprint of Control

"So the Imperial Family has sided with them too."

Bai Zihan whispered to himself, more entertained than taken aback.

He had anticipated this development, even without solid proof until now.

At the moment, he was poring over the intel compiled by Kong Zhanghong, which revealed all the covert talks they believed were hidden.

In reality, exposing these secrets proved much simpler than anyone might guess.

Kong Zhanghong had leveraged the Black Lantern Society to infiltrate the Li-Zhao Clan's coalition, as they eagerly sought new partners.

The Li-Zhao Clan appeared well-acquainted with the Black Lantern Society, valuing their connections more than raw power.

Having learned that the Black Lantern Society orchestrated the hit on Bai Zihan a year back, they assumed the group opposed the Bai Clan.

On top of that, the Black Lantern Society fed them details on the Bai Clan to build credibility.

Naturally, every bit of intel was carefully selected by Bai Zihan—like the count of Bai Clan members heading to the Imperial Celebration.

Details on flying ships deployed, and similar specifics, all proved spot-on.

Thanks to this, they viewed the Black Lantern Society as exceptionally useful, extending open trust.

As a result, Bai Zihan stayed well-informed on the schemes his foes plotted in the shadows.

"Emperor..."

Bai Zihan murmured while pondering the recent encounter with that figure.

Having met Qin Lingxiao, it grew hard to tell if the Emperor had been swapped out.

Yet one fact stood firm—an outside power was meddling in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

No matter the case, the Imperial Family now ranked as his foe.

The Shen Clan demanded caution too, despite lacking the Imperial Family's might.

Bai Zihan grew quiet.

Facing the united might of the Li Clan, Zhao Clan, and Imperial Family, the Bai Clan could hold its ground.

It would prove challenging.

But far from hopeless.

Should it involve just those groups, Bai Zihan trusted the Bai Clan to wear them out—though the toll would be heavy.

Yet—

The true wildcard hid elsewhere.

It was the hidden external influence pulling strings from afar.

Qin Lingxiao!

Xi Yu's group factored in as well. Her declared aim was to supply a Grade-8 pill, but hidden agendas might lurk.

Direct involvement from those powers would flip the entire scenario.

Even surviving the initial assault wouldn't save the Bai Clan from the deadly follow-up.

Bai Zihan lacked knowledge of Qin Lingxiao's or Xi Yu's home empires.

Still, one truth rang clear.

Outside meddling wasn't merely likely anymore.

It was underway.

And Bai Zihan refused to let the Bai Clan drain its strength before that tempest hit.

Minimizing losses was key.

He aimed to avoid fatigue when confronting far superior adversaries.

He reclined a bit, digits drumming on the armrest.

Soon—

A strategy crystallized in his thoughts.

Straightforward.

Direct.

Potent.

If the Li-Zhao Alliance could grow, the Bai Clan's coalition could expand likewise.

They were already pursuing that, albeit gradually, since Bai Tianheng doubted the value of binding too many clans.

Forces eager to align with the Bai Clan outnumbered those flocking to the Li-Zhao side.

Nevertheless, the Imperial Family's backing shifted the scales toward the Li-Zhao Alliance.

The fight wouldn't limit itself to the Imperial Family alone.

Allies of the Imperial Family must be factored in too—their collective power rivaled a single Li or Zhao Clan.

One could argue the Bai Clan already fielded as many alliance overtures as

feasible.

But Bai Zihan held a straightforward method to boost those numbers even higher.

Dangle an Earth-Grade cultivation technique for every joiner.

Earth-Grade cultivation techniques ranked as priceless assets that could reshape the destiny

of clans and sects alike.

By dangling one, far more groups would flock to the Bai Clan's side.

Even affiliates of the Li-Zhao Alliance might waver. After all, mastering an Earth-Grade technique outshone mere supplies or safeguards from the Li-Zhao Clan.

This could transform a whole clan's future.

That said—

No scheme lacked weaknesses.

And this one harbored a glaring vulnerability foes could readily target.

Distributing the technique openly to all Bai Clan alliance newcomers guaranteed leaks.

Once the method escaped containment, joining the Bai Clan wouldn't be required to claim it.

The Li-Zhao Alliance might dispatch spies on purpose.

Sign on superficially.

Absorb the technique.

Then smuggle it away.

Should that occur, the strategy's core benefit would crumble.

This explained why cultivation techniques stayed closely guarded

always.

It was why clans chose ruin over exposing their vital scriptures.

Bai Zihan breathed out gently.

His face, though, stayed composed.

Rather, a subtle spark lit his gaze—as though he had foreseen this twist.

For that supposed weakness—

Wasn't a weakness whatsoever.

It was a chance.

Bai Zihan remembered a trope from countless Earth novels he'd encountered.

In assassin guilds and covert sects, cultivation techniques often split by levels.

Outer acolytes trained on fragmented copies.

Inner ranks accessed truncated editions.

Core elites alone received the full manual.

And the structure enforced strict order.

Practitioners of partial forms hit unbreakable ceilings.

Certain techniques even wove in deadly traps—devices letting superiors disable, hinder, or slay those on inferior tiers.

If techniques like that truly existed—

Wouldn't their spread benefit him, provided he dominated all who used them?

Bai Zihan's fingers struck the armrest once.

Should the Li-Zhao Alliance dispatch moles, that would suit him fine.

They'd eagerly walk into his trap.

A shared outer layer—formidable, but flawed.

Any who stuck to the surface levels would unwittingly hand their fate

over to him.

In the mildest case, he could halt their progress.

In the extreme—

He could end them.

Dominate, where feasible.

Destroy, if required.

Both results worked.

Thus, even if the Li-Zhao Alliance snagged the technique, it wouldn't diminish his edge.

It would amplify his hold.

All the same, securing such a technique remained essential first.

Bai Zihan settled back into the chair, lids drooping halfway.

The scheme neared perfection.

But carrying it out—

That posed the real hurdle.

Assuming techniques of this sort lingered in this realm, acquiring one was all it took.

His initial impulse turned to the highest access linked to him.

"Feilian..."

Silence followed.

Bai Zihan creased his brow.

Since lending him her strength, Emperor Feilian had stayed dormant.

He attempted once more.

Nothing again. "Still recuperating."

Bai Zihan let out a quiet breath.

He had figured an entity like Emperor Feilian—who towered over endless ages—might hold a technique or two matching his aims.

Evidently, that route lay closed temporarily.

Leaving just one alternative.

The System Shop. His stare intensified.

With a mental nudge, the usual glowing panel materialized in his vision.

He headed straight for the Cultivation Technique section.

Earth-Grade!

Techniques scrolled by, each pulsing with deep essence and immense promise.

Ninefold Mountain Tempering Art.

Heaven-Splitting Meridian

Impressive. Yet mismatched for his purpose.

Codex.

Bai Zihan's forehead furrowed a touch.

Not a single one fit the bill. Given their common use in killer groups, Bai Zihan assumed finding one would be straightforward.

Apparently, he erred.

At minimum, the Earth-Grade area yielded none, even after extended review.

Next came the Heaven-Grade offerings.

Bai Zihan's scan lingered as he combed through hundreds of additional

cultivation methods.

Then—

He spotted it.

A method whose summary sent his pulse racing.

His eyes tightened while scanning deeper.

And then—

His features soured.

"It has restrictions."

Even holding the full edition...

Even with others on partial paths...

The method only dominated those whose realm fell short of his.

Peers might resist.

Superiors stood fully shielded.

Bai Zihan went still.

The chamber felt eerily hushed.

At last, a soft laugh escaped him.

"Ultimately, it's merely for quelling the feeble."

Against fodder.

Against non-threats from the start.

That missed his mark.

He could already crush lesser foes without any such tool.

No point in shelling out a fortune for what raw power handled easily.

His true aim differed.

He sought a web.

Broad enough to snare whole clans.

Sly enough that masters would blunder in unaware.

Capable of binding rivals before weapons clashed.

This—

This Heaven-Grade technique didn't measure up.