Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 454 Return to the new Heaven Sword Sect

The aerial vessel sliced through the misty clouds, its protective array holding firm and deliberate. Before long, the grand mountain chain of the Heaven Sword Sect loomed into view—soaring summits, blade-like crests, both known and eerily unfamiliar.

Kong Zhanghong positioned himself at the front, breathing in the crisp breeze.

Bai Zihan stayed seated within the chamber, his eyes shut tight.

As the vessel neared the sect's outer boundaries, glowing barriers flickered into activation.

Then-

A sudden surge rippled through the air.

The ship came to a halt abruptly.

A handful of airborne silhouettes rushed upward from the ground, swords supporting their flight, garments bearing the Heaven Sword Sect emblem.

Sentries.

One lifted his arm, channeling Qi to boost his shout.

"Stop!"

"You've entered Heaven Sword Sect territory!"

"Every approaching vessel must face a full check prior to touchdown!"

Kong Zhanghong's gaze sharpened.

(A check?)

Previously, Bai Zihan's ride had always landed without issue.

He advanced, his tone biting.

"A check?" Kong Zhanghong demanded icily. "Do you realize who owns this vessel?"

A sentry eyed the ship's symbols, then sneered.

"Heh. Naturally, we do."

Another sentry snickered under his breath.

"Isn't this the lame young master's ride?"

"We're merely obeying commands," he drawled. "Regulations apply to everyone these days."

The statement had just landed-

Bang!

A shadow streaked across the sky.

The sentry who spoke flew backward, crimson spilling as his form crashed against a far-off rock wall.

His blade exploded in fragments during the fall.

A hush spread instantly.

The other sentries stiffened, their complexions paling rapidly.

Kong Zhanghong remained in place, his grip tight on his fist, murderous aura seeping out unchecked.

"Repeat that," he stated evenly.

The weight of a Nascent Soul Realm expert pressed down like an immense peak.

Golden Core Realm sentries struggled to draw breath under the force.

"You dare strike at sect sentries?!" one yelled, panic thinly veiled by pretended fury.

"Kong Zhanghong, have you any idea of your actions?!"

Kong Zhanghong chuckled.

A brief, mirthless bark.

"Hmph! What of it?"

He uttered frostily.

Witnessing Kong Zhanghong's bold stance, they realized their warnings held no sway.

Some gripped their weapons tighter yet refrained from unsheathing them.

In truth, they operated at Golden Core Realm, whereas Kong Zhanghong had reached Nascent Soul Realm.

Within the chamber, Bai Zihan at last parted his eyelids.

His face showed no emotion.

He refrained from halting Kong Zhanghong.

After all-

Why would he?

This was the Heaven Sword Sect.

And no individual here instilled fear in him.

He could tell these sentries aimed to provoke him on purpose.

Maybe Elder Han had instructed them—or maybe another figure.

Bai Zihan stood up from his spot and exited the chamber.

His emergence caused the atmosphere to hang heavy.

Regardless of his cultivation level—or its absence—his aura always unsettled others.

He peered at the sentries floating ahead of the vessel, his look gliding over

them with disinterest.

"Descend," Bai Zihan ordered bluntly.

Two simple words.

No rage.

No warning.

Only directive.

"If there's an issue," he went on, voice steady, "voice it straight to me!"

The sentries tensed up.

None could hold his stare.

Just earlier, they had issued demands boldly. Now, their lips stayed clamped as though bound.

Gradually, the barrier underneath cleared a path.

The aerial vessel lowered itself.

No voices rose.

No barriers blocked their way.

Yet all eyes remained fixed.

As soon as the vessel settled on the Heaven Sword Sect's external landing area, crowds assembled.

Some driven by curiosity, others plainly seeking conflict.

Bai Zihan had returned.

***

The sentries had already relayed news of Bai Zihan's approach well before stirring up the confrontation.

They didn't linger in suspense for long.

Heavy steps resounded over the rocky expanse.

Overbearing.

A cluster of shadows stepped forth from amid the blade monuments.

In the midst stood a figure clad in deep azure attire, adorned with fierce cloud motifs. His stance was casual, head tilted upward, gaze brimming with blatant scorn.

Han Shenwu!

Trailing him were multiple followers—his underlings—all displaying faces of cocky eagerness.

Kong Zhanghong's look grew shadowed.

Bai Zihan, though, kept his composure.

Han Shenwu paused several paces distant and allowed his eyes to wander boldly across Bai

Zihan, pausing on purpose—viciously—at his dantian.

Next, he grinned.

"So you actually showed up," Han Shenwu drawled. "I figured you'd cower in the

Bai Clan indefinitely."

Malice sparkled in his eyes.

"See you now. A Cripple!"

A couple of followers behind him sniggered.

Han Shenwu crossed his arms.

"You see," he pressed on, voice taunting, "I offered you a shot once."

"A chance. To pick the winning side. To align with us."

He wagged his head theatrically.

"Yet you turned it down. And now behold your state."

He bent forward a touch.

"Stripped of all your cultivation."

Han Shenwu's grin broadened.

"What business brings you here?"

A quiet pause ensued.

Then-

Bai Zihan chuckled.

A gentle, entertained noise.

"A chance?" Bai Zihan echoed.

He lifted his chin and at last locked eyes with Han Shenwu.

His stare was serene.

Icy and unafraid.

"From the likes of you?"

The grin on Han Shenwu's face stiffened.

"Are you for real?" Bai Zihan jeered.

Han Shenwu fixed on Bai Zihan a beat too long.

The poise.

The audacity.

The utter absence of dread.

It clashed with expectations.

For an instant, bewilderment flashed in his gaze.

Then he burst into laughter.

"Hah! Still faking it?" Han Shenwu dismissed with a headshake. "Is that all? Has dropping

your cultivation shattered your sanity?" He mocked brazenly now.

"A cripple unable to channel Qi any longer, pretending he's still the young

master."

His expression toughened.

"Let me ask you, Bai Zihan," Han Shenwu inquired, tone shifting to grave. "What

purpose drives you here?"

The snickers from his followers faded.

They also observed intently.

Bai Zihan held off responding right away. Rather, he scanned his surroundings.

The well-known blade pillars. The engraved platform bearing sect doctrines.

The heavens over the Heaven Sword Sect.

Afterward, he turned back to Han Shenwu. "This is my sect," Bai Zihan declared steadily.

"What justification do I owe for coming back?"

Han Shenwu halted briefly.

Then his features contorted in shock.

"My sect?"

He echoed, like he'd caught an outrageously silly jest.

Han Shenwu's grin chilled.

"Snap out of it," he snapped. "Those days are gone."

"My father holds the Sect Leader position now."

He advanced one step, dominance lacing his words.

"You've been cast out already. You have no place here."

"This sect rejects you now"

The atmosphere grew taut.

A few sentries moved discreetly, poised for Bai Zihan's reply.

Bai Zihan absorbed the words in silence. Then-

He flicked his wrist casually.

As though sweeping aside debris.

"Your statements," Bai Zihan remarked aloofly, "hold zero weight"

Bai Zihan proceeded, leisurely.

"You aren't the Sect Leader. Nor an Elder. Does a frail sort like you presume

to command me?"

His eyes tightened a fraction.

"If expulsion is your true aim," Bai Zihan stated plainly, "let your father deliver

that decree."

"Make him utter it before me."

The area plunged into utter quiet.

Han Shenwu's face shadowed over at once.

"You-!"

Han Shenwu balled his hands, fury surging under his surface.

"Very well," Han Shenwu replied icily after a pause.

"If that's your choice."

He pivoted partway and sneered.

"Come along! My father will banish you himself!"