Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 550 Clown Show

"I declare myself the victor!"

No one found fault with Huo Shenyu's bold declaration of victory.

A pill of Grade-5!

It was a gap too immense for any of the younger generation to bridge.

On the side of the Vermillion Pill Empire, several elders nodded in approval, their faces alight with pride.

Some even cast amused glances toward the Desolate Heaven Empire, as if this outcome were an inevitability they had long foreseen.

Almost instantly, cheers erupted from every corner.

"As expected of Huo Shenyu! We knew you would triumph!"

"Who among us could possibly contend with you?"

"A Grade-5 pill... sigh... compared to your prowess, the rest are merely ordinary!"

"You truly live up to your esteemed reputation!"

An endless stream of praise followed.

Some offers were genuine.

Others... less so.

Yet, no one dared to defy the prevailing sentiment.

It felt as though the competition had concluded the very moment Huo Shenyu proclaimed himself the winner.

One of the representatives from the Vermillion Pill Empire stepped forward, his countenance beaming with elation.

"Hahaha! Such a magnificent achievement cannot go uncelebrated!"

He joined his hands together, his voice echoing throughout the grand hall.

"To concoct a Grade-5 pill at such a tender age... this is truly unprecedented!"

His gaze turned towards Huo Shenyu, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

"We must host a grand celebration in honor of Young Master Huo! An event befitting this monumental occasion!"

At his words, several others immediately voiced their agreement.

"Indeed! This triumph warrants commemoration!"

"A celebratory banquet is absolutely essential!"

"The entire Eastern Region must be made aware of this feat!"

The atmosphere shifted once more.

From mere praise—

To outright glorification.

Huo Shenyu listened with a calm demeanor.

Then, he offered a slight nod.

"As you wish."

Though his tone was measured, the undisguised pride in his eyes remained undimmed. "In one month's time..."

He paused momentarily, his gaze sweeping across the assembled representatives of the various empires.

"...the Vermillion Pill Empire will dispatch invitations."

A subtle smile graced his lips.

"I anticipate your attendance!"

His words carried a veneer of politeness.

However, every individual present grasped the underlying implication.

This was not merely a celebration; it was a declaration.

An announcement to the entirety of the region regarding his exceptional accomplishment.

It simultaneously affirmed the enduring supremacy of the Vermillion Pill Empire.

Furthermore, it served to eclipse the burgeoning influence of Mu Tianxuan, who had recently attained the status of Grandmaster Alchemist.

As anticipated, no one dared to refuse the invitation.

"Naturally! We shall attend without fail!"

"How could we possibly miss such a momentous occasion?"

"To bear witness to the ascent of such a prodigious talent—it is our utmost honor!"

One voice after another chimed in with their assent.

Agreement was swift and unanimous.

Even those harboring inner reservations could only offer their outward concurrence.

Then, someone remarked with a sigh of profound admiration—

"Today... we have witnessed a true dragon ascend to the heavens."

The words softly resonated throughout the hall.

And at the heart of it all, Huo Shenyu stood tall, basking in the adulation.

"Phui! Hahahahahaha...!"

A sudden, unrestrained burst of laughter violently disrupted the solemn atmosphere.

It echoed boisterously through the hall, instantly silencing all other sounds.

Every eye turned towards the source of the outburst.

It was Bai Zihan!

He stood there, one hand partially covering his face, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably as peals of laughter continued to erupt from him.

His laughter was neither polite nor restrained.

It was the kind of amusement reserved for witnessing the most ludicrous

performance imaginable.

A complete and utter spectacle.

...

An awkward, heavy silence descended upon the entire hall.

Not far away, Bai Xueqing's expression shifted drastically. She quickly moved closer,

lowering her voice in an urgent plea.

"Stop it! What do you think you are doing?!"

Her brows furrowed slightly.

"Do you have any awareness of your surroundings? If you persist in this manner, it will reflect poorly upon the Mu Clan."

In her view, Bai Zihan was clearly instigating trouble once more—at the most inopportune moment possible.

Yet, Bai Zihan showed no sign of ceasing. If anything, his laughter softened, morphing into a more overtly amused tone.

Finally, he lowered his hand.

His gaze swept across the assembled crowd.

Then, without any pretense of subtlety, he spoke in a clear, loud voice.

"When a clown performs..."

He paused for dramatic effect.

"...shouldn't the audience show their appreciation with laughter?"

Silence descended once more!

His words hung in the air, sharp and cutting like a public reprimand.

He then tilted his head slightly, directing his gaze towards the contingent from the Desolate Heaven Empire.

His expression took on a semblance of genuine puzzlement.

"Why are you not laughing?"

The confusion conveyed in his tone seemed utterly sincere, as if he were truly bewildered.

The assembled crowd stiffened.

Their expressions became strangely contorted.

Everyone understood the implication.

There was no room for misinterpretation.

Bai Zihan was pointedly referring to Huo Shenyu and all those who had just been showering him with praise.

On the side of the Vermillion Pill Empire, faces darkened instantly.

And at the center of the tension, Huo Shenyu's visage hardened.

His eyes narrowed, fixing directly on Bai Zihan.

A flicker of anger ignited within his gaze.

"Is this how the Desolate Heaven Empire treats its esteemed guests?"

His voice, though low, carried a chilling calm.

Yet, beneath the surface, unfriendliness was palpable.

"If you can't win..."

A subtle sneer touched his lips.

"...then you resort to insults?" He advanced a step.

The imposing presence surrounding him didn't lessen; rather, it intensified, growing sharper.

"Young Master Bai, don't be such a sore loser."

The pronouncement landed with significant weight.

The atmosphere within the great hall became taut once more.

"Sore loser?"

Bai Zihan echoed the phrase, as if finding it amusing.

Then, with a slight inclination of his head, a faint smile persisting on his face.

"What reason would I have to be a sore loser?"

His tone lacked any trace of anger. Huo Shenyu slowly shook his head, his eyes radiating disdain.

Evidently, in his view, Bai Zihan was merely refusing to acknowledge the undeniable truth. "There's still someone who hasn't finished her pill refinement..." Bai Zihan continued, his voice calm but carrying clearly throughout the hall.

"And you're already proclaiming victory? Isn't that a bit premature?"

A minor tremor went through the assembled crowd.

It was then that many recognized – indeed, one individual remained.

Mu Linyue!

All gazes shifted. She still stood before her alchemy cauldron, her concentration absolute, her hands expertly manipulating the flame.

Huo Shenyu emitted a slight scoff.

"There's no need to wait."

His declaration was firm and resolute.

"A Grade-3 alchemist—"

He flicked a glance towards Mu Linyue, then back to Bai Zihan.

"Does Young Master Bai truly fail to grasp the disparity between us?"

A hint of arrogance now fully emerged.

"Even if she manages to achieve a breakthrough at this very moment..."

He paused.

"...her highest achievement would be refining a Grade-4 pill."

His lips curved upward slightly.

"It's utterly insignificant!"

Unwavering confidence radiated from him, not a shred of doubt present. To him, the outcome was already sealed.

Bai Zihan remained impassive. He merely directed his gaze towards Mu Linyue for a brief instant.

Then, he returned his attention to Huo Shenyu.

"Well, we won't know the truth until we witness it firsthand."

His tone was casual, yet it caused many to knit their brows.

Some individuals from the Vermillion Pill Empire were already preparing to interject, their expressions etched with mockery.

"What is there to see—"

However, before they could voice their sentiments, Huo Shenyu subtly raised a hand.

He observed Bai Zihan for a moment.

Then, a chilling smile graced his features.

"Very well! If you are so insistent..." He clasped his hands behind his back.

"Let us ascertain what caliber of pill she can refine. What do you all think?"

"Shall we grant a few more minutes?"

With Huo Shenyu's words spoken, the others felt compelled to comply, despite their belief that it was a pointless expenditure of time.

At this juncture, all attention pivoted once more. Towards Mu Linyue.

Her alchemy cauldron quivered subtly.

The flame beneath it flared with mounting intensity.

She too was entering the final phase: Pill formation.

Her expression remained serene and deeply focused.

Completely oblivious – or perhaps utterly unconcerned – by the multitude of eyes now fixed intently upon her.