Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 568 The End of an Era, The Beginning of War

Within the Vermillion Pill Empire...

A sealed letter had just arrived at the imperial court.

Upon the highest seat of the grand hall, Emperor Ouyang remained seated with composure, his gaze fixed upon the message's contents.

Silence cloaked the room.

Beneath him stood ministers and advisors, each awaiting his pronouncement.

After a brief pause, Emperor Ouyang lowered the letter slightly.

"What are your thoughts?"

His voice, though steady, resonated with authority.

The letter's proposal was straightforward.

The First Prince of the Desolate Heaven Empire was soliciting their backing.

In return... he pledged that once he claimed the throne, the Mu Clan would be stripped of its paramount strength.

Mu Tianxuan would meet his demise!

All Grade-7 pill recipes held by the Mu Clan would be surrendered.

The moment these terms were grasped, a subtle tremor passed through the assembled court.

This proposition was undeniably alluring.

The ascendance of the Mu Clan had already begun to impinge upon the Vermillion Pill Empire, their influence steadily expanding.

Their potent pills were infiltrating markets previously dominated by the Empire alone.

If this trend persisted... their revenues faced the prospect of being halved.

Naturally, their desire was to see the Mu Clan curbed.

No... annihilation was the more accurate aspiration.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed a favorable proposal."

The advisor's tone was measured, yet his eyes betrayed a keen interest.

"Should the Mu Clan be deprived of its Grandmaster Alchemist... it would crumble almost instantaneously."

Another minister concurred.

"And without Grade-7 pill recipes, they cannot cultivate new Grade-7 alchemists, while acquiring them would significantly bolster our empire."

However, not all were readily convinced.

A different minister voiced his apprehension, a frown creasing his brow.

"But... could this not be a ploy?"

He elaborated.

"What empire would willingly offer its most prized asset to a competitor? This is undeniably suspect."

For a moment, uncertainty clouded the hall.

Then, an advisor interjected.

"Perhaps not!"

All gazes swiveled towards him.

"When something grows beyond an empire's control... even an empire would seek to curtail it."

He paused.

"And the Bai Clan's might is excessive. They surpass the Yu Family in power. They would certainly wish to suppress them and any clan allied with them."

He continued his line of reasoning.

"Furthermore, the First Prince is not the sole contender seeking external alliances."

A low murmur rippled through the gathered officials.

"Word has reached me... the Second Prince has also initiated overtures to other empires."

At this revelation, the chamber's atmosphere subtly shifted.

"It appears the struggle for the Desolate Heaven Empire's throne may soon draw in foreign powers."

If multiple princes were already soliciting outside assistance, then this tactic was no longer extraordinary.

It signified desperation.

And desperation compels desperate measures.

The earlier hesitations gradually receded.

In their place, a nascent excitement began to stir.

Should they accept this offer-

Not only would the Mu Clan be severely weakened-

They would also gain leverage over the future sovereign of the Desolate Heaven Empire.

And if the conflict were to escalate further...

If the Bai Clan were drawn into the fray...

If the Li and Zhao Clans sustained significant losses...

Then who could definitively state that the Desolate Heaven Empire would retain its position as the preeminent power?

The entire balance of influence could undergo a radical transformation.

From his vantage point at the hall's head, Emperor Ouyang's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Then..."

He surveyed the assembled court.

"...it is decided?"

No objections were raised.

The majority had already reached their conclusion.

The potential gains were too substantial and too tempting to dismiss.

Meanwhile, the potential downside for them was almost negligible. Even if this endeavor failed, its impact on their own standing would be minimal.

A faint, almost inaudible chuckle escaped Emperor Ouyang.

"Hehehe..."

His eyes glinted with unbridled ambition.

"It appears the Desolate Heaven Empire's dominance is nearing its twilight."

Deep within the imperial palace of the Desolate Heaven Empire... inside the Emperor's private chambers.

The atmosphere was palpably heavy.

The very air seemed stagnant, as if hesitant to stir.

Upon the grand bed, the Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire lay in a state of profound weakness.

The imposing figure who had recently commanded the court's attention was nowhere to be seen.

In his place was a man on the precipice of demise.

His visage was ashen. His breaths were shallow, each inhalation appearing to be a laborious effort.

Standing beside him was the Minister of Internal Affairs, Yan Taifeng.

His expression was etched with tension.

"It seems... these foolish sons of mine intend to plunge the entire region into their struggle for the throne..."

The Emperor articulated his words slowly.

Though his princes and princesses believed they could operate undetected and scheme beneath him, he was privy to their every maneuver.

Cough! Cough!

A forceful bout of coughing interrupted his speech.

A crimson stain bloomed at the corner of his lips.

"Your Majesty!" Yan Taifeng instinctively moved closer, his face a mask of concern.

Yet, the Emperor raised a trembling hand, halting the advancing movement.

"...There is no need."

A rueful smile graced his lips.

"Even Grade-8 pills are powerless to save a dying man."

His voice resonated with a clear sense of acceptance.

Yan Taifeng's features grew taut.

Only he grasped the complete picture.

The preceding display was merely a temporary reprieve.

A Grade-8 pill could forcibly replenish one's life force, restoring vigor for a fleeting moment,

but at a steep cost: a significantly greater backlash.

"Your Majesty..."

Yan Taifeng's voice quivered slightly.

Yet, he found himself at a loss for words.

What could possibly be said?

The Emperor slowly shut his eyes for a brief instant.

"I had hoped... to at least settle matters before my departure..."

His voice faded further.

"To manage the Bai Clan before they amassed too much power... but I failed."

His remaining option was to assist the Li-Zhao Alliance in their attempt to subdue the Bai Clan; however, with the Mu Clan now boasting Grandmasters, this course of action had become even more improbable.

"...and even failed to entrust Yu Feiyan to someone capable of safeguarding her."

A subtle warmth flickered within his typically dim eyes.

Yu Feiyan.

His beloved daughter.

His sole child born from the woman he had genuinely cherished, though neither she nor her daughter received any recognition.

An illegitimate child, one might call her.

He had meticulously planned to secure her future.

Bai Zihan once appeared to be the ideal candidate: a cripple, yet supported by an unmatched power.

This arrangement would also bolster the Imperial Family's authority. Despite his disability, Bai Zihan's standing was unassailable, and even if Yu Feiyan was his illegitimate daughter, no one would have dared to lay a hand on her had she become Bai Zihan’s wife.

But that strategy, too, had crumbled.

Furthermore, Yu Feiyan had plunged headlong into the maelstrom herself, directly into the conflict for the throne.

A path fraught with bloodshed and demise.

Regret!

It saturated his heart entirely. Cough! Cough!

Another violent coughing fit wracked his frame. This time, more blood emerged. Yan Taifeng clenched his fists with all his might.

His eyes turned red.

The Emperor gazed into the distance, his eyes vacant.

His thoughts wandered, reflecting upon his life.

He found nothing of substance. No grand achievements.

No enduring legacy.

Only relentless struggles.

Only endless compromises.

And now...

The legacy he would leave behind was sheer chaos.

A brutal battlefield for his own offspring.

"I tried..."

He murmured faintly. "...but it appears I could mend nothing."

Silence descended upon the chamber once more.

The candlelight flickered feebly.

As if it too was on the verge of extinguishing.

The Emperor's breaths grew progressively shallower.

Weaker and weaker still.

His eyes began to lose their clarity.

His chest ceased its rising motion.

The final breath... had departed him.

Silence!

The Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire had breathed his last.

And with his passing...

The Desolate Heaven Empire was poised to enter an era of profound turmoil.