Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 652 The Rising Tension

After making all the necessary arrangements, Bai Zihan officially entered seclusion.

The Bai Clan also became unusually quiet.

From the outside, it almost seemed as though the Bai Clan had withdrawn from the world's affairs.

However, the Bai Clan might have become quiet.

The outside world certainly had not.

In fact, the entire Desolate Heaven Empire was in an uproar.

Rumors spread at an astonishing speed.

No!

At this point, it was difficult to tell whether they were merely rumors or actual news.

The topic on everyone's lips was naturally the Bai Clan.

More specifically, the two Grand Elders of the Bai Clan.

Bai Ren!

Bai Chu!

According to numerous witnesses, the two elders had displayed strength far beyond the Immortal Realm.

Many people even claimed that both of them had reached the legendary Golden Immortal Realm.

A realm that had never before appeared within the Desolate Heaven Empire.

At first, countless people dismissed the stories as exaggerations.

There had never been a single person who successfully survived the Heavenly Tribulation, and there were no Grade-8 pills to assist them.

As a result, many cultivators did not even attempt ascension, believing that remaining an Earth Immortal was far better than pursuing something seemingly impossible.

Now, how could two Golden Immortals suddenly appear within the Bai Clan?

Yet as more witnesses came forward…

And as more details emerged...

The skepticism gradually began to disappear.

Especially after reports surfaced that their opponent had also possessed Golden Immortal-level strength.

Soon, discussions erupted throughout the empire.

"If those rumors are true, then who can stop the Bai Clan now?"

"Forget the Desolate Heaven Empire. Even the entire Eastern Region might fall beneath their influence."

"Two Golden Immortals..."

"Just hearing those words is enough to make one's scalp tingle."

"The Bai Clan was already the strongest force in the empire. Now they've become even more terrifying."

Countless cultivators felt their hearts tremble.

The Bai Clan had already been viewed as an invincible giant.

Now, that giant has risen to an entirely new level.

Many people could not even imagine what force within the Eastern Region could still compete with them.

Naturally, the major powers became increasingly cautious.

The Li-Zhao Alliance, which was once arrogant and even believed that although they could not defeat the Bai Clan, they would not lose to them either, had become quiet.

There were no more provocations from them.

Whether it was a sign of submission or evidence that they were planning something behind closed doors, no one knew.

At the same time, another piece of news shook the empire.

The death of Yu Wenzhao!

The Third Prince's fall had officially been confirmed.

And the person responsible was none other than the Ninth Princess herself.

The moment this information spread, public opinion exploded.

Many people were shocked.

Many were frightened.

Others began openly criticizing her.

After all, regardless of political struggles, Yu Wenzhao was still her brother.

Yet she had personally killed him.

As a result, countless rumors began circulating.

"Yu Feiyan is too ruthless."

"She even killed her own brother without hesitation."

"If she becomes the Emperor, what will happen to the rest of us?"

"Such a person is far too dangerous."

…

Some even began referring to her as a bloodstained princess.

Others called her a heartless monster willing to sacrifice anyone for power.

While those actions could certainly be criticized, they were also being deliberately blown out of proportion.

After all, whenever there was a battle for the throne, bloodshed inevitably followed.

Many intelligent individuals quickly realized that someone was deliberately fanning the flames.

And when people considered who benefited the most from damaging Yu Feiyan's reputation, the answer became obvious.

The First Prince, Yu Zidi.

At this stage of the throne war, only two true contenders remained.

Yu Feiyan and Yu Zidi.

Yu Zidi's faction quietly pushed the narrative throughout the empire.

Stories portraying Yu Feiyan as cold-blooded.

Stories portraying her as a calculating schemer devoid of emotion.

Stories portraying her as a woman willing to sacrifice family, allies, and subjects alike in pursuit of power.

The campaign was relentless and surprisingly effective.

After all, the death of Yu Wenzhao was real.

The facts themselves provided ample ammunition.

Yu Zidi's supporters merely needed to guide public opinion in the desired direction.

As the rumors spread farther and farther, the atmosphere within the empire gradually became more tense.

Many citizens now hold negative impressions of Yu Feiyan.

Compared to Yu Feiyan, many felt that Yu Zidi, who was known for being kind and compassionate, should become the next Emperor.

The situation continued to escalate.

And this time, the Imperial Court itself officially stepped onto the stage.

Soon, a decree was issued from the capital.

The contents spread throughout the empire at astonishing speed.

The Imperial Court openly condemned the Ninth Princess.

According to the decree, Yu Feiyan had violated imperial law by personally killing a member of the Imperial Family.

Regardless of the circumstances.

Regardless of the political struggle.

Yu Wenzhao had still been a prince of the empire.

His death at the hands of Yu Feiyan was declared a serious crime.

The decree demanded that Yu Feiyan immediately return to the capital and submit herself to investigation and punishment.

Furthermore, she was ordered to comply with the judgment of the Imperial Court.

If she refused, the Court would be forced to act according to the law.

The announcement immediately caused another wave of discussion across the empire.

Many commoners were shocked.

Many cultivators sneered.

And many major powers simply watched in silence.

After all, everyone knew one thing.

Yu Feiyan would never comply.

And indeed—

Yu Feiyan's response arrived.

Or more accurately...

There was no response at all.

The Ninth Princess completely ignored the decree.

She neither defended herself nor acknowledged the Court's authority.

It was as though the order did not exist.

The Court naturally could not tolerate such a blatant challenge to their authority.

Soon afterward, a second decree was issued.

This time, the tone became far harsher.

Yu Feiyan was officially declared a criminal of the empire.

Anyone assisting her would be viewed as aiding a criminal.

Any force supporting her would be subject to investigation.

The Court further condemned her followers and accused them of participating in rebellion against the empire.

The news immediately spread throughout every corner of the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Although it still caused shock, the reaction was far less dramatic than expected.

Because many people had already anticipated this outcome.

After all, everyone knew who currently controlled the Imperial Court.

Yu Zidi!

Thus, the Court's actions did not surprise the major powers.

The real question was something else.

Could the Court actually enforce its decree?

That was where opinions began to differ.

Many experts simply shook their heads.

The Court might possess authority, but authority alone was not enough.

Yu Feiyan was no longer the same princess she had once been.

Behind her stood three of the empire's top sects.

Numerous major clans.

Countless experts.

Even if the Imperial Family mobilized its forces along with its military power, capturing Yu Feiyan would still be extremely difficult.

In fact, many believed the Court lacked the strength to do so altogether.

The decree sounded impressive.

But without sufficient power to enforce it, it was little more than words on paper.

Naturally, Yu Zidi's camp understood this as well.

They were not foolish enough to believe a single decree could eliminate Yu Feiyan.

That was never the true objective.

The real goal was public opinion.

The real goal was legitimacy.

The real goal was to stir the emotions of the public.

If Yu Feiyan could be branded as a criminal in the minds of the people, then Yu Zidi would gain the moral high ground.

Every accusation.

Every decree.

Every public condemnation.

Was merely another weapon in the battle for the throne.

A weapon without bloodshed.

Yet one that could be just as dangerous.

While Yu Zidi's faction continued doing everything in its power to smear Yu Feiyan's reputation, something unexpected happened.

Yu Feiyan did nothing.

No public response or clarification.

No attempt to defend herself before the people.

Of course, many understood that such efforts would likely be meaningless anyway.

Once public opinion had been stirred to such a degree, a few explanations would not be enough to reverse it.

Still, people had expected something.

At the very least, they expected retaliation.

Yet none came.

Even more surprisingly, Yu Feiyan did not immediately move against Yu Zidi.

This left countless people confused.

After all, from the perspective of the outside world, Yu Feiyan now possessed overwhelming advantages.

Many believed that if she truly wished to do so, she could easily defeat Yu Zidi and seize the throne for herself.

At least, that was what most people believed.

Yet Yu Feiyan remained unusually quiet.

It was almost as if she were waiting for something or perhaps wary of something.

This strange silence only made people increasingly uneasy.

Even Yu Zidi's supporters felt somewhat unsettled.

After all, an enemy who openly attacked was far easier to deal with than an enemy who remained hidden.

Days passed.

Then weeks.

The atmosphere throughout the empire became increasingly tense.

Everyone knew that the final confrontation was approaching.

Yet neither side made any significant move.

The calm before the storm stretched on endlessly.

Many cultivators even began speculating whether both sides were secretly gathering strength for a decisive battle.

Others wondered if some unseen force was influencing the situation from the shadows.

Rumors appeared every day with theories emerging one after another.

As time passed, the tension only continued to build.

Eventually...

It reached its peak.

And then—

Nothing happened.

Several more weeks passed.

The anticipated war never came.

The empire remained trapped in a strange state of uncertainty.

Until one day.

A decree suddenly emerged from the Imperial Capital.

After consultation with the ministers, military officials, and representatives of the common people—

The next Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire would be Yu Zidi!