Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 660 Extorting Four Heaven-Grade Artifacts!

The four Heaven-Grade Artifacts floated quietly before Bai Zihan.

With a casual wave of his sleeve, all four treasures disappeared into his storage ring.

Only then did a satisfied smile appear on his face.

"See?"

Bai Zihan clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the two imperial delegations.

"If you were going to hand them over anyway, you should have done so from the beginning."

He sighed as though he were deeply disappointed in them.

"But no… You insisted on getting yourselves beaten first."

He shook his head repeatedly.

"Tell me. Was it worth it?"

The members of the Tianyu Empire and Vermillion Pill Empire delegations almost coughed up blood.

Bai Zihan stood there lecturing them as though they had brought everything upon themselves.

Bai Zihan continued in a tone resembling that of an elder teaching juniors.

"You people are still too impulsive. When encountering problems, you should learn to resolve them peacefully."

"Violence isn't the answer."

Hearing those words, countless people twitched involuntarily.

Violence wasn't the answer?

Who was the one who had ordered, 'Beat them!' only moments ago?

Yet not a single person dared point that out.

After all, the person speaking was Bai Zihan.

After lecturing them for quite some time, Bai Zihan finally nodded in satisfaction.

"Fortunately, this young master has always been broad-minded and kind-hearted. I never like holding grudges."

He generously waved his hand.

"Since you've sincerely compensated me, I'll graciously forget everything that happened today."

The corners of Elder Fu's mouth twitched violently.

Forget?

From beginning to end, they had been the ones beaten black and blue.

Now Bai Zihan was acting as though he were the victim showing mercy.

Before Elder Fu could say anything, Bai Zihan suddenly smiled warmly.

"Since we're all heading to the Imperial Palace anyway, why don't we travel together? We can chat along the way and build friendships."

The smiles on Elder Fu and the white-haired elder instantly froze.

The two of them almost instinctively took a step backward.

"No need!"

Elder Fu rejected the proposal without the slightest hesitation.

"Our Tianyu Empire delegation still has other matters to attend to. We'll head to the palace ourselves."

The white-haired elder nodded repeatedly.

"The Vermillion Pill Empire is the same. We won't trouble Clan Leader Bai."

The speed of their refusal left everyone speechless.

It was as though they feared Bai Zihan would suddenly change his mind and demand another Heaven-Grade Artifact if they stayed another moment.

Without waiting for Bai Zihan's reply, Elder Fu immediately cupped his fists.

"We'll take our leave!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly led the Tianyu Empire delegation away.

The white-haired elder moved even faster.

Almost as though fleeing, he led the Vermillion Pill Empire experts in the opposite direction.

In the blink of an eye, both imperial delegations had disappeared from the street.

The surrounding spectators watched their retreating figures with peculiar expressions.

Who would have imagined...

Two mighty imperial delegations would one day flee from someone as though avoiding a plague.

Bai Zihan watched them leave before clicking his tongue in disappointment.

"What a pity. I thought we could become great friends."

The Captain of the Imperial Guards silently complained inwardly.

(Friends? What kind of friends extort Heaven-Grade Artifacts?)

Fortunately, those two delegations had escaped quickly enough.

Otherwise, who knew what excuse Bai Zihan would come up with next?

Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, the Captain stepped forward and respectfully cupped his fists.

"Clan Leader Bai. The coronation ceremony is about to begin. I ask that you make your way to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible."

Although his tone remained respectful, there was a trace of urgency hidden within it.

He truly hoped Bai Zihan would head straight to the palace.

If he continued wandering through the capital…

The Captain genuinely feared that the remaining imperial delegations might also become victims of Bai Zihan's "compensation."

Bai Zihan nodded casually.

"Very well! This young master was planning to head there anyway."

With that, he waved his hand.

"Let's go!"

Surrounded by Bai Ren and the Bai Clan elders, Bai Zihan leisurely walked toward the Imperial Palace, leaving behind a street full of stunned spectators who would likely remember today's absurd spectacle for the rest of their lives.

***

At the Imperial Palace!

The Imperial Palace had long since been decorated with expensive decor.

Dragon carvings and phoenix sculptures adorned every hall, radiating imperial majesty.

Countless palace guards stood motionless on either side of the grand avenue leading toward the ceremonial plaza.

Their expressions were solemn.

Today, the Desolate Heaven Empire would welcome its new Emperor.

Naturally, this was an event that attracted countless powerful factions.

The enormous ceremonial plaza was already bustling with guests.

Delegations from every major empire, powerful clans, prestigious sects, and renowned merchant associations had already begun taking their seats.

Everywhere one looked...

Powerful auras intertwined throughout the palace grounds.

Many experts quietly observed the newcomers while secretly evaluating the strength of every faction present.

From time to time, another delegation would arrive through the palace gates.

Each arrival drew the attention of everyone nearby.

"They're from the Azure Cloud Empire."

"The representatives of the Heaven Sword Sect have also arrived."

Quiet discussions spread throughout the plaza.

However, before long, another commotion arose near the palace entrance.

"The Tianyu Empire has arrived!"

"The Vermillion Pill Empire is here as well!"

Many people immediately turned toward the entrance.

Two imperial delegations slowly walked into the palace.

The powerful auras of numerous Immortal Ascension Realm and Earth Immortal Realm experts spread throughout the surroundings.

Their arrival immediately attracted countless gazes.

However, after only a brief glance, many people's expressions became rather strange.

Although the two delegations tried their best to maintain their dignity, their faces were extremely gloomy.

It was as though every single one of them had just swallowed an entire basket of sour apples.

Not only that, several experts still had swollen cheeks.

Others had black eyes.

Some even walked with a noticeable limp despite trying to conceal it.

Although they had already consumed healing pills, the injuries inflicted by the Bai Clan were not something that could disappear completely within such a short period of time.

The sharp-eyed experts present noticed everything.

"..."

A brief silence followed.

Then someone quietly laughed.

"Hahaha... Brother Chen, what happened to your face?"

A cultivator from another empire looked at Chen Muyang with obvious amusement.

"Weren't you perfectly fine when you entered the capital a few days ago?"

Another elder smiled.

"Could it be that the Tianyu Empire encountered some terrifying demonic beast outside the city?"

Someone immediately shook his head.

"What kind of demonic beast could beat an entire imperial delegation into this state?"

The surrounding guests chuckled.

Many of them deliberately lowered their voices yet cultivators at their level naturally heard every single word.

Chen Muyang's face darkened even further.

His fists clenched tightly.

If not for the Imperial Palace being the venue of today's ceremony, he would already have exploded in anger.

The white-haired elder from the Vermillion Pill Empire was no better.

His expression remained gloomy throughout.

Every time someone glanced toward the Heaven-Grade defensive artifact that had once hung from his waist, his heart began bleeding once again.

The atmosphere around the two delegations was incomparably oppressive.

No one within either group had any intention of speaking.

Before the discussions could continue much longer, another announcement rang through the palace.

"The Bai Clan has arrived!"

The entire plaza suddenly fell silent.

Countless heads immediately turned toward the entrance.

Compared to the arrival of the two imperial delegations, the Bai Clan's appearance caused an even greater stir.

Bai Zihan slowly walked through the palace gates with his hands clasped behind his back.

Behind him followed Bai Ren and the Bai Clan elders.

Each step they took seemed calm and unhurried.

Yet the invisible pressure they radiated caused many experts to unconsciously become serious, especially Bai Ren.

Although he completely restrained his aura, no one dared underestimate him.

After all, the recent rumors surrounding the Bai Clan had spread throughout the entire Eastern Region.

Golden Immortal Realm experts!

Whether true or false, no one was willing to gamble their lives finding out.

Many powerful experts immediately rose to greet them.

"Greetings, Clan Leader Bai."

"Clan Leader Bai, it has been a long time."

"Hahaha! Congratulations on the Bai Clan's recent prosperity."

One after another, Clan leaders and sect masters took the initiative to greet Bai Zihan.

Even other Empire delegations showed remarkable courtesy.

None of them dared display the slightest arrogance.

After all, the Bai Clan's current influence was no longer what it had once been.

Their terrifying military strength alone was already enough to make countless factions think twice.

More importantly, they also possessed the support of the Mu Clan.

Not far away, Mu Qingyuan and the Mu Clan elders had already arrived.

The Mu Clan's current reputation had likewise reached unprecedented heights.

Since producing a Grade Seven Grandmaster Alchemist, their influence had expanded dramatically throughout the Eastern Region.

Countless factions had attempted to establish closer ties with them over the past several months.

Some wished to purchase pills, others hoped to form alliances.

Many even offered astonishing prices simply to secure future cooperation.

Yet, no matter who came.

No matter what conditions they offered.

Mu Qingyuan always gave the same answer.

"If it concerns cooperation or any significant transaction, discuss it with the Bai Clan."

Those simple words had shocked countless powerful factions.

Everyone understood their meaning.

Despite the Mu Clan's unprecedented prestige...

Despite now possessing a Grade Seven Grandmaster Alchemist...

The Mu Clan still willingly placed the Bai Clan first.

They were openly acknowledging the Bai Clan's position.

No one present believed Mu Qingyuan had been forced into such a decision.

If anything, it only demonstrated just how deep the relationship between the two clans had become.

As Bai Zihan entered the ceremonial plaza, countless gazes followed him.

Some were filled with admiration.

Some with fear.

Others with undisguised curiosity.

Yet among the Tianyu Empire and Vermillion Pill Empire delegations, the expressions on everyone's faces became incomparably ugly.

Especially after seeing Bai Zihan calmly accepting greetings from every direction as though nothing had happened earlier.

The corners of Chen Muyang's eyes twitched violently.

He silently swore to himself.

(Enjoy your arrogance while you still can...)

(Once the coronation ends...)

(Everything will change!)