Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! - Chapter 433 A Crippled Dragon Stands Before the Throne
Chapter 433 A Crippled Dragon Stands Before the Throne
The moment the name was spoken, the Grand Ceremonial Hall fell into a strange, heavy silence.
Countless gazes converged at once on Bai Zihan.
Some eyes burned with admiration. Others carried unconcealed pity.
A few were filled with thinly veiled disgust. Yet beneath it-lurking at the deepest layer-was fear.
Even if everyone knew that Bai Zihan was crippled now, that fact alone could not erase the images burned into their memories.
The battlefield.
The rain of blood.
The calm, almost indifferent expression as enemies were cut down one after another.
Many present had witnessed it personally.
Others had only heard the reports.
But whether seen or heard, the effect was similar.
A scar had been carved into their hearts.
Those who once believed they could compete with Bai Zihan-those who had secretly measured themselves against him-had long since abandoned such thoughts.
The memory of Bai Zihan slaughtering enemies they themselves could not even face still lingered vividly.
Crippled or not-
That fear wouldn’t vanish overnight.
Anyway, after the Immortal Realm experts and the leaders of every
organization, it was Bai Zihan who was rewarded before many of the Great Ascension Realm elders.
By merit alone, those who stood at the top should have been Immortal Realm experts, followed by Great Ascension Realm powerhouses.
And yet-
Bai Zihan was called right after them.
Highest among them.
Some instinctively recalled the battles.
The desperate moments when even Great Ascension Realm cultivators had been forced back.
The turning points-again and again-where the situation had shifted because of one person.
Bai Zihan!
He had single-handedly killed hundreds of Grade-9 Demonic Beasts-more than anyone else and even slain several Great Ascension Realm Demonic Cultivators.
When they thought of it that way…
No one could deny it.
Regardless of cultivation.
Bai Zihan had contributed more than anyone else below the Immortal Realm.
He deserved this place.
Bai Zihan stood calmly as the attention settled upon him.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.
His pace was calm and steady.
Each step echoed clearly in the vast hall, as if striking against the hearts of those watching.
He neither lowered his head nor deliberately raised it-his posture was natural and composed, carrying neither humility nor arrogance.
It was this very calmness that unsettled people the most.
When Bai Zihan stopped before the imperial dais, the Emperor looked at him directly.
For a brief moment, silence reigned.
Bai Zihan was probing the Emperor without concern for whether it might be seen as disrespectful.
The Emperor was the same.
He looked at Bai Zihan as if observing-perhaps even assessing-him.
Then-
A rare smile appeared on the Emperor’s face.
“Bai Zihan,” the Emperor said slowly, his tone carrying clear approval, “you killed several Demonic Beasts ranging from Grade-10 to Grade-8, and slew several Great Ascension Realm and Void Refinement Demonic Cultivators. Truly, a dragon among men!”
“To achieve such contributions at your age,” the Emperor continued, “is something unheard of in the history of the Desolate Heaven Empire.”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“Even among past generations, none could compare.”
Praise.
Open and undisguised.
Coming from the Emperor himself.
Then, without warning, the Emperor shifted the topic.
“However,” he said calmly, “I have heard some rumors. I do not know whether
they are true or not.”
The hall stiffened.
Many people instinctively held their breath.
“The rumors,” the Emperor continued, his eyes fixed on Bai Zihan, “say that you
are crippled?”
Shock flashed across countless faces.
Not because of the topic itself-
But because only the Emperor could dare to ask such a sensitive question so
openly.
Even if it was the Emperor, Bai Zihan was from the Bai Clan, and offending the
Bai Clan was not good for the Imperial Family.
If it were anyone else, they would have been torn apart by Bai Tianheng before the words even left their mouths.
But that did not mean Bai Tianheng and the others were not furious.
They were simply waiting patiently to see why the Emperor would ask
something like this.
All eyes turned to Bai Zihan.
Bai Zihan did not react immediately.
Then, he answered calmly.
“That is what the doctors said,” he replied. “That I can no longer cultivate”
No embellishment.
No denial.
A straightforward admission.
The hall stirred.
The Emperor stared at him for a moment longer, then slowly shook his head.
“What a pity,” the Emperor said, his tone carrying genuine regret. “If not for
this… you might have stood at the very peak of this world!”
Before anyone else could react-
Bai Zihan spoke again.
“That’s for sure!”
The words were shameless. Confident-perhaps arrogant.
Yet-
No one could refute them.
Not a single person in the hall. Because it was the truth.
All they could do was feel a strange sense of relief.
Relief that such a monster had been crippled.
The Emperor paused-then laughed softly.
“Haha, good!” he said. “At least you have not lost your heart!”
The Emperor’s laughter faded, and the hall gradually quieted once more.
Then, his expression turned serious.
“If you do not mind,” the Emperor said slowly, his gaze steady, “can you tell this Emperor how it happened?”
The question was calm.
Yet the weight behind it was immense.
All eyes turned toward Bai Zihan again.
Bai Zihan did not hesitate this time either.
He briefly explained the attack on the Bai Clan’s estate and how his maid had been taken.
He explained that he was only informed after the war with the Demonic Forces had ended.
The hall stirred.
He then stated that he had gone after the Demonic Cultivators and fought Mo
Zun.
“That is how it happened!”
Finally, everyone understood how Bai Zihan had become crippled.
It was not an internal problem.
Nor was it a disease, as many had assumed.
It was because he tried to save his personal maid.
Many people felt their hearts tighten.
Some shook their heads inwardly.
Too reckless and impulsive.
To seek out Mo Zun directly-even if Bai Zihan had once been a monster among monsters-such a decision bordered on madness.
A few could not help but think that he deserved it.
Yet-
Others felt something different.
Admiration and Respect.
Because Bai Zihan had not done it for glory.
He had done it for someone under his protection.
To face the leader of the Demonic Cultivators without hesitation, knowing the risks-
That kind of resolve was rare.
And many silently realized something else.
Given who Mo Zun was-
Given his cultivation and methods-
For Bai Zihan to have survived at all…
Becoming crippled might have been the best possible outcome.
If it were anyone else-
They would not even have left a corpse behind.
The Emperor remained silent for a long moment.
Then his expression grew solemn.
“Your Bai Clan,” he said slowly, “has made sacrifices.”
His voice carried a weight that pressed down on the hall.
“Our Empire is safe because of heroes like you.”
A faint killing intent seeped into his words.
“Rest assured,” the Emperor said firmly, “this matter will not end here.”
“The Demonic Cultivators will pay for what they have done!”
The hall was silent.
“Anyway, it is time to reward you for your hard work!”
With a wave of his hand, imperial attendants stepped forward.
Treasures appeared one after another, each emitting a faint but profound aura.
Weapons.
Protective artifacts.
Rare spiritual materials.
Yet among them, one item drew everyone’s attention.
A jade box floated forward.
The moment it opened, a pure, life-giving fragrance spread through the hall.
“A Top Grade-7 Healing Pill,” the Emperor said.
Gasps echoed.
Top Grade-7!
It was extremely rare and precious in the Desolate Heaven Empire. Only the Pill King-the greatest alchemist of the Desolate Heaven Empire-could refine such
a pill.
The Emperor’s expression softened slightly.
“Something like meridian being destroyed cannot be cured by a Grade-7 pill,” he said honestly.
“But this pill can save your life at a critical moment.”
Bai Zihan accepted the jade box, his expression unchanged.
“This junior thanks the Emperor,” he said calmly.
Bai Zihan had just turned slightly, preparing to withdraw-
“Wait!”
The Emperor spoke.
The Emperor raised his hand, his gaze fixed on Bai Zihan once more.
Unlike before, there was now a hint of something deeper in his eyes-
calculation mixed with intent.
“This Emperor has something more,” he said slowly, “that I wish to bestow upon
you.”
The hall stirred again.
More?
After a Top Grade-7 Healing Pill?
Even the Bai Clan elders frowned slightly, uncertain of where this was going.
Then the Emperor spoke a name.
“Yu Feiyan!”
The moment the name was uttered, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
From the side of the hall, footsteps approached-light, graceful, almost
soundless.
A young woman stepped forward.
She wore simple palace robes, elegant but not extravagant. Her figure was slender, her movements fluid, each step perfectly measured.
Her face was beautiful-undeniably so-but not the aggressive, dazzling beauty
that overwhelmed at first glance.
Instead, it was the kind that grew more captivating the longer one looked.
Eyes like autumn water.
Lips curved gently, neither smiling nor cold.
Yet the moment she appeared, many cultivators felt an inexplicable discomfort.
As if something about her did not quite align.
At that instant-
A translucent screen abruptly appeared before Bai Zihan’s eyes.
His pupils shrank.
[Heaven Chosen Detected!]
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com
