Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 582 Can the Weak Stand Together?

"Mmm… Looks like they are really going at it."

Bai Zihan muttered with interest as he read the report from Kong Zhanhong.

Assassinations of princes and princesses had already begun from the very first day after the Emperor's funeral.

They didn't wait to exert pressure across various clans and sects in order to gather forces for the battle for the throne.

The most prominent information was about the direct clash between Yu Longxuan and Yu Wenzhao.

It contained all the details leading up to their confrontation.

Yu Wenzhao had attempted a surprise attack to kill the Seventh Prince, but the Crimson Thunder Palace had been prepared.

In the end, both sides—each with three Immortal Realm cultivators—clashed.

Initially, their strength was evenly matched, but because the Third Prince's Immortal Realm cultivators had already participated in a previous battle, they were at a slight disadvantage.

After an hour-long fight, the Third Prince and the Heaven Suppression Pavilion managed to retreat, though one of their Immortal Realm cultivators was heavily injured.

It seemed that not only had the Third Prince failed, but he had also suffered a significant loss. If those injuries weren't healed quickly, his faction would struggle to compete with the others.

Still, the news that interested Bai Zihan the most was about Nie Fengzhuo.

It seemed that he was forming some kind of alliance to resist the chaos of the battle for the throne.

After all, for smaller clans, it was extremely difficult to refuse when princes and princesses demanded their allegiance.

Unlike the Bai Clan, which no one dared to offend.

Thus, forming an alliance was indeed a good idea—though Bai Zihan doubted whether it could truly deter the imperial contenders.

After all, even if ants gathered together, they were still ants. Unless several First-Rate Clans joined, the effect of such an alliance would be minimal.

At best, it would be an annoyance for the Princes and Princess but not something they can't deal with.

At worst, it would just become a convenient target.

Just then—

A servant stepped in and bowed respectfully.

"Clan Leader, someone has come requesting an audience."

Bai Zihan's eyes flickered slightly.

If it were insignificant, it wouldn't have been reported.

That meant the visitor either had status… or purpose.

"Let them in."

"Understood!"

Moments later, Bai Zihan stepped into the reception hall.

And there, a middle-aged man stood waiting.

Patriarch Xue!

The moment he saw Bai Zihan, his eyes lit up.

He immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists.

"Clan Leader Bai!"

His tone was respectful and polite, with even a hint of subservience.

But there was also excitement.

After all, he had come prepared to be rejected.

He had thought he might not even get to see Bai Zihan before being turned away.

The Bai Clan's prestige was simply too high.

Even top clans with Immortal Realm experts couldn't always secure an audience with Bai Zihan.

And yet, here he was. That alone meant half his objective was already accomplished.

The rest would depend on his words.

Bai Zihan returned the greeting with a slight nod.

"Patriarch Xue."

Calm and polite, without arrogance.

That alone caused a ripple in Patriarch Xue's heart.

This was completely different from what he expected.

He had expected indifference… or even disdain.

For a brief moment, his confidence rose.

Bai Zihan gestured lightly.

"Please, sit."

"Thank you!"

As for why he was here, it was simple.

To invite the Bai Clan into the alliance.

A fragile gathering of clans who wished to avoid being dragged into the brutal struggle for the throne.

But Patriarch Xue was not naive.

He knew very well that such an alliance, in its current form, was nothing more than a loose collection of fearful forces.

If the princes and princesses truly decided to act, they could crush them without much effort.

That had already been demonstrated by the Seventh Prince. Fortunately, due to Nie Fengzhuo, the Xue Clan had avoided being dragged in.

He was also aware that, after clashing with the Third Prince, the Seventh Prince would not target the Xue Clan for a short period of time.

But after that… who knew?

That was why they needed a pillar.

A true powerhouse!

Someone whose mere presence could make even the imperial contenders hesitate.

And in the entire empire, there were only a few who fit that role.

The Bai Clan was one of them.

No—

Not just one of them.

The best choice!

Not only because of their overwhelming strength and prestige, but also because of their stance.

They had shown no intention of participating in the battle for the throne.

Although the Li Clan and Zhao Clan appeared neutral as well, from what he knew, there was a high chance they were secretly supporting someone.

But the Bai Clan was different.

They truly supported no one.

Otherwise, the princes and princesses would have already announced it.

After all, with the Bai Clan backing them, no one could stand in their way.

And no clan or sect would dare oppose them.

Moreover, the Bai Clan had nothing to gain from supporting anyone. They were already at the peak of the empire.

If the Bai Clan stood at the center of the alliance, then this fragile structure would instantly transform—

From scattered sand…

Into something unmovable.

That was his goal.

That was the reason he had come here.

"Clan Leader Bai… I won't go around in circles."

His tone was steady, respectful, yet firm.

"I came here to request the Bai Clan's support. I hope that you can join the Neutral Alliance that was established not long ago."

Bai Zihan listened without much change in his expression.

He had already anticipated something like this.

"It is an alliance formed by clans who wish to remain uninvolved in the battle for the throne."

Patriarch Xue's voice grew slightly heavier.

"You already know the situation. Refusal is no longer an option for most of us. If we don't choose… we will be forced to choose."

He lifted his head slightly.

"But most of us do not wish to walk down this path of destruction. So we formed an alliance in hopes of avoiding this conflict."

He paused, then continued more directly.

"But I will not hide it."

His eyes met Bai Zihan's.

"This alliance, as it stands, is weak. It cannot deter the princes, nor can it resist them."

A bitter truth.

"That is why… I ask Clan Leader Bai to join us. Your name alone would act as a deterrent."

Silence lingered.

Then Patriarch Xue continued more candidly.

"To be frank—this will not benefit the Bai Clan much. No matter how we phrase it, the Bai Clan will gain very little."

He did not embellish it nor did he attempt to disguise it.

The truth was simple—

The Bai Clan would be perfectly fine without them.

And there was nothing they possessed that could truly interest the Bai Clan.

Still, he chose honesty over making some lies.

"I know this request is presumptuous."

A faint, self-aware smile appeared.

"And I know what we are asking for is essentially your protection… without offering equal return."

"But still, I came. For the sake of those clans who do not wish to be crushed in this chaos."

The hall fell silent again.

Bai Zihan had not moved the entire time.

His gaze lingered on Patriarch Xue.

There was no flattery.

No false promises.

Only honesty.

(He knows his place…)

Bai Zihan thought.

If Patriarch Xue had tried to exaggerate benefits or pretend this was advantageous to the Bai Clan, he would have already lost interest.

After all, there was nothing this alliance could truly offer the Bai Clan.

"Clan Leader Bai, what are your thoughts?"

Patriarch Xue asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Bai Zihan remained silent for a moment.

Then—

"Patriarch Xue… is this your personal decision, or the alliance's decision?"

Patriarch Xue immediately responded.

"Although I have not discussed this with the others, if it is the Bai Clan, no one would reject it!"

After all, who would dare refuse if the Bai Clan joined?

…though—

A certain figure did appear in his mind.

Nie Fengzhuo.

There was a chance he might object.

But for the greater good, Patriarch Xue could only hope he would set aside personal grievances and cooperate.

After all, for their alliance to work, the Bai Clan help was indispensable."

So, even if the Nie Clan has a bad relationship with the Bai Clan, he hopes that they don't object.

Bai Zihan's gaze lowered slightly, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.

(Nie Fengzhuo!)

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

(Forget the grudge?)

Impossible!

In his eyes, someone like Nie Fengzhuo was not the type to simply let things go.

Heaven Chosen were, by nature, proud and unyielding.

Once they set their sights on something—whether it be power, status… or a person—they would not easily give up.

On the contrary, failure would only deepen that obsession.

After all, how could a Heaven Chosen accept defeat so easily?

Letting go?

That was something ordinary people did, not them.

Since he had failed once, it was far more likely that Nie Fengzhuo was already thinking of ways to overturn that loss.

Ways to stand above Bai Xueqing.

Ways to reclaim what he believed should have been his.

And now, forming an alliance with the same clan that humiliated him?

Nie Fengzhuo would be the first one to reject it.