Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 387 A Signal in the Sky, A Retreat in Shame
Previously on Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!...
The battered defensive lines of the Desolate Heaven Empire finally found a moment to strike back as fresh reinforcements arrived on the scene.
The Li Clan.
The Zhao Clan.
Alongside them were various sects and clans that had been on the verge of collapse under the sudden, violent onslaught of the Demonic Cultivators.
These new troops poured into the fray, their Qi brimming and their stamina untouched. Their presence allowed the exhausted warriors on the front lines to finally catch their breath.
To be clear, this wasn't a total reversal of fortune or a decisive counter-offensive.
The Desolate Heaven Empire was still trapped in a dual struggle against both Demonic Beasts and Demonic Cultivators.
The arrival of the reserve units simply ensured that the Demonic Cultivators no longer maintained a crushing dominance over the field.
Everything had deviated from the initial strategy.
The Reserve Units were supposed to lie in wait, ready to ambush the Demonic Cultivators once they showed their hand.
That objective had failed utterly.
The Demonic Cultivators had evaded all surveillance.
They had successfully infiltrated the ranks of the army itself.
They were the ones who had seized the initiative.
It was now agonizingly obvious—their top-secret plans had been compromised.
Nevertheless, by deploying the Reserve Units at their peak strength, the Empire managed to bring stability back to the chaotic lines.
The theater of war once more devolved into a grueling, high-tension stalemate.
With one notable exception.
In Bai Zihan's sector, the momentum shifted violently.
Five Elders of the Void Refinement Realm descended from the heavens, their heavy landing causing the very ground to spiderweb beneath their feet.
Their auras radiated outward, steady and overwhelming.
"Young Master," one Elder queried, his voice laced with unmistakable anxiety,
"Are you unharmed?"
Bai Zihan let out a slow breath and gave a firm nod.
"I am fine!"
The Elders traded meaningful looks.
They were well aware.
Every soul on this flank understood the truth.
The reason the Bai Clan had sustained so few casualties—despite facing a massive concentration of Demonic Cultivators—was the man standing before them.
Bai Zihan had held back ten Void Refinement Realm Demonic Cultivators entirely on his own.
Ten of them.
Had even a few of those enemies broken past him, the Bai Clan’s death toll would have been as catastrophic as that of the Li and Zhao Clans.
And yet, here they stood.
While Bai Zihan hadn't managed to slay them all yet, he had never been pushed to the brink of defeat either.
In truth, it was the Demonic Cultivators who were covered in grievous wounds from his counterattacks.
Even without help, it was unlikely Bai Zihan would have fallen.
And now—
Supported by five Void Refinement Realm Elders—
The Demonic Cultivators had no hope of taking his life.
Across the clearing, the Demonic Cultivators began to curse loudly.
"Curse it...!"
"This is not how the plan was supposed to unfold!"
Several Demonic Elders spat out mouthfuls of blood, their gazes full of malice as they stared at the Bai Clan's ranks.
Not only had their infiltration failed—
The specialized unit sent to annihilate the Bai Clan had been utterly thwarted.
That was their most stinging defeat.
Their battle formations were already beginning to crumble.
At that moment, the Bai Clan Elders moved forward.
"Young Master," one Elder spoke with composure, his eyes locked onto their foes,
"We shall provide you with support."
"Very well!"
Bai Zihan gave his consent. He was tired of wasting his energy on these Demonic Cultivators; he was eager to get back to harvesting System Points.
The second Bai Zihan agreed, the atmosphere of the battlefield transformed.
Slash! Slash!
Bai Zihan struck first.
His form became a blur as his blade sliced through the thick demonic qi, every movement sharp, calculated, and lethal.
The sheer force of his sword seemed to cleave through the air itself, forcing the Demonic Cultivators to stumble backward.
Following his lead, the five Void Refinement Realm Elders advanced with seamless teamwork.
Boom!
The palm strike of one Elder caved in a Demonic Cultivator's chest, crushing bone and launching the body into the distance.
Another Elder's blade pierced through the murky demonic qi, pinning a screaming foe to the earth before delivering a final, cold blow. Despite having the advantage in numbers, the Demonic Cultivators were being driven back.
The weight of it was sinking in.
The crushing pressure.
The loss of balance.
Bai Zihan remained the eye of the storm.
With every swing of his blade, he carved out massive, undeniable gaps in their defense.
And the Bai Elders exploited every single one.
Whenever Bai Zihan caused an enemy to falter or lose their footing—
An Elder was there to strike.
Whenever Bai Zihan broke through their guard—
An Elder followed up with a killing blow.
Still, the enemy was not ready to perish without a fight.
"Maintain the formation!"
"Assume defensive positions!"
They fought desperately to survive.
Layers of Demonic Qi merged together, reinforcing their collective shield.
They had stopped gaining ground, but they hadn't collapsed just yet.
For a brief interval—
The struggle reached a violent impasse.
Then—
BOOOOM!!
A thunderous explosion rocked the heavens.
A burst of dark light erupted above the field, manifesting as a colossal demonic sigil that momentarily eclipsed the clouds.
The eyes of the Demonic Cultivators narrowed.
"...The signal."
"Withdraw!"
There was no hesitation.
Their formation pivoted instantly from offense to a full retreat.
Even the ten Void Refinement Realm Demonic Elders engaged with Bai Zihan turned away instantly, breaking contact to flee toward the rear. Now that the order to retreat had been issued, they had zero desire to remain in the presence of this monster.
However, a cold light flickered in Bai Zihan's eyes.
"You believe you can simply walk away?"
He lunged.
His speed was greater than ever before.
"Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword!"
One Demonic Elder barely had time to turn his head—
SLASH!
His head was severed, and his Demonic Qi dissipated in a violent burst as his corpse hit the ground.
Without stopping, Bai Zihan blurred and reappeared in front of another Elder.
The sword drove straight through the Demonic Elder's throat, destroying his Dantian and core in a heartbeat.
Two Void Refinement Realm Demonic Elders were slain before they could escape.
The rest of the Demonic Cultivators did not pause.
They had clearly decided to sacrifice anyone who couldn't keep pace.
They didn't spare a single glance backward, which allowed the majority to pull away safely while Bai Zihan was occupied with the two Elders. One might assume the same slaughter occurred elsewhere—that the Demonic Cultivators were being decimated during their flight. However, the reality was quite different.
Most were able to retreat with relative ease because the forces of the Desolate Heaven Empire were pinned down.
They were still locked in combat with the Demonic Beasts.
Consequently, the Demonic Cultivators managed to slip away with few losses across the broader battlefield—
Except for the area held by the Bai Clan.
In that sector, the Demonic Beasts had been mostly eradicated, and with the fresh reinforcements, the Bai Clan was able to rain destruction upon the fleeing Demonic Cultivators.
But the battle didn't cease just because the Cultivators had fled.
The threat of the Demonic Beasts remained.
Now, however, with the arrival of the reserve troops, the number of human cultivators far outweighed the beasts.
The Demonic Beasts began to take heavy casualties.
Bai Zihan entered a frenzied state once more, leaping forward to slaughter Grade-9 Demonic Beasts one after another.
Roars of agony filled the air as the massive creatures collapsed.
Eventually, even the Demonic Beasts were forced to retreat after suffering losses they could no longer endure.
Once again, the Desolate Heaven Empire emerged with a total victory.