Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 444 Grade-8 Pill?!

The Bai Clan Estate lay in utter silence.

The elders scattered with swift precision, with some hurrying to bolster the protective arrays, while others dispatched discreet communications via jade slips.

Following the attempt on Bai Zihan's life, heightened caution among them was entirely expected.

Bai Zihan guided Xi Yu to a private spot where they could converse undisturbed.

Xi Yu trailed after him without a moment's pause.

The impressive splendor of the Bai Clan's estate failed to impress her; in fact, her expression suggested a subtle disdain for it.

He brought her to a hidden courtyard nestled far inside the grounds.

In its midst rose a modest pavilion, simple in design but refined in charm.

Soon enough, attendants glided in quietly, placing spirit tea that wafted a gentle, soothing aroma.

They settled opposite one another.

For a while—

No words passed between them.

Vapor rose slowly from the delicate porcelain cups.

The soft hum of nocturnal bugs echoed from afar.

Xi Yu raised her cup, sipped delicately, and replaced it with careful grace.

At that point, Bai Zihan finally broke the quiet.

"Now," he stated evenly, his gaze fixed firmly on hers, "who are you?"

Xi Yu held his stare without a blink.

Her eyes bore into him with a critical intensity, like she was appraising his worth.

"You can call me Xi Yu," she replied eventually. "That name is genuine."

Bai Zihan searched his memory for any notable figure by that name but drew a blank. Maybe it was time to update his awareness of influential powerhouses.

"And your purpose?"

Bai Zihan inquired steadily.

Xi Yu offered no response.

Her look intensified instead.

It shifted from relaxed and watchful to intensely probing, as if

she aimed to peer past his flesh, his skeleton, straight into his essence.

"Before that," she responded coolly, "answer one thing for me first."

Bai Zihan arched a brow just a touch.

"Are you really crippled?"

Xi Yu posed the question as though it held utmost significance.

Bai Zihan let out a light laugh.

He picked up his teacup, savored a leisurely sip, and placed it back down.

"You can judge that yourself," he answered.

Xi Yu's eyes tightened.

Bai Zihan went on.

"Besides," he appended, "even if I told you yes—or no—would you truly believe me?" Xi Yu didn't refute it.

She wouldn't.

Utterances from a person like him carried no weight—at least not based on her understanding.

She reclined a bit, her fingers tapping gently on the table's edge.

"From what I can tell," Xi Yu uttered deliberately, "your meridians are indeed shattered. There's no mistaking that."

Her eyes darted momentarily to his dantian.

Bai Zihan stayed quiet.

"But," she pressed on, her stare locking with his, "your demeanor contradicts it."

She examined him without restraint now.

His serene poise.

The subtle haughtiness that showed no effort to conceal itself.

The total lack of hopelessness.

"I've seen many geniuses fall," Xi Yu stated bluntly. "Some lose everything—their

pride, their confidence. They become empty shells."

"Some drown in self-loathing and resentment, wallowing in self-pity."

"Others refuse to accept reality. They cling to delusion, insisting they are still

who they once were."

She dropped her hand.

"You are none of them!"

Bai Zihan matched the descriptions she'd heard—overbearing, as though events were playing out precisely as anticipated.

No trace of alarm showed, not even amid the near-fatal assassination.

Still, it didn't appear he was fooling himself into thinking he remained the old Bai Zihan.

He acknowledged his crippled state, at least on the surface. No rejection, unlike the majority who couldn't face such harsh truth.

Yet no fallen genius carried on with such boldness—not after toppling from the heights.

Bai Zihan offered a subtle smile.

"And?"

Xi Yu let out a sigh.

She couldn't grasp the sort of individual he truly was—someone beyond even her full comprehension.

As if resigning to defeat, she appeared to abandon any hope of piercing Bai Zihan's authentic nature.

"Anyway, it looks like you really are crippled."

Bai Zihan paid attention, yet puzzled over why his affliction tied into her objective.

"I am on a mission given by our Saintess."

(Saintess?)

Bai Zihan mulled over the term intently. Not due to its absence in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Most holy sects dubbed their heirs Saint or Saintess.

Even Demonic Cultivators had their own Saints and Saintesses, destined to rise as sect masters—or rulers of the whole demonic path.

But for a Saintess—a younger member—to direct a powerhouse like Xi Yu...

That implied the group supporting her held an immeasurable foundation.

Xi Yu's sleeve fluttered.

A petite jade bottle materialized in her grasp and was set softly on the stone table separating them.

Bai Zihan's gaze wavered.

Xi Yu slid the bottle toward him.

"A gift," she declared tonelessly.

Bai Zihan held off from taking it right away.

He inspected the jade bottle first.

Crystal-clear. Appearing invitingly warm. Subtle golden runes drifted under its skin like languid pulses.

Without uncorking it—

He sensed its essence already.

"This is..." Bai Zihan whispered.

"A Grade-8 pill," Xi Yu remarked, as if mentioning an everyday item.

"Its name is the Heavenly Renewal Heart Pill."

Bai Zihan's pupils shrank—only a fraction.

Grade-8.

Not Grade-6.

Not even the almost legendary Grade-7.

Grade-8 pills were mere myths.

Within the Desolate Heaven Empire, Grade-7 pills alone could rattle sects and elite clans.

As for Grade-8—

No alchemist could craft them.

Their components were so scarce and invaluable that acquiring them seemed impossible.

They ought not to exist in the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Xi Yu undoubtedly hailed from a power beyond the Empire's borders.

Even Bai Zihan, versed in sights no one local should witness, experienced real astonishment.

(To hand over such a treasure so freely...)

His eyes rose to meet Xi Yu's.

(It seems I underestimated the force behind you.) "That pill," she went on, "possesses powerful restorative properties. Although

not one hundred percent guaranteed, there is a chance that it will be able to

heal your meridians."

Bai Zihan extended his hand at last.

Though his System allowed acquiring any pill desired, this would conserve his Points.

"I understand your intention," Bai Zihan stated. "But that only makes me more

curious."

He regarded her squarely.

"Who is this Saintess?"

Xi Yu shook her head.

"You don't have the authority to know."

The reply came without delay.

Bai Zihan took no offense.

He had anticipated such a rebuff.

"Do I know her?"

He inquired.

Xi Yu paused—merely an instant.

Then she responded forthrightly.

"I don't know either."

Truth or deception, Bai Zihan couldn't discern.

He observed her a beat longer, then eased back a touch.

"I see!"

Extracting further details from Xi Yu appeared unlikely.

She probably wouldn't disclose her sect or clan either, having already withheld the Saintess's identity.

Xi Yu stood up.

Her actions flowed gracefully and resolutely—like one who had wrapped up all necessary matters.

"My mission is complete," she announced steadily. "There's no reason for me to stay."

Bai Zihan made no effort to detain her.

For one, after thwarting his assassination and freely bestowing a Grade-8 pill, her non-hostile stance was evident.

Not yet.

And should her Saintess genuinely hold him in favor...

That prospect wasn't wholly unwelcome.

She pivoted to exit the pavilion, her footfalls soft on the stone.

Right as she neared the threshold—

She halted.

Xi Yu glanced back faintly, her eyes settling on Bai Zihan again.

This moment carried no examination.

No intrigue.

Just a stark admonition.

"Bai Zihan," she uttered icily, "don't get close to our Saintess."

The statement hit like an abrupt frost.

Bai Zihan's brows creased.

...What?

True bewilderment etched across his features.

(Get close? I don't even know who she is.)

Though a suspicion lingered, uncertainty equated to ignorance.

He exhaled briefly and fixed her with a firm look.

"I don't even know who your Saintess is," Bai Zihan said. "How exactly am I

supposed to avoid someone I've never met?"

Xi Yu didn't wholly face him.

"You'll know," she answered plainly. "When the time comes."

Her gaze toughened a shade.

"And when that happens," she appended, "I expect you to maintain your distance."

Bai Zihan watched her retreating form.

The caution lacked logic.

Yet... it rang with sincerity.

Before another word could escape— Crack!

The fabric of space cracked apart.

Directly before Xi Yu, the atmosphere tore like broken crystal, exposing a shadowy, swirling void within.

A spatial rift!

The Bai Estate shielded itself with multiple formations—defensive arrays that could block teleportation and space rifts even from the Immortal Ascension Realm.

Forcing a rift open in this place...

(Earth Immortal? Or perhaps above...)

Xi Yu advanced without delay.

Her form dissolved into the rift.

Crack!

The rift closed in a flash, space mending seamlessly as though undisturbed.

Quiet enveloped the courtyard once more.

The subtle aroma of spirit tea alone persisted.

Bai Zihan stayed in his seat, his stare locked on her vanishing point.

"...Interesting," he whispered.

A Saintess with formidable support.

An unforeseen Heaven-Chosen at the Golden Immortal Realm.

An attempt on his life.

Heaven clearly plotted to keep him on edge.

Bai Zihan grasped the jade bottle, his fingertips grazing its heated exterior.

"It seems," he murmured gently, a subtle grin emerging, "that things are about to get

interesting."