Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 445 Blueprint of Control

"So even the Imperial Family has joined them."

With a soft mutter, Bai Zihan showed more amusement than shock.

Though unconfirmed until now, he had anticipated this development.

At the moment, he perused the details compiled by Kong Zhanghong, which revealed all the matters they believed were hidden from view.

Actually, exposing these secrets proved much simpler than anyone might guess.

By leveraging the Black Lantern Society, Kong Zhanghong had infiltrated the Li-Zhao Clan's alliance, as they eagerly sought new partners.

The Li-Zhao Clan appeared well-acquainted with the Black Lantern Society, valuing their connections even more than their raw power.

Having learned that the Black Lantern Society orchestrated the assassination attempt on Bai Zihan a year prior, they assumed the group opposed the Bai Clan entirely.

Additionally, the Black Lantern Society supplied intel on the Bai Clan to solidify this confidence.

Naturally, every piece of intel was exactly what Bai Zihan intended for them to uncover—like the count of Bai Clan members attending the Imperial Celebration.

Details such as the quantity of flying ships deployed and similar specifics all proved spot-on.

Thanks to this, they viewed the Black Lantern Society as exceptionally useful beyond initial expectations, leading to their open reliance.

As a result, few aspects of the schemes his foes plotted in secrecy escaped Bai Zihan's knowledge.

"Emperor..."

As thoughts of the recent encounter drifted through his mind, Bai Zihan whispered.

Having observed Qin Lingxiao, determining if the Emperor had been swapped out remained challenging.

Yet one fact stood utterly clear: an outside power was meddling in the Desolate Heaven Empire's affairs.

No matter the case, the Imperial Family now ranked as his foe.

The Shen Clan deserved caution too, despite lacking the Imperial Family's might.

Silence enveloped Bai Zihan.

Facing the united might of the Li Clan, Zhao Clan, and Imperial Family, the Bai Clan could endure.

The challenge would be immense.

Yet far from hopeless.

Should only those groups oppose them, Bai Zihan trusted the Bai Clan to wear them out over time, regardless of the heavy toll.

However—

Those weren't the true uncertainty.

The hidden external influence pulling strings from the shadows held that role.

Qin Lingxiao!

Xi Yu's group factored in as well. While she claimed to offer a Grade-8 pill, hidden agendas might lurk beneath.

Direct involvement from such powers would flip the entire scenario.

Survival through the initial assault wouldn't guarantee safety; the follow-up strike could prove deadly.

The origins of Qin Lingxiao or Xi Yu—whether from some distant empire—eluded Bai Zihan's grasp.

Still, one truth rang undeniable.

Outside meddling wasn't merely a risk anymore.

It was unfolding right now.

Bai Zihan refused to allow the Bai Clan to drain its strength pointlessly before the real tempest hit.

Minimizing losses was crucial.

Draining resources early against a far superior adversary held no appeal.

With a slight recline, his fingers drummed lightly on the armrest.

Then—

An idea crystallized in his thoughts.

Straightforward.

Direct.

Potent.

Since the Li-Zhao Alliance grew bolder in expansion, the Bai Clan's could follow suit.

Efforts were underway already, albeit progressing gradually, because Bai Tianheng doubted the value in binding too many clans through alliances.

Forces eager to align with the Bai Clan outnumbered those drawn to the Li-Zhao Alliance.

Nevertheless, the Imperial Family's support shifted the scales toward the Li-Zhao side.

Opposition wouldn't limit itself to just the Imperial Family.

Allies bound to the Imperial Family demanded consideration—their collective power nearly matched a single Li or Zhao Clan.

One could argue the Bai Clan already fielded as many alliance overtures as feasible.

possible.

Yet Bai Zihan envisioned a straightforward method to boost those overtures even higher.

Dangle an Earth-Grade cultivation technique as incentive for joining their side.

Such Earth-Grade cultivation techniques served as priceless assets, ones that could reshape the destiny of clans and sects alike.

Presenting one would lure countless others into the Bai Clan's fold.

Even commitments to the Li-Zhao Alliance might waver in temptation. After all, mastering an Earth-Grade technique outweighed mere supplies or safeguards from the Li-Zhao Clan.

This single boon could transform a whole clan's trajectory.

However—

No strategy escaped imperfections.

And this approach harbored a glaring weakness foes could readily target.

Distributing the technique openly to every joining clan guaranteed eventual leaks.

Once dissemination spiraled out of bounds, allying with the Bai Clan would lose its pull for acquiring it.

The Li-Zhao Alliance might dispatch spies on purpose.

They'd pledge allegiance superficially.

Absorb the technique's secrets.

Then smuggle it away.

Should that occur, the scheme's core benefit would crumble entirely.

This explained why cultivation techniques stayed closely guarded secrets.

Clans preferred collapse over exposing their foundational arts.

A gentle breath escaped Bai Zihan.

His face, though, refused to cloud over.

Rather, a subtle spark lit his eyes—as though he'd foreseen this very hitch.

For that supposed weakness—

Wasn't a weakness in truth.

It presented a golden chance.

Bai Zihan drew from tales and stories he'd encountered back on Earth.

In shadowy assassin guilds and covert sects, cultivation techniques often layered by tiers.

Outer initiates trained on fragmented scrolls.

Inner circles accessed segmented editions.

Core elites alone unlocked the full legacy.

The structure enforced ironclad order.

Practitioners of partial paths hit unbreakable barriers.

Certain arts wove in deadly traps—devices letting superiors disable, dominate, or slay those bound to inferior tiers.

Assuming such designs truly persisted—

Wouldn't their proliferation benefit him, provided he held sway over every user?

One final tap echoed from Bai Zihan's fingers on the armrest.

Should the Li-Zhao Alliance dispatch such spies, it would play right into his hands.

They'd dive headlong into his trap.

A widely offered outer layer—formidable, but forever wanting.

Those who only grasped the surface unwittingly surrendered their fate to him.

In the mildest case, he could halt their progress.

In the extreme—

He could end them.

Domination where feasible.

Eradication when required.

Both results served his purposes.

Thus, even if the Li-Zhao Alliance claimed the technique, it wouldn't diminish his position.

It would amplify his grip.

That said, securing an appropriate technique remained essential first.

Bai Zihan settled deeper into the chair, lids drooping halfway.

The strategy neared perfection.

But bringing it to life—

That posed the genuine hurdle.

If this world already housed such cultivation techniques, acquiring one would suffice.

His initial impulse turned to the profound legacy linked to his core.

"Feilian..."

Silence greeted him.

A crease formed on Bai Zihan's brow.

Since lending her strength, Emperor Feilian had lingered in dormancy.

He attempted once more.

Again, nothing. "Still recuperating."

Softly, Bai Zihan sighed.

He'd pinned hopes on a figure like Emperor Feilian—a titan who dominated epochs upon epochs—harboring at least a couple of arts suited to his aims.

Evidently, that avenue lay sealed for the time being.

Leaving just a single alternative.

The System Shop. His stare intensified.

With mere intent, the glowing, see-through panel materialized in his vision.

Straight to the Cultivation Technique Store he went.

Earth-Grade!

Techniques scrolled into view, each pulsing with deep mystery and immense promise.

Ninefold Mountain Tempering Art.

Heaven-Splitting Meridian Codex.

Impressive. Yet mismatched for his needs.

Bai Zihan's forehead furrowed a touch.

Not a single one fit the bill. Given their common use in assassin circles, he'd assumed snagging one would be straightforward.

Apparently, he'd misjudged.

At minimum, the Earth-Grade listings held none, even after exhaustive review spanning hours.

Next came the Heaven-Grade selections.

Bai Zihan's scrutiny lingered as he combed through hundreds of additional cultivation arts.

Then—

Discovery struck.

A method whose summary sent his pulse racing.

Eyes tightening, he delved deeper into the text.

And then—

Shadows crossed his features.

"It carries restrictions."

Complete version in his possession or not...

Incomplete variants in others' hands or not...

The art's dominion extended solely to cultivators weaker than himself.

Peers might fend it off.

Superiors stood wholly untouched.

Quietude claimed Bai Zihan.

The chamber hung in eerie stillness.

At last, a quiet laugh broke free.

"Ultimately, it's merely for quelling the feeble."

Against disposable foes.

Against threats that never truly menaced.

That missed his mark entirely.

Overpowering lesser adversaries required no such art already.

Wasting vast sums on what raw might achieved freely made no sense.

His true aim diverged.

He sought a web.

One expansive enough to snare whole lineages.

One sly enough to ensnare masters unaware.

One capable of binding rivals prior to any clash of steel.

This—

This Heaven-Grade art simply didn't measure up.