Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 468 Crimson Flames Extinguished Beneath a Single Slash

The leader of the Sky Pirates burst into maniacal laughter.

"That's your vulnerability, then!"

Malice shone brightly in his gaze.

"If you're refusing to budge, then perish while shielding them!"

The blazing spear shattered into numerous fiery lances, all infused with near-Immortal might.

His aim shifted completely. No longer at Bai Zihan, but straight at the Flying Ship in his rear.

The motive was simple to figure out. Aiming for Bai Zihan allowed him to evade without trouble. Yet attacking the Flying Ship compelled Bai Zihan to defend it head-on.

Though Bai Zihan managed that for the moment, over time he'd wear down and inevitably get hit.

The deck shuddered fiercely as the protective formations ignited from the lingering blaze alone.

Bai Xueqing clenched her jaw firmly.

Realization hit her at once.

He was cornering Bai Zihan into pure defense.

Each blow was meticulously planned.

"Why not abandon the Flying Ship?"

"Absolutely not! Leaving it would make dodging this inferno far tougher, and we'd turn into sitting ducks besides."

Chu Ziyan replied.

Ditching the Flying Ship to run might seem an option, but it carried greater peril than holding position.

Besides, while she and Bai Xueqing could slip away, Kong Zhanhong and the crew manning the Flying Ship could not.

The Sky Pirate Leader charged relentlessly, reforming his spear repeatedly in his hand.

"Take this!"

"Once more!"

"How long can you hold out?"

BOOM!

Yet another clash rattled the skies.

Bai Zihan's sword intent flowed outward like rippling waves, meeting every strike right at the collision spot. Flames parted. Shockwaves scattered.

Yet he refused to press on.

He offered no retaliation.

He stayed rooted-

Precisely in place.

For even the tiniest shift-

And the Flying Ship would burn to cinders.

The Sky Pirate Leader sensed it clearly.

"This boost makes my spiritual qi nearly boundless!"

His presence swelled once more, wildly erratic but crushingly dominant.

"Escape is impossible for you!"

The heavens cracked from the endless impacts.

Space wailed in protest.

Blazing tempests howled.

Oppressive force crashed down like heavenly wrath.

The Sky Pirate Leader lunged once more.

Then again.

And yet again.

Every thrust grew fiercer than before.

Victory lingered tantalizingly close.

No matter Bai Zihan's Void Refinement Realm prowess-

No matter the dread his sword intent inspired-

Under endless guarding-

He'd break in time.

But suddenly-

"Tch!"

Bai Zihan tsked in annoyance.

A hint of letdown crossed his face.

"I figured..."

His tone stayed even.

"...your strength might hold some thrill."

Another spear hurtled toward him.

Bai Zihan parried it with ease.

"But it's utterly lacking!"

He showed no signs of being backed into a wall. Pressure seemed absent from him.

"Holding back to avoid slaying you by mistake must've convinced you of your edge."

Bai Zihan remarked while channeling his Qi.

"Fate Severing Slash!"

It sliced through the fiery heavens.

The Yun Mo Kou Leader's strike vanished entirely with little fight, as though irrelevant.

The Yun Mo Kou Leader's gut twisted in warning.

He attempted to evade.

Far too late!

The slash cut through his right arm.

Smooth and without effort.

The fiery spear dissolved.

His arm detached at the shoulder.

For an instant-

Pain was absent.

He gaped at the void left by his missing limb.

Then-

"ARGH-!!!"

Torment exploded.

Crimson-black flames churned wildly around his form.

Bai Zihan observed with cool detachment.

"Hmph... Seems I can rein it in at this level."

He'd worried about an unintended kill, yet he managed exact control, claiming just the arm as intended.

"I won't grant you a swift death!"

The Sky Pirate Leader sought to pull back-

"Though you'd beg for one."

"Fate Severing Slash!"

SLASH!

His left leg came off at the thigh.

Blood gushed now, half-step Immortal healing failing against severed fate.

He howled, his frame spasming as he fought to hover.

The surrounding flames danced erratically.

Bai Zihan cocked his head a bit.

"No fight left?"

Plus, his Qi had grown substantially, and after three Fate Severing Slashes, over half remained.

The Yun Mo Kou Leader floated above, armless and legless, his presence crumbling from the volatile boost.

Terror overtook his former smugness in his stare.

The near-Immortal aura that once dominated the skies now wavered like a fading flame.

Then-

It extinguished.

The crimson-black flames cloaking the Sky Pirate Leader like royal garb flared chaotically before contracting sharply. The forbidden method that had dragged him to Immortal borders started to collapse.

His flesh split open.

Dark veins throbbed under his skin.

The raging influx of stolen power ebbed away like a retreating wave, abandoning devastation.

His cultivation-

Tumbled downward.

The crushing might that warped clouds earlier now rang empty and feeble. Even the air around, once quaking from his power, slowly calmed.

He wobbled in the air.

One arm missing.

One leg cut at the thigh.

Inner meridians burned from the coerced surge.

His presence now-

Fell short of its state before invoking the secret technique.

Below-

Hush fell!

The blazing storms eased off. The smothering warmth faded. The torn clouds started to scatter.

Aboard the Flying Ship's deck, silence reigned.

Worry had vanished from them, replaced by sheer shock.

Their fears proved baseless. Bai Zihan could've crushed the Sky Pirate Leader at any moment.

Bai Xueqing breathed out gently.

At last, her tight fists loosened.

"So..."

Her eyes stayed locked on Bai Zihan. "...that's the extent of his power now." Anxiety had fled her gaze.

Instead, something deeper stirred.

Reverence.

And maybe-

A touch of self-doubt.

Facing a foe teetering on Immortal edges-

He'd appeared... uninterested.

Next to her, Chu Ziyan remained still, her sword at rest.

Her sight never strayed from Bai Zihan.

Bai Xueqing shot her a sidelong look.

Then, softly-

"Are you certain about wedding such a cold and unrelenting man?"

Observe him.

No rage marked his features.

No grudge.

Still, he toyed with his foe on purpose.

Bai Xueqing's mouth twitched slightly.

"He seems to relish it." Chu Ziyan paused before responding. Her eyes stayed skyward.

"At least, he's always gentle with me."

Bai Xueqing held her tongue on that.

True enough, brutal as he was to foes, he'd shown exceptional warmth to his allies.

Up high-

The Sky Pirate Leader shook uncontrollably, balancing on his lone leg.

"You-demon-!"

His words rasped out.

Fury mixed with dread.

Bai Zihan advanced a deliberate pace.

The firmament dipped as if in tandem.

"You started this game," he noted casually.

His fingers rose just a touch.

"So, we'll see it through!"

***

"Tch! Pathetic!"

Bai Zihan's tone held no rage or dismay.

Just faint irritation.

The Sky Pirate Leader dangled feebly aloft, scarcely aware. His amplified flames had snuffed out entirely.

The coerced near-Immortal presence had crumbled, abandoning a shattered Great Ascension cultivator with meridians in tatters. Even absent Bai Zihan's assault, the rebound from compelled advancement might've wrecked him.

In any case, Bai Zihan gained zero intel despite his harsh interrogation.

Whatever Bai Zihan demanded-

However he coerced-

The captive spilled nothing.

Bai Zihan let out a soft sigh.

Then he extended his hand.

Space warped.

The pirate chief's form twitched as unseen power hauled him over the broken skies.

Like a discarded puppet-

He got dragged down.

Toward the Flying Ship.

The deck hushed as the ruined body hit.

Thud!

The Sky Pirate Leader crashed down, blood soaking the sleek deck, arm absent, leg gone, presence utterly chaotic.

All eyes fixed on him.

This-

Marked the fate of defying Bai Zihan.

Even a Great Ascension Realm powerhouse-

Brought to this state.

A shiver ran through Kong Zhanhong.

He'd once viewed Great Ascension as cresting the cultivation peaks. Beyond reach.

Unbeatable by nearly all.

But-

Today, he'd seen two such figures powerless before Young Master Bai.

One, a Top Sect's head, had pleaded for mercy.

Another sprawled half-alive below.

Bai Zihan alighted gracefully on the deck.

He appeared untouched by battling a Great Ascension Realm foe, as if he'd only stretched a little.

Bai Xueqing approached.

Her glance skimmed the mangled pirate once before focusing on Bai Zihan.

"Did you uncover who's behind their pursuit?"

Her voice stayed steady.

Bai Zihan shook his head.

"Nope!"

He peered at the pirate chief.

A beat passed.

Then a subtle smile tugged his lips.

"But I suspect I know."

Bai Xueqing's eyes sharpened.

When he phrased it that way, he usually had the culprit pegged, just shy of full proof.

"Head to the Bai Clan!"