Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 238: Second Round!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye for many people.

With the start of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition, the atmosphere in the Desolate Heaven Empire had been anything but quiet.

Excitement rippled through every city and town, and conversations about the competition had become part of daily life.

Discussing the participants’ battles and placing bets on who would emerge victorious was no longer just entertainment—it was a frenzy.

Everywhere—whether in tea houses fragrant with fresh brews, bustling inns filled with traveling merchants, or even on the busy streets where hawkers shouted over the noise—people still spoke of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition.

And among all the names on people’s lips, one was mentioned more than most: Nie Fengzhuo.

A dark horse who had stunned the Empire by eliminating one of the Zhao Clan’s elite participants.

***

In those three days...

The Zhao Clan remained silent, but silence did not mean peace.

Their pride was deeply wounded, and their members could not hide the resentment burning in their eyes whenever Nie Fengzhuo’s name was spoken.

Bai Zihan’s name, curiously enough, began circulating alongside Nie Fengzhuo’s—because word had spread that the Bai Clan’s young master intended to recruit him.

Bai Xueqing, in her usual composed way, had spent the three days training harder than before.

The bet between her and Bai Zihan gave her an extra reason to win the tournament, beyond the glory or rewards on offer.

There was one question she wanted answered, and she intended to wring it out of Bai Zihan no matter what:

Had he always been hiding his true strength?

Was the man she thought she knew just faking his power all this time?

Well, she told herself, once she won this tournament, she would have her answers.

To her, that truth would be a reward far greater than any prize the competition could offer.

***

The tournament grounds had been meticulously restored in the interim.

The shattered tiles of the arena were replaced with gleaming new slabs of reinforced white jade.

Formation masters had repaired and strengthened the barrier which had been damaged.

On the morning of the second round, the sun rose like molten gold, its light spilling over the arena and bathing the stands in a warm glow.

The stands were already packed long before the first match was scheduled to begin.

Excitement crackled in the air; everyone knew that the second round would be far more intense than the first, especially since most of the weaker participants had already been eliminated.

The overseer once again stepped onto the central platform, his white robes fluttering in the light breeze.

Intricate formation lines beneath his feet lit up, amplifying his voice across the arena with perfect clarity.

”Ladies and gentlemen!”

He began, his tone both formal and charged with anticipation.

”Welcome to the Second Round of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition! I know you were excited after the first round, but that was nothing more than a prelude for what is to come.”

Cheers erupted from the crowd like a wave crashing against stone.

For this round, unlike the first, each participant has known their opponent in advance.

They have had three days to prepare—no surprises, only strength and strategy!

Altough there wasn’t much prominent fight between those considered favorites to win, still there were many good enough fights.

When the battles began, the difference from the first round was immediately obvious.

Gone were the easy victories born from mismatched cultivation levels. N

ow, most duels were razor-close, the combatants trading blows until the outcome teetered on a knife’s edge.

The platform shook under the force of their strikes, and the air itself seemed to tremble with the clash of spiritual power. Every fierce exchange drew gasps and shouts from the audience.

Yet amid these grueling contests, there were also matches that ended almost instantly—fights so decisive that they silenced the crowd before the cheering even began.

Eight names dominated these moments of ruthless efficiency:

Bai Xueqing, Chu Ziyan, Li Meiying, Nie Fengzhuo, Jin Yuanzhan, Zhao Chen, Lei Zhensheng, and Shui Lian’er.

Each of them dispatched their opponents in seconds, with such overwhelming force that even seasoned elders shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Whether it was through a single sword stroke, a crushing palm strike, or a blinding flurry of techniques, they left no doubt in anyone’s mind: they were not merely participants—they were predators among prey.

Even Jin Yuanzhan, despite sustaining heavy injuries during his battle with Lin Xuan in the first round, now looked completely recovered.

His effortless victory removed any lingering doubts about his ability to continue.

Many even began to suspect whether his struggle in the first match with Lin Xuan was even real.

Perhaps it was all a ploy to make others underestimate him?

Whether it is true or not, it will all be revealed in the coming days.

Nie Fengzhuo once again displayed overwhelming dominance, defeating an opponent from the Azure Sun Holy Sect in such a fashion that it became yet another major upset to his name.

His performance now cemented him as one of the most prominent figures of the competition.

Still, the favorite to win in the public eye was Bai Xueqing, who had yet to reveal any weaknesses in her matches.

And as the dust from the last of these instant victories settled, the arena was still brimming with excitement.

Not only because of the battles they had just witnessed—but also because of what was coming next.

There were many interesting matchups on the roster for the third round, but one stood above all others in the public’s expectations:

Chu Ziyan vs. Lei Zhensheng!

***

Another three days passed.

The capital was electric with anticipation.

The third round of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition was not just another stage—it was the beginning of the true clashes between the strongest contenders.

And for the first time, two of the most feared names would face each other.

Chu Ziyan vs. Lei Zhensheng!

Everyone had been waiting for this match.

It was one of the most anticipated battles of the entire tournament.

Both fighters were widely regarded as championship material.

Both had swept through their earlier rounds without a hint of trouble. But now, one of them would be eliminated here and now.

Many believed Lei Zhensheng held the advantage—he was older, more experienced, and before Bai Xueqing and Bai Zihan rose to prominence, he had been considered the strongest of his generation.

While most agreed that in terms of raw talent, Bai Xueqing or Bai Zihan might eventually surpass him, there was still fierce debate about whether either of them could actually defeat him.

After all, Lei Zhensheng was said to have defeated Soul Formation Realm elders in battle.

With his mastery of the Thunder Dao, his techniques were as destructive as they were swift—one hit was often all it took for him to claim victory.

Yet no one dismissed Chu Ziyan.

The prodigy of the Heaven Sword Sect, she had risen through the ranks at a speed that once made some believe she might rival Bai Xueqing herself.

While she lacked the vast resources of the Bai Clan, her talent was undeniable.

There were not many official achievements to her name compared to the older elites, but her cultivation had already reached the Soul Formation Realm—making her one of the top contenders of the entire competition.

Her battle with Li Xuan in the war between Bai Clan and Li-Zhao Clan was still spoken of, and everyone knew she was not to be underestimated.

***

Their match was the seventh of the day, and anticipation built with every passing fight.

By the time the sixth match ended, the stands were buzzing with barely contained excitement.

The overseer stepped forward, voice echoing across the arena through the amplification array:

”Seventh match! Chu Ziyan of the Heaven Sword Sect VS Lei Zhensheng of the Crimson Thunder Hall!”

A deafening cheer exploded from the stands.

”Finally! I was waiting for this!”

”I’ve bet all my savings on Lei Zhensheng. No way the strongest of our generation is going to lose to a girl.”

”Chu Ziyan is strong, but not strong enough. The Chu Clan’s techniques won’t be enough to defeat someone being groomed as Crimson Thunder Hall’s next sect leader.”

”Tch! Even his wife is participating—why is Bai Zihan still hiding like a coward?”

...

”Both contestants, step forward!”

Yan Minglan announced.

”Ziyan’er,” Bai Xueqing said with a warm but steady smile, ”let them witness your true strength.”

Chu Ziyan only gave a nod before stepping into the arena.

Lei Zhensheng also entered with a powerful aura radiating from his body, thunder crackling with excitement.

The roar from the crowd was deafening.

”GO! GO! Lei Zhensheng!”

”Chu Ziyan, you can do it!”

Lei Zhensheng stood tall, long hair tied behind his back, his presence calm yet oppressive—like a mountain looming over the battlefield.

Chu Ziyan, in contrast, was silent and still, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword, eyes half-lidded as if nothing in the world could disturb her composure.

The overseer raised his hand.

”Begin!”