Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 449 Dispute Flaring

The Desolate Heaven Empire had rapidly split into two.

One side stood with the Bai Clan, while the other supported the Li-Zhao Alliance.

Even those who had not formally joined either faction held strong opinions about who was better suited to reign over the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Many who once shared close relationships but now stood on opposite sides gradually turned from friends into enemies.

It no longer mattered what history they had shared-only what future awaited them based on the side they chose.

After all, the Bai Clanʼs side accused the Li-Zhao Alliance of thievery and lacking morals, while the Li-Zhao Alliance denied all accusations.

Some even falsely claimed that it was their allianceʼs cultivation technique that had later been stolen by the Bai Clan and distributed as if it were their own.

This only fueled the anger of the Bai Clanʼs alliance toward the Li-Zhao Alliance.

As the divide deepened, words were no longer enough.

Incidents began to surface across the Desolate Heaven Empire involving the two factions.

At first, they were small.

Arguments. Broken tables. Shattered tempers.

Then it escalated-clans barred those from the Li-Zhao Alliance from entering their territories.

Some sects that had formally joined the Bai Clanʼs alliance even expelled disciples who came from clans aligned with the Li-Zhao Alliance.

The situation only worsened.

What was expected to follow the end of the war against the Demonic Forces was peace, yet instead they found themselves trapped in civil chaos.

The imperial guards were dispatched again and again, yet even they found themselves stretched thin.

Every time one conflict was suppressed, two more erupted elsewhere. It was as if such fights were slowly becoming a daily occurrence.

Such scenes repeated themselves.

In different cities.

In different sects.

With different faces.

Violence became frequent enough that it could no longer be dismissed as coincidence.

And through it all-

The Imperial Family remained largely silent.

They issued calls for restraint.

Spoke of harmony.

Dispatched mediators who urged both sides to calm themselves.

Yet they never addressed the root of the division.

Never condemned either the Li-Zhao Alliance or the Bai Clan.

Thus, they maintained the image of neutrality-the single power standing between the two sides.

But they couldnʼt completely hide it.

In disputes where the lines were blurred-

Their judgment leaned, ever so slightly, in one direction.

Never blatant enough to accuse.

Never obvious enough to prove with certainty.

But consistent.

When matters involved Bai-aligned clans and Li-Zhao supporters-

The scales tipped.

Just a little.

When guards and judges ruled in favor of those from the Li-Zhao Alliance, speculation naturally arose.

However, there were also times when they sided with the Bai Alliance, making it difficult to determine whether the Imperial Family truly supported the Li-Zhao Alliance.

In any case, it was mostly the small clans and insignificant figures who sparked these conflicts and fought openly.

Those at the very top-the Li, Zhao, and Bai Clans-had yet to make any moves.

They didnʼt even show open hostility toward one another, which was strange for enemies who had opposed each other for decades.

But most people knew-

It wasnʼt because relations had improved.

It was simply the calm before the storm. ***

In a bustling city not far from the capital, two young men stood facing each other in the middle of a crowded street.

Both were cultivators.

Both in their early twenties.

Both brimming with the restless arrogance of youth.

One wore a robe bearing a faint Bai Clan token at his waist.

The other carried the insignia of a Li-Zhao-affiliated sect stitched proudly onto his sleeve.

Their argument began with words.

It always did.

A scoff.

A pointed remark. ”A thief whoʼs proud. As expected from someone from the Li-Zhao Alliance!”

The other replied coldly. ”Hmph! You all have no evidence-only baseless accusations.”

Voices rose.

Qi stirred.

Pedestrians gathered to watch the show. No matter how many times they had seen such scenes, they never seemed bored.

Rather, they were slowly growing accustomed to it, treating it as entertainment.

After all, most mortals couldnʼt be bothered to understand the difference between the two alliances. To them, both were merely super-powerful organizations.

It didnʼt matter who stood at the top-nothing in their lives would change.

In any case, they didnʼt miss the opportunity to watch a fight that was bound to ensue.

The Bai-aligned youth took a step forward, eyes burning with contempt.

The Li-Zhao supporter answered in kind. ”Look! Itʼs Pei Chiyan and Zhuan Kaiyu!” ”Are they going to fight?”

The excitement of the crowd was not without reason.

Those two were not nameless cultivators.

The Bai-aligned youth, Pei Chiyan, was well known in this city-a rising genius who reached the Golden Core Realm before twenty.

And his cultivation had only soared repeatedly after joining the Bai Clanʼs alliance, said to have reached its peak.

It is said that in the coming Dragon and Phoenix Competition he might be able to enter the Top-20.

The Li-Zhao supporter was no lesser.

He, Zhuan Kaiyu, was a famous disciple of his sect, his reputation forged through repeated victories and public duels.

Since joining the Li-Zhao Alliance, his cultivation had surged as well, nourished by rare pills and the High Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique.

So, with such figures openly arguing and about to fight, it was no wonder that people gathered, including the mortals. ”Itʼs them...” ”I heard Pei Chiyan broke through twice in three years.” ”They say he was once evenly matched with an inner disciple, despite being an outer one.” ”No wonder theyʼre so arrogant.”

To the onlookers, this was not a street brawl.

It was a spectacle.

A clash between two geniuses.

Pei Chiyan took another step forward, spiritual Qi rolling outward like a wave.

Zhuan Kaiyu answered in kind, his Qi surging as well, the air between them trembling faintly.

BOOM!

The first blow shattered the tension.

Their fists collided, Spiritual Qi erupting violently.

Stone cracked beneath their feet.

Shockwaves rippled through the street, forcing weaker mortals to stagger back. ”Heh? Is this all youʼve got?”

Pei Chiyan scoffed, retreating half a step before stabilizing himself effortlessly. ”That was only ten percent of my strength! Youʼre lucky I didnʼt go all out and kill you in one move!”

Zhuan Kaiyu shot back, his eyes blazing with pride.

They clashed again.

And again.

They werenʼt holding back in the least and very much intended to kill the other.

Cracks spread along the street like spiderwebs.

Stalls overturned.

Walls crumbled. The crowd roared with excitement.

This was what they had come to see.

Soon, familiar figures began pushing through the gathering crowd.

Their fellow disciples are led by a senior brother. ”Stop, Zhuan Kaiyu!” ”What are you doing, Pei Chiyan?”

Their Senior brother stopped the two hot-blooded youths from fighting.

At first, many believed they had come to stop the fight.

But then the two started to whisper something in their senior brotherʼs ears, and those who initially stopped them frowned and glared at the other party. ”You dare strike our people?!” ”You think we are some losers?! Apologize!” ”You apologize!”

Anger flared instantly, neither wanted to back down.

Instead of calming the situation, the newcomers formed ranks behind their leaders, spiritual Qi stacking layer upon layer.

One of the Bai-aligned disciples stepped forward, voice cold. ”Apologize!”

His gaze locked onto the Li-Zhao supporter. ”Apologize for insulting our alliance and injuring our senior brother.”

The Li-Zhao disciples bristled.

Another stepped out in response, eyes sharp. ”Apologize?” he sneered. ”For defending ourselves? You should be the ones kneeling!”

How could either side accept such humiliation?

Especially now.

Not with so many eyes watching.

Not when they carried the name of their alliance on their backs.

The brief restraint shattered completely.

What had been a duel exploded into chaos.

Qi techniques flared. Blades flashed.

Spells detonated midair.

Shouts echoed through the street as both sides surged forward.

Onlookers who had once watched from a safe distance were forced to retreat as the clash spiraled out of control.

What should have ended with two injured geniuses instead became a full-fledged confrontation.

What should have been a minor dispute turned into a full-fledged clash, drawing in friends and even onlookers who had aligned themselves with one of the two alliances. ”Stop!”

By the time the imperial guards arrived, several people lay injured.

The guards separated the combatants with practiced efficiency.

But what followed was... telling.

The Bai-aligned youths were reprimanded. Warned. Forced to compensate for damages.

The Li-Zhao supporters were escorted away first.

Their injuries were treated.

Their explanations were listened to with greater patience.

No laws were openly broken.

No verdict was unjust enough to provoke immediate outrage.

Yet those who watched closely noticed the pattern. The Imperial Guard was yet again favoring the Li-Zhao Alliance.