Bai Zihan managed to convince his father and mother after quite an ordeal.
With him being crippled and enemies watching closely, it wasn’t easy for them to allow him to enter what could very well be a wolf’s den.
However, after his persistent persuasion—and knowing that the Imperial Family was already wary of the Bai Clan—the two of them finally gave in.
Even so, they placed many restrictions on him, ensuring that he was never left alone.
The only exception would be when he went personally to receive his reward from the Emperor.
The day of the ceremony arrived!
At dawn, Bai Clan territory stirred with quiet order.
Flying ships rose one after another from the clan’s inner docks, their hulls engraved with Bai insignias that shimred faintly as formations activated.
Bai Tianheng personally led the convoy.
The Five Grand Elders were also coming, as they were one of the main reasons the Demonic Forces had been dealt with in the first place.
Bai Zihan stood at the front deck of the central flying ship, dressed in plain white robes, his expression composed and indifferent.
No Qi leaked from his body.
To any outsider, he looked exactly like what the rumors claid.
A cripple.
Yet none of the Bai Clan mbers aboard dared to look at him with pity or disdain.
Beside him stood Bai Xueqing, who had also been summoned due to her contribution.
To be honest, the contributions made by the younger generation—aside from Bai Zihan—had a minimal impact on the overall battlefield.
However, the awards still existed for those among the younger generation who had made the greatest contributions.
It was a form of recognition—perhaps a consolation—acknowledging their efforts at such a young age.
Bai Jian was also included in that.
He had fought relentlessly during the Beast Tide, cutting down Demonic Cultivators without hesitation.
His contribution had earned him a place in this convoy—and recognition from the Imperial Family itself.
Of course, being at the Nascent Soul Realm, his contribution was nothing noteworthy compared to Bai Zihan or even Bai Xueqing.
Still, for his age, it could be considered impressive.
Normally, for soone in their twenties, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm was considered standard.
It was Bai Xueqing—and Bai Zihan, who had reached even higher realms—who were abnormal.
The two of them were not competing within their own generation at all.
They were competing with cultivators one—perhaps even two—generations older.
Bai Zihan noticed Bai Jian imdiately.
In fact, he had been expecting sothing.
This was the perfect opportunity for Bai Jian.
He was weak.
Crippled.
If Bai Jian wanted revenge...
If he wanted to reclaim the Heir position...
This was the mont.
Yet—
Nothing happened.
Bai Jian stood several steps away, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Bai Zihan.
Their eyes t once.
Bai Jian stiffened almost imperceptibly—then looked away, turning his head as if nothing had happened.
No mockery.
No cold remarks.
No veiled provocation.
Bai Zihan frowned slightly.
(...Strange.)
He observed Bai Jian a few more tis throughout the journey.
Sotis, Bai Jian would glance over.
But each ti their eyes t, Bai Jian would turn away again.
Still no words.
No action.
No hostility made explicit.
If this had been the past, it would have been the perfect opportunity for Bai Jian to mock him—or even provoke him openly.
(Did I give him too much trauma?)
Bai Zihan thought.
(Well, I don’t care.)
He dismissed the matter quickly.
If Bai Jian wanted to act, he would eventually.
If not, it changed nothing.
Still, his thoughts drifted.
Perhaps Bai Jian—and Uncle Bai Feng—were simply waiting.
Waiting to confirm whether he was truly crippled beyond recovery.
It was possible they feared that this crippled state was only temporary.
If Bai Jian truly intended to seize the Heir position, this should have been the perfect opportunity.
Yet Bai Zihan had not heard a single rumor of Bai Feng—or anyone else—making a move.
In the past, right after he was declared crippled, his status as heir would have been revoked imdiately.
Yet so much ti had passed, and he still held the position.
The flying ships cut through the clouds, heading straight toward the heart of the Desolate Heaven Empire.
Soon, the Imperial Capital ca into view.
Unlike the tense and oppressive atmosphere that had shrouded the Empire during the Beast Tide, the capital was now vibrant and alive.
Banners fluttered from towering walls and palace spires, embroidered with imperial insignias and symbols of victory.
The streets below were packed shoulder to shoulder with people—cultivators and mortals alike—their faces lit with excitent and relief.
Laughter echoed.
Music rang out.
Wine flowed freely.
For the common people, the Demonic Forces had been an existential threat.
The Beast Tide had nearly swallowed entire regions, and countless families had waited in fear, uncertain whether they would survive.
Now, that fear is gone.
Victory had co.
And it was worth celebrating.
When the Bai Clan’s flying ships appeared above the capital, cutting through the clouds in neat formation, the reaction was imdiate.
Gasps rippled through the streets.
Then cheers erupted.
"It’s the Bai Clan!"
"The Bai Clan is here!"
Hands waved enthusiastically from below. So people even bowed instinctively, clasping their fists toward the sky.
Others shouted their thanks, uncaring whether they would be heard.
After all, everyone knew the truth.
Among all the forces that had fought during the Beast Tide, the Bai Clan had contributed the most.
Without them, the Northern Defense Line would have collapsed.
Without them, the Demonic Forces would not have been driven back.
To the people of the empire, the Bai Clan were not rely a powerful clan.
They were saviors.
The convoy continued forward, passing above the inner districts before descending toward the imperial palace complex.
The Imperial Family’s territory was vast, its scale dwarfing even the largest clan compounds.
Formations shimred in layered curtains of light above the vast landing platforms, complex runes rotating slowly as they monitored every fluctuation of qi.
Rows of imperial guards stood in perfect formation, halberds grounded, their armor gleaming beneath the morning light.
As the Bai Clan’s flying ships approached, the formations did not imdiately part.
Instead, several beams of light descended from the arrays, sweeping across the hulls of the ships, the engraved Bai insignias, and the cultivators aboard.
An imperial officer stepped forward, his gaze sharp and professional.
After a brief mont, the formations stilled.
The officer’s expression shifted.
He imdiately clasped his fists and bowed deeply.
"Bai Clan convoy confird," he announced loudly. "Please forgive the formality!"
At his gesture, the guards straightened and saluted in unison.
The layered formations above the platform rippled, then slowly parted like a curtain being drawn aside, opening a clear path into the inner palace grounds.
The Bai Clan’s flying ships began their descent.
Engines humd softly as the vessels lowered themselves onto the vast landing platforms, one after another, movents precise and disciplined.
The mont the hulls made contact, defensive formations flared briefly beneath them—then stabilized, locking the ships firmly in place.
The ramps did not lower imdiately.
Instead, the Bai Clan moved first.
Several Bai Clan mbers stepped out onto the decks, their expressions cold and alert.
So leapt down onto the platforms, boots striking stone in dull thuds. Others remained aboard, their senses spreading outward in overlapping waves.
Spiritual perception swept across the landing grounds, the surrounding palace walls, the nearby corridors, and even the imperial formations themselves.
Nothing was trusted.
Not even the Imperial Family.
Only after several breaths passed—and no abnormalities were detected—did a subtle signal pass through the Bai Clan mbers.
The ramps lowered.
Bai Tianheng stepped out first.
His presence was steady and imposing, his gaze calm but sharp as it swept across the surroundings.
Bai Zihan followed closely behind.
Close enough that Bai Tianheng could reach him in a single step.
To outsiders, it might have looked excessive.
To Bai Tianheng, it was not nearly enough.
Bai Zihan walked calmly, his posture relaxed, his expression unchanged. He looked no different from before—plain robes, no visible cultivation, no qi.
A complete cripple!
Yet the way the Bai Clan unconsciously positioned themselves told a different story.
Two Elders flanked him slightly behind. Several guards adjusted their positions to ensure overlapping coverage.
Any possible line of attack toward Bai Zihan was sealed off before it could even be imagined.
Behind them ca the Five Grand Elders.
Their steps were slow and asured, but the pressure they exuded was impossible to ignore.
They were not alone.
Several other flying ships had already arrived.
Bai Zihan’s gaze swept across the platforms.
Li Clan.
Zhao Clan.
Their insignias were unmistakable.
Their ships were already anchored—far enough to be clearly separated from the Bai Clan.
It looks like almost all the important players have already arrived.
Bai Zihan smiled as he walked ahead.
A cripple walking into the heart of the empire.
The celebration outside was loud and radiant.
But within the imperial grounds—It was going to be anything but peaceful.
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