Elder Han thought that he could really rule the Empire.
With Bai Zihan in his hands, forcing the Bai Clan to hand over their precious techniques would be effortless.
Although oblivious to why the Bai Clan still cared about such a cripple, he knew that they would be willing to do so.
But Elder Han had never intended to stop there.
Even after the Bai Clan fulfilled their promise, he never intended to keep his word.
A slow, cold smile crept onto his face.
Once the technique was obtained-once that Saint-Grade Sword Technique fell into his grasp he would give Bai Zihan to the Li-Zhao Alliance.
Elder Han's eyes glead.
There was a huge reward for capturing Bai Zihan, and he intended to claim it after obtaining the technique from the Bai Clan.
And when the Bai Clan inevitably discovered the truth?
Did he fear retaliation?
Of course not!
They might be furious, but there would be nothing they could do at that point other than deal with the Li-Zhao Alliance who would have Bai Zihan.
He knew for sure that the Li-Zhao Alliance would use Bai Zihan as a bargaining chip to threaten the Bai Clan, forcing them into confrontation.
All he needed to do was wait for them to plunge into a full-scale war.
Elder Han's breathing slowed, anticipation curling in his chest like sweet poison.
(Let them fight!)
By the ti the dust settled, both sides would be exhausted-wounded beasts tearing at one another's throats.
And him?
While he agreed to help Li-Zhao Allaince, he didn't intend to keep those words either.
He will be watching and waiting.
(When both sides are weak...)
Elder Han's smile widened, his eyes narrowing into slits.
(That will be my ti.)
By then, with the Saint-Grade technique in hand and resources accumulated from both sides-
He would descend like a blade.
Not as a sect leader.
But as a ruler.
Elder Han leaned back into the throne, laughter bubbling softly in his chest, barely restrained.
"Hehehe..."
That day.
That glorious day-
(It will co very soon!)
Lost in his fantasies, Elder Han reclined against the jade throne, eyes half-lidded.
In his mind, the future had already unfolded.
The Bai Clan kneeling.
The Li-Zhao Alliance bleeding.
The Empire trembling beneath his feet.
He could almost taste it.
Bai Zihan watched him quietly.
Then-
He scoffed.
A short, sharp sound.
"Fu... Hahaha!"
The sound echoed clearly through the silent hall.
Elder Han's daydream shattered instantly.
His eyes snapped open, sharp and irritated.
"What are you laughing at?" Elder Han demanded, frowning deeply. "What is so
funny?"
Bai Zihan lifted his head slightly, finally eting Elder Han's gaze.
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only amusent-and pity.
"I was just thinking," Bai Zihan said lightly, his tone relaxed, almost casual, "how frightening ambition can be... when it grows faster than one's abilities."
Elder Han's expression darkened.
Bai Zihan continued, unhurried.
"You truly believe everything will go exactly as you planned," he said, shaking
his head faintly.
"That capturing and blackmailing the Bai Clan is so simple."
His smile widened-cold and mocking.
"If only things in this world were that easy!"
His gaze sharpened.
Bai Zihan realized that Elder Han was soone who counted his chickens
before they hatched-
A man who believed everything would unfold exactly as he imagined.
Perhaps succeeding in rising to the position of Sect Leader had made him
delusional.
Bai Zihan took a slow step forward.
"You should know your place," he added calmly.
"And learn to control your greed."
Elder Han's eyes flared.
"You already seized the position of Sect Leader," Bai Zihan said, his voice steady
and piercing.
"Yet you still want more?"
He shook his head.
"Biting off more than you can chew will only lead to one ending."
He paused.
"Death!"
Bai Zihan warned.
"Hmph!" Elder Han snorted harshly.
His face twisted with disdain rather than doubt.
"Arrogant brat," he sneered. "You speak as if you understand the world."
He stood, sleeves snapping as his aura surged.
"You are nothing more than a crippled hostage," Elder Han said coldly.
"A frog at the bottom of the well."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Elders," he commanded.
At once, several figures stepped forward.
Their expressions were solemn.
"Restrain Bai Zihan," Elder Han ordered.
"Keep him alive."
His lips curled into a cruel smile.
"I will contact the Bai Clan soon."
The elders exchanged brief glances, then nodded.
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
They moved.
Two elders stepped forward.
Their footsteps echoed heavily against the stone floor as they closed in on Bai
Zihan, their eyes filled not with caution-but excitent.
One of them sneered.
"So this is Bai Zihan," he muttered, his voice dripping with mockery. "The
so-called terror of the battlefield."
The other elder chuckled softly.
"Hmph! Tis really do change," he said. "To think that even soone like him
would end up in such a state."
They stopped just a few steps away.
Seeing that Bai Zihan neither resisted nor released any aura, their confidence
swelled.
After all-
When would they ever get another chance like this?
Bai Zihan!
The man whose na once made demonic cultivators flee.
The man who even the allies couldn't help but fear. Now standing quietly before them like a lamb to be slaughtered.
"What a joke," one elder said arrogantly as he reached out. "Fearso? Heh. Without cultivation, you're nothing"
The other elder pulled out a pair of suppression cuffs, runes faintly glowing. "Don't worry," he said with cruel amusent. "We'll make sure you're kept
very... comfortably." They moved closer.
Bai Zihan scoffed softly.
But he didn't speak.
That silence only emboldened them further.
Just as the cuffs were about to close around his wrists-
Suddenly-
A sharp, searing pain exploded in both elders' chests.
"-UGHH!"
The first elder stiffened, eyes bulging in disbelief. "What is happen-ARGH!"
The second elder let out a strangled gasp as his knees buckled.
Thud!
Thud!
Both of them dropped to their knees directly in front of Bai Zihan, hands
clutching their chests as if their hearts were being crushed by an invisible
force.
"Now," Bai Zihan said calmly, looking down at them. "That is the posture you should use when speaking to ."
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