Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 364 Old Enemies, Old Wounds

The mood on the Bai flagship shifted the moment the other fleets came into full view.

From the deck, Bai Clan cultivators narrowed their eyes.

"Tch... those Li and Zhao dogs are here."

"Just thinking about them trying to attack us in our territory makes me angry."

"Pathetic as well. They always need to be together."

Their voices weren't low, and the hostility was obvious.

It can't be expressed just how much the Bai Clan loathe the other two clans. Even the Elders couldn't hide their irritation when they saw their banner.

While everyone knew that they had to work together to deal with the Demonic Beasts, truth to be told, they hated each other more than they did Demonic Beasts.

Meanwhile, the Grand Elders of the Bai Clan stood side by side, looking down at the distant fleets of their enemies.

Their reactions were only slightly more composed. Though they equally, if not more, hated the two clans.

Grand Elder Bai Qingshan's beard twitched.

"Hmph! I am curious to see which old geezers they brought out. Though no matter who, seeing them would still make my blood boil."

Grand Elder Bai Yui smiled faintly with a grace that made the younger disciples straighten subconsciously.

"Me too. I am curious who they sent..."

Their tones were annoyed-but also faintly curious.

After all-it wasn't one or two times that the Bai Grand Elders had clashed with their Li and Zhao counterparts.

Over the centuries, the powerful of the three clans had fought countless times and knew each of the opposing Grand Elders very well.

Acquaintances?

Yes!

Enemies?

Also yes.

Perhaps the Grand Elders knew about one another more than their own clans did.

It has been more than two decades since they last saw each other, so it was understandable that they were looking forward to their reunion, even though they were enemies.

And on the other side-the reaction was almost identical.

From the decks of the Li and Zhao fleets, their clansmen began jeering at the distant Bai ships.

"The Bai Clan brought almost all their flying ships? Do they think they own the sky?"

"I smell arrogance all the way from here..."

"Heh. If not for that damn Royal Family watching, we'd have already smashed into them."

Li and Zhao Grand Elders narrowed their eyes, smiles forming.

"Oh, look. Those five fossils from the Bai Clan also crawled out of their caves."

"Well, we need to greet each other at least!"

Sparks practically jumped across the air even though the fleets had not yet closed the distance.

If not for the fourth presence in the sky.

The Royal Fleet.

The twenty Bai flying ships slowed, engines dimming as they stood still.

Across from them, the Li and Zhao fleets followed suit-lowering speed and halting once a respectful distance was set.

It was not a peaceful pause.

Rather, it felt like three armies staring at each other across a battlefield.

Thousands of cultivators stood at attention.

None attacked-but all were ready to.

A ripple of profound pressure swept across the sky as the Clan Leaders stepped forward, navigating the open air as if walking on solid ground.

Bai Tianheng clasped his hands politely.

"Li Jianhong! Zhao Wutian! It is good that you two have arrived safely."

The happiness in his voice was about as authentic as a sword made of paper.

Li Jianhong smiled thinly.

"Bai Tianheng, of course there is no one who can go against my clan. I see you brought your entire nest this time. Worried the Beast Tide will swallow you?"

Bai Tianheng's eyebrow twitched.

Zhao Wutian didn't miss a beat.

"Well, it is good that you brought so many of your forces. Looks like you are really serious about the Beast Tide!"

A few Bai Elders snorted.

Bai Tianheng returned the smile, pleasant and empty.

"True. Though it looks like Li and Zhao must travel together even now."

Li Jianhong's eyes twitched. Zhao Wutian inhaled sharply.

Anyone can see that Bai Clan was superior to the other two since it requires Two other Top Clan to keep a single Bai Clan in check.

Meanwhile, Li and Zhao disciples were whispering through clenched teeth.

Then-one figure after another stepped forward from the Li and Zhao fleets- each radiating enough pressure to shatter mountains.

The Li Clan and Zhao Clan had brought three Grand Elders each. Six Grand Elders in total.

Whereas the Bai Clan had five Grand Elders-more than Li or Zhao Clan, but fewer when Li and Zhao were counted together.

The air trembled as they met.

Li Clan's Grand Elder, Li Wufei spoke first with a smile.

"Ah... Bai Chu. I thought your bones would have turned to dust by now."

Grand Elder Bai Chu returned the smile.

"How could I? I was simply waiting for you to finally reach my level. But alas, it looks like your strength is the same as 30 years ago."

Li Wufei's smile stopped.

"Bai Chu, you dare bring that up? If not for my spear breaking in the middle of the fight, how could I have lost to you?"

Li Wufei said angrily.

"Still the same excuse? Li Wufei, grow up. When will you admit your loss?"

Bai Chu said nonchalantly.

At the other side, Grand Elder Zhao Henglong stepped forward, eyes full of mockery.

"Well, well... Bai Qingshan. Seeing you still breathing is truly shocking. I remember the last time we met-you were howling in the middle of my Four-Directions Formation, unable to break free for three whole days."

A loud snort came from the Bai side. Bai Qingshan's beard practically stood on end.

"That is rich coming from the man who set up a formation in advance! Just say it-you were afraid of fighting me directly!"

Zhao Henglong's eyebrow twitched.

"You lost, and yet you speak so loudly..."

"I haven't lost. If you fight me fairly, you would lose a hundred times."

Bai Qingshan snapped.

"Being able to use Strategy is also important but I guess you won't know about it."

Not only them, other Grand Elders were also bringing up their old history, trying to humiliate the others with past events.

In any case, the more they converse, the angrier they were getting.

The air between them crackled like tinder waiting for a spark.

These weren't random insults-they were all real history.

Old grudges.

Old humiliations.

Old victories that still felt fresh.

On any other day, the Grand Elder groups would have started a sky-shattering fight already.

And truthfully?

They looked one sente nce away from doing exactly that.

Tension peaked-three groups.

Eleven Immortal Realm experts.

All staring each other down with a thousand years of accumulated hatred, rivalry, and wounded pride.

Which was terrible news-because all three clans were supposed to be allies.

If they started a fight here, the Royal Family would have no choice but to intervene... and that would make everything messier.

Every cultivator on all three fleets straightened immediately.

The Royal Fleet's flagship parted its formation-and a man stepped forward into open air.

War Minister Xiu Yucheng.

"Esteemed Grand Elders of the Bai, Li, and Zhao Clans," he said, voice firm yet polite, "it is a great honor that Immortal Realm experts such as yourselves have chosen to personally join this campaign."

Immediately, the simmering hostility dulled.

Xiu Yucheng continued.

"I understand there are many... memories between your noble clans."

A subtle phrasing, but everyone understood what he meant.

Half of those memories involved shattered mountains.

"But the Beast Tide is gathering even as we speak. The Royal Family humbly requests that the three great clans restrain themselves-for now. And think about greater good!"

The "for now" carried a masterful neutrality.

He wasn't saying they couldn't fight later.

Just...

Not when the Empire still needed them alive.

And truthfully, the Three Great Clans fighting each other was great news to the Royal Family.

After all, the three being on equal standing with the Imperial Family wasn't very good for the Imperial Family.

So, the possibility of their forces weakening was always great news for the Royal Family.

But right now, they can't afford that as they need to deal with High-Level Beast Tide and Demonic Cultivators.

While Xiu Yucheng's words weren't good enough to stop these Old Monsters, in the presence of all the other people, they still needed to maintain their dignity.

So, they didn't argue and stopped arguing with each other. Xiu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief. If they had started fighting right now, they would have another big problem at hand.

For now-the war between them was shelved.

Xiu Yucheng gave a courteous smile.

"Thank you for your understanding!"

They continued their journey toward the Northern Defense Line where the Demonic Beasts were waiting.