Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

The Remnant Soul explained the same thing she had earlier.

Understanding the trial, Mo Tianji made the same assumption everyone else had—that Bai Zihan had simply picked a Yellow-Grade Technique and managed to pass.

"Hmph! That Bai Zihan must have been in a hurry,"

Mo Tianji muttered arrogantly, though honestly, if he were in the same position, he might've done the same.

If he was the first to reach the Second Trial, and if there was a chance to widen the gap between him and the others, he would've taken it without hesitation.

That would've made securing the Inheritance far more certain.

But for the people who arrived later, it was a different story. They had to worry—what if they didn't get the Inheritance?

In that case, they'd at least want to walk away with a powerful Martial Technique.

"Immortal Emperor, can you tell me what grade of Martial Art Bai Zihan picked?"

Mo Tianji asked the same question.

"Others already asked! I'm not repeating myself. You can ask them."

The Remnant Soul snapped.

She was clearly getting annoyed at having to answer the same question over and over—though she understood why they all wanted to know.

Mo Tianji looked around.

Dugu Lianxin didn't look like she was going to tell him anything, so he grabbed someone who looked weak and asked coldly, "Do you know what Martial Art grade Bai Zihan chose?"

The poor guy trembled.

"Y-Yes! It seems like he picked a Heaven-Grade Martial Art!"

Mo Tianji's eyes widened, just like everyone else's had when they first heard it—like they were about to pop out of his skull.

"What did you say? Repeat that!"

He demanded.

"I-It's true! The Immortal Emperor's Soul told us that Bai Zihan chose a Heaven-Grade Martial Technique and mastered it within an hour. He was already gone by the time we got here."

The poor guy spilled everything he knew in hopes of not getting smacked.

Thud!

Mo Tianji let go of him, his mind on the verge of collapse.

(A Heaven-Grade Technique? In one hour?)

He found it as unbelievable as anyone would. But it hit harder for him because he knew how insane that was.

He had taken nearly a whole year to achieve Minor Mastery in the Heaven-Grade Technique of the Crimson Demon Sect.

(Maybe the techniques here are easier to grasp than the ones I learned?)

He tried to convince himself.

Determined to prove his superiority, he immediately chose a Heaven-Grade Technique himself.

If he could master it quicker, then that'd show everyone just how talented he truly was.

One hour later…

"Damn it!"

Mo Tianji couldn't help but curse.

Let alone reaching Minor Mastery—he didn't even fully understand what the technique was about!

He wasn't alone. Many others, hailed as top-tier geniuses in the outside world, couldn't even take the first step in comprehending their chosen techniques.

But honestly? That was normal.

What wasn't normal was Bai Zihan achieving Minor Mastery of a Heaven-Grade Technique and clearing the trial in under an hour.

That made everyone else feel like they were crawling.

Even Dugu Lianxin and Bai Xueqing looked like they had just been slapped across the face.

Reality had slapped them. Expecting to comprehend a Heaven-Grade Technique in an hour?

That was just delusional. Even getting a vague grasp on the essence in an hour was wishful thinking.

And reaching Minor Mastery?

Yeah—no!

Earth-Grade Techniques were comparatively easier to understand, but even then, no one managed to fully grasp them in just an hour.

Maybe peerless talents like Bai Xueqing or Dugu Lianxin could've gotten somewhere with an Earth-Grade one.

But most of the people who picked Earth-Grade Techniques weren't in their league.

Some of those who picked Profound-Grade Techniques were beginning to understand the concepts and had even started practicing, aiming for Minor Mastery.

By that time, the prince and princess had also arrived at the Second Trial.

Yu Longxuan was in a damn good mood—and everyone knew why.

The guy who humiliated him, Mo Tianji, just got humiliated by Bai Zihan.

He couldn't stop grinning inside. Even if he was nearly an hour behind the first arrivals, he didn't care.

In his head, he was screaming, "Serves you right!" "Hit him harder!" and so on as he watched Bai Zihan metaphorically beat the crap out of Mo Tianji.

While he was enjoying his indirect revenge, the others were thinking more practically.

Their thoughts? Recruit Bai Zihan. Fast!

Not just because he was heir to the most powerful neutral clan, but because of his insane strength as well.

Anyway, the Remnant Soul once again explained the rules, even though most had already figured them out by watching others.

"Sh*t! How did Bai Zihan even reach Minor Mastery of a Heaven-Grade Technique in one hour? I can't even grasp this Profound-Grade one!"

Complaints and frustrated mutterings echoed throughout the trial space.

Word spread fast that Bai Zihan had mastered a Heaven-Grade Technique and moved on already.

Still, most of them chose Heaven-Grade Techniques anyway. They were rare treasures no clan or sect would hand out easily—if at all.

But some people still chose lower-grade techniques, hoping to pass the trial quickly and compete for the Immortal Emperor's Inheritance.

Another hour passed…

"This is impossible! How the hell…?"

"Is it even possible to comprehend something like this so fast?"

The grumbling only got louder. Frustration was mounting, especially from those who now felt Bai Zihan was getting closer and closer to the Inheritance.

Which… he was.

If not, why else would they be chasing this ridiculous idea of mastering a Heaven-Grade Technique in an hour?

Sure, they were geniuses—the kind who did what normal people couldn't. But even for them, this was way too much.

Normally, reaching Minor Mastery in one or two hours? Yeah, not happening. That was a few days of hard work, minimum.

"Just how strong are you…?"

Chu Ziyan whispered under her breath.

She, too, had chosen a Heaven-Grade Technique—one that could benefit both her and her clan.

Her clan didn't have any Heaven-Grade Techniques, so bringing one back would be a huge deal.

She also chose this since it seemed like the chance of getting the Inheritance was quite low with how quick Bai Zihan was.

There was also her competitive side that wanted to see if she could also achieve Minor Mastery of a Heaven-Grade Technique within an hour—but it proved far more difficult than she expected.

This made her realize just how wide the gap between them had become. A gap she never expected.

She wasn't bitter or jealous—not exactly. It was Bai Zihan, after all.

But the roles had reversed.

A few months ago, people said she was too good for him. Now? Now it was she who wasn't worthy to stand beside him.

It was ironic—and just a little painful.

She was on the verge of understanding the technique's basics and had begun practicing.

But compared to reaching Minor Mastery?

She was still behind.

***

Just as frustration and disbelief were starting to boil over among the gathered cultivators, a ripple of Qi stirred through the trial space.

The Remnant Soul reappeared above the platform, its voice as clear and commanding as ever.

"Congratulations! You have achieved Minor Mastery of a Heaven-Grade Martial Technique. You are eligible to proceed to the Third Trial."

The words slammed into everyone like a thunderclap.

What?

Someone else had done it?

Eyes snapped toward the person who was approached by the Remnant Soul.

A girl stood there with a calm expression.

"Who the hell…?"

"Wait… is that…?"

"It's Bai Xinyue from Heaven Sword Sect!"

"Bai?!"

"Another Bai Clan member?!"

"Wait… Bai Xinyue? Wasn't she—wasn't she exiled years ago?!"

Gasps spread like wildfire as people began to recognize who the second person to pass the Second Trial was.

The most shocked were those from the Bai Clan, who didn't even know why she had been expelled—once a genius of the clan, said to possess talent on par with Bai Xueqing.

Some looked away in shame, knowing deep down that her exile had been the result of the clan's mistake.

Bai Xueqing also looked at her, but there wasn't much emotion in her eyes—perhaps a hint of guilt and pity.

The Remnant Soul turned toward her, voice laced with interest now—maybe even admiration.

"You are the second to complete the Heaven-Grade Martial Trial. Your comprehension speed rivals that of ancient geniuses."

Dugu Lianxin's expression changed. Her ever-calm demeanor cracked, her brows furrowing as she stared at the girl on the platform.

(It seems like the Immortal Emperor is interested in this girl!)

The Remnant Soul's attitude was noticeably different from when she addressed Bai Zihan.

Even though Bai Zihan was clearly the superior genius, having surpassed Bai Xinyue in both speed and comprehension, the Remnant Soul hadn't offered him much praise.

Yet now, despite Bai Xinyue being slower and coming in second, the Remnant Soul openly praised her.

Mo Tianji's jaw clenched.

(Another Bai Clan freak? Just how many monsters did that family have in hiding?)

He was already angry that he couldn't surpass Bai Zihan's time, and now he had come to know that he wasn't even second.

This was a big blow to someone who considered himself the most talented in the entire Desolate Heaven Empire.

"You may proceed. It's the Final Trial!"

Bai Xinyue's eyes widened when she realized the next trial was the last.

She gave a small nod, her expression neutral.

Then, without sparing a glance at anyone, she turned and stepped into the next trial.

Gone!

But what the Remnant Soul said shocked everyone else.

"The next trial is the final?"

"Doesn't that mean Bai Zihan might have already gotten the Inheritance?"

"Damn! We need to speed up. Those two already have such a huge advantage."

…

They came to realize that the next trial was the last and also that they didn't have leisure time to waste.

They quickly concentrated on reaching Minor Mastery of their technique.

Of course, just determination wasn't enough!